George Tsouvelas
National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Psychology, Department Member
Stigma associated with mental illness is recognized as a significant public health issue. Cultural factors, particularly those embedded in military culture, significantly influence the stigma experienced by military personnel. Within... more
Stigma associated with mental illness is recognized as a significant public health issue. Cultural factors, particularly those embedded in military culture, significantly influence the stigma experienced by military personnel. Within military environment, current research illustrates that the stigma experienced by military personnel towards mental illness has been identified as a barrier to accessing mental health services. The purpose of the present study has been to investigate the beliefs towards specific psychopathological entities, as well as to identify the factors associated with mental illness stigmatization by military personnel. The data analysis elucidate certain distinctions in dimensions related to mental illness stigmatization by the certain sample. The findings suggest that initiatives directed at enhancing mental health care utilization in the military would be most effective by concentrating on mitigating mental illness stigma associated with seeking mental health services. Further comprehensive studies are warranted to delve deeper into these results. The sample consisted of three hundred military personnel. 273 of them were males, the mean age was 33.5 years (±7.7) and the mean of years of professional experience was 14.8 (±7.7). A demographics questionnaire (covering data as gender, age, professional experience, marital status, educational level and direct/ indirect contact with people with mental disorders) was administered and Stigma Cognitive Schemes were assessed with the Mental Illness Stigma Scale. The scale is composed of 9 items and a Comprehensive Stigma Perception Index finally derived from the mean of items per mental disorder. Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Mental Illness Stigma Scale presented satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices. Through analysis of variance for dependent measures, statistically significant differences were identified for all the items of the scale per mental disorder. The highest scores in Comprehensive Stigma Perception Index appeared for Schizophrenia and Substance Use and the lowest for Anxiety Disorders and Anorexia. With reference to the sources on which the participants relied to answer the questions it emerged that Comprehensive Stigma Perception Index for Alchool use disorder and Anorexia were predicted by information from media. The current study elucidated distinctions in dimensions related to the stigma of mental illness within a military personnel sample. These findings suggest that initiatives directed at enhancing mental health care utilization in the military would be most effective by concentrating on mitigating mental illness stigma associated with seeking mental health services. Further comprehensive studies are warranted to delve deeper into these results.
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Background: Although a surge of interest has recently emerged in investigating the simultaneous problematic use of various technology-based tools, the findings are still inconclusive. The present web-based survey aimed at examining... more
Background: Although a surge of interest has recently emerged in investigating the simultaneous problematic use of various technology-based tools, the findings are still inconclusive. The present web-based survey aimed at examining whether (a) personality traits, coping strategies, and sociodemographics are associated with problematic internet, smartphone, and SMS use among Greek users and (b) personality traits mediate the relationship between maladaptive coping strategies and problematic use of the three media. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A convenience and snowball sample of 1016 participants (84.4% female, mean age of 30.3 years) completed the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-9 (PIUQ-9), the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS), the Self-Perception of Text Message Dependency Scale (STDS), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4+(PDQ-4+), and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief COPE). Results: Shared predictors betwe...
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Since 2008 several European countries have fallen into a financial crisis. This crisis has mainly affected the Greek population. The lower of income and the increase of unemployment as consequences of crisis lead to negative effects on... more
Since 2008 several European countries have fallen into a financial crisis. This crisis has mainly affected the Greek population. The lower of income and the increase of unemployment as consequences of crisis lead to negative effects on people's mental health. Usually, in periods of economic crisis there is an increase of suicidality of population. The aim of this study is to examine the changes of suicide rates in Greece during the last decade (2001-2011) with particular consideration in the recent period of economic crisis (2008-2011). Data regarding the greek general population and the crude data on suicides were obtained from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). We assessed the specific suicide rate, i.e. the number of suicide cases per 100.000 inhabitants (SSR) using population data on the 2001 and 2011 census. Yearly and mean total, age and sex-SSR were calculated in five years age groups. There were no suicide cases among children under the age of fifteen. We compared total and male, female SSR during the period before the crisis (2001-2007) and during the crisis (2008-2011). During the decade 2001-2011 a total number of 4133 suicide cases were recorded. There were 3423 (82.8%) male suicides and 710 (17.2%) female suicides. During the decade 2001-2011 total SSR increased by 38.4%. In males increased by 33.1% and in females by 69.6%. In the period before the crisis (2001-2007) total SSR decreased by 3.9%. In males decreased by 8.4% but in females increased by 22.3%. During the period of crisis (2008-2011) total SSR increased by 27.2%. In males increased by 26.9% and in females by 28.5%. There was a statistically significant increase in total SSR during the crisis regarding subjects 50-54 years old (t=3.43, p=0.007) and in total SSR of males (t=2.31, p=0.047) as well as of the males age groups 50-54 (t=3.56, p=0.006), 45-49 (t=2.87, p=0.02), 30-34 (t=2.96, p=0.02). There were no statistically significant differences both in total SSR and in SSR of all age groups of females during the crisis. The most often used method of suicide all the year of this study was by hanging. In absolute count the total suicide cases for the year 2011 in Greece were 477 (SSR=4.22) and the male suicides 393 (SSR=7.02) which are the highest number of suicides observed in Greece during the last decades. Findings suggest an increase in suicide mortality in Greece during the financial crisis. Reorientation of the goals of the national mental health system as well as targeted interventions should be applied in high risk individuals, i.e. unemployed, poor, suffering from mental or/and physical illnesses, in order to prevent or to mitigate the impact of the financial crisis in the greek population.
Research Interests: Geography, Demography, Unemployment, Suicide, Medicine, and 8 moreGreece, Population, Humans, Female, Pubmed, Male, Sex Factors, and Age Factors
The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial pilot was to investigate the potential effectiveness of the music psychotherapy method, Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), to assist female patients who are undergoing chemotherapy... more
The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial pilot was to investigate the potential effectiveness of the music psychotherapy method, Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), to assist female patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast or gynecologic cancer. A secondary aim was to suggest performance improvements regarding the protocol and the resources required to undertake a future larger scale study. The researchers randomized participants (n = 20) into two groups: Intervention group (n = 10) and Control group (n = 10). The Intervention group received a series of six individual, short GIM sessions whereas the Control group received two verbal counseling sessions that took place at Week 1 and at Week 6 of treatment. All participants in the study completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS-Brief); Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS); and Herth Hope Index (HHI) before the beginning of Week 1 and again after Week 6 or, in the case of the Intervention group, after the last GIM se...
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COVID-19 pandemic brought us face to face with existential threats, a sense of insecurity and ideological challenges. Trust in institutions is a key issue for compliance with the measures and restrictions we were called upon to follow... more
COVID-19 pandemic brought us face to face with existential threats, a sense of insecurity and ideological challenges. Trust in institutions is a key issue for compliance with the measures and restrictions we were called upon to follow during the pandemic. Our studies explored with a mixed-methods approach the role of ideological and existential parameters in trust in institutions during COVID-19 pandemic. Students from several departments of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and University of West Attica participated in our studies (219 in study 1 and 166 in study 2). Study 1, through a correlational and repeated cross-sectional survey explored the relationship of political orientation on trust in institutions in college students during the 1 st (June-July 2020) and 3 rd (November-December 2021) wave of pandemic. Participants in 3 rd wave reported statistically significant lower scores on trust on Prime Minister, Government, Doctor and Nurses and National Health System during 3 rd wave of pandemic in comparison to 1 st wave. In both waves, right political orientation was correlated with strong trust in Prime Minister, Government, Greek Army, Church and Greek Police. Study 2, through a quasi-experimental and correlational design, explored the role of ideological and existential parameters in trust in institutions during the second wave of the pandemic (February-April 2021). Exposure to mortality salience was introduced in the experimental group by administering the Mortality Attitudes Personality Survey, while participants of the control group responded to a questionnaire about TV watching. Measures for both groups included the Social Dominance Orientation, the Right-Wing Authoritarianism, the Global Belief in a Just World, the Connection of the Soul Scale and a questionnaire included 16 domains of trust. Five factors were explicitly extracted in the Exploratory Factor Analysis (Political institutions, Health/Law institutions/Law, Local authorities, Executive institutions, Established order). Participants in mortality salience condition presented higher support in the Health/Law institutions. Mortality salience moderated the relationship between Social Dominance Orientation and trust in institutions. Predictive indicators of institutional trust emerged the post mortem expectations for connection with God and belief in a just world. Policy-making implications of these findings are discussed.
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This socio-political cross-sectional study describes public trust in Greece and investigates its ideological determinants soon after the national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our web-based questionnaire included 22 domains of... more
This socio-political cross-sectional study describes public trust in Greece and investigates its ideological determinants soon after the national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our web-based questionnaire included 22 domains of trust and was completed by 438 participants. We estimated the correlations between trust domains and belief in conspiracy theories, conservatism, institutional liberalism, and political orientation within the spectrum extreme left- extreme right.
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PURPOSE Peroxiredoxins (Prdxs) represent a family of proteins that act as antioxidant enzymes and are involved in a variety of metabolic functions including mainly the intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels reduction. Especially,... more
PURPOSE Peroxiredoxins (Prdxs) represent a family of proteins that act as antioxidant enzymes and are involved in a variety of metabolic functions including mainly the intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels reduction. Especially, Prdx-6 protein encoded by the PRDX6 gene (1q25.1) regulates also phospholipid modifications and induces response to oxidative stress and injuries. Our aim was to investigate the expression of Prdx-6 in colon adenocarcinoma (CA). METHODS A series of 30 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary CAs tissue sections were used and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti-Prdx-6 antibody. Digital image analysis was also implemented for evaluating objectively the protein expression levels on the corresponding stained cells. RESULTS Prdx-6 protein overexpression (increased immunostaining levels) was observed in 12/30 (40%) cases, whereas 18/30 (60%) CA tissues demonstrated low to moderate protein levels, respectively. Prdx-6 overall express...
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<strong>ABSTRACT</strong> <strong>Introduction: </strong>The study of workplace affect constitutes a new paradigm of research, which is mainly determined by the theory of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and the theory... more
<strong>ABSTRACT</strong> <strong>Introduction: </strong>The study of workplace affect constitutes a new paradigm of research, which is mainly determined by the theory of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and the theory of emotion regulation. Emotional management at workplace is crucial especially in environments where interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork is needed, such as the Diagnostic and Support Centers for Diagnosis for Special Education (KEDDY). <strong>Aim: </strong>The present study investigates the relationship between strategies of emotion regulation, EI and workplace affect. <strong>Material and Method: </strong>A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 197 employees (153, 77,7% were women), with a mean age of 39,5 years, derived from 34 KEDDY of the country. Data was collected using printed anonymous questionnaires, namely scales of workplace affect, EI and emotion regulation, which were voluntarily completed by the participants. Correlation checks (Pearson's <em>r) </em>were performed, the <em>t</em> criterion was used to compare independent samples, while two structural equation models were used. <strong>Results: </strong>Positive workplace affect was positively correlated with the cognitive reappraisal strategy and EI. Negative workplace affect was positively correlated with emotional suppression and negatively with EI. According to structural equation models, EI fully mediated the relationship between cognitive reappraisal and positive workplace affect. Socio-demographic factors did not correlate with dimensions of workplace affect (positive and negative). <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cognitive reassessment constitutes an adaptive workplace emotion regulation strategy. This study highlights the usefulness of developing emotional skills programs in the workplace, aiming to improve work satisfaction and empower employees to manage workplace conflicts and difficulties.
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OBJECTIVE Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk for suffering negative psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as secondary traumatic stress symptoms (STS), as they are exposed to this traumatic experience both... more
OBJECTIVE Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk for suffering negative psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as secondary traumatic stress symptoms (STS), as they are exposed to this traumatic experience both directly, as community residents, and indirectly, in the care of infected patients. Following vicarious exposure, positive psychological outcomes, such as vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG), are also likely, though they are less studied. The present study aims to examine (a) the associations among STS, VPTG, and coping strategies among HCWs during the COVID-19 lockdown and (b) the mediating role of coping strategies in the STS-VPTG relationship. METHOD Cross-sectional online data were collected amid the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece (March 23, 2020 through May 3, 2020) from a sample of 647 HCWs (25% men, 75% women). The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory were used to measure STS, VPTG, and coping strategies, respectively. RESULTS HCWs reported moderate to low levels of STS and VPTG, with the VPTG dimensions of personal strength and appreciation of life being the highest categories. Intrusions mental and both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predicted VPTG. Adaptive coping strategies partially mediated the relationship between STS and VPTG, whereas maladaptive coping strategies fully mediated this relationship. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the coping responses during lockdown among HCWs is important for developing tailored prevention and intervention actions to protect the populations at risk from the deleterious impacts of uncontrollable and life-threatening diseases and promote posttraumatic growth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Recognizing that schools have become the universal location where young people are learning about the Internet in a safe and responsible manner and are also an important conduit of information for parents- many of whom are not as... more
Recognizing that schools have become the universal location where young people are learning about the Internet in a safe and responsible manner and are also an important conduit of information for parents- many of whom are not as technically literate as their children, this research investigates: a) teachers' and parents’ education about the safe and responsible use of the Internet by elementary students, b) the differences in parents’ and teachers’ attitudes towards the students’ use of the Internet in the family home and at school and, c) the kind of issues or concerns that emerge between parents and teachers as an acknowledgment of the web based technologies importance in the students’ day-to-day social and educational activities. Interviews by 230 teachers and 1289 parents in 36 elementary schools in urban and rural provinces of Crete demonstrate that technologically sophisticated parents expressed more concern over their children’s negative consequences of the Internet use ...
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The background that underlies each committed suicide varies among people and constitutes a complex structure of psychological, behavioural and biological risk factors that may be triggered by external conditions. Recent studies have shed... more
The background that underlies each committed suicide varies among people and constitutes a complex structure of psychological, behavioural and biological risk factors that may be triggered by external conditions. Recent studies have shed new light on the association of suicides with particular days and periods of year, in an attempt to resolve the inconsistencies met in literature regarding this relationship. The aim of this study is to look into any time-related patterns on suicides in Greece and to do so we analyzed the frequency of suicides over a period of 13 years (2000-2012) in terms of day of the week, month, major celebration and season. A seasonal ARIMA model revealed the association between suicide frequency and month of year, with a peak to be reached in May and July and increased numbers of suicides to be reported during spring and summer months. Monday was the most frequent day of suicide occurrence whereas Sunday was the least one. A season pattern of suicides was vali...
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People with mental health disorders experience exclusion and discrimination due to mental health stigma which includes misconceptions, negative attitudes and stereotypes against them. According to the Terror Management Theory, the... more
People with mental health disorders experience exclusion and discrimination due to mental health stigma which includes misconceptions, negative attitudes and stereotypes against them. According to the Terror Management Theory, the worldview defense hypothesis states that mortality salience leads people to cling to their preexisting worldview. The aim of this study was to investigate, through a quasi-experimental design, the effect of mortality salience condition on stigma of mental illness among mental health professionals. The study involved 81 participants (79.0% women, mean age: 33.8 years, 43 in the experimental group) of which 47 (58%) psychologists, 23(28.4%) social workers, and 11 (13.6%) psychiatrists. Two questionnaires (experimental and control group) were shared via internet, including the Social Dominance Orientation tool, the Mortality Attitudes Personality Survey, the PANAS scale, a scale to evaluate Mental Health Stigma perceptions for people suffering from Depression...
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Workplaces that provide services and deal with abuse cases are often associated with high levels of work stress, burn out, and high expressed affect. The current intervention aimed at a more effective management of stress and affect in... more
Workplaces that provide services and deal with abuse cases are often associated with high levels of work stress, burn out, and high expressed affect. The current intervention aimed at a more effective management of stress and affect in the workplace. EMDR therapy is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and anxiety disorders. A Group EMDR protocol was applied to professionals working at “the House of the Child”, an innovative specialized Mental Health Unit that provides multi-disciplinary assessment, diagnosis and treatment services for children and adolescents survivors of abuse and neglect operated by the Association “The Smile of the Child”. The intervention included two sessions. The stabilization session took place for purposes of screening and preparation (self-regulation) and lasted 45 minutes. In the second session, which lasted 90 minutes, participants processed a recent stressful event that occurred in the workplace. The stressful event was not shared in the group. There we...
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A number of studies investigating the link between weather and homicides indicate that weather has an effect on the occurrence of murder. These studies argue that the weather and its changes can act as stressors, especially for... more
A number of studies investigating the link between weather and homicides indicate that weather has an effect on the occurrence of murder. These studies argue that the weather and its changes can act as stressors, especially for individuals who are highly sensitive to stress and thus the weather can have both physiological and psychological effects on human behaviour. The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between temperature (daily Tmean and Tmax) and the incidents of homicides in Central and Northern Greece. A total of 137 homicides were registered in the investigated area between 1995 and 2004. The results revealed that more than 30% of the registered homicides occurred on a day with a Tmean> 25° C and that about 45% of the registered homicides occurred on a day with a Tmax> 25° C while half of them were committed with a Tmax> 30° C. The results showed a higher correlation of the number of homicides with Tmax than with Tmin. Our findings are in accord...
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In humans, as in other species, nonindependent mate choice takes place when females are influenced in their mate choice by the choices of other females. Previous studies have used almost exclusively experimental methods, with the most... more
In humans, as in other species, nonindependent mate choice takes place when females are influenced in their mate choice by the choices of other females. Previous studies have used almost exclusively experimental methods, with the most robust finding being that women tend to be more attracted to men who are paired with attractive women. Results, however, have often been conflicting, and the degree to which experimental methods are capturing real-life social processes has not been validated. In this study a self-report questionnaire was administered to a sample of young Greek men and women who were in monogamous romantic relationships. Participants also provided facial photographs of themselves that were rated for attractiveness. Men in these relationships tended to report more perceived opposite-sex interest than their partners, though this difference was not as clear or strong as expected. Furthermore the degree to which men - and women - reported opposite-sex interest was not relat...
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Α number of previous articles have dealt with the negative impact of the Greek Economic crisis on public health, including significant increases in major depression prevalence and suicide and homicide rates. The mentally ill seem to... more
Α number of previous articles have dealt with the negative impact of the Greek Economic crisis on public health, including significant increases in major depression prevalence and suicide and homicide rates. The mentally ill seem to represent a vulnerable social group, with particular difficulties in this context. The number of compulsory assessments and involuntary admissions was recorded by reviewing patient records in the Department of Psychiatry of the University Hospital of Patras, through years 2006-2013. Compulsory assessments increased from 176 in 2006 to 262 in 2009 and 354 in 2013, representing a 48.86% and 101.13% increase in the first and the fifth year of economic crisis, respectively. The assessments resulted in 160 involuntary admissions in 2006, which escalated to 262 admissions (63.75% rise) in 2013. Even though a rise in involuntary placements could be attributed to other factors as well, it may also partly represent a not so evident side of the Greek economic crisis.
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Introduction The financial crisis that began in 2008 affecting many European countries and mainly Greece has an ongoing impact on public mental health and quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of... more
Introduction The financial crisis that began in 2008 affecting many European countries and mainly Greece has an ongoing impact on public mental health and quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of the financial crisis on criminality verifying differences in crime rates between the years 2008 and 2011 in Greece. Methods Data on crime in Greece for 2008 and 2011 were provided by the Crime Analysis Section of the Public Security Department of the Hellenic Police Headquarters. In order to create a comprehensive global index of criminality we calculated an overall crime rate including the following crimes committed: homicides, financial crimes (fraud, extortion), drug-related crimes, illegal weapon possession, sex-related crimes (rape, sexual exploitation), thefts/ burglaries and robberies. The overall and the aforementioned specific crude crime rates were calculated per 100,000 residents. Paired samples t-test was used to examine the differences in the rates between 2008 and 2011. Results A significant increase in the overall crime rate between 2008 and 2011 (t=5.01, p=0.001) was found. Moreover, between 2008 and 2011 there was significant increase in the crude rates of homicide (t=2.41, p=0.03), fraud (t=7.35, p=0.001), extortion (t=3.22, p=0.009), illegal weapon possession (t=5.27, p=0.001), theft/burglary (t=4.62, p=0.001) and robbery (t=3.23, p=0.007). There were not statistical differences in the crude rates of sex-related and drug-related crime. Conclusions According to the results of this study criminality in Greece shows significant increase during the current financial crisis as reflected in many crime indicators.
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ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to investigate the cross-sectional pattern of relationships of life satisfaction with assertive behavior and coping strategies in adolescence. The sample consisted of 433 students who were... more
ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to investigate the cross-sectional pattern of relationships of life satisfaction with assertive behavior and coping strategies in adolescence. The sample consisted of 433 students who were enrolled in grade 6 of Primary School (N=145), grade 2 of Junior High School (N=145) and grade 1 of Lyceum (N=143), in the Arsakeia Schools of Ekali, Psychikon, and Patras, Greece. Participants were administered the Children’s Assertive Behavior Scale (Michelson &amp; Wood, 1982), the Multi-dimensional Life Satisfaction Scale (Huebner, 2001), the Athens Coping Scale (Besevegis, 2001), and a demographic questionnaire. The research questions were explored by implementing both variable-focused as well as person-focused techniques. It was found that a significant amount of variance of adolescent life satisfaction can be predicted by assertive behavior and coping strategies. The impact of socio-demographic factors (i.e., gender, age, and parental education) was also examined. The implications of findings in designing mental health interventions in the school community are discussed. Key words: life satisfaction, assertive behavior, coping strategies, adolescence.
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The idea of personal death causes a sense of uncertainty and threat against our ontological security. Terror management theory proposes that, when confronted with existential anxiety, we tend to seek safety through explicit (post-mortem... more
The idea of personal death causes a sense of uncertainty and threat against our ontological security. Terror management theory proposes that, when confronted with existential anxiety, we tend to seek safety through explicit (post-mortem expectations) and implicit/symbolic immortality (cultural worldviews). This study aims to explore the role of existential parameters in the Greek host community acculturation expectations towards immigrants from Albania and Pakistan. Participants were 208 Greek university students. Exposure to mortality salience was introduced in the experimental group by administering the Mortality Attitudes Personality Survey, while participants of the control group responded to a questionnaire about TV watching. Measures for both groups included the Host Community Acculturation Scale and the Connection of the Soul Scale. It was found that host community acculturation expectations were not affected by experimental exposure to mortality salience but they were relate...
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of emotional skills and gender in workplace affect through non-hierarchical level and multilevel analyses. Data was collected through self-report questionnaires completed by 19 directors... more
The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of emotional skills and gender in workplace affect through non-hierarchical level and multilevel analyses. Data was collected through self-report questionnaires completed by 19 directors and 128 subordinates working in interdisciplinary teams of Centers of Educational and Counselling Support. At non-hierarchical level, higher order emotional abilities (use and regulate emotions) were positively related to positive affect at workplace. Negative affect was negatively associated with the ability to regulate emotions and positively with the strategy of emotional suppression. At multilevel analyses, cognitive reappraisal emerged as a significant predictor for both the positive and negative affect (inversed) of the subordinates. Gender differences were observed at multilevel analyses. We tempt to explore possible tensions between emotional competencies and emotional outcomes (workplace affect) both at non-hierarchical level and managerial ...
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of emotional skills and gender in the workplace affect through non-hierarchical level and multilevel analyses. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires completed by 19... more
The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of emotional skills and gender in the workplace affect through non-hierarchical level and multilevel analyses. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires completed by 19 directors and 128 subordinates working in interdisciplinary teams of Centers of Educational and Counselling Support. At non-hierarchical level, higher-order emotional skills (use of emotions and cognitive reappraisal) were positively related to positive affect in the workplace. Negative affect was negatively associated with the ability to regulate emotions and positively associated with the strategy of emotional suppression. From the multilevel analyses, cognitive reappraisal was a significant predictor for both positive and negative affect (inversed) of subordinates. Gender differences were observed in multilevel analyses. We also explored possible tensions between emotional competencies and emotional outcomes (workplace affect) at non-hierarchical and managerial level in interdisciplinary teams. We suggest training programs that promote group emotional empowerment and focus on higher-order emotional skills. At managerial level, we suggest training programs that penetrate cognitive reappraisal of emotions since this is an emotion regulation strategy that promotes safer emotional affect in the workplace.
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Abstract Research has found gambling to be related to a variety of other addictive behaviours. The study objective was to evaluate the association of Internet gambling with Internet addiction, online sexual engagement, suicidality and... more
Abstract Research has found gambling to be related to a variety of other addictive behaviours. The study objective was to evaluate the association of Internet gambling with Internet addiction, online sexual engagement, suicidality and substance use, in a sample of Greek adults. The study sample consisted of 789 military personnel. During their annual medical examination the study participants anonymously completed a series of self-reported questionnaires in relation to socio-demographic data, Internet gambling practices, online sexual engagement, Internet addiction, suicidality and psychoactive substance use. We found that Internet addiction significantly predicted engagement with online gambling, followed by substance use in general, and, in particular, the use of cocaine or heroin. Finally, two other predictive indicators were self-reported suicide attempts and engagement with online sex. Online gambling is associated with various behaviours related to impulsivity such as Internet addiction, online sexual engagement, suicidality and substance use. Future research will increase our knowledge on the contribution of new technologies and the Internet in Internet gambling dimensions, as well as on the associations with other high-risk behaviours such as substance use, pornography and suicidality.
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Summary Purpose: Peroxiredoxins (Prdxs) represent a family of proteins that act as antioxidant enzymes and are involved in a variety of metabolic functions including mainly the intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels reduction.... more
Summary
Purpose: Peroxiredoxins (Prdxs) represent a family of proteins that act as antioxidant enzymes and are involved in a variety of metabolic functions including mainly the intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels reduction. Especially, Prdx-6 protein encoded by the PRDX6 gene (1q25.1) regulates also phospholipid modifications and induces response to oxidative stress and injuries. Our aim was to investigate the expression of Prdx-6 in colon adenocarcinoma (CA).
Methods: A series of 30 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary CAs tissue sections were used and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti-Prdx-6
antibody. Digital image analysis was also implemented for evaluating objectively the protein expression levels on the corresponding stained cells.
Results: Prdx-6 protein overexpression (increased immunostaining levels) was observed in 12/30 (40%) cases, whereas 18/30 (60%) CA tissues demonstrated low to moderate
protein levels, respectively. Prdx-6 overall expression was strongly associated with the stage of the examined tumors (p=0.011), whereas other statistical significances were not assessed (inflammatory infiltration: p=0.364; carcinoma location: p=0.93; differentiation grade: p=0.517; tumor diameter: p=0.983; ulceration: p=0.622).
Conclusions: Prdx-6 overexpression is observed in a significant subset of CAs correlating with aggressive biological behavior (advanced stage). Prdx-6 is a crucial enzyme for oxidative stress/injury endogenous cell response and should be an interesting agent as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target.
Key words: carcinoma, colon, peroxiredoxin, immunohistochemistry, oxidative stress
Purpose: Peroxiredoxins (Prdxs) represent a family of proteins that act as antioxidant enzymes and are involved in a variety of metabolic functions including mainly the intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels reduction. Especially, Prdx-6 protein encoded by the PRDX6 gene (1q25.1) regulates also phospholipid modifications and induces response to oxidative stress and injuries. Our aim was to investigate the expression of Prdx-6 in colon adenocarcinoma (CA).
Methods: A series of 30 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary CAs tissue sections were used and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti-Prdx-6
antibody. Digital image analysis was also implemented for evaluating objectively the protein expression levels on the corresponding stained cells.
Results: Prdx-6 protein overexpression (increased immunostaining levels) was observed in 12/30 (40%) cases, whereas 18/30 (60%) CA tissues demonstrated low to moderate
protein levels, respectively. Prdx-6 overall expression was strongly associated with the stage of the examined tumors (p=0.011), whereas other statistical significances were not assessed (inflammatory infiltration: p=0.364; carcinoma location: p=0.93; differentiation grade: p=0.517; tumor diameter: p=0.983; ulceration: p=0.622).
Conclusions: Prdx-6 overexpression is observed in a significant subset of CAs correlating with aggressive biological behavior (advanced stage). Prdx-6 is a crucial enzyme for oxidative stress/injury endogenous cell response and should be an interesting agent as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target.
Key words: carcinoma, colon, peroxiredoxin, immunohistochemistry, oxidative stress
Εισαγωγή: Η μελέτη του συναισθήματος στο χώρο εργασίας συνιστά ένα νέο πεδίο έρευνας, το οποίο προσδιορίζεται, κυρίως, από τη θεωρία της Συναισθηματικής Νοημοσύνης (ΣΝ) και αυτή της ρύθμισης του συναισθήματος. Η διαχείριση συναισθημάτων... more
Εισαγωγή: Η μελέτη του συναισθήματος στο χώρο εργασίας συνιστά ένα νέο πεδίο έρευνας, το οποίο προσδιορίζεται, κυρίως, από τη θεωρία της Συναισθηματικής Νοημοσύνης (ΣΝ) και αυτή της ρύθμισης του συναισθήματος. Η διαχείριση συναισθημάτων στο χώρο εργασίας είναι κρίσιμη, ιδιαίτερα σε περιβάλλοντα όπου απαιτείται ομαδική και διεπιστημονική συνεργασία, όπως στα Κέντρα Διαφοροδιάγνωσης Διάγνωσης και Υποστήριξης (ΚΕΔΔΥ). Σκοπός: Η παρούσα μελέτη διερευνά τη σχέση ανάμεσα στη ρύθμιση των συναισθημάτων, τη ΣΝ και το συναίσθημα στο χώρο εργασίας. Υλικό και μέθοδος: Πραγματοποιήθηκε ποσοτική συγχρονική μελέτη σε 197 εργαζόμενους (153, 77,7% ήταν γυναίκες), μέσης ηλικίας 39,5 ετών, σε 34 ΚΕΔΔΥ της επικράτειας. Για τη συλλογή των δεδομένων χρησιμοποιήθηκαν έντυπα ανώνυμα ερωτηματολόγια, ειδικότερα κλίμακες Συναισθημάτων στην Εργασία, Συναισθηματικής Νοημοσύνης και Ρύθμισης Συναισθήματος που συμπληρώθηκαν εθελοντικά από τους εργαζόμενους. Διενεργήθηκαν έλεγχοι διμεταβλητής συσχέτισης (Pearson’s r), χρησιμοποιήθηκε το t κριτήριο για σύγκριση ανεξάρτητων δειγμάτων και δημιουργήθηκαν δύο μοντέλα δομικών εξισώσεων. Αποτελέσματα: Το θετικό συναίσθημα στο χώρο εργασίας συσχετίστηκε θετικά με τη στρατηγική της γνωστικής επανεκτίμησης και την ΣΝ. Το αρνητικό συναίσθημα συσχετίστηκε θετικά με την συναισθηματική καταστολή και αρνητικά με την ΣΝ. Η ΣΝ προέκυψε να διαμεσολαβεί πλήρως τη σχέση ανάμεσα στη γνωστική επανεκτίμηση και το θετικό συναίσθημα. Οι κοινωνικο-δημογραφικοί δείκτες δεν συσχετίστηκαν με τις διαστάσεις του συναισθήματος (θετικό και αρνητικό). Συμπεράσματα: Η γνωστική επανεκτίμηση αποτελεί προσαρμοστική στρατηγική ρύθμισης συναισθήματος στο χώρο εργασίας. Αναδεικνύεται η ανάγκη να δημιουργηθούν προγράμματα προαγωγής συναισθηματικών δεξιοτήτων στο εργασιακό περιβάλλον, με στόχο την βελτίωση της ικανοποίησης από την εργασία και την ενίσχυση των υπαλλήλων να διαχειρίζονται συγκρούσεις και δυσκολίες στο εργασιακό πλαίσιο.
Λέξεις Κλειδιά: Συναίσθημα στο χώρο εργασίας, ρύθμιση συναισθήματος, συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη, ΚΕΔΔΥ, διεπιστημονικές ομάδες.
Λέξεις Κλειδιά: Συναίσθημα στο χώρο εργασίας, ρύθμιση συναισθήματος, συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη, ΚΕΔΔΥ, διεπιστημονικές ομάδες.
Research Interests:
People with mental health disorders experience exclusion and discrimination due to mental health stigma which includes misconceptions, negative attitudes and stereotypes against them. According to the Terror Management... more
People with mental health disorders experience exclusion and discrimination due to mental health stigma which includes misconceptions, negative attitudes and stereotypes against them. According to the Terror Management The-ory, the worldview defense hypothesis states that mortality salience leads people to cling to their preexisting world-view. The aim of this study was to investigate, through a quasi-experimental design, the effect of mortality salience condition on stigma of mental illness among mental health professionals. The study involved 81 participants (79.0% women, mean age: 33.8 years, 43 in the experimental group) of which 47 (58%) psychologists, 23(28.4%) social work-ers, and 11 (13.6%) psychiatrists. Two questionnaires (experimental and control group) were shared via internet, in-cluding the Social Dominance Orientation tool, the Mortality Attitudes Personality Survey, the PANAS scale, a scale to evaluate Mental Health Stigma perceptions for people suffering from Depression, Anxiety / Panic Disorders and Schiz-ophrenia, using 9 clusters of statements (e.g. “are isolated,” “cannot work normally,” “have self-destructive tendencies,” “pose a risk to others”) and a scale to evaluate out of workplace contact with people with mental disorders. The experi-mental group (Mortality Salience) showed systematically lower rates of stigma scores regarding people suffering from Anxiety and Depression. Participants having out of work contacts with people with mental conditions showed lower stigma scores for Schizophrenia in the experimental group. Social Dominance Orientation was positively related to mental health stigma in the total sample; however, when examined in the experimental and the control group sepa-rately, there were not statistically significant correlations. The findings of the present study confirm to some extent the worldview defense hypothesis. A potential explanation to this might be that the activation of personal vulnerability triggers the activation of systems of subjective sense of vulnerability which then mobilize mental health professionals to be attached to their worldview and be supportive to stigmatized groups suffering from mental health illness.
Keywords: mental health stigma, mortal salience, mental health workers, worldview defense
Keywords: mental health stigma, mortal salience, mental health workers, worldview defense
Research Interests:
Η ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή αναφέρεται στην υποκειμενική αξιολόγηση των θετικών όψεων της ζωής ενός ατόμου, τόσο συνολικά όσο και κατά τομείς. Στόχος της παρούσας μελέτης είναι να διερευνήσει τη συνάφεια ανάμεσα στην προσλαμβανόμενη... more
Η ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή αναφέρεται στην υποκειμενική αξιολόγηση των θετικών όψεων της ζωής ενός ατόμου, τόσο συνολικά όσο και κατά τομείς. Στόχος της
παρούσας μελέτης είναι να διερευνήσει τη συνάφεια ανάμεσα στην προσλαμβανόμενη ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή και τις διαστάσεις της με τα πρώιμα δυσλειτουργικά σχήματα
και τον τύπο δεσμού σε παιδιά που διαβιούν σε δομές παιδικής φιλοξενίας. Στη παρούσα μελέτη συμμετείχαν παιδιά και έφηβοι που παραπέμφθηκαν στο Κέντρο
Ημέρας «το Σπίτι του Παιδιού» του «Χαμόγελου του Παιδιού». Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 64 παιδιά (29 αγόρια, 35 κορίτσια) ηλικίας 9 έως 18 ετών (Μ = 13, SD =
2,5). Χορηγήθηκαν η κλίμακα Ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή (BMSLSS), η κλίμακα Δεσμού για Παιδιά σε σχέση με τους συνομηλίκους (AQ-C), η κλίμακα για τα Πρώιμα
Δυσλειτουργικά Σχήματα (ΠΔΣ)-(SQC). Τα παιδιά ανέφεραν ότι είναι αισθάνονται μεγαλύτερη ικανοποίηση από τους φίλους, τον εαυτό και το μέρος διαμονής, ενώ
χαμηλότερη ικανοποίηση ανέφεραν από την επαφή με την οικογένεια. Όπως προκύπτει από τις αυτοαναφορές των παιδιών 57% αναφέρει ότι έχει ασφαλή δεσμό και 42,6%
ανασφαλή δεσμό. Αναφορικά με τα ΠΔΣ οι υψηλότερες τιμές ήταν στην Ευαλωτότητα και τα Ανελαστικά όρια και οι χαμηλότερες στην Συναισθηματική στέρηση και την
Αποτυχία. Τα αγόρια εμφάνισαν υψηλότερους δείκτες ικανοποίησης από την επαφή με την οικογένεια και την συνολική ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή σε σύγκριση με τα
κορίτσια. Η ηλικία συσχετίστηκε αντίστροφα από την ικανοποίηση από τους φίλους. Το δείκτη ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή κατάφεραν τα προβλέψουν τα σχήματα της
Αυτοθυσίας (αντίστροφα) και της Υπερεμπλοκής. Την ικανοποίηση από τους φίλους προέβλεψε ο αποφευκτικός δεσμός (αντίστροφα) και η Υπερεμπλοκή. Την ικανοποίηση από το σχολείο προέβλεψε η Αποτυχία (αντίστροφα). Την ικανοποίηση από τον εαυτό προέβλεψε η Αυτοθυσία (αντίστροφα). Την ικανοποίηση από το μέρος που διαμένουν προέβλεψε η Αυτοθυσία (αντίστροφα), ο Κοινωνικός αποκλεισμός (αντίστροφα) και η Εγκατάλειψη. Και τέλος την ικανοποίηση από την οικογένεια, κατάφερε να προβλέψει η Ευαλωτότητα. Προτείνεται η επέκταση της μελέτης σε ευρύτερα δείγματα παράλληλα με την συμπερίληψη μετρήσεων ψυχοπαθολογίας καθώς και η σύγκριση των δεδομένων με δείγμα από πληθυσμούς παιδιών που βρίσκονται σε υιοθεσία από την μια ή διαμένουν με τους βιολογικούς τους γονείς τους από την άλλη.
Λέξεις κλειδιά: Ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή, Πρώιμα Δυσλειτουργικά Σχήματα, Δεσμός, Δομές παιδικής φιλοξενίας
παρούσας μελέτης είναι να διερευνήσει τη συνάφεια ανάμεσα στην προσλαμβανόμενη ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή και τις διαστάσεις της με τα πρώιμα δυσλειτουργικά σχήματα
και τον τύπο δεσμού σε παιδιά που διαβιούν σε δομές παιδικής φιλοξενίας. Στη παρούσα μελέτη συμμετείχαν παιδιά και έφηβοι που παραπέμφθηκαν στο Κέντρο
Ημέρας «το Σπίτι του Παιδιού» του «Χαμόγελου του Παιδιού». Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 64 παιδιά (29 αγόρια, 35 κορίτσια) ηλικίας 9 έως 18 ετών (Μ = 13, SD =
2,5). Χορηγήθηκαν η κλίμακα Ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή (BMSLSS), η κλίμακα Δεσμού για Παιδιά σε σχέση με τους συνομηλίκους (AQ-C), η κλίμακα για τα Πρώιμα
Δυσλειτουργικά Σχήματα (ΠΔΣ)-(SQC). Τα παιδιά ανέφεραν ότι είναι αισθάνονται μεγαλύτερη ικανοποίηση από τους φίλους, τον εαυτό και το μέρος διαμονής, ενώ
χαμηλότερη ικανοποίηση ανέφεραν από την επαφή με την οικογένεια. Όπως προκύπτει από τις αυτοαναφορές των παιδιών 57% αναφέρει ότι έχει ασφαλή δεσμό και 42,6%
ανασφαλή δεσμό. Αναφορικά με τα ΠΔΣ οι υψηλότερες τιμές ήταν στην Ευαλωτότητα και τα Ανελαστικά όρια και οι χαμηλότερες στην Συναισθηματική στέρηση και την
Αποτυχία. Τα αγόρια εμφάνισαν υψηλότερους δείκτες ικανοποίησης από την επαφή με την οικογένεια και την συνολική ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή σε σύγκριση με τα
κορίτσια. Η ηλικία συσχετίστηκε αντίστροφα από την ικανοποίηση από τους φίλους. Το δείκτη ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή κατάφεραν τα προβλέψουν τα σχήματα της
Αυτοθυσίας (αντίστροφα) και της Υπερεμπλοκής. Την ικανοποίηση από τους φίλους προέβλεψε ο αποφευκτικός δεσμός (αντίστροφα) και η Υπερεμπλοκή. Την ικανοποίηση από το σχολείο προέβλεψε η Αποτυχία (αντίστροφα). Την ικανοποίηση από τον εαυτό προέβλεψε η Αυτοθυσία (αντίστροφα). Την ικανοποίηση από το μέρος που διαμένουν προέβλεψε η Αυτοθυσία (αντίστροφα), ο Κοινωνικός αποκλεισμός (αντίστροφα) και η Εγκατάλειψη. Και τέλος την ικανοποίηση από την οικογένεια, κατάφερε να προβλέψει η Ευαλωτότητα. Προτείνεται η επέκταση της μελέτης σε ευρύτερα δείγματα παράλληλα με την συμπερίληψη μετρήσεων ψυχοπαθολογίας καθώς και η σύγκριση των δεδομένων με δείγμα από πληθυσμούς παιδιών που βρίσκονται σε υιοθεσία από την μια ή διαμένουν με τους βιολογικούς τους γονείς τους από την άλλη.
Λέξεις κλειδιά: Ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή, Πρώιμα Δυσλειτουργικά Σχήματα, Δεσμός, Δομές παιδικής φιλοξενίας
Research Interests:
In the present study, we examined factors that may impact immigrants' anxiety and depressive symptoms, focusing on the role of acculturation attitudes and social support. The participants of the present study were first generation Indian... more
In the present study, we examined factors that may impact immigrants' anxiety and depressive symptoms, focusing on the role of acculturation attitudes and social support. The participants of the present study were first generation Indian immigrants residing in Crete, Greece (N=114). Our first hypothesis was that Indian immigrants will choose two acculturation attitudes, namely integration and separation, as these may enable them maintain certain aspects of their culture of origin given their distinct differences from Greeks in religion, cultural values, and physical appearance. It was also hypothesized that integration and separation will be positively related to social support. Social support was also expected to mediate the negative relationship of separation and integration to anxiety and depression. Furthermore, social support was expected to act protectively for Indian immigrants who chose integration and separation, minimizing the levels of anxiety and depression (i.e., a moderation effect). Using specific measures for anxiety, depression, social support, and acculturation attitudes, the results showed that Indian immigrants report a greater preference for integration and separation. Separation was the only acculturation attitude positively related to social support and negatively to depression through social support from friends and family. Moreover, higher levels of social support seemed to protected immigrants who choose integration from depression and medium and high levels of social support protected immigrants who choose assimilation from anxiety. These findings indicate that both integration and separation are preferred by Indian immigrants in Greece. Moreover, it seems that in the case of Indian immigrants in Greece, separation could be related to more immigrants' social support than other acculturation attitudes, ending in turn to less depression symptoms. These findings demonstrate that different acculturation attitudes (i.e. assimilation, integration, separation) may have different effects on distinct psychological indices. Moreover, immigrants’ social support is a protecting factor in the relationship between acculturation attitudes to anxiety and depression. The present study suggests that the increase of the immigrants’ social networks could prove helpful for their adaptation to the Greek society.
Research Interests:
Workplaces that provide services and deal with abuse cases are often associated with high levels of work stress, burn out, and high expressed affect. The current intervention aimed at a more effective management of stress and affect in... more
Workplaces that provide services and deal with abuse cases are often associated with high levels of work stress, burn out, and high expressed affect. The current intervention aimed at a more effective management of stress and affect in the workplace. EMDR therapy is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and anxiety disorders. A Group EMDR protocol was applied to professionals working at "the House of the Child", an innovative specialized Mental Health Unit that provides multidisciplinary assessment, diagnosis and treatment services for children and adolescents survivors of abuse and neglect operated by the Association "The Smile of the Child". The intervention included two sessions. The stabilization session took place for purposes of screening and preparation (self-regulation) and lasted 45 minutes. In the second session, which lasted 90 minutes, participants processed a recent stressful event that occurred in the workplace. The stressful event was not shared in the group. There were twenty participants and two facilitators, all of whom working at the unit. The Job Affect Scale, the Impact of Event Scale-R, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Subjective Units of Distress (SUD's) were administered. The dependent (paired) t test showed significant reduction of the SUDs related to the stressful event, decrease in the avoidance, intrusion and hyperarousal symptoms. Moreover, reduction in the negative affect in the workplace was noted. The current pilot intervention provided indications for the usefulness of workplace interventions aiming at more effective stress management and better communication among the members of the multi-disciplinary team. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of Group EMDR in workplace stress management and the prevention or processing of vicarious/secondary trauma.
Research Interests:
The background that underlies each committed suicide varies among people and constitutes a complex structure of psychological , behavioural and biological risk factors that may be triggered by external conditions. Recent studies have shed... more
The background that underlies each committed suicide varies among people and constitutes a complex structure of psychological , behavioural and biological risk factors that may be triggered by external conditions. Recent studies have shed new light on the association of suicides with particular days and periods of year, in an attempt to resolve the inconsistencies met in literature regarding this relationship. The aim of this study is to look into any time-related patterns on suicides in Greece and to do so we analyzed the frequency of suicides over a period of 13 years (2000-2012) in terms of day of the week, month, major celebration and season. A seasonal ARIMA model revealed the association between suicide frequency and month of year, with a peak to be reached in May and July and increased numbers of suicides to be reported during spring and summer months. Monday was the most frequent day of suicide occurrence whereas Sunday was the least one. A season pattern of suicides was validated. The increase of suicide occurrences on Mondays could be explained by the "broken-promise effect" which has been described as the consequence of frustrated expectations of the weekend. Suicide peaks in spring and summer may be explained partially by biological factors (e.g. serotonergic alterations) as well as the experience of depressed people perceiving the social and emotional contrast to other people that enjoy outdoor activities at that period.
Research Interests: Suicide and Seasonality
The idea of personal death causes a sense of uncertainty and threat against our ontological security. Terror management theory proposes that, when confronted with existential anxiety, we tend to seek safety through explicit (post-mortem... more
The idea of personal death causes a sense of uncertainty and threat against our ontological security. Terror management theory proposes that, when confronted with existential anxiety, we tend to seek safety through explicit (post-mortem expectations) and implicit/symbolic immortality (cultural worldviews). This study aims to explore the role of existential parameters in the Greek host community acculturation expectations towards immigrants from Albania and Pakistan. Participants were 208 Greek university students. Exposure to mortality salience was introduced in the experimental group by administering the Mortality Attitudes Personality Survey, while participants of the control group responded to a questionnaire about TV watching. Measures for both groups included the Host Community Acculturation Scale and the Connection of the Soul Scale. It was found that host community acculturation expectations were not affected by experimental exposure to mortality salience but they were related to post-mortem expectations. Specifically, post-mortem expectations for connection with God were associated with acculturation expectations for individualism (positively), segregation and marginalization (negatively) of immigrants from Albania, while post-mortem expectations for connection with the universe were linked to expectations for integration of this immigrant group. With regards to immigrants from Pakistan, segregation was positively related to the connection with God. The findings suggest that host community acculturation expectations of Greeks are related to existential anxiety as a trait rather than as a state.
Research Interests:
In humans, as in other species, nonindependent mate choice takes place when females are influenced in their mate choice by the choices of other females. Previous studies have used almost exclusively experimental methods, with the most... more
In humans, as in other species, nonindependent mate choice takes place when females are influenced in their mate choice by the choices of other females. Previous studies have used almost exclusively experimental methods, with the most robust finding being that women tend to be more attracted to men who are paired with attractive women. Results, however, have often been conflicting, and the degree to which experimental methods are capturing real-life social processes has not been validated. In this study a self-report questionnaire was administered to a sample of young Greek men and women who were in monogamous romantic relationships. Participants also provided facial photographs of themselves that were rated for attractiveness. Men in these relationships tended to report more perceived opposite-sex interest than their partners, though this difference was not as clear or strong as expected. Furthermore the degree to which men-and women-reported opposite sex interest was not related to the attractiveness of their partners. We discuss what might account for these unexpected results and suggest ways for improving the current methodology.
Research Interests:
The link between poverty, unemployment and economic downturns and increases in crime rates has long been the subject of social science study. However, the relationships between these phenomena has not been studied sufficiently and through... more
The link between poverty, unemployment and economic downturns and increases in crime rates has long been the subject of social science study. However, the relationships between these phenomena has not been studied sufficiently and through time in most European countries that suffered, or, like Greece, are still suffering the recent financial crisis. We examined if the recent financial crisis in Greece has coincided with an increase in crime, analyzing crime rates since the start of the financial crisis and over an extensive time period (7 years). Crime statistics were taken from the Greek Police. Repeated measures analyses of variance were performed to reveal potential differences in criminality for the years 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. There was a significant increase in global criminality rate per 100,000 residents (Wilks’ Lambda=0.32, F (3,11)=7.93, p=0.004). There was a significant increase in illegal gun possession (Wilks’ Lambda=0.16, F (3,11)=18.68, p=0.001), fraud (Wilks’ Lambda=0.10, F (3,11)=32.35, p=0.001), extortion (Wilks’ Lambda=0.38, F (3,11)=4.45, p=0.040), and beggary (Wilks’ Lambda=0.33, F (3,11)=6.22, p=0.014). A reversed U shape was found for homicides, thefts and robberies, with rates peaking in 2010 and 2012 before dropping off in 2014. Narcotics and sexual exploitation crime rates remained unchanged. Surprisingly, the incidence of rape decreased (Wilks’ Lambda=0.42, F (3,11)=5.14, p=0.018). Our results are in agreement with the results of previous broader studies as well as with criminological theories according to which in times of economic stress an increase in both property crimes and violent crimes is expected. As predicted, an increase in financial crime was observed (e.g. fraud and extortions) as well as petty crime related to financial hardship like beggary. Concerns regarding the escalation of white-collar crimes in times of economic downturns that have been raised in the literature warrant further investigation.
Key words: Criminality, financial crisis, poverty, unemployment, Greece.
Key words: Criminality, financial crisis, poverty, unemployment, Greece.
Research Interests:
Πολλές ερευνητικές εργασίες έχουν δείξει ότι συγκεκριμένοι κοινωνικο-οικονομικοί παράγοντες, όπως η φτώχεια, οι οικονομικές ανισότητες και η ανεργία, σχετίζονται ισχυρά με το επίπεδο της εγκληματικότητας, της βίας, καθώς και γενικότερα... more
Πολλές ερευνητικές εργασίες έχουν δείξει ότι συγκεκριμένοι κοινωνικο-οικονομικοί παράγοντες, όπως η φτώχεια, οι οικονομικές ανισότητες και η ανεργία, σχετίζονται ισχυρά με το επίπεδο της εγκληματικότητας, της βίας, καθώς και γενικότερα της δημόσιας υγείας. Σύγχρονες μελέτες παρέχουν ενδείξεις ότι τα ποσοστά εγκληματικότητας αυξάνονται σε περιόδους ύφεσης και μειώνονται σε φάσεις ανάκαμψης της οικονομίας. Ωστόσο, έχει αμφισβητηθεί η γενικευσιμότητα των παραπάνω ευρημάτων. Η παρούσα ανασκόπηση εξετάζει τη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία για τη σχέση της εγκληματικότητας με τις οικονομικές υφέσεις και συγκεκριμένους οικονομικούς παράγοντες, καθώς και τα νέα εμπειρικά δεδομένα που παρείχε η πρόσφατη διεθνής οικονομική κρίση, που έπληξε σφοδρά πολλές χώρες. Ειδικότερα, από τα ευρήματα των περισσότερων μακροχρόνιων μελετών τεκμηριώνεται μία σαφής επίδραση των οικονομικών κύκλων στα εγκλήματα κατά της ιδιοκτησίας, αλλά όχι στα βίαια εγκλήματα. Από τους ειδικούς μακρο-οικονομικούς παράγοντες, περισσότερο έχει μελετηθεί ο ρόλος της ανεργίας, η οποία εμφανίζει σημαντική επίδραση στην εγκληματικότητα, κυρίως όσον αφορά τα εγκλήματα κατά της ιδιοκτησίας. Ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον έχει η αντιπαραβολή των σύγχρονων δεδομένων ή των ευρημάτων από μακροχρόνιες αναλύσεις της διεθνούς βιβλιογραφίας, με ερευνητικά στοιχεία από την πρόσφατη οικονομική κρίση στην Ελλάδα. Κατά την περίοδο 2008–2014 στην Ελλάδα, σημαντική και συνεχής αυξητική τάση παρουσιάστηκε σε πολλούς τύπους εγκλημάτων, αλλά όχι σε όλους. Οι αποκλίσεις και οι ιδιαιτερότητες που αναδείχθηκαν κατά την πρόσφατη διεθνή οικονομική κρίση, μπορούν να αξιοποιηθούν για περαιτέρω αναζήτηση και έρευνα γύρω από τους παράγοντες που διαμεσολαβούν στη σχέση μεταξύ ύφεσης και εγκληματικότητας.
Research Interests:
The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes of adolescents toward internet addiction. Cross-sectional study of 92 high school students aged 15–17 (M=15.96 years old, SD = 0,82) completed the following self-reported measures:... more
The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes of adolescents toward internet addiction. Cross-sectional study of 92 high school students aged 15–17 (M=15.96 years old, SD = 0,82) completed the following self-reported measures: YDQ for internet addiction, Crowne and Marlowe social desirability scale and the Attitudes Towards Internet Addicted User scale. Adolescents represent internet addicted user as a person who spent most of his time surfing on the internet, as well as a person who sleep less because of his compulsive internet addiction. Adolescents make a distinction between daily uses of the internet (e.g. seeking information on the internet) and behaviors associated with internet addiction. From the exploratory factor analysis four factors emerged. The scale of social desirability was not associated systematically with the items of the scale Attitudes Towards Internet Addicted User and the YDQ scale of internet addiction. The U test showed significant gender differences regarding attitudes towards internet addicted user, with girls showing higher levels in items referring to compulsive use and decreased functionality, while boys showed higher level in recommendations relating to self- awareness of dependency and the protection of privacy in the internet. The examination of attitudes toward internet addicted user revealed some interesting findings for adolescents beliefs and attitudes toward problematic internet use. Furthermore, these findings provide guidance for the designation of an intervention program about internet addiction in Greece or for an adaptation in the Greek context of an already implemented program in other countries.
Recognizing that schools have become the universal location where young people are learning about the Internet in a safe and responsible manner and are also an important conduit of information for parents- many of whom are not as... more
Recognizing that schools have become the universal location where young people are learning about the Internet in a safe and responsible manner and are also an important conduit of information for parents- many of whom are not as technically literate as their children, this research investigates: a) teachers' and parents’ education about the safe and responsible use of the Internet by elementary students, b) the differences in parents’ and teachers’ attitudes towards the students’ use of the Internet in the family home and at school and, c) the kind of issues or concerns that emerge between parents and teachers as an acknowledgment of the web based technologies importance in the students’ day-to-day social and educational activities. Interviews by 230 teachers and 1289 parents in 36 elementary schools in urban and rural provinces of Crete demonstrate that technologically sophisticated parents expressed more concern over their children’s negative consequences of the Internet use and tended to provide more guidance and influence to which children may be more responsive compared to teachers’ advice or assistance with technological efficacy. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Σκοπός: Σε διάστημα πέντε (5) ετών διενεργήθηκε έρευνα σε δείγμα 51 ψυχιατρικών ασθενών οι οποίοι, στο ιστορικό των νοσηλειών τους, έχουν υποστεί μηχανική καθήλωση (κλινοστατικό περιορισμό). Η φύση της έρευνας είναι περιγραφική και... more
Σκοπός: Σε διάστημα πέντε (5) ετών διενεργήθηκε έρευνα σε δείγμα 51 ψυχιατρικών ασθενών οι οποίοι, στο ιστορικό των νοσηλειών τους, έχουν υποστεί μηχανική καθήλωση (κλινοστατικό περιορισμό). Η φύση της έρευνας είναι περιγραφική και πυρηνικοί της στόχοι είναι: α) η ποιοτική διερεύνηση του βιώματος της μηχανικής καθήλωσης από τους ασθενείς (πβ. Frueh et al., 2005) και β) η γνωσία τους, πλέον, για το συμβάν σε δύο συνθήκες, δηλαδή στην περίπτωση που πραγματοποιήθηκε και στην περίπτωση που δεν πραγματοποιήθηκε γνωστική και συναισθηματική αναπλαισίωση του βιώματος αυτού (πβ. Wynn, 2004). Ταυτόχρονα προσδιορίζονται: δημογραφικές μεταβλητές, η διάγνωση εξόδου τους από κάθε νοσηλεία, ο αριθμός νοσηλειών, ο αριθμός καθηλώσεων που υπέστη ο κάθε ασθενής σε συσχέτιση με την κάθε νοσηλεία του, οι συνθήκες και ο χρόνος καθήλωσης, η σχέση με τους φροντιστές τους, η γνωσία της οικογένειάς τους για το συμβάν. Μέθοδος - Αποτελέσματα: Η διερεύνηση των παραπάνω πραγματοποιήθηκε με τη μέθοδο της ημι-δομ...
Οι περισσότερες μελέτες επιβεβαιώνουν ότι υπάρχει μια κορύφωση των αυτοκτονιών κατά τους μήνες της άνοιξης. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η περιγραφική αποτύπωση του αριθμού των αυτοκτονιών στην Ελλάδα σε μηνιαίο επίπεδο κατά τα έτη... more
Οι περισσότερες μελέτες επιβεβαιώνουν ότι υπάρχει μια κορύφωση των αυτοκτονιών κατά τους μήνες της άνοιξης. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η περιγραφική αποτύπωση του αριθμού των αυτοκτονιών στην Ελλάδα σε μηνιαίο επίπεδο κατά τα έτη 2000 έως 2012, συνολικά και ανά φύλο. Οι αριθμοί των αυτοκτονιών συλλέχθηκαν από την Ελληνική Στατιστική Αρχή για τα έτη 2000 έως 2012. Όπως προκύπτει από την ανασκόπηση του κριτηρίου Friedman για το σύνολο των αυτοκτονιών ΧF2(11)=55,01 p=0,001 για τις αυτοκτονίες των ανδρών ΧF2(11)=56,72 p=0,001 και για τις αυτοκτονίες των γυναικών ΧF2(11)=25,15 p=0,009 παρατηρούνται συστηματικές διαφορές αναφορικά με το μήνα διάπραξης της αυτοκτονίας. Ειδικότερα, οι υψηλότεροι μέσοι δείκτες αυτοκτονιών εμφανίζονται τους μήνες Μάιο (Μ=41,08, SD=8,81) και Ιούλιο (Μ=37,69 SD=10,38). Οι χαμηλότεροι δείκτες εμφανίζονται τους μήνες Ιανουάριο (Μ=27,31, SD=5,01) και Φεβρουάριο (Μ=25,92, SD=5,55). Αναφορικά με τους άντρες οι υψηλότεροι δείκτες εμφανίζονται τους μήνες Μάιο (...
Το διαδίκτυο συμβάλει ισχυρά στους τομείς ενημέρωσης, εκπαίδευσης και κοινωνικής αλληλεπίδρασης, αν και πρόσφατες έρευνες επισημαίνουν παράλληλα αρκετές συνέπειες από την παθολογικού τύπου εμπλοκή με αυτό. Η παρούσα έρευνα έχει σκοπό τη... more
Το διαδίκτυο συμβάλει ισχυρά στους τομείς ενημέρωσης, εκπαίδευσης και κοινωνικής αλληλεπίδρασης, αν και πρόσφατες έρευνες επισημαίνουν παράλληλα αρκετές συνέπειες από την παθολογικού τύπου εμπλοκή με αυτό. Η παρούσα έρευνα έχει σκοπό τη διερεύνηση της συσχέτισης ανάμεσα στην σεξουαλική εμπλοκή με το διαδίκτυο, το διαδικτυακό εθισμό και την εμπλοκή με το διαδικτυακό τζόγο. Συμμετείχαν 514 φοιτητές οι οποίοι συμπλήρωσαν ερωτηματολόγιο που περιείχε την κλίμακα Διαδικτυακού Εθισμού της Young (Cronbach's α=0,75), την κλίμακα διερεύνησης εμπλοκής με το διαδικτυακό τζόγο (Cronbach's α=0,70) και την κλίμακα σεξουαλικής εμπλοκής με το διαδίκτυο (Cronbach's α=0,67). Όπως προκύπτει από τα αποτελέσματα 43 από τους συμμετέχοντες (8,4%) ανέφεραν ότι επισκέπτονται συχνά στο διαδίκτυο σελίδες διαδικτυακού σεξ, 34 (6,4%) ότι ανυπομονούν να ξανασυνδεθούν στο διαδίκτυο με σκοπό να βρουν σεξουαλική διέγερση/ικανοποίηση, 32 (6,2%) ότι περνούν από το διαδικτυακό σεξ, στο τηλεφωνικό ή και σε σ...
Σύμφωνα με τη θεωρία διαχείρισης τρόμου η ενδοομαδική εύνοια και η εξω-ομαδική υποτίμηση ρυθμίζουν το υπαρξιακό άγχος (Niesta et al., 2008). Τόσο ο προσανατολισμός προς την κοινωνική κυριαρχικότητα όσο και η αυταρχικότητα σχετίζονται με... more
Σύμφωνα με τη θεωρία διαχείρισης τρόμου η ενδοομαδική εύνοια και η εξω-ομαδική υποτίμηση ρυθμίζουν το υπαρξιακό άγχος (Niesta et al., 2008). Τόσο ο προσανατολισμός προς την κοινωνική κυριαρχικότητα όσο και η αυταρχικότητα σχετίζονται με περισσότερο αρνητικές στάσεις για τη μετανάστευση και τους μετανάστες (Bassett, 2010. Ommundsen & Larsen, 1997). Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι να διερευνήσει μέσα από ένα οιονεί πειραματικό σχεδιασμό την επίδραση της συνθήκης προεξάχουσας θνητότητας στους επιπολιτισμικούς προσανατολισμούς των γηγεγών για τους μετανάστες και να διερευνήσει τη μεσολαβούσα επίδραση του δεξιού αυταρχισμού και της κοινωνικής κυριαρχικότητας μέσα σε αυτή τη σχέση. Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 77 ψυχολόγοι (45 στην πειραματική ομάδα, 81,1% γυναίκες, ηλικία 31,4 ± 4,76 έτη). Χορηγήθηκαν μέσω διαδικτυου δύο ερωτηματολόγια που περιελάμβαναν την κλίμακα Right Wing Autoritarianism Scale (Altemeyer, 1998), την κλίμακα Προσανατολισμών Κοινωνικής Κυριαρχικότητας (Pratto et al., 1994)...
Τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, τόσο οι τεράστιες επιστημονικές και κοινωνικές αλλαγές όσο και ο κυρίαρχος ρόλος του διαδικτύου συνέβαλαν στην ανάδυση μορφών κακοποίησης των παιδιών που ήταν άγνωστες ώς τώρα, και το ζήτημα έλαβε τόσο μεγάλες... more
Τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, τόσο οι τεράστιες επιστημονικές και κοινωνικές αλλαγές όσο και ο κυρίαρχος ρόλος του διαδικτύου συνέβαλαν στην ανάδυση μορφών κακοποίησης των παιδιών που ήταν άγνωστες ώς τώρα, και το ζήτημα έλαβε τόσο μεγάλες διαστάσεις ώστε πέρασε πλέον στη συζήτηση για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα. Στο παρόν βιβλίο συζητούνται διεξοδικά πολλές νέες μορφές παιδικής θυματοποίησης, ο πολύπλοκος ρόλος και οι κίνδυνοι του διαδικτύου, το φαινόμενο του σχολικού εκφοβισμού, ο ρόλος των γονέων στην κακοποίηση των παιδιών, αλλά και τρόποι να προσεγγίσουμε το θέμα με γνώση και ευαισθησία. Θα αποτελέσει χρήσιμο οδηγό τόσο για τους επαγγελματίες που έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με την παιδική κακοποίηση άμεσα ή έμμεσα, όσο και για τους γονείς που θα γνωρίσουν από κοντά τις πολλαπλές παραφυάδες του μείζονος αυτού κοινωνικού ζητήματος.