Top

Cognitive Therapy and Research

Gepubliceerd in:

25-10-2023 | Original Article

Examining Cultural Differences in How Loneliness is Associated with Psychological Ill-Being Through Social Problem Solving: Does How You Perceive Problems Matter More Than How You Tackle Them?

Auteurs: Edward C. Chang, Hongfei Yang

Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research | Uitgave 2/2024

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined social problem solving as a hypothesized mediator of the association between loneliness and psychological ill-being (viz., depressive symptoms & hopelessness) in American and Chinese adults.

Methods

A total of 320 (229 female & 91 male) American adults and 357 (194 male & 163 female) Chinese adults participated in the present study.

Results

Mediation testing for social problem solving as a hypothesized mechanism accounting for the positive association between loneliness and psychological ill-being identified differences between Americans and Chinese. For Americans, the presence of a negative problem orientation was consistently found to partially mediate the association between loneliness and psychological ill-being. In contrast, for Chinese, the absence of a positive problem orientation was consistently found to partially mediate the association between loneliness and psychological ill-being. For both groups, no evidence was found for the importance of any of the problem-solving styles in accounting for psychological ill-being.

Conclusion

These findings not only indicate that how adults perceive problems matters more than how they approach solving them, but also point to important cultural differences regarding which problem orientation is most involved for understanding the positive association between loneliness and psychological ill-being in Easterners, compared to Westerners.

vorige artikel Body, Breath, and Mind: Feasibility of an Internet Intervention for Depressive Symptoms Combining Qi Gong and Behavioral Activation

volgende artikel A Schema Conceptualisation of Psychosocial Functioning Among Transitioned Military Personnel

Allen, K.-A., Gray, D. L., Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (2022). The need to belong: A deep dive into the origins, implications, and future of a foundational construct. Educational Psychology Review, 34(2), 1133–1156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-021-09633-6CrossRefPubMed

Aurelius, M. (2003). Meditations (G. Hays, Trans.). New York: The Modern Library. (Original work pp 170–180 CE).

Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Bad is stronger than good. Review of General Psychology, 5(4), 323–370. https://doi.org/10.1037//1089-2680.5.4.323CrossRef

Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497CrossRefPubMed

Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, L., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004CrossRefPubMed

Beck, A. T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1974). The measurement of pessimism: The Hopelessness Scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(6), 861–865. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0037562CrossRefPubMed

Brandt, L. W. (1970). American psychology. American Psychologist, 25(12), 1091–1093. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0030289CrossRef

Cacioppo, J. T., Hughes, M. E., Waite, L. J., Hawkley, L. C., & Thisted, R. A. (2006). Loneliness as a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Psychology and Aging, 21(1), 140–151. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.21.1.140CrossRefPubMed

Cacioppo, S., Grippo, A. J., London, S., Goossens, L., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2015). Loneliness: Clinical import and interventions. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 238–249. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691615570616CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Chang, E. C. (1996). Cultural differences in optimism, pessimism, and coping: Predictors of subsequent adjustment in Asian American and Caucasian American college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43(1), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.43.1.113CrossRef

Chang, E. C. (1998). Cultural differences, perfectionism, and suicidal risk in a college population: Does social problem solving still matter? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 22(3), 237–254. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018792709351CrossRef

Chang, E. C. (2002). Cultural differences in psychological distress in Asian and Caucasian American college students: Examining the role of cognitive and affective concomitants. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49(1), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.49.1.47CrossRef

Chang, E. C. (Ed.). (2012). Handbook of adult psychopathology in Asians: Diagnosis, etiology, and treatment. New York: Oxford University Press.

Chang, E. C. (2013). Perfectionism and loneliness as predictors of depressive and anxious symptoms in Asian and European Americans: Do self-construal schemas also matter? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 37(6), 1179–1188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-013-9549-9CrossRef

Chang, E. C., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (1996). Relations between problem orientation and optimism, pessimism, and trait affectivity: A construct validation study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 34(2), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(95)00046-1CrossRefPubMed

Chang, E. C., D’Zurilla, T. J., & Sanna, L. J. (Eds.). (2004). Social problem solving: Theory, research, and training. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Chang, E. C., Liu, J., Yi, S., Jiang, X., Li, Q., Wang, R., Tian, W., Gao, X., Li, M., Lucas, A. G., & Chang, O. D. (2020a). Loneliness, social problem solving, and negative affective symptoms: Negative problem orientation as a key mechanism. Personality and Individual Differences, 167, 110235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110235CrossRef

Chang, E. C., Sanna, L. J., Hirsch, J. K., & Jeglic, E. L. (2010). Loneliness and negative life events as predictors of hopelessness and suicidal behaviors in Hispanics: Evidence for a diathesis-stress model. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(12), 1242–1253. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20721CrossRefPubMed

Chang, E. C., Tian, W., Jiang, X., Yi, S., Liu, J., Bai, Y., Liu, C., Luo, X., Wang, W., Chang, O. D., Li, M., & Hirsch, J. K. (2020b). Beyond the role of loneliness in psychological ill-being and well-being in females: Do social problem-solving processes still matter? Personality and Individual Differences, 155, 109729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109729CrossRef

Chang, E. C., Yi, S., Liu, J., Kamble, S. V., Zhang, Y., Shi, B., Ye, Y., Fang, Y., Cheng, K., Xu, J., Shen, J., Li, M., & Chang, O. D. (2020c). Coping behaviors as predictors of hedonic well-being in Asian Indians: Does being optimistic still matter? Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(1), 289–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00087-wCrossRef

Chiu, Y.-C., Liu, S.-I., Lin, C.-J., Huang, Y.-H., Fang, C.-K., Sun, F.-J., Kao, K.-L., Huang, Y.-P., & Wu, S.-I. (2019). The psychometric properties in the Chinese version of the Reasons for Living Inventory and the relationship with suicidal behaviors among psychiatric patients in Taiwan. Behavioral Medicine, 45(3), 197–209. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2018.1444577CrossRefPubMed

Clum, G. A., Yang, B., Febbraro, G. A. R., Canfield, D. L., & Arsdel, M. (1996). An investigation of the validity of the SPSI and SPSI-R in differentiating suicidal from depressed, non-suicidal college students. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 18(2), 119–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229112CrossRef

D’Zurilla, T. J., Chang, E. C., Nottingham, E. J., IV., & Faccini, L. (1998). Social problem-solving deficits and hopelessness, depression, and suicidal risk in college students and psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 54(8), 1091–1107. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199812)54:8%3c1091::aid-jclp9%3e3.0.co;2-jCrossRefPubMed

D’Zurilla, T. J., & Goldfriend, M. R. (1971). Problem solving and behavior modification. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 78(1), 107–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0031360CrossRefPubMed

D’Zurilla, T. J., & Nezu, A. M. (1999). Problem-solving therapy: A social competence approach to clinical intervention (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.

D’Zurilla, T. J., Nezu, A. M., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2002). The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R): Technical manual. Multi-Health Systems Inc.

D’Zurilla, T. J., Nezu, A. M., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2004). Social problem solving: Theory and assessment. In E. C. Chang, T. J. D’Zurilla, & L. J. Sanna (Eds.), Social problem solving: Theory, research, and training (pp. 11–28). American Psychological Association.CrossRef

de la Fuente, A., Chang, E. C., Cardeñoso, O., & Chang, O. D. (2018). How loneliness is associated with depressive symptoms in Spanish college students: Examining specific coping strategies as mediators. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 21, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2018.56CrossRef

de la Fuente, A., Chang, E. C., Cardeñoso, O., & Chang, O. D. (2019). The psychological impact of social problem solving under stress in adults: Debased life satisfaction, heightened depressed mood, or both? Personality and Individual Differences, 146, 46–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.03.033CrossRef

Deckx, L., van den Akker, M., Buntinx, F., & van Driel, M. (2018). A systematic literature review on the association between loneliness and coping strategies. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 23(8), 899–916. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2018.1446096CrossRef

Haaga, D. A. F., Fine, J. A., Terrill, D. R., Stewart, B. L., & Beck, A. T. (1995). Social problem-solving deficits, dependency, and depressive symptoms. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 19(2), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229691CrossRef

Hamamura, T., & Heine, S. J. (2008). The role of self-criticism in self-improvement and face maintenance among Japanese. In E. C. Chang (Ed.), Self-criticism and self-enhancement: Theory, research, and clinical implications (pp. 105–122). American Psychological Association.CrossRef

He, J., Liu, Y., Cheng, C., Fang, S., Wang, X., & Yao, S. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the 10-item ruminative response scale among undergraduates and depressive symptoms. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 626859. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.626859CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Heidegger, M. (1962). Being and time (J. Macquarrie & E. Robinson, Trans.). New York: Harper & Row. (Original work published 1927).

Heinrich, L. M., & Gullone, E. (2006). The clinical significance of loneliness: A literature review. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(6), 695–718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2006.04.002CrossRefPubMed

Henrich, J., Heine, S. J., & Norenzayan, A. (2010). The weirdest people in the world? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 33(2–3), 61–83. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X0999152XCrossRefPubMed

Holt-Lunstad, J. (2021). The major health implications of social connection. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 30(3), 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721421999630CrossRef

Hong, B., & Coles, M. E. (2014). Do higher self-reports of social anxiety translate to greater occurrence of social anxiety disorder in Asian Americans compared to Caucasian Americans? Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 28(4), 287–302. https://doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.28.4.287CrossRef

Kong, Y., Zhang, J., Jia, S., & Zhou, L. (2007). Reliability and validity of the Beck Hopelessness Scale for adolescents. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 21(10), 686–689.

Lau, Y., Fang, L., Cheng, L. J., & Kwong, H. K. D. (2019). Volunteer motivation, social problem solving, self-efficacy, and mental health: A structural equation model approach. Educational Psychology, 39(1), 112–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2018.1514102CrossRef

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer.

Lee, M., Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2018). Acculturative stress, social problem solving, and depressive symptoms among Korean American immigrants. Transcultural Psychiatry, 55(5), 710–729. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461518792734CrossRefPubMed

Lee, R. M., & Robbins, S. B. (1995). Measuring belongingness: The social connectedness and the social assurance scales. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 42(2), 232–241. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.42.2.232CrossRef

Li, J., Xue, W., Zhao, J., & Tan, L. (2022). Cognitive bias and fear of missing out (FoMO) among Chinese college students: The mediating effects of attentional control, need to belong and self-construal. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03435-xCrossRefPubMed

Lin, Y., & Fan, Z. (2023). The relationship between rejection sensitivity and social anxiety among Chinese college students: The mediating roles of loneliness and self-esteem. Current Psychology, 42, 12439–12448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02443-7CrossRef

Liu, P. (1999). The assessment of loneliness. In W. Wang, X. Wang, & H. Ma (Eds.), Handbook of rating scales for mental health (supplement (extra, pp. 282–289). Chinese Mental Health Journal Press.

Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224–253. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.98.2.224CrossRef

Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346CrossRef

Maydeu-Olivares, A., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (1996). A factor-analytic study of the social problem-solving inventory: An integration of theory and data. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20(2), 115–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02228030CrossRef

McClelland, H., Evans, J. J., Nowland, R., Ferguson, E., & O’Connor, R. C. (2020). Loneliness as a predictor of suicidal ideation and behaviour: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274, 880–896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.004CrossRefPubMed

Muyan, M., & Chang, E. C. (2015). Perfectionism as a predictor of suicidal risk in Turkish college students: Does loneliness contribute to further risk? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 39(6), 776–784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-015-9711-7CrossRef

Nezu, A. M. (2004). Problem solving and behavior therapy revisited. Behavior Therapy, 35(1), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80002-9CrossRef

Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., Friedman, S. H., Faddis, S., & Houts, P. S. (1998). Problem orientation. In M. Nezu, C. M. Nezu, S. H. Friedman, S. Faddis, & P. S. Houts (Eds.), In: A (pp. 121–156). Association: Helping cancer patients cope, A problem-solving approach Washington, DC, American Psychological.

Park, C., Majeed, A., Gill, H., Tamura, J., Ho, R. C., Mansur, R. B., Nasri, F., Lee, Y., Rosenblat, J. D., Wong, E., & McIntyre, R. S. (2020). The effect of loneliness on distinct health outcomes: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 294, 113514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113514CrossRefPubMed

Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/brm.40.3.879CrossRefPubMed

Ren, L., Hand, X., Li, D., Hu, F., Mo, B., & Liu, J. (2021). The association between loneliness and depression among Chinese college students: Affinity for aloneness and gender as moderators. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 18(3), 382–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/10.1080/17405629.2020.1789861CrossRef

Robichaud, M., & Dugas, M. J. (2005). Negative problem orientation (Part I): Psychometric properties of a new measure. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(3), 391–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2004.02.007CrossRefPubMed

Robinson-Whelen, S., Kim, C., MacCallum, R. C., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (1997). Distinguishing optimism from pessimism in older adults: Is it more important to be optimistic or not to be pessimistic? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(6), 1345–1353. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.6.1345CrossRefPubMed

Russell, D., Peplau, L. A., & Cutrona, C. E. (1980). The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminant validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39(3), 472–480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.39.3.472CrossRefPubMed

Sadowski, C., & Kelly, M. L. (1993). Social problem-solving in suicidal adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(1), 121–127. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.61.1.121CrossRefPubMed

Savikko, N., Routasalo, P., Tilvis, R. S., Strandberg, T. E., & Pitkälä, K. H. (2005). Predictors and subjective causes of loneliness in an aged population. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 41(3), 223–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2005.03.002CrossRefPubMed

Shim, Y. R., & Schwartz, R. C. (2008). Degree of acculturation and adherence to Asian values as correlates of psychological distress among Korean immigrants. Journal of Mental Health, 17(6), 607–617. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638230701506838CrossRef

Siu, A. M. H., & Shek, D. T. L. (2005). The Chinese version of the social problem-solving inventory: Some initial results on reliability and validity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(3), 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20023CrossRefPubMed

Siu, A. M. H., & Shek, D. T. L. (2010). Social problem solving as a predictor of well-being in adolescents and young adults. Social Indicators Research, 95(3), 393–406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9527-5CrossRef

Victor, C. R., & Yang, K. (2012). The prevalence of loneliness among adults: A case study of the United Kingdom. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 146(1–2), 85–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2011.613875CrossRefPubMed

Yang, K., & Victor, C. R. (2008). The prevalence of and risk factors for loneliness among older people in China. Ageing and Society, 28(3), 305–327. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X07006848CrossRef

Yang, K., & Victor, C. R. (2011). Age and loneliness in 25 European nations. Ageing and Society, 31(8), 1368–1388. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X1000139XCrossRef

Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., & Qian, M. (1990). Reliability and validity of the Beck Depression Inventory examined in Chinese samples. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 4(4), 164–192.

Zumberg, K. M., Chang, E. C., & Sanna, L. J. (2008). Does problem orientation involve more than generalized self-efficacy?: Predicting psychological and physical functioning in college students. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(4), 328–332.CrossRef

Titel: Examining Cultural Differences in How Loneliness is Associated with Psychological Ill-Being Through Social Problem Solving: Does How You Perceive Problems Matter More Than How You Tackle Them?
Auteurs: Edward C. Chang
Hongfei Yang
Publicatiedatum: 25-10-2023
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research / Uitgave 2/2024
Print ISSN: 0147-5916
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2819
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-023-10438-w

Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Log in om toegang te krijgen

Andere artikelen Uitgave 2/2024

Reduced Belief Updating in the Context of Depressive Symptoms: An Investigation of the Associations with Interpretation Biases and Self-Evaluation

Body, Breath, and Mind: Feasibility of an Internet Intervention for Depressive Symptoms Combining Qi Gong and Behavioral Activation

Entrée or Sampler? A Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Approaches to Single Session Internet-Based Interventions

A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study Exploring the Additive Clinical Effect of Cognitive Bias Modification-Memory in Depressed Inpatients

Efficacy of Remote Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia in Improving Health Status of Patients with Insomnia Symptoms: A Meta-analysis

The Regulatory Role of Cognitive Reappraisal in the Effect of Neuroticism on Test Anxiety