Pre-natal Attachment and Parent-To-Infant Attachment: A Systematic Review

During the perinatal period, the establishment of the attachment relationship with the fetus and subsequently with the real child is crucial for the parents' and the child's well-being. Coherently with the assumption that the attachment relationship starts to develop during pregnancy, this systematic review aims to analyze and systematize studies focused on the association between pre-natal attachment and parent-to-infant attachment, in order to clarify the emerging results and provide useful information for clinical purposes. Nineteen studies were included. Sixteen researches identified a positive relationship between pre-natal attachment and parent-to-infant attachment, and three articles highlighted a negative association between antenatal attachment and post-partum bonding disorders. These results were found both in women and men, in normative and at-risk pregnancies, adopting different assessment approaches (i.e., self-report measures, observations, and projective measures). However, only small or moderate associations were found. Future studies are needed to further confirm these findings across different populations (e.g., male samples, non-normative samples or samples in disadvantaged conditions) and with different methodological approaches (e.g., observational measures). Moreover, studies would be needed in order to clarify mechanisms through which pre-natal attachment influences parent-to-infant attachment, as well as protective and risk factors which intervene between these two variables.

Analytic Expression of Quantum Discords in Werner States under LQCC

In this paper, quantum discords in a special kind of states, i.e., Werner states by local quantum operations and classical communication (LQCC) protocols (WLQCC states), are studied. Nineteen parameters to quantify the quantum discords are reduced to four parameters in terms of properties of Werner states and quantum discord. In the case of orthogonal projective measures, analytic expression of quantum discords in WLQCC states is analytically worked out. Some properties of the quantum discord in the WLQCC states are obtained, especially the variation relations between the quantum discords and the parameters characterizing the WLQCC states. By virtue of numerical computations, quantum discords in a Werner state before and after LQCC protocols are compared. It is found that quantum discord in any WLQCC state cannot exceed that in the original Werner state.

Measuring attitudes towards the dying process: A systematic review of tools

Background: At the end of life, anxious attitudes concerning the dying process are common in patients in Palliative Care. Measurement tools can identify vulnerabilities, resources and the need for subsequent treatment to relieve suffering and support well-being. Aim: To systematically review available tools measuring attitudes towards dying, their operationalization, the method of measurement and the methodological quality including generalizability to different contexts. Design: Systematic review according to the PRISMA Statement. Methodological quality of tools assessed by standardized review criteria. Data sources: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsyndexTests and the Health and Psychosocial Instruments were searched from their inception to April 2017. Results: A total of 94 identified studies reported the development and/or validation of 44 tools. Of these, 37 were questionnaires and 7 alternative measurement methods (e.g. projective measures). In 34 of 37 questionnaires, the emotional evaluation (e.g. anxiety) towards dying is measured. Dying is operationalized in general items ( n = 20), in several specific aspects of dying ( n = 34) and as dying of others ( n = 14). Methodological quality of tools was reported inconsistently. Nine tools reported good internal consistency. Of 37 tools, 4 were validated in a clinical sample (e.g. terminal cancer; Huntington disease), indicating questionable generalizability to clinical contexts for most tools. Conclusion: Many tools exist to measure attitudes towards the dying process using different endpoints. This overview can serve as decision framework on which tool to apply in which contexts. For clinical application, only few tools were available. Further validation of existing tools and potential alternative methods in various populations is needed.

DESENHO DA GRAVIDEZ E SENSIBILIDADE SONORA: CONTRIBUTOS PARA O ESTUDO DA PSICOLOGIA DA GRAVIDEZ

Background: This paper aims to describe a longitudinal study about the use of the Drawing Pregnancy Scale and of the Sound-Music Representations in Pregnancy Scale, both of it created and validated in a sample of 211 pregnant women while waiting for sonograms of the II and III trimesters of pregnancy. Aims: 1) to assess, the evolution of variables in drawings of pregnancy and also of sound-music variables, by the transition of the II to the III trimester of gestation and 2) to analyze the contribution of each one of these variables for the psychological study of pregnancy. Method: 1) longitudinal study comparing variables in drawings of pregnancy and sound-music variables at the two moments of assessment; 2) correlational study between each one of these variables and variables of maternal pre-natal attachment and also of maternal pre-natal orientation. Instruments: Drawing Pregnancy Scale (Carvalho, 2011), Sound-Music Representations in Pregnancy Scale (Carvalho & Justo, 2013), Maternal Pre-natal Attachment Scale (Portuguese version, Camarneiro & Justo, 2010) and Placental Paradigm Questionnaire (Portuguese version, Carvalho, 2011). Results: Results show the existence of significant diferences between the II and the III trimestres in some of the variables under analysis, suggesting: a) a increase of the sound-music sensibility by the third trimester, b) an evolution of the maternal image at the third trimester and c) an increase of the frequency of the graphical representation of the cephalic fetal presentation of the baby’s image at the third trimester. Significant correlations were observed between, on one side, the variables of soundmusic sensibility and the variables of the pregnancy drawings and, on another side, variables of prenatal maternal orientation. Significant correlations between sound-music sensibility, on one side, and prenatal maternal attachment and prenatal maternal orientation, on the other side, were found. Conclusion: It will be important to investigate about the representation of the imagined baby through maternal projective measures and the perception of fetal behaviour using sonograms as well as biophysical and hemodynamic measures.Keywords: Pregnancy, Drawing Pregnancy Scale, Sound-Music Representations in Pregnancy Scale, Maternal Pre-natal Attachment Scale, Placental Paradigm Questionnaire.Resumo.Introdução: Esta comunicação pretende descrever um estudo longitudinal acerca da aplicação da Escala do Desenho da Gravidez e da Escala da Sensibilidade Sonora-Musical na Gravidez, ambas construídas e validadas para este estudo, numa amostra de 211 mulheres grávidas aguardando a realização das ecografias do II e do III trimestres de gestação. Objectivos: 1) avaliar a evolução das variáveis do desenho da gravidez e das variáveis sonoro-musicais na passagem do II para o III trimestre e 2) analisar a contribuição de cada uma de estas variáveis para o estudo da psicologia da gravidez. Método: 1) estudo longitudinal comparando as variáveis do desenho da gravidez e a sensibilidade sonoro-musical observadas nos dois momentos de avaliação; 2) estudo correlacional entre cada uma destas variáveis e as variáveis de vinculação materna pré-natal e de orientação materna pré-natal. Instrumentos: Escala do Desenho da Gravidez (Carvalho, 2011), Escala da Sensibilidade Sonora-Musical na Gravidez (Carvalho & Justo, 2013), Escala de Vinculação Materna Pré-natal (versão Portuguesa, Camarneiro & Justo, 2010) e Questionário do Paradigma Placentário (versão portuguesa, Carvalho, 2011). Resultados: Os resultados revelam a existência de diferenças significativas, entre o II e o III trimestres nas variáveis estudadas, apontando para: a) um aumento da sensibilidade sonoro-musical no terceiro trimestre, b) uma evolução da auto-representação da imagem materna no terceiro trimestre e c) um aumento da frequência de representação gráfica da posição de apresentação fetal cefálica da imagem do bebé na passagem para o terceiro trimestre. Observaram-se correlações significativas entre, por um lado, as variáveis da sensibilidade sonoromusical e as variáveis do desenho da gravidez e, por outro lado, as variáveis de orientação materna pré-natal. Registaram-se correlações significativas entre sensibilidade sonoro-musical, por um lado, e vinculação materna pré-natal e a orientação maternal pré-natal, por outro. Conclusão: Será importante investigar a dialética entre a representação do bebé imaginado através de medidas projectivas maternas e a percepção do comportamento fetal recorrendo à observação ecográfica e a medidas biofísicas e hemodinâmicas.Palavras chave: Gravidez, Escala do Desenho da Gravidez, Escala das Representações Sonoro-Musicais na Gravidez, Escala de Vinculação Materna Pré-Natal, Questionário do Paradigma Placentário.

DESENHO DA GRAVIDEZ E SENSIBILIDADE SONORA: CONTRIBUTOS PARA O ESTUDO DA PSICOLOGIA DA GRAVIDEZ

Resumo.Introdução: Esta comunicação pretende descrever um estudo longitudinal acerca da aplicação da Escala do Desenho da Gravidez e da Escala da Sensibilidade Sonora-Musical na Gravidez, ambas construídas e validadas para este estudo, numa amostra de 211 mulheres grávidas aguardando a realização das ecografias do II e do III trimestres de gestação. Objectivos: 1) avaliar a evolução das variáveis do desenho da gravidez e das variáveis sonoro-musicais na passagem do II para o III trimestre e 2) analisar a contribuição de cada uma de estas variáveis para o estudo da psicologia da gravidez. Método: 1) estudo longitudinal comparando as variáveis do desenho da gravidez e a sensibilidade sonoro-musical observadas nos dois momentos de avaliação; 2) estudo correlacional entre cada uma destas variáveis e as variáveis de vinculação materna pré-natal e de orientação materna pré-natal. Instrumentos: Escala do Desenho da Gravidez (Carvalho, 2011), Escala da Sensibilidade Sonora-Musical na Gravidez (Carvalho & Justo, 2013), Escala de Vinculação Materna Pré-natal (versão Portuguesa, Camarneiro & Justo, 2010) e Questionário do Paradigma Placentário (versão portuguesa, Carvalho, 2011). Resultados: Os resultados revelam a existência de diferenças significativas, entre o II e o III trimestres nas variáveis estudadas, apontando para: a) um aumento da sensibilidade sonoro-musical no terceiro trimestre, b) uma evolução da auto-representação da imagem materna no terceiro trimestre e c) um aumento da frequência de representação gráfica da posição de apresentação fetal cefálica da imagem do bebé na passagem para o terceiro trimestre. Observaram-se correlações significativas entre, por um lado, as variáveis da sensibilidade sonoro-musical e as variáveis do desenho da gravidez e, por outro lado, as variáveis de orientação materna pré-natal. Registaram-se correlações significativas entre sensibilidade sonoro-musical, por um lado, e vinculação materna pré-natal e a orientação maternal pré-natal, por outro. Conclusão: Será importante investigar a dialética entre a representação do bebé imaginado através de medidas projectivas maternas e a percepção do comportamento fetal recorrendo à observação ecográfica e a medidas biofísicas e hemodinâmicas.Palavras chave: Gravidez, Escala do Desenho da Gravidez, Escala das Representações Sonoro-Musicais na Gravidez, Escala de Vinculação Materna Pré-Natal, Questionário do Paradigma Placentário.Abstract.Background: This paper aims to describe a longitudinal study about the use of the Drawing Pregnancy Scale and of the Sound-Music Representations in Pregnancy Scale, both of it created and validated in a sample of 211 pregnant women while waiting for sonograms of the II and III trimesters of pregnancy. Aims: 1) to assess, the evolution of variables in drawings of pregnancy and also of sound-music variables, by the transition of the II to the III trimester of gestation and 2) to analyze the contribution of each one of these variables for the psychological study of pregnancy. Method: 1) longitudinal study comparing variables in drawings of pregnancy and sound-music variables at the two moments of assessment; 2) correlational study between each one of these variables and variables of maternal pre-natal attachment and also of maternal pre-natal orientation. Instruments: Drawing Pregnancy Scale (Carvalho, 2011), Sound-Music Representations in Pregnancy Scale (Carvalho & Justo, 2013), Maternal Pre-natal Attachment Scale (Portuguese version, Camarneiro & Justo, 2010) and Placental Paradigm Questionnaire (Portuguese version, Carvalho, 2011). Results: Results show the existence of significant diferences between the II and the III trimestres in some of the variables under analysis, suggesting: a) a increase of the sound-music sensibility by the third trimester, b) an evolution of the maternal image at the third trimester and c) an increase of the frequency of the graphical representation of the cephalic fetal presentation of the baby’s image at the third trimester. Significant correlations were observed between, on one side, the variables of soundmusic sensibility and the variables of the pregnancy drawings and, on another side, variables of prenatal maternal orientation. Significant correlations between sound-music sensibility, on one side, and prenatal maternal attachment and prenatal maternal orientation, on the other side, were found. Conclusion: It will be important to investigate about the representation of the imagined baby through maternal projective measures and the perception of fetal behaviour using sonograms as well as biophysical and hemodynamic measures.Keywords: Pregnancy, Drawing Pregnancy Scale, Sound-Music Representations in Pregnancy Scale, Maternal Pre-natal Attachment Scale, Placental Paradigm Questionnaire.

Teachers’ individual citizenship behavior (ICB): the role of optimism and trust

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of teachers’ optimism and trust in their individual citizenship behavior (ICB), and the extent to which teachers’ optimism is related to teachers’ ICB, and mediated by teachers’ trust. ICB is a concept coined by Hoy et al. (2008). The concept refers to teachers’ voluntary and discretionary behavior directed toward colleagues, students, and the students’ parents, that exceeds the formal job expectations. The primary aim of ICB is to enhance students’ academic success. Design/methodology/approach – In all, 370 teachers from public elementary schools in northern Israel completed questionnaires, assessing teachers’ optimism, trust, and ICB; the category was examined both by direct and projective measures. Factor and reliability analyses; a bi-variate correlation Pearson test; a hierarchical regression analysis; and a structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis were conducted to analyze the data. Findings – The research hypotheses were partially supported: teachers’ optimism, trust, and ICB were positively correlated; teachers’ optimism and trust predicted ICB; trust in students and their parents mediated the association between optimism and ICB, whereas trust in teachers mediated the association between optimism and the projective measure of ICB. Originality/value – The study results confirm that optimism and trust in students and their parents, and in other teachers have a significant presence in teachers’ ICB; emphasize the importance of a positive school environment; emphasize the importance of teachers’ ICB toward students’ and their parents; indicate the potential benefit of using direct and projective measures; and show support for the mediating model.

Mentalization and the Rorschach

The concept of mentalization – the ability to think about mental states (e.g., feelings, intentions, motivations) of self and others – has become increasingly influential in psychoanalysis ( Bateman & Fonagy, 2004 ; Fischer-Kern et al., 2010 ; Fonagy, 1991 ). Unfortunately, the clinical application and further exploration of the construct has been limited by the time-consuming and highly specialized methods used to assess it ( Choi-Kain & Gunderson, 2008 ; Meehan, Levy, Reynoso, Hill, & Clarkin, 2009 ). In that mentalization operates predominantly outside of conscious awareness and involves the assessment of mental representations of self and other, projective measures such as the Rorschach are possibly the most efficient to evaluate and further explore this construct. In this paper we present a conceptual framework for how texture responses (T) as they relate to the ability to form attachments, and human and human movement responses (M+/M–, GHR:PHR) as they relate to empathy, social understanding, and boundary formation, may be utilized in the assessment of mentalization.