Psychometric properties of the Arabic translation of the Dark Future Scale questionnaire in a non-clinical sample of Arabic-speaking young adults.

BACKGROUND: Through the years, studying negative behaviors of the worldwide population seized the spotlight from many researchers who focused on building scales in order the measure the level of worries, fear and even depression of such stressed individuals. By definition, "Future anxiety" (FA) is fueled by negative thoughts leading to intense fear of unknown future events. The Dark Future scale (DFS) measures the level of anxiety experienced towards the future. Our aim was to examine the psychometric properties of a novel Arabic translation of the DFS. METHODS: A sample of 684 Arabic-speaking young adults (65.6% women) filled the DFS, TEMPS-M (temperaments) and DASS-8 (psychological distress). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) supported a unidimensional model of the DFS score, with all 5 items retained. This scale had good reliability. Moreover, concurrent validity demonstrated significant associations between DFS scores and psychological distress, depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperament. Scores achieved scalar invariance across gender, with women having greater exposure to anxiety about the future. CONCLUSION: Overall, these findings led to the conclusion that the Arabic DFS is a psychometrically valid tool for the assessment of FA. The DFS is a brief, reliable and easy to apply scale that would help researchers in psychology and psychiatry in assessing anxiety about future.

Are the presence of asthma and the COVID-19 infection associated with behavioral changes in Lebanese adolescents?

BACKGROUND: Little evidence is available about psychological stressors in Lebanese asthmatic adolescents, where health-risk behaviors are a serious threat to public health. In addition, the COVID-19 epidemic has had a substantial influence on adolescents' mental health globally, especially in Lebanon, where the ongoing economic and political challenges have largely impacted their psychological well-being. This study aimed to explore the association of asthma and the COVID-19 infection with behaviors among Lebanese adolescents. METHODS: Data were collected in July 2023, using the snowball sampling technique. Inclusion criteria for participation in the study included being of a resident and citizen of Lebanon and aged 12-18 years. Behavioral problems were assessed using the Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale, which yields nine subscales (anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, rule-breaking behavior, aggressive behavior, and other problems) and a total score. RESULTS: Asthma was significantly associated with somatic complaints (Beta [ß] = 2.98), attention problems (ß = 0.01), and other behavioral problems (ß = 0.68). Having contracted the COVID-19 infection, compared to healthy asymptomatic state (ß = 1.55), was significantly associated with more anxious behaviors. In the case of stratifying the analysis in terms of gender, the results showed that the presence of asthma was significantly associated with more social behaviors (ß = 3.31), thought problems (ß = 2.91), attention problems (ß = 0.02), other behavioral problems (ß = 1.71), and total behavioral problems (ß = 5.71) in males. In case stratifying the analysis as to school type, the presence of asthma was significantly associated with more somatic complaints (ß = 2.77) in participants from private schools whereas it was significantly associated with more total behavioral problems (total YSR scores) (ß = 5.05) in participants from public schools. CONCLUSION: It is confirmed that asthma and psychiatric disorders are interconnected, so it would be of great importance to include screening through a psychological intervention in treating asthmatic adolescents by means of (1) recognizing factors affecting patients' mental health, and (2) regulating uncontrolled behaviors that can exacerbate symptoms in order to avoid the future morbidity.

Perceived social competencies as moderators: examining the relationship between psychological distress and aggression, hostility, and anger in Lebanese adults.

INTRODUCTION: The majority of people experience anger at some point in their lives when confronted with unpleasant situations. In social settings, anger can lead to aggressive and hostile in the absence of adequate social competences. Our study aims to examine the moderating role of perceived social competences in the association between psychological distress and anger expression (trait anger, hostility, physical aggression, and verbal aggression) among a sample of Lebanese adults. METHODS: 403 participants above 18 years (the mean age was 24.56 ± 8.46) were enrolled in the cross-sectional study with 73% female participants. The candidates were asked to complete a structured questionnaire including the following scales: (1) Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire-Short Form (BPAQ-SF), (2) the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-8), (3) Perceived Social Competencies (PSC), and (4) The De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: The interaction psychological distress by perceived social competence was not significantly associated with physical aggression, verbal aggression, or hostility but was significantly associated with anger. After adjusting the results over variables that showed a p <.25 in the bivariate analysis, this association was significant at low (Beta = 0.24; p <.001), moderate (Beta = 0.20; p <.001) and high (Beta = 0.16; p <.001) levels of perceived social competencies, where higher psychological distress was significantly associated with more anger. On another note, with higher perceived social competence, we find a decrease in levels of psychological distress in our sample. CONCLUSION: This study provided evidence that perceived social competencies such as communication skills, empathy and prosocial behaviors act as moderators in the association between psychological distress and anger. In future works, investigating and building advanced program in order to develop social competences of individuals might prove important. It is crucial to implement such strategies and projects in schools: this educational setting could be fruitful in a way that social skills could be instilled during childhood and anger-aggressive behaviors could be managed throughout adulthood.

Self-reported food intolerance, dietary supplement use and malnutrition in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases: Findings from a cross-sectional study in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are known for a combination of food intolerance, decreased oral intake, and malabsorption which all predispose patients to malnutrition and suboptimal dietary intake. The present study was conducted to 1) examine self-reported food intolerances and dietary supplement use 2) assess nutritional intake 3) assess the nutritional status and screen for malnutrition among patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (CIBD). METHODS: 48 patients with CIBDs (28 Crohn's disease, 15 ulcerative colitis and 7 with atypical forms of IBD) took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire targeting dietary intakes and food trends over time. A questionnaire about food intolerance was also used. The nutritional status of patients with CIBDs was evaluated by a detailed history (medical diagnosis and medications and supplements administered) and by using the subjective global assessment (SGA) tool. Anthropometric data including height, weight, and BMI with body composition assessment using automated scales and stadiometer, while Bio-impedancemetry was used to measure body fat and visceral fat. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 27, employing mean values, standard deviations, absolute and relative frequencies and Pearson's chi-square test, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Food intolerance was equally common in all the types of CIBD specifically for dairy products, spicy foods, and high-fiber food items (beans and raw vegetables). Individuals with CIBD were also complaining about meat and chicken products (68%), followed by alcohol and soda (64%) and fish and sea foods (59%). 17% of the patients were malnourished. A significant percentage of malnourished patients with CIBD had to follow a diet outside the flare, had a nutritional follow up, were currently taking corticosteroids and had a severe form of the disease compared to patients who were well nourished. CONCLUSIONS: This study has contributed valuable insights into the understanding that some food items could be associated to periods of increased disease activity in CIBD patients and that awareness/intervention regarding nutrition must be provided by healthcare professionals (dietitians, physicians…) to decrease the need for second line therapy. In addition, this self-reported food intolerance paper gives an insight for patients on food items usually avoided by CIBD patients during flares.

The moderating effect of emotion regulation in the association between social support and religiosity and psychological distress in adults.

BACKGROUND: Lebanese adults face daily obstacles due to their numerous responsibilities and non-ending external pressures to the extent that Lebanon has been ranked second among highest negative experiences countries worldwide. A sparse number of international studies showed that positive social support, religiosity and cognitive reappraisal would decrease psychological distress, but none in Lebanon. This study aimed to evaluate the association between social support, religiosity and psychological distress among Lebanese adults, taking into consideration the moderating role of emotion regulation. METHODS: 387 adult participants enrolled in this cross-sectional study between May and July 2022. Participants were chosen from five different governorates in Lebanon, using the snowball sampling technique, and were asked to complete a structured questionnaire, which included the following scales: the Mature Religiosity Scale, the Emotional Regulation Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. RESULTS: The interaction social support by cognitive reappraisal was significantly associated with psychological distress; at high levels of cognitive reappraisal and low levels of expressive suppression, higher social support (Beta = - 0.07; p = .007) was significantly associated with lower psychological distress. The same was found at high levels of cognitive reappraisal and moderate levels of expressive suppression (Beta = - 0.08; p = .021). Social support alone was not significantly associated with psychological distress in the model (Beta = 0.15; t = 1.04; p = .300; 95% CI - 0.14; 0.44). CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study has provided evidence that the adequate use of emotional regulation skills such as high level of cognitive reappraisal and low level of expressive suppression with presence of social support would remarkably decrease psychological distress. This result casts a new light on clinical approaches to tackle this association between the emotional regulation of a patient in interpersonal psychotherapy.