Feeling phony online - The impostor phenomenon's link to online self-presentation, self-esteem, and social network site use.

This study examined the relationship between the impostor phenomenon, self-esteem, online self-presentation, and social network site usage across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Tinder. The sample consisted of n = 541 individuals (46 % men; Mage = 27, SDage = 8.5). In addition to demographics, quantitative social network site use metrics, and self-esteem, the impostor expression emerged as an incremental predictor for the online self-presentation facets adaptable self (ß = 0.26, p < .001), authentic self (ß = -0.29, p < .001) and freedom of self online (ß = 0.25, p < .001). Self-esteem partially mediated the impostor expression's effect on the authentic self. Findings suggest that a high impostor expression links to lower online authenticity, higher online self-adaption, and a preference for online communication and self-presentation.

Assessing the desire for aesthetics: Adaptation and validation of the desire for aesthetics scale in German (DFAS-G).

OBJECTIVES: Individuals vary in their levels of Desire for Aesthetics, ranging from superficial interest to profound immersion. However, there is currently a lack of measurement tools available to assess Desire for Aesthetics across various domains within German-speaking populations. Addressing this gap, the present study aimed to develop the Desire for Aesthetics Scale in German (DFAS-G) and evaluate its psychometric properties to comprehensively assess aesthetic preferences and inclinations. METHODS: We conducted three consecutive studies and collected three samples of students and university employees. In Study 1 (N = 317), we selected a translated item pool using the forward-backward translation method, conducted cultural adaptation of the items, and assessed the scale's factor structure through an exploratory factor analysis. In Study 2 (N = 304), we revised and cross-validated the scale using confirmatory factor analysis and examined the final 37-item DFAS-G for reliability and validity. In Study 3 (N = 300), we further examined the scales construct validity and assessed retest reliability 291 days after initial testing. RESULTS: The factor analysis conducted in Study 1 resulted in a four-factor solution representing the Desire for Aesthetics in four domains: Visual Arts, Individuals, Music, and Habitat. We found good internal consistency for the global scale (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87) and all subscales (0.74 to 0.82). We also found construct validity with Art Interest and facets of the Big Five personality trait Openness and provided first evidence of criterion validity and incremental validity of the DFAS-G global score toward Aesthetic Perception and Visual Arts toward Art Interest in Study 2. We further found evidence of convergent validity with the Openness facet Aesthetics, discriminant validity with the facet Values, and high test-retest reliability (0.85 to 1.00) in Study 3. CONCLUSIONS: The present article provides a scale for measuring DfA in German-speaking populations and first steps of its validation. The DFAS-G extends the repertoire of options for psychological research on individual differences in aesthetics appreciation. Follow-up studies could provide further evidence of the subscale's validity and equivalence to the original scale.

The first shot counts the most: Tactical breathing as an intervention to increase marksmanship accuracy in student officers.

In this study, we investigated the effect of tactical breathing (breath-based stress management) on marksmanship performance in a randomized between-subjects design. The total of n = 100 participants (18% female) were all student soldiers and randomly assigned to the intervention group (tactical breathing) or the control group. In the German Armed Forces shooting simulator, participants shot ten rounds at ten meters with the P8 (Heckler and Koch). In addition, the effect of neuroticism, fear of failure, and resilience on shooting performance and the interaction of those traits with the experimental condition were examined. Overall, the total hit score showed a strong ceiling effect, so the more difficult initial hit was primarily used as a performance criterion. None of the personality traits significantly affected the initial hit, and there were no interactions between the experimental condition and the personality traits. However, there was a significant difference in initial hit between the control and experimental group, as the tactical breathing group shot an average of 1.9 points better, t(98) = 8.489, p < .001, d = 1.698. Considering the initial shot, which was more difficult due to the uncocked trigger, tactical breathing proved to be an effective method for increasing marksmanship performance.

The Continuous Matching Task (CMT) - real-time procedural stimulus generation for adaptive testing of attention.

The Continuous Matching Task (CMT) is a novel paradigm designed to measure sustained attention and alertness. It is a special type of Continuous Performance Task (CPT) that utilizes truly continuous stimulus material. Stimuli are generated in real-time by a procedural algorithm which also enables adaptive testing. The task is highly flexible and can be used in either single or dual-task configurations that also allow for task mixing. The functionality of the algorithm and applications are presented. The viability of the CMT is tested and results are compared with similar tasks, i.e. Stroop-Task and Conner's CPT (CCPT), as well as self-reports of ADHD in adults in a Multi-Trait-Multi-Method approach in a sample of N = 122 participants. Self-reports and measurements of heart rate variability during testing are analyzed to infer and compare mental workload during tasks. Overall, variants of the CMT induce a higher mental workload than the other tasks, and employing the dual-task CMT with adaptive difficulty resulted in the highest reliability and validity. Results indicate that the CMT is primarily a measure of alertness and processing speed and benefits from adaptive testing.

Predictors of sexual aggression among gay men and lesbian women: An application of Malamuth's confluence model.

The present study investigated whether the core constructs of Malamuth's confluence model (i.e., hostility against individuals of the same sex and sexual orientation [HASSO], impersonal sexuality [IS], and high dominance/low nurturance [HDLN]) could predict sexual aggressive behavior (SA) of gay men against other gay men and of lesbian women against other lesbian women. For both gay men (N = 226) and lesbian women (N = 190) regression analysis showed that IS, HDLN, and especially HASSO proved to be important predictors for sexual aggression. The confluence of all three risk factors in terms of a three-way interaction added to the prediction of SA in lesbian women but not in gay men. Overall, the three predictors explained 30% of the variance in SA among men and 62% of the variance in SA among women.

Do Men Apply Differently Than Women? An Analysis of Language in Standardized Application Documents.

Based on previous research about gender differences we investigated whether varying language utilization across gender can be found in standardized text documents such as job applications. To this end, 581 cover letters, CVs and complete application documents were analyzed using linguistic inquiry and word count. Some language differences between men and women could be shown, even if as expected, there were smaller effects than in comparative studies in less formalized contexts. These differences were specific for cover letters and CVs. A differentiated examination showed that gender differences in the cover letters were largely determined by function words. In contrast, differences in the CVs were mainly due to differences in content words. The findings add the context of recruiting to lend support to the framework of gender differences in language across different contexts. Implications for candidates, recruiters and companies are discussed.

Do what matters, no matter what! Factorizing positive activities during COVID-19 lockdown.

Behavioral activation (BA) interventions systematically encourage positive and value-based activities. Engaging in them is an effective way to counteract negative affect, but it is unknown whether there are subtypes of activities that may have differential effects on mood. This study investigated the factorial structure of 99 potentially rewarding activities used in an online BA intervention during the COVID-19 lockdown. About 3624 German-speaking participants evaluated a list of 99 activities that were easy to apply. We analyzed the initially 99 activities by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Since activities can either be seen as reflective or formative indicators, a reflective as well as a formative model was analyzed. Although the range of chosen activities differed clearly between respondents, a one-factor model provided the best fit. It seems that a general "activity" factor is more important for explaining whether people choose a certain activity or not, than specific characteristics of the activity itself.

The impostor phenomenon in the eye of knowledgeable others: the association of the impostor phenomenon with the judge's accuracy.

This study examines whether a heightened impostor expression is associated with a judge's assessment. The sample comprised n = 155 triads (target, mother, and a friend). Results indicated a slightly higher profile agreement between the target and mother (rraw = 0.47; rdistinct = 0.33) than a friend (rraw = 0.41; rdistinct = 0.23). The profile agreement was inversely correlated with the IPP total score, Competence Doubt, Alienation, and Other-Self Divergence (r = ≤ -0.29, p < 0.001), indicating reduced accuracy among judges when confronted with a heightened impostor expression. However, these relationships disappear once controlling for stereotype effects. Overall, this study reveals a negative association between the impostor expression and the other-self agreement, supporting the biasing self-presentation of impostors in the eye of others.

The Association Between Relationship Orientation, Relationship Quality and Sexual Satisfaction.

Although, uncommitted dating via online apps is widespread, most people find value in long-term, trusting relationships. From a social and evolutionary point of view, it has been theorized that mating strategies, and, in particular, short-term strategies make some relationships more vulnerable than others. In our study, we examined short- and long-term relationship orientation and their association with relationship quality. We analysed data from 395 heterosexual couples using the actor-partner-interdependence model in order to explore effects on individuals and couples. Results demonstrated that short-term orientation was associated with lower levels of relationship quality and an increased likelihood of complaints about the partner and the relationship. Long-term relationship orientation, on the other hand, was associated with higher levels of relationship quality. In addition, higher levels of sexual satisfaction mediate the association between short-term orientation and relationship quality. In-depth analyses revealed gender- and couple effects.

The validation of the English Impostor-Profile 30 and the exploratory formulation of the learned helplessness model of the impostor phenomenon.

The learned helplessness model of the Impostor Phenomenon is an exploratory approach to explain the Impostor Phenomenon by linking the constructs of growth mindset, learned helplessness, grit, thought-action fusion, and defensive pessimism. In this study, we (a) confirmatorily tested the factor structure of the English IPP30, (b) examined the instrument's nomological validity, and (c) exploratorily formulated a path model to explain the effects of learned helplessness on the Impostor Phenomenon. The sample consisted of n = 376 persons (46% female). The CFI indicated the bifactorial model of the English IPP30 as best-fitting, while the subscale correlations suggested the instrument's nomological validity. The exploratory path model showed sufficient goodness of fit. It proclaims a labeling as talented that decreases the growth mindset expression, which negatively correlates with learned helplessness. In addition, the model states learned helplessness as a central model component associated with grit, thought-action fusion, and finally, the Impostor Phenomenon.

[Norms of the German Version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS-G) - Self-Assessment Scale on a German-Speaking Sample]. / Normierung der deutschen Fassung der Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS-G) ­ Selbstbeurteilungsskala an einer deutschsprachigen Stichprobe.

PROBLEM: The German version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS-G) is an instrument for the assessment of sensitivity. Validity of the scale was confirmed in prior research (Konrad & Herzberg, 2017). This paper provides norm values of the HSPS-G for German-speaking countries. METHOD: To generate norms, data from 7458 participants (6251 female, 1207 male; age ranging: 14-80 years; mean=37.80; SD=11.75) were collected in an online assessment. Participants were German-speaking citizens of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. RESULTS: Analysis of variance suggested systematic gender differences in the scores. Thus, gender-specific norms were created for the subscales and the total score of the HSPS-G. The resulting norm values comprising percentiles and T-values enable comparative interpretation of the results of the HSPS-G, enabling the assessment of inter- and intraindividual differences with respect to demographic variables.

Examining the Impostor-Profile-Is There a General Impostor Characteristic?

The Impostor-Profile (IPP) is a six-dimensional questionnaire measuring the Impostor Phenomenon facets. This study aims to test (a) the appropriateness of a total score, (b) measurement invariance (MI) between gender, (c) the reliability of the IPP, and (d) the convergent validity of the IPP subscales. The sample consisted of N = 482 individuals (64% female). To identify whether the scales of the IPP form a total score, we compared four models: (1) six correlating subscales, (2) a general factor model, (3) a second-order model with one second-order factor and six first-order factors, and (4) a bifactorial model with six group factors. The bifactorial model obtained the best fit. This supports the assumption of a total impostor score. The inspection of structural validity between gender subgroups showed configural, metric, and partial scalar MI. Factor mean comparisons supported the assumption that females and males differ in latent means of the Impostor Phenomenon expressions. The omega coefficients showed sufficient reliability (≥0.71), except for the subscale Need for Sympathy. Overall, the findings of the bifactor model fit and construct validity support the assumption that the measurement through total expression is meaningful in addition to the theoretically formulated multidimensionality of the Impostor Phenomenon.

Primary vaccination in adult patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation - A single center retrospective efficacy analysis.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) results in a loss of humoral immunity and subsequent risk for severe infections. Thus, re-vaccination is required but may fail due to incomplete immune reconstitution. We retrospectively analyzed predictors of immune response to primary vaccination applied according to the EBMT (European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group) recommendations. Serologic response to vaccination against diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), Bordetella pertussis (aP) and Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) (administrated as combined DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccination) was studied in 84 alloHSCT patients transplanted between 2008 and 2015 (age at alloHSCT: 18.6-70.6 years). All patients with a relapse-free survival of ≥9 months, at least 3 consecutive vaccinations and absence of intravenous immunoglobulin administration within 3 months before and after vaccination met the primary inclusion criteria. Additionally, immunological response to a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was analyzed in a subgroup of 67 patients. Patients' characteristics at the time of first vaccination were recorded. Responses were measured as vaccine-specific antibody titers. Regarding DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccination, 89.3% (n = 75) of all patients achieved protective titers to at least 3 of the 4 vaccine components and were thus considered responders. 10.7% (n = 9) of the patients were classified as non-responders with positive immune response to less than 3 components. Highest response was observed for Hib (97.4%), tetanus (95.2%) and pneumococcal vaccination (83.6%) while only 68.3% responded to vaccination against Bordetella pertussis. Significant risk factors for failure of vaccination response included low B cell counts (p < 0.001; cut-off: 0.05 B cells/nl) and low IgG levels (p = 0.026; mean IgG of responders 816 mg/dl vs. 475 mg/dl of non-responders). Further, a trend was observed that prior cGvHD impairs vaccination response as 88.9% of the non-responders but only 54.7% of the responders had prior cGvHD (p = 0.073). The results demonstrate, that the currently proposed vaccination strategy leads to seroprotection in the majority of alloHSCT patients.

When personality gets under the skin: Need for uniqueness and body modifications.

Do individuals modify their bodies in order to be unique? The present study sought to investigate need for uniqueness (NfU) subcomponents as possible motives for modifying one's body. To this end, the study obtained information from 312 participants about their NfU (using the German NfU-G global scale and three sub-scales) and their body modifications (tattoos, piercings, and extreme body modifications such as tongue splitting). By analyzing the three subcomponents of NfU, the study was able to investigate the differential relationship of the sub-scales with the outcome measures, which facilitated a fine-grained understanding of the NfU-body-modification relationship. The study found that tattooed, pierced, and extreme-body-modified individuals had higher NfU-G scores than individuals without body modifications. Moreover, it seemed that individuals with tattoos took a social component into consideration while lacking concern regarding others' reaction toward their tattoos, although not wanting to cause affront. Pierced and extreme-body-modified individuals, contrarily, tended to display a propensity to actively flout rules and not worry about others' opinions on their modifications. However, although statistically significant, the effect size (d) for the NfU-G differences in the tattooed and pierced participants' mean scores was small to medium in all three subcomponents. The extreme-body-modified group presented medium and medium to large effects. Further, the study observed that the number of body modifications increased with an increasing NfU in tattooed and pierced individuals. These findings demonstrated multifaceted interrelations between the NfU, its subcomponents, and the three kinds of body modifications investigated in the present study.

Personality types revisited-a literature-informed and data-driven approach to an integration of prototypical and dimensional constructs of personality description.

A new algorithmic approach to personality prototyping based on Big Five traits was applied to a large representative and longitudinal German dataset (N = 22,820) including behavior, personality and health correlates. We applied three different clustering techniques, latent profile analysis, the k-means method and spectral clustering algorithms. The resulting cluster centers, i.e. the personality prototypes, were evaluated using a large number of internal and external validity criteria including health, locus of control, self-esteem, impulsivity, risk-taking and wellbeing. The best-fitting prototypical personality profiles were labeled according to their Euclidean distances to averaged personality type profiles identified in a review of previous studies on personality types. This procedure yielded a five-cluster solution: resilient, overcontroller, undercontroller, reserved and vulnerable-resilient. Reliability and construct validity could be confirmed. We discuss wether personality types could comprise a bridge between personality and clinical psychology as well as between developmental psychology and resilience research.

Age and gender differences in anxiety and depression in cancer patients compared with the general population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of anxiety and depression in cancer patients with those of the general population, to examine age and gender differences in anxiety and depression, to analyse the impact of several socio-demographic and clinical parameters on anxiety and depression, and to test the age and gender measurement invariance of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). METHODS: A sample of 3,785 German patients with cancer and a sample of 2,747 people of the German general population were examined using the HADS. RESULTS: Patients with cancer were more anxious but slightly less depressed than age- and gender-matched individuals of the general population. Young patients with cancer were particularly affected by anxiety. Measurement invariance across gender and age could be established. For all analysed clinical variables, including tumour site, tumour stage, metastases, setting and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status we found no significant interaction effects with gender that exceeded the 5% significance criterion. CONCLUSION: The HADS provides fair comparisons between age and gender groups. Gender differences in anxiety and depression can be generalised across the cancer sites and clinical subgroups. Young patients with cancer deserve special attention by the healthcare system.

Assessing psychological and physical abuse from children's perspective: Factor structure and psychometric properties of the picture-based, modularized child-report version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale - Revised (CTSPC-R).

Child victims' reports of psychological and physical abuse by caregivers are a fundamental source of information beyond official records and caregiver reports. However, few or no sensitive and age-appropriate child-report instruments exist that have undergone in-depth validity and reliability testing across a broad age-range. Our study addresses this gap by examining psychometric properties of a picture-based, modularized version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTSPC-R), encompassing the maltreatment subtypes of psychological and physical abuse. A sample of 904 children and adolescents aged 4-16 years from the community (n = 568), child psychiatric services (n = 159), and from Child Protective Services (CPS; n = 177) completed the CTSPC-R. Measures to test convergent (maltreatment in parent interviews and CPS records) and concurrent validity (psychiatric symptoms) were collected. The CTSPC-R comprises 22 items, arranged in three severity modules by increasing level of psychological and physical abuse by caregivers. Companion picture cards were provided for children aged 4 and 8 years. The best fit to the data was attained with a second-order factor model, assuming three inter-correlated factors corresponding to the three severity modules, and a latent second-order factor representing combined physical and psychological abuse. The three factors showed good internal consistencies. Supporting convergent validity at the global and subtype-level of maltreatment, the CTSPC-R severity scale was associated with lifetime CPS-contact, presence of caregiver-reported emotional maltreatment and physical abuse, and dimensions of chronicity and severity. Discriminant validity was supported by non-significant correlations with caregiver-reported lack of supervision, failure to provide, and sexual abuse. Bolstering concurrent validity, moderate and severe physical abuse predicted caregiver-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms. These effects were independent of child age, gender or community vs. non-community samples. Our study supports the CTSPC-R as a scientifically and clinically sound tool for ascertaining the child's own perspective on psychological and physical abuse from an early age onwards.

On the role of dominance and nurturance in the confluence model: A person-centered approach to the prediction of sexual aggression.

Malamuth's (1998) confluence model holds that the combination of hostile masculinity, impersonal sexuality, and the constellation of high dominance and low nurturance plays a crucial role in explaining men's sexual aggression against women. Most studies on the confluence model concentrate on hostile masculinity and impersonal sexuality rather than dominance and nurturance. Using a person-centered approach, we investigated whether sexual aggressive men could be better identified in a sample of 692 men when not only hostile masculinity and impersonal sexuality but also dominance and nurturance were used as indicators in a latent profile analysis. Regardless of whether dominance and nurturance were considered or not, latent profile analyses revealed a high-risk group, which showed higher sexual aggression than other groups. In both cases, the sensitivity (i.e., the proportion of sexually aggressive men correctly assigned to the high-risk group) was low (33% and 31%, respectively) but increased substantially for the identification of severe sexual aggression. The positive prediction value, however, increased from 68% to 78% when dominance and nurturance were considered as predictor variables in addition to hostile masculinity and impersonal sexuality, indicating that more men assigned to the high-risk group were indeed sexually aggressive. These results demonstrate the power of the confluence model for identifying sexually aggressive men from a person-centered perspective. They also point to the necessity of expanding this perspective by considering further (e.g., situational) risk factors, which have previously been identified as predicting sexually aggressive behavior in men. Aggr. Behav. 43:251-262, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Coping in relationships: the interplay between individual and dyadic coping and their effects on relationship satisfaction.

The main aim of the present study was to determine how individual and dyadic coping efforts are related in the context of relationships. This aim was achieved by studying partners simultaneously and taking into account the interdependent nature of couple data. Specifically tested was whether dyadic coping mediates the influence of individual coping, and whether there is a mutual influence of partners' dyadic coping. Cross-sectional data of 240 German couples were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that dyadic coping is a stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction than individual coping, and that it mediates the individual coping efforts. Mutual influence could be demonstrated for pragmatic coping but not for emotional coping. This research highlights the importance of dyadic coping by focusing on the ways in which couples cope together.