Catalyzing Singlet Fission by Transition Metals: Second versus Third Row Effects.

The synthesis and characterization of platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes bearing two (dimers Pt(Lpc)2Cl2 and Pd(Lpc)2Cl2), one (monomers Pt(Lpc)(Lref)Cl2 and Pd(Lpc)(Lref)Cl2), or no (reference compounds Pt(Lref)2Cl2 and Pd(Lref)2Cl2) pentacene-based pyridyl ligands are presented. Photophysical properties of the dimers are probed by means of steady-state and time-resolved transient absorption measurements in comparison to the monomer and model compounds. Our results document that despite enhanced spin-orbit coupling from the presence of heavy atoms, intramolecular singlet fission (iSF) is not challenged by intersystem crossing. iSF thus yields correlated triplet pairs and even uncorrelated triplet excited states upon decoherence. Importantly, significant separation of the two pentacenyl groups facilitates decoupling of the two chromophores. Furthermore, the mechanism of iSF is altered depending on the respective metal center, that is, Pt(II) versus Pd(II). The dimer based on Pt(II), Pt(Lpc)2Cl2, exhibits a direct pathway for the iSF and forms a correlated triplet pair with singlet-quintet spin-mixing within 10 ns in variable solvents. On the other hand, the dimer based on Pd(II), Pd(Lpc)2Cl2, leads to charge transfer mixing during the population of the correlated triplet pair that is dependent on solvent polarity. Moreover, Pd(Lpc)2Cl2 gives rise to a stable equilibrium between singlet and quintet correlated triplet pairs with lifetimes of up to 170 ns. Inherent differences in the size and polarizability, when contrasting platinum(II) with palladium(II), are the most likely rationale for the underlying trends.

Validity and reliability of the German versions of the CD-RISC-10 and CD-RISC-2.

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) is an established instrument to assess trait resilience. The present study investigates the psychometric properties of the brief German CD-RISC-10 and CD-RISC-2 in an online sample of 360 students. The CD-RISC-10 showed good reliability, whereas the CD-RISC-2 just missed an acceptable level of reliability. The unifactorial structure of the CD-RISC-10 was supported in a confirmatory factor analysis. Correlational analysis with various clinical and non-clinical constructs (e.g., trait resilience, trait emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, well-being, perceived stress, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and mental and physical health related quality of life) provided evidence for convergent, divergent, and incremental validity of both brief versions of the CD-RISC. Measured with the CD-RISC-10, trait resilience buffered the effects of perceived stress on life satisfaction and aggregated mental health problems, but not on physical health related quality of life. For the CD-RISC-2, a buffer effect was only found for life satisfaction. Taken together, the results of the present study provide support for the validity of the CD-RISC-10 and, to a lesser extent, of the CD-RISC-2. Implications and limitations of the results will be discussed.

Personal values, trait emotional intelligence, and mental health problems.

Personal values and personality traits are related yet distinguishable constructs linked to mental health. The present study extends the current literature on personal values and personality traits by investigating the associations between the higher-order dimensions of personal values (i.e., general values factor, conservation, and self-transcendence), trait emotional intelligence (TEI), and mental health problems (i.e., depressive, anxiety, and somatoform syndromes). The study draws on a cross-sectional online sample of N = 618 young German adults. Global TEI and all four TEI factors (i.e., well-being, sociability, emotionality, and self-control) correlated positively with the g-value factor but negatively with conservation. Emotionality was also positively related to self-transcendence. Mental health problems correlated positively with conservation and negatively with the general values factor. When the effects of global TEI were accounted for, conservation but not the general values factor remained significantly related to mental health problems. Global TEI fully mediated the relationship between the g-value factor and mental health problems and partially mediated the association between conservation and mental health problems. The implications of these results are discussed.

A trait emotional intelligence perspective on schema modes.

Schema modes (or modes) are a key concept in the theory underlying schema therapy. Modes have rarely been related to established models of personality traits. The present study thus investigates the associations between trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and 14 modes, and tests a global TEI-mode factors-general psychological distress mediation model. The study draws on self-report data from 173 inpatients from a German clinic for psychosomatic medicine. Global TEI correlated positively with both healthy modes (happy child and healthy adult) and negatively with 10 maladaptive modes. When modes were regressed on the four TEI factors, six (emotionality), five (well-being), four (sociability), and four (self-control) significant partial effects on 10 modes emerged. In the parallel mediation model, the mode factors internalization and compulsivity fully mediated the global TEI-general psychological distress link. Implications of the results for the integration of modes with traits in general and with TEI in particular as well as implications of low TEI as a transdiagnostic feature of personality malfunctioning are discussed.

Trait Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Dyadic Coping.

Trait emotional intelligence (TEI) is an important individual difference variable that is related to the quality of romantic relationships. The present study investigated the associations between TEI, dyadic coping, and relationship satisfaction. A convenience sample of N = 136 heterosexual couples was recruited online. When the actor-partner interdependence model was applied to the data, TEI showed a positive actor effect and a positive partner effect on relationship satisfaction. The actor effect and partner effect of TEI on relationship satisfaction were partially mediated through positive dyadic coping and common dyadic coping, respectively. A small total indirect actor effect was also found for negative dyadic coping. Controlling for potential content overlap between TEI and relationship satisfaction did not alter the results. However, removing variance from the TEI score that was shared with the Big Five trait factors attenuated TEI's actor and partner effects on relationship satisfaction and rendered all but one actor effect for TEI on dyadic coping and all but one indirect effect nonsignificant. The results underline the importance of TEI for the quality of romantic relationships and they shed light on underlying mechanisms. Implications for theory, research, and applications in counseling contexts will be discussed.

The Higher-Order Structure of Schema Modes.

In schema therapy, modes are proposed as a key concept and main target for treatment of personality disorders. The present study aimed to assess a comprehensive set of 20 modes, to explore their higher-order structure, and to link the mode factors to the generic schema factor and basic personality traits. The sample consisted of N = 533 inpatients. Earlier versions of the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI, SMI-2) were merged into the German Extended SMI (GE-SMI). Item-level confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the structure of 16 out of 20 GE-SMI scales might be unidimensional. Scale-level exploratory factor analysis revealed three hierarchically structured mode factors: internalization, externalization, and compulsivity. Regressing mode factor scores on the Big Five factors and the generic schema factor supported the validity of the mode factors. The hierarchical structure of modes will be linked to the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology, and implications for case conceptualization and treatment will be discussed.

Mindfulness facets, trait emotional intelligence, emotional distress, and multiple health behaviors: A serial two-mediator model.

In the present study, we tested a serial mindfulness facets-trait emotional intelligence (TEI)-emotional distress-multiple health behaviors mediation model in a sample of N = 427 German-speaking occupational therapists. The mindfulness facets-TEI-emotional distress section of the mediation model revealed partial mediation for the mindfulness facets Act with awareness (Act/Aware) and Accept without judgment (Accept); inconsistent mediation was found for the Describe facet. The serial two-mediator model included three mediational pathways that may link each of the four mindfulness facets with multiple health behaviors. Eight out of 12 indirect effects reached significance and fully mediated the links between Act/Aware and Describe to multiple health behaviors; partial mediation was found for Accept. The mindfulness facet Observe was most relevant for multiple health behaviors, but its relation was not amenable to mediation. Implications of the findings will be discussed.