Gambling Behaviour: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Relation with Acculturation in 2007-2018 North Cyprus Adult Household Surveys.

In this study, the prevalence of gambling behaviors among the North Cyprus (NC) in 2018 is compared with the data of 2007, 2012, 2014 and the relationship between acculturation and problem and pathological gambling (PPG) is examined. The population of the study consists of Turkish-speaking individuals between 18 and 65 years of age living in NC. 799 people were consequently selected according to gender, age and geographical region with a multi-stage stratified (randomized) quota. For the collection of the data, a demographic questionnaire, the Turkish version of the Revised South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and cultural attitude scale (CAS) were used. The prevalence data were compared with the research done by the same researchers in 2007 (n = 1012), 2012 (n = 996) and 2014 (n = 958) which were conducted by same method and questionnaire. The vast majority of participants (70.6%) participated in one or more of the 17 types of gambling activities at least once during their lifetime. Pathologic gambling doubled and rose to 4.5% in 2007-2018 periods. Being male, age range of 18-29, single, living alone and marry less than 5 years are the risk factors for PPG. Separation and integration attitude were related with PPG among Cyprus-born individuals. The study shows that gambling behavior is widespread in the NC and pathologic gambling is increasingly rapidly. High rates of gambling addiction, should be assessed in its own social structure for each community and it should be taken into consideration that acculturation is an effective factor in increasing PPG.

Somatization Level Among Psychosomatic Dermatology Patients: Relationship With Dyadic Adjustment, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Perfectionism.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the somatization level and dyadic adjustment, gratitude, forgiveness, and perfectionism in patients with psychosomatic dermatologic complaints. Methods: In this correlational survey study, participants were recruited using the purposive sampling method from patients with psychosomatic dermatologic complaints, who were 18 or older, married, and living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Data were collected from patients diagnosed as having a dermatological disease with probable psychological etiology by a dermatologist at the dermatology outpatient unit of Nicosia Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu Hospital during April-December 2018. The demographic information form, symptom checklist, dyadic adjustment scale, gratitude questionnaire, Heartland forgiveness scale, and almost perfect scale were administered to the participants. Results: In this study, female sex, low education level, being an immigrant, low dyadic adjustment, perfectionism with a high level of discrepancy, low forgiveness of self and situations, and low gratitude levels were found to be probable risk factors for somatization. Conclusion: During the psychiatric treatment of patients with somatic complaints, marital problems, forgiveness, and perfectionism with a high level of discrepancy should be considered.

The Effect of Traumatic Loss on Posttraumatic Growth Among 2011 Van Earthquake Survivors: The Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Stress.

Objective: Posttraumatic growth (PTG), defined as a positive change after a traumatic event, has become the subject of various studies, and its relationship with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) has been extensively investigated. However, studies have indicated differences in the relationship between PTG and PTSS. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of PTSS in the relationship between the number of traumatic losses and PTG among the 2011 Van earthquake survivors. Methods: The sample of this study consisted of 917 participants who experienced the 2011 Van earthquake. A personal information form, impact of event scale-revised (IES-R), and posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) were used as data collection tools. Results: Survivors with traumatic loss were found to have higher PTSS and PTG than survivors without traumatic loss. The mean scores of the PTGI subscales were higher among survivors with traumatic loss except for changes in self-perception. A positive correlation was found between IES-R and PTGI total scores. In the regression analysis, it was found that PTSS played a mediating role in the relationship between the number of traumatic losses and PTG. Conclusion: This study revealed that PTG is possible with the presence of PTSS. Mental health professionals assisting survivors with traumatic loss should take the enhancement of PTG into consideration in addition to their efforts to reduce PTSS.

Attachment, Psychological Wellbeing, and Educational Development among Child Members of Transnational Families.

Objective: The current research investigated attachment styles, psychological wellbeing, and academic development among children in transnational family arrangements in Zimbabwe. Methods: Purposive sampling was employed to select 57 children in transnational family arrangements and 41 children in conventional two-parent households aged between 8 and 14 years. Attachment Style Classification Questionnaire for latency-age children, Stirling Children's Well-being Scale, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Questionnaire for Evaluation of Development and Behavior were applied. Results: The results revealed that there were no significant differences in attachment styles, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and academic development between the transnational and conventional family groups. Social desirability and prosocial behavior were significantly lower in the transnational group. Children with both parents as migrants had significantly lower scores for psychological wellbeing and higher scores for emotional symptoms and literacy problems than children with one migrant parent or conventional families. Conclusion: There was no difference in attachment styles and academic development, which may be a reflection of the strength of the extended family in substituting parental care. However, children in transnational family arrangements scored poorly on the prosocial subscale of psychological wellbeing, which is associated with family cohesion. Parental migration negatively impacts family cohesion, especially when both parents migrate. When both parents migrate, the children exhibited emotional symptoms, literacy problems, poor prosocial behaviors, and poor psychological wellbeing because children receive reduced social support. This study reveals that a child's age at the parent's departure, family cohesion, and economic security are integral to ensuring the wellbeing of children in transnational family arrangements.

Depression: point-prevalence and risk factors in a North Cyprus household adult cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the most common diagnosed psychiatric disorders in the world. Besides individual risk factors, it is also found that environment and socio-cultural factors are the other main risk factors for depression. In this article, the results of the 2016 national household survey of depression in North Cyprus (NC) are presented. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors of depression in NC households. METHODS: The study was conducted between April and June 2016, the sample consisting of Turkish-speaking individuals between 18 and 88 years of age living permanently in NC. A multi-stage stratified (randomized) quota was used in the survey, and 978 people were selected according to the 2011 census. A 21 item questionnaire prepared by the researchers and a Turkish version of the Beck Depression Inventory scales were used for obtaining data. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study found a point prevalence of 23.4% for relatively high BDI scores (≥17) suggesting clinical depression. Being female, a widow, unemployed, having a limited education and low income level, having a physical illness, living alone, and using illicit substances were defined as possible risk factors for depression. CONCLUSIONS: When we consider the world prevalence, NC has one of the higher depression prevalence. NC has environmental and socio-cultural characteristics such as a history of war, migration and colonization, high unemployment rates, socioeconomic problems, similar to other extremely high prevalence depression countries and regions, which give a strong indication of the importance of socio-cultural factors on depression.

Lifetime of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Problem and Pathologic Gambling in North Cyprus.

In this article, the results of the national survey of adult gambling behavior in North Cyprus (NC) in 2012 are presented. The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of adults' participation in gambling, and to determine the prevalence of 'problem and pathological gambling' in NC. The population of this study was formed from all the people living permanently in NC, speaking Turkish, and within the age group 18-65. Household interviews were conducted with 966 people. To obtain data, a 30 item questionnaire prepared by the researchers and a Turkish version of the Revised South Oaks Gambling Screen were used. Prevalence rates are compared with the results of the study conducted in 2007 using the same methodology and survey form. The lifetime prevalence of participating at least once in any of the 17 gambling activities investigated in the survey was 66.4 %. 3.5 % of the respondents scored as lifetime probable pathological gamblers and 9.2 % as probable problem gamblers. Risk factors for becoming probable problem and pathological gamblers include being male, being in the 19-28 age group, having a high education level, having a job and being born in Cyprus. This study shows that the prevalence of problem gambling is high in NC and increasing gradually. NC has socio-cultural features such as a history of colonization, socioeconomic problems and high unemployment, similar to other high prevalence gambling regions, which is suggestive of the importance of socio-cultural factors on gambling behavior.

Comparing psychological responses of internally displaced and non-displaced Turkish Cypriots.

During the 1963-1964 ethnic conflict and 1974 war in Cyprus, many Turkish Cypriots were displaced by Greek Cypriot forces. The psychological condition of Turkish Cypriots after these conflicts has not been studied to the present day. At the time of the Annan Plan Referendum on April 24th 2004, when people on both sides were to decide whether to reunite or not, and when old traumatic events where being discussed in vivid detail, the psychological responses of the internally displaced and non-displaced Turkish Cypriots were investigated. The sample of the study derived from a sample of a larger household survey study conducted on 408 adult people taken randomly from three different districts. People who settled down in Cyprus after 1974 or who had never experienced a war in Cyprus were not included in the study. 129 Turkish Cypriots who experienced either 1963-64 conflict or the 1974 war were included in the present study. 86 of these had been displaced. The first part of the questionnaire that was administered to the subjects included demographic characteristics, war-related traumatic experiences, the level of seriousness, and traumatic incidents resulting from other circumstances. In the second part of the questionnaire, the Traumatic Stress Symptom Checklist (TSSC) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were used to investigate the symptoms of the post-traumatic process. The outcomes indicates that the internally displaced persons (IDPs) where subjected to traumatic incidents at a higher degree due to killing, displacement, captivity, or killing of family members and relatives. The rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of IDPs is 20%, and is significantly higher than for non-displaced persons. The comparison of BSI subscales show that IDPs had a higher level of depression scores than the non-displaced persons. The somatization subscale scores are higher in non-displaced persons. The study reveals a higher frequency of war-related traumatic events in IDPs than in non-displaced people, greater suffering from posttraumatic stress and more negative beliefs about future reunion.