Individual differences in emotional processing and autobiographical memory: interoceptive awareness and alexithymia in the fading affect bias.

The capacity to perceive internal bodily states is linked to emotional awareness and effective emotional regulation. We explore individual differences in emotional awareness in relation to the fading affect bias (FAB), which refers to the greater dwindling of unpleasant compared to pleasant emotions in autobiographical memory. We consider interoceptive awareness and alexithymia in relation to the FAB, and private event rehearsal as a mediating process. With increasing interoceptive awareness, there was an enhanced FAB, but with increasing alexithymia, there was a decreased FAB. Further, the effects of interoceptive awareness were partially mediated by private rehearsal of pleasant events. We provide novel evidence that capacity for emotional awareness and thus effective processing is an important factor predictive of the FAB. Moreover, our results imply an important role for maintaining positive affect in the FAB. Our findings offer new insights into the effects of interoception and alexithymia on autobiographical memory, and support concepts of the FAB emerging as a result of adaptive emotional regulation processes.

The fading affect bias: Effects of social disclosure to an interactive versus non-responsive listener.

The intensity of negative emotions associated with event memories fades to a greater extent over time than positive emotions (fading affect bias or FAB). In this study, we examine how the presence and behaviour of a listener during social disclosure influences the FAB and the linguistic characteristics of event narratives. Participants recalled pleasant and unpleasant events and rated each event for its emotional intensity. Recalled events were then allocated to one of three experimental conditions: no disclosure, private verbal disclosure without a listener or social disclosure to another participant whose behaviour was experimentally manipulated. Participants again rated the emotional intensity of the events immediately after these manipulations and after a one-week delay. Verbal disclosure alone was not sufficient to enhance the FAB. However, social disclosure increased positive emotional intensity, regardless of the behaviour of the listener. Whilst talking to an interactive listener led unpleasant event memories to decrease in emotional intensity, talking to a non-responsive listener increased their negative emotional intensity. Further, listener behaviour influenced the extent of emotional expression in written event narratives. This study provides original evidence that listener behaviour during social disclosure is an important factor in the effects of social disclosure in the FAB.

An Exploratory Study Into the Negotiation of Cyber-Security Within the Family Home.

Given the increasingly young age that children are using technology and accessing the internet and its associated risks, it is important we understand how families manage and negotiate cyber-security within the home. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study with thirteen families (14 parents and 19 children) in the south-west of the United Kingdom about their main cyber-security concerns and management strategies. Thematic analysis of the results revealed that families were concerned about cyberbullying, online stranger danger, privacy, content, financial scams, and technical threats. Both parents and children drew on family, friends and trusted others as resources, and used a variety of strategies to manage these threats including rules and boundaries around technology, using protective functions of technology, communication and education around safety. There were tensions between parents and children over boundaries, potentially putting families at risk if children break household rules around cyber-security. Finally, parents expressed the feeling they were in a 'whole new world' of cyber-security threats, and that positive and negative aspects of technology must be constantly balanced. However, parents also felt that the challenges in managing family security are the same ones that have always faced parents - it is just that the context is now digital as well as physical.

Effects of Distance From Academic Cancer Center on Overall Survival of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Retrospective Analysis of Treated Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Patients living farther away from academic centers may not have easy access to resources for management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed to analyze the effect of distance traveled on overall survival (OS) of AML patients treated at an academic center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AML patients diagnosed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center were divided into 4 groups according to the shortest distance between the cancer center and patients' residence (<25, 25-50, 50-100, and > 100 miles). Chi-square test and ANOVA were used to examine the association of distance with patient characteristics. OS, defined as the time from diagnosis of AML to death from any cause, was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparison of survival curves was done by the log-rank test. Multivariable analysis using Cox regression was performed to detect the survival effect of distance from the cancer center. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 449. Median distance was 85 miles (interquartile range, 20-180). OS at 1 year for < 25, 25-50, 50-100, and > 100 miles was 45%, 55%, 38%, and 40% respectively (P = .6). In a Cox regression analysis, distance from treatment center, as a continuous variable, was not a significant factor for death (hazard ratio, 1.001; 95% confidence interval, 1.000-1.001). Multivariable analysis showed nonsignificant trend of increased mortality for patients traveling > 100 miles to a cancer center. CONCLUSION: This study did not demonstrate an association between distance from an academic cancer center and OS in AML. This finding should provide some assurance to patients who live farther away from academic centers.

Prevalence and effects of polypharmacy on overall survival in acute myeloid leukemia.

Polypharmacy, usually defined as taking ≥5 prescribed medications, increases chances of drug-drug interactions and toxicities, and may harm cancer patients who need multiple chemotherapeutic agents and supportive medications. We analyzed the effects of polypharmacy in overall survival (OS) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A total of 399 patients were divided into two groups: patients with polypharmacy (≥5 medications) versus without polypharmacy (<5 medications). Polypharmacy was associated with age ≥60 years, Karnofsky Performance Status of ≤80, hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) comorbidity index of ≥5, and adverse cytogenetics. Patients with polypharmacy were less likely to receive intensity chemotherapy or HCT. One-year OS of patients with polypharmacy versus those without polypharmacy was 29 vs. 49% (p<.001). Polypharmacy conferred worse OS in patients <60 years (37 vs. 65% at 1 year, HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.21-3.15) but not in patients ≥60 years (26 vs. 27% at 1 year, HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.81-1.57). Thus, polypharmacy has negative impact on OS in AML, particularly among patients aged <60 years.