Jodie Stevenson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Jodie Stevenson

Research paper thumbnail of Author Correction: Internet memes related to the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential coping mechanism for anxiety

Scientific Reports

The original version of this Article contained an error, where Reference 36 was incorrectly cited... more The original version of this Article contained an error, where Reference 36 was incorrectly cited. As a result, in the Introduction, "In a survey of 133 college students, 47% of individuals reported engaging with memes as a way of alleviating psychiatric symptoms 36. " now reads: "In a survey of 133 college students, 47% of individuals reported engaging with memes as a way of alleviating psychiatric symptoms 40. " The original Article has been corrected.

Research paper thumbnail of Altered perception of emotional faces in young adults experiencing loneliness after controlling for symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and depression

Journal of affective disorders reports, Apr 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of The joy of repetition: Perfectionism and poor sleep Comment on "Multidimensional perfectionism and poor sleep: A meta-analysis of bivariate associations

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence & Psychiatric Correlates of Illicit Substance Use in UK Undergraduate students

This study examined the prevalence of illegal drug use in UK students and motivators behind such ... more This study examined the prevalence of illegal drug use in UK students and motivators behind such behaviour. Additionally, we explored possible relationships between substance use, psychosocial motivators, and psychiatric distress. N=543 students completed online measures of substance use, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, insomnia. A series of reasons behind their use were ranked based on importance. Reported cannabis, cocaine, nitrous oxide, ketamine and MDMA use were most prevalent based on lifetime, past year, and month assessments. The experience of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and insomnia were related to increased reports of substance use. Poor self-confidence and self-medication were key motivators of illicit drug use in those presenting greater psychiatric distress. These outcomes add to the sparse body of literature concerning illicit substance use in relation to psychiatric distress amongst UK students. Furthermore, we provided novel insight into the psychos...

Research paper thumbnail of Self-critical thinking mediates the relationship between perfectionism and perceived stress in undergraduate students: A longitudinal study

Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

The experiment was designed and conceived by JS. Data was collected by JS. Data was analysed by U... more The experiment was designed and conceived by JS. Data was collected by JS. Data was analysed by UA and JS. An initial version of the manuscript was written by UA. Following, input was sought from JS. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Research paper thumbnail of Sleep-related Attentional and Interpretive Bias In Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Prominent cognitive models of insomnia have emphasized the notion that the disorder is in part ma... more Prominent cognitive models of insomnia have emphasized the notion that the disorder is in part maintained by cognitive biases of attention and interpretation for sleep-related “threat” cues which may be internal or external in nature. We present the first systematic review of the sleep-related attention and interpretive bias literature that includes meta-analytic calculations for each respective construct. Literature search identified N=21 attentional bias and N=8 interpretive bias studies that met pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Seventeen of the twenty-one reviewed attention bias studies compared normal sleeping controls and poor sleepers/insomnia patients. Based on a random effects model, meta-analytic data based on the standardized mean differences of attentional bias studies determined the weighted pooled effect size (17 studies, N=922) to be moderate at .60 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.93). Furthermore, seven of eight sleep-related interpretive bias studies examined normal slee...

Research paper thumbnail of Altered perception of emotional faces in lonely adults

The evidence based concerning the relationship between loneliness and the perception of facial cu... more The evidence based concerning the relationship between loneliness and the perception of facial cues of emotion remains mixed. This study further examined the categorisation accuracy, and perceived emotional intensity and emotional valence of facial expressions of emotion in adults displaying high, medium, and low levels of loneliness, whilst controlling for symptoms of insomnia anxiety and depression. Using the University of California Loneliness Scale, participants were stratified into those experiencing high (N=83), medium (N=97), and low levels (N=93) of loneliness. Observing facial expressions of emotion from the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces database, participants were assessed on their categorisation accuracy and ratings of emotional intensity and valence. Greater levels of loneliness were associated with positively valanced ratings of angry faces; negatively valanced ratings of facially expressed sadness and happiness; and difficulties in identifying happy faces after c...

Research paper thumbnail of Cognitive Behavioral Mechanisms Underlying the Relationship Between Insomnia and Body Image Disturbance

Research paper thumbnail of Comparing the Relationship Between Suicidal Ideation and Insomnia Between Students and the General Population

Research paper thumbnail of The interaction between suicidal ideation, insomnia symptoms, and student status

Experimental Results, 2021

Evidence demonstrates increased vulnerability to thoughts and behaviors related to suicide (i.e.,... more Evidence demonstrates increased vulnerability to thoughts and behaviors related to suicide (i.e., suicidal ideation) in students. This study examined the interaction between insomnia-symptoms and student-status (students vs. non-students) on reports of suicidal thoughts of behaviors. A total of 363 (N = 363) university students and 300 (N = 300) members of the general population provided complete data on measures of insomnia-symptoms and suicidal ideation. Students indicated greater reports of both total and lifetime ideation while also considering suicidal behavior within the past year. However, no differences were observed in reports of possible future attempt(s) and the disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors to another person. Moreover, students presenting concurrent symptoms of insomnia reported significantly elevated levels of suicidal ideation relative to nonstudents. These outcomes highlight the possible role of insomnia symptoms in accentuating suicidal thoughts and b...

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness, Adult Attachment Orientations, and Emotion Regulation

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Psychotic Experiences, Nightmares and Emotion Dysregulation: Results from a Student Population

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2019

Background: Sleep-disruption is commonly associated with psychotic experiences. Whilst sparse, th... more Background: Sleep-disruption is commonly associated with psychotic experiences. Whilst sparse, the literature to date highlights nightmares and related distress as prominent risk factors for psychosis in students. We aimed to further explore the relationship between specific nightmare symptoms and psychotic experiences in university students whilst examining the mediating role of emotion dysregulation. Method: A sample (N=1273) of students respondents from UK Universities completed measures of psychotic experiences, nightmare disorder symptomology, and emotion dysregulation. Findings: Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that psychotic experiences were significantly associated (Adjusted R2 = 32.4%) with perceived nightmare intensity, consequences and resulting awakenings, and with emotion regulation difficulties. Furthermore, multiple mediation analysis showed that the association between psychotic experiences and nightmare factors was mediated by emotion regulation difficulties. Interpretation: Adaptive regulation of dream content during rapid eye-movement sleep has previously been demonstrated to attenuate surges in affective arousal by controlling the intensity and variability of emotional content. Deficits in emotion regulation may partially explain the experience of more intense and disruptive nightmares amongst individuals with psychotic experiences. Emotion regulation may represent an important control mechanism that safeguards dream content and sleep quality.

Research paper thumbnail of Internet memes related to the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential coping mechanism for anxiety

Scientific Reports, 2021

This study examined whether significantly anxious individuals differed from non-anxious individua... more This study examined whether significantly anxious individuals differed from non-anxious individuals in their perceptual ratings of internet memes related to the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst considering the mediating role of emotion regulation. Eighty individuals presenting clinically significant anxiety symptoms (indicating ≥ 15 on the GAD-7) and 80 non-anxious controls (indicating ≤ 4) rated the emotional valance, humour, relatability, shareability, and offensiveness of 45 Covid-19 internet memes. A measure of emotion regulation difficulties was also completed. The perception of humour, relatability, and shareability were all greater amongst anxious individuals relative to non-anxious controls. These differences were not mediated by emotion regulation deficits. Internet memes related to the current Covid-19 pandemic may tentatively serve as coping mechanism for individuals experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety.

Research paper thumbnail of Homogeneity of cognitive and behavioural processes underlying the relationship between insomnia and body image disturbance

Cognitive Processing, 2021

Specific cognitive behavioural mechanisms related to selective attention, situational avoidance a... more Specific cognitive behavioural mechanisms related to selective attention, situational avoidance and physical appearance are implicated in the development and maintenance of insomnia and negative reinforcement of body image disturbances. Therefore, we examined whether these processes potentially mediate the relationship between insomnia and body image perception. N = 728 participants completed self-reported measures of sleep-associated monitoring, insomnia symptoms, body image disturbance and coping with body image challenges. Symptoms of insomnia and sleep-associated monitoring behaviour were independently related to increased reports of body image disturbance, cognitive distortions of body image, appearance fixing (i.e. altering appearance by covering, camouflaging or correcting the perceived defect), avoidance (i.e. attempt to escape or avert stressful body image situations) and reduced levels of positive rationale acceptance (i.e. acceptance of the challenging event and positive ...

Research paper thumbnail of The role of the COVID-19 pandemic in altered psychological well-being, mental health and sleep: an online cross-sectional study

Psychology, Health & Medicine, 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Measures to reduce transmission of the ... more Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Measures to reduce transmission of the virus have altered usual activities, routines, and livelihoods, and have had a significant impact on mental health. The current study aims to examine the potential alterations in psychological wellbeing, mental health, sleep and diurnal preference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross sectional online questionnaire-based study with n = 200 participants (aged 18-62; 7.86.0% female, 93.0% white, 92.5% UKbased, 73.5% students). Data were collected between 15 th April and 8 June 2020. Participants answered questions on lifestyle changes and their concerns and worries about COVID-19, and completed the SCI, PHQ9, GAD7, PWB18, UCLA3 and MEQ. Results showed selfisolation was linked to lower psychological well-being, and increased loneliness, anxiety and depression. Home-working was related to a shift in diurnal preference. Reduced work/income was related to decreased psychological well-being and sleep quality and increased anxiety, depression, loneliness and. Intensity of worried thoughts and concerns about COVID-19 were positively correlated with anxiety, depression and negatively with sleep quality. In conclusion, the social, occupational and economic disruption due to COVID19 has had a negative impact on psychological well-being. However, the transition to home-working may have been somewhat beneficial for some individuals in terms of sleep. These findings should be taken into account by policy makers during the transition to the 'new normal' post-pandemic.

Research paper thumbnail of Adult attachment and Mindfulness: Examining directionality, causality, and theoretical implications

Journal of Research in Personality, 2021

We present two studies that together provide preliminary evidence to challenge the view that the ... more We present two studies that together provide preliminary evidence to challenge the view that the relationship between adult attachment and mindfulness is bi-directional (Study 1: repeated measures design and Study 2: a repeated measures study examining the efficacy of attachment security priming and a mindfulness induction). Adult attachment anxiety emerged as a significant predictor of some facets of mindfulness, over time, but the reverse was not true. Priming attachment security increased state mindfulness of mind to a greater degree than a mindfulness induction or control. These findings challenge previous research suggesting that the relationship between adult attachment and mindfulness is bi-directional, suggesting that attachment orientation plays a causal role in the development of mindfulness.

Research paper thumbnail of Self-disgust and the dark triad traits: The role of expressive suppression

Personality and Individual Differences, 2021

This study examined whether the dark triad personality traits were related to the experience of s... more This study examined whether the dark triad personality traits were related to the experience of self-disgust, and whether these relationships were mediated by emotion regulation deficits. A sample of (N=620) individuals completed measures of emotion regulation, dark triad traits and self-disgust. Correlational analysis determined that self-disgust was significantly related to increased psychopathy and Machiavellianism, but not narcissism. Parallel multiple mediation analyses evidenced an indirect effect of self-disgust on psychopathy through expressive suppression but not cognitive reappraisal. In contrast, emotion regulation strategies did not mediate the relationship between self-disgust and Machiavellianism. The current observations provide contributions to research in self-disgust and the dark triad personality traits. Addressing negative self-appraisal and related emotional difficulties may benefit individuals displaying antisocial personality traits.

Research paper thumbnail of Psychopathy and chronotype disposition: the mediating role of depression

Heliyon, 2019

This study examined the relationship between dark triad personality traits and chronotype disposi... more This study examined the relationship between dark triad personality traits and chronotype disposition, whilst incorporating the mediating role of anxiety and/or depression after excluding individuals presenting insomnia and/or physiological sleep-disorder symptoms. Members of the general population (N ¼ 453) completed online measures of dark triad personality traits, chronotype, and anxious and depressive symptoms. Psychopathy and Machiavellianism were independently related to an evening chronotype disposition. However, after accounting for age, sex, anxiety and depression, psychopathy and depression remained the only significant predictors of chronotype. Therefore, whilst psychopathy was the strongest predictor of an evening chronotype preference, this relationship is partially mediated by depression. Individuals presenting an evening disposition may display increased psychopathic traits due to greater emotion dysregulation. This is potentially perpetuated by depressive symptoms stemming from a delayed or blunted affective rhythm. Interacting factors (e.g. reduced light exposure) may also contribute to alterations in the biological rhythm amongst evening-types, resulting in a negative feedback cycle. Targeting chronotype and depressive symptoms amongst individuals presenting psychopathic tendencies could increase the efficacy of existing sleep-based interventions for hostile behaviour.

Research paper thumbnail of The therapeutic potential of attentional bias modification training for insomnia: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Trials, 2018

Background: The efficacy of attentional bias modification (ABM) as a treatment for anxiety and de... more Background: The efficacy of attentional bias modification (ABM) as a treatment for anxiety and depression has been extensively studied with promising results. Despite some evidence of sleep-related attentional biases in insomnia, only a small number of studies, yielding mixed results, have examined the application of ABM in insomnia. This study specifically aims to determine whether ABM can reduce (i) the presence of an attentional bias for sleep-related threatening words; (ii) insomnia symptom severity; (iii) sleep onset latency; and (iv) pre-sleep cognitive arousal amongst individuals with insomnia compared to a non-treatment control group of individuals with insomnia. Methods/design: We propose a randomised controlled trial of 90 individuals from the general population who meet the criteria for Insomnia Disorder. Following an initial examination for the presence of a sleep-related attentional bias using the dot-probe paradigm, participants will be randomised to an online attentional bias modification training condition, or to a standard attentional bias task (non-treatment) control condition. Both conditions will be delivered online by a web platform. All participants allocated to the non-treatment control group will be offered ABM training once the study is complete. The primary outcome will be the attentional bias indices of vigilance and disengagement and self-reported insomnia symptoms, sleep onset latency and pre-sleep cognitive arousal. Attentional bias and insomnia symptoms will be assessed at baseline (day 1) and post-treatment (2 days after the final training session: day 9). Insomnia symptoms will be again assessed at follow-up (day 16). Secondary outcomes include examining whether sleep associated monitoring and worry are related to a sleep-related attentional bias in insomnia, and whether such reports reduce following ABM. All main analyses will be carried out on completion of follow-up assessments. The trial is supported by the

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological Well-being and Coping: the Predictive Value of Adult Attachment, Dispositional Mindfulness, and Emotion Regulation

Mindfulness, 2018

The primary aim of this study was to examine the underlying relationship between adult attachment... more The primary aim of this study was to examine the underlying relationship between adult attachment, dispositional mindfulness, and emotion regulation, and investigate how well these constructs can predict coping and well-being. A university sample of participants (n = 174) completed an online survey to assess attachment (anxiety, avoidance, disorganized), emotion regulation, dispositional mindfulness, coping behaviors, and psychological well-being. Exploratory factor analysis assessed the underlying relationship between measures of attachment, emotion regulation, and mindfulness, and presented a two-factor solution accounting for 47% of total variance across participant scores. Attachment, mindfulness, and emotion regulation subscales differentially loaded across the two factors. The first factor, Bresilient mental functioning,^accounted for 33% of variance; the second factor, Bdisorganized emotional functioning,^accounted for 14% of total variance. These two extracted factors were used in subsequent mediation modeling to determine the effects of coping behaviors on the relationship between the extracted factors and six subscales of psychological well-being. Mediation analyses revealed that defeatism coping was a significant mediator in the relationship between resilient mental functioning and five of the psychological well-being scales and between disorganized emotional functioning and all six of these scales. The results add to the current understanding of the relationship between all three constructs and are the first to examine the construct of adult disorganized attachment and its possible role in the relationship between adult attachment and dispositional mindfulness, as well as its influence on emotion regulation.

Research paper thumbnail of Author Correction: Internet memes related to the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential coping mechanism for anxiety

Scientific Reports

The original version of this Article contained an error, where Reference 36 was incorrectly cited... more The original version of this Article contained an error, where Reference 36 was incorrectly cited. As a result, in the Introduction, "In a survey of 133 college students, 47% of individuals reported engaging with memes as a way of alleviating psychiatric symptoms 36. " now reads: "In a survey of 133 college students, 47% of individuals reported engaging with memes as a way of alleviating psychiatric symptoms 40. " The original Article has been corrected.

Research paper thumbnail of Altered perception of emotional faces in young adults experiencing loneliness after controlling for symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and depression

Journal of affective disorders reports, Apr 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of The joy of repetition: Perfectionism and poor sleep Comment on "Multidimensional perfectionism and poor sleep: A meta-analysis of bivariate associations

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence & Psychiatric Correlates of Illicit Substance Use in UK Undergraduate students

This study examined the prevalence of illegal drug use in UK students and motivators behind such ... more This study examined the prevalence of illegal drug use in UK students and motivators behind such behaviour. Additionally, we explored possible relationships between substance use, psychosocial motivators, and psychiatric distress. N=543 students completed online measures of substance use, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, insomnia. A series of reasons behind their use were ranked based on importance. Reported cannabis, cocaine, nitrous oxide, ketamine and MDMA use were most prevalent based on lifetime, past year, and month assessments. The experience of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and insomnia were related to increased reports of substance use. Poor self-confidence and self-medication were key motivators of illicit drug use in those presenting greater psychiatric distress. These outcomes add to the sparse body of literature concerning illicit substance use in relation to psychiatric distress amongst UK students. Furthermore, we provided novel insight into the psychos...

Research paper thumbnail of Self-critical thinking mediates the relationship between perfectionism and perceived stress in undergraduate students: A longitudinal study

Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

The experiment was designed and conceived by JS. Data was collected by JS. Data was analysed by U... more The experiment was designed and conceived by JS. Data was collected by JS. Data was analysed by UA and JS. An initial version of the manuscript was written by UA. Following, input was sought from JS. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Research paper thumbnail of Sleep-related Attentional and Interpretive Bias In Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Prominent cognitive models of insomnia have emphasized the notion that the disorder is in part ma... more Prominent cognitive models of insomnia have emphasized the notion that the disorder is in part maintained by cognitive biases of attention and interpretation for sleep-related “threat” cues which may be internal or external in nature. We present the first systematic review of the sleep-related attention and interpretive bias literature that includes meta-analytic calculations for each respective construct. Literature search identified N=21 attentional bias and N=8 interpretive bias studies that met pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Seventeen of the twenty-one reviewed attention bias studies compared normal sleeping controls and poor sleepers/insomnia patients. Based on a random effects model, meta-analytic data based on the standardized mean differences of attentional bias studies determined the weighted pooled effect size (17 studies, N=922) to be moderate at .60 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.93). Furthermore, seven of eight sleep-related interpretive bias studies examined normal slee...

Research paper thumbnail of Altered perception of emotional faces in lonely adults

The evidence based concerning the relationship between loneliness and the perception of facial cu... more The evidence based concerning the relationship between loneliness and the perception of facial cues of emotion remains mixed. This study further examined the categorisation accuracy, and perceived emotional intensity and emotional valence of facial expressions of emotion in adults displaying high, medium, and low levels of loneliness, whilst controlling for symptoms of insomnia anxiety and depression. Using the University of California Loneliness Scale, participants were stratified into those experiencing high (N=83), medium (N=97), and low levels (N=93) of loneliness. Observing facial expressions of emotion from the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces database, participants were assessed on their categorisation accuracy and ratings of emotional intensity and valence. Greater levels of loneliness were associated with positively valanced ratings of angry faces; negatively valanced ratings of facially expressed sadness and happiness; and difficulties in identifying happy faces after c...

Research paper thumbnail of Cognitive Behavioral Mechanisms Underlying the Relationship Between Insomnia and Body Image Disturbance

Research paper thumbnail of Comparing the Relationship Between Suicidal Ideation and Insomnia Between Students and the General Population

Research paper thumbnail of The interaction between suicidal ideation, insomnia symptoms, and student status

Experimental Results, 2021

Evidence demonstrates increased vulnerability to thoughts and behaviors related to suicide (i.e.,... more Evidence demonstrates increased vulnerability to thoughts and behaviors related to suicide (i.e., suicidal ideation) in students. This study examined the interaction between insomnia-symptoms and student-status (students vs. non-students) on reports of suicidal thoughts of behaviors. A total of 363 (N = 363) university students and 300 (N = 300) members of the general population provided complete data on measures of insomnia-symptoms and suicidal ideation. Students indicated greater reports of both total and lifetime ideation while also considering suicidal behavior within the past year. However, no differences were observed in reports of possible future attempt(s) and the disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors to another person. Moreover, students presenting concurrent symptoms of insomnia reported significantly elevated levels of suicidal ideation relative to nonstudents. These outcomes highlight the possible role of insomnia symptoms in accentuating suicidal thoughts and b...

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness, Adult Attachment Orientations, and Emotion Regulation

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Psychotic Experiences, Nightmares and Emotion Dysregulation: Results from a Student Population

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2019

Background: Sleep-disruption is commonly associated with psychotic experiences. Whilst sparse, th... more Background: Sleep-disruption is commonly associated with psychotic experiences. Whilst sparse, the literature to date highlights nightmares and related distress as prominent risk factors for psychosis in students. We aimed to further explore the relationship between specific nightmare symptoms and psychotic experiences in university students whilst examining the mediating role of emotion dysregulation. Method: A sample (N=1273) of students respondents from UK Universities completed measures of psychotic experiences, nightmare disorder symptomology, and emotion dysregulation. Findings: Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that psychotic experiences were significantly associated (Adjusted R2 = 32.4%) with perceived nightmare intensity, consequences and resulting awakenings, and with emotion regulation difficulties. Furthermore, multiple mediation analysis showed that the association between psychotic experiences and nightmare factors was mediated by emotion regulation difficulties. Interpretation: Adaptive regulation of dream content during rapid eye-movement sleep has previously been demonstrated to attenuate surges in affective arousal by controlling the intensity and variability of emotional content. Deficits in emotion regulation may partially explain the experience of more intense and disruptive nightmares amongst individuals with psychotic experiences. Emotion regulation may represent an important control mechanism that safeguards dream content and sleep quality.

Research paper thumbnail of Internet memes related to the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential coping mechanism for anxiety

Scientific Reports, 2021

This study examined whether significantly anxious individuals differed from non-anxious individua... more This study examined whether significantly anxious individuals differed from non-anxious individuals in their perceptual ratings of internet memes related to the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst considering the mediating role of emotion regulation. Eighty individuals presenting clinically significant anxiety symptoms (indicating ≥ 15 on the GAD-7) and 80 non-anxious controls (indicating ≤ 4) rated the emotional valance, humour, relatability, shareability, and offensiveness of 45 Covid-19 internet memes. A measure of emotion regulation difficulties was also completed. The perception of humour, relatability, and shareability were all greater amongst anxious individuals relative to non-anxious controls. These differences were not mediated by emotion regulation deficits. Internet memes related to the current Covid-19 pandemic may tentatively serve as coping mechanism for individuals experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety.

Research paper thumbnail of Homogeneity of cognitive and behavioural processes underlying the relationship between insomnia and body image disturbance

Cognitive Processing, 2021

Specific cognitive behavioural mechanisms related to selective attention, situational avoidance a... more Specific cognitive behavioural mechanisms related to selective attention, situational avoidance and physical appearance are implicated in the development and maintenance of insomnia and negative reinforcement of body image disturbances. Therefore, we examined whether these processes potentially mediate the relationship between insomnia and body image perception. N = 728 participants completed self-reported measures of sleep-associated monitoring, insomnia symptoms, body image disturbance and coping with body image challenges. Symptoms of insomnia and sleep-associated monitoring behaviour were independently related to increased reports of body image disturbance, cognitive distortions of body image, appearance fixing (i.e. altering appearance by covering, camouflaging or correcting the perceived defect), avoidance (i.e. attempt to escape or avert stressful body image situations) and reduced levels of positive rationale acceptance (i.e. acceptance of the challenging event and positive ...

Research paper thumbnail of The role of the COVID-19 pandemic in altered psychological well-being, mental health and sleep: an online cross-sectional study

Psychology, Health & Medicine, 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Measures to reduce transmission of the ... more Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Measures to reduce transmission of the virus have altered usual activities, routines, and livelihoods, and have had a significant impact on mental health. The current study aims to examine the potential alterations in psychological wellbeing, mental health, sleep and diurnal preference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross sectional online questionnaire-based study with n = 200 participants (aged 18-62; 7.86.0% female, 93.0% white, 92.5% UKbased, 73.5% students). Data were collected between 15 th April and 8 June 2020. Participants answered questions on lifestyle changes and their concerns and worries about COVID-19, and completed the SCI, PHQ9, GAD7, PWB18, UCLA3 and MEQ. Results showed selfisolation was linked to lower psychological well-being, and increased loneliness, anxiety and depression. Home-working was related to a shift in diurnal preference. Reduced work/income was related to decreased psychological well-being and sleep quality and increased anxiety, depression, loneliness and. Intensity of worried thoughts and concerns about COVID-19 were positively correlated with anxiety, depression and negatively with sleep quality. In conclusion, the social, occupational and economic disruption due to COVID19 has had a negative impact on psychological well-being. However, the transition to home-working may have been somewhat beneficial for some individuals in terms of sleep. These findings should be taken into account by policy makers during the transition to the 'new normal' post-pandemic.

Research paper thumbnail of Adult attachment and Mindfulness: Examining directionality, causality, and theoretical implications

Journal of Research in Personality, 2021

We present two studies that together provide preliminary evidence to challenge the view that the ... more We present two studies that together provide preliminary evidence to challenge the view that the relationship between adult attachment and mindfulness is bi-directional (Study 1: repeated measures design and Study 2: a repeated measures study examining the efficacy of attachment security priming and a mindfulness induction). Adult attachment anxiety emerged as a significant predictor of some facets of mindfulness, over time, but the reverse was not true. Priming attachment security increased state mindfulness of mind to a greater degree than a mindfulness induction or control. These findings challenge previous research suggesting that the relationship between adult attachment and mindfulness is bi-directional, suggesting that attachment orientation plays a causal role in the development of mindfulness.

Research paper thumbnail of Self-disgust and the dark triad traits: The role of expressive suppression

Personality and Individual Differences, 2021

This study examined whether the dark triad personality traits were related to the experience of s... more This study examined whether the dark triad personality traits were related to the experience of self-disgust, and whether these relationships were mediated by emotion regulation deficits. A sample of (N=620) individuals completed measures of emotion regulation, dark triad traits and self-disgust. Correlational analysis determined that self-disgust was significantly related to increased psychopathy and Machiavellianism, but not narcissism. Parallel multiple mediation analyses evidenced an indirect effect of self-disgust on psychopathy through expressive suppression but not cognitive reappraisal. In contrast, emotion regulation strategies did not mediate the relationship between self-disgust and Machiavellianism. The current observations provide contributions to research in self-disgust and the dark triad personality traits. Addressing negative self-appraisal and related emotional difficulties may benefit individuals displaying antisocial personality traits.

Research paper thumbnail of Psychopathy and chronotype disposition: the mediating role of depression

Heliyon, 2019

This study examined the relationship between dark triad personality traits and chronotype disposi... more This study examined the relationship between dark triad personality traits and chronotype disposition, whilst incorporating the mediating role of anxiety and/or depression after excluding individuals presenting insomnia and/or physiological sleep-disorder symptoms. Members of the general population (N ¼ 453) completed online measures of dark triad personality traits, chronotype, and anxious and depressive symptoms. Psychopathy and Machiavellianism were independently related to an evening chronotype disposition. However, after accounting for age, sex, anxiety and depression, psychopathy and depression remained the only significant predictors of chronotype. Therefore, whilst psychopathy was the strongest predictor of an evening chronotype preference, this relationship is partially mediated by depression. Individuals presenting an evening disposition may display increased psychopathic traits due to greater emotion dysregulation. This is potentially perpetuated by depressive symptoms stemming from a delayed or blunted affective rhythm. Interacting factors (e.g. reduced light exposure) may also contribute to alterations in the biological rhythm amongst evening-types, resulting in a negative feedback cycle. Targeting chronotype and depressive symptoms amongst individuals presenting psychopathic tendencies could increase the efficacy of existing sleep-based interventions for hostile behaviour.

Research paper thumbnail of The therapeutic potential of attentional bias modification training for insomnia: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Trials, 2018

Background: The efficacy of attentional bias modification (ABM) as a treatment for anxiety and de... more Background: The efficacy of attentional bias modification (ABM) as a treatment for anxiety and depression has been extensively studied with promising results. Despite some evidence of sleep-related attentional biases in insomnia, only a small number of studies, yielding mixed results, have examined the application of ABM in insomnia. This study specifically aims to determine whether ABM can reduce (i) the presence of an attentional bias for sleep-related threatening words; (ii) insomnia symptom severity; (iii) sleep onset latency; and (iv) pre-sleep cognitive arousal amongst individuals with insomnia compared to a non-treatment control group of individuals with insomnia. Methods/design: We propose a randomised controlled trial of 90 individuals from the general population who meet the criteria for Insomnia Disorder. Following an initial examination for the presence of a sleep-related attentional bias using the dot-probe paradigm, participants will be randomised to an online attentional bias modification training condition, or to a standard attentional bias task (non-treatment) control condition. Both conditions will be delivered online by a web platform. All participants allocated to the non-treatment control group will be offered ABM training once the study is complete. The primary outcome will be the attentional bias indices of vigilance and disengagement and self-reported insomnia symptoms, sleep onset latency and pre-sleep cognitive arousal. Attentional bias and insomnia symptoms will be assessed at baseline (day 1) and post-treatment (2 days after the final training session: day 9). Insomnia symptoms will be again assessed at follow-up (day 16). Secondary outcomes include examining whether sleep associated monitoring and worry are related to a sleep-related attentional bias in insomnia, and whether such reports reduce following ABM. All main analyses will be carried out on completion of follow-up assessments. The trial is supported by the

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological Well-being and Coping: the Predictive Value of Adult Attachment, Dispositional Mindfulness, and Emotion Regulation

Mindfulness, 2018

The primary aim of this study was to examine the underlying relationship between adult attachment... more The primary aim of this study was to examine the underlying relationship between adult attachment, dispositional mindfulness, and emotion regulation, and investigate how well these constructs can predict coping and well-being. A university sample of participants (n = 174) completed an online survey to assess attachment (anxiety, avoidance, disorganized), emotion regulation, dispositional mindfulness, coping behaviors, and psychological well-being. Exploratory factor analysis assessed the underlying relationship between measures of attachment, emotion regulation, and mindfulness, and presented a two-factor solution accounting for 47% of total variance across participant scores. Attachment, mindfulness, and emotion regulation subscales differentially loaded across the two factors. The first factor, Bresilient mental functioning,^accounted for 33% of variance; the second factor, Bdisorganized emotional functioning,^accounted for 14% of total variance. These two extracted factors were used in subsequent mediation modeling to determine the effects of coping behaviors on the relationship between the extracted factors and six subscales of psychological well-being. Mediation analyses revealed that defeatism coping was a significant mediator in the relationship between resilient mental functioning and five of the psychological well-being scales and between disorganized emotional functioning and all six of these scales. The results add to the current understanding of the relationship between all three constructs and are the first to examine the construct of adult disorganized attachment and its possible role in the relationship between adult attachment and dispositional mindfulness, as well as its influence on emotion regulation.