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Stressors arising from the current COVID‐19 pandemic have pernicious effects on relational functioning. However, the systemic transactional model (STM) addresses the buffering role of dyadic coping in couples' relationships. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the possible buffering role of dyadic coping and investigate the negative consequences of external stressors related to the COVID‐19 pandemic and internal stressors on relationship satisfaction and intimacy on within‐ and between‐person levels. Data were collected from 100 couples through daily diary questions over 14 consecutive days. The mean age for females was 32.45 years (SD = 8.11), and for males, it was 34.79 years (SD = 8.79). The findings showed several significant within‐person moderation effects. Specifically, simple slope analysis revealed that the associations between internal stress and relationship satisfaction, and intimacy were positive for both partners who reported particularly more dyadic coping on a given day. Conversely, interaction effect of dyadic coping with external stress has not been found significant on within‐person level. Between‐person effects revealed that dyadic coping buffers the negative association between external stress and relational outcomes and the negative effect of internal stress. The current study expanded the literature of the STM of dyadic coping within the context of an acute external crisis. In line with STM predictions, couples may benefit from interventions focused on enhancing coping strategies to navigate major and minor stressors, especially during significant life challenges, thereby maintaining high relationship quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research examining the relationship between metacognitions and cancer has only recently begun to emerge. This study attempted to compare the metacognitions of the patients with and without cancer. The effects of stage of cancer, type of cancer, and treatment modality (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, operation) on metacognitions were investigated. Patients with cancer were hypothesized to have higher levels of negative metacognitions.Methods: Participants were patients with cancer (N = 279) and patients without cancer (control group, N = 212). The Metacognition Questionnaire-30 was administered to all participants. Results were analyzed according to demographic and histopathological characteristics of the patients.Results: The results showed that patients with different cancer diagnoses scored higher than the controls on all subscales of the MCQ-30. Those who received chemotherapy scored the highest on the MCQ-30. The patients who were in early stages of cancer had higher levels of negative metacognitions. Patients who did not have operation but had chemotherapy had the highest levels of negative metacognitions. Patients who were in locally advanced stage, did not have operation but had received or was receiving chemotherapy had the highest levels of negative metacognitions.Conclusions: Patients who were in early stages of cancer appeared to be in greater need for psychological help and access to services. Findings indicated a need for psychological support for patients who undergo chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine which values predicted depressive symptoms and hopelessness in Turkey. While it was hypothesized that values emphasizing universalism, benevolence, conformity, security, tradition, spirituality, self-direction, and achievement would predict lower levels of depressive symptoms and hopelessness, those values emphasizing power, stimulation, and hedonism would predict higher levels of depressive symptoms and hopelessness. Participants were 712 university students in Turkey. The Schwartz Values Survey Revised Turkish Version, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale were administered. Spirituality was observed as a distinct value category in Turkish culture. Higher levels of universalism predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms. While higher levels of self-direction and benevolence predicted lower levels of hopelessness, higher levels of achievement predicted higher levels of hopelessness. The findings partially fit Sagiv and Schwartz's value theory regarding the relationship between mental health and the growth and deficiency aspects of values. The findings suggested having congruent values with the environment (i.e. achievement) were not uniformly associated with positive affective states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between various aspects of religiosity (experiencing the existence of God, performing namaz (a specific prayer performed five times a day in Islam), fasting, praying, and abjuration) on depression severity and hopeless-ness in Turkish-Muslim university students. The Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Hopelessness Scale was administered to 634 students. The findings showed internal experience of the existence of God and frequency of performing namaz differentiated depression severity. As having an internal connection to God reduced depression severity, increased frequency of performing namaz was associated with higher levels of depressive symptomatology. Depression severity varied according to the fasting habits in a nonlinear fashion. Individuals who never fasted had the lowest levels of depression, whereas individuals who sometimes fasted had the highest levels of depression. Depression severity did not vary according to the frequency of prayer and abjuration. A decrease in hopelessness was observed among individuals who experienced a strong connection to God. Those who never prayed and always prayed showed comparable levels of hopelessness. Levels of hopelessness did not vary according to the frequency of performing namaz, fasting, or abjuration. The findings partially indicated that intrinsically religious individuals had lower levels of depression and hopelessness. No linear relationships were observed between depression and hopelessness and patterns of performing namaz, fasting, praying, and abjuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between mental-health-related help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, and psychological symptoms, among Turkish college students. Previous studies showed that stigma, seeking help from friends and family, self-sufficiency, lack of knowledge of resources, and lack of awareness or emotional competence were among the major factors preventing individuals from obtaining professional mental health care. It was hypothesized that fear of stigma would be the dominant factor in avoidance of psychotherapy. The participants were 115 undergraduate students at the Education Faculty of Cukurova University. They answered questions regarding their psychological help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, and completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Symptom Check List-90-R, and the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Civilian Version. The results showed that even though 27-41 percent of the participants experienced psychological difficulties at statistically significant levels, only 13-15 percent of those who needed help had been to psychotherapy. Contrary to expectations, stigma was not a major reason for their avoidance of psychotherapy. Instead, seeking help from friends and family and denial of psychological difficulties were the two most common reasons for not entering psychotherapy. Participants who were unaware of mental health resources (e.g., location of mental health services) were the most depressed. One-quarter of the students were unaware of the uses of group psychotherapy, and 95 percent said they would prefer individual to group psychotherapy if they were to enter psychotherapy. The study found that there is a need for outreach services in Turkey to increase awareness of psychological symptoms and available mental health resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]