PURPOSE: Self-relation is a profound connection that influences one's life. As such, it presents an important topic for various areas of research and psychotherapy. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate a brief scale that would assess positive aspects of self-relation. SAMPLE AND METHODS: The Positive Self-Relation Scale (PSRS) consists of 16 items divided into 4 subscales - Self-Acceptance, Self-Confidence, Authenticity and Assertiveness, and Fulfilled Experience. Two samples were used for the evaluation of its content and factor structure. The final sample's data used for validation assessment. This sample consisted of 1234 adults from a general population (mean age 34.8±14.2 years, 70.8% women). All participants completed PSRS. Subgroups also filled in Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Adult Dispositional Hope Scale (ADHS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). RESULTS: Differences in scores among demographic groups were small to none. Internal consistency was good (Composite Reliability Coefficients - the whole scale: 0.93; the subscales: 0.73-0.80). Temporal stability, assessed 2 weeks apart, was satisfactory (intraclass correlation coefficients - the whole scale: 0.86, the subscales: 0.60-0.82). Factor loadings in confirmatory factor analysis were 0.45-0.80, fit indices mostly showed an adequate model. The correlation coefficients between PSRS and RSES/ADHS were strong (r=0.79/0.55). The scale also strongly correlated with LSAS, BDI-II, and DES (r=-0.61/-0.48/-0.30, all ps<0.001). CONCLUSION: PSRS showed adequate psychometric properties in the general population. Future studies should include clinical samples. The areas of application lie mainly in research and psychotherapy.

• Klíčová slova
• positive psychology, psychometric properties, self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-relation,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: A number of psychiatric patients experience stigma connected to prejudices about mental disorders. It has been shown that stigma is most harmful when it is internalized. Most of the studies were performed on individuals either with psychoses or with mood disorders, and hence, there are almost no studies with other diagnostic categories. The goals of this research were to identify factors that are significantly related to self-stigma in patients with anxiety disorders and to suggest possible models of causality for these relationships. METHODS: A total of 109 patients with anxiety disorders and possible comorbid depressive or personality disorders, who were admitted to the psychotherapeutic department participated in this study. All patients completed several psychodiagnostic methods, ie, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised Version, Adult Dispositional Hope Scale, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition, and Clinical Global Impression (also completed by the senior psychiatrist). RESULTS: The overall level of self-stigma was positively associated with a comorbid personality disorder, more severe symptomatology, more intense symptoms of anxiety and depression, and higher levels of dissociation and harm avoidance. Self-stigma was negatively related to hope, reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness. Multiple regression analysis showed that the most significant factors connected to self-stigma are harm avoidance, the intensity of depressive symptoms, and self-directedness. Two models of causality were proposed and validated. It seems that the tendency to dissociate in stress increases the probability of development of self-stigma, and this relationship is entirely mediated by avoidance of harm. Conversely, self-directedness lowers the probability of occurrence of self-stigma, and this effect is partly mediated by hope. CONCLUSION: Patients with anxiety disorders accompanied with or without comorbid depressive or personality disorders may suffer from self-stigma. Individuals with greater sensitivity to rejection and other socially aversive stimuli are prone to the development of self-stigma. Other personality factors, such as hopeful thinking and self-acceptance serve as factors promoting resilience concerning self-stigma.

• Klíčová slova
• Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised Version, anxiety disorders, clinical factors, demographic factors, hope, self-stigma,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH