Browsing by master's degree program "Master's Programme in Psychology"

Background and aims. Using computers is an almost inseparable part of everyday life today, and problems with computer use have tangible and significant consequences for quality of life and societal functioning. Performance in everyday computer use is affected by a multitude of factors such as the usability of computer systems and interfaces, the age of the user, prior computer use experience and cognitive abilities. The aim of this study was to examine how cognitive abilities, such as verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed affect everyday computer use. Methods. The data consisted of 88 participants (37 men and 51 women), who were actively employed and between 20-65 years of age. In the study each participant performed two parts lasting a maximum of 2 hours on separate days. The first part consisted of computer tasks simulating everyday computer use, and the second part was an assessment of cognitive abilities using the WAIS-IV. The data was analyzed using hierarchical linear regression on three outcome variables: completeness of the computer tasks, completion time and the mental load caused by them. In the regression models each outcome variable was explained with sociodemographic factors, prior computer use experience, cognitive abilities and executive functions. Results and conclusions. Sociodemographic factors explained 33-51% of computer task performance on all the outcome variables, and the strongest predictor was age. Computer use experience explained 6-13% of task completeness and completion time, but did not significantly affect mental load. Cognitive abilities explained 4-10% of all the outcome variables, and the strongest predictor was Full Scale IQ. Executive functions explained 3-4% of task completeness and mental load, but did not significantly affect completion time. This study indicates that the cognitive abilities of the user and their computer use experience clearly affect everyday computer use. The results can be utilized in the development of computer systems and interfaces: ideally using them would be easy and intuitive enough that the level of the user's cognitive abilities and their prior computer use experience would not matter for their successful use.

Aims of the study Many changes have been made to the school environment in Finland. Still there are no research about how new school environments will effect pupils’ well-being, such as self-esteem. Due to the lack of previous research it cannot be concluded whether these changes to school environment are equal to every student regardless of their temperament. The aim of this study is to find out about the effects of the lack of stability in the school environment (stability of social relations, stability of physical features, stability of overall structure) to pupils’ self-esteem. In addition, the possible moderating effect of temperament is under an interest. Methods The representative sample of this study (n=2210) consisted of Finnish 9th graders, who participated in The Finnish Study on Temperament and School Achievement –research project between 2005 and 2006. Self-esteem was measured by the Finnish version of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Temperament traits were measured by TABC-R and DOTS-R –inventories. The stability of the school environment was measured with three different scales: the stability of social relations, physical features and overall structure. The study was carried out by using multilevel models. Three multilevel models were created, in each of which self-esteem was the dependent variable. Results and conclusions The stability of social relations, physical features or overall structure did not have statistically significant main effects on the pupils’ self-esteem. However, the non-steadiness of overall structure had a statistically significant negative effect on the self-esteem of pupils with a higher task orientation. Reactivity or flexibility did not moderate any effects of the stability scales. All the observed effects were small, which implies that there are a number of different variables not measured in this study that affect pupils’ self-esteem. The results of this study show that the non-steady school environments do not have a positive effect on pupils’ well-being, as it has been assumed. The non-steadiness of the school environment with other changes in the school environment and their effects to pupils’ well-being need further research.

Objectives. As the population is aging, it is important to support healthy aging. Active musical hobbies, like choir singing, are a promising tool for this. So far, there are only a few controlled studies that explore the benefits of choir singing. The aim of this study was to investigate how choir singing is associated with social support, mood and cognitive performance. In addition, the association between choir singing and musical engagement as well as the associations between musical engagement and social support and mood were examined. Methods. Healthy seniors (N=105) aged 60 years and older (mean age 71 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Of the subjects, 61 subjects were choir singers and 44 were controls. A majority (70 %) of the subjects were female with, on average, short-cycle tertiary level education. Perceived social support, mood and musical engagement were assessed with questionnaires. General cognition, executive function, working memory and verbal short-term memory were assessed with neuropsychological tests. The association of choir singing with social support, mood, cognitive performance and musical engagement were examined with analyses of covariance (ANCOVA). Associations of musical engagement with social support and mood were examined with correlation analyses. Results. Compared to the control group, the choir singers had higher scores on the Social Provisions Scale, especially in general social support, attachment, social integration and guidance, but not in reassurance of worth, reliable alliance or opportunity for nurturance. There was no difference between the groups on mood or cognitive performance. The choir singers also reported higher musical engagement on almost all scales of the Music Engagement Questionnaire compared to the controls. Musical engagement was associated especially with general social support, social integration and reassurance of worth. Conclusion. This study supports and elaborates on previous evidence of social benefits of choir singing, but not emotional or cognitive benefits. Social characteristics of choir singing are a major advantage compared to other leisure activities. Instead, choir singing does not stand out from other leisure activities with its emotional and cognitive qualities. This study addresses the close relationship between choir singing and musical engagement which in turn, is associated with social support. These findings can be utilized to support healthy aging and in prevention, for example, of loneliness.

Aim of the study: Risk-sensitive foraging theory (RSFT) is an evolutionary-biological theory of how animals should choose in uncertain foraging situations for the choice to be beneficial for survival and reproduction. When having low energy budget, a more risky choice would be beneficial, and when having high energy budget, one should avoid a risky decision. There is no one, exhaustive model for risk-sensitive behavior, RSFT being just one of them. It has earlier been established that dependence disorders have common factors causing harm, non-specific to drug, and alcohol use is associated with gambling, both through shared genetic and environmental factors, and directly, and this association might be mediated by risk taking. Also, differences in risk taking behavior are rather individual based than species related. It has even been found that heroin-dependent individuals favor more risky choices over certain ones when in need of the drug. The aim of this study was to find out whether RSFT is suitable for describing the risk taking related to gambling. Methods: The sample was from Gambling Impact and Behavior Study survey data, which was collected by random-digit dial method in USA in 1997–1999. Economical aspect of energy budget was operationalized as household income, mental aspect of energy budget as gambling problem (measured by NODS, scale 0–10), and the decision to risk as money spent on gambling. Respondents with missing values in any of the variables were excluded resulting in a final sample size of 893 individuals. It was examined if household income and gambling problem were associated with money spent on gambling. A general linear model was fitted to the sample. Results: A general liner model seemed to fit to the sample. The income variable didn’t improve the model, but gambling problem did. Moreover, income and gambling problem had a significant interaction. Only with a few exceptions, people played more money in higher income classes and with a more severe gambling problem. People played a little money in every income class even with no gambling problem at all. On the other hand, when the gambling problem was severe, it affected the amount spent on gambling more in high income classes than in lower ones. People in the lowest income classes spent nearly the same amount with severe than with no gambling problem. Conclusions: The results give mixed implications of whether RSFT describes the risk taking related to gambling, which might be due to the unprecise definition of variables and methods of analysis, and other methodological aspects specific to gambling. The twin threshold model holds more promise than the traditional model of RSFT: when both economical and mental energy budgets are low, risk is avoided in gambling (survival threshold), but when economical energy budget is high risk is favored, which however, comes short as the definition of reproductive threshold in the context of gambling. A further examination is advised before making firm conclusions. Most importantly, gambling and gambling problems might be better understood from other perspectives.

Objectives. Eating disorder (ED) symptoms are quite common in youth, especially among girls. EDs are life-threatening illnesses, but also separate and subclinical ED symptoms are associated with psychological distress, and they present a risk for developing more severe symptoms. EDs are known to be associated with social impairment and problems in social competence. Research is scarcer regarding ED symptoms in the general population and its associations with different aspects of social competence. Longitudinal studies and data concerning boys are especially needed. This prospective study examines whether childhood social competence is associated with ED symptoms in adolescence among girls or boys in the general population. Social competence is understood as a hypernym, and social skills, aggressiveness, social anxiety and social cognition are examined as its aspects. The prospective nature of the study creates a possibility to identify associations between social competence in middle childhood and ED symptoms later in adolescence. Methods. The data was from the Finnish cohort study Glycyrrhizin in Licorice (GLAKU). The final sample included 193 participants, of which 115 were girls (59.6%). The children’s social skills and their tendency towards social anxiety and aggressiveness at 8 years of age were evaluated with the Social Competence and Behavioral Evaluation (SCBE-30) inventory by their mothers. Sociocognitive skills were evaluated with the theory of mind subtests of the NEPSY-II test battery at 12 years of age. At 17 years of age, the participants evaluated their ED symptoms with the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI-2). The scales used were bulimia, drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction. Associations between the social competence variables and ED symptoms were examined with linear regression analysis separately for girls and boys. Results and conclusions. Lower scores in the theory of mind verbal task predicted an increase in drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction for girls and an increase in bulimia subscale for boys. Concerning the mechanism between ED symptoms and problems in social cognition, it has been suggested that impairments in theory of mind might lead to misunderstandings of others’ verbal and nonverbal expressions, and thus in worse experiences in relationships. These problems might then in turn lead to adopting ED symptoms as maladaptive coping strategies. Even though the effect found in this study was weak, it should not be ignored; even mild sosiocognitive deficits may be a risk factor for ED development, and the deficits might exacerbate as a consequence of EDs. Strengthening theory of mind skills could work as a preventative measure for development or exacerbation of ED symptoms.

Tavoitteet: Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tarkastella, onko lapsuuden stressaavien elämäntapahtumien ja aikuisuuden aleksitymian välillä yhteyttä. Aleksitymia, eli tunteiden tunnistamisen ja kuvailun vaikeus, on yhteydessä lukuisiin psykiatrisiin häiriöihin ja somaattiseen oireiluun. Sen taustalla on tunnistettu vaikuttavan sekä geneettisiä että ympäristötekijöitä, joista yksi merkittävimmistä on traumaattinen kokemus lapsuudessa. Lapsuuden traumaattisten elämäntapahtumien, kuten kaltoinkohtelun, ja korkeamman aikuisuuden aleksitymian välillä on toistuvasti osoitettu olevan yhteys. Traumatasoa lievempien lapsuuden stressaavien elämäntapahtumien ja aikuisuuden aleksitymian yhteyttä ei kuitenkaan ole aiemmin tutkittu. Menetelmät: Tutkimuksessa käytettiin suomalaisen väestöpohjaisen LASERI-seurantatutkimuksen aineistoa (n = 1680), jossa lapsuuden stressaavat elämäntapahtumat oli arvioitu prospektiivisesti alkumittauksessa v. 1980 ja aleksitymia 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale -mittarilla seurantamittauksessa v. 2012. Alkumittauksessa osallistujat olivat iältään 3–18-vuotiaita (56 % naisia). Yhteyttä tarkasteltiin sekä lineaarisella regressioanalyysillä että varianssianalyysillä, joissa kontrolloitiin iän ja sukupuolen lisäksi osallistujien ja heidän vanhempiensa sosioekonomiset tekijät sekä lapsuuden emotionaalinen ilmapiiri. Tulokset: Lapsuuden stressaavien elämäntapahtumien ja aikuisuuden aleksitymian välillä ei tässä tutkimuksessa ollut yhteyttä. Yhteyttä ei havaittu, kun kontrolloitiin vain ikä ja sukupuoli, kun kontrolloitiin lisäksi sosioekonomiset tekijät, tai kun kontrolloitiin edellisten lisäksi lapsuuden emotionaalinen ilmapiiri. Tutkimuksessa ei myöskään havaittu yhteyttä lapsuuden stressaavien elämäntapahtumien ja aleksitymian eri alaskaalojen välillä. Ikä tai sukupuoli eivät muokanneet yhteyttä. Johtopäätökset: Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset yhdistettynä aiempaan tutkimusnäyttöön antavat viitteitä siitä, että aleksitymian kehittyminen vaatisi lapsuudessa traumatasoisen ja vakavaa haitallista stressiä aiheuttavan elämäntapahtuman. Aleksitymian juurisyitä kannattaakin ensisijaisesti etsiä muualta kuin traumatasoa lievemmistä lapsuuden stressaavista elämäntapahtumista.

Tavoitteet. Laulamisella on positiivisia vaikutuksia mielenterveyteen ja hyvinvointiin sekä kliinisessä kontekstissa että arkisesti käytettynä. Aiempi tutkimusnäyttö kuorolaulun yhteyksistä parempaan elämänlaatuun ja alhaisempaan masentuneisuuteen perustuu kuitenkin pitkälti interventiotutkimuksiin rajatulla kohderyhmällä. Lisäksi muut lauluharrastusten muodot, kuten yksin- ja yhteislaulu, ovat jääneet tutkimuksessa taka-alalle. Vapaamuotoisemman lauluharrastamisen yhteyksistä hyvinvointiin eri vaiheissa aikuisikää tarvitaan systemaattista tutkimusnäyttöä. Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää poikkileikkausasetelmaa hyödyntäen kuoro-, yksin- ja yhteislaulun yhteyksiä elämänlaatuun, sosiaaliseen hyvinvointiin ja masentuneisuuteen eri vaiheissa aikuisikää. Menetelmät. Tutkimukseen osallistui N = 100 iältään 21–88-vuotiasta vapaaehtoista, joilla oli vaihtelevissa määrin kuoro-, yksin- tai yhteislaulukokemusta. Lauluharrastusten yhteyksiä elämänlaatuun, sosiaaliseen hyvinvointiin ja masentuneisuuteen selvitettiin lineaarisella regressiolla. Koko otoksessa tilastollisesti merkitsevät yhteydet analysoitiin myös ikäryhmittäin (nuoret, keski-ikäiset, ikääntyvät), jotta voitiin tarkastella elämänvaiheen ja ikääntymisen vaikutuksia tulosten voimakkuuteen. Musiikkitaustaa arvioitiin the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI) -kyselyyn pohjautuvilla kysymyksillä. Elämänlaatua arvioitiin The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) -BREF-kyselyllä, sosiaalista tukea Social Provision Scale (SPS) -kyselyllä ja masentuneisuutta Center for Epiodemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) -kyselyllä. Tulokset ja johtopäätökset. Kuorolaulun nykyinen viikoittainen aktiivisuustaso oli tilastollisesti merkitsevässä yhteydessä alhaisempaan CES-D-pistemäärään eli alhaisempaan masentuneisuuteen. Kyseinen tulos ei ollut tilastollisesti merkitsevä ikäryhmittäin analysoituna. Elämänlaadusta ja sosiaalisesta hyvinvoinnista ei tässä tutkielmassa saatu tilastollisesti merkitseviä tuloksia, mikä voi mahdollisesti selittyä lineaarisen regressioanalyysin oletusten rikkoutumisella. Tulevaisuudessa olisi keskeistä kartoittaa laulumuotojen vaikutuksia vertailevalla interventioasetelmalla tai laadullisella tutkimuksella.

Objective: Mild cognitive impairment is state between normal cognition and dementia, but there are several different definitions and criteria for identifying this condition. The purpose of this study is to determine proportion of participants who meet the criteria for different definitions of mild cognitive impairment, namely the Age-Associated Memory Impairment AAMI, Mild Cognitive Impairment MCI and mild Neurocognitive Disorder mNCD in the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER). We also evaluate overlapping of the groups who meet the criteria for different definitions and whether they differ in terms of functional performance. In addition, we investigate whether the change in MCI subtype differs in the two-year follow-up between the different subtypes and the intervention and control group. Methods: Quantities of those who met the AAMI, MCI and mNCD criteria were analyzed in the screening phase of the FINGER-study (n=2595, 98 % of participants), at the baseline (n=1073, 85 % of participants) and at two-year follow-up (n=884, 80 % of participants). Subjects were 60-77 years of ages in the beginning of the intervention. Cognition was assessed by the CERAD battery. Results: 61, 67 and 18 % of the subjects met the AAMI criteria, 37, 50 and 23 met the MCI criteria and 37, 45 and 21 % the mNCD criteria (screening, baseline and 2 years follow-up, respectively). The overlap between MCI and mNCD was 90%, between AAMI and MCI 31%, and AAMI and mNCD 34%. The functional performance of those who only met the AAMI criteria was better compared to those who met the criteria of all classifications. None of the MCI subtypes distinguished as more stable than the others after two years follow-up. Those who had met the amnestic MCI criteria at the baseline had more transition to the multidomain MCI in the control group than in the intervention group. Conclusion: Different definitions of mild cognitive impairment identify populations of different sizes and partially different qualities. The results of the study support the idea of equal instability of MCI subtypes. The results provide an indication of multifactorial lifestyle intervention preventing amnestic MCI from developing into multidomain MCI.

Tavoitteet. Lukivaikeus (developmental dyslexia, DD) on oppimisen erityisvaikeus, johon liittyy mm. haasteita tunnistaa ja tavata sanoja tarkasti tai sujuvasti normaaleista sensorisista kyvyistä sekä riittävästä opastuksesta ja älykkyydestä huolimatta. Lukivaikeus on tyypillisesti kehityksellistä, ja siihen vaikuttavat sekä geenit ja ympäristö että niiden väliset yhteisvaikutukset. Lukivaikeutta on pyritty selittämään sekä kognitiivisilla että hermostollisilla malleilla. Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on tarkastella lukivaikeuteen yhdistettyjen kandidaattigeenien vaikutusta koko aivojen laajuiseen toiminnalliseen konnektiivisuuteen tyypillisesti lukevien populaatiossa eksploratiivisesti network-based statistic (NBS) -verkostomenetelmän avulla ja pohtia, mitä malleja tulokset mahdollisesti puoltavat. Menetelmät. Tutkittavassa aineistossa oli 177 teini-ikäistä ja nuorta aikuista, joiden aivot kuvattiin toiminnallisella magneettikuvauksella. Koehenkilöt olivat tyypillisesti lukevia. Koehenkilöt tekivät aivokuvantamisen aikana tehtäviä, joissa tarkoituksena oli tunnistaa, onko puhuttu tai kirjoitettu lause semanttisesti mielekäs vai ei. Aivokuvista muodostettiin eri aivoalueiden väliset konnektiivisuusmatriisit, ja kandidaattigeenien alleeliryhmien välisiä eroja koko aivojen konnektiivisuudessa tutkittiin NBS-menetelmällä. Tulokset ja johtopäätökset. Kahden kandidaattigeenin yksittäisnukleotidipolymorfismin (NRSN1: rs10946672; KIAA0319: rs6935076) verkostoerot riskialleeliryhmän ja muiden alleeliryhmien välillä olivat tilastollisesti merkitseviä. Verkostoerot etuotsalohkoissa ja oikeassa aivopuoliskossa tukivat näkemystä siitä, että lukivaikeudessa oikean aivopuoliskon alueet kompensoivat hypoaktivoituvia vasemman aivopuoliskon kielellisiä aivoalueita. Myös muistitoimintojen poikkeavuudella saattaa olla vaikutusta lukivaikeuteen. Kandidaattigeenit saattavat tosin vaikuttaa muihinkin neuropsykologisiin tai -psykiatrisiin poikkeavuuksiin, eikä tuloksista voida johtaa suoria päätelmiä lukivaikeuden etiologiasta. Kandidaattigeenien vaikutusten ymmärtäminen voi kuitenkin auttaa lukivaikeuden varhaisessa havaitsemisessa geneettisen seulonnan avulla.

Objectives. Asylum-seekers are a population that has been exposed to multiple risk factors e.g. trauma and other severe stress. Most mental health services have not been developed to accommodate to the needs of this population and therefore might not be suitable. Also, diagnostic processes might fail taking into account their specific characteristics adequately. The potential post-traumatic symptoms of asylum-seekers can overlap with symptoms of hyperactivity and attention, but these might not be sufficiently disentangled in health care services. In addition, research concerning these issues has been sparse. This thesis attempts to bring more understanding of the factors that are connected to hyperactivity and attention in asylum-seeker children. My research question is whether the child’s and mother’s possible traumatic experiences and mother’s depression and anxiety are connected to the child’s hyperactivity and attention. My hypothesis is that possible traumatic experiences and the mother’s depression and anxiety increase the likelihood of the child having a higher level of hyperactivity and attention symptoms. Methods. The research data was collected for the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s (THL) TERTTU-study, which developed a Finnish health examination protocol for asylum-seekers. The data included asylum-seekers who were registered as first-time asylum-seekers in the Finnish Immigration Services between 19.2–30.11.2018. The original sample comprised 1087 asylum-seekers, of whom children 5 to 12 years old, whose information could be linked to their mothers, were included (n=106) in this thesis. The health examination was conducted on average within a month of the family’s arrival in Finland. The mothers estimated the child’s hyperactivity and attention symptoms using SCQ and their own depression and anxiety using HSCL-25. Possible traumatic events were reported with a form that was specifically developed for the TERTTU study. Results. Of the possible traumatic experiences and mother’s psychopathology the only statistically significant association emerged between the mother’s clinically significant depression score and the child’s higher hyperactivity and attention score. Possible traumatic experiences and mother’s anxiety were not associated to the child’s hyperactivity and attention. Conclusions. The child’s and mother’s possible traumatic experiences don’t seem to be connected to the child’s hyperactivity and attention in asylum-seeker families. The effect of traumatic experiences might however be mediated by the parent’s psychopathology or other factors. This study found an association between the mother’s depression and the child’s hyperactivity and attention. Nonetheless, the associations between trauma and hyperactivity and attention in asylum-seeker children require further research in the future with longitudinal study covering more possible mediating factors and mechanisms.