Mid Sweden University

Background: Perceived stress is a key indicator of mental health, and Afghanistan's ongoing social and economic challenges underscore the need for a reliable, validated self-report instrument specifically adapted to accurately assess stress levels among Afghan populations.

Objective: The present study aimed to translate and validate the Dari/Farsi version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) in a sample of Afghan students.

Method: The statistical population of this study consisted of 200 undergraduate students at Herat University, Afghanistan, who were enrolled in the 2024-25 academic year. In this study, students were selected using convenience sampling and completed an online survey. To calculate test-retest reliability, 35 individuals were also selected and completed the PSS-10 within two weeks. In this study, the PSS-10 and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale- 21 Items (DASS-21) were administered.

Results: The two-factor model demonstrated better fit than the single-factor model. The single-factor model showed poor fit (CFI = .863, TLI = .824, RMSEA = .095, 90% CI [.072, .117]), whereas the two-factor model showed improved but partial adequacy of fit (CFI = .902, TLI = .870, RMSEA = .081, 90% CI [.057, .105]). Furthermore, PSS-10 showed a moderate positive association with depression, anxiety, and stress (r(198) = .58, .57, and .59, all p < .01), an acceptable test-retest reliability (r(33) = .72, p < .01), and excellent internal consistency (α = .78; ω = .82).

Conclusion: Given its strong psychometric properties, the Dari/Farsi version of the PSS-10 can be considered a reliable tool for both research purposes and clinical assessment. Its use is highly recommended for psychologists and mental health practitioners in investigative and applied studies. 

Background: The objective of this study was to revisit the question concerning whether athletes are better than non-athletes at fundamental cognitive abilities, such as inhibitory control, in addition to also focusing on motivational dispositions and possible sex differences. Adding the latter could be crucial since both inhibitory control and motivational dispositions, such as approach and avoidance, are central to goal-directed behavior. Methods: This study’s sample was composed of 93 participants (40 males): 29 biathletes; 30 alpine skiers; and 34 non-athletes. A non-sport-specific stop-signal task was used for the assessment of inhibitory control in terms of response inhibition, and the motivational dispositions were assessed with the BIS/BAS scales. Results: The results showed that there were no differences between the two different sports or non-athletes with regard to response inhibition. However, females showed significantly slower response inhibition than males (p = 0.018) and scored significantly higher on the trait variable BIS (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results from this study suggest that it might be meaningful to explore the contribution of sex differences and motivational dispositions on response inhibition in conjunction with different types of sports. 

Large parts of human behaviors are oriented towards achieving a particular goal. Motivational factors in the form of approach and avoidance motivated behavior and executive functions (EFs) such as inhibition are central for goal-directed behavior. There are individual differences in the inhibition of prepotent behavior and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) can be viewed as a neuropsychological system that has been proposed to be a personality trait that explains those individual differences. Inhibition is an EF that is involved in the control of impulses and enable us to choose how to react and behave. Sport is a context in which the cognitive demands can be high and there is a growing body of research trying to pinpoint the cognitive mechanisms behind superior athletic performance. Response inhibition is suggested to be one of the mechanisms that is of importance for performance in sport.

The general aim of this thesis was to explore the BIS, response inhibition and the possible implications in sports. A theoretical framework of approach and avoidance motivation, the revised RST (Gray & McNaughton, 2000; McNaughton & Corr, 2004) was combined with a paradigm for assessment of response inhibition; the stop-signal paradigm (Logan & Cowan, 1984). In addition, different instruments for assessment of the BIS was investigated and designs of the stop-signal task for assessment of response inhibition was used. Study I and III aimed to examine the relationship between response inhibition and the BIS. Study I used a sample of non-athletes and Study III used a sample of non-athletes, and athletes from two different interceptive sports, biathlon and alpine skiing. The aim of Study II was to test the factor structure of a Swedish version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST – PQ; Corr & Cooper, 2016). The results from Study I indicated that when the ability to inhibit prepotent response and behavioral precision (i.e., accuracy) is central for task performance, higher levels of BIS could be a vulnerability factor when the individual’s inhibitory ability simultaneously is poor. Due to ceiling effects in the variable accuracy, this was not possible to replicate in Study III. The results in Study II suggest that the RST-PQ has considerable promise since it, for example, provides an opportunity to distinguish between the individual differences between fear and anxiety, although there were issues concerning the convergent validity. Study III showed that athletes with experience in interceptive sports do not outperform non-athletes on response inhibition. The implications of these results are that it is possible that other aspects than being an athlete or non-xathlete need to be considered and that individual differences in the BIS could be one of these aspects.

Taken together, results from these three studies indicated that that it is possible to combine a theoretical framework of approach and avoidance motivation and a paradigm for the assessment of response inhibition, the stop-signal paradigm, with the purpose of exploring the BIS, response inhibition and possible implications in sport. It has also showed the complexity with using self-report instruments for assessment of neuropsychological systems that, in theory, underlies personality and the difficulties with using SSTs for assessment of an estimated measure (i.e., SSRT) of response inhibition. By exploring the BIS and response inhibition, this thesis offers an approach to view sport expertise and show the value of focusing on individual differences in the personality trait BIS since, at least theoretically, the BIS has the potential to serve as an explanation for variations in response inhibition and the possible association with behavioral precision (i.e., accuracy).

The reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality questionnaire (RST-PQ) is based on a theoretical analysis of the revised reinforcement sensitivity theory. Using a Swedish sample stratified by age and gender, the aim of this study was to test the six-factor structure of a Swedish version of the RST-PQ. Further, we examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the questionnaire. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the Swedish version did not fully provide support for the six-factor structure. An attempt to improve the model fit resulted in a significantly better model fit for a six-factor structure containing 52 items. Issues concerning the convergent validity were found, as indicated by all six factors having more than 50% of the variance due to error. The discriminant validity was satisfactory for all factors, except for goal-drive persistence and reward interest, which were highly correlated. This indicates a non-independence between these two factors in the model. Nevertheless, the RST-PQ has considerable promise and more emphasis should be put on investigating the convergent validity by using for example broader samples, stratified by country of origin, age, and gender. 

The ability to adjust to a changing environment is an important aspect of every-day life and successful goal directed behavior requires the ability to suppress responses that are no longer appropriate. The main purpose of the present study was to examine if the relationship between inhibitory control (as indexed by stop-signal reaction time, SSRT) and behavioral precision is dependent on levels of Gray and McNaughton's Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS). Additionally, the relationship between BIS and electrodermal activity, and the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) and heart rate activity was investigated. A modified stop-signal task was used. The results showed that there was an interaction effect of BIS and SSRT on accuracy, suggesting that among individuals with higher levels of BIS, longer SSRT (i.e. poorer inhibitory ability) was associated with decreased accuracy. There were no significant correlations between trait variables and physiological variables. The results were discussed in terms of higher levels of BIS being a vulnerability factor when the individual's inhibitory ability simultaneously is poor in situations where the ability to inhibit inappropriate behavioral routines is important for task performance.

There is great demand for workplace health-promotion programmes that improve co-worker health and provide a return on investment, which is due to the continuous escalation of care costs and the prioritisation of co-worker health by businesses. Early research found that organisations that have achieved good co-worker health with low sickness absence through their conscious and well-structured work were also working according to Quality Management. Health-promotion interventions are possible in every organisation, but before starting a health-promotion programme it is necessary to analyse the organisation and especially its culture. The purpose of this paper is to measure in what way health-promoting activities influence the Quality Management culture, particularly the health-related values ‘Leadership commitment’ and ‘Participation of everybody’. A comparison between the Quality Management culture before starting a health-promotion project and the results a year later is presented. The results show that health-promotion activities do not affect the Quality Management culture, at least not from a year perspective. On the other hand, the results show that health-promotion activities can affect co-workers’ perception of their health.

Abstract

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe health promotion activities accomplished within a

project and to measure the conditions for sustainable health within the case organizations. Also, the

purpose is to test a previously developed measurement approach, which measures health-related

quality management.

Design/methodology/approach

– A health promotion project currently being carried out at eight

Swedish elementary schools has been studied. In earlier research a measurement approach was

developed to measure health-related quality management. The approach was handed out to the

co-workers at the eight different schools in the initial stage of the project. The leaders at the schools

were informed of the results of their own school and the mean value of all the eight schools. The

consistency and reliability of the statements within the approach was tested.

Findings

– A description of health promotion activities accomplished and planned within the project

can be found. The results from the measurement of the health-related quality management in the eight

schools are presented, together with the mean score of all schools. The test of the measurement

approach is presented and discussed.

Originality/value

– A description of health promotion activities can help managers and project

leaders to plan and carry out valuable health promotion activities in their striving for both sustainable

health among the co-workers and efficient organizations. This measurement approach can help

managers and project leaders to measure the effects of the health promotion activities.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to describe health promotion activities accomplished within a project and to measure the conditions for sustainable health within the case organizations. The purpose was also to test a previously developed measurement approach, which measures health-related Quality Management.

Methodology/ApproachA health promotion project currently being carried out at eight Swedish elementary schools has been studied. In earlier research a measurement approach had been developed to measure health-related Quality Management. The approach was handed out to the co-workers at the eight different schools in the initial stage of the project.  The result was analyzed and the leaders at the schools were informed of the results of their own school and the mean value of all the eight schools. The consistency and reliability of the statements within the approach was  tested.

Findings

In the results a description of health promotion activities accomplished and planned within the project can be found. The results from the measurement of the health-related Quality Management in the eight schools is presented together with the mean score of all schools. The test of the measurement approach is presented and discussed.

ValueA description of health promotion activities can help managers and project leaders to plan and carry out valuable health promotion activities in their striving for both sustainable health among the co-workers and efficient organizations. This measurement approach can help managers and project leaders to measure the starting point and also the effects of the health promotion activities.