The need for controllability and predictability questionnaire: Psychometric properties and first findings in a clinical sample

Abstract

In a large cohort from a cancer registry, we assessed the prevalence of loneliness and its impact on psychological symptoms over time. Method A registry-based sample of N = 633 adult long-term CCS underwent medical and psychologcal assessments and took part in a follow-up survey 2.5 years later. Psychological symptoms (somatic, anxiety, depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation) were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire. We calculated linear regression models of symptoms at follow-up to investigate the impact of loneliness over time (controlling for symptoms at baseline and relevant confounders). Results Loneliness was reported by 17.70% of CCS. In multivariate linear regression analyses, loneliness was still predictive of more severe anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation over two years later. Loneliness did not predict somatic and depression symptoms at follow-up (which increased with age). Conclusions Loneliness affected a significant number of CCS and was a risk factor for persistent anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation. Findings of a heightened vulnerability in this group of cancer survivors are consistent with an additional representative survey in the general population (N = 2500) during the ongoing pandemic in which we found an increased risk for anxiety, suicidal ideation and loneliness among cancer survivors. Affective responses to both climbing and nordic walking exercise are associated with intermediate-term increases in physical activity in patients with anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder-a randomized longitudinal controlled clinical pilot trial Objective Exercise programs have shown anxiolytic effects in psychiatric patients. Adherence to exercise programs and subsequent long-term lifestyle change is influenced by acute affective responses of the exercise programs. This research aimed to assess acute affective responses of two different exercise modalities compared to a non-exercise control program and its effects on persisting physical activity behavior change. Methods Sixty-six outpatients diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder were randomly allocated to one of three groups in a randomized longitudinal controlled clinical pilot trial: climbing, nordic walking, social contact control. Affective responses were assessed pre, during, and post activity. General physical activity was recorded prior to participation, post, and at follow-ups three and six months after the program. Results Multilevel modelling analyzes of 1066 individual data points revealed increases in affective valence in the exercise sessions compared to the social contact sessions. State anxiety decreased in the climbing group compared to the social contact group. Physical activity was increased immediately following the program as well as at six months follow up in both exercise groups. A larger increase in affective valence during and after the sessions was associated with higher physical activity post program. Conclusion Climbing and conventional nordic walking exercise sessions revealed positive affective changes in outpatients indicating therapeutic potential of both modalities for acute emotion regulation. In accordance with theoretical models of human behavior change the experience of a more pleasant affective state after exercising induced more persisting effects on physical activity behavior after the exercise programs. Objective To validate the 'Need for Controllability and Predictability questionnaire' (NCP-q), a 15-item self-report measure assessing a person's need for control and predictability, building upon the clinical need for high quality assessment of these constructs. Methods In study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed in a student convenience sample (n = 768). In study 2, NCP-q data of various patient groups experiencing stress-related (overstrain, n = 33; burnout, n = 40; panic disorder, n = 34) and/or persistent somatic symptoms in daily life (fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome, n = 34) were compared with healthy controls (n = 30). The associations between the NCP-q and other questionnaires were tested. Results In study 1, results suggest that the NCP-q should be used as a one-dimensional instrument. The NCP-q has good to excellent internal consistency and a good four-week test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was demonstrated by finding moderate to high correlations between the NCP-q and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Penn-State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-trait (STAI-T), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Study 2 revealed significantly higher NCP-q scores for all patient groups compared with healthy controls, but no differences between patient groups. Abstracts 7