2022 VOL. 11. NO. 2

In Progress

Review Article
Positive Youth Development Assets as a Strength-Based Approach to Healthy Adolescents

Fatjona Hysi & Eglantina Dervishi

Abstract

The theoretical approach of Positive Youth Development Assets focuses on developmental assets that play a crucial role in the understanding of the whole person. According to the ecological
approach of PYD, factors such as family support school climate, neighborhoods, communities, and the dispositions of adolescents to be more responsible, develop a sense of purpose, altruism, and commitment to education, are considered critical factors that help create a positive climate for adolescents to grow and flourish. This study aims to understand the role of the PYD framework in external and internal assets. This framework holistically saw adolescents, focusing on external and internal assets. External assets like Support, Empowerment, Boundaries, Expectations and Constructive Use of Time help adolescents create a climate that helps them feel supported and have a positive experience with people and other institutions. Internal assets are related to Commitment to learning, Positive values, Positive identity, and social competencies. According to the current theoretical perspectives, the PYD model seems to be a valid method to explore factors that affect the positive development of adolescents and an excellent approach to building intervention programs for them.

Keywords: Adolescents, internal assets, external assets, theoretical perspectives review.

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Original Article
Leisure Subject Activities and Their Influence on Students’ Motivation in Learning

Besa Havziu-Ismaili & Makfirete Ameti & Afërdita Iljazi-Hoxha & Ardita Kasami

Abstract

Based on the fact that students’ leisure activities enrich the forms of knowledge in school, we can say that their implementation by teachers has an effect on students’ internal motivation and social needs. Leisure subject activities are part of teaching techniques that teachers use to motivate students for learning, which is why they should be seen as a component part of the teaching process. In North Macedonia, there are limited data regarding leisure activities outside the teaching process; however, very little has been researched on subject’s leisure activities. For this reason, we carried out a research where the objective of our research was oriented towards the level of implementation of leisure classroom activities during the learning process, and its correlation with students’ motivation in the learning progress, aged 6-11 years old. So, the main hypothesis of this research was: The inclusion of leisure subject activities in specific learning situations affects the motivation of students for learning. In accordance with defined objectives, survey and interview techniques were applied in the research with N=100 teachers and =100students. Results showed a confirmation of the hypothesis, respectively that there is a strong correlation of implementation of leisure classroom activities and increase in students’ motivation for learning. The results obtained should serve to identify and overcome shortcomings in the implementation of leisure classroom activities that simultaneously have a great impact in motivation learning development of students in primary education.

Keywords: Leisure classroom activities, students, teachers, primary education, motivation, learning development.

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Original Article
Sexting During Adolescence (15-18 years): Motives and Impacts in the Emotional Life

Artemisi Shehu-Dono & Kris Muhaj & Arjana Muçaj

Abstract

This research comes as a scientific work of research about the motives of sexting and its emotional experiences. Sexting recently is a widespread phenomenon with many different definitions depending on the context (Klettke et al, 2013). Several research questions were raised, such as the relationship between involvement in sexting and emotional experiences; motives for engaging in sexting; the most used programs in sexting; the differences between rural and urban areas as well as between genders in sexting. The sample is comprised of 78 teenagers aged 15-18 years (39 subjects from the city of Tirana and 39 from city of Fieri). Snowball sampling was applied. A mixed method was carried out to collect the data, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods: Sexting Motives Questionnaire, of Bianchi D, et al, 2016, α= 0.786, which enabled highlighting the involvement in sexting as well as the basic motives, and a qualitative method, two focus groups (of 26 adolescents). The findings of this study showed that engaging in sexting was associated with different emotional experiences depending on the user. Also, in terms of motives, the results showed that several motives lead teenagers to engage in sexting.

Keywords: Sexting, adolescence, motive, emotional impact.

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Original article
A qualitative exploration of patients’ experience of online psychotherapy

Blerta Bodinaku

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore patients’ experience with online psychotherapy and integrate findings in the practice of online psychotherapy. Sixteen patients (N=16) of psychodynamic psychotherapy were interviewed after the closure of their psychotherapy process. The semi-structured interview explored the online experience compared to the in-room psychotherapy experience. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Four themes were identified: (i) satisfaction versus dissatisfaction; (ii) depth of work; (iii) practicalities versus limitations; and (iv) relationship and therapeutic alliance. The results indicate that online psychotherapy is experienced as an optimal alternative
Despite challenges, online psychotherapy appears to be a feasible method of intervention. Several factors which could have been expected to be limiting, could be overcome and used to the benefit of the process and results.

Keywords: Pandemic; online psychotherapy; in-room psychotherapy; patients; psychodynamic.

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Original Article
The Relationship Between Covid-19 Exposure, Death Anxiety, and Resilience in Students (Aged 19-30)

Bylyre Serjanaj & Emanuela Bleta

Abstract

The COVID-19 Pandemic confronted humanity with a new challenging reality, before which each individual would have to develop adaptation mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between exposure to COVID-19 with death anxiety and the degree of resilience, in students (University of Tirana). In a sample of 175 students (aged 19-30), COVID-19 exposure, death anxiety and resilience were measured with online self-administrative surveys. The results showed that COVID-19 exposure and death anxiety were related significantly (r= .181*; p< .05). A negative significant relationship was found between death anxiety and resilience (r= -.175**; p< .01), and also between COVID-19 exposure and resilience (r= -.153*; p< .05). The findings of this study suggest further research with more complicated design, necessary to determine the impact of COVID-19 exposure and death anxiety on resilience.

Keywords: COVID-19 Exposure, Death anxiety, Resilience, Students, Relationship

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Original Article
Cognitive processing of psychological trauma: the role of disclosure in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

Klea Mullaj & Skerdi Zahaj

Abstract

The mechanisms by which disclosure about stressful traumatic events relates to cognitive processing of psychological trauma have attracted a great deal of interest among researchers and therapists. The main question in this study involves the effects of disclosure, whether talking about the psychological trauma in nonclinical settings may affect the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, it focuses on the relationship between this disorder and cognitive processing. Quantitative methodology was employed for the realization of this study, with a sample of 150 police officers. Police officers exposed to criminal events reported higher symptoms. The results showed that the higher the urge to talk about the trauma, the lower the post-traumatic stress disorder they experienced, and adapted cognitive processing reduced the severity of this disorder. Women have a higher incentive to talk about trauma. The findings and conclusions of this scientific research can serve as a basis for understanding the role of disclosure about stressful or traumatic events in cognitive processing and the clinical work of psychologists for the psychological care of police employees.

Keywords: disclosure of trauma, cognitive processing of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officers.

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Original Article
Perfectionism and psychological wellbeing: considerations on gender and psychotherapy attendance differences on the levels of perfectionism and psychological wellbeing in Albania

Bora Skreli & Blerta Bodinaku

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between perfectionism and psychological wellbeing. For this reason, 548 people completed the questionaire through social media and pen and paper. The simple and multiple regression model, the Pearson correlation, and the independent samples t-test were used to test the hypotheses. Correlational analysis showed a strong negative relationship between global perfectionism and psychological wellbeing. Linear regression showed a fair predictive capacity of perfectionism on the levels of psychological wellbeing with concern over mistakes and doubts about actions with greater predictive force, constituting thus a better model for explaining psychological wellbeing. The multiple linear regression model showed that age also played a role in psychological wellbeing. People who were older have higher levels of subjective wellbeing. Independent t-test analysis showed that there were no significant differences in gender regarding perfectionism and psychological wellbeing, whereas people who went to therapy or counselling showed significantly higher levels of perfectionism. The study findings are coherent with theoretical and empirical data that higher levels of perfectionism are associated with lower levels of emotional wellbeing.

Keywords: multimodality, COVID-19, pandemic, Romania.

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Original Article
The impact of the Pandemic on doctor-patient communication in the primary public health service

Zenel Orhani, Agron Gjoka

Abstract

The Covid’19 Pandemic created a global public health crisis. State measures and protocols created difficulties in effective doctor-patient communication, therefore the psychological assessment of this communication during the Pandemic becomes the object of research on this topic. The purpose of the study is to describe the impact of the Pandemic on the functioning of the doctor-patient relationship in the primary health service. The study was carried out in the District of Lezha, in the cities of Rrëshen, Laç and Lezha. The sample of the study are 6 family doctors and 24 patients, who communicated with the family doctor during the rehabilitation period in home conditions.
This study is built on the qualitative approach of scientific research, using as an instrument the in-depth interview focusing on the impact of the Pandemic on doctor-patient communication. The results of the study showed that doctor-patient communication during the Pandemic had barriers and a negative impact on this relationship.

Keywords: doctor-patient relationship, interaction, effective communication, primary care, psychological assessment of communication.

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Thesis is peer review journal published by AAB College