(1) An assessment of the structure of time perspective (TP) in a group of patients with neurotic and personality disorders (ICD-10: F4x, F60.x, F61) treated with group psychotherapy. (2) An analysis of the differences between the structure of TP in patients and the general population in order to expand the understanding of the relations between TP and mental health. Data were collected from 49 patients at the University Hospital Day Centre for the Treatment of Neurotic Disorders and Behavioural Syndromes. The measurement of TP was performed with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. A licensed psychiatrist conducted the diagnosis of neurotic and personality disorders, with additional data obtained from the Symptom Checklist KO ‘O’ and the Neurotic Personality Questionnaire KON-2006. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the structure of TP between patients and the general population. Among patients, the intensity of the past experienced negatively was significantly higher, and subsequently, the degree of the past experienced positively was lower. Patients remain in the negative past and concentrate much more on the pain and the worrying memories. They give much less attention to what was and what is valuable and pleasant in their life. Results of this research reveal distinct features of the structure of TP in the studied group. Findings underline the clinical relevance of TP at various stages of therapy. Restoring a balanced time perspective could be regarded as a tenable goal for psychotherapy and perhaps an innovative indicator of the treatment’s effectiveness.

Aim The main objective of the study is to explore relations between the time perspective, neurotic symptoms, anxiety, and defense mechanisms in the group of patients diagnosed with neurotic and personality disorders (ICD-10 groups: F4x, F60.x and F61) treated with group psychotherapy. The research is conducted on the theoretical basis of the Zimbardo and Boyd’s Time Perspective Theory. Methods The study included 49 patients treated in the day ward for the Treatment of Neurotic Disorders and Behavioral Syndromes at the University Hospital. The measurement of the TP was performed with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. Patients also completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Defense Style Questionnaire 40. The diagnosis was done by licensed psychiatrists and supported with the measures: Symptom Checklist KO“O”, Neurotic Personality Questionnaire KON-2006. Results Multiple regression analysis models showed that the four time perspectives (past negative, present fatalistic, present hedonistic, and future) are predicted in different variations by the level of anxiety state or trait and repertoire of used defense mechanisms (immature or mature). Conclusions Considering the established bilateral correlations, change in the time perspective may constitute an important factor in the reduction of neurotic symptoms, possibly through changes in the repertoire of utilized defense mechanisms. However, there is also possible that altering neurotic symptomatology would alter time perspective. The assessment of the time perspective in patients with neurotic and personality disorders may provide useful data for the diagnosis and the monitoring of psychotherapy effectiveness. Based on the results of this study conducting further research on the role of the changes in the time perspective in the course of psychotherapy is recommended and necessary to expand the understanding of the relations observed in this study.

Self-esteem and social support in the occupational stress-subjective health relationship among medical professionals The starting point for the presented study was the concept by House who construed social support as buffering the impact of work-related stress on health. Self-esteem was taken under consideration as the other potential stress buffer. It was hypothesized that both social support and self-esteem would have a salutogenic effect, since they attenuate the experience of occupational stress and reduce health problems associated with the experienced job stress. Participants in the study were 361 medical professionals representing various specialties. They were examined using the Subjective Job Evaluation Questionnaire by Dudek et al., the Mood and Health State Questionnaire by Rząsa, the Self-Esteem Scale by M. Rosenberg and Significant Other Scale by Power et al. The higher was the respondents' occupational stress, the poorer was their subjective physical health. Such components of occupational stress as responsibility, psychological strain due to job complexity, lack of rewards at work, and a sense of threat were found to be most important in this respect. These four components of occupational stress were interrelated and constituted a feedback loop. The study confirmed a salutogenic role of self-esteem, contributing to subjective health improvement. Satisfaction with social support had also a positive role, since it reduced the amount of experienced job stress, thus exerting a health-promoting effect. There was a direct negative feedback loop between self-esteem and somatic health problems. Irrespective of that, satisfaction with social support was found to interact with perceived occupational stress in a negative feedback loop. However, neither of these two factors, i.e. self-esteem and social support, had an effect of buffering the impact of occupational stress on health. This suggests that the initial model proposed by House as well as the present author's earlier research findings obtained from a smaller sample should be revised.

Recently, significant increase in prevalence of mental disorders has been observed. Health psychology focuses on the strong need of implementing of preventive activities. The aim of the paper was to assess the interaction between personal dispositions such as mental resilience, spirituality, the attitude towards your own body, and mental health among young adults. The study was conducted in 138 students at secondary schools, 18-20 yrs. old in Lesser Poland. In the study there have been used the following measures: Mental Resilience Scale, Self-descriptive Questionnaire, allow to assess spirituality level, Body Image Questionnaire, and Pathological Symptoms Questionnaire, SCL-27. The obtained results indicated that young adults who present the higher level of mental resilience and positive attitude towards their own body, experience less symptoms of mental disorders. Moreover, the positive correlations were observed between mental resilience, spirituality level, and positive attitude towards body in both female and male groups. Young females compared to the examined males were less satisfied with their appearance, experienced enhanced mental symptoms, and worse assessed their competence to cope with daily difficulties.

No abstract