The association of WTELS as a master motivator with higher executive functioning and better mental health

Kira, Ibrahim A.; Ayna, Yunus Emre; Shuwiekh, Hanaa; Ashby, Jeffrey S.

doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02078-8

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…A multisystemic perspective may be appropriate to deal with such complex syndromes (e.g., Bell et al, 2021; Kira, 2002). Some suggested augmenting the cognitive and exposure approaches by adding precognitive metamotivational factors such as stimulating the “will-to exist-live and survive” (WTELS; Kira, Arıcı Özcan, et al, 2020; Kira, Özcan, et al, 2021; Kira, Shuweikh, Kucharska, Al-Huwailah, & Moustafa, 2020; Kira, Ayna, et al, 2021; Kira, Shuwiekh, Kurchaska, Bujold-Bugeaud, 2021; Kira, Shuwiekh, Ashby, et al, 2021; Kira, Shuwiekh, Rice, et al, 2021; Kira et al, 2022). Others recommended addressing identity factors (e.g., Kira & Tummala-Narra, 2014; Kira & Wroble, 2016; Kira, Ashby, et al, 2015; Kira, Omidy, et al, 2015; Kira, Shuwiekh, & Bujold-Bugeaud, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersected discrimination through the lens of COVID-19: The case example of Christian minority in Iraq.

Kira¹,

Al‐Noor²,

Al-Bayaty³

et al. 2022

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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Compelling evidence proved that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disproportionately affects minorities. The goal of the present study was to explore the effects of intersected discrimination and discrimination types on COVID-19, mental health, and cognition. A sample of 542 Iraqis, 55.7% females, age ranged from 18 to 73, with (M = 31.16, SD = 9.77). 48.7% were Muslims, and 51.3% were Christians (N = 278). We used measures for COVID-19 stressors, executive functions, intersected discrimination (gender discrimination, social groups-based discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, and genocidal discrimination), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, status and death, existential anxieties, and health. We conducted independent samples t test between Muslims and Christians. We conducted hierarchical regression analyses using the Christian minority subsample to see if intersected discrimination is predictive of COVID-19 hospitalization. We conducted two-path analyses, one with intersected discrimination as an independent variable and the second with the different discrimination types as independent variables. Intersected discrimination predicted COVID-19 hospitalization. The primary discrimination type for Christians was genocidal discrimination. Christians had higher existential anxiety about status and death than Muslims. Intersected discrimination and discrimination types had a significant association with mental health, health, and cognition variables, with intersected discrimination, had a higher impact than each. Existential anxiety about the person's social and economic status was the critical outcome of intersected discrimination that trickles down to other variables. COVID-19 stressors had significant effects on depression, PTSD, generalized anxiety, and Status existential annihilation anxiety (EAA). COVID-19 hospitalization and stressors are associated with inhibition and working memory deficits. We discussed the conceptual and

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersected discrimination through the lens of COVID-19: The case example of Christian minority in Iraq.

Kira¹,

Al‐Noor²,

Al-Bayaty³

et al. 2022

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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“…The extreme lowering of status in the hierarchy can yield vicious dynamics that prevent the person from achieving his/her potentials. Examples of such vicious dynamics are lower self-esteem (de Freitas et al, 2018;Kira et al, 2015;Kucharska, 2018) and self-efficacy (de Freitas et al, 2018), internalized inferiority (for meta-analysis see: Gale et al, 2020), stereotype threat (e.g., Inzlicht et al, 2012), and lower will to live and survive (Kira & Shuwiekh, 2021;Kira, Özcan et al, 2021d;Kira, Ayna et al, 2021c). Discrimination comprises microaggressions (e.g., implicit and explicit insults to identity status and exclusion) (Sue & Spanierman, 2020) and macroaggressions such as hate crimes, police brutality, and systemic racism.…”

Section: Identity (Personal and Collective) Trauma Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Type III is the continuous traumas/stressors with prolonged time scales that may continue through life. Type III traumas have subtypes or variants that fall under the broader umbrella term of type III trauma, varying in III-a) and COVID-19 (type III-e) intersection Kira et al, 2021c;Solomon & Heide, 1999;Terr, 1995). The macro-dynamics of intersection, polyvictimization, accumulation, and proliferation, and the interaction among preidentity, identity, and post-identity stressors and traumas determine their total health, mental health, and cognitive impact from a life-course perspective (e.g., Kira et al, 2012aKira et al, , 2012cKira et al, , 2012dKira et al, , 2014aKira et al, , 2014bKira et al, , 2018aKira et al, , 2019aKira et al, , 2019bKira et al, , 2019dKira et al, , 2020dKira, Barger et al, 2019, 2020.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Development-Based Taxonomy of Stressors and Traumas: An Initial Empirical Validation

Kira¹

2021

PSYCH

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The development-based trauma framework (DBTF) proposed a comprehensive taxonomy of stressors and traumas based on the salience of existence and identity development. The goal of this research is to check the validity of some of the DBTF parameters, specifically the trauma types severity (Types I, II, and III), and the six major trauma types (attachment, personal identity, collective identity, role identity, survival and secondary traumas) differential impact and proliferation. We used a sample from 11 Arab countries (N = 2732), age ranged from 18 -91, mean = 26.9, and SD = 10.01, with 69.3% females. We used measures for cumulative stressors and traumas, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive functions. We conducted correlation and path analysis. Correlation explored the differential sizes of association between types I, II, III traumas and mental health and executive function deficits. Path analysis explored the proliferation of and paths between the six major types of trauma and their impact on mental health and cognitive functions. Results indicated that the size of associations of type III trauma and mental health and executive function variable were significantly larger than type II trauma and the same for the difference in the associations between type II and type I, which validate the differential intensity impact of trauma types. Results indicated that attachment traumas have the highest impact on other traumas, followed by early childhood adversities (personal identity trauma) and collective identity traumas, with differential impact on mental health and executive functions. The conceptual, trauma measurement and clinical implications of results were discussed.

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“…A recent study found that WTELS, as a master motivator, activates executive functions (working memory and inhibition deficits) and was directly and indirectly associated with lower depression, anxiety, PTSD, and COVID-19 traumatic stress. Its indirect effects were mediated by its effects on lower executive function deficits (Kira, Ayna, et al, 2021). Another study identified two circuit pathways in coping with cumulative adversities in believers and nonbelievers: Interfaith spirituality and WTELS, with WTELS, was the main coping pathway for nonbelievers compared to those who believe in a higher power (Kira, Özcan, et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…stressors and traumatic stressors related to the disturbed life routines, isolation, and family and social life. In addition, grief and mourning of losing to COVID-19 infection and death is another (Kira, Ayna, et al, 2021). COVID-19, with its unprecedented impact, is challenging the individual capacity to cope.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping with COVID-19 continuous complex stressors: The “will-to-exist-live, and survive” and perfectionistic striving.

Kira¹,

Shuwiekh²,

Rice³

et al. 2022

Traumatology

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COVID-19 challenges the known traditional coping skills of the individual. New innovative concepts are evolving that may help fill some gaps in our knowledge of intrinsic human strengths to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the "will-to exist-live, and survive" (WTELS) and striving for higher standards of perfectionism. The current study tested a model of coping to 3 main COVID-19 traumatic stressors: fears of infection, economic traumas, and lockdown (related isolation/disturbed routines, and social difficulties). We used a sample of 1,377 participants from 7 Arab countries and measures of COVID-19 traumatic stressors, WTELS, striving for high standards (perfectionism), resilience, social supports, socioeconomic status, and well-being. We conducted structural equation (SEM) analysis to test whether WTELS as an independent variable predicts COVID-19 stressors as a latent variable (with three observed COVID-19 stressors types: fears, economic, and lockdown stressors) and whether this relationship is mediated in part by resilience, striving for high standards, social support, socioeconomic status, and well-being. WTELS indirectly and indirectly via the mediating variables had significant effects on lowering COVID-19 traumatic stress and its 3 stressor types. Alternative models did not fit as well with the data. In addition, the model was strictly invariant across genders. We discuss the conceptual and clinical implications of the results.

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The association of WTELS as a master motivator with higher executive functioning and better mental health

Cited by 15 publications

References 60 publications

Intersected discrimination through the lens of COVID-19: The case example of Christian minority in Iraq.

Intersected discrimination through the lens of COVID-19: The case example of Christian minority in Iraq.

The Development-Based Taxonomy of Stressors and Traumas: An Initial Empirical Validation

Coping with COVID-19 continuous complex stressors: The “will-to-exist-live, and survive” and perfectionistic striving.

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