We are extremely happy to announce that the winners for Best Poster presented at the Open Conference of the 2021 jSchool are Žiga Mekiš Recek (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Raluca Rîmbu (Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania)! Congratulations to both, who presented their own innovative research and showed exceptional presentation skills during the event. The JRP Board was particularly impressed with the quality of the presentation, and based their decision for this award on the research rationale, poster design and audience engagement.
Žiga Mekiš Recek presented his research titled “How Emerging Adults Experienced Relationships During COVID-19“ (Co-authors: Tara Ferbežar Felgner, Margarida Sousa, Marta Magalhães, and Michéle Janeková). The research project was ambitiously carried out during the beginning of the current pandemic across three different nations. Žiga presented the methods and results in a professional manner and fostered a lively and professional discussion with the audience.
Abstract: Creating an intimate relationship is a developmental task most emerging adults are confronted with. The achievement of it was potentially changed due to the COVID-19 situation. To investigate the youth’ experience of relationships we interviewed ten participants (four living together with their partner (LT) and six separately (LS)). We found that the communication framework of both groups was different. LT had to take time for themselves, and LS had to devote time to the partner. For LT it was easier to perceive the partners’ emotions. Participants felt more negative emotions and stress. To reduce relationship stress, LT used cognitive restructuring, whereas LS tried to avoid conflict. The participants didn’t experience changes in perceiving the partner’s sexual attractiveness. Participants with high-quality communication found confirmation of the relationship, those with low-quality communication valued time for themselves more.
Raluca Rîmbu presented her poster titled “Online skills training intervention targeting self-harming behaviors” (Co-author: Aurora Szentagotai). Her presentation skills and audience engagement were exceptional, and the rationale behind her research was innovative and accounted for important practical implications.
Abstract: The efficacy of dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT) is well known, especially when it comes to suicidal behavior. Also, preliminary data shows that the skills training module is also a useful intervention on its own. Nevertheless, insufficient studies address the underlying mechanisms. This pilot controlled clinical trial aimed to test the efficacy of an online self-help intervention, based on DBT skills training, in reducing self-harming behavior, among young adults with borderline personality disorder symptoms. A second goal was to identify possible mechanisms of change. Therefore, we hypothesised that the decrease in difficulties in emotion regulation and shame – as a self-conscious emotion, would mediate the effects of the intervention on self-harming behaviors. We tested for statistical and clinical significance and our data does not show promising results regarding online self-help interventions based on DBT skills training. Further implications and limitations are discussed.