Burnout: A critical issue for the 1980s

The article surveys some of the recent literature on burnout and identifies the burnout syndrome as a critical issue for our times. What is burnout? Are there identifiable causes and characteristics of the phenomenon? Why does it seem to affect committed people in the helping professions? Five critical aspects of the problem are explored, namely, the difficulty of diagnosis, the relation between the existential situation and the person, the sheer weight of change, the increasing demands of ministry, and the narrow perception of leisure. Some approaches to the problem are presented. These are prevention, self-assessment, a new approach to change, re-evaluation of ministry, and creative leisure. The creative development of leisure is seen as the most inclusive and effective approach to this malady of dedicated people. In fact, leisure attitudes are essential for the growth of integrated, balanced, fully human, fully religious persons. The author suggests that the development of a spirituality of leisure may be the qualitative step needed to eradicate burnout and restore health and wholeness to committed persons.     

Implementing Theme-Focused Prevention: Challenge for the 1980s

This article describes theme-focused prevention as a specific type of active primary prevention programming, offers principles to guide program design, and outlines an actual program.     

Adolescents and conceptions of social relations in the workplace

This study examined the relationship between social class and adolescents' conceptions of social relations in the workplace. Forty female adolescent, non-managerial employees who work part-time at McDonald's restaurants were interviewed. Two groups were formed: one middle-class group (n = 20) and another working-class group (n = 20). Results indicated that middle-class respondents were more apt to seek positive, affective ties with managers whereas working-class respondents were more apt to be critical of or to maintain emotional distance from managers. In addition, middle-class respondents more often viewed managers as allies whereas working-class respondents more often emphasized resistance to managers or endurance in coping with work-place grievances. No significant differences were found in relations with co-workers.     

Social comparison and social identity: Some prospects for intergroup behaviour

Recent studies have reported that the variable of social categorization per se is sufficient for intergroup discrimination. This paper presents an explanation of these findings in terms of the operation of social comparison processes between groups based on the need for a positive ingroup identity. The relationship between perceived social identity and intergroup comparison is elaborated theoretically, and it is argued that social comparisons give rise to processes of mutual differentiation between groups which can be analyzed as a form of ‘social’ competition. Social competition is distinguished from realistic competition (conflict of group interests). New data is reported which strengthens this interpretation of the ‘minimal’ categorization studies. It is found that minimal intergroup discrimination takes place in the distribution of meaningless ‘points’ as well as monetary rewards and that social categorization per se does not lead to intergroup behaviour where the subjects can act directly in terms of ‘self’. Other studies on intergroup biases are reviewed to argue for the generality of social competition in intergroup situations.     

Child and adolescent psychopathology research: Problems and prospects for the 1990s

In November 1990 the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) convened a special conference of over 100 scientists and leaders to outline specific strategies and research initiatives that should be developed to implement the recently released National Plan for Research on Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders.Participants included journal editors, educators from psychology and psychiatry, representatives from private foundations, and leaders of research program areas in public funding agencies. Critical knowledge gaps were identified in five areas of child and adolescent psychopathology, including depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, the anxiety disorders, and the developmental disorders. For each of these areas, special emphasis was placed on developing new ideas and obtaining critical input from other areas of investigation. This report summarizes the identified research gaps and recommends research initiatives to implement the National Plan, as outlined by the conference participants.     

Employee Assistance Programs in the 1980s: Expanding Career Options for Counselors

Employee Assitance Programs (EAPS), as social service programs in business and industry, are increasing, transforming, and offering new and expanded work opportunities for counselors.     

Midlife in the 1980s: Philosophy,Economy, and Psychology

America's current economic and cultural crisis is the environmental context within which the middle-aged must face the added challenges of their own special developmental issues.     

The journal of motor behavior in the 1960s and the 1980s

Between the 1960s and the 1980s there has been an increase in the Journal of Motor Behavior (JMB) of neuromuscular theories of control, of continuous records showing amplitude or force over time, and of electromyograms (EMGs). Investigations of the advance programming of complex movements have also increased. There has been a decrease in paced manual tracking, in movements along a fixed path, and in studies of proprioception. Investigations of transfer or interference, of motor learning, and of muscular fatigue have also decreased. Some investigators still appear to be unaware of the contraction bias or regression effect.     

Quality of workplace social relationships and perceived health

Associations between the quality of social relationships at work and mental and self-reported health were examined to assess whether these associations were independent of job strain. The study was based on cross-sectional survey data from 728 employees (response rate 58%) and included the Demand-Control-(Support) (DC-S) model, six items on the quality of social relationships at the workplace, the General Health Questionnaire (30), and an item on self-reported physical health. Logistic regression analyses were used. A first set of models were run with adjustment for age, sex, and socioeconomic group. A second set of models were run adjusted for the dimensions of the DC-S model. Positive associations were found between the quality of social relationships and mental health as well as self-rated physical health, and these associations remained significant even after adjustment for the dimensions. The findings add support to the Health and Safety Executive stress management standards on social relationships at the workplace.     

Sexual harassment in universities during the 1980s

This review examines research studies since 1980 that investigate instructor-student sexual harassment in university settings. Implications are discussed.     

Ready for prime time: Network series devoted to working women in the 1980s

The recent ascendancy of several female producers in male-dominated Hollywood has refocused attention on the portrayal of women on television. This paper addresses trends in network series featuring working female leads during the 1980s, assessing the influence of economic factors (e.g., producer, network) in shaping these portrayals. Results suggest that the networks offered comparable levels of female-lead series, with CBS maintaining a slight lead, owing to prior successes with the format. The number and professional range of criterion series increased through the 1980s — particularly after 1985 — when competition from other carriers (e.g., cable) intensified. A corollary decline of generalized “mass-audience” fare has freed the networks to pursue the female “18–49” demographic in earnest, with a greater frequency and range of working woman portrayals.