Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in Behaviour Change Interventions: A Systematic Review

This paper reviews studies explicitly applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to behaviour change interventions. A systematic and multiple search strategy identified 30 papers, describing 24 distinct interventions. Studies were rarely explicit about use of the TPB. The TPB was mainly used to measure process and outcome variables and to predict intention and behaviour, and less commonly to develop the intervention. Behaviour change methods were mostly persuasion and information, with increasing skills, goal setting, and rehearsal of skills used less often. When reported, half of the interventions were effective in changing intention, and two-thirds in changing behaviour, with generally small effect sizes, where calculable. Effectiveness was unrelated to use of the theory to develop interventions. Evidence about mediation of effects by TPB components was sparse. The TPB may have potential for developing behaviour change interventions, but more comprehensive studies are needed that compare the utility of the TPB with other social cognition models and behavioural techniques.     

On Working Memory Capacity and Implicit Associations between Advanced Age and Dangerous Driving Stereotypes

Despite a large literature on implicit stereotypes, no one has scientifically documented the stereotype that older adults are dangerous drivers, even though its existence may impact older adults' driving performance through stereotype threat. The present studies are the first to use implicit tests to document the stereotype that older adult drivers are dangerous drivers. Experiment 1 (N = 159) documented a negative stereotype of older adult drivers in young and older adults by using a novel driving and age Implicit Association Test (IAT). Experiment 2 (N = 216) demonstrated that individual differences in working memory capacity moderate the degree to which young adults can willfully change this IAT score such that higher working memory capacity was associated with greater control of this negative stereotype of age and driving. This finding illustrates the potential utility of working memory capacity in interventions designed to reduce the impact of implicit stereotypes and negative attitudes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Decision-Making and Exchange Processes of Dual-Military Couples: A Review and Suggested Strategies for Navigating Multiple Roles

As the number of dual-earner couples has increased, so has the number of dual-military couples. Individuals in dual-military couples experience many of the same challenges and benefits as dual-earner couples with added difficulties and advantages that are unique to military employment. The current article presents the exchange-based dual-military marriage model, which builds on Huffman and Payne’s (2005) Huffman, A. H., &; Payne, S. C. (2005). The challenges and benefits of dual-military marriages. In C. A. Castro, A. B. Adler, &; T. W. Britt (Eds.), Military life: The psychology of serving in peach and combat (Vol.3): The military family (pp. 115–137). Westport, CT: Praeger. [Google Scholar] model for dual-military marriages. Whereas the previous model did not adequately address the decision-making process that dual-military couples must engage in to navigate their unique situation, we address this oversight by incorporating exchanges that occur between the partners as well as between the couple and the military. Our model stresses the importance that perceived resources and the exchange relationship have on dual-military members. Included is a discussion of unique groups (i.e., gender issues, parental status, and sexual orientation), strategies for success for both dual-military couples and the military organization, and a suggested future research agenda.     

Clinical Judgment: The Effects of Statistical Information

Four different judges at 3 levels of clinical experience were asked to make postdictive judgments on the length of stay in psychotherapy for mental health service clients. Judgments were made under 4 conditions in which psychodiagnostic and statistical information increased incrementally at each level. Accuracy increased with more information. Accuracy by experience level was not significant. A significant group by information level interaction demonstrated a lower proportion of correct judgments for the less experienced Js under reduced levels of information. Appropriateness of judgments was also lower for the less experienced Js. Statistical information was concluded to be valuable in clinical judgment.     

Universal Popular Responses to Inkblots in Five Cultures: Denmark,Germany, Hong Kong,Mexico and United States

Klopfer and Kelly in 1942 predicted that “a sufficient number of frequency counts” would indicate universality of response to certain inkblots by groups, e.g. cultural. Group administration and the development of a computer based scoring program has enabled the authors to examine adequate frequencies across five cultures (Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, United States) and validate the prediction. Using Holtzman's criterion for Popular, universality was found in 23 inkblots and near-universality in 10 additional. The core concept person accounted for the populars in 15 instances; other concepts were animal, fowl, face or mask, person-riding-animal, landscape, butterfly or moth, seahorse, fish, and rain or storm. Across all five cultures there was much more commonality than differences in perception of inkblots.     

Secular and Liminal: Discovering Heterogeneity Among Religious Nones

This study examines the stability of religious preference among people who claim no religious preference in national surveys (i.e., religious nones). Using data from the Faith Matters Study, General Social Survey, and American National Election Study, we show that about 30 percent of religious nones in the first wave of the survey claim an affiliation with a religious group a year later. The percentage of religious nones remained stable in the two waves because a similar number of respondents moved in the opposite direction. Using various measures of religiosity, we show that most of these unstable nones report no significant change in religious belief or practice. We call them liminal nones as they stand halfway in and halfway out of a religious identity. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings on the controversies surrounding the rise of religious nones in recent years.     

A family assessment based on the Social Relations Model

One purpose of family assessment is to formulate hypotheses that can guide clinical interventions. Family assessment is based on models about family functioning. In this paper the Social Relations Model ( Kenny and La Voie, 1984 ; SRM) is presented as such a model about family dynamics. Moreover, SRM provides statistical tools to underpin empirical hypotheses about family functioning. An SRM family assessment of a family with a child in child psychiatric care exemplifies the possibilities and limitations of this SRM approach to family assessment. The subject of the family assessment is family members' sense of influence in their family relationships.     

Becoming their mother: Knowledge,attitudes, and practices of orphanage personnel in Ukraine

Institutional caregiving can have adverse effects on children, yet little is known about the caregivers of institutionalized young children. We surveyed staff in three Ukrainian Baby Homes about their attitudes toward the nature of their work and the needs of the young children in their care. Seventy‐one caregivers completed anonymous, semistructured surveys. Popular reasons for working in Baby Homes included benefits and convenient work shifts, morality, and affection for children. Caregivers reported both favorable aspects of the work (enjoyment of children, professional satisfaction) and work difficulties (conflicts, lack of cooperation, little administrative support). In addition, they noted deficiencies in care: high caregiver–child ratio, frequent care disruptions, and lack of stimulation. Direct caregivers (in‐room “nannies,” educators, and nurses) and other providers (e.g., clinic nurses, physicians, therapists) differed in university‐degree attainment, professional motivation, enjoyment of children, professional satisfaction, and perceptions of self as substitute mother. A number of potential “windows for change” were identified, including recognition of deficiencies in institutional care and possibilities for improvement. Implications for interventions are discussed, including the need to consider lack of staff support, high emotional stress, internal conflicts, beliefs and attitudes about institutionalized children and their biological parents, and differences in staff educational achievement.     

The costs of taking it slowly: fast and slow movement timing in older age

We investigated adult age-differences in timing control of fast vs. slow repetitive movements using a dual-task approach. Twenty-two young (M = 24.23 yr) and 22 older adults (M = 66.64 yr) performed three cognitive tasks differing in working memory load and response production demands and they tapped series of 550-ms or 2100-ms target intervals. Single-task timing was comparable in both groups. Dual-task timing was characterized by shortening of produced intervals and increases in drift and variability. Dual-task costs for both cognitive and timing performances were pronounced at slower tapping tempos, an effect exacerbated in older adults. Our findings implicate attention and working memory processes as critical components of slow movement timing and sources of specific challenges thereof for older adults.     

Children's memory for the duration of a paediatric consultation

To learn about children's ability to estimate the duration of an event many days after it occurred, 6–12‐year‐old children were asked to judge the amount of time (range 5–45 minutes) they spent in the treatment room as part of a paediatric visit. Judgements were made 1 week or 1 month after the visit occurred. Children showed an average error of about 13 minutes. Retention interval did not significantly affect estimates. Other judgements of the length of the interview itself (mean length 8 minutes) provided what may be the first data on children's ability to make immediate retrospective duration estimates. The results also include information about children's capacity to judge how long ago they visited the clinic. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.