Event-related potential (ERP) indices of infants' recognition of familiar and unfamiliar objects in two and three dimensions

We measured infants' recognition of familiar and unfamiliar 3-D objects and their 2-D representations using event-related potentials (ERPs). Infants differentiated familiar from unfamiliar objects when viewing them in both two and three dimensions. However, differentiation between the familiar and novel objects occurred more quickly when infants viewed the object in 3-D than when they viewed 2-D representations. The results are discussed with respect to infants' recognition abilities and their understanding of real objects and representations. This is the first study using 3-D objects in conjunction with ERPs in infants, and it introduces an interesting new methodology for assessing infants' electrophysiological responses to real objects.     

The effect of school environment on body concerns in adolescent women

The study investigated body figure preferences, eating disorder symptomology, and role concerns in 142 Australian caucasian adolescent girls in two different school environments, both of medium to high socioeconomic status. Girls at a private single-sex school nominated a thinner ideal figure and displayed more eating disorder patterns than their counterparts at a private coeducational school. Although the schools did not differ in role concerns, these had a differential impact on prediction of the ideal figure. In particular, the importance placed on professional success predicted the choice of ideal figure for the single-sex but not for the coeducational school. It was concluded that what motivates the wish for thinness differed between the schools.     

HIV infection and drug users: Setting up support groups

The emergence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection has highlighted the need for the development of risk reduction strategies among drug users. A network of support and self help, whilst fully developed among gay men, has been slow to develop with drug users. Possible reasons for this are examined. Examples of this type of approach in Britain and other countries are reviewed. The positive aspects of encouraging the development of self help groups are discussed. The lesons learned from the first 6 months of a drug users support group are described.     

Reducing sexual transmission of HIV for injecting drug users: The challenge for counselling

Harm minimization approaches have been recommended to reduce the risks of transmission of HIV for injecting drug users by the elimination of sharing injecting equipment. The risks associated with the sexual behaviours of these individuals have been given less emphasis, and where considered have been in terms of the threat to non-drug partners and potential penetration of HIV infection into the general population. Data are presented from four survey studies conducted between 1985 and 1990 focusing on both drug-taking behaviours and sexual activities. These provide evidence for larger shifts, over this period, in injecting practices than in sexual behaviours. The risks associated with sexual activities for injecting drug users and their sexual partners are considered. It is concluded that counsellors have an important role to play in introducing a second phase of harm minimization that involves interventions to modify sexual behaviours and offers integrated services for injecting drug users and their families.     

Innovations in the Identification and Referral of Mothers at Risk for Depression: Development of a Peer-to-Peer Model

This paper describes a feasibility study of a peer-delivered prevention intervention to identify mothers at high risk for depression and facilitate engagement in mental health services for their emotional health. Sixteen family peer advocates and their supervisors partnered with academic researchers over a period of 6 months to develop a four-session intervention that focused on identifying symptoms of depression, providing education about depression and treatment, actively linking caregivers to treatment for their own emotional health, and assisting caregivers in becoming active participants in their mental health care. Collaborating with peers to develop the model enhanced its perceived relevance and utility, and resulted in an intervention that was complimentary to their roles and the mission of peer-delivered support services. Peer/professional partnerships may be beneficial for enhancing the feasibility and acceptability of research efforts; the impact of peers’ participation in the current project and the need for future research to develop and study peer-delivered models is discussed.     

When School Fits Me: How Fit Between Self-Beliefs and Task Benefits Boosts Math Motivation and Performance

We hypothesized that college students would engage more and perform better in math when the benefits of learning it were described in a manner that fit their self-beliefs, such as whether they view themselves as interdependent or as independent and unique. In three studies, fit predicted greater performance on math problems. Fit also predicted greater use of tutorials after answering problems incorrectly, and choosing to work on problems framed in the service of students' beliefs. Results highlight the potential power for strengthening math motivation and performance by creating a fit between the portrayal of math's utility and students' self-beliefs.     

Accreditation Standards for University and College Counseling Centers

The accreditation standards outlined in the article are used by the International Association of Counseling Services as the basis for the formal accreditation of college and university counseling programs throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. They reflect the program elements and practice standards that are deemed essential in a counseling center that provides high‐quality services to students.     

Family Peer Advocates: A Pilot Study of the Content and Process of Service Provision

Professional family peer advocates are increasingly employed by public mental health systems to deliver family-to-family support that reduces barriers families face in accessing children’s mental health care. These services, however, are neither uniformly available nor standardized. This pilot study describes the process, content and context of family-to-family support services. Simulating a parent seeking services, a trained standardized parent participated as a client in meetings with advocates in four programs and collected data through structured observations, a structured survey, and session audiotapes. The “walk-through” process was determined to be feasible and acceptable to family peer advocates as a way of evaluating services. Four family peer advocates provided an average of 25 services during each 2-session simulation with the standardized parent, including the following: information and educational support, instruction and skills development, emotional and affirmational support, instrumental support, and advocacy. Findings also revealed variability in the range of services provided and identified challenges in aspects of service provision, such as boundaries of advocate roles, availability of confidential service environments, and addressing crises and parent concerns about child safety. This paper provides the first in-depth look at services provided by this emerging workforce.