Development and Preliminary Validation of the Threat Appraisal Questionnaire for Children (TAQ-C)

Despite the emphasis on threat appraisal in cognitive models of anxiety, self-report measures of related processes in children and adolescents have been lacking. This paper reports on the development and preliminary psychometric evaluation of a new measure of threat appraisal for children and adolescents – the Threat Appraisal Questionnaire for Children (TAQ-C). Based on current conceptualisations of threat appraisal, the TAQ-C was designed to index the construct across three dimensions: probability, cost, and coping difficulties. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to examine this structure in a community sample of n = 312 children (ages 9–15 years, 55% female). Results indicated that the scores on the instrument capture three factors (Probability, Cost and Coping difficulties). Moreover, a model in which the 1st-order factors loaded significantly on a single 2nd order factor of threat in general, was supported. The TAQ-C was found to demonstrate good internal consistency, and acceptable levels of test-retest reliability within a 3–4 week interval, when evaluated with a subsample of n = 51 children. Support for convergent validity was demonstrated, with TAQ-C scores found to correlate strongly with existing measures of child anxiety, and conceptually related cognitive processes. Divergent validity was also evidenced, with low correlations found between TAQ-C scores and the unrelated construct measure of Hyperactivity-Inattention. The TAQ-C, therefore, appears to be a promising measure with a range of potential applications for child and adolescent settings.     

Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behaviors among an African American Church-based Population

African Americans are disproportionately burdened by STDs and HIV in the US. This study examined the relationships between demographics, religiosity, and sexual risk behaviors among 255 adult African American church-based participants. Although participants were highly religious, they reported an average of seven lifetime sex partners and most inconsistently used condoms. Several demographic variables and religiosity significantly predicted lifetime HIV-related risk factors. Taken together, findings indicated that this population is at risk for HIV. Future research should continue to identify correlates of risky sexual behavior among African American parishioners to facilitate the development of HIV risk reduction interventions in their church settings.     

Assessing the Development of the Sales Profession

As we celebrate the silver anniversary of this journal, it is time to assess the development of sales as a profession. This paper uses the sociology of work literature to develop six criteria society uses in making the attribution of a work group as a profession. Sales is then examined on each of those six dimensions. It is concluded that our discipline meets or exceeds four of the requirements, has mixed results on one construct, and falls short on another criterion. Progress will require the development and enforcement of an ethical code. A strong professional association for all salespeople across all industries could also be very useful in this regard. Future use of technology by salespeople will also impact client views of sales as a profession.     

Retail Salesperson Attributes and the Role of Dependability in the Selection of Durable Goods

This study examines the importance which consumers place on various salesperson attributes in the retail purchase of durable goods. From an original list of 25 salesperson characteristics, exploratory factor analysis was used to identify seven underlying dimensions, and trustworthiness was found to be of greatest importance. Because past research had suggested that dependability was a critical buyer concern, the extent to which retail salespeople were considered dependable in providing a number of specific selling services was also examined as an additional part of the present study. This analysis generally showed that while consumers place great importance on sales rep dependability, they do not have high levels of confidence in the current retail sales force providing it.     

The menstrual distress questionnaire: Are the critics right?

The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) is the most widely used method of assessing premenstrual symptomatology. It is also the most frequently criticized instrument in this field. A review of the criticisms made toward the MDQ revealed three major issues concerning the reliability and validity of this instrument and the sample from whom normative data were gathered. These issues were examined in light of 49 studies that used this instrument between 1968 and 1990. Many of the criticisms were found to be justified. A marked lack of adequate research into the MDQ’s reliability, problems associated with the normative sample, and uncertain validity were found. In particular, the MDQ appears to measure constructs unrelated to the menstrual cycle and define premenstrual syndrome inaccurately. In addition, the factor structure of this instrument may be unstable. These conclusions were tempered with the knowledge that the MDQ has not been utilized to its full potential in most of the research conducted to date.     

Mothers,Fathers, and Parental Systems: A Conceptual Model of Parental Engagement in Programmes for Child Mental Health—Connect,Attend, Participate,Enact (CAPE)

Parenting programmes are one of the best researched and most effective interventions for reducing child mental health problems. The success of such programmes, however, is largely dependent on their reach and parental engagement. Rates of parental enrolment and attendance are highly variable, and in many cases very low; this is especially true of father involvement in parenting programmes. This paper proposes a conceptual model of parental engagement in parenting programmes—the CAPE model (Connect, Attend, Participate, Enact) that builds on recent models by elaborating on the interdependent stages of engagement, and its interparental or systemic context. That is, we argue that a comprehensive model of parental engagement will best entail a process from connection to enactment of learned strategies in the child’s environment, and involve consideration of individual parents (both mothers and fathers) as well as the dynamics of the parenting team. The model provides a framework for considering parent engagement as well as associated facilitators and mechanisms of parenting change such as parenting skills, self-efficacy, attributions, and the implementation context. Empirical investigation of the CAPE model could be used to further our understanding of parental engagement, its importance for programme outcomes, and mechanisms of change. This will guide future intervention refinement and developments as well as change in clinical practice.     

Informed Consent: An Ethical Issue in Conducting Research with Male Partner Violent Offenders

Ethical codes help guide the methods of research that involves samples gathered from “at-risk” populations. The current article reviews general as well as specific ethical principles related to gathering informed consent from partner violent offenders mandated to outpatient treatment, a group that may be at increased risk of unintentional coercion in behavioral sciences research due to court mandates that require outpatient treatment without the ethical protections imbued upon prison populations. Recommendations are advanced to improve the process of informed consent within this special population and data supporting the utility of the recommendations in a sample 70 partner violent offenders are provided. Data demonstrate that participants were capable of comprehending all essential elements of consent.     

Assessing Parenting Practices Through Parent-Report and Direct Observation During Parent-Training

The specific parenting domains measured by the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) make it particularly relevant to interventions concerned with the modification of parenting practices. This study assessed the validity and clinical utility of parent reports on the APQ using observational data of parents and children (N=56, aged 4–8 years) participating in a parent training intervention for childhood conduct problems. Parent reports on the measure were found to converge well with observations of parents’ use of praise, and harsh/aversive parenting. APQ scores also reflected change in parenting practices across treatment, and were associated with clinical child outcomes. Comparisons of the five original APQ subscales with a three-factor empirically-derived form of the measure indicated greater support for the original subscales, which were found to be valid and clinically informative in the treatment of childhood conduct problems.