Counterspaces: A Unit of Analysis for Understanding the Role of Settings in Marginalized Individuals’ Adaptive Responses to Oppression

Research and theory on the intervening variables that enable individuals who experience marginalization and oppression to achieve well-being have historically relied on an individual level of analysis. Yet, there is a growing body of literature that highlights the roles that contexts play in facilitating processes that result in wellness among marginalized individuals. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that highlights a specific type of setting, referred to as "counterspaces," which promotes the psychological well-being of individuals who experience oppression. Counterspaces are theorized to enhance well-being by challenging deficit-oriented societal narratives concerning marginalized individuals' identities. The conceptual frame proposed here suggests that "challenging" can occur through at least three processes: (1) narrative identity work, (2) acts of resistance, and (3) direct relational transactions. This paper articulates each of these challenging processes. Additionally, the utility of using the Counterspaces framework for thinking critically about and investigating how settings-and the transactional processes that unfold within them-are associated with the promotion of psychological wellness for various marginalized populations is discussed.     

Development of the Perth Adolescent Worry Scale (PAWS)

Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology - Tools to assess worry among adolescents exist but do not capture the content of worries. This study reports on the development of a brief,...     

Blunted Flanker P300 Demonstrates Specificity to Depressive Symptoms in Females during Adolescence

Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology - Recent research suggests that depressive disorders in adults are characterized by reductions in flanker P300 amplitude, and that a reduced flanker...     

“We've Got Creative Differences”: The Effects of Task Conflict and Participative Safety on Team Creative Performance

Although both participative safety and team task conflict are widely thought to be related to team creative performance, the nature of this relationship is still not well understood, and prior studies have frequently yielded conflicting results. This study examines the ambiguity in the extant literature and proposes that both constructs must exist in tandem. Through a study of 55 design teams, we have identified a significant interaction between task conflict and participative safety. Results suggest that both participative safety and task conflict must exist in tandem to spur team creativity, and that team creative performance must be examined at the facet level, instead of simply as a single construct. In addition, supplemental analyses suggest that teams low on participative safety and task conflict are likely able to generate more original solutions for creative tasks due to the presence of an independent, disagreeable creative member. Implications for future research and practice are further discussed.     

Parental Perceptions of Services Provided for Children with Autism in Jordan

Providing formal support for children with autism and their parents is important and mandatory to improve children’s abilities and enhance the capabilities of parents. The present study attempted to investigate the perceptions of parents of children with autism regarding the services provided in Jordan. A questionnaire consisting of five sections was designed and distributed to a sample of 60 parents of children with autism (5–18 years old) among four special education institutions in Jordan. The questionnaire addressed five domains: demographics, type and number of received services, methods and difficulties of obtaining services, parents’ satisfaction, and parents’ perceived needed services. The results revealed that the service delivery system with which parents interacted was composed of multiple places and providers, but had several difficulties. Parents participating in this study expressed an average satisfaction with the received services. Issues pertaining to the cost of services, parents-professional partnerships, and overall quality of services were seen by parents as sources of low satisfaction. On the other hand, parents expressed the need for early intervention, family counseling, and community awareness services. Further suggestions and implications are presented in the study.     

Within-Person Variability in Response Speed as an Indicator of Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

ABSTRACT

Within-person variability may be an important indicator of central nervous system compromise. In this study, within-person variability in response speed was examined in community-dwelling older adults, ages 64–92 years, using a new framework that takes into account both the extent (single versus multiple domains affected) and nature (amnestic versus non-amnestic) of the cognitive impairment. Those with multiple domains of impairment were more variable than those who showed an isolated area of impairment, regardless of whether memory was one of the domains affected. Further, for those with difficulties in two or more non-memory domains, increased variability was most evident in more cognitively demanding situations, when individuals had to manipulate information held briefly in mind, switch cognitive set or inhibit an automatic response. Finally, group differentiation was better achieved when within-person variability as opposed to mean speed of performance was considered.     

A Developmental Inquiry into the Effects of Postevent Information on Eyewitness Accounts

Children in the first through eighth grades (n = 128) and college students (n = 32) viewed a film depicting an automobile collision and were subsequently asked to estimate the speed of one of the vehicles. The results indicated that the phrasing of the question significantly affected the subjects' speed estimates. Specifically, subjects at all grade levels provided significantly higher speed estimates when the adverb fast, as opposed to slow, was used. Subjects in the seventh and eighth grades gave higher speed estimates when the verb smashed was used than when hit was used. This latter effect did not occur at other grade levels sampled.     

Replication of the factor structure of the fear of AIDS schedule (FAIDSS) across samples

Abstract

The stability of the Fear of AIDS Scale (FAIDSS) was studied using three samples (two samples of health workers and one of social work students) on Cattel's s index. Using hyperplane cutoffs between 0.35 and 0.45, on the five factor solution of the FAIDSS, there were significant correlations between factors across samples and with few exceptions each factor correlated significantly with only one factor in its comparison samples. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by comparing scores on the Attitudes toward AIDS scale with the FAIDSS. Data indicated that the FAIDSS structure was stable across samples and is an appropriate instrument for measurement of fear of AIDS in the helping professions.     

Health-related behaviours and their correlates in a general population sample of 45-year old women

Abstract

Preventive strategies for menopausal women to reduce the risks for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease has been the focus of considerable attention, but understanding of mid-aged women's behavioural risk factors for these diseases is meagre. The current study describes a range of health-related behaviours and their psychosocial correlates, in a sample of 45-year old women, recruited from five general practices and assessed by postal survey (N=106, response rate 60%). Results suggest that health promotion for this group might best focus upon increases in regular exercise, calcium intake and breast awareness, and decreases in cigarette and caffeine consumption. The behaviours assessed were generally not inter-related. However, several associations were identified between behaviours and health and psychosocial variables. The main ones were the association between menopausal status and smoking, and the relationship between body weight, self-esteem and physical exercise. It is argued that the menopause transition can be an opportunity for preventive work.