INCREASING ONE ASPECT OF SELF‐DETERMINATION AMONG ADULTS WITH SEVERE MULTIPLE DISABILITIES IN SUPPORTED WORK

We attempted to increase one aspect of self‐determination among 3 supported workers with multiple disabilities. Following Baer's (1998) self‐determination conceptualization, the workers were exposed to two conditions that involved working more versus less independently based on availability of assistive devices. Next, their condition preferences were assessed and honored. All participants consistently chose the more independent condition. Results reflect how self‐determination may be enhanced by giving workers increased control over work situations.     

A new measure of social classes

Social classes' ‘way we live’ values remain a major influence on consumers' retail store choices, their brand choices for major durables, and their use of health services and pharmaceutical products. Social class, however, has been neglected in modern theories and research in consumer behavior, probably because of the difficulty of implementing a proper sociological measure of social class distinctions coupled with the realization that convenient sociodemographic measures of social class are not a valid substitute for the sociological measure. A new 34‐item values‐based measure of social class is presented in this article, called the Social Class Values Index (SCVI). The SCVI efficiently distinguishes the six traditional social‐class strata that are based on attributed social prestige and contributes to the first known measure of the non–prestige‐based, largely self‐actualized ‘X’ class. The SCVI is interviewer‐administered and is easily profile‐scored from simple binary answers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Augmenting Hopkins SCL Scales to Measure Dissociative Symptoms: Data From Two Nonclinical Samples

4A 13-item Dissociation scale is introduced, and preliminary data regarding its reliability are presented. Designed to complement the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90; Derogatis, Lipman, & Covi, 1973) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL; Derogatis, Lipman, Rickels, Ulenhuth, & Covi, 1974), this scale may be especially useful in research on the effects of psychological trauma.     

Reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury in women with borderline personality disorder

Self-reported reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury were examined using the Parasuicide History Interview within a sample of chronically suicidal women meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (N = 75). Overall, reasons given for suicide attempts differed from reasons for nonsuicidal self-injury. Nonsuicidal acts were more often reported as intended to express anger, punish oneself, generate normal feelings, and distract oneself, whereas suicide attempts were more often reported as intended to make others better off. Almost all participants reported that both types of parasuicide were intended to relieve negative emotions. It is likely that suicidal and nonsuicidal parasuicide have multiple intents and functions.     

The Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities (IASC): a standardized measure of identity,affect regulation,and relationship disturbance

This article describes the Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities (IASC), a 63-item standardized measure of disturbed functioning in relation to self and others. The seven scales of the IASC are Interpersonal Conflicts, Idealization-Disillusionment, Abandonment Concerns, Identity Impairment, Susceptibility to Influence, Affect Dysregulation, and Tension Reduction Activities. The psychometric properties of the IASC were examined in general population, clinical, and university samples. The IASC was found to have internal consistency/reliability and validity in all three samples. Generally as predicted, IASC scales were associated with existing measures tapping borderline and antisocial personality features, depression, suicidality, substance abuse, somatization, and dysfunctional sexual behavior     

Inferential procedures for correlation coefficients corrected for attenuation

A model and computational procedure based on classical test score theory are presented for determination of a correlation coefficient corrected for attenuation due to unreliability. Next, variance-covariance expressions for the sample estimates defined earlier are derived, based on application of the delta method. Results of a Monte Carlo study are presented in which the adequacy of the derived expressions was assessed for a large number of data forms and potential hypotheses encountered in the behavioral sciences. It is shown that, based on the proposed procedures, confidence intervals for single coefficients are reasonably precise. Two-sample hypothesis tests, for both independent and dependent samples, are also accurate. However, for hypothesis tests involving a larger number of coefficients than two—both independent and dependent—the proposed procedures require largens for adequate precision. Results of a preliminary power analysis reveal no serious loss in efficiency resulting from correction for attenuation. Implications for practice are discussed.Support for the research reported in this article was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The authors acknowledge with thanks the constructive comments of the editor and three anonymous reviewers.     

Group building: Developing protocols for psychoeducational groups

Short-term, focused and targeted groups have become a staple in the mental health field and in the general cultural intervention milieu. This paper presents a model for group building aimed at guiding the group leader in constructing, organizing and ordering such psychoeducational groups. This model is applicable to a range of themecentered groups, addressing a variety of specific symptoms, habits, developmental milestones, organizational problems, or normative life crises. First, the defining characteristics of psychoeducational groups will be discussed. Subsequently, the steps in building group protocols will be outlined, including the use of phase-specific group dynamics and curative variables. To demonstrate the utility and generalizability of the model, two populations with extremely diverse thematic foci, a latency incest and a smoking cessation group, will be used to illustrate the ordering of the group protocol and the building of appropriate didactic structures. This paper is intended as a companion to an earlier one in this journal (Ettin et al., 1987), which considered the management of group process in just these types of nonprocess groups.     

PROVIDING A MORE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PERSONS: INCREASING AND VALIDATING FUNCTIONAL CLASSROOM TASKS

We evaluated a teacher training and supervision program for increasing the involvement of severely handicapped adolescents and adults in functional educational tasks. The program, consisting of a brief in-service followed by supervisory prompts and feedback, was accompanied by large increases in functional tasks in three classrooms. In addition, generalized increases occurred during nontargeted times in the classroom and the changes during both the targeted and nontargeted times were maintained over a 44–45 week period. In two subsequent experiments, surveys provided social validation for the criteria for functional versus nonfunctional tasks in that: (a) relevant individuals reliably categorized functional tasks as representing typical living, work, social, and leisure situations and (b) experienced clinicians consistently rated tasks previously categorized as functional as being more useful for severely handicapped persons than tasks categorized as nonfunctional. Results are discussed in terms of the relationship of functional classroom tasks in the overall provision of appropriate educational services for severely handicapped students.