The role of executive functions in bilingual children with reading difficulties

To explore the joint effect of reading difficulties (RD) and bilingualism on executive functions, 190 children of four groups of 9–12 year‐olds (41 bilinguals with RD, 45 monolinguals with RD, 45 bilinguals without RD, and 59 monolinguals without RD) were examined on the Concentration game, Tower of Hanoi, and Stroop as measures of executive functioning tapping into inhibitory/attentional control, working memory and planning ability. The most prominent finding was that in terms of RD, the speed of performances decreased dramatically. This general decrease was more pronounced for bilingual children with RD than for their monolingual counterparts. In conclusion, the findings suggest that while bilinguals gain more from executive functions in normal reading, they lose in terms of RD. Such an outcome confirms that executive functions are essential components of both reading and bilingualism, which depending on whether reading conditions are normal or difficult will produce cognitive advantages or disadvantages. Further, it is argued that dissimilarity between the Farsi and Swedish languages may complicate handling of such a situation.     

A Comparison of Effectiveness of Dohsa‐hou and the Alexander Technique on Happiness,Social Adjustment,Hope, Mental Health,and Quality of Life in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Dohsa‐hou and the Alexander Technique on happiness, social adjustment, hope, mental health, and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. The statistical population of this study included all of the patients with Parkinson's disease who were clients of neural therapeutic centers in Isfahan City in 2015. Among this population, 28 patients were selected through convenience sampling as the sample of the study. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, the Social Adjustment Scale, the Adult Hope Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, and the Word Health Quality of Life Questionnaire were used as the instruments of the study. Data were analyzed by analyses of variance with repeated measures. The results showed that both interventions of this study can improve happiness, hope, and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease, but Dohsa‐hou is more effective than the Alexander Technique in the improvement of happiness and hope. Probable explanations have been discussed.     

The Factor Structure of the Twelve Items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12): a Population Based Study

Mental health is a key component of general health based on world health organization (WHO) definition of health. A short form of the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) has been widely used as an assessment tool of general and mental health. This study was designed to evaluate the properties of the Persian version of this questionnaire. Of 6140 subjects aged 10–90 years of a cohort study of Northern Iran, the relevant data of 5074 individuals aged ≥18 years were considered for analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the six models including one-dimensional model, one-dimensional model with correlated errors on negative items, two-dimensional model based on negative and positive statement items, two-dimensional model based on social dysfunction and psychological distress, three-dimensional model based on anxiety/depression, social dysfunction and loss of confidence and finally one-dimensional model with an additional factor for the negatively phrased items. The best fit indices belonged to one-dimensional model with correlated errors on negative items with χ2 = 686.8, df = 39, CFI = 0.953, RMSEA = 0.057 (95%CI: 0.054–0.061), SRMR = 0.0317, AGFI = 0.952, TLI = 0.920 and AIC = 764.8 and also three-dimensional model with χ2 = 860.7, df = 51, CFI = 0.941, RMSEA = 0.056 (95%CI: 0.053–0.059), SRMR = 0.0343, AGFI = 0.955, TLI = 0.923 and AIC = 915.0. In the comparison between these two best models we had ?χ2 = 174.2, ?df = 12, p-value < 0.001 in favor of the one-dimensional model. One-dimensional model with correlated errors on negative items showed the best fitting indices with our population.     

Relationships of Contextual Factors and Personal Identity to Externalizing Problem Behavior Among Iranian Early Adolescents

In the present study, we evaluated a model of relations among contextual factors (family, school, and peer group), personal identity (i.e., coherence and confusion), and problem behavior among Iranian adolescents. The sample consisted of 765 Iranian adolescents and 615 primary caregivers. Results indicated that family functioning (adolescent report) was related to adolescent problem behavior (a) directly and (b) indirectly through identity confusion. Peer support on the other hand was solely indirectly related to adolescent problem behavior through identity confusion. School functioning was also significantly and negatively related to adolescent problem behavior. The present findings suggest that identity and contextual factors play important roles in steering Iranian adolescents toward or away from behavior problems. Implications for further research are discussed.     

Stop the clock because I can’t stop: time pressure,but not monitoring pressure,impairs response inhibition performance

ABSTRACT

Psychological pressure can exert detrimental effects on cognitive tasks that depend on attentional control. However, the effect of psychological pressure on inhibitory cognitive processes has been relatively overlooked. The study purpose was to examine the effect of psychological pressure on response inhibition. In Experiment 1, participants (N?=?125) were assigned to a combined time and performance-based incentive pressure condition or control condition. In Experiment 2, participants (N?=?124) were allocated to a time pressure only or control condition. Participants (N?=?149) in Experiment 3 were assigned to either an explicit monitoring pressure condition in which their performance was video-recorded or control condition. Participants in all experiments completed a Go/NoGo Task to assess response inhibition performance. Pressure impaired performance in Experiments 1 and 2 but not Experiment 3. The results demonstrate that time pressure, but not explicit monitoring pressure, significantly impairs inhibition accuracy. These findings are consistent with the distraction theory of performance pressure.     

Cardiovascular dysfunction related to threat, avoidance, and vigilant work: Application of event-related potential and critique

An integrative approach is suggested to track symbolically simulated work environment stressors, as an act to burden higher cortical function in the exposed groups. ERP would be made together with measurement of end organ stress responses as well as measurements of perceived conditions. Field studies would be the necessary complement. The following conclusions are culled from the reviewed literature: among the pilots, cardiovascular problems are the most important cause of loss of license in Europe and North America. Interactions with coworkers for air traffic controllers have been associated with cardiovascular disability. Comparing various degrees of heart disease severity among professional drivers, the IHD drivers showed the smallest N2 amplitudes and the greatest diastolic blood pressure reactivity. P300 target amplitude showed an inverse correlation with number of work hours behind the wheel. The IHD drivers were envisioned in a phase of disturbance of the selective attentional process. An interrelation has been found between Event-Related Slow Potential ERSP and midinterval heart rate acceleration associated with displeasure and arousal. A positive correlation has been found between the amplitude of the ERSP and ventricular arrhythmia rate in cardiac patients. Lowering of arrhythmia rate in response to antiarhythmic agents was associated with a significant attenuation of the ERSP. Either acceleration or deceleration is associated with the appearance of the late CNV to the aversive noise burst. There might be a “common generator behind both anticipatory heart rate responses and cortical events.” CNV might be related to frontally mediated stress mechanisms.     

Language Learners’ Writing Task Representation and Its Effect on Written Performance in an EFL Context

The present study attempts to give an account of how students represent writing task in an EAP course. Further, the study is intended to discover if learners’ mental representation of writing would contribute to their written performance. During a 16-week term, students were instructed to practice writing as a problem solving activity. At almost the end of the term, they were prompted to write on what they thought writing task was like and also an essay on an argumentative topic. The results revealed that students could conceptualize the instructed recursive model of writing as a process-based, multi-dimensional and integrated activity inducing self-direction and organization while holding in low regard the product view of writing. The findings also demonstrated that task representation was related to the students’ writing performance, with process oriented students significantly outperforming the product-oriented ones. Also, it was found that task representation components (ideational, linguistic, textual, interpersonal) had a significant relationship with the written performance (\(\upbeta =0.59\); Sig.: 0.006). The study can have both theoretical and practical implications with regard to the factors involving the students’ writing internal processes and their effects on written performance.     

On the Origin of “Labeling” Theory in Criminology: Frank Tannenbaum and the Chicago School of Sociology

According to the criminological literature, Frank Tannenbaum’s theory of “The Dramatization of Evil” was the first formulation of an approach to deviance that in the 1960s became known as the “labeling” theory. This paper makes three arguments about Tannenbaum’s theory. Firstly, it explains professional criminality. Secondly, the conceptual foundation for the theory is provided by John Dewey, William I. Thomas, Ernest W. Burgess, Clifford R. Shaw, and Charles H. Cooley. Thirdly, it is in fact prefigured in the work of Thomas, Shaw, and Burgess. The first argument is an answer to an enduring question related to “labeling” theory: does it explain professional criminality or any form of social deviance? The second argument negates a long-standing belief held by criminologists, i.e., that George H. Mead was the conceptual progenitor of Tannenbaum’s theory. The third argument refutes the persistent belief that Tannenbaum’s theory was the first formulation of labeling theory.     

Relationship of self-reported mysticism with depression and anxiety in Iranian Muslims

This study examined relationships of self-reported Mysticism with dispositional Depression and Anxiety in Iranian Muslims. The sample contained 80 women and 51 men undergraduates who volunteered to participate (M age=20.5 yr., SD= 2.0). Participants responded to the Hood Mysticism Scale and to the Costello and Comrey Depression and Anxiety Scales. Scores on the Religious Interpretation dimension of mystical experience correlated negatively with those on Depression, explained a similar relationship observed for Extrovertive Mysticism, and moderated the otherwise positive relationship between Introvertive Mysticism and Anxiety. Moderation occurred when Introvertive Mysticism correlated negatively rather than positively with Anxiety in those who scored high on Religious Interpretation and very high on the Introvertive factor. These data suggested possibilities for reconciling conflicts that have appeared between philosophical interpretations of Introvertive Mysticism and previous self-report data.     

Objective risk, subjective risk, and colorectal cancer screening among a clinic sample

Among cancers, colorectal (CRC) is the third most incident and the second most lethal. Although screening for the disease has been shown to be effective in reducing morbidity and mortality, screening rates remain low. Risk of disease has been shown to increase screening uptake, but different types of risk may influence intent to screen, screening in a timely manner, or participating in screening at all. A cross-sectional design was used to select a diverse sample of CRC asymptomatic patients 50 or more years of age (N=104) visiting one of three Midwestern medical clinics. Results showed a positive relationship between receipt of CRC screening and planning to screen for CRC in the future. Objective risk factors (personal/family history and having a primary care physician) were associated with CRC screening uptake and screening within the time intervals recommended by professional screening guidelines, but subjective risk did not obtain significance for screening participation. Both objective (primary care physician) and subjective risk (long-term comparative risk, knowledge) were associated with future plans to screen. Findings suggest that CRC screening behaviors may be differentially influenced by type of risk.