The development of a multidimensional measure of job market cognitions: the Employment Opportunity Index (EOI)

The purpose of this research was to develop a multidimensional measure of job market perceptions based on a meta-analysis. Item sets were developed to operationally define the dimensions and were tested among 3 samples. Results of a series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in 3 samples indicated that the 5 scales have satisfactory psychometric properties, construct, and criterion-related validity. The 5 dimensions accounted for significant and relatively large amounts of turnover variance, even after a number of standard turnover predictors had been taken into account. The results suggest the presence of job search microprocesses in the employee turnover process. These microprocesses are described and integrated into current thinking about the turnover process.     

Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Censorship1

A modified form of the Attitudes Toward Censorship Questionnaire (Hense & Wright, 1992) was developed to assess the degree to which that scale measures attitudes toward censorship in general as opposed to censorship of material representing particular sociopolitical values. The revised form characterized the potentially censorable materials as racist, sexist, or violent. University student respondents who showed high acceptance of censorship in this context scored high on measures of authoritarianism, political conservatism, and conventional family ideology (as had procensorship respondents on the Hense and Wright scale), but low on a scale of economic conservatism. Women were more favorably inclined toward censorship than men. Supporters of Canada's most left-wing (social democratic) major federal party were most favorable to censorship. Factor analysis showed that most of the variance could be explained by a cluster that we have labeled “Politically Correct Puritanism”: support for censoring racist and sexist materials and depictions of sexual violence. The second major factor was related to commercial availability of such materials. Content-specific items on both the original and our modified scales may establish a context that guides the interpretation of nonspecific items, so that both the original Attitudes Toward Censorship Questionnaire and our modified version may be measuring attitudes toward censorship of materials violating a particular view of morality, rather than toward censorship in principle.     

Comparing meta-analytic moderator estimation techniques under realistic conditions

One of the most problematic issues in contemporary meta-analysis is the estimation and interpretation of moderating effects. Monte Carlo analyses are developed in this article that compare bivariate correlations, ordinary least squares and weighted least squares (WLS) multiple regression, and hierarchical subgroup (HS) analysis for assessing the influence of continuous moderators under conditions of multicollinearity and skewed distribution of study sample sizes (heteroscedasticity). The results show that only WLS is largely unaffected by multicollinearity and heteroscedasticity, whereas the other techniques are substantially weakened. Of note, HS, one of the most popular methods, typically provides the most inaccurate results, whereas WLS, one of the least popular methods, typically provides the most accurate results.     

Suchttherapie bei abhängigen Ärzten

Background

International studies indicate an increased incidence of substance abuse disorders among physicians. This article investigates specific variables in the work field and describes existing treatment programs.

Patients and methods

In a cross-sectional study 107 physicians with and 468 without substance abuse disorders were compared. Two highly developed treatment programs in Germany and Canada are described.

Results

The high work-load associated with the medical work environment leads to reduced performance and social isolation. Treatment programs for addicted physicians work with the concept of ?help before restriction“. The abstinence rate of the 5-year Canadian program is over 90%.

Conclusions

As a form of prevention, medical students should be systematically informed about work-related stress in the medical profession. Structured treatment programs should be implemented nationwide. The expert team ?Risk of addiction in physicians“ of the German Addiction Foundation, whose members are authors of this article, may be a small step in this direction.     

Patientenziele in der Psychotherapie

Zusammenfassung  Im vorliegenden Artikel wird ein Überblick zum Stand der Forschung zu Patientenzielen in der Psychotherapie gegeben. Auf vier Aspekte wird dabei besonders eingegangen: (1) auf grundlagenwissenschaftliche Modelle und Befunde zu Lebenszielen, (2) auf allgemeine Lebensziele von Patienten und deren Zusammenhang zu ihrem psychopathologischen Zustand, (3) auf explizite Therapieziele und (4) auf zielbezogene therapeutische Interventionen. Durch diesen Überblick soll zum einen deutlich gemacht werden, wie grundlagenwissenschaftliche Forschung zu persönlichen Zielen klinische Forschung beeinflusst und bereichert hat. Zum anderen werden die therapeutischen Implikationen der Zielforschung herausgearbeitet.

Systemische Therapie bei Störungen des Erwachsenenalters

Background

Systemic therapy is a scientifically acknowledged form of psychotherapy in the US and many European countries, but not yet in Germany.

Method

All randomized (or parallelized) controlled trials (RCT) evaluating systemic couples/family/individual therapy with adult index patients published in English, German or Spanish up to the end of 2004 were identified via data base searches and cross-references in other meta-analyses and reviews. A meta-analysis of the identified RCT was performed.

Results

28 RCT (43 publications) evaluating systemic therapy with adult index patients suffering from clinical disorders (ICD-10) were identified. Systemic therapy is efficacious with regard to substance disorders, mental/social factors interacting with somatic disorders, schizophrenia, depression and eating disorders. The results are stable across follow-up periods of up to 5 years.

Conclusion

According to the criteria of the German Scientific Advisory Board Psychotherapy (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat Psychotherapie) there seems to be good evidence for the efficacy of systemic therapy in at least four fields of application of adult psychotherapy.     

Topografie der Jugenddelinquenz

The article shows that the registered juvenile delinquency has decreased in recent years. Serious violent crime partially exists, but this is only a small part of the overall juvenile delinquency. Forms of appearance of these violent crimes are outlined. With the help of a dark field study it is illustrated that there is a great variety of delinquency among young people. There are young people showing mostly law-abiding behavior, infrequent offenders and a group with a significant burden of crimes.