The linear system theory's account of behavior maintained by variable-ratio schedules.

The mathematical theory of linear systems, which has been used successfully to describe behavior maintained by variable-interval schedules, is extended to describe behavior maintained by variable-ratio schedules. The result of the analysis is a pair of equations, one of which expresses response rate on a variable-ratio schedule as a function of the mean ratio requirement (n) that the schedule arranges. The other equation expresses response rate on a variable-ratio schedule as a function of reinforcement rate. Both equations accurately describe existing data from variable-ratio schedules. The theory accounts for two additional characteristics of behavior maintained by variable-ratio schedules; namely, the appearance of strained, two-valued (i.e., zero or very rapid) responding at large ns, and the abrupt cessation of responding at a boundary n. The theory also accounts for differences between behavior on variable-interval and variable-ratio schedules, including (a) the occurrence of strained responding on variable-ratio but not on variable-interval schedules, (b) the abrupt cessation of responding on occurrence of higher response rates on variable-ratio than on variable-interval schedules. Furthermore, given data from a series of variable-interval schedules and from a series of concurrent variable-ratio variable-interval schedules, the theory permits quantitative prediction of many properties of behavior on single-alternative variable-ratio schedules. The linear system theory's combined account of behavior on variable-interval and variable-ratio schedules is superior to existing versions of six other mathematical theories of variable-interval and variable-ratio responding.     

Role strain among South African seminarians in the Anglican Church: toward a typology of congregational support

This phenomenological study explored student value perceptions of religious participation among nontraditional South African distance learners who persisted in theological distance education. Four basic types of churches emerged including the Equipping Church, the Empowering Church, the Engaging Church, and the Endangering Church. However, in examining religious coping strategies among South African distance learners, it was discovered that the four women interviewed experienced a deep sense of loneliness in their calling and had to rely almost exclusively on resources outside their local church. These Black South African women’s sense of being called alone is both inconsistent with the theoretical framework of role theory and the theological framework of the Anglican Church as expressed by the official Prayer Book.     

The differential impact on carers dealing with clients with challenging behaviours

This study addresses the effects of organizational culture on the ways in which carers in small community homes cope with clients with challenging behaviours. Results indicated that carers socialized in a traditional setting (i.e. large institutions) responded to challenging behaviours by becoming more negative in their attitudes towards clients. Strain levels in carers socialized in the Social Services were related directly to client challenging behaviours, and unrelated to their attitudes which remained positive.     

Perceived employability and employee strain: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis addresses the association between perceived employability (PE) and employee strain (k = 34). Consistent with expectations, PE was negatively related to strain (ρ = −.12, 95% CI = −.16 to −.08). Moderator analysis showed that this relationship was stronger post-2008 (ρ = −.20, 84% CI = −.23 to −.17) versus pre-2008 (ρ = −.06, 84% CI = −.08 to −.05) and in high (ρ = −.17, 84% CI = −.21 to −.14) versus low (ρ = −.07, 84% CI = −.09 to −.06) uncertainty avoidant cultures. Our results suggest that career competency development interventions can be effective for reducing employee strain and that national uncertainty avoidance need be incorporated into models of boundaryless careers, especially as it relates to employee health and well-being.     

这不是我的工作！不合规任务及其对员工的影响

不合规任务, 作为一种新型职场压力源, 近几年逐渐成为组织管理研究领域的一个前沿话题。不合规任务是指不符合人们预期工作范围、不应由自己完成或不必要执行的任务, 包括不合理任务和不必要任务。不合规任务对员工情绪、认知、动机、工作态度、工作行为、身心健康, 以及工作-家庭关系均有一定的负面影响, 影响性质和强度取决于员工的个体特征和所处的情境特征。压力-自我冒犯理论、公平理论、工作要求-资源模型、工作特征模型、情感事件理论和自我决定理论是解释不合规任务影响的主要理论。未来研究可拓展不合规任务的概念和层次、探索和整合作用机制、探讨不合规任务的权变效应、考察不合规任务的影响因素以及开展文化情境和文化导向的研究。     

Distinguishing Caregiver Strain from Psychological Distress: Modeling the Relationships Among Child, Family, and Caregiver Variables

Although both have been used in studies of the impact of mental illness on the family, the constructs of caregiver strain (often referred to as burden of care) and psychological distress have not been clearly distinguished. The vagueness surrounding these constructs, and the lack of a cohesive conceptual framework for understanding how they relate, leads to contradictory interpretations of results. This compromises the building of the knowledge base needed to develop and evaluate interventions to support families as they struggle to meet the needs of their children with emotional and behavioral challenges. We utilized the ABCX Model as a framework for understanding caregiver strain and its relationship to psychological distress. Structural equations modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationship between caregiver strain and psychological distress, as well as the role of key child and family variables. These included child symptoms, stressful life events, social support, family functioning, and material resources. Our findings indicated that caregiver strain and psychological distress, although related, have distinct correlates and different implications in the family context.     

Financial strain,social capital,and perceived health during economic recession: a longitudinal survey in rural Canada

Although the health consequences of financial strain are well documented, less is understood about the health-protective role of social capital. Social capital refers to a sense of community embeddedness, which is in part reflected by group membership, civic participation, and perceptions of trust, cohesion, and engagement. We investigated whether perceptions of social capital moderate the relation between financial strain and health, both mental and physical. This longitudinal study surveyed adults in two communities in rural Ontario where significant job losses recently occurred. Data were collected on financial strain, social capital, perceived stress, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and physical health on three occasions over 18 months (N's = 355, 317, and 300). As expected, financial strain positively related to perceived stress, poor physical health and symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas social capital related to less stress, better physical health, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Effects of financial strain on perceived stress and depressive symptoms were moderated by social capital such that financial strain related more closely to perceived stress and depressive symptoms when social capital was lower. The findings underscore the health-protective role of community associations among adults during difficult economic times.     

Examining the role of psychological need satisfaction in sleep: A Self-Determination Theory perspective

Although ample research has shown the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as defined within Self-Determination Theory, to be related to well-being, the relation with sleep-related functioning has not yet been examined. Hence, the present study explored the association between basic psychological need satisfaction and subjective measures of sleep and daytime dysfunction, as well as the explanatory role of need satisfaction in the relation between mindfulness and financial strain and these outcomes, in an adult sample (N = 215, 61% female; Mean age = 31). The results indicated that low psychological need satisfaction related to poor sleep quality, lower sleep quantity, and more daytime dysfunction. Finally, mindfulness and financial strain related, respectively, negatively and positively to poor sleep quality and daytime dysfunction through need satisfaction, suggesting that need satisfaction represents a critical explanatory mechanism. The role of psychological need satisfaction in the adequate regulation and satisfaction of the physiological need for sleep is discussed.     

Tensile properties of precracked tempered martensitic steel specimens tested at ultralow strain rates in high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere

Tensile tests were performed on precracked Cr–Mo martensitic steel (C: 0.38, Si: 0.22, Mn: 0.84, P: 0.024, S: 0.021, Ni: 0.08, Cr: 1.11, Mo: 0.15, Cu: 0.12, Fe: bal. (wt%)) specimens at various strain rates (ranging from 6.5 × 10^?8 s^?1 to 1.0 × 10^?4 s^?1) in high-pressure (95 MPa) hydrogen and helium atmospheres. Irrespective of the strain rate, the tensile strength in the helium atmosphere was 1400 MPa. In the hydrogen atmosphere, the tensile strength decreased to less than 600 MPa at a strain rate of 2.0 × 10^?5 s^?1. However, the tensile strength increased to 900 MPa when the strain rate was decreased to 6.5 × 10^?8 s^?1. This recovery of the tensile strength was because of the decrease in the local stress in the vicinity of the precrack because of hydrogen.