Life story research: A relevant methodology for counsellors and psychotherapists

Aims: This paper introduces, describes and proposes life story research as an important, relevant and appropriate contribution to counselling and psychotherapy research. It shows how narrative knowledge is created and constructed through the stories people tell about their lived experiences and explores the concept of ‘narrative knowing’ (Bruner, 1986). Methods: Drawing on life story research with people who linked their history of problematic drug use with experiences of historic trauma/abuse, the paper contributes to the ongoing discussion related to the similarities/differences between therapy and research and what we might learn from each that informs the other. Implications for practice: The paper offers narrative ideas and practices as ways of researching matters of social and psychological importance. It suggests that therapists (and counselling researchers) could learn from what participants tell us about the therapeutic value of using life story methods which one participant described as helping him to face ‘out into the world, without unduly or specifically delving into, or focusing on [my] emotional state’. This learning may be particularly relevant for therapists working with traumatised clients.     

员工职业倦怠、应对方式、生活满意度与心理健康的相关研究

目的：探讨职业倦怠、应对方式、生活满意度对心理健康水平的影响。方法：运用问卷调查法测量了南京市移动公司共132名员工（剔除无效后获得有效问卷113份）的职业倦怠、应对方式、生活满意度和心理健康水平。所用工具分别是职业倦怠问卷（MBI中文修订）,简易应对方式量表,生活满意度指数（LSIA）,症状自评量表（SCL-90）。结果：（1）职业倦怠三个维度与症状自评量表总分存在显著相关（0.655;0.502;0.365）。（2）简易应对方式量表中,积极应对方式与症状自评量表存在负相关（-0.134）,消极应对方式与症状自评量表存在显著正相关（0.460）。（3）职业倦怠量表的情感枯竭,讥诮态度和简易应对方式量表的消极应对方式对心理健康有一定的预测效应。（4）生活满意度指数与症状自评量表没有达到显著相关,且该指数对心理健康没有明显的预测作用。     

Social cognitive predictors of academic adjustment and life satisfaction in Portuguese college students: A longitudinal analysis

A social cognitive model of well-being [Lent, R. W. (2004). Toward a unifying theoretical and practical perspective on well-being and psychosocial adjustment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 482--509.] was adapted to the context of academic adjustment and tested using a longitudinal design. Participants were 252 students at a university in northern Portugal. They completed measures of academic self-efficacy, environmental support, goal progress, and adjustment, along with global measures of positive affect and life satisfaction. Path analyses indicated that the model fit the data well overall. As expected, self-efficacy and environmental support were predictive of goal progress and academic adjustment, and the latter was predictive of students’ global life satisfaction. Self-efficacy and positive affect were found to be reciprocally related to one another. Contrary to expectations, goal progress did not contribute uniquely to the prediction of academic adjustment or life satisfaction. We consider directions for future research applying the social cognitive model to satisfaction in, and adjustment to, educational and work settings.     

Sex segregation in friendships and normative contexts across the life span

Sex segregation (the separation of boys and girls into same-sex groups in their friendships and casual encounters; [Thorne, B., & Luria, Z. (1986). Sexuality and gender in children’s daily worlds. Social Problems, 33, 176–190]), has typically been viewed as a childhood phenomenon. In the present paper, we review research that suggests the phenomenon of sex segregation persists across the life span. We draw from a social-constructionist model to synthesize literature documenting sex segregation in friendships and aspects of individuals’ socio-cultural contexts in childhood, adolescence, and early and later adulthood. We consider developmental continuities in mechanisms that may be associated with sex segregation, including behavioral compatibility, communication styles, third-party resistance to other-sex relationships, and institutional barriers to other-sex relationships. We discuss how these factors may, through a reciprocal process, contribute to and result from sex segregation. Finally, we offer recommendations for future research.     

Self-esteem as mediator and moderator of the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction in adolescents

In this study, the mediator and moderator effects of global self-esteem on the relationship between loneliness and global life satisfaction in adolescents were investigated. The participants were 439 students, between age range of 15–18, who were attending four different high schools in Turkey. Data were collected by using the UCLA loneliness scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and the satisfaction with life scale. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that global self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and global life satisfaction. However, global self-esteem did not moderate the relationship between loneliness and global life satisfaction. The results are discussed in terms of the conceptional context.     

Psychometric Evaluation of the Japanese Version of the Elder Life Adjustment Interview Schedule for Depression

The Elder Life Adjustment Interview Schedule (ELAIS) was developed as an age- and culture-sensitive assessment device for depression and 9 environmental, behavioral, and health correlates (Schlatter et al., 1993, J. MARC Res. 1: 27–42). The psychometric adequacy of the ELAIS has been demonstrated with samples of elder Americans of Asian, Caucasian, and Native Hawaiian ancestry (Dubanoski et al., 1996, J. Clin. Gerospsychol. 2: 247–262). This study reports on the reliability and construct validity of a translated Japanese version. Participants were 55 community-dwelling elders living in the areas surrounding Maebashi, Japan. The ELAIS contains 14 scales of which 9 represent theoretical predictors of depression. The 2 Environmental Condition scales measure life events and social support. The 4 Behavioral Competency scales measure recreational activity, assertiveness, self-reinforcement, and perceived control. The 3 Health Factor scales measure perceived health, functional ability, and objective health. The 5 Other scales measure demographics, depression, life satisfaction, cognitive functioning, and response style. Results yielded acceptable internal consistency and stability reliability coefficients for all but 1 of the subscales on the ELAIS (informational social support). Construct validity support was found for the Depression scale and 6 theoretical predictors, including life events, recreational activity, assertiveness, self-reinforcement, functional ability, and objective health. Treatment and prevention implications for the cross-ethnic multivariate assessment of depression among elders are discussed.     

Family-supportive organization perceptions, multiple dimensions of work-family conflict, and employee satisfaction: A test of model across five samples

Using samples of managers drawn from five Western countries, we tested a theoretical model linking employees’ perceptions of their work environment’s family-supportiveness to six different dimensions of work-family conflict (WFC), and to their job satisfaction, family satisfaction, and life satisfaction. Our results are consistent with a causal process whereby employees working in an environment viewed as more family-supportive experience lower levels of WFC. Reduced WFC then translates into greater job and family satisfaction, followed by greater overall life satisfaction. These findings were generalizable across the five samples.     

西北民族地区中学生心理地位与人际交往能力的关系研究

以西北民族地区甘南藏族自治州的1所多民族混合学校、1所单一少数民族学校以及兰州市1所普通中学的521名中学生为被试,采用心理地位量表和中学生人际交往能力问卷,探讨不同学校类型中学生心理地位和人际交往能力的关系。结果表明:(1)西北民族地区藏汉混合学校学生的心理地位显著高于单一民族中学的学生,但与普通中学的学生之间不存在显著差异;(2)西北民族地区藏汉混合学校学生人际交往能力得分显著高于单一民族中学的学生,但与普通中学学生之间差异不显著;(3)西北民族地区中学生的心理地位与人际交往能力之间存在显著相关;(4)西北民族地区中学生的心理地位特征能够较好地预测其人际交往能力的发展水平。     

A Self‐Regulatory Model of Resource Scarcity

Academics have shown a growing interest in the effects of resource scarcity—a discrepancy between one's current resource levels and a higher, more desirable reference point. However, the existing literature lacks an overarching theory to explain the breadth of findings across different types of resources. To address this, we introduce a self‐regulatory model of resource scarcity. In it, we propose that consumers respond to resource scarcity through two distinct psychological pathways: a scarcity‐reduction route aimed at reducing the discrepancy in resources and a control‐restoration route aimed at reestablishing diminished personal control by attaining security in other domains. We explain how a key determinant of which route the consumer will pursue is the perceived mutability of the resource discrepancy. We also specify moderators, based on our proposed model, to identify when each of the two routes is pursued. This model is assessed in the context of alternative theoretical perspectives, including commodity theory, life history theory, and models of compensatory behavior. Finally, we provide a research agenda for those interested in studying the psychology of resource scarcity from a self‐regulatory perspective.     

Événements vécus et sens de la vie : vers une différenciation des composantes de sens

Meaning in life (MIL) is a multidimensional concept defined as the way individuals understand themselves and understand their relationships with their external environment. Life events play a critical role in the meaning-making process. The purpose of our study was to examine the links between the MIL's components and the life events through three experiential indicators: normative value, subjective value, and locus of control. A questionnaire assessing a large panel of life events and each component of MIL (direction, sensation, signification) was completed by 117 adults. Analysis of intra-individual and inter-individual differences showed strong links between the experiential indicators although they were not completely redundant. Positive life events perceived as a choice with positive effect and negative life events not perceived as a choice with negative effect were significantly correlated with signification. The relevance of looking at life event through a multivariate and phenomenological approach and at the distinctive role of each component of MIL was discussed in terms of research and practice.