The long arm of time pressure at work: Cognitive failure and commuting near-accidents

This study tests whether cognitive failures mediate effects of work-related time pressure and time control on commuting accidents and near-accidents. Participants were 83 employees (56% female) who each commuted between their regular place of residence and place of work using vehicles. The Workplace Cognitive Failure Scale (WCFS) asked for the frequency of failure in memory function, failure in attention regulation, and failure in action execution. Time pressure and time control at work were assessed by the Instrument for Stress Oriented Task Analysis (ISTA). Commuting accidents in the last 12 months were reported by 10% of participants, and half of the sample reported commuting near-accidents in the last 4 weeks. Cognitive failure significantly mediated the influence of time pressure at work on near-accidents even when age, gender, neuroticism, conscientiousness, commuting duration, commuting distance, and time pressure during commuting were controlled for. Time control was negatively related to cognitive failure and neuroticism, but no association with commuting accidents or near-accidents was found. Time pressure at work is likely to increase cognitive load. Time pressure might, therefore, increase cognitive failures during work and also during commuting. Hence, time pressure at work can decrease commuting safety. The result suggests a reduction of time pressure at work should improve commuting safety.     

Bullying in work groups: The impact of leadership

The aim of this study is to examine whether and how laissez‐faire, transformational, and authentic leadership styles are related to the occurrence of bullying in work groups. It is hypothesized that the investigated leadership styles have direct associations, as well as indirect associations through group cohesion and safety perceptions, with indicators of bullying among subordinates. Using a cross‐sectional survey design, the variables were assessed in a randomly selected sample comprising 594 seafarers from two Norwegian shipping companies. Laissez‐faire leadership was associated with an increased risk of exposure to bullying behavior, self‐labeled victimization from bullying, and perpetrated bullying. Transformational leadership and authentic leadership were related to decreased risk of exposure to bullying behavior. Authentic leadership contributed to the variance in bullying beyond laissez‐faire and transformational leadership. Analyses of indirect effects showed that the association between transformational leadership and bullying was fully mediated through safety perceptions, whereas a partial indirect association through safety perceptions was found for authentic leadership. This study makes a significant contribution to the literature by providing evidence for how leadership styles predict workplace bullying. The findings highlight the importance of recruiting, developing, and training leaders who promote both positive psychological capacities and positive perceptions among their subordinates.     

行人过街的认知心理过程和模型

随着交通系统的复杂化,行人安全受到的威胁日益增加。本文以行人穿过马路的心理步骤为切入点,对行人观察感知、判断决策方面的研究进行综述。在观察感知方面,主要分析了观察内容、策略及注意失误的原因,在判断决策方面,介绍了内部心理机制中相关的理论模型,包括效用理论、计划行为理论,以及具体行为机制中的可接受间隙理论,并重点分析了具体行为机制里闯红灯行为的影响因素。最后,本文提出了行人过街的认知心理模型,为以后的行人研究提供理论借鉴,为交通安全提供实践依据。     

驾驶中移动电话的使用：基于自我调整行为的研究视角

因使用移动电话而导致的“驾驶分心”已成为一种严重的道路安全隐患。驾驶者总体上能意识到其危害, 但在驾驶中使用移动电话的现象很普遍。以往研究不能全面地对这一矛盾予以解释, 长期以来更是忽略了对“驾驶分心中自我调整行为”进行研究, 而这一问题能够直接解释驾驶中的移动电话使用行为。从以下三个方面可以对与驾驶分心中自我调整行为有关的研究进行分析和综述：(1)驾驶中移动电话使用行为的一般规律(类型、频率和危险感知等), 驾驶者对移动电话使用行为的理解是诱发自我调整行为的基础; (2)驾驶情境下移动电话使用中可能触发的自我调整行为, 该部分将主要分析自我调整行为的类型及相关属性; (3)如何对移动电话使用行为和自我调整行为进行预测。总体上, 基于对补偿式安全信念进行理解和度量、并以此为切入点对驾驶中移动电话使用及与其有关的自我调整行为展开研究, 这将有助于更好地理解驾驶分心行为。     

Quantitative work demands,emotional demands,and cognitive stress symptoms in surgery nurses

In surgery, cognitive stress symptoms, including problems in concentrating, deciding, memorising, and reflecting are risks to patient safety. Recent evidence points to social stressors as antecedents of cognitive stress symptoms in surgery personnel. The current study tests whether cognitive stress symptoms are positively associated with emotional abuse, emotional- and task-related demands and resources in surgery work. Forty-eight surgery nurses from two hospitals filled out the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire in its German version. Task-related and emotional demands were positively related to cognitive stress symptoms. In a stepwise, multiple, linear regression of cognitive stress symptoms on task-related and emotional demands, emotional abuse and emotional demands were unique predictors (p < .05). Efforts to increase patient safety should address emotional abuse, emotional demands, and, therefore, communication and cooperation team climate in surgery personnel.     

Negative attitudes towards cyclists influence the acceptance of an in-vehicle cyclist detection system

The shift towards automation and safer vehicles will increasingly involve use of technological advancements such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Nevertheless, these technologies need to meet users’ perceived needs to be effectively implemented and purchased. Based on an updated version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study analyses the main determinants of drivers’ intention to use an ADAS aimed at detecting cyclist and preventing potential collision with them through an auto-braking system. Even if the relevance of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and trust on the acceptance of a new system has been already discussed in literature, we considered the role of an external variable such as attitudes towards cyclists in the prediction of an ADAS aimed to improve the safety of cyclists. We administered a questionnaire measuring negative attitudes towards cyclists, trust, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and the behavioural intention to use the system to 480 Italian drivers. Path analysis using Bayesian estimation showed that perceived usefulness, trust in the system, and negative attitudes towards cyclists have a direct effect on the intention to use the ADAS. Considering the role of attitudes towards other road users in the intention to use new ADAS aimed to improve their safety could foster the user’s acceptance, especially for those people who express a negative representation of cyclists and are even more unlikely to accept the technology.     

Exploring the characteristics of potential and current users of mobility scooters,among older people in Israel

Recognizing the decline in the ability of older people to serve as vehicle drivers and their physical limitations for long walks, mobility scooters are considered as an alternative mobility means for older people. An increasing popularity of scooters is recently being observed in Israel, raising safety concerns. This study explored the characteristics of potential users of mobility scooters among older people in Israel and the behaviours of their current users, by means of an opinion survey and field observations in urban areas. The opinion survey applied structured interviews, with 110 persons aged 65+. The survey's results showed that most people agreed that scooters may improve their mobility and quality of life. However, they expressed a relatively low willingness to use scooters, mostly, due to the preference for private cars but also the lack of appropriate infrastructure for safe scooter travel in the city. An increasing potential for scooters' use was associated with ages 70–84, people who are aware of their health problems and less involved in physical activities but still maintain an active lifestyle, living independently and appreciating scooter benefits. The observations included 55 video-records with older scooter riders. They showed that regardless the types of urban road or junction, the majority of scooter riders behaved like a vehicle, i.e. travelled on the roadway. Scooters' moving on a sidewalk did not create conflicts with pedestrians, while scooters travelling on the roads sometimes disturbed vehicle flows and created dangerous situations. To ensure safety of the scooter users, their travels on the sidewalks should be stimulated and, thus, appropriate adjustments of urban infrastructure are required.     

Key challenges in tram/streetcar driving from the tram driver’s perspective – A qualitative study

Tram drivers have a difficult task in controlling one of the heaviest vehicles on the road whilst negotiating a complex road environment with multiple road users. Like all public transport drivers, tram drivers need to ensure passenger safety and to run on time. However, very little research has been conducted evaluating tram driving tasks and even less on evaluating tram drivers opinion on how other road users are affecting tram road safety. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the key tram driving challenges, to identify the key road user factors affecting tram road safety as well as to explore the potential safety improvement initiatives on tram routes from the tram drivers’ viewpoint. The study incorporated five focus groups involving thirty tram drivers in Melbourne. The key themes emerged inductively from focus groups were identified through a data coding process. Outcomes of the focus groups revealed seven major challenges in tram driving: ensuring safety for all people in and around the tram, pressure for running on-time, maintaining constant concentration on roads, predicting other road users’ behavior in advance to avoid any crash incident, preventing passenger falls on board, accepting the operational constraints of trams and managing fatigue workloads. Tram drivers identified that other road users are unaware of safety issues around trams, have a poor understanding of road rules about driving with trams and often violate road rules around trams, and they mentioned this road user behaviors as the key challenges for safe tram driving. Tram drivers proposed rendering greater law enforcement on the tram network to penalize road users who are violating road rules around trams, introducing more safety campaigns and safety education to increase awareness among road users to improve tram road safety. Findings of this research enhance understanding of tram driving challenges, provide an in-depth knowledge of road user factors affecting tram road safety and suggest effective planning strategies for transit agencies to improve road safety.     

Creating Safer and More Nurturing Schools: Expanding the Capacity of Schools in the Era of Future National Reform

ABSTRACT

Positive academic performance is a strong indicator of subsequent positive life course outcomes (e.g., employment) as well as underrepresentation in psychiatric populations, drug use, school dropout, and subsequent legal trouble (A. Farn & J. Adams, 2016). As such, helping all children to be successful in school is a top priority for parents, educators, and politicians alike. However, schools are challenged by an increasing demand to meet children's health and metal health needs in order for them to benefit from, and progress in, their educational experience. Public concerns regarding violent acts on school property have highlighted the need to address student and teacher safety. The authors provide recommendations for school psychologists regarding promising practices that respond to national initiatives to prevent school violence, increase access to health and mental health care, and enhance equity among students.