Effects of discriminatory interview questions and gender on applicant reactions

Justice and signalling theory were used to explain the effects of discriminatory interview questions on applicant reactions. Participants were randomly assigned to a hypothetical interview condition with four, two or no discriminatory questions. Discriminatory questions had a significant negative effect on participant’s reactions to the interview and interviewer; perceptions of employee treatment; and intentions to pursue employment, accept a job offer, and recommend the organization to others. Participants also responded less favorably to a female interviewer, and female interviewees reported more negative perceptions. In addition, a sequential model was supported in which discriminatory questions had a negative effect on reactions toward the interview and interviewer; reactions were positively related to organizational attractiveness; and organizational attractiveness was positively related to intentions to pursue employment, accept a job offer, and recommend the organization.     

Motilin-and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in a psychophysiological stress experiment on patients with functional dyspepsia

Background  The aim of the study was to compare plasma motilin-like immunoreactivity (MOT-LI) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) during a controlled psychophysiological experiment. Method  25 patients (12 men, 13 women), age 24–50, with recurrent FD, and 25 pair-wise sex- and age-matched community control subjects were studied. In an experiment, after a rest period, subjects were studied during a 15-min stress interview. The aim of the interview was to elicit anxiety. Before and during the intervention blood samples were drawn for peptide analyses. Outcome measures were the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, fasting blood glucose, heart rate and blood pressure as well as the subjects’ self-ratings on visual analogue scales. The plasma concentrations of MOT-LI and NPY-LI are given as anti-logarithms. Results  Mean plasma MOT-LI concentration was 7.3 (CI: 5.7–9.4) pmol/L in the patient group, and 7.9 (CI: 6.1–10.2) pmol/L in the control group. Mean plasma NPY-LI concentration was 14.2 (CI: 12.3–16.4) pmol/L in the patient group, and 13.4 (CI: 11.8–15.3) pmol/L in the control group. Using ANCOVA (covariates: group, gender, age, body mass index and smoking) MOT-LI was related to lower indigestion symptomatology (p<0.04) and positive change in joyfulness during the interview (p<0.03). In the patient group delta motilin correlated with increased joyfulness (p<0.03) and decreased sadness (p<0.03). The NPY-LI increase during the interview was related to higher fasting blood glucose before the interview (p<0.01) and a stronger increase in systolic blood pressure during the test (p<0.05). Conclusion: During a stress interview plasma MOT-LI is positively related to less indigestion symptomatology and joyfulness, while changes in plasma NPY-LI were positively related to sympathetic nervous system activity, but not to gastrointestinal symptoms.     

Factors influencing young children's risk of unintentional injury: Parenting style and strategies for teaching about home safety

This study examined mothers' teaching about home-safety issues to 24–30 month and 36–42 month old children, explored the relationship of teaching strategies to parenting styles, and assessed how these factors are related to children's risk of unintentional injury. A structured interview assessed home-safety issues relevant to falls, burns, cuts, poisoning, and suffocation/strangulation/choking. Mothers identified safety issues relevant to her child, and indicated the type and extent to which she utilized teaching as a strategy to address each safety issue. Standardized questionnaires provided information about parenting style and children's history of injuries. Results revealed that mothers' endorsements of home-safety issues did not vary with child age, mothers used teaching to manage safety issues for all types of injuries, and type of teaching strategy (explanations, rules, behavior modification) varied with parenting style. Greater use of explaining and less rule usage was linked to permissive parenting; these teaching strategies predicted children's medically-attended injury among highly-permissive mothers. Thus, teaching about safety is a common risk-management strategy mothers use to address hazards in the home. However, the specific type of teaching strategy used varies with parenting style, which has implications for children's risk of injury.     

Validating Sizing Them Up: A parent-proxy weight-related quality-of-life measure,with community-based children

Background/Objective: A weight-related Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire elicits parents’ perceptions to understand the impacts of weight on children's QoL. Sizing Them Up, a parent-proxy of a weight-related instrument, is a proper measure for the purpose, but its psychometric properties have not been validated on a non-clinical child population. This study aimed to thoroughly examine the psychometric properties of the Sizing Them Up on a non-clinical child population. Methods: Children from Taiwan (M_age = 11; SD = 1.02; N = 236) filled out a weight-related QoL instrument (Sizing Me Up) while their parents completed Sizing Them Up and two generic QoL instruments. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), concurrent validity, and known-group validity were conducted. Results: CFA supported the factor structure of Sizing Them Up. The concurrent validity of the Sizing Them Up total score was satisfactory: r = .46 to .53 with other QoL instruments. Known-group validity was supported as obese children had significantly lower Sizing Them Up total score than did normal-weight and underweight children. Conclusions: We extended the use of Sizing Them Up from clinically obese children to a community-based sample of underweight as well as overweight children. Healthcare providers may use Sizing Them Up to measure the weight-related QoL for children.     

Pubertal timing and self-esteem in adolescents: The mediating role of body-image and social relations

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pubertal timing and self-esteem, and the mediating role of body-image, parent–adolescent interaction and peer support within this relationship. The sample comprised 526 adolescents, aged 10–13. Two measures of pubertal timing were used: perceived pubertal timing and pubertal timing based on Pubertal Development Scale (PDS). There were no differences in self-esteem between groups of adolescents with different pubertal timing based on PDS. Perceived early maturation was related to lower self-esteem in girls, and higher self-esteem in boys. We found evidence that the relationship between girls' perceived pubertal timing and self-esteem is mediated through the following variables: closeness to mother and father, and conflict with mother. In boys, mediators of the relationship between perceived pubertal timing and self-esteem are body-image and excessive control by mother. The results imply that interventions aiming to improve early maturing girls' self-esteem should focus on the interaction with their parents.     

Effects of parent and child characteristics on participation and outcome of an individualized booster parent intervention for children with externalizing behaviour

In this study, we examined whether a booster parent training, offered after a cognitive behavioural child intervention, is effective in reduction of aggressive behaviour and changes in parenting. A second aim was to identify parent and child characteristics that influence parental participation. Children (73% boys, 40% immigrants, mean age = 10.1 (.53)) were randomly assigned to the child (n = 97 children) or child and parent intervention (n = 94 children) condition. Results of both intention-to-treat and completers only analyses indicated no extra effects of the parent intervention for the total group. Parents who participated (47%) did not differ from non-participants in demographic characteristics. However, mother's perceived level of child's aggression at the end of the child intervention was of significant meaning for the decision to participate in the parent intervention. Participation seemed to interrupt the development of more aggressive behaviour and less appropriate parenting skills for those children in highest need and resulted in increased maternal involvement.     

Critical moments in career construction counseling

An important research need concerns identifying and describing factors that promote reflexivity and change in life-design career interventions. Career construction counseling, a primary life-design intervention, uses narrative methods in an interpersonal process of helping people design a work life through reflexive action. Using Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR), the present study examined what prompts reflexivity and change in career construction counseling. A single case analysis method involving a 24-year old Caucasian woman examined one client's experience of processes that prompted change and reflection about her current career transition. Post-counseling IPR with the client of her videotaped career construction counseling session indicated five major themes: (a) role models prompt identity reflection, (b) early recollections foster cohesion, (c) follow-up questions add depth to the story, (d) counselor as audience provides clarity and validation, and (e) career construction interview questions illuminate perspective and need for action. Results support prior research indicating the usefulness of career construction counseling for promoting reflexive action in life design.