Reducing the Risk of Internalizing Symptoms among High‐risk Hispanic Youth through a Family Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Familias Unidas is an intervention that has been found to be efficacious in preventing and reducing substance use, sexual risk, and problem behaviors among Hispanic youth. While it does not specifically target youth internalizing symptoms, the intervention works to strengthen parenting and family factors associated with reduced risk of internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety symptoms). This study examines the effects of Familias Unidas on internalizing symptoms among high‐risk youth, as well as the role of family level factors in the intervention's effects. A total of 242 12–17‐year‐old Hispanic youth with a history of delinquency and their primary caregivers were recruited from the school and juvenile justice systems, and randomly assigned to the Familias Unidas intervention or community practice control. A linear latent growth model was used to examine intervention effects on the trajectory of adolescent internalizing symptoms from baseline to 6 and 12 months post‐baseline. Results show that the Familias Unidas intervention was more efficacious than control in reducing youth internalizing symptoms. Baseline youth externalizing and internalizing symptoms did not moderate the intervention's effects on the trajectory of youth internalizing symptoms. While parent – adolescent communication did not significantly moderate the intervention's effects, changes in parent – adolescent communication mediated the intervention's effects on internalizing symptoms, showing stronger intervention effects for youth starting with poorer communication. Findings indicate that the Familias Unidas intervention can reduce internalizing symptoms among high‐risk Hispanic youth, and that improving parent – youth communication, a protective family factor, may be one of the mechanisms by which the intervention influences youth internalizing symptoms.     

Coloured Letters and Numbers (CLaN): A reliable factor-analysis based synaesthesia questionnaire

Synaesthesia is a heterogeneous phenomenon, even when considering one particular sub-type. The purpose of this study was to design a reliable and valid questionnaire for grapheme-colour synaesthesia that captures this heterogeneity. By the means of a large sample of 628 synaesthetes and a factor analysis, we created the Coloured Letters and Numbers (CLaN) questionnaire with 16 items loading on 4 different factors (i.e., localisation, automaticity/attention, deliberate use, and longitudinal changes). These factors were externally validated with tests which are widely used in the field of synaesthesia research. The questionnaire showed good test–retest reliability and construct validity (i.e., internally and externally). Our findings are discussed in the light of current theories and new ideas in synaesthesia research. More generally, the questionnaire is a useful tool which can be widely used in synaesthesia research to reveal the influence of individual differences on various performance measures and will be useful in generating new hypotheses.     

Evaluation of the London (Ontario) Community Group Treatment Programme for Children Who Have Witnessed Woman Abuse

Summary

Group intervention for children exposed to woman abuse is increasingly used to respond to the psychological needs of children exposed to woman abuse. This article describes a community group model of intervention for children exposed to woman abuse, and an evaluation approach used to assess the impact of such groups. The collaborative development of questionnaire/interview evaluation instruments for this purpose is described, and the set of instruments is presented in its entirety. The main instrument, entitled Child/Teen Witness to Woman Abuse Questionnaire, was tailored to the content of the groups and covers topics such as definitions and understanding of abuse, safety skills, beliefs and attitudes about abuse, perceived responsibility for abuse, alternatives to violence, non-violent conflict resolution strategies, and help seeking skills. Both closed-ended and open-ended questions are employed. Separate questionnaires assess consumer (mother/caregiver and child) satisfaction and feedback. The results of a study evaluating the groups are described, which showed good changes from pre to post intervention, as well as a high degree of satisfaction among children and mothers with regard to the groups. Feedback from children and mothers as to suggested improvements in the group is also described.     

Conséquences et corrélats associés au soutien de l’autonomie dans divers domaines de vie

Self-determination theory (0160 and 0170) suggests that autonomy-supportive environments, where one's perspective is considered, feelings are recognized, meaningful informations are given, and opportunities for choice are provided, promote optimal functioning. Many studies show that autonomy support leads to positive affective, cognitive, and behavioral consequences. However, this body of research is little known because studies are scattered throughout various research fields and no review of the overall positive impact of autonomy support in various life domains is available. This literature review presents studies on this interpersonal style in five life domains.     

考试评分缺失数据的概化理论分析

考试评分缺失数据较为常见,如何有效利用现有数据进行统计分析是个关键性问题。在考试评分中,题目与评分者对试卷得分的影响不容忽视。根据概化理论原理,按考试评分规则推导出含有缺失数据双侧面交叉设计（p×i×r）方差分量估计公式,用Matlab7.0软件模拟多组缺失数据,验证此公式的有效性。结果发现：（1）推导出的公式较为可靠,估计缺失数据的方差分量偏差相对较小,即便数据缺失率达到50％以上,公式仍能对方差分量进行较为准确地估计;（2）题目数量对概化理论缺失数据方差分量的估计影响最大,评分者次之,当题目和评价者数量分别为6和5时,公式能够趋于稳定地估计;（3）学生数量对各方差分量的估计影响较小,无论是小规模考试还是大规模考试,概化理论估计缺失数据的多个方差分量结果相差不大。     

EPQ信度概化的跨文化比较及其启示

对中国7种主要的心理学杂志,于1998-2008年间发表的与EPQ有关的研究报告或论文做信度概化分析,并与Caruso等人对其他国家的EPQ信度概化分析结果作比较。分析结果表明：中外心理量表使用者都存在严重的“信度引入”的状况;分量表的分数的标准差是信度系数最重要的预测变量;但其他预测变量有所不同。提供的启示是：使用心理量表时一定要报告当前样本的信度系数;不符合心理量表特性要求而增加项目,不一定能提高测验结果的信度。