Factors associated with adherence to the muscle-strengthening activity guideline among adolescents

PurposeWe aimed to explore associations between guideline-concordant muscle-strengthening activity (MSA) and demographic, biological, psychosocial, and behavioral factors among Australian adolescents.MethodsWe used baseline data from the ‘Resistance Training for Teens’ cluster randomized controlled trial (collected April–June 2015). Adolescents (n = 602, mean age = 14.1 ± 0.5 years, 50% female) from 16 schools in New South Wales, Australia self-reported their sex, primary language spoken at home, postal code (for socioeconomic status), resistance training (RT) self-efficacy, motivation for RT, perceived strength, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen-time, and sleep. Participants also completed tests of height, weight, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, flexibility, and RT skills. MSA was self-reported and participants were dichotomized as ‘meeting’ (3–7 days) or ‘not meeting’ (0–2 days) the MSA guideline. Binary logistic regression with odds ratios (OR) was used to determine associations with adolescents' MSA.ResultsAnalyses for each variable group explained a small-to-moderate proportion of the variance in MSA. Sex, muscular fitness, RT self-efficacy, perceived strength, and total MVPA emerged as statistically significant factors. However, only RT self-efficacy (OR = 2.48 [1.37 to 4.50]) and total MVPA (OR = 1.48 [1.22 to 1.79]) were associated with guideline-concordant MSA in the full model, which explained 52% of the variance.ConclusionsOur study adds to the limited understanding of adolescents' MSA behavior. RT self-efficacy and total MVPA were independently associated with guideline-concordant MSA among Australian adolescents. The findings have implications for the design and delivery of future interventions targeting adolescents’ MSA behavior.     

The Challenge of Being a Challenger: Social Dominance Orientation Shapes the Impact of “Challenger vs. Leader” Comparisons

The current research investigates when and how comparative advertising effectiveness is shaped by social dominance orientation (SDO), that is, the degree to which one desires to maintain the status quo in social hierarchies. We examine these issues with regard to “challenger vs. leader” comparisons that seek to change the relative standing of competitors in a product category by documenting the superiority of challenger brands over market leaders. Findings demonstrate that the resistance to change characterizing high (vs. low) SDO individuals makes them respond (1) less favorably to “challenger vs. leader” comparisons that seek to alter the existing category hierarchy and (2) more favorably to “leader vs. challenger” comparisons that preserve this status quo in the category hierarchy. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, as are avenues for future research.     

In the spaces between – sustaining creativity in child psychotherapy

This paper gives an account of the developments in the intensive psychotherapy of a seven-year-old boy with global development delay. It also describes the adaptations to technique and the changes in the setting that were required to support the work, which was undertaken in a special school. The importance of the regularity of sessions in helping to establish object constancy; physical and mental boundaries in relation to me/not me; inside and outside is also explored. A central theme of the paper is how close observation can inform the understanding of the emotional states of disabled children, particularly those with little language. The paper draws links between the early communications of mothers and infants and the therapeutic relationship, with reference to music therapy. It describes banging as a form of communication and traces the development of banging into more coherent nursery rhymes arguing that this development is an internalisation of the rhythm of the therapy and of the growing understanding between the child and therapist.     

Parent training in nonviolent resistance for adult entitled dependence

"Adult entitled dependence" is a condition characterized by the extreme dependence of grown children on their family and by levels of dysfunction, seemingly excessive in light of their apparent capacity to function. The family and the dependent adult become involved in an interaction in which the very attempts to alleviate the problem may aggravate it. Parent-training in nonviolent resistance (NVR) is an intervention that has been shown to be helpful to parents of behaviorally disturbed youth. Parent training in NVR offers parents means to shift away from a stance of helplessness toward realistic goals that are accomplishable without the collaboration of their offspring. We report on the parents of 27 entitled dependent grown children who participated in parent training in NVR. Additionally, we present 2 detailed case studies that exemplify the problem and the therapeutic process. Before treatment, the dependent adults were not working or studying, drew heavily on parental services (financial or otherwise), and were resistant to parental attempts to change the situation. Most parents succeeded in overcoming their helplessness and reducing the provision of parental services. In a considerable proportion of cases, the grown children started working or studying or moved to independent lodgings.     

Users’ resistance towards radical innovations: The case of the self-driving car

In this paper we unpack and examine attitudes and potential barriers of end-users towards the self-driving car. We explore whether drivers have (mental) barriers and/or show resistance towards the self-driving car and, given such barriers and resistance are identified, investigate the main underlying reasons. Further, we suggest potential strategic implications for automotive companies and avenues to overcome, or at least mitigate, drivers’ barriers. The paper contributes to a better understanding of end-users’ opinions on radical innovations such as the self-driving car and strives to add value by linking scientific insights from both psychology as well as innovation literature. Only a limited number of studies so far have dealt with the potential barriers of users towards the self-driving car; therefore, it is our intent to provide first empirical evidence to trigger further research and foster a broader discussion on this relevant topic.