Childhood antecedents of Agreeableness: A longitudinal study from preschool to late adolescence

Although the consensus view is that Agreeableness originates from childhood difficultness and regulatory deficits, few studies have investigated such assumptions longitudinally. In this study, we examined this issue by assessing enduring and mediating effects of self-regulation as well as the impact of parenting behaviors on the development of Agreeableness from preschool to late adolescence. Longitudinal data from 965 Norwegian families following children from 1.5 years to 16.5 years were used. Path analyses revealed childhood difficultness at age 4 to be related to Agreeableness at age 16.5; this effect was mediated through emotion regulation in late childhood. However, such mediation effects were primarily found when parents used punitive practices towards their children. Our findings point to personality coherence throughout development.     

Working mechanisms of a web-based self-management intervention for cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether problem-solving skills and perceived personal control over cancer recovery mediated the intervention effects on depression and fatigue of a web-based computer-tailored intervention for cancer survivors – the Kanker Nazorg Wijzer (Cancer Aftercare Guide).

Design: Patients were recruited through 21 Dutch hospitals (November 2013–June 2014). The mediation model was tested in a randomised controlled trial with an intervention group (n = 231) and a waiting list control group (n = 231).

Main outcome measures: Hypothesised mediators problem-solving skills (SPSI-R) and personal control (IPQ-R) were measured at baseline and 3 months from baseline. Outcomes depression (HADS) and fatigue (CIS) were measured at baseline and 6 months from baseline.

Results: The intervention effects in decreasing depression and fatigue were mediated by personal control. Problem-solving skills did not mediate the intervention effects on depression and fatigue.

Conclusion: While personal control in the control group decreased in the first three months after baseline, levels of personal control within the intervention group were maintained. This effect partially explained the intervention effects on depression and fatigue. The results provide evidence for the relevance of addressing personal control in web-based interventions in order to improve psychosocial well-being in early cancer survivors.     

初中生应对方式、压力对社会适应的影响:纵向中介模型

青春期的适应问题及其影响因素历来是研究者关注的焦点。本研究对369名初中生从初一到初三的应对方式、压力、社会适应进行了四次调查,通过纵向中介模型考察应对方式、压力对社会适应的影响。结果表明：初一时期的积极应对方式能够直接提高初三时期的积极适应水平,直接降低消极适应水平;初一时期的消极应对方式会通过提高后期的压力间接提高初三时期的消极适应水平。     

Riddles in serial murder: A synthesis

This article blends the conclusions of four former law enforcement personnel who have investigated and apprehended serial killers, with pertinent principles derived primarily from the field of psychoanalysis. The four—John Douglas, Roy Hazelwood, Robert Keppel, and Robert Ressler—have written extensively about their investigations of serial killers. In their writings, they have answered many questions about the personality development of serial killers while leaving other questions only partially answered. This article expands the answers to three fundamental questions: What is the origin of the dynamics of serial killing? Why is the aggressive drive so singularly powerful and persistent in serial killers? Why is it that serial killers often reveal their identities to the police? In answering these three riddles, the contributions of four emotional pillars in the personality of killers are emphasized. The pillars include emotional hunger, anxiety and aggression, eroticism, and conscience structure. At times, these pillars merge and drive murderous behavior but the pillars lack the integration needed for healthy personality development. This synthesis offers a fuller understanding of the psychodynamics involved in serial killings.     

Self‐regulation and well‐being: The influence of identity and motives

The relationship between self‐regulatory capacities and self‐esteem as well as well‐being is examined by a mediation model that views self‐regulation as promoting the development of identity achievement which, in turn, is expected to be associated with well‐being. Among secondary school students (Study 1) identity achievement mediated the association between the self‐regulatory capacity of attention control and self‐esteem. In Study 2 (university students), the mediational effect of identity achievement was found for the relationship between the self‐regulatory capacity of action control and well‐being. Explicit motives moderated this association. In sum, a firm identity enhances well‐being by lending a sense of continuity to one's life. However, explicit motives have a substitution effect by giving direction to life when lacking firm identity commitments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The relationship between psychological contract breach and organizational commitment: Exchange imbalance as a moderator of the mediating role of violation

This study tested the mediating role of violation in the relationship between breach and both affective and continuance commitment and the extent to which this mediating role is moderated by exchange imbalance amongst a sample of 103 sales personnel. Results suggest that violation mediated the relationship between breach and commitment. Also, results suggest that perceived exchange imbalance moderates this mediating pathway: Low exchange imbalance increases the mediating role of violation in the case of affective commitment. On the other hand, exchange imbalance failed to moderate the mediating influence of violation in the case of continuance commitment. Results are discussed in view of the importance of a) including both measures of violation and breach in future studies and b) the role of social exchange in explaining psychological contract violation.     

有调节的中介模型检验方法：竞争还是替补?

在心理和其他社科研究领域, 经常遇到中介和调节变量。模型的变量多于3个时, 可能同时包含中介和调节变量, 一种常见的模型是有调节的中介模型。本文检视文献上各种检验有调节的中介模型的方法, 理清方法之间是竞争关系(分清优劣)还是替补关系(分清先后), 在此基础上总结出检验有调节的中介模型的步骤, 并用一个实例进行演示。文中也讨论了有调节的中介模型与有中介的调节模型的联系与区别。     

中介效应的检验方法和效果量测量:回顾与展望

通过中介效应检验方法之间的比较和效果量指标之间的比较,建议放弃将总效应c显著作为中介效应检验的前提条件,放弃基于直接效应c'显著性的完全和部分中介的提法,推荐使用偏差校正的百分位Bootstrap法直接对中介效应ab进行检验,使用κ²、R_med²等中介效果量指标并报告效果量的置信区间。作为示例,用R软件的MBESS软件包对某消防员饮食健康调查进行了中介效应检验和效果量测量。随后展望了中介效应检验方法和效果量测量的拓展方向。     

家庭收入与青少年社会适应：家庭社会资本的中介作用

为了探讨家庭社会资本在家庭收入对青少年社会适应影响中的中介作用,选取了418名农村小学3-6年小学生作为被试,采用家庭经济压力问卷、同伴提名法、学习成绩、孤独感问卷和家庭社会资本问卷进行研究。结果表明：（1）家庭经济压力与学业成就、同伴接纳存在显著的负相关,与孤独感存在显著正相关;（2）家庭经济压力通过家庭社会资本的完全中介作用影响学业成就（中介效应值为–0.14）;（3）家庭经济压力通过家庭社会资本的完全中介作用影响孤独感（中介效应值为0.03）;（4）家庭经济压力通过家庭社会资本的完全中介作用影响同伴接纳（中介效应值为–0.07）。研究得出,家庭收入完全通过家庭社会资本来影响青少年的社会适应。