Alcohol Use in Three Different Inner Cities in South Africa: AUDIT-C and CAGE

The aim of the present study was to describe the frequency of risky drinking among a general urban population survey (n=1379) in South Africa with the help of (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) AUDIT-C scores, CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) scores and compare the scores with calculated risky drinking in terms of weekly alcohol consumption or heavy episodic drinking. Results indicate 44.4% for men and 25.4% for women as hazardous or harmful drinkers and using the CAGE 44.7% (55% among men and 35.5% among women). AUDIT-C and CAGE cases were more likely to be women than men and were also more likely among Coloureds and Whites than Black Africans and Indians or Asians. This study showed a greater sensitivity of AUDIT to CAGE.     

Psychosocial Influences on Substance Abuse in a Sample of South African Youth: A Qualitative Analysis

This study investigated the lived experience of substance abusers in the South African context. Participants were 10 individuals attending a drug treatment centre in Durban, South Africa. Data were collected using open-ended interviews with data being analysed using thematic analysis. Findings suggest that normative social influences and levels of social support play an important role in shaping, maintaining, and determining the trajectory of drug usage.     

ROY SCHAFER'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING: FROM CLINICAL SENSIBILITY TO THE ANALYTIC ATTITUDE

The author reviews Schafer's contributions to psychological testing, emphasizing his development of the test battery, his significant contributions to psychoanalytically oriented Rorschach interpretation, and his understanding of the complex interpersonal dynamics involved in psychological test interpretation. The author also discusses his use of Schafer's writing in his own teaching and academic work, noting that Schafer's contributions have not only provided innovative methods for examining test data, but have also promoted a respectful, humanistic, and individualized approach to the patient in testing and treatment. The author asserts that Schafer's later seminal contributions to psychoanalysis had their origins in his early career as a psychologist applying psychoanalytic ideas to testing.     

Associations of a Sexually Transmitted Disease Diagnosis During a Relationship with Condom Use and Psychosocial Outcomes: (Short) Windows of Opportunity

Few studies have examined whether and how receiving an sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis while in a romantic relationship relates to condom use and psychosocial sexual outcomes. Using dyadic data, we examined associations of a personal or a partner’s STD diagnosis during a relationship with condom use, monogamy intentions, condom intentions and attitudes, and STD susceptibility and communication. Because beliefs about how the STD was acquired may shape associations with behavior and cognitions, gender and suspecting that one’s partner had other sexual partners (i.e., partner concurrency) were examined as moderators. Participants were 592 individuals in 296 couples expecting a baby; 108 individuals had been diagnosed with an STD during the relationship. Personal STD diagnosis was unrelated to outcomes or was associated with increased risk. A partner’s diagnosis related to more positive condom intentions and attitudes. Among men who suspected concurrency, both a personal and a partner’s STD diagnosis were associated with less condom use. Receiving the STD diagnosis during pregnancy was associated with greater susceptibility and marginally greater condom use. Results suggest potential benefits of enhancing communication and encouraging joint risk reduction counseling among couples, engaging men more fully in preventive efforts, and capitalizing on the short window during which risk reduction occurs.     

Common ground on object use associates with caregivers’ gesturese

Caregivers modify their communication when interacting with infants, and these modifications have been related to children's language development. However, the factors influencing caregivers’ modification of gestures are understudied. This study examined whether infants’ object knowledge, considered as common ground shared with the caregiver, relates to caregivers’ gesturese. Six caregiver-infant dyads were videotaped every two months for 15 min in their homes, from child age 8-to-16 months, while they played with two separate objects (i.e. toys). Results indicated that the changes in infants’ object knowledge were paralleled by associated changes in caregivers’ gestures: parents increased both the amount and the complexity of their gestures.     

Boredom in Recovery for Adult Substance Users With HIV/AIDS Attending an Urban Day Treatment Program

This qualitative dissertation study used grounded theory methods to explore the experience of boredom in recovery from substance use disorder with eight adults who also have HIV/AIDS. Boredom is the pervasive perception of nothingness that gives time to reflect. Boredom was revealed to be more than a seemingly harmless phenomenon that persists decades into recovery, even when meaningful occupation outside of substance use is achieved. Boredom becomes less harmful with the achievement of meaningful occupation, but it is still tenacious and deleterious. Boredom can be useful to an adult with HIV/AIDS, however. Implications for the profession's core value of meaningfulness are discussed.     

Occupational Therapy Students' Development of Therapeutic Communication Skills During a Service-Learning Experience

This qualitative study examined the effect community-based service-learning experiences had upon occupational therapy students' therapeutic communication skills and their application of theoretical concepts. After their semester-long course was completed, six students de-identified and voluntarily submitted their weekly reflective journals for retrospective analysis in accordance with Giorgi's strategies (1985 Giorgi , A. ( 1985 ). Phenomenology and psychological research . Pittsburgh , PA : Duquesne University Press . [Google Scholar], 1997 Giorgi , A. ( 1997 ). The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research procedure . Journal of Phenomenological Psychology , 28 , 235 – 261 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). Two analysts identified eight themes: developing trust, establishing boundaries, communication, client-centered care, breakdown of preconceptions, increased self-awareness, power of pride, and power of occupation. Educators are urged to use service-learning experiences to facilitate student interpersonal skill development and integration of theoretical knowledge.     

Young Children's Imitative and Innovative Behaviour on the Floating Object Task

Past research has shown that children will copy the actions of adults with high fidelity, even actions that are obviously causally irrelevant to the modelled outcome. However, this phenomenon has always been documented in cases where a clear functional outcome has been brought about (e.g. getting a box open to retrieve a toy). Here, we demonstrate how young children will continue to adopt the precise actions shown to them by an adult even if the goal of the actions is not realized during modelling. A group of 4‐year‐old participants were presented with a toy lying at the bottom of a Perspex tube. Despite the availability of a bottle of water, and unlike the responses of a group of adults, few children spontaneously identified the solution of pouring the water into the tube to raise the toy up the tube where it could be reached. The majority did so, however, after seeing an adult demonstrate this approach. Critically, children copied the specific method of the adult, even when this involved the unnecessary steps of pouring from the bottle into a cup before pouring from the cup into the tube. These results highlight the value of overimitation to children growing up in a world filled with objects whose operating mechanisms are often hidden or unclear. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.