Boundary Issues in Academia: Student Perceptions of Faculty—Student Boundary Crossings

Boundary crossings in academia are rarely addressed by university policy despite the risk of problematic or unethical faculty—student interactions. This study contributes to an understanding of undergraduate college student perceptions of appropriateness of faculty—student nonsexual interactions by investigating the influence of gender and ethnicity on student judgments of the appropriateness of numerous hypothetical interactions. Overall, students deemed the majority of interactions as inappropriate. Female students judged a number of interactions as more inappropriate than did male students, and with a few exceptions, Mexican American and Anglo American students were similar in their ratings of the appropriateness of faculty—student interactions. These findings suggest that universities need to be proactive in establishing guidelines concerning faculty-student boundary crossings.     

Managing Nonsexual Multiple Relationships in University Counseling Centers: Recommendations for Graduate Assistants and Practicum Students

Graduate students typically serve in a wide variety of positions throughout their course of study in an academic setting. Because of the large number of roles assumed, graduate students may encounter several ethical dilemmas unique to the academic setting, particularly dilemmas regarding nonsexual multiple relationships. Although the topic of multiple relationships and psychologists has been extensively discussed in the literature, fewer articles have focused on the potential for nonsexual multiple relationships between graduate assistants, practicum students, and undergraduate students. This article focuses on the unique ethical dilemmas and challenges experienced by graduate assistants completing their practica at University Counseling Centers and provides recommendations for evaluating and managing nonsexual multiple relationships with undergraduate students.     

The Prediction of Students' Satisfaction with Community College Vocational Training

The present study was conducted with 1,632 college vocational students in North Carolina to test the job satisfaction postulate of Rusbult's (1980a) investment model. The model postulate, that satisfaction is a function of perceived positive and negative outcomes, received support and proved to be defensible even after controlling for a broad array of situational variables. This postulate has also received empirical support from studies of satisfaction with business relationships, friendships, and romantic associations. The present study also introduced a new measure of outcomes: the Perceived Outcomes of College Life measure.     

Optimal versus heuristic planning of object manipulations: A review and a computational model of the continuous end-state comfort effect

Human beings select actions that facilitate the execution of later actions. For example, humans tend to select grasps that ensure that forthcoming object manipulations end in a comfortable posture (“end-state comfort effect”). Basic experimental results and their explanation within the optimal control framework are reviewed. I conclude that the discrete grasp selection tasks, which are commonly used to study anticipatory planning, leave room for alternative explanations. Moreover, the results of seven experiments employing a continuous grasp selection task seem incompatible with the optimal control (of end-state comfort) account. I introduce the weighted integration of multiple biases (WIMB) model, which accounts for many aspects of the selection of human grasp orientations in continuous tasks. Additionally, it accounts for the precision effect and hysteresis effect. The model shows that the brain may rely on a simple heuristic and does not actually has to anticipate the end-state of a movement to select effective grasps for object manipulations.     

社会认同对集体行动的作用：群体情绪与效能路径*

为探究多元社会认同如何通过群体情绪、自我和群体效能路径,影响现实或网络集体行动参与,研究者分别以中日撞船事件、利比亚事件和就业性别歧视现象为背景蓝本,开展问卷调查和实验研究,结果发现：群体愤怒情绪主要对现实集体行动有显著影响,效能感对现实和网络集体行动皆有显著影响;与事件相关的、更大范畴的社会类别认同,通过情绪路径或效能路径影响集体行动参与,与集体行动组织方的认同则只通过效能路径影响集体行动参与;两类社会认同与两条路径之间是调节而非中介关系。不同事件背景与不同行动场域下的综合分析表明网络集体行动参与决策更具工具理性特征。     

The dimensional structure of benefit finding in multiple sclerosis and relations with positive and negative adjustment: A longitudinal study

Benefit finding is a meaning making construct that has been shown to be related to adjustment in people with MS and their carers. This study investigated the dimensions, stability and potency of benefit finding in predicting adjustment over a 12 month interval using a newly developed Benefit Finding in Multiple Sclerosis Scale (BFiMSS). Usable data from 388 persons with MS and 232 carers was obtained from questionnaires completed at Time 1 and 12 months later (Time 2). Factor analysis of the BFiMSS revealed seven psychometrically sound factors: Compassion/Empathy, Spiritual Growth, Mindfulness, Family Relations Growth, Lifestyle Gains, Personal Growth, New Opportunities. BFiMSS total and factors showed satisfactory internal and retest reliability coefficients, and convergent, criterion and external validity. Results of regression analyses indicated that the Time 1 BFiMSS factors accounted for significant amounts of variance in each of the Time 2 adjustment outcomes (positive states of mind, positive affect, anxiety, depression) after controlling for Time 1 adjustment, and relevant demographic and illness variables. Findings delineate the dimensional structure of benefit finding in MS, the differential links between benefit finding dimensions and adjustment and the temporal unfolding of benefit finding in chronic illness.     

The lived experiences of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in relation to exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Seven active exercisers with MS participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their exercise experiences since diagnosis. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA; Smith?&?Osborn, 2003 Smith, JA and Osborn, M. 2003. “Interpretive phenomenological analysis”. In Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods, Edited by: Smith, JA. 51–80. London: Sage.  [Google Scholar]). Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The results and interpretations of narratives revealed a number of functional limitations due to the severity of MS symptoms, which were found to have a major effect on the ability of the participants to exercise. Furthermore, psychological problems and the heightened behavioural adjustments to the progressive disability led to re-appraisal of ability to exercise. Previous, relevant exercise experience made participants more determined to continue to be able to exercise after diagnosis. The wider exercise experience narratives were related to concerns about safety, dependability on others to overcome the challenges, and potential environmental hazards. The loss of spontaneous opportunities to exercise because of these actual and perceived barriers was key to this population. This research highlighted the need to rethink the health and social service arrangements in relation to exercise provision for individuals with MS.     

The experience of attending a lay-led,chronic disease self-management programme from the perspective of participants with multiple sclerosis

A lay-led, community-based intervention, the Chronic Disease Self-Management Course (CDSMC) is effective for a range of long-term health conditions (e.g. arthritis, heart disease). However, the perceived value and experience of the CDSMC for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has not been examined. The present qualitative study addressed this omission. Ten participants with MS (7 female; age range 35 to 60 years; disease duration 4 to 19 years) were interviewed before attending the CDSMC and at 4-month follow-up. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Some participants learned new self-management techniques and reported enhanced confidence (self-efficacy), whereas other participants were already confident in their self-management ability and found the CDSMC acted as a reminder of techniques previously used. Relaxation, pacing, and goal setting were particularly valuable for managing fatigue. Goal setting helped some participants to build confidence. Participants valued meeting similar others including those with different conditions. The CDSMC was an opportunity for social comparison and inspirational role modelling. Improvements to the CDSMC were suggested, including the addition of specific MS information. Overall, the CDSMC was viewed as a valuable source of new skills and a reminder of previously learned self-management skills, particularly in the context of managing fatigue. Gender differences emerged.     

Relations between acceptance of multiple sclerosis and positive and negative adjustments

This study examines relations between acceptance as defined in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and adjustment to multiple sclerosis (MS). A first step in this investigation was the development of a measure of acceptance of MS called the MS Acceptance Questionnaire (MSAQ). Consistent with prior findings and theoretical propositions, it was predicted that acceptance would be associated with better adjustment to MS (lower distress and higher positive affect, life satisfaction and marital adjustment and better health). A total of 128 persons with MS completed measures of demographics, illness and adjustment at Time 1 and measures of acceptance and adjustment 12 months later (Time 2). Factor analyses of the MSAQ revealed two factors, action and willingness. Associations between the MSAQ and other validated acceptance measures supported convergent validity. As predicted, after controlling for the effects of initial adjustment and relevant demographic and illness variables, greater acceptance was related to better adjustment, although the action factor emerged as the strongest predictor of better adjustment. This is the first study to examine the role of acceptance (as defined in ACT) in adjusting to MS over time and as such provides a first step for further investigation of acceptance in MS.