教师支持与心理素质对中学生学业成绩的影响

采用学生感知教师支持行为问卷和中学生心理素质问卷,对西南地区两所中学7~12年级的824名在校中学生进行调查研究,探讨教师整体支持和不同类型支持与中学生学业成绩的关系及心理素质在其中的中介作用。结果发现：（1）教师整体支持与中学生心理素质、学业成绩间存在显著正相关;教师情感支持与中学生心理素质、学业成绩间存在显著正相关,教师学习支持、能力支持与中学生心理素质存在显著正相关,但与学业成绩相关均不显著;（2）控制性别和年龄后,心理素质在教师整体支持与学业成绩的关系中起完全中介作用;心理素质在教师情感支持与学业成绩关系中起部分中介作用,在教师学习支持与学业成绩、教师能力支持与学业成绩关系中均起完全中介作用。     

初中生班级团体依恋、自悯与学习倦怠的关系

本研究采用青少年学习倦怠量表、班级团体依恋问卷、自悯量表、青少年父母同伴依恋问卷、生活满意度量表、和自编学业满意度问题对658名初中生进行问卷调查,考察当代初中生对其所在班级的团体依恋和自悯与学习倦怠之间的关系,并检验自悯在班级团体依恋和学习倦怠关系中的中介作用。结果发现：在控制了人口学变量、父母依恋、同伴依恋、学业满意度和生活满意度之后,（1）班级团体依恋焦虑和回避均能显著正向预测学习倦怠;（2）自悯显著负向预测学习倦怠;（3）自悯在班级团体依恋焦虑和学习倦怠的关系中起到完全中介的作用,而在班级团体依恋回避和学习倦怠的关系中起部分中介的作用。研究结果对于从班级团体依恋和自悯的角度理解中学生学习倦怠具有重要意义。     

高中生感恩与心理一致感的关系:积极情感与积极应对的中介效应

采用整群抽样法对449名高中生进行了感恩,积极情感,积极应对以及心理一致感的测量,通过结构方程模型分析了积极情感与积极应对在感恩与心理一致感之间的中介作用,结果如下:(1)感恩既对心理一致感有直接预测作用,占总效应的46%,又可以通过积极情感与积极应对间接作用于心理一致感,占总效应的54%,总中介效应要大于直接效应;(2)感恩到积极应对作用路径的差异值临界比(CRD)存在性别差异,男生的路径系数(γ=.43,p.01)显著高于女生(γ=-.01,p.05)。     

A Method for Universal Screening of Elementary School Students: Development of the Social Challenges Screening Questionnaire

Schools regularly screen students for hearing and vision impairments because they present impediments to academic progress. For the same reason, schools should consider adding a universal screening for social challenges, which may also impede the learning process. This study reports on the development of the Social Challenges Screening Questionnaire (SCSQ), an efficient teacher-report screening questionnaire that identifies students with challenges who may benefit from a psychological evaluation. Further, the questionnaire may help identify students with Autism Spectrum Disorder who were previously undiagnosed. The SCSQ was administered to 549 general education students in the third and fourth grades. Internal consistency was.85. A smaller sample of students (n = 50) was selected for additional follow up assessment using the Social Responsiveness Questionnaire, Second Edition. Scores on the two instruments were strongly correlated (r =.87, p <.01), and sensitivity (.94) and specificity (.88) indicate the SCSQ can efficiently detect students with social challenges in need of a formal evaluation.     

Effectiveness of a Universal,Interdependent Group Contingency Program on Children's Academic Achievement: A Countywide Evaluation

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a universal prevention program designed to increase academic engagement and to decrease disruptive behavior in elementary school-age children. Teachers and other school personnel use interdependent group contingencies to improve students’ behavior in the classroom. Previous research indicates the GBG is efficacious in reducing behavior problems; however, little research has examined its effects on academic achievement in real-world settings. In this study, the authors evaluated the PAX GBG, a commercially available version of the GBG, as it is typically administered in elementary schools. The authors examined standardized reading and mathematics scores across one academic year for 949 students enrolled in the GBG or comparison classrooms. Results showed significant but small effects of the GBG on reading and mathematics. Results were greatest for boys, children with lower achievement scores at baseline, and students from more economically disadvantaged school districts. School personnel may find the PAX GBG useful in improving children's behavior and academic skills.     

Student-Teacher Relationships and Early School Adaptation of Children with ASD: A Conceptual Framework

In this conceptual article, we integrate existing literature on early school transitions, ecological systems theory, and student-teacher relationships to propose a framework for investigating the transition to school for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A review of the literature suggests that the quality of early student-teacher relationships may play an important role in this process for young children with ASD. Factors important in predicting student-teacher relationship quality, and ultimately, early school outcomes, are derived from the existing literature, which is heavily focused on the experiences of typically developing children. Hypothesized direct effects of child characteristics, teacher factors, classroom/school characteristics, and parent-school connectedness on student-teacher relationship quality are set forth. Potential moderators of the relation between student-teacher relationship quality and child outcomes are proposed, including child cognitive functioning, child relationships with other school staff, classroom placement, and parent involvement. Continued research on these factors will help identify malleable targets for school-based intervention with teachers and children with ASD to enhance student-teacher relationship quality and, in turn, school adjustment for this student population.     

Introducing Reality Play Therapy: Reactions and Perceptions From Elementary School Counselors

Many elementary school students lack school relationships required for positive personal, social, and academic interactions. Reality therapy and play therapy both seek to address these relationships through developmentally appropriate and effective interventions. Integrating these 2 approaches has the potential for elementary school counselors to provide students with opportunities to create positive relationships and develop problem-solving skills. In this study, 8 school counselors participated in a series of trainings introducing reality play-therapy techniques to assess this potential. A thematic analysis conducted on feedback sessions following the trainings yielded themes related to the participants’ positive perceptions to the training and possible application.     

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Peer-Administered Psychosocial Interventions on Symptoms of Depression

Many community mental health centers have implemented peer treatment models that employ recovered former clients as cost‐efficient adjunct providers. The effectiveness of these and other peer‐administered interventions (PAIs) for treating depression symptoms has not been well‐established. The current study is a meta‐analysis of PAIs’ effects on depression symptoms. Twenty‐three eligible studies were identified. Study characteristics were coded by multiple raters, random‐effects models were used to compare mean effect sizes, and mixed‐effects models were used to test for moderation. PAIs produced significant pre‐post reductions in depression symptoms (d = .5043 [95 % CI .3675–.6412]). In direct comparisons, PAIs performed as well as non‐peer‐administered interventions (.0848 [?.1455–.3151]), and significantly better than no‐treatment conditions (.2011 [.0104–.3918]). PAIs that involved a professional in a secondary treatment role were significantly less effective than those that were purely peer‐administered, and educational/skills‐based PAIs produced better outcomes than those that were mainly supportive. Follow‐up data, when available, indicated that PAIs’ benefits were maintained. PAIs reduce depression symptoms and warrant further study. The clinical significance of PAIs’ benefits, and whether they are better suited as stand‐alone or adjunct treatments, remain to be established. Implications for the roles of mental health professionals are discussed.     

Community Gender Norms Change as a Part of a Multilevel Approach to Sexual Health Among Married Women in Mumbai,India

Inequitable gender norms in societies and communities negatively contribute to women’s sexual and reproductive health. While the need for change in gender norms is well recognized, the task is highly challenging in terms of intervention design, implementation and assessment of impact. This paper describes a methodology for identification of gender norms, the design of community level intervention, community participation and the assessment of intervention impact in a low income, predominately Muslim community of 600,000 people in Mumbai, India. Formative research focused on in‐depth interviews with women, men and couples yielding gender normative statements and assessment of community resources to facilitate change. A Gender Equity Scale (GES) based on this formative research was developed and administered annually for a three‐year period to random, cross‐sectional samples in the intervention and control communities, and to community based, non‐governmental organizations (NGO) staff and Imams (religious leaders) in the intervention community. NGO staff disseminated gender oriented messages to their female constituency through their regular outreach activities and through special events and festivals in the community. Imams disseminated gender messages through lectures on social issues for men attending Friday prayers. The results showed that the NGO staff and Imams, assumed more gender equitable attitudes across time. The intervention was associated with a significant improvement in attitudes towards gender equity in the intervention relative to the control community. Men showed a dramatic change in more positive gender attitudes, while women lagged behind in their GES scores. The meaning of these results are explored and the implications assessed for the generalizability of the methodology for other countries, cultures and communities.