Social cognitive predictors of competitive level among athletes with physical disabilities

ObjectiveTo test a model of Social Cognitive Theory variables for predicting participation in higher versus lower levels of parasport competition. Information on modifiable factors associated with parasport competition would help parasport coaches and organizations transition recreational and developmental-level athletes to more competitive streams of participation.DesignCross-sectional survey.MethodParticipants were 95 parasport athletes with physical disabilities that cause mobility impairment (74% male; mean age = 34.36 ± 12.41). Measures of Social Cognitive Theory constructs were assessed via online questionnaires. Path analysis was used to test the proposed model.ResultsThe model explained 12% of the variance in level of sport participation. Peer support for sport was a significant predictor of self-regulatory efficacy (β = .22, p < .05) which, in turn, was positively related to outcome expectations (β = .43, p < .001), and self-regulation (β = .43, p < .001). Self-regulatory efficacy was the only significant predictor of level of sport participation (β = .26, p < .05). There were no significant indirect effects between social support and competitive status (p > .05).DiscussionSocial Cognitive Theory provides a reasonable basis for formulating a model of psychosocial factors related to parasport competitive status. Other relevant factors should be taken into consideration in subsequent studies. Parasport coaches and organizations may benefit from leveraging peer support to help bolster athletes' self-regulatory efficacy to levels conducive to participation in higher competitive sport streams.     

Preference assessment training via self‐instruction: A replication and extension

We examined the effects of a self‐instructional and feedback package on participants’ implementation of a paired‐stimulus preference assessment. Specifically, in Experiment 1, we used a multiple baseline design across participants to replicate and extend the results of Graff and Karsten (2012) by evaluating the effectiveness of their self‐instructional manual. A majority of the participants (i.e., 5 of 7 undergraduate students and 4 of 5 in‐home behavior technicians) achieved mastery with the self‐instructional package. The remaining participants met the mastery criterion after brief modeling and feedback sessions. In Experiment 2, we identified the most effective component of the feedback condition from Experiment 1 when a self‐instructional package was not sufficient. Brief feedback sessions in which participants received a list of the targeted responses plus information regarding accuracy of emitted responses was sufficient for 5 of 6 participants to achieve mastery.     

How Politicians’ Reelection Efforts Can Reduce Public Trust,Electoral Support,and Policy Approval

Politicians’ desire for reelection motivates them to be responsive to voters’ policy preferences. In the traditional view, voters choose between candidates based on their delivery of favorable outcomes such as ideologically appealing policies or a prospering economy. However, research in psychology shows that, in addition to outcomes, people care about procedural fairness and, particularly, impartial decision‐makers who make decisions without personal motives and interests. This, I argue, confronts politicians with a delicate task: politicians must present voters with favorable policy outcomes but without appearing as if they pursue these policies based on a personal, vote‐maximizing motive for reelection. In four survey experiments, I find support for this argument. Participants were significantly less inclined to trust and vote for politicians and support their policies when political decisions were described as motivated by reelection considerations than when no such motive was present. The findings advance our understanding of how citizens view political representation and have important implications for research on public opinion, legislative behavior, and democratic theory.     

Predictors of undergraduate students’ university support service use during the first year of university

University support services can be a beneficial resource for students coping with personal stressors. This study investigated the predictors of service use by undergraduate students during their first year at university. Participants completed self-report measures of problem-solving effectiveness, psychological distress and perceived social support (availability and satisfaction) at the start of the academic year, frequency of exposure to stressors half-way through the first semester and support service use at the end of the first and second semesters. Perceived availability of social support and frequency of exposure to stressors predicted service use. Additional analyses examined change in psychological distress across the first semester. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

青少年的情绪调节策略对创伤后应激障碍和创伤后成长的影响:社会支持的调节作用

为了考察雅安地震后青少年的情绪调节策略、社会支持与创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)和创伤后成长(PTG)之间的关系,采用创伤暴露程度问卷、情绪调节策略问卷、社会支持问卷、儿童创伤后应激障碍症状量表和创伤后成长问卷对雅安市芦山县的315名中学生进行调查,结果发现:创伤暴露程度对认知重评和表达抑制的预测作用不显著,对PTSD和PTG具有显著的正向预测作用。青少年的认知重评策略可以显著地负向预测PTSD、正向预测PTG,表达抑制策略仅对PTSD有显著的正向预测作用、对PTG的预测作用不显著;社会支持可以显著地调节表达抑制策略对PTSD和PTG的作用,表现为表达抑制对PTSD的正向预测作用随着社会支持的增加而降低,并可随着社会支持的增加而对PTG发挥促进作用。     

Hope,social support,and depression among Hong Kong youth: personal and relational self-esteem as mediators

Previous studies have shown that depression is negatively associated with hope and social support. However, little research has been undertaken to investigate the theoretical mechanisms underlying the connections among hope, social support, and depression. This study examined how two types of self-esteem (personal and relational) would mediate the relationship of hope and social support to depression among 384 Hong Kong adolescents (age: 12–18 years; M = 14, SD = 1.19). Participants reported their levels of hope, social support, personal self-esteem, relational self-esteem, and depressive mood. Results of the path analysis showed that both personal and relational self-esteem mediated the associations of hope and social support with depression. Hope and social support were associated with higher levels of personal and relational self-esteem, which were in turn related to decreased levels of depression. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Companion Animals and Vulnerable Youth: Promoting Engagement between Youth and Professional Service Providers

Vulnerable youth have fewer social ties as a result of inadequate housing and a lack of social support. It is well established that many of these youth tend to underutilize mental health, medical, and social services. Among marginalized and stigmatized populations, the affirming and nonjudgmental presence of companion animals appears to be important for developing collaborative relationships between youth and professional service providers. This paper reviews literature on the benefits of companion animals for assisting providers in their attempts to help youth find a stable living environment. Recommendations are made for providers considering incorporating therapy animals into their existing services.     

社会支持、主动反刍与创伤后成长的关系:基于汶川地震后青少年的追踪研究

本文以追踪研究的方式,在汶川地震后3.5年、4.5年和5.5年三个时间点,采用社会支持问卷、反刍问卷和创伤后成长问卷对汶川地震后245名中学生进行调查。通过建立交叉滞后模型,考察社会支持、主动反刍与创伤后成长的相互作用关系。结果发现,震后3.5年至5.5年间,社会支持对主动反刍和PTG的跨时间点预测作用不显著;主动反刍对PTG具有显著的跨时间点正向预测作用,但对社会支持的跨时间点预测作用不显著;震后3.5年的PTG对震后4.5年的主动反刍具有显著的跨时间点正向预测作用,但震后4.5年的PTG对震后5.5年的主动反刍的跨时间点预测作用不显著;震后3.5年和4.5年的PTG分别对震后4.5年和5.5年的社会支持的跨时间预测作用均不显著。     

员工情绪智力与主观幸福感:获益支持与情绪劳动策略的中介作用

运用情绪智力问卷、主观幸福感问卷、获益支持问卷以及情绪劳动策略问卷对400名服务行业员工进行施测,建立结构方程模型以探讨获益支持及情绪劳动策略在情绪智力对主观幸福感影响中的中介作用。研究发现:(1)服务行业员工情绪智力处于中等水平,主观幸福感处于中等偏上水平;(2)员工情绪智力,获益支持、情绪劳动策略及主观幸福感之间两两相关;(3)获益支持与情绪劳动策略在员工情绪智力与主观幸福感之间起中介作用。