Client-level predictors of adherence to MST in community service settings

This study examined the association of youth and family characteristics with therapist fidelity to an evidence-based treatment provided in real world practice settings. Participants were 233 families that reported on the 66 therapists organized into 16 teams in nine organizations providing multisystemic therapy (MST). Therapist adherence ratings were lower for youths referred for both criminal offenses and substance abuse than for youths referred either for substance abuse or status offenses, and was negatively associated with pretreatment arrests and school suspensions. Adherence ratings were positively associated with educational disadvantage and caregiver-therapist ethnic match and marginally positively associated with economic disadvantage. The findings suggest directions for future research on the implementation of evidence-based treatments in community settings.     

成人日常问题解决的老化研究

日常问题解决能力是近十几年来老年心理学中研究比较活跃的一个领域。本文介绍了有关日常问题解决研究的四种理论,即心理测量的智力内隐理论、形式后思维的辨证思维理论、信息加工理论和社会认知与智慧理论,及其初步的研究成果,并进一步指出在理论上整合和在实践中开展干预的研究方向。     

At Both Ends of the Gun: Testing the Relationship Between Community Violence Exposure and Youth Violent Behavior

Much psychological inquiry has focused on understanding the contribution that exposure to urban violence makes to violent behavior among youth. However, other ways in which these variables may be related have been largely overlooked. This study compared four alternative social–ecological models of the link between community violence exposure and violent behavior to determine the degree to which (1) community violence exposure contributes to violent behavior, (2) violent behavior contributes to community violence exposure, (3) both are consequences of common antecedents, and (4) both are manifestations of the same higher order construct. Two hundred and seventy-seven adolescent offenders were interviewed about family, neighborhood, cognitive, and peer characteristics, in addition to violent behavior and community violence exposure. Results suggest that a plausible way to understand the association between community violence exposure and youth violent behavior is to consider both as representations of a general involvement in violence.     

Best Practices for Teaming and Collaboration in the Interconnected Systems Framework

The Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) blends school mental health practices, systems, and resources into all levels of a multitiered system of supports (e.g., positive behavior interventions and supports). The ISF aims to improve mental health and school performance for all students by emphasizing effective school-wide promotion and prevention; early identification; and social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health intervention. Teaming is 1 of 3 foundational components of quality ISF implementation at school, district, and state levels. After introducing the ISF, the authors highlight the core implementation components (i.e., teaming, data-based decision making, and evidence-based practices) and then elaborate on characteristics of well-functioning ISF teams. The authors provide a case example to illustrate each characteristic and review 5 measures teams may consider using to evaluate their functioning and SF implementation.