Functional assessment of problem behavior: A pilot investigation on the comparative and interactive effects of teacher and peer social attention on students in general education settings.

Examined the combined and interactive effects of manipulating teacher and peer attention on the occurrence of problem/inappropriate behavior in general education settings, using 3 non-disabled boys (aged 7–9 yrs). Ss' behaviors were defined as on- or off-task based on the nature of classroom activity or lession, and functional analyses were developed to assess the effects of independent vs small group task, peer attention, and teacher attention on Ss. A strong influence of peer and teacher attention on Ss' problem behavior was found. When peer attention for off-task behavior was high, all Ss engaged in off-task behavior. When teacher attention increased and peer attention was on off-task behavior, Ss increased on-task activity. Results support the use of functional assessment procedures with non-developmentally delayed Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age differences in self-perceptions of Type A traits.

Examined whether self-perceptions of Type A (coronary prone) behavior changed during adulthood in 211 Ss from 4 age groups (30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and 60–69 yrs) who completed a Type A scale derived from the Adjective Checklist. Ss were asked to provide both concurrent and retrospective self-assessments of Type A behaviors. It was found that age and self-rated Type A traits were not significantly related. However, changes in self-perceptions of Type A traits did appear to be age-related: Ss aged 30–39 yrs perceived themselves as becoming more Type A, while Ss aged 40+ yrs perceived themselves as becoming less Type A. This shift in Type A self-perception was most prominent in Ss aged 60+ yrs. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prevalence, course, and predictors of multiple problem behaviors among gay and bisexual male adolescents.

Multiple problem behaviors, stress, and personal resources were assessed over 2 yrs among 136 mainly Black and Hispanic gay and bisexual male adolescents (aged 14–19 yrs). Whereas sexual risk acts, substance abuse, conduct problems, and emotional distress were common, the risk acts did not form a multiple problem behavior cluster, compared with previous findings with heterosexual youths. Problem behaviors were stable over time: Only 20–30% of the youths changed their pattern of problem behaviors over 2 yrs. For each individual, the pattern of change in one behavior problem was not related to patterns of change in other problem behaviors over 2 yrs. At baseline, personal resources were associated with less alcohol use and emotional distress, and stress was associated with delinquent behaviors. The pattern of results was similar whether youths labeled themselves as gay or bisexual, suggesting that problem behaviors among mainly Black and Hispanic gay and bisexual youths may follow different developmental pathways than among heterosexual youths. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health independence and developmental tasks of adulthood in cystic fibrosis.

Examined participation in health behaviors, health locus of control, and negotiation of developmental tasks of adulthood with 75 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), aged 18–42 yrs old. Ss completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Results indicate there were a number of health behaviors for which Ss had not yet assumed responsibility, such as managing their medical insurance correspondence and monitoring nutrition. Ss reported that they were more compliant with their medical regimen currently than when first assuming responsibility for their health as adolescents. Multidimensional health locus of control profiles were similar to those of other chronic illness populations. Most Ss appeared to have successfully mastered adult developmental tasks, such as living independently, getting married, and attaining educational or vocational goals. Ss who continued to live with their parents tended to be younger. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prospective and cross-sectional mood reports offer no evidence of a "blue Monday" phenomenon.

Conducted 3 studies, 2 using prospective and 1 using cross-sectional methods, to examine mood variation in married men over the days of the week. In Study 1, 46 Ss (mean age 42 yrs) kept a record of daily events, illnesses, and moods for 90 consecutive days. In Study 2, 58 Ss (mean age 43 yrs) also kept records, but for 112 days; severe dysphoric mood was also measured. 57 Ss in Study 2 also were asked on the telephone about which days of the week were worst and best for their mood. 21 Ss from this study also participated in a study in which they reported on their mood 5 times/day for 2 wks. In Study 3, 616 Ss (aged 18–60 yrs) completed 1 depressed mood scale. Although Ss thought that their mood was lowest on Monday, mood measures collected on a daily basis did not support the belief. Monday's mood was not different than mood on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, but positive mood was higher and negative mood was lower on the weekend; measures of depressed mood did not vary by day of the week. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Problem-solving characteristics of process and reactive schizophrenics and affective-disordered patients.

Examined the cognitive characteristics of 3 diagnostic groups—30 process schizophrenics (PSs; aged 18–53 yrs), 30 reactive schizophrenics (RSs; aged 21–58 yrs), and 30 affective-disordered (AD) patients (aged 29–73 yrs)—in terms of attention, logic, and problem-solving styles. All Ss were presented with 2- and 4-dimensional discrimination-learning problems. Blank-trial probes, inserted after each feedback trial, provided an assessment of information processing. Regression analyses, adjusting for the effects of age and IQ, revealed significant effects of diagnosis: The performance of PS Ss was similar to that of AD Ss, whereas performance of RS Ss was generally inferior to that of the other 2 groups. This reflected the greater incidence of perseveration among RS Ss. Analysis of unadjusted data, however, yielded few significant effects of diagnosis. A significant effect of problem complexity was generally observed. In contrast to most previous reports, the present study, thus, did not detect cognitive deficits specific to schizophrenia. (51 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement and training of AVC discrimination skills: Independent confirmation and extension.

Describes the AVC test of discrimination skills developed by N. Kerr et al (see record 1981-23872-001) and presents 2 validation studies of the test. In Study 1, 135 mentally handicapped Ss (aged 17–60 yrs) were assessed on all 6 levels of the AVC and 42 Ss were retested at 3-mo follow-up. Results are consistent with the findings of Kerr et al and support the AVC's reliability and resistance of AVC behaviors to change without systematic training. Study 2 examined the potential of the AVC for predicting performance of 6 severely retarded Ss (aged 21–50; Stanford-Binet IQs 30–36) who were learning a vocational assembly task. Findings reveal that brief training sessions were as effective as extended ones in teaching the tasks and that the AVC was an accurate predictor of Ss' performance. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral correlates of mental growth: Birth to thirty-six years.

Reports findings of the Berkeley (California) Growth Study, a 36-yr longitudinal study of mental development. 74 full-term, healthy infants of White English-speaking parents, were studied over 7 mo. 63 Ss were followed for at least 3 yrs, 48 Ss were seen regularly over 18 yrs, and 54 Ss were interviewed and tested at age 36 yrs. Measures included newly developed tests of 1st-yr mental precocity, the Block Q-Sort, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). Results reflect stability over the 36 yrs in both personality variables and mental abilities. Boys' high verbal scores correlated with calmness, positive responsiveness, and activeness: Girls' high verbal scores correlated with shyness at 10–24 mo and possibly unhappiness at 10–22 mo. While boys' behaviors and intelligence correlated with maternal behavior in the 1st 3 yrs through age 18 yrs, girls' corresponded to parental abilities. This suggests that girls are more resilient and less permanently affected by early experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advice in the abortion decision.

Examined several aspects of the abortion decision beyond demographic data, particularly the number and kinds of contacts-for-advice made by women confronted with the decision. Ss were 224 therapeutic abortion patients aged 13-41 yrs, 71 obstetrics patients aged 15-35 yrs, and 201 nonhospitalized control Ss aged 16 to over 27 yrs. Ss were asked to report the number of contacts-for-advice they had made when forming decisions to have a therapeutic abortion, to carry a pregnancy to term, or to engage in a significant behavior that did not involve a pregnancy. All Ss were asked to report the difficulty they had in making their respective decisions and the satisfaction they felt with their decisions. As predicted, the abortion group differed strongly from both other groups on most questions. Abortion patient contacts-for-advice also differed from those reported by N. H. Lee's (1969) Ss, but in a direction opposite the predicted one: Lee's reported contacts-for-advice were more numerous than those in the present study. Differences are discussed in light of current social feelings toward abortion and conditions which may have influenced the amount of information upon which Ss had to base their decisions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mood and HIV risk behavior among drug-dependent veterans.

Extends prior investigations of risk behaviors for contracting and transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among treatment-seeking drug abusers by analyzing the relationship between HIV risk behavior and drug use and psychopathology variables. A battery of tests related to knowledge about AIDS and semistructured interviews were administered to 170 patients (aged 21–59 yrs) at a Veterans Administration drug dependence treatment unit. Ss with high anxiety and depression scores reported engaging in significantly more HIV drug-risk behaviors. In terms of drug of choice, polydrug users did not report engaging in significantly more high-risk sexual behaviors than Ss abusing solely cocaine. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Développement des stratégies cognitives et des habiletés d'autocontr?le chez les enfants de 8 à 14 ans.

Studied interactions between cognitive development and self-monitoring abilities. Human Ss: 19 normal male and female Canadian school-age children (aged 8 yrs). 20 normal male and female Canadian school-age children (aged 10 yrs). 21 normal male and female Canadian school-age children (aged 12 yrs). 21 normal male and female Canadian adolescents (aged 14 yrs). Ss were asked to solve 8 proportionality problems, using a balance scale. Cognitive development was determined by the strategy used and performance on each problem. Indicators of self-monitoring included amount of time spent on strategy planning, self-evaluation of expected performance, persistence, changes in strategies following failure, and verbal explanations of failure. Interactions between cognitive level and indicators of self-monitoring were analyzed, and the influence of task complexity was determined. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Academic consequences and longitudinal stability of behavioral subtypes of learning disabled children.

47 school-identified learning disabled (LD) students (aged 6 and 7 yrs at the beginning of the study) who had been classified into 6 behavioral subtypes by a technique of hierarchical cluster analysis were followed longitudinally for 3 yrs to determine their educational outcomes and examine the stability of subtype membership. Classroom and special-education teachers rated children each year on measures of independence–dependence, task orientation–distractibility, extraversion–introversion, and considerateness–hostility. Measures of reading and mathematics achievement were taken each year. Ss with attention problems and those who presented problem behaviors in the classroom during the 1st and 2nd grades showed poorer achievement outcomes in later grades, compared with those who did not present atypical behaviors and those who presented a withdrawn pattern of behavior. Although children tended to switch subtype membership over 3 yrs, the proportion of LD children in adaptive and maladaptive subtypes was similar at Years 1 and 3, as determined by classroom teachers' ratings in subsequent years. Developmental changes in subtype membership are discussed with respect to the effects of special-education services and the social-emotional sequelae that have been associated with school failure. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal consequences of person perception processes in two social contexts.

Examined whether perceiver-based perceptual processes affect social behavior. Approximately 1,100 undergraduates were exposed to a videotape that portrayed a male or female child interacting with an adult in a playroom. In Study 1, Ss who "saw" the child emit (a) primarily positive behaviors (i.e., Ss who were positively biased), (b) about equal numbers of positive and negative behaviors (i.e., Ss who were accurate), or (c) primarily negative behaviors (i.e., Ss who were negatively biased) then engaged in cooperative task activities with a 7-yr-old child. In Study 2, a subset of these Ss engaged in a discussion with another undergraduate about 3 issues on which they apparently disagreed. Systematic analyses of these interactions suggested that perceptual processes affected social behavior—negatively biased Ss tended to act in a more authoritarian manner in their encounters with the child, whereas positively biased Ss were the least effective in the discussion task. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

De l'ombre à l'objet: R?le de l'age, de l'objet et de l'interaction sociale dans la synthèse de points de vue.

Studied age differences in strategies used to determine the shape of partially hidden objects. Types of strategies were also discussed. Human subjects: 36 male and female Swiss school-age children (aged 7–9 yrs), 36 male and female Swiss adolescents and adults (aged 14–18 yrs), and 36 male and female Swiss adults (aged 24–55 yrs). Ss were asked to determine the shape of 2 geometric objects and 2 objects constructed with Lego blocks hidden in a shadow box. Ss either worked alone, seeing shadows of 2 sides of the object, or in pairs, each pair member seeing the shadow of 1 side of the object. In the 2nd condition, the 2 Ss had to communicate with each other to determine the objects' shapes. The ratio of the number of proposed solutions to the number of possible solutions, types of erroneous solutions, and types of strategies used to determine the shapes were analyzed statistically according to age and type of object using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Three types of strategies were identified: recognition, addition, and multiplication. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-perceived task-relevant abilities, rated job performance, and complaining behavior of junior employees in a government ministry.

Investigated the relationship between self-perceived task-relevant abilities (SPART) and job behavior. Ss were 88 clerical workers in a government ministry, 17–35 yrs of age. 48 Ss were married and half of these Ss had children. About 71% of the Ss had completed their secondary education. The SPART inventory was administered twice. Job performance and complaining behavior ratings were obtained from supervisors. Their correlations with SPART were .23 and –.30, respectively, and they were significant at .05. Results indicate that workers' perception of their standing on job-relevant abilities influences their job behaviors. Findings are explained in the framework of consistency and self-concept theories. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of filial therapy for Korean parents.

Explored the effectiveness of filial therapy in enhancing the parent–child relationship of Korean parents (aged 30–42 yrs) of kindergartners (aged 4–8 yrs). The experimental design of the study was a pretest–posttest, control group design in which all of the parents (32 Ss) completed 3 instruments, the Porter Parental Acceptance Scale, the Parenting Stress Index, and the Filial Problem Checklist. The parents were also videotaped playing with their child before and after the training as a means of measuring empathic behavior in parent–child interactions. Results of quantitative and qualitative analyses indicate that Korean parents can learn basic skills of play therapy and improve the relationship with their children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multisystemic treatment of juvenile offenders: Effects on adolescent behavior and family interaction.

57 delinquent adolescents received family ecological treatment, 23 delinquent adolescents received an alternative treatment, and 44 normal adolescents served as developmental controls. The mean age of the adolescents at pretreatment was 14.8 yrs. Pre- and posttreatment assessments were conducted with the adolescent and his/her parents. Measures included the Behavior Problem Checklist, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and self-report and observational measures of family relations. Ss who received family ecological treatment evidenced significant decreases in conduct problems, anxious-withdrawn behaviors, immaturity, and association with delinquent peers. The mother–adolescent and marital relations in these families were significantly warmer, and Ss were significantly more involved in family interaction. In contrast, the families who received the alternative treatment evidenced no positive change and showed deterioration in affective relations. The normal families manifested relationship changes that were consistent with those identified by investigators of normal adolescent development. Findings support a multisystemic model of behavior disorders and treatment. (59 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment of overt behavior and childhood depression among psychiatrically disturbed children.

Examined the relation of direct observations of overt behavior to depression among 62 child psychiatric inpatients (aged 8–13 yrs). Childhood depression was assessed by self-report and interview measures administered separately to Ss and their mothers. DSM-III diagnoses were also obtained from direct interviews and were supplemented with clinical information. Direct observations of Ss were obtained during free-time periods over several days. Multiple behaviors were observed and coded into 1 of 3 categories: social activity (e.g., talking with others and playing games), solitary behavior (e.g., working alone on a task and playing alone), and affect-related expression (e.g., smiling and frowning). Results show that depressed Ss (n?=?21) engaged in significantly less social activity and exhibited less affect-related expression than nondepressed peers (n?=?41). Moderate stability in performance was observed over a 4-wk test–retest interval. Overt behavioral measures were consistently related to parent-completed but not to S-completed measures of depression. Findings suggest that depressive symptoms are reflected in diverse behaviors in everyday life. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prosocial reasoning among children and adults in a Papua New Guinea society.

N. Eisenberg's (1982) prosocial moral reasoning interview, adapted to the setting, was administered to members of the small-scale, traditional, collectivistically oriented Maisin society of New Guinea. The sample consisted of 69 elementary school children (mean age range 8–13 yrs), 8 adolescents (aged 14–20 yrs), and 24 adults (aged 24–60 yrs). Results indicate that no new reasoning categories were used by the Ss. Children and adults used physical-needs-oriented reasoning most frequently. Adults used significantly more psychological-needs-oriented reasoning than did younger Ss. It is suggested that Maisin prosocial reasoning develops toward empathic concern for others but not toward concern with one's own internal states as motivators of behavior or toward generalized notions of society. Developmental patterns suggest that initial exposure to Western schooling is associated with an increase in hedonistic reasoning and a decrease in needs-oriented reasoning, although this trend appears to reverse after Grade 3. The internal organization of Maisin prosocial reasoning as well as the specific reasoning categories used by the Maisin are congruent with the nature of their society. Results of the study support the idea that moral reasoning patterns develop as adaptive responses to actual circumstances of social living. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)