Evaluating a team building intervention in a youth exercise setting.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the mechanisms in an established team building (TB) activity intervention and cohesion, its proposed outcome as well as conduct a process evaluation of the intervention in a youth exercise setting. Participants (N = 100, 13–17 years) were members of school-based exercise clubs randomly assigned to either a TB or control condition. In the TB condition, trained leaders implemented an established TB protocol (Carron & Spink, 1993). Results revealed a positive association between the specified mechanisms in the TB intervention and the proposed outcome of task cohesion. The evaluation of the intervention also revealed that the TB components were implemented as prescribed, and the intervention appeared to be appropriate for a youth setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does similarity make a difference? Predicting cohesion and attendance behaviors within exercise group settings.

In this study, we assessed the ability of perceptual surface-level (i.e., observable qualities such as age and physical condition) and deep-level (i.e., nonobservable qualities such as attitudes and values) similarity to predict cohesion and attendance within exercise groups. Following the 2nd class of their respective programs, participants (N = 273) from 46 registered group-based exercise programs completed perceptual measures of surface-level similarity, deep-level similarity, social cohesion, and task cohesion. Following the 8th class of these programs, attendance data were collected. Perceptions of deep-level similarity were found to predict task cohesion. In contrast, perceptions of surface-level similarity were found to predict social cohesion and program attendance. Taken together, these results suggest that perceptions of surface-level and deep-level similarity may have noteworthy implications for involvement within group-based exercise programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does clinical training facilitate feigning schizophrenia on the MMPI-2?

This study assessed the effect of knowledge of psychopathology and psychological testing on the ability to feign schizophrenia on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI-2). Two groups of clinically trained participants—psychiatric residents and fellows (n?=?26) and clinical psychology graduate students (n?=?28)—and a group of undergraduate students with no clinical training (n?=?24) completed the MMPI-2 under instructions to feign schizophrenia. A sample of outpatients with schizophrenia (n?=?51) responded under standard instruction. Scores from the clinical scales and several validity indicators were compared. Although all participants asked to malinger had validity indicator scores indicating faking, the clinically trained participants produced generally lower scores on the clinical scales and validity indicators than did the undergraduate students. In particular, the scores for the clinical scales 6 (Paranoia) and 8 (Schizophrenia) were higher for all groups asked to feign schizophrenia when compared with the schizophrenic sample. The validity indicators F and the F-K index produced the largest effect sizes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development and validation of the Multidimensional Health Profile. Part I: Psychosocial functioning.

This article describes the development and preliminary validation of the Multidimensional Health Profile, Part I: Psychosocial Functioning (MHP-P), a self-report screening instrument for use in mental health and primary care settings. The MHP-P assesses mental health, life stress, coping skills, and social resources. In Study 1, retest reliability, validity, social desirability response bias, and factor structure were examined in a national sample of men and women (N?=?673). In Study 2, the effect of time frame on the retest reliability of the mental health scales was examined in a sample of male and female college students (N?=?147). A national sample of men and women (N?=?2,411) provided data for additional confirmatory factor analyses and norm development in Study 3. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship between collective efficacy and team cohesion: Conceptual and measurement issues.

Collective efficacy has received little research attention since its inception. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to develop a theory-based measure of collective efficacy and determine its relationship with another group phenomenon—group cohesion. Volleyball players (N?=?70) completed questionnaires designed to assess their perceptions of their teams' confidence in skills and abilities related to group tasks and processes. Several important outcomes emerged. First, a theory-based measure of collective efficacy was developed, and initial psychometric properties were established. Second, various aspects of collective efficacy were found to be positively correlated with group cohesion. Third, only certain aspects of a multidimensional collective efficacy measure were found to be predictive of task-related aspects of team cohesion. When considered together, the findings represent a promising step toward the investigation of collective efficacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social climate comparison of mutual help and psychotherapy groups.

Mutual help groups for the mentally ill (n?=?33) were significantly different from psychotherapy groups (n?=?25) on 9 of 10 perceived social climate dimensions from the 90-item Group Environment Scale. The mutual help members perceived that their groups had more active leaders, greater group cohesion, more structure and task-orientation, and fostered more independence. The members of psychotherapy groups perceived that their groups encouraged more expression of negative and other feelings and showed more flexibility in changing the group's activities. The present findings could be used to improve cooperation and referrals between mutual help groups and the mental health community. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Visual discrimination and reversal learning in the aged monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Visual discrimination and reversal learning were assessed in young adult (10–12 yrs old, n?=?4) and aged (23–27 yrs old, n?=?5) female rhesus monkeys. Performance was comparable across age groups in many tasks, suggesting that the acquisition of stimulus–reward associations remains largely intact in the aged monkey. Most older Ss, however, required more training than any young animal to learn an initial pattern discrimination. In combination with previous findings (P. R. Rapp and D. G. Amaral; 1989) from the same groups of monkeys, these data suggest that deficits in attending to the relevant stimulus features in novel testing procedures may contribute to poor performance in aged Ss across a variety of learning and memory tasks. In addition, preliminary findings from a discrimination probe procedure raise the possibility that aged Ss may adopt alternate testing strategies that compensate for some aspects of age-dependent cognitive dysfunction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A psychometric study of the McMaster Family Assessment Device in psychiatric, medical, and nonclinical samples.

Investigated the psychometric properties of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD [N. Epstein et al; see PA, Vol 71:2891]), a multidimensional measure of family functioning, using data from psychiatric (n?=?1,138), nonclinical (n?=?627), and medical (n?=?298) samples. Internal scale reliabilities and factorial validity were assessed for each group, and results were compared across groups. In general, scale reliabilities were favorable and the hypothesized factor structure of the FAD was supported. Results also support the use of the 60-item version over the original 53-item version. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role play for assessing the social competence of psychiatric patients.

This study examined the validity and utility of role play for assessing social competence of chronic psychiatric patients. Demographically matched groups of patients with schizophrenia (n?=?57), schizoaffective disorder (n?=?16), major affective disorder (n?=?33), and a nonpatient control group (n?=?20) were assessed on a role-play test, interview measures of role functioning in the community, and a problem-solving discussion with a significant other. A subsample was reassessed on the same instruments 6 months later. Behavior on the role-play test discriminated the groups, was highly correlated with ratings on the other measures, and was relatively stable over the retest interval. The results were interpreted as providing strong support for the value of role play as a general measure of social functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in clinical groups and a community sample.

The factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS; S. H. Lovibond & P. F. Lovibond, 1995) and the 21-item short form of these measures (DASS–21 ) were examined in nonclinical volunteers (n?=?49) and patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) diagnoses of panic disorder (n?=? 67), obsessive-compulsive disorder (n?=?54), social phobia (n?=?74), specific phobia (n?=?17), and major depressive disorder (n?=?46). This study replicates previous findings indicating that the DASS distinguishes well between features of depression, physical arousal, and psychological tension and agitation and extends these observations to the DASS–21. In addition, the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the DASS and DASS–21 were in the acceptable to excellent ranges. Mean scores for the various groups were similar to those in previous research, and in the expected direction. The implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-modification in a college course: Outcomes and correlates.

49 students in an undergraduate educational psychology course designed and conducted behavioral self-modification projects. They were prepared to undertake the projects through preliminary instruction and a system of computer-delivered mastery tests on operant psychology. Project outcomes were measured by goal-attainment scaling, a technique that permits individuality of self-change goals and produces standardized outcome scores for the group of participants. Correlation and regression analyses indicated weak but significant relationships between self-modification outcomes and a linear combination of dogmatism (Rokeach Dogmatism Scale), sex, and mathematical aptitude (Scholastic Aptitude Test) variables. The effects of demand characteristics in the instructional setting were negligible. (l7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Marital Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III: Is the relation with marital adjustment linear or curvilinear?

A central postulate of the circumplex model is that moderate amounts of cohesion and adaptability are optimal for couple and family functioning; extremes are hypothesized to be detrimental. Previous family research, however, indicates that cohesion and adaptability are linearly, not curvilinearly, related to family functioning. The authors hypothesized that, among couples living in Canada (Study 1) and expatriate couples living in Nepal (Study 2), there would be linear relations between marital adjustment and both adaptability and cohesion. Participants (Study 1 N?=?209; Study 2 N?=?187) completed the Marital Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Polynomial trend analyses confirmed that adaptability and cohesion were linearly related to marital adjustment in both samples; in contrast, analyses that were based on marital satisfaction data from Study 1 were supportive of the curvilinear hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental, family, and ethnic in influences on adolescent alcohol usage: A growth curve approach.

The influence of the developmental process of individuation, family conflict and cohesion, and ethnicity on adolescent alcohol use was examined in a 3-year longitudinal study. Participants included non-Hispanic White, Mexican American, and African American adolescents (n?=?6,522) from 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. They were surveyed annually for 3 years. Depending on which aspect of individuation was measured, hierarchical linear modeling indicated that changes in adolescent individuation were related to either increases or decreases in alcohol use over the 3-year period. Separation and family conflict were related to increases in alcohol use, and intergenerational individuation and family cohesion were related to decreases in alcohol use. White and Mexican American adolescents had a faster rate of increase in alcohol use than did African American youth. Separation and family process similarly influenced adolescent alcohol use from different ethnic groups. Implications for prevention and intervention programs are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is interest profile level relevant to career counseling?

The extent to which interest profile level reflects response style (e.g., "yeasaying") is reported for 23 diverse samples (10 interest inventories; N?=?53,429). Concurrent validity data (2 samples; Ns?=?4,645 and 386,836) and longitudinal validity data (1 sample; N?=?3,612) were used to determine whether profile level is relevant to career counseling. For each sample, subsamples with high and low interest profiles were formed and subsample differences in profile differentiation and shape were controlled. The degree of match between interest-based Holland-type (J. L. Holland, 1997) and membership in Holland-type criterion groups was about the same for each of the 3 high–low profile pairs. Thus, it appears that interest profile level does not indicate strength of interest. Implications for counselors are noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intimacy and individuation in young adults: Development of the young adult version of the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire.

Reports a series of studies on the development of the young adult version of the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire (PAFS-QVC). The instrument includes 7 scales measuring individuation-fusion, intimacy-isolation, and personal authority-intimidation. In Study 1 (N?=?321 college students), exploratory factor analyses evaluated the conceptual scales and items. The theoretical scales were generally confirmed. Study 2 (N?=?712 college students) replicated the findings from Study 1 using confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent validity was established through correlations with other measures of family relationships and psychological functioning. The PAFS-QVC discriminated between clinical and nonclinical samples, and gender differences were noted on the PAFS-QVC. Implications for use of the instrument in psychotherapy and intergenerational family systems theory are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptions of group cohesion and mood in sport teams.

Perceptions of group cohesion and mood were investigated among netball, rowing, and rugby teams. Participants (N?=?415) completed the Group Environment Questionnaire and the Profile of Mood States—C. For task cohesion, high attraction to the group predicted low tension and anger and high group integration predicted low depression. For social cohesion, high attraction to the group predicted low tension, low depression, and high vigor, but group integration was not predictive of mood. Type of sport did not moderate cohesion–mood relationships, although significant between-sport differences in cohesion and mood scores were seen. Results are discussed in relation to the R. F. Baumeister and M. R. Leary (1995) proposition that the need to belong is a fundamental human motive. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehabilitation indicators and program evaluation.

Discusses major principles of the Rehabilitation Indicators (RI) Project, which was designed as a multifaceted, flexible means of measuring the impact of rehabilitation services on clients and patients with a wide range of disabling conditions in a broad array of service settings. Four types of RI instruments—skill, status, activity-pattern, and environmental indicators—are described. RI reliability and validity are discussed, supportive data are provided, and field projects in which RIs were used for program evaluation are noted. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychometric analyses of the Leyton Obsessional Inventory in patients with obsessive-compulsive and other anxiety disorders.

Evaluated the psychometric properties of the Leyton Obsessional Inventory (LOI). In particular, internal consistency and intercorrelation of subscales were examined, as well as convergent, divergent, and discriminative validity. In a sample of 77 patients with primary Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) diagnoses of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; n?=?18) or alternative anxiety disorders (n?=?59), internal consistency of the 4 LOI subscales (Symptom, Trait, Resistance, Interference) was strong, and subscale intercorrelations suggested the presence of a single construct. Analyses of convergent and divergent validity, including the SCL-90 and Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) subscales, supported the specificity of the LOI. In addition, OCD and non-OCD patients differed significantly in Symptom, Interference, and Resistance scores. Discriminant function analyses revealed that Interference and Symptom subscales were the strongest predictors of group membership, together accounting for 57% of the variance. Classification data indicated that 88% of patients in the OCD and non-OCD groups were classified correctly according to LOI scores. An LOI Interference cutoff score of 15 may be optimal for identifying OCD and non-OCD groups. Implications of the data for use of the LOI in assessing OCD are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Longitudinal Stability of the Group Environment Questionnaire With Elite Female Athletes.

The Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) has been used extensively in previous research, yet factorial validity for this measure has been inconclusive, and the temporal stability of scores has not been previously investigated. As argued by D. E. Conroy, J. N. Metzler, and S. M. Hofer (2003), investigations into stability are invaluable in providing support for the structural and generalizability of scores over time. In this study, elite female netball players completed the GEQ at 4 different times across the 10-week playing season (Weeks 1, 2, 6, and 10). Results supported strong factorial invariance for social and task cohesion scores, whereas differential stability was achieved only by the task cohesion scales. Linear trajectory models showed a lack of fit, indicating that the latent mean stability of GEQ scores was not established. Overall, both social and task constructs revealed a moderate decrease in perceived cohesion over the competitive playing period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)