The relationship among work-family conflict and enhancement, organizational work-family culture, and work outcomes for older working women.

This article examines the relationship among work-family conflict and enhancement, organizational work-family culture, and four work outcomes for 489 working women over the age of 50. Survey results from two U.S. health care organizations and one U.S. financial services organization indicate that older working women experience differing amounts of work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict, work-to-family enhancement, and family-to-work enhancement. Hypotheses relating organizational work-family culture to work-family conflict and enhancement were partially supported, and hypotheses relating conflict and enhancement to four work outcomes were partially supported. Work-to-family conflict and work-to-family enhancement partially mediate the relationship between organizational work-family culture and selected work outcomes. Implications for theory and practice, limitations of this study, and directions for future research are also presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

COSP: A computer model of cyclic oxidation

A computer model useful in predicting the cyclic oxidation behavior of alloys is presented. The model considers the oxygen uptake due to scale formation during the heating cycle and the loss of oxide due to spalling during the cooling cycle. The balance between scale formation and scale loss is modeled and used to predict weight change and metal loss kinetics. A simple uniform spalling model is compared to a more complex random spall site model. In nearly all cases, the simpler uniform spall model gave predictions as accurate as the more complex model. The model has been applied to several nickel-base alloys which, depending upon composition, form Al₂O₃ or Cr₂O₃ during oxidation. The model has been validated by several experimental approaches. Versions of the model that run on a personal computer are available.     

Cognitive distortion in rheumatoid arthritis: Relation to depression and disability.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often accompanied by significant levels of depression and disability. Previous research has demonstrated that cognitive distortions are related to depression and disability in other chronic pain conditions. Our study tested the relevance of Beck's model to RA by examining the relation between cognitive distortion, as measured by the Cognitive Error Questionnaire, and both self-reported and interview-rated depression and disability in 92 RA patients. Even when disease severity was controlled, cognitive distortion was significantly associated with depression. Although cognitive distortion was also related to physical disability, this relation was smaller. The results are discussed in terms of the potential relevance of Beck's model to the treatment of depression and disability in RA patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The traditional–liberated woman dimension: Social stereotype and self-concept.

Two scales were derived from the Adjective Check List to measure traits associated with traditional–liberated dimension for women: The Traditional–Liberated Social Stereotype Scale and the Traditional–Liberated Self-Concept Scale. Two samples of women (N?=?373 17–67 yr olds) were used to develop the scales. Results show that both scales have acceptable reliability and validity but are only modestly related to one another. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The differentiation of social-comparison jealousy and romantic jealousy.

Investigated, in 3 studies the differences between social-comparison jealousy and romantic jealousy. In Study 1, 174 undergraduates rated 53 jealousy-provoking situations on several emotion adjectives. These responses were analyzed by multidimensional scaling, which revealed that they were organized along 2 basic dimensions: social-comparison vs romantic and fair vs unfair. Romantic situations produced ratings of greater anger, sadness, and embarrassment than social-comparison situations but somewhat less jealousy. In Study 2, 18 undergraduates read brief vignettes describing typical jealousy-provoking situations. Romantic vs social-comparison situations were compared on several affective and cognitive measures. Although both types of situations promoted equal jealousy ratings, the romantic ones elicited considerably more negative affect. Study 3 replicated Study 2, using 120 undergraduates who read elaborate vignettes that they were asked to imagine in a self-involving way. Once again, the romantic stories and the social-comparison stories were rated about equally in jealousy, but the romantic ones provoked more negative feelings about the self, lover, and rival. Findings support a view that sees more value in differentiating situations that evoke jealousy than in attempting to differentiate the experience of jealousy vs envy. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural parallels between pretend play and narratives.

Pretend play productions of 46 children from 4 through 8 years of age were analyzed using a story grammar. Results showed structural parallels between pretend play and stories for 76% of Ss. Older Ss' play was Episodic (story-like); younger Ss' play was Preepisodic. Given structural parallels, a play complexity measure was established on the basis of the semantic link between Episodes. Preepisodic play was also differentiated. There were strong correlations between age and play level, and age and play length in Episodes. But number of propositions per episode remained constant at approximately 6. Ss' verbalizations explicated two aspects of pretend, setting-up and play, and some Ss indicated a preference. The authors conclude with a discussion about the relationship between play's form and function. Story grammar analysis proved a valid tool for studying play's structure within a developmental framework. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual assault and mental disorders in a community population.

In a cross-sectional probability survey of 3,132 household adults representing two Los Angeles communities, lifetime diagnoses of nine major mental disorders were compared between those who reported that they had been sexually assaulted at some time in their lives and those who reported no sexual assault. Sexual assault predicted later onset of major depressive episodes, substance use disorders, and anxiety disorders. Those who were assaulted in childhood were more likely than those first assaulted in adulthood to report the subsequent development of a mental disorder. Demographic characteristics of gender, age, Hispanic ethnic background, and education, however, were generally unrelated to the probability of developing any specific disorder after being assaulted. Finally, major depression, drug abuse or dependence, antisocial personality, and phobia were all associated with a higher probability of subsequent sexual assault. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contribution of personal characteristics and interview training to the effectiveness of college student mental health workers.

Peer ratings made during a structured small group interaction (using the Group Assessment of Interpersonal Traits) were used to select participants from a pool of 103 female undergraduates who had volunteered for a human service practicum. Participants with the 32 highest and 30 lowest scores on behavioral measures of empathy, warmth, and openness (therapeutic talent) were randomly assigned to 3 training conditions: problem-solving interviewing, diagnostic interviewing, or no training. Each participant then served as an understanding listener in a problem-focused dyadic interview. Ratings made by interviewees and by 2 independent, objective raters were higher for those initially selected as having high therapeutic talent. Those noted as high in therapeutic talent also performed better as measured by objective behavioral ratings of the content of their interview statements. There were no systematic training effects. The implications of these results for the selection and training of nonprofessional mental health workers are discussed. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)