Mechanisms of the relation between perinatal problems, early childhood illness, and psychopathology in late childhood and adolescence

Data on perinatal and early childhood somatic and psychological risk factors of a random sample of children were gathered in early to middle childhood and employed to examine the long-term risk of emotional and behavioral problems of late childhood and adolescence. 3 issues were addressed: First, can syndromic specificity of such effects be identified on scaled and diagnostic measures of syndromes? Second, are these effects attributable to excess risk of low-income children for both perinatal and later childhood problems? Third, are the intervening mechanisms identifiable as intellectual impairment, vulnerability to poor health, poor maternal caretaking, maternal rejection, or maternal stress associated with marital problems? Findings indicated that elevated risk was present for all syndromes, both at the scale level and at the diagnostic level. None of the examined intervening mechanisms fully accounted for the effects of early risks.     

Wanting to be ‘known’: Redefining self‐awareness through an understanding of self‐narration processes in educational transitions

The aim of this article is to initiate discussion about the pursuit of self‐awareness—a concept embedded in recent policy—as an educational goal. The authors argue that complex theoretical questions need to be addressed if improvements in policy and practice relating to personal, social and emotional education are to ensue. Such questions relate to possible interpretations of ‘self‐awareness’, a term that may be linked to outdated theories, implying a ‘self’ to be discovered and the possibility that people can sustain a ‘sense of self’ across time and place. From this perspective, self‐awareness may seem overly individualistic, obscuring more pro‐social goals (e.g. empathy, compassion, citizenship). Drawing on sociological and social psychological literature, as well as data from an empirical study of identity construction, it is hoped to contribute to the provision of firm foundations for personal, social and emotional education through a stronger theoretical exposition of ‘self‐awareness’. The authors' reconceptualised version highlights the importance of an expanded and flexible story of self, which they view as an invaluable tool for learning, fostering an openness to change.     

A NEGLECTED COMPONENT OF NURTURING GIFTEDNESS: AFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT

Research on giftedness and programs for fostering its development often neglect the affective component: the social, emotional and personal components which release (or block) a person's abilities. One problem of gifted children is that their accelerated intellectual development may outstrip affective development. Nonetheless, available research findings paint a positive picture of the social‐emotional characteristics of such children. Among other things they tend to be highly motivated, have a positive self‐concept and be particularly sensitive to social and ethical issues. This suggests that designers of learning experiences should pay greater attention to the affective aspects of instruction. All subject areas offer opportunities for stressing the affective dimension, science as much as literature. This involves creating a classroom climate which offers an “invitational” environment. The highly developed social values of gifted children suggest that they can be encouraged to apply their talents to the solution of the myriad problems with which contemporary society is afflicted.     

Individual Differences in Emotional Reactivity and Academic Achievement: A Psychophysiological Study

Factors related to grade point average (GPA) are of great importance for students' success. Yet, little is known about the impact of individual differences in emotional reactivity on students' academic performance. We aimed to examine the emotional reactivity–GPA link and to assess whether self‐esteem and psychological distress moderate this relationship. Eighty undergraduate students reported on their GPA, self‐esteem, and psychological distress. Students' pupil radius was monitored during affective picture viewing to assess sympathetic activation in response to emotional stimuli. Cluster analysis on pupil reactivity to pictures identified low, average, and high emotionally reactive students. Regression analyses indicated that profiles of emotional reactivity were associated with GPA. This relationship was moderated by self‐esteem, but not psychological distress. Among students with higher emotional reactivity, those with lower self‐esteem reported poorer GPA. Findings document the importance of differences in students' emotional reactivity and self‐esteem in relation to academic success.     

Effectiveness of school‐based universal social,emotional, and behavioral programs: Do they enhance students’ development in the area of skill,behavior, and adjustment?

To answer the question of whether teaching social and emotional skills to foster social–emotional development can help schools extend their role beyond the transfer of knowledge, the authors conducted a meta‐analytical review of 75 recently published studies that reported the effects of universal, school‐based social, emotional, and/or behavioral (SEB) programs. The analyzed interventions had a variety of intended outcomes, but the increase in social skills and decrease in antisocial behavior were most often reported. Although considerable differences in efficacy exist, the analysis demonstrated that overall beneficial effects on all seven major categories of outcomes occurred: social skills, antisocial behavior, substance abuse, positive self‐image, academic achievement, mental health, and prosocial behavior. Generally, immediate effects were stronger than delayed effects, with the exception of substance abuse, which showed a sleeper effect. Limitations of the analysis and moderators of the effectiveness of SEB programs in schools are discussed in the final section of the article.     

Social Competence of Learning Disabled Children: Cognitive and Emotional Aspects

The aim of the study was to investigate the structure of social competence among learning disabled children, as reported by themselves and their teachers, and the cognitive and emotional aspects that mediate its level. The sample consisted of 40 learning disabled children and 37 matched nondisabled children. Within Harter's competence model and Schaefer's spherical model, the learning disabled group demonstrated lower levels of competence and adjustment and a less mature concept of competence than did their peers. The social competence of the learning disabled children was accounted for by emotional and physical aspects of competence, similar to that found in younger and in children with an intellectual disability, whereas the social competence of the nondisabled peers was accounted for by a combination of academic, cognitive and self‐esteem aspects. Teachers rated the social competence of both groups of children as mediated by introversion and general competence. However, teachers added physical competence to the explanation of the learning disabled group's social competence, whereas they added task orientation to the explanation for the nondisabled group. Intervention planning should be geared toward increasing the social competence of LD children, through alerting teachers to their less mature self‐competence concept, with its special emphasis on nonacademic aspects.     

积极心理学视阈下创新大学生心理健康教育研究

作为新兴的心理科学,积极心理学主张通过对情感体验、人格特质、社会环境等积极品格进行研究,从而挖掘出可以有效解决当前大学生心理健康问题的措施。大学生心理健康教育作为高等教育体系中的重要环节,为了促进大学生的心智共同发展,当前的核心工作是,各高等教育机构应重视大学生心理健康教育工作,通过引入积极心理学的价值观念,塑造大学生的积极心理品格,最终实现其全面发展。     

服务人员情绪劳动心理过程的理论解析

较之公正人际互动事件,不公正人际互动事件下个体倾向选用"表层演出"策略。员工对工作认同感、移情能力水平的差异是影响个体正向情绪表达分化为"表层演出"与"深层演出"差异的主要因素。工作信念坚定、对行为后果的考虑越多、中国文化认同水平越高的员工更倾向于抑制负性情绪表达。情绪劳动过程中工作自我和实际自我之间的对立关系和分隔关系显著影响员工的身心健康。     

Striving for autonomy in a contingency‐governed world: Another challenge for individuals with developmental disabilities

The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an orientation to the concepts and principles of autonomy and self‐determination and the application of those concepts and principles to working with children and adolescents who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), including autism. Self‐determination is essentially the ability of a person to be autonomous as to meaningful life choices and encompasses activities such as problem solving, decision making, goal setting, self‐observation and evaluation, self‐management and reinforcement, acquiring an internal locus of control, experiencing positive attributions of efficacy and outcome expectancy, developing a realistic and positive self‐image, and self awareness. The lack of opportunities for self‐determination, personal expression and consideration of personal preferences experienced by this population has been associated with increased psychiatric disturbance. Several principles supporting self‐determination, including positive psychology and use of positive alternatives, are discussed by the authors. Further, practices that generate more opportunities for individuals to exercise personal control and autonomy across activities and environments in order to prevent psychological problems are discussed. Finally, the school psychologist's role in promoting the development of autonomy and self initiative among children and adolescents with ID/DD are outlined within the contexts of assessment practices, interventions and curriculums, positive behavior support technology, and continued educational reforms and systems change. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 143–153, 2004.     

大学生自杀现象之心理分析

自杀是一个对大学生健康成长构成破坏性威胁的问题。依据对35个大学生自杀案例的调查，从社会心理学的角度分析大学生自杀的诱因和, 现人格障碍和绪失调是导致大学生自杀的首要原因，而大学生对挫折的不良认知以及心理挫折承受能力低也是导致其自杀的又一原因，据此特提出预防大学生自杀的途径和措施。     

Self‐awareness in Young Adults with Down Syndrome: I. Awareness of Down syndrome and disability

The limited literature on awareness of differences and stigma in people with intellectual disabilities is largely sociological, emphasises pathology, and has rarely used a developmental perspective with representative samples. Interviews, photographs and standardised tests were used to investigate such awareness with 77 young adults with Down syndrome and their parents. Awareness and social categorisation were significantly associated with verbal mental age, and closely approximated the typical social‐cognitive developmental sequence. No associations were found between awareness and chronological age, parent telling, gender, and mainstream experience. Only those with verbal mental ages from around 8 years were making relative social comparisons and beginning to form complex social categories of Down syndrome/disability. Around 13% were rated as showing a negative emotional reaction to Down syndrome/disability, and most of these were male. A similar percentage, mostly female and with higher verbal mental ages, discussed concerns and limitations. Even so, they all had high self‐esteem and awareness of Down syndrome and disability did not appear to be a major issue. A number of coping mechanisms to maintain a positive sense of self were suggested. It is argued that both sociological and developmental models are required to inform parent and professional attempts to facilitate self‐awareness.     

'A democracy tempered by the rate of exchange': Audit culture and the sell-out of progressive writing curriculum

In this article, the authors draw on the concept of 'audit culture' to examine the political and professional implications for teachers emerging from contemporary, commercially distributed, writing programmes. They argue that, in adapting what began as a progressive understanding of children's writing and teacher professionalism for commercial distribution, fundamental values and concerns have been lost. Drawing on the work of James Britton, the authors assert that the market ideologies of audit culture have turned the idea of teacher professionalism on its head, naming the professional not as the teacher who continually develops her/his expertise through intellectual inquiry into the lives, strengths and needs of the children in the classroom but, rather, as the teacher who submits her/himself to constant measures of fidelity to a particlar programme, and to documentation of practices, supervision and correction. The authors argue for a return to the values of Jimmy Britton: commitment to the promotion of play, social engagmentment, freedom of thought and intellectual and emotional experimentation.     

The integration of pupils with learning difficulties: the results of research into the effects of integration

ABSTRACT

The authors present the outcomes of an empirical study, effected in integrative and segregative models of schooling in German speaking Switzerland. The following questions have been analysed: a) the changes in performances of pupils with learning difficulties under different conditions of schooling; b) the development of social factors; c) the development of emotional characteristics. With regard to academic achievements, integrative measures proved to be more effective than instruction in self‐contained special classes. The findings concerning the development of social and emotional characteristics do not allow to draw clear conclusions either in favour of or against integration. Still, the outcomes of this study encourage to carry on experiments with integrative forms of schooling.     

Peer Relationships and Emotional Well-Being of Youngsters with Sickle Cell Disease

Comparisons with measures of peer relationships and emotional well-being were made between youngsters with sickle cell disease (SCD) and same-classroom comparison peers. Relative to the comparison subjects, females with SCD were perceived by peers as being less sociable and less well accepted; males with SCD were perceived as being less aggressive than comparison peers. For both males and females with SCD, no other differences were identified on numerous measures of emotional well-being. None of the multiple measures of illness severity were significantly related to measures of psychological adjustment. The common side effects of SCD, chronic fatigue and small physical size, may divert males with the illness from manifesting difficulties related to aggressive behavior with peers. For females with the illness, the common side effects of the illness may hinder the development of normal social relationships. Despite chronic exposure to numerous stressful life events associated with SCD, the youngsters with the illness were remarkably similar to comparison peers, showing evidence of considerable hardiness.     

A Song of Faith ... A Song of Hope: Nathan Goldblatt School

This case study focuses on how an inner-city school addresses the educational needs of children growing up in a "socially toxic environment" (Garbarino, 1997). Amid a decaying and violent neighborhood in one of America's largest cities, the school provides children placed at risk by their environment with physical, social, emotional/psychological and intellectual safety not usually afforded socioeconomically disadvantaged urban children. Within the framework of Mortimer Adler's Paideia Program (1984), the school provides a safe and orderly learning environment along with an enriched academic program.     

Effects of Social Skills Training for Students with an Intellectual Disability

This study examined the effects of a computer‐assisted social skills intervention on the social competence of 73 students with a mild intellectual disability (age range: 11.0 to 15.0) within an experimental and control group design. The experimental group (N= 38) was trained with the I Found a Solution computer‐supported package while the control group (N= 35) worked on computer‐related keyboard and writing skills. The intervention consisted of the computer‐supported program and teacher‐guided work, small‐group discussions and transfer to actual real‐life conflicts. Each student was assessed before and after the training on: teacher‐rated social skills and disruptive behaviour, peer‐rated social acceptance, and self‐rated loneliness. A 2‐way MANOVA with repeated measures (grouping by gender, with pre/post training scores as the repeated measures) revealed that the experimental group increased their different measures of social competence, and the differences between them and the control group were significant following the intervention. However, no significant differences between the experimental and control groups were found in their loneliness experience. Implications for intervention and additional research are discussed.     

浅谈职业技术学院英语教学

职业技术学院学生心理特征,认知水平和情感特征决定高职高专英语教学是知己知彼的战斗,是科学和技术的交融,是理论和实际的结合,是教师的教和学生的学互动,是感性和知性的过程。一个英语教师要做好英语教学工作,除了常规的"传道、授业、解惑"的教学活动,还要有多样性,多方面,多途径的复杂工程。因为大多数职业技术学院学生心理活动比一般本科学生更感性,更情绪化,认知能力也低于一般本科学生。在教学中,必须采用一些新颖独到,科学实用,才能取得教学效果。     

Differential responsiveness to a parenting intervention for mothers in substance abuse treatment

This study examines the relationship between levels of psychological distress in substance-dependent mothers and their differential response to a dyadic parent–child intervention. A sample of 66 mothers who were receiving treatment for substance abuse, as well as a simultaneous parenting intervention, were interviewed pre and post-treatment on measures of psychological distress, adult and child trauma history, parental reflective functioning, and child social–emotional development. Additionally, clinicians provided assessments of the parent–child relationships. As anticipated, trauma histories for mothers and children, children's social emotional development, and parental reflective functioning were associated with aspects of maternal psychological distress. Kruskal–Wallis and subsequent Wilcoxson signed rank tests revealed that women with highest levels of baseline psychological distress showed significant improvements in psychological functioning post-treatment while women with moderately elevated levels of psychological distress did not. Women who were most distressed at baseline showed increased levels of parental reflective functioning post-treatment while women with moderate and lower levels of baseline psychological distress showed improvements on clinician-rated assessments of parent–child relationships. Chi Square analyses showed that parents who endorsed the highest levels of distress at baseline reported that their children's risk status regarding social–emotional development decreased post-treatment. Despite similarities in substance dependence, mothers in this sample had different needs and outcomes in the context of this parenting intervention due to variation in mental health. Given this variation, parenting interventions for substance-dependent mothers need to account for the individual differences in levels of psychological distress.     

大学智力资本、科技投入与科技创新 绩效关系实证研究

本文以我国部分"211工程"院校为调查对象,对其智力资本、科技投入与科技创新绩效之间的相关性进行了实证分析.结果表明:(1)科技投入资本与大学智力资本对创新数量绩效都有积极的促进作用,科技投入资本对创新数量绩效存在"倒U"型的影响关系;(2)大学智力资本与科技投入资本对创新数量绩效有互补的交互效应;(3)对大学创新质量绩效起主要作用的是智力资本,科技投入资本作用很小;(4)提高大学智力资本有助于获得较多的科技投入.     

Self–Efficacy Pathways Between Relational Aggression and Nonsuicidal Self–Injury

The authors recruited college students (N = 648) and investigated relationships among academic and social self–efficacy, relational aggression from parents and peers, and nonsuicidal self–injury (NSSI). Results indicated that both types of self–efficacy were related inversely to NSSI. Academic self–efficacy mediated the relationship between parental emotional abuse and NSSI, whereas social self–efficacy mediated the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI. Clinical implications of these findings for college counselors are discussed.