Stress appraisals,coping, and coping effectiveness among international cross-country runners during training and competition

Abstract

The aims of this study were to explore: (a) stressors (including intensity of the feelings that the appraisal of each stressor generated and control of the stressor) and coping strategies on training and competition days; (b) the relationship between stressor intensity and stressor control; (c) the relationship between stressor intensity and stressor control with coping effectiveness; and (d) the relationship between coping effectiveness and coping automaticity. Participants were 10 elite Caucasian cross-country athletes who maintained a stressor and coping diary for 6 weeks. Results revealed that the runners experienced diverse stressors and used different coping strategies on training and competition days. Stressors were significantly more intense on competition days. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between stressor intensity and stressor control, and a negative correlation between stressor intensity and coping effectiveness. These results support the notion that stressors and coping are situation-specific variables. Applied practitioners could thus devise situation-specific coping interventions to maximize coping effectiveness.     

Perceptions of Work–Life Balance for Urban Academic Librarians: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The topic of work–life balance (WLB) has gotten a lot of attention in popular literature, but there has been little library scholarship on the issue. This exploratory study presents the perceptions of 329 academic librarians on what they believe an ideal WLB looks like, and how it impacts their personal and professional responsibilities. The authors asked about strategies for a successful WLB, about overall job satisfaction, coping strategies, and more. The study is intended to prompt discussions of the topic, and lead to an exploration of how to continue to grow and support a strong workforce.     

The effects of psychoeducational intervention on the adjustment,coping self-efficacy and psychological distress levels of international students in Turkey

The global increase in international students’ population necessitates identifying their needs and engaging in practices that may support their adjustment. Along with excitement, positive attitudes and high expectations about higher education and life abroad, international students might also experience dread as they prepare to start a new life. Challenges in adjustment during the transition and developmental issues might contribute to such students’ susceptibility of intense emotional experiences, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Nevertheless, limited research has been conducted on interventions to facilitate transition and adjustment. Indeed, there is a dearth of psychological interventions that enhance the adjustment of international students in Turkey. This study involves a program and examines how effective this program is in enhancing the adjustment levels of international students. With a 2 × 3 controlled quasi-experimental group design, the participants in the experiment group underwent eight weekly sessions of a cognitive-behavioral-oriented psychoeducational program. The posttest results indicated significant differences in coping self-efficacy favoring the experiment group. However, no significant differences were noticed between the two groups in terms of psychological adaptation and distress. Follow-up results revealed significant changes in all the three measures favoring the experiment group. The findings indicated a positive long-term effect of the psychoeducational program in enhancing the international students’ adjustment levels. Consequently, implications for college counseling service providers in terms of designing psychoeducational programs were discussed.     

Coping Strategies of Caribbean “Problem Students”

Abstract   The coping strategies of middle adolescents (14–16 years) generate interest amongst educators, parents, school psychologists and school counsellors. This study, using a phenomenological approach, examined the coping strategies of ‘problem’ adolescents in the Caribbean in regard to their interactions with peers and teachers. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of twenty middle adolescents in Barbados. The adolescents’ efforts to manage problems in the school environment suggested that they actively sought to prevent problems from progressing to a maladaptive level. An apparent sequence of coping behaviours emerged from the qualitative data analysis. The sequence involves a dynamic process of seven cognitive decision-making and behavioural steps that the adolescents engaged in, in their quest to manage and effectively cope with daily problems. Based on the findings, recommendations are presented for working with adolescents who demonstrate problem behaviours within the school environment.     

Coping and buoyancy in the workplace: Understanding their effects on teachers' work-related well-being and engagement

Given the high levels of attrition in the teaching profession there is a need for research to better understand factors that lead to greater teacher well-being and engagement. The present study explores the roles of coping and buoyancy in predicting teacher well-being and engagement. In particular, a process model is hypothesized in which the use of ‘direct’ coping strategies (mastery orientation and planning) predict high levels of buoyancy, well-being, and engagement, while ‘palliative’ coping strategies (self-handicapping and failure avoidance) predict low buoyancy, well-being, and engagement. Amongst a sample of 515 teachers from 18 schools, results generally supported this model with particularly strong direct effects for buoyancy and strong direct and indirect effects for mastery orientation. Failure avoidance, self-handicapping, and planning also produced significant direct and/or indirect effects via buoyancy on teacher well-being and engagement. Implications for school executives and future research are discussed.     

How do users cope with trial restrictions? A field experiment on free trial software

Software vendors often provide free downloads of free trial versions of software but normally with some restrictions attached (e.g., time and/or functionality restrictions). The question arises as to what extent the restrictions could influence a user’s propensity to procure the full version. This study seeks to answer this question through two important theoretical backbones: expectation-disconfirmation and coping. Based on these two theories, we built a research model of a user’s coping reactions toward software trial restrictions. A field experiment was conducted to verify the hypotheses. Results show that negative disconfirmation on time/functionality restriction positively influenced the adoption of rational thinking strategy, which in turn positively influence the level of action coping. As a result, the degree to which rational thinking and action coping strategy were exploited positively influenced a user’s willingness to pay for the full-version software. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.     

信任视角下学术出版中同行评审的信任危机及其应对策略

【目的】 从系统论视角出发,分析学术出版过程中出现的信任危机,提出应对危机的策略,从理论和技术上提高同行评审工作质量,提升同行评审的信任度。【方法】 以文献调查和案例分析为主要方法,综述已有的关于同行评审现状和问题研究以及信任危机的相关理论,结合案例,从社会、经济、文化等不同角度剖析同行评审体系存在信任危机的原因,最后针对同行评审体系的问题和各方面原因,结合目前国内外的创新尝试,提出应对策略。【结果】 社会转型时期,同行评审主体之间缺乏完全信任,传媒影响加剧了同行评审参与主体之间的信任危机,同行评审客观性与审稿人主观性之间矛盾不可调和使同行评审信任危机无法消除。【结论】 通过设立同行评审内部的监督机制、重视传媒影响、完善网络同行评审系统平台,巩固同行评审信任,促进学术出版的长远发展。     

大学生人格特征、社会支持应对方式及其相关性研究

大学生人格特征、社会支持、应对方式间存在一定的相关性。不同年级大学生人格特征、不同性别大学生幻想应对方式差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,其余各组间差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。N（神经质）人格特征与解决问题应对方式呈负相关（P〈0．01）;与自责、幻想、退避、合理化呈正相关（P〈0．01）;与主观支持呈负相关（P〈0．05）。应对方式中解决问题与客观支持、主观支持、支持总分呈正相关（P〈0．01）;自责与主观支持呈负相关（P〈0．05）。求助与支持利用度和支持总分呈正相关（P〈0．01）。幻想与客观支持呈负相关（P〈0．01）。年级是大学生人格特征的影响因素、女性大学生更多运用幻想的应对方式。     

动态环境下反倾销应对机制研究

欧美等西方发达国家运用反倾销这一WTO规则所允许的贸易保护武器,对我国企业所展开的反倾销控诉和调查,不仅是其运用非关税壁垒进行贸易干预的新动向．也反映了经济全球化背景下我国企业所面临的激烈国际竞争。本研究从我国企业应对反倾销的战略支持体系构建的理论基础入手,通过分析我国应对反倾销的环境影响因素,以出口企业应诉反倾销为主体。从企业战略角度,研究构建我国企业应对反倾销的战略支持体系以及政府、行业协会和企业三位一体的应对反倾销协调机制,时提升我国出口企业的国际竞争力和宏观政策层优化决策提供新的战略思路和理论支持,为进一步的研究打下基础。     

Teachers’ Coping Strategies for Teaching Science in a “Low-Performing” School District

This study describes how teachers use their personal knowledge of a school district and their students to cope with teaching under stressful situations associated with economic, social, and institutional factors. The 3 teachers dealt with these issues in unique ways, focusing on helping students to overcome negative perceptions, value the importance of an education, and build strong relationships. A model of multicultural science professional development is proposed that complements the strengths that these teachers have. A task for science educators working with teachers and administration in schools and districts that are “critically low performing” is to support everyone in implementing pedagogical methods aimed at empowerment, social justice, and high achievement for all students.