VIEWS ON AGING: NEW PERSPECTIVES FOR THEORY AND RESEARCH

Over the past 20 years, research on views on aging has substantiated their importance for successful development and sustained quality of life over the full length of the life span. However, a deep understanding of the origins of views on aging and the underlying processes of their lifespan development and manifestation is lacking. Since 2017, the scientific network “Images of Aging” funded by the German Research Foundation (http://www.health.uni-konstanz.de/images-of-aging) assembles national and international renowned experts in the field. The network engages in empirical clarifications on both the distinctness and validity of the construct (contribution of Klusmann et al.) as well as in critically reviewing terminology and measures of views on aging (contribution of Notthoff et al.). The network aims to help clarifying the dynamic interplay of determinants and outcomes in the context of health (contribution of Wolff et al.) as well as disentangling intra- and intergenerational stereotypic perceptions (contribution of Kornadt et al.). Both of these are understudied issues with highly practical implications for two of the largest demographic challenges: shaping the coexistence of generations as well as providing adequate health care supply. Integrating both pertinent theoretical approaches and empirical findings the network regards views on aging under a lifespan perspective. Recently, it suggested three core principles of views on aging regarding lifelong bio-psycho-social development, their multidimensional nature, and their impact across life. These considerations provide a background for an integrative discussion of the symposium’s contributions

Delivering mindfulness in the classroom via a technology-enabled approach:Feasibility and the potential impact on teachers' psychological well-being, self-efficacy, and mindfulness

This longitudinal study included 64 teachers. We examined the feasibility and preliminary effects of a newly designed program, playing pre-recorded mindfulness practices to elementary school students by teachers across one school year. Self-report surveys and logbooks were used to collect data quantitative and qualitative data. During the first four months of implementation, teachers reported significant improvements in self-efficacy in classroom management and lower levels of perceived stress. Levels of mindfulness increased significantly and gradually throughout the school year. Qualitative results underlined potential changes in teachers’ outcomes, suggesting a calming effect and perceived improvement in their teaching skills.</p

Measuring Teachers' Social-Emotional Competence: Development and Validation of a Situational Judgment Test

Teachers' social-emotional competence is considered important in order to master the social and emotional challenges inherent in their profession and to build positive teacher-student relationships. In turn, this is key to both teachers' occupational well-being and positive student development. Nonetheless, an instrument assessing the profession-specific knowledge and skills that teachers need to master the social and emotional demands in the classroom is still lacking. Therefore, we developed the Test of Regulation in and Understanding of Social Situations in Teaching (TRUST), which is a theory-based situational judgment test measuring teachers' knowledge about strategies for emotion regulation and relationship management in emotionally and socially challenging situations with students. Results from three studies (N = 166 in-service teachers, N = 73 in-service teachers, N = 107 pre-service teachers) showed satisfactory internal consistency for both the emotion regulation and relationship management subtests. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analyses supported the differentiation between the two facets of social-emotional competence. Regarding convergent validity, results from Study 3 revealed a positive association between the profession-specific TRUST and pre-service teachers' general emotional intelligence. Furthermore, small to moderate correlations with the Big Five personality traits provided evidence for the discriminant validity of TRUST. In Studies 1 and 2, we found evidence for a correlation with external criteria, that is, teachers with higher test scores reported providing more emotional support for students and having better teacher-student relationships. For teachers' occupational well-being, we found a link with symptoms of depersonalization and job satisfaction, but none for emotional exhaustion. We will discuss the use of TRUST in research, for the evaluation of interventions, in teacher education, and professional development and will illustrate ideas for enhancing the tool

Scanning probe microscopy studies of the deposition of molecular magnets onto surfaces

Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Deposition molekularer Magnete auf Oberflächen. Neben der Präsentation und Diskussion eigener experimenteller Ergebnisse, die mittels Rastertunnelmikroskopie im Konstantstrommodus und dynamischer Rasterkraftmikroskopie im frequenzmodulierten Modus und im TappingModeTM gewonnen worden sind, enthält die Arbeit unter anderem auch ein Kapitel, in welchem andere als die für die Probenpräparation gewählten Möglichkeiten zur Deposition molekularer Magnete auf Oberflächen zusammengestellt sind. Da diese Präparationsalternativen für das Aufbringen der molekularen Magnete, die für die Experimente zur Verfügung gestanden hatten, nicht anwendbar waren, und da man auf die Verwendung thermischer Depositionstechniken, wie zum Beispiel der Molekularstrahldeposition (MBD), verzichten musste, weil diese Verfahren die aufzubringenden Moleküle zerstört hätten, wurden die Moleküle, deren Adsorption auf Oberflächen man herbeiführen wollte, in geeigneten Lösungsmitteln gelöst und aus Lösung auf die ausgewählten Substrate aufgebracht. Für die Deposition von Mo72Fe30 auf HOPG(0001) bot es sich an, die molekularen Magnete in Milli-Q-Wasser zu lösen und die Präparationslösung unter Umgebungsbedingung auf das Substrat zu tropfen. Für unterschiedliche Konzentrationen der Lösungen konnten nach dem Eintrocknen des Lösungsmittels interessante Modifikationen der Graphitoberfläche beobachtet werden, die im Falle niedriger Konzentrationen anhand eines auf geometrischen Betrachtungen von Molekül und Oberfläche beruhenden Erklärungsmodells verstanden werden können. Die Deposition von Galvinoxyl auf den Isolatoroberflächen KBr(100) und CaF2(111) erfolgte mittels eines Magnetventils, welches im Pulsbetrieb geöffnet und geschlossen werden kann, im Ultrahochvakuum (UHV). Das verwendete Lösungsmittel war Ethanol. Weil dieser Alkohol Kaliumbromidoberflächen, wie in der vorliegenden Arbeit ausführlich beschrieben, nachhaltig schädigt, musste die Interpretation der Ergebnisse zur Pulsinjektion von Galvinoxyl auf KBr(100) unter Berücksichtigung des ethanolinduzierten Lösungsätzens der Alkalihalogenidoberfläche erfolgen. Demnach stellen die durch das Lösungsmittel hervorgerufenen monoatomar tiefen Ätzlöcher in der Oberfläche bevorzugte Adsorptionsplätze für die molekularen Magnete dar, weswegen sich nur im Bereich dieser Vertiefungen und an Stufenkanten des Substrats Galvinoxylmoleküle rastersondenmikroskopisch nachweisen ließen. This thesis deals with the deposition of molecular magnets onto surfaces. Experimental results obtained by means of scanning tunneling microscopy in constant current mode and dynamic force microscopy in frequency modulation mode and TappingModeTM are presented and discussed. In addition, a review of sample preparation techniques different from those which have been used for our own experiments is provided. As those alternatives could not be used for the deposition of the molecular magnets which were at our disposal for the experiments, and as thermal deposition techniques, e. g. molecular beam deposition (MBD), were not applicable because such methods would have caused molecular decomposition, the molecules to be deposited were dissolved in suitable solvents and put onto the chosen substrates from solution. For the deposition of Mo72Fe30 onto HOPG(0001) it was possible to dissolve the molecular magnets in Milli-Q water and to drop the solution onto the substrate under ambient conditions. After the solvent had evaporated interesting modifications of the graphite surface could be observed for different concentrations of the solution. The results obtained for low concentrations are explained by a model which is based on the correspondence of molecular geometry with surface geometry. The deposition of galvinoxyl onto the insulating surfaces KBr(100) and CaF2(111) was carried out under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions by means of a magnetic valve which can be opened and closed in pulse operation. Ethanol was used as a solvent. As described in detail in the thesis, this alcohol has a very damaging impact on surfaces of potassium bromide single crystals. Therefore in the interpretation of the results on the pulse injection of galvinoxyl onto KBr(100), the solution etching induced by ethanol has to be taken into consideration. Monatomic deep holes which have been etched into the surface by the solvent represent preferential adsorption sites for the molecular magnets so that in scanning probe microscopy studies galvinoxyl molecules could only be found in the etched pits and at the steps of the substrate. </p