On the relevance of ownership structure in determining the maturity of debt

I show that ownership by blockholding and board composition is an important determinant of corporate debt maturity structure. Using GMM methodology to control for the potential endogeneity of all regressors, I find a statistically and economically significant negative relation between shortterm debt and both blockholding and board structure, irrespective of the identity of shareholders. Robustness tests provide support for the hypothesis that less diversified shareholders tend to trade off underinvestment against the liquidity risk entailed in shorter maturities. Finally, I report strong evidence that the link with insider ownership is non-linear

Examining personalized feedback interventions for gambling disorders: A systematic review

Background and aims Personalized feedback interventions (PFI) have shown success as a low-cost, scalable intervention for reducing problematic and excessive consumption of alcohol. Recently, researchers have begun to apply PFI as an intervention method for problematic gambling behaviors. A systematic review of the literature on PFI as an intervention/prevention method for gambling behaviors was performed. Methods Studies were included if they met the following criteria: the design included both a PFI group and a comparison group, and the interventions focused on gambling prevention and/or reduction. Six relevant studies were found meeting all criteria. Results Results revealed that PFI treatment groups showed decreases in a variety of gambling behaviors as compared to control groups, and perceived norms on gambling behaviors significantly decreased after interventions as compared to control groups. Conclusions Overall, the research suggests that while PFI applied to gambling is still in its infancy, problematic gamblers appear to benefit from programs incorporating PFIs. Further, PFI may also be used as a promising source of preventative measures for individuals displaying at-risk gambling behaviors. While, evidence is still limited, and additional research needs to be conducted with PFI for gambling problems, the preliminary positive results along with the structure of PFI as a scalable and relatively inexpensive intervention method provides promising support for future studies

Negative Affect, Life Satisfaction, and Internet Gaming Disorder: Exploring the Mediating Effect of Coping and the Moderating Effect of Passion

No research has examined whether the effect of high negative affect and poor life satisfaction on Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is explained by gaming to cope or is dependent upon users’ passion for video gaming. An online sample of adults (N = 969 adults; 60.5% male) reported their passion for video games, positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and IGD severity. A latent profile analysis on the passion subscales yielded four subgroups: (1) minimally passionate; (2) moderately passionate; (3) harmoniously passionate (HP); and (4) Obsessively Passionate (OP) video game users. Although negative affect was directly and indirectly associated with greater IGD through gaming to cope in the overall sample, a follow-up moderated-mediation model revealed that gaming to cope did not mediate the association between negative affect and IGD for OP users, but did for HP users. The implications for future research on the mechanisms of IGD are discussed

Anthroposophische Pflege bei Demenz im Sonnengarten in Hombrechtikon

Da kein Abstract des Artikels vorhanden ist, finden Sie hier den Beginn des Artikels: Dem Schweizer Gerontologen Markus Leser zufolge erleben wir derzeit eine Überbetonung von Qualitätsmessung und Qualitätssicherung in der Pflege. Der Glaube daran, dass alles gut ist, wenn nur die Standards verbindlich gesetzt sind, sei weit verbreitet. Aber allein durch die Einhaltung von Pflegestandards sei noch keineswegs garantiert, dass es in der Pflege auch human und empathisch zugehe. Ebenso betont der Dresdner Philosoph und Altersethiker Thomas Rentsch, dass die Pflege in eine Kultur humanen Alterns eingebettet werden müsse. Dafür bedürfe es der kritischen Reflexion auf unser Leben, unsere Praxis und unsere lebensweltlichen Erfahrungen, nicht zuletzt auf spirituelle Bedürfnisse. Dies bedeutet, dass Anthropologie, Ethik, Theologie, Politik, Ökonomie und Ökologie viel enger zusammenarbeiten müssen, als dies bisher der Fall ist. Thomas Rentsch richtet die Aufmerksamkeit also auf die Ganzheit des menschlichen Lebens

Examining Effective Social Skills Interventions for Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Social Skills Deficits: The UCLA PEERS Program

The present study examines the efficacy of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS), a parent-assisted social skills group intervention created at UCLA with a group of youths 13-17 years old with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and social skills deficits. Over the course of 7 weeks both youths and parents met twice a week and participated in their respective groups following the PEERS program. Social skill improvements were measured using the Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales (SSIS-RS; Gresham & Elliot, 2008) and the Quality of Play Questionnaire (QPQ; Frankel & Mintz, 2011) at the beginning of the intervention, at the end of the intervention, and at a 7-week follow-up. Results indicated that after the program there were significant increases in assertion on Student Forms of the SSIS-RS. Additionally, there were significant increases in Mean Get-togethers, Mean Number of Friends Listed and a significant decrease in Conflict Levels on both Parent and Student Forms of the QPQ. Results from the 7-week follow-up indicated significant increases in social skills and significant decreases in problem behaviors on Student Forms of the SSIS-RS. Further, there were significant decreases in Observed Conflict Levels on both Parent and Student Forms of the QPQ. Parents also reported that participating in the program provided them with invaluable resources and tools, as well as, increasing their self-efficacy and providing them with emotional support from other parents who share similar experiences. Implications of the PEERS program as a social skills intervention for adolescents with ASD are discussed