Reflections from Pioneering Women in Psychology

This volume traces the life journeys of a cohort of influential and transformative women in psychology, now in or nearing retirement, who have changed the discipline and the broader world of academia in significant ways. The 26 reflective essays record how these scholars thrived in an academic landscape that was often, at best, unwelcoming, and, at worst, hostile, toward them. They explicitly and implicitly acknowledge that their paths were inextricably linked with the evolution of women\u27s roles in society; they highlight and celebrate their achievements as much as they acknowledge and recognize the obstacles, barriers, and hurdles they overcame. They tell their stories with candor and humor, resulting in a compilation of inspiring essays. The end result of these individual narratives is a volume that provides a unique resource for current and future academics to help them navigate through the crossroads, curves, and challenges of their own careers in academia.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/books/1188/thumbnail.jp

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

Common, low-frequency, rare, and ultra-rare coding variants contribute to COVID-19 severity

The combined impact of common and rare exonic variants in COVID-19 host genetics is currently insufficiently understood. Here, common and rare variants from whole-exome sequencing data of about 4000 SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals were used to define an interpretable machine-learning model for predicting COVID-19 severity. First, variants were converted into separate sets of Boolean features, depending on the absence or the presence of variants in each gene. An ensemble of LASSO logistic regression models was used to identify the most informative Boolean features with respect to the genetic bases of severity. The Boolean features selected by these logistic models were combined into an Integrated PolyGenic Score that offers a synthetic and interpretable index for describing the contribution of host genetics in COVID-19 severity, as demonstrated through testing in several independent cohorts. Selected features belong to ultra-rare, rare, low-frequency, and common variants, including those in linkage disequilibrium with known GWAS loci. Noteworthily, around one quarter of the selected genes are sex-specific. Pathway analysis of the selected genes associated with COVID-19 severity reflected the multi-organ nature of the disease. The proposed model might provide useful information for developing diagnostics and therapeutics, while also being able to guide bedside disease management. © 2021, The Author(s)

Becoming Jane Barney: Developing a generative identity as an engaged citizen

ObjectiveWe propose that analysis of the life of Jane Lockwood Barney provides insight into the notion of a “generative identity”—an integrated sense of self constructed around caring for others and the world. During her 104 years, the socially prescribed roles for women grew in range; Barney’s own roles included minister’s wife, mother of four, theological philosopher, social work student and professional, and community activist. We outline her life, focusing on three periods defined by her time at Parishfield, a Christian ‘think tank’ that focused on community-engaged advocacy for structural change, based in Brighton, Michigan.MethodUsing thematic analysis, we identify three main themes from documents written by and about Barney, as well as interviews conducted later in her life.ResultsConsistent with Erikson’s notion of epigenesis, these themes—belonging, self-reliance/self-expression and generative identity—are evident throughout Barney’s adult life to varying degrees. However, we show that the first two themes, belonging and self-reliance/self-expression, act as precursors to the development of her generative identity.ConclusionBarney’s experience at Parishfield in midlife was pivotal to her generative identity, acting as a sort of crucible and turning point; from that time forward the focus of her activities broadened to caring and working tirelessly for the underserved in her community.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/175544/1/jopy12739_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/175544/2/jopy12739.pd

Women coming to terms with aging:the importance of psychosocial factors

Studies concerning the process of aging for women tend to focus on age-related physical changes and their correlates, often overlooking the psycho-social aspects of aging. The current study aims to understand women’s experiences of aging, while also validating recently developed separate Q-sort scales of ego integrity and despair. Data drawn from a larger study of older college-educated women were used to examine relationships between health, concern about aging, ego integrity, despair, and well-being. Hierarchical linear regression results indicate that despair – but note go integrity – was related to well-being over and above health status and levels of aging concern

Applying linguistic research to real world problems: the social meaning of talk in workplace interaction

Focusing on the communications challenges facing migrants with professional qualifications, this chapter describes how linguists can work with lay-people to identify and research areas of mutual concern, presenting research which is paradigmatically "applied linguistics applied" (Roberts, 2003). The research was designed around a course aimed at providing well-educated migrants with the socio-pragmatic skills they need to analyse workplace interactions for themselves. Incorporating a critical dimension helps prepare learners for encounters beyond those presented in class, and encourages them to engage with native speakers from a position of strength. The course includes both classroom instruction and workplace experience, and draws on previous analyses of effective workplace communication by the research team, as well as current workplace interactions in which the learners are involved. The course and the related research involves people who are fundamentally disadvantaged in a wide variety of ways when they join a new society, because of their lack of social power, as well as their unfamiliarity with societal norms. The research adopts an approach which aims to empower, rather than simply attempting to make skilled migrants fit into the host culture

Designing research to track socio-pragmatic skills among professionally qualified workers

The rationale and design for a research project devised by the authors, all members of the Language in the Workplace (LWP) project based at Victoria University of Wellington is discussed. The main aim was to track he linguistic progress of a group of skilled migrants from their enrolment in a communications skill course to the end of their internships in a New Zealand workplace

Enhancing socio-pragmatic skills among professional qualified workers

Although socio-pragmatic skills have been identified as important aspects of communicative competence in the workplace, little research has been undertaken to evaluate the effects of classroom-based support in developing these areas of language proficiency. Nor has the potential for incorporating a critical component in such support been explored. New Zealand attracts an increasing number of professional migrants with the potential to make a considerable contribution to New Zealand society. However, many find it difficult to secure permanent employment. Inadequate communication skills are identified by employers as a major obstacle to hiring migrants. Migrants themselves also identify increased English proficiency as a desirable goal. Whether these perceptions of what is required to secure employment are accurate or not is worthy of investigation. This paper outlines an innovative collaborative project with workplaces willing to offer temporary placements to professional migrants on our Workplace Communication Skills course. The primary goal is to evaluate the extent to which the socio-pragmatic skills acquired in the course prove relevant once the migrants enter a New Zealand workplace. Analysis will focus on identifying changes in the migrants’ socio-pragmatic proficiency in a range of aspects of relational discourse which have been identified as crucial to effective workplace communication

Activity Engagement and Activity-Related Experiences: The Role of Personality

Objectives: The associations of personality with activity participation and well-being have been well studied. However, less is known concerning the relationship between personality and specific aspects of activity engagement in older adults. We conducted a fine-grained examination of the effects of extraversion and conscientiousness on reported activity engagement—which we define as participation, time allocated, and affective experience—during 8 everyday activities. Method: Data were obtained using a day reconstruction measure from a subgroup of participants in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS: N = 5,484; mean age = 67.98 years). Results: We found mixed support for hypotheses suggesting that specific personality traits would be associated with activity participation, time allocated, and activity-affective experience. For example, extraverts were more likely to socialize and experienced higher socializing-related positive affect, but did not spend more time socializing. Discussion: Results are discussed in light of the value of including personality in, and its contribution to, studies of activity engagement in later life. In addition, the need to acknowledge the complexity of the concept of activity engagement in future research is highlighted