41 research outputs found
Evaluation of a Norwegian postgraduate training programme for the implementation of Aggression Replacement Training
In 2002, Rogaland College - an educational institution for the training of social educators, nurses and occupational therapists in Norway - started a postgraduate training programme entitled ‘Training of Social Competence’. The main subject of the programme was Aggression Replacement Training (Goldstein, Glick, & Gibbs, Aggression Replacement Training: A comprehensive intervention for aggressive youth. Champaign, IL: Research Press, 1998), and the programme’s most important purposes were to train students in the identification, treatment, and prevention of aggressive and anti-social behaviour, and to teach them skills for the implementation of ART in organizations. Thus, the programme explicitly addressed factors associated with treatment effects, skills required as an ART trainer and
programme implementation skills. The present paper reviews relevant research and briefly describes the positive evaluation results of the training programme
Social perception training : improving social competence by reducing cognitive distortions
Social Perception Training (SPT) is a program focused on changing the perceptual and
cognitive processes involved in suboptimal social interactions. It is administered with
whole class of pupils over ten weeks. No previous studies have evaluated its efficacy.
The present study investigated the outcome benefit of the program in 18 primary and
secondary classes in a Norwegian municipality (aggregated N = 332), using multiinformant
instruments administered in a pre-post research design. Pupils reported on
cognitive distortions and the learning environment, parents on social skills and problem
behaviour, and teachers on classroom performance. Results indicate overall positive
differences, especially for pupils‟ cognitive distortions. Increased social skills and
reduced problem behaviours were also reported, as well as improved peer relations and
perceived emotional support from teachers. Overall SPT appears to be a promising and
cost-effective intervention program.peer-reviewe
The ABC of academic procrastination: Functional analysis of a detrimental habit
Academic procrastination – habitually delaying work with academic tasks to
the extent that the delays become detrimental to performance, wellbeing, and
health – represents a substantial personal, systemic, and societal problem.
Still, efforts to prevent and reduce it are surprisingly scarce and often offered
as treatment regimens rather than preventive efforts. Based on the principles
of functional analysis and a broad examination of factors that are important for
academic procrastinatory behaviors, this paper aims to describe a strategy for
analyzing individual controlling conditions for procrastination and give parallel
advice on how to change those controlling conditions. Both are ideographic,
allowing for individual and dynamic analyses of factors responsible for
instigating and maintaining procrastination, as well as tailor-made remedies
that address controlling conditions in preventive and curative efforts to reduce
procrastination. Although functional analysis integrates well with important
research findings in the procrastination field, this approach suggests new
criteria for identifying procrastinatory behaviors and an alternative model for
analyzing their control conditions. We conclude that a functional approach
may supplement procrastination research and efforts to prevent and alleviate
this detrimental habit
On the Behavioral Side of Procrastination: Exploring Behavioral Delay in Real-Life Settings
This paper examines how procrastinators behave differently from non-procrastinators in implementing intended behavior. By focusing on time-related attributes of behavior, we demonstrate in five studies (aggregated N = 965) that onset delay seems to be a preferred option for procrastinators in common daily situations. Thus, when an action possibility is available for intended behavior, procrastinators tend to delay behavior onset, both in actual behavior and in onset preferences, often instigating chains of events with negative consequences. We discuss possible mechanisms responsible for such delays and explore how such mechanisms generate and sustain dilatory behavior. We conclude that a better understanding of why behavioral delays occur in early phases of action implementation is of importance in understanding and preventing procrastination.publishedVersio
Social Competence as a Mediating Factor in Reduction of Behavioral Problems
The main purpose of the present study was to explore how social competence reduces behavioral problems. Based on previous findings, we assume that increased social competence can be regarded as a mediating factor in reducing behavior problems. All participants (children and adolescents, n ¼ 112) received an intervention intended to increase social competence: Aggresion Replacement Training (ART). Social competence and problem behavior were assessed twice before the ART intervention and then twice afterwards. Both measures improved following the training period, but no changes occurred during the pre-training period. Further, behavioral problems continued to reduce notably in follow-up probes after the training period. More detailed analyses indicate that in youngsters, increased social competence (e.g., improved self-control and cooperation) mediates the effect of ART on behavioral problems, but important moderating factors (e.g., age, individual levels of social competence, and problem behavior) need to be taken into consideration
Delay of Dental Care: An Exploratory Study of Procrastination, Dental Attendance, and Self-Reported Oral Health
Delay of dental care is a problem for dental public health. The present study explored the relationship between procrastination and dental attendance, focusing on delay in seeking dental care. This hypothetical relation was compared to other avoidance-related factors affecting dental attendance. In addition, an inquiry into the reasons for delaying dental care was conducted. Students (n = 164) answered an internet-based questionnaire on socio-demographic factors, dental health, dental attendance, delay of dental care, reasons for the delay, procrastination (IPS), dental anxiety (MDAS), perceived stress (PSS) and oral health self-efficacy (OHSES). The study found no significant relation between procrastination and delay in dental care. However, procrastination was related differently to past, present, and future dental attendance and seemed to relate to oral health behavior. Delay of dental care was associated with higher dental anxiety and lower oral health self-efficacy. The cost of dental care was the most frequently given reason for the delay of dental care. Further research on the delay of dental care and dental attendance is warranted in understanding the behavior, implementing interventions, and improving the utilization of public dental care
Drop-out and transfer-out intentions: The role of socio-cognitive factors
Academic attrition is a worldwide problem representing a significant economic loss and a disadvantage for students in terms of health and career prospects. We focus on the roles of academic skills, academic self-efficacy, and students' integration in exploring their relation to attrition intentions. Based on existing research, we expected a negative relation between academic skills and attrition intentions, with academic self-efficacy and students' integration as possible mediators. Furthermore, it was expected that this relationship would be dependent on the outcome variable being measured (i.e., drop-out, transfer university, and transfer study field intentions). These hypotheses were investigated among Norwegian university students in a questionnaire study (total N = 756). Results supported, as predicted, the mediatory roles of academic self-efficacy and students' integration. Importantly, significant variability was indicated in comparison of the different outcome measures, with academic self-efficacy having a larger mediation effect in case of drop-out and transfer study field intentions. We conclude that academic self-efficacy is important in understanding the relationship between students' academic skills and attrition intentions. Our results provide an evidence that might facilitate development of assistance programs aiming to reduce academic attrition
Polar Vantage and Oura Physical Activity and Sleep Trackers: Validation and Comparison Study
Background: Consumer-based activity trackers are increasingly used in research, as they have the potential to promote increased
physical activity and can be used for estimating physical activity among participants. However, the accuracy of newer
consumer-based devices is mostly unknown, and validation studies are needed.
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the Polar Vantage watch (Polar Electro Oy) and Oura ring (generation
2; ÅŒura Health Oy) activity trackers to research-based instruments for measuring physical activity, total energy expenditure,
resting heart rate, and sleep duration in free-living adults.
Methods: A total of 21 participants wore 2 consumer-based activity trackers (Polar watch and Oura ring), an ActiGraph
accelerometer (ActiGraph LLC), and an Actiheart accelerometer and heart rate monitor (CamNtech Ltd) and completed a sleep
diary for up to 7 days. We assessed Polar watch and Oura ring validity and comparability for measuring physical activity, total
energy expenditure, resting heart rate (Oura), and sleep duration. We analyzed repeated measures correlations, Bland-Altman
plots, and mean absolute percentage errors.
Results: The Polar watch and Oura ring values strongly correlated (P<.001) with the ActiGraph values for steps (Polar: r=0.75,
95% CI 0.54-0.92; Oura: r=0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.87), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (Polar: r=0.76, 95% CI 0.62-0.88;
Oura: r=0.70, 95% CI 0.49-0.82), and total energy expenditure (Polar: r=0.69, 95% CI 0.48-0.88; Oura: r=0.70, 95% CI 0.51-0.83)
and strongly or very strongly correlated (P<.001) with the sleep diary–derived sleep durations (Polar: r=0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.88;
Oura: r=0.82, 95% CI 0.68-0.91). Oura ring–derived resting heart rates had a very strong correlation (P<.001) with the
Actiheart-derived resting heart rates (r=0.9, 95% CI 0.85-0.96). However, the mean absolute percentage error was high for all
variables except Oura ring–derived sleep duration (10%) and resting heart rate (3%), which the Oura ring underreported on
average by 1 beat per minute.
Conclusions: The Oura ring can potentially be used as an alternative to the Actiheart to measure resting heart rate. As for sleep
duration, the Polar watch and Oura ring can potentially be used as replacements for a manual sleep diary, depending on the
acceptable error. Neither the Polar watch nor the Oura ring can replace the ActiGraph when it comes to measuring steps,
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and total energy expenditure, but they may be used as additional sources of physical
activity measures in some settings. On average, the Polar Vantage watch reported higher outputs compared to those reported by
the Oura ring for steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and total energy expenditure
Procrastination and Personal Finances: Exploring the Roles of Planning and Financial Self-Efficacy
Procrastination is related to unhealthy personal financial behaviors, such as postponing retirement savings, last minute shopping, and not paying bills on time. The present paper explores factors that could explain why procrastinators demonstrate more financial problems compared to non-procrastinators. Study 1 (N = 675) focused on planning, as both procrastination and poor financial habits are negatively related to planning. Results confirmed that procrastination was a significant predictor of personal finances, but the propensity to plan was not. Study 2 (N = 500) explored the roles of procrastination and financial self-efficacy in two facets of financial behavior, financial impulsivity and financial planning. Results indicated that the effect of procrastination on financial behavior was fully mediated by financial self-efficacy. Hence, these results suggest that procrastination operates primarily through its self-efficacy component to impact financial behavior negatively