Self-efficacy and performance of younger and older adults in verbal, reasoning, and spatial domains

Age-related decline in intellectual abilities is domain-specific; that is, whether older adults show decreased intellectual performance depends on the type of ability being assessed (Foster & Taylor, 1920; Horn & Cattell, 1967; Kaufman, Reynolds & McLean, 1989; Sattler, 1982). Specifically, verbal abilities tend to decrease with older age (Botwinick, 1977; Cornelius, 1984; Horn & Cattell, 1967; Lachman & Jelalian, 1984). This prevalent finding has been labeled the classic aging pattern (Botwinick, 1977). Beyond mere descriptions, however, researchers have begun addressing explanatory mechanisms that underlie age patterns of intellectual decline, maintenance, and growth. What factors might mediate age-related decline on certain types of cognitive tasks? The purpose of the present study was to examine task-specific intellectual self-efficacy as a mediator of age-related patterns of intellectual performance. This study sought to: 1) replicate the differential age differences on verbal, reasoning, and spatial task performance; 2) assess whether older adults are aware of differential intellectual decline; and 3) examine the influence of intellectual self-efficacy on the relationship between age and intellectual performance

Intrapartum epidural analgesia and breastfeeding: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Anecdotal reports suggest that the addition of fentanyl (an opioid) to epidural analgesia for women during childbirth results in difficulty establishing breastfeeding. The aim of this paper is to determine any association between epidural analgesia and 1) breastfeeding in the first week postpartum and 2) breastfeeding cessation during the first 24 weeks postpartum. METHODS A prospective cohort study of 1280 women aged > or = 16 years, who gave birth to a single live infant in the Australian Capital Territory in 1997 was conducted. Women completed questionnaires at weeks 1, 8, 16 and 24 postpartum. Breastfeeding information was collected in each of the four surveys and women were categorised as either fully breastfeeding, partially breastfeeding or not breastfeeding at all. Women who had stopped breastfeeding since the previous survey were asked when they stopped. RESULTS In the first week postpartum, 93% of women were either fully or partially breastfeeding their baby and 60% were continuing to breastfeed at 24 weeks. Intrapartum analgesia and type of birth were associated with partial breastfeeding and breastfeeding difficulties in the first postpartum week (p < 0.0001). Analgesia, maternal age and education were associated with breastfeeding cessation in the first 24 weeks (p < 0.0001), with women who had epidurals being more likely to stop breastfeeding than women who used non-pharmacological methods of pain relief (adjusted hazard ratio 2.02, 95% CI 1.53, 2.67). CONCLUSION Women in this cohort who had epidurals were less likely to fully breastfeed their infant in the few days after birth and more likely to stop breastfeeding in the first 24 weeks. Although this relationship may not be causal, it is important that women at higher risk of breastfeeding cessation are provided with adequate breastfeeding assistance and support.Christine Roberts is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia Public Health Practitioner Fellowship and Siranda Torvaldsen is supported by a NHMRC Australian Research Training Fellowship. The cohort study was supported by a project grant from The Canberra Hospital Private Practice Fund. Additional funding was provided by The Canberra Hospital Auxiliary, the Nurses' Board of the Australian Capital Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory Department of Health & Community Care

Pre-onset Abnormalities, Psychosocial Stressors, and the Development of Psychosis: A Prospective, Population-based Study

There is now considerable evidence that at least some children who later develop schizophrenia differ from those who do not across a variety of behavioral domains. Further clarifying the nature and specificity of such antecedents will inform models of etiology and pre-onset pathophysiology, as well as efforts to develop preventative strategies for psychotic disorders. Thus, a prospective study of potential predictors of psychosis was conducted. Data from 737 male participants of the population-based longitudinal Pittsburgh Youth Study were examined to determine whether psychotic-like experiences and behavior, social withdrawal, peer rejection, and problematic parent-child relationships as assessed annually from ages 13 to 17 predict early adulthood psychotic symptoms as assessed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule at a mean age of 22. Sixteen boys reported at least one psychotic symptom that persisted for at least one month (psychosis group), 52 met criteria for antisocial personality disorder (APD), and 22 for a depressive and/or anxiety disorder. These groups were compared to the 647 boys not reporting psychotic symptoms nor meeting criteria for APD or an anxiety or depressive disorder (controls). Schizophrenia-like positive symptoms, social withdrawal, peer rejection, and problematic parent-child relationships at ages 13 to 17 were associated with the development of early adulthood psychotic symptoms, but were not specifically predictive of psychosis relative to APD or depressive and/or anxiety disorders. Further, the psychosis group increased significantly more on indices of positive symptoms and peer rejection across adolescence compared to controls, and such patterns of change over time were generally specific to psychosis relative to APD and depressive and/or anxiety disorders. The current study adds to the existing literature by being among the few to use a representative sample to address such questions, and underscores the utility of assessing both level of and patterns of change over time on indices of functioning when attempting to identify and characterize the functioning of individuals at risk for psychosis development

Senior Recital: Brittany Thayer, violin

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Ms. Thayer studies violin with Helen Kim.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1241/thumbnail.jp

Aberrant Work Environments, Rationed Care as System Failure or Missed Care as Skills Failure?

Missed’ care has emotional, professional and legal connotations because, as one participant from our study noted, the environment can change so quickly and staffing is not allocated to accommodate this. This study used the MISSCARE survey distributed to nurses in New Zealand to find out what care was routinely missed, and why they missed it. The analysis of data returned from 199 nurses revealed that nurses routinely miss care and become frustrated because they are unable to use the knowledge and skill to provide the care; rather they are forced to prioritise care, some of which is either delayed or consciously missed. Whilst this study supported findings of previous research, the emergence of presenteeism as a factor that affects nurses missing care, was highlighted. This has wider implications to the nursing workforce related to their ability to provide safe and effective care, as well as to the organisations in terms of both budget and safety in care provision

Under-ascertainment of Aboriginality in records of cardiovascular disease in hospital morbidity and mortality data in Western Australia: a record linkage study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Measuring the real burden of cardiovascular disease in Australian Aboriginals is complicated by under-identification of Aboriginality in administrative health data collections. Accurate data is essential to measure Australia's progress in its efforts to intervene to improve health outcomes of Australian Aboriginals. We estimated the under-ascertainment of Aboriginal status in linked morbidity and mortality databases in patients hospitalised with cardiovascular disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Persons with public hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease in Western Australia during 2000-2005 (and their 20-year admission history) or who subsequently died were identified from linkage data. The Aboriginal status flag in all records for a given individual was variously used to determine their ethnicity (index positive, and in all records both majority positive or ever positive) and stratified by region, age and gender. The index admission was the baseline comparator.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Index cases comprised 62,692 individuals who shared a total of 778,714 hospital admissions over 20 years, of which 19,809 subsequently died. There were 3,060 (4.9%) persons identified as Aboriginal on index admission. An additional 83 (2.7%) Aboriginal cases were identified through death records, increasing to 3.7% when cases with a positive Aboriginal identifier in the majority (≥50%) of previous hospital admissions over twenty years were added and by 20.8% when those with a positive flag in any record over 20 years were incorporated. These results equated to underestimating Aboriginal status in unlinked index admission by 2.6%, 3.5% and 17.2%, respectively. Deaths classified as Aboriginal in official records would underestimate total Aboriginal deaths by 26.8% (95% Confidence Interval 24.1 to 29.6%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Combining Aboriginal determinations in morbidity and official death records increases ascertainment of unlinked cardiovascular morbidity in Western Australian Aboriginals. Under-identification of Aboriginal status is high in death records.</p

The Living Together Arrangement: Social Work and the Lost Client

A recent research study suggests that persons living together outside of marriage do not view social work services as a potential source of help for problems brought into the living together arrangement, those common to all intimate long-range dyadic relationships or those directly related to choice of lifestyle. A multi-faceted approach is suggested which would aim at reaching this potential client group in a climate which will neither stigmatize or judge the alternate lifestyle or the persons who practice it