A study of leadership styles of elementary school principals and their perceptions of school climate and conflict resolution programs

The purpose of this study was to examine and explore the role of leadership styles of elementary building principals and the climate of the school on the presence, support, and implementation of a conflict resolution programs in Oakland County, Michigan. This study examined leadership styles of elementary principals and the relationship it had on attitudes and support of a conflict resolution program on schools\u27 overall climate. Implementing a conflict resolution program and training students and staff in conflict resolution skills can help schools develop a safe and orderly climate for students. The procedures for this study included a sample of 16 elementary principals and 276 K - 6 teachers. Likert\u27s (1983) Profile of a School (POS), Profile of Perceptions Toward Conflict Resolution (PPTCR), and a short demographic survey were used to collect data needed to answer the four research questions. The research suggested that elementary school principals and teachers who held positive perceptions about their school environment were positive about outcomes of conflict resolution programs. Principals and teachers did not differ significantly on the positive implications of conflict resolution programs and their attitudes were supportive of conflict resolution programs in their school. The research showed that leadership style was the strongest predictor of support for conflict resolution programs. Principals\u27 whose leadership style were perceived to be more collaborative and supportive tended to be more effective in implementing successful conflict resolution programs in their buildings. This resulted in the creation of a positive climate that was perceived to be more collaborative and supportive

Correction to: Cluster identification, selection, and description in Cluster randomized crossover trials: the PREP-IT trials

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article

Genetic Modulation of Lipid Profiles following Lifestyle Modification or Metformin Treatment: The Diabetes Prevention Program

Weight-loss interventions generally improve lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but effects are variable and may depend on genetic factors. We performed a genetic association analysis of data from 2,993 participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program to test the hypotheses that a genetic risk score (GRS) based on deleterious alleles at 32 lipid-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms modifies the effects of lifestyle and/or metformin interventions on lipid levels and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lipoprotein subfraction size and number. Twenty-three loci previously associated with fasting LDL-C, HDL-C, or triglycerides replicated (P = 0.04-1×10-17). Except for total HDL particles (r = -0.03, P = 0.26), all components of the lipid profile correlated with the GRS (partial {pipe}r{pipe} = 0.07-0.17, P = 5×10-5-1×10-19). The GRS was associated with higher baseline-adjusted 1-year LDL cholesterol levels (β = +0.87, SEE±0.22 mg/dl/allele, P = 8×10-5, Pinteraction = 0.02) in the lifestyle intervention group, but not in the placebo (β = +0.20, SEE±0.22 mg/dl/allele, P = 0.35) or metformin (β = -0.03, SEE±0.22 mg/dl/allele, P = 0.90; Pinteraction = 0.64) groups. Similarly, a higher GRS predicted a greater number of baseline-adjusted small LDL particles at 1 year in the lifestyle intervention arm (β = +0.30, SEE±0.012 ln nmol/L/allele, P = 0.01, Pinteraction = 0.01) but not in the placebo (β = -0.002, SEE±0.008 ln nmol/L/allele, P = 0.74) or metformin (β = +0.013, SEE±0.008 nmol/L/allele, P = 0.12; Pinteraction = 0.24) groups. Our findings suggest that a high genetic burden confers an adverse lipid profile and predicts attenuated response in LDL-C levels and small LDL particle number to dietary and physical activity interventions aimed at weight loss. © 2012 Pollin et al