The relationship between self‐reported received and perceived social support: A meta‐analytic review

Social support is broad term encompassing a variety of constructs, including support perceptions (perceived support) and receipt of supportive behaviors (received support). Of these constructs, only perceived support has been regarded as consistently linked to health, and researchers have offered differing assessments of the strength of the received‐perceived support relationship. An overall estimate of the received‐perceived support relationship would clearly further the dialogue on the relationship between received and perceived support and thus assist in the theoretical development of the field. This study evaluated all available studies using the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB; Barrera, Sandler, & Ramsey, 1981, American Journal of Community Psychology, 9, 435–447) and any measure of perceived social support. Using effect sizes from 23 studies, we found an average correlation of r = .35, p < .001. Implications of this estimate for further development of models of social support as well as interventions to enhance social support are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117157/1/ajcp9100.pd

Who are we missing? Examining the graduate record examination quantitative score as a barrier to admission into psychology doctoral programs for capable Ethnic minorities

The field of psychology must racially/ethnically diversify to create a workforce that can meet the needs of education, training, and interventions in an increasingly pluralistic society. Systemic bias in psychology doctoral programs' admissions process may partially account for relatively few psychologists being underrepresented minorities (URMs). The use of the Graduate Record Examination Quantitative score (GRE-Q) is one important modifiable barrier. The purpose of the current study is to go beyond replicating the association between the GRE-Q and desired doctoral outcomes by examining if a cut-off score for the GRE-Q as a proxy for potential to succeed in psychology doctoral programs disproportionately impacts URMs. Participants (N = 226) were psychology doctoral students at a Carnegie-classified Highest Research Activity (R1) large Midwestern university, who were admitted to graduate school from 2001 to 2011. Our findings show that, while controlling for undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and prior master's degree attainment, the GRE-Q predicted grades in two required graduate statistics courses and overall graduate GPA. Importantly, all students, regardless of their GRE-Q score, demonstrated competence in their statistics coursework, as assessed by their course grades. Moreover, we found that guidelines that bar admission into the psychology doctoral program for students with low GRE-Q scores would have disproportionately impacted URMs, resulting in 44% being barred admission versus only 17% of their White/Asian/Pacific Islander counterparts. Practical implications include introducing holistic review protocols into the admissions process, while educating faculty on how heavy emphasis on the GRE-Q contributes to inequitable exclusion of capable URMs.P30 AG015281 - NIA NIH HHSAccepted manuscrip

The Efficacy of Paroxetine and Placebo in Treating Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Change on the Hamilton Rating Scales

Background: Previous meta-analyses of published and unpublished trials indicate that antidepressants provide modest benefits compared to placebo in the treatment of depression; some have argued that these benefits are not clinically significant. However, these meta-analyses were based only on trials submitted for the initial FDA approval of the medication and were limited to those aimed at treating depression. Here, for the first time, we assess the efficacy of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in the treatment of both anxiety and depression, using a complete data set of all published and unpublished trials sponsored by the manufacturer. Methods and Findings: GlaxoSmithKline has been required to post the results for all sponsored clinical trials online, providing an opportunity to assess the efficacy of an SSRI (paroxetine) with a complete data set of all trials conducted. We examined the data from all placebo-controlled, double-blind trials of paroxetine that included change scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA) and/or the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). For the treatment of anxiety (k = 12), the efficacy difference between paroxetine and placebo was modest (d = 0.27), and independent of baseline severity of anxiety. Overall change in placebo-treated individuals replicated 79% of the magnitude of paroxetine response. Efficacy was superior for the treatment of panic disorder (d = 0.36) than for generalized anxiety disorder (d = 0.20). Published trials showed significantly larger drug-placebo differences than unpublished trials (d’s = 0.32 and 0.17, respectively). In depression trials (k = 27), the benefit of paroxetine over placebo was consistent with previous meta-analyses of antidepressant efficacy (d = 0.32). Conclusions: The available empirical evidence indicates that paroxetine provides only a modest advantage over placebo in treatment of anxiety and depression. Treatment implications are discussed

Removing performance cue effects in evaluative ratings

Includes bibliographical references (pages [46]-51)Research has demonstrated a ?performance cue effect? in which ratings are biased to be consistent with a given performance cue. This study attempted to: 1) diminish the performance cue effect through the use of free recall, and 2) to collect free recall as well as recognition measures to further explore the role of memory in the performance cue effect. These objectives were addressed by manipulating pre-observation performance cues (positive or negative) and the presence or absence of a free recall intervention. The results indicate that unstructured free recall does not function as an intervention. However, results do support the notion that the effects of performance cues on recognition scores (as well as on evaluative ratings) are mediated by probabilistic response bias. More importantly, additional analyses indicate that respondents are more likely to recall behaviors in a cue-consistent fashion. Specifically, participants provided with a positive (negative) performance cue recalled more positive (negative) behaviors. Further results indicate that the participants? overall free recall valence did not mediate the relationship between a participants? performance cue and his/her evaluative ratings.M.A. (Master of Arts

All Work and No Play? A Meta-Analytic Examination of the Correlates and Outcomes of Workaholism

Empirical research on workaholism has been hampered by a lack of consensus regarding the definition and appropriate measurement of the construct. In the present study, we first review prior conceptualizations of workaholism in an effort to identify a definition of workaholism. Then, we conduct a meta-analysis of the correlates and outcomes of workaholism to clarify its nomological network. Results indicate that workaholism is related to achievement-oriented personality traits (i.e., perfectionism, Type A personality), but is generally unrelated to many other dispositional (e.g., conscientiousness, self-esteem, positive affect) and demographic (e.g., gender, parental status, marital status) variables. Findings are mixed regarding the re

Moderator effects in trials examining change on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

<p>Pre-approval and Post-approval refer to whether the trial was included as part of the original approval submission to the FDA (<i>k</i> = 16) or whether it was conducted following FDA approval in 1991 or later (<i>k</i> = 11).</p><p>Moderator effects in trials examining change on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.</p

Baseline scores, mean change, standardized mean change, and sample sizes for all studies reporting change on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

<p>“Approval” column designates whether the study was submitted as part of the original approval submission to the FDA or whether it was conducted following FDA approval in 1991 or later. Drug benefit denotes the effect size for paroxetine compared to placebo.</p><p>Baseline scores, mean change, standardized mean change, and sample sizes for all studies reporting change on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.</p