Measuring Use of Resourcefulness Skills: Psychometric Testing of a New Scale

Highly resourceful individuals have been found better able to meet life\u27s challenges and to experience more positive health outcomes. Although psychometrically sound measures of resourcefulness exist and resourcefulness training trials show that the intervention increases adaptive functioning and enhances quality of life, there is no direct measure of intervention fidelity. This study examined the reliability and validity of an 8-item Resourcefulness Skills Scale (RSS), which measures the frequency with which intervention recipients use specific resourcefulness skills. The RSS was found to have acceptable internal consistency (� = .78), criterion-related validity (�\u27s = .50 and .52 with other resourcefulness scales), and construct validity (�\u27s =.38 and .53 with theoretically-related constructs). Factor analysis revealed two factors reflecting personal and social resourcefulness. Because the RSS queries respondents on their use of skills taught during resourcefulness training, it has potential usefulness as a measure for evaluating how well the training is translated into use of the skills in daily life

Predeath Grief, Resourcefulness, and Perceived Stress Among Caregivers of Partners With Young-Onset Dementia

More than 200,000 Americans are currently diagnosed with young-onset dementia (YOD). YOD is dementia diagnosed prior to the age of 65. Most persons of YOD are cared for by their partners. Using the theoretical framework of Resilience Theory, this cross-sectional, correlational study examined the moderating effects of personal and social resourcefulness on the relationship between predeath grief and perceived stress among 104 YOD caregiving partners (life partners/spouses) using an online survey platform. Results indicated a large positive correlation between predeath grief and caregiver perceived stress (r = .65; p \u3c .001). Together predeath grief, personal resourcefulness and social resourcefulness explained 51.5% of the variance in perceived stress. Personal resourcefulness did not moderate the relationship. Social resourcefulness did positively moderate this relationship between predeath grief and perceived stress. These findings allow for a better understanding of the caregiving experience for a partner with YOD and creates opportunities for future research studies

The Effect of a Resourcefulness Training Intervention on Relocation Adjustment and Adaptive Functioning among Older Adults in Retirement Communities

The population of older adults is increasing rapidly and is expected to reach 83.7 million by the year 2050. Previous research demonstrates that greater resourcefulness is associated with better quality of life and life satisfaction. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of a resourcefulness training intervention on positive cognitions, resourcefulness, relocation adjustment, and adaptive functioning among older adults who have relocated to retirement communities. Resourcefulness theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. Forty older adults who relocated to three retirement communities in Milwaukee, WI were randomly assigned to either a diversional activity group or to a resourcefulness training (RT) intervention group. Two older adults dropped out of the study (one from the diversional activity group and one from the RT group), leaving 38 elders. The results of the study indicated that there were slight increases (a trend) in the mean of positive cognitions, relocation adjustment, adaptive functioning, and personal resourcefulness in the expected direction for the RT intervention group as compared to the diversional group. Recommendations for future research include the use of larger and more diverse samples over a longer periods of time (6 weeks and 12 weeks post-intervention) as well as the use of cut scores on the resourcefulness scale so that the RT training intervention is taught to those who need it

Using Topic Models to Mine Everyday Object Usage Routines Through Connected IoT Sensors

With the tremendous progress in sensing and IoT infrastructure, it is foreseeable that IoT systems will soon be available for commercial markets, such as in people's homes. In this paper, we present a deployment study using sensors attached to household objects to capture the resourcefulness of three individuals. The concept of resourcefulness highlights the ability of humans to repurpose objects spontaneously for a different use case than was initially intended. It is a crucial element for human health and wellbeing, which is of great interest for various aspects of HCI and design research. Traditionally, resourcefulness is captured through ethnographic practice. Ethnography can only provide sparse and often short duration observations of human experience, often relying on participants being aware of and remembering behaviours or thoughts they need to report on. Our hypothesis is that resourcefulness can also be captured through continuously monitoring objects being used in everyday life. We developed a system that can record object movement continuously and deployed them in homes of three elderly people for over two weeks. We explored the use of probabilistic topic models to analyze the collected data and identify common patterns

Relationships Among Perceived Burden, Depressive Cognitions, Resourcefulness, and Quality of Life in Female Relatives of Seriously Mentally Ill Adults

Providing care and support to a seriously mentally ill (SMI) family member can have deleterious effects on one\u27s health and quality of life. This study explored relationships among perceived burden, depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and quality of life in 60 African-American and Caucasian women family members of SMI adults. Caucasians reported greater burden than African-Americans; the groups were similar in depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and quality of life. In Caucasians and African-Americans, burden correlated with depressive cognitions and both correlated with poorer mental health. In African-Americans, burden also correlated with lower personal resourcefulness and both correlated with poorer mental health. The findings suggest a mediating role by depressive cognitions for both groups and by resourcefulness in African-Americans. Thus, both groups of women may benefit from positive thinking while African-Americans also may benefit from learning personal resourcefulness skills

How to Survive the Zombie Reckoning

Associate Professor Paul Bender, an expert in post-apocalyptic fiction, shares insights from resourcefulness to group liability sure to be handy for any collapse of civilization

Effects of Teaching Resourcefulness and Acceptance on Affect, Behavior, and Cognition of Chronically Ill Elders

This clinical trial examined changes in affect, behavior, and cognition in 176 chronically ill elders who were randomly assigned to Resourcefulness Training (RT), Acceptance Training (AT), or Diversional Activities (DA). The RT group improved on affect (t(1,42) = 4.91; p \u3c .001) and cognition (t(1,42) = 2.03; p\u3c .05) and these effects lasted 12 weeks. The AT group improved on affect (t(1,36) = 3.08; p \u3c .01), but this improvement did not persist. The RT and AT groups both showed positive behavior changes after six weeks. There were no changes in the DA group. The findings suggest that teaching elders resourcefulness and acceptance of chronic conditions may promote healthy functioning and improve their quality of life

Bold resourcefulness: redefining employability and entrepreneurial learning

This two-year investigation into the provision and quality of professional development, employability and enterprise (e&e) learning in UAL’s curriculum aims to stimulate debate about how students are prepared for the workplace, the wider benefits of a creative education and the key issues for emerging graduates in a changing world. The findings will lead to improvements in the key areas of: student satisfaction and graduate employment and contribute to a University-wide employability strategy

Resourceful leadership: how directors of children’s services improve outcomes for children, full report

Leading for Outcomes is a unique study into senior leadership in children’s services in England, drawing on in-depth primary research with leaders in eight local authorities, and 22 directors of children’s services. The eight local authorities were selected on a range of factors but primarily to represent existing high performers or rapidly improving authorities in terms of outcomes. The research was commissioned by the National College in partnership with C4EO, and completed by a team comprising Deloitte, Navigate and the University of Oxford. The study was completed during 2010. The key concept the Leading for Outcomes research has uncovered is that of the resourceful leader1. This report sets out a definition of resourcefulness and the eight core behaviours of resourceful leaders. It then discusses resourcefulness within three specific contexts that emerged as part of the research: leading change, leading in a time of shock, and managing the corporate and political landscape

Resourcefulness in African American and Caucasian American Caregivers of Persons With Dementia: Associations With Perceived Burden, Depression, Anxiety, Positive Cognitions, and Psychological Well-Being

Purpose Providing care to persons with dementia can have negative effects on caregivers\u27 physical and psychological well-being. This secondary analysis explored relationships among perceived burden, depression, anxiety, resourcefulness, and psychological well-being in 28 African American (AA) and 45 Caucasian American (CA) caregivers of persons with dementia. Design and Methods Descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to examine the hypothesized relationships in a sample of 73 caregivers. Findings CAs reported greater burden (t = −3.68, p \u3c .001), more anxiety (t = −2.66, p \u3c .01), depression (t = −2.21, p \u3c .05), and hostility (t = −2.30, p \u3c .05) than AAs. AAs reported higher scores than CAs on resourcefulness, positive cognitions, and psychological well-being. Practice Implications The study findings provided directions for the development of resourcefulness interventions to enhance the psychological well-being among dementia caregivers