Tackling stigma associated with intellectual disability among the general public: A study of two indirect contact interventions

Although evidence abounds that people with intellectual disabilities are exposed to stigma and discrimination, few interventions have attempted to tackle stigma among the general public. This study set out to assess the impact of two brief indirect contact interventions on lay people's inclusion attitudes, social distance and positive behavioral intentions, and to explore emotional reactions towards the two interventions. 925 participants completed the first online survey. Participants were randomized to watch either a 10 min film based on intergroup contact theory, or a film based on a protest message. In total, 403 participants completed the follow-up survey at one month. Both interventions were effective at changing inclusion attitudes and social distance in the short term and these effects were partially maintained at one month. The protest based intervention had a greater effect compared to the contact one on aspects of inclusion attitudes and evoked stronger emotional reactions. Despite small effect sizes, brief indirect contact interventions may have a potential role in tackling public stigma associated with intellectual disability but their effects on behavioral intentions are questionable.     

Preliminary findings of a randomized clinical trial of a virtual training program for applied behavior analysis technicians

As the demand for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services for children with an autism spectrum disorder continues to grow, it is critical to develop efficient, effective, and widely accessible procedures for training technicians to implement ABA interventions. One approach would be to develop efficacious training programs that could be delivered over the Internet via a virtual private network (VPN). In the current study, we developed a 40-h virtual training program in which participants completed e-learning modules and also received behavioral skills training over a VPN to implement behavior reduction and skill acquisition protocols in both discrete-trail and play-based formats. This virtual training program was evaluated in a randomized-clinical trial (RCT) using direct-observation measures on the implementation of discrete-trial training and play-based procedures as the primary dependent variables (which were also collected via a VPN). Participants in the treatment group showed robust and statistically significant improvement in their implementation of behavior reduction and acquisition programs under both discrete-trial and play-based formats, and they rated the training as highly socially acceptable. These preliminary results from an ongoing RCT suggest that this effective, convenient, and socially acceptable virtual training program has the potential to extend access to ABA services to families in rural and other underserved areas or populations.     

Exploring the efficacy of behavioral skills training to teach basic behavior analytic techniques to oral care providers

Performing oral care procedures with children with autism who exhibit noncompliance can be challenging for oral care professionals. Previous research has elucidated a number of effective behavior analytic procedures for increasing compliance, but some procedures are likely to be too time consuming and expensive for community-based oral care providers to adopt. The purpose of this study was to use Behavioral Skills Training to teach dental hygiene students and staff to implement basic function-based behavior analytic strategies to reduce noncompliance and increase their success in performing oral care exams and cleanings in vivo. All participants rapidly acquired the techniques and used them effectively during exams and cleanings following BST, and skills generalized to their completion of an X-ray procedure with several children with autism. The number of steps attempted in all procedures increased relative to baseline for all participants.     

Systematic framework to evaluate the status of physical activity research for persons with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundExploring the current state of health behavior research for individuals with multiple sclerosis is essential to understanding the next steps required to reducing preventable disability. A way to link research to translational health promotion programs is by utilizing the Behavioral Epidemiological Framework, which describes a sequence of phases used to categorize health-related behavioral research.ObjectiveThis critical audit of the literature examines the current state of physical activity research for persons with multiple sclerosis by utilizing the proposed Behavioral Epidemiological Framework.MethodsAfter searching MEDLINE, PUBMED, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and several major areas within EBSCOHOST (2000 to present), retrieved articles were categorized according to the framework phases and coding rules.ResultsOf 139 articles, 49% were in phase 1 (establishing links between behavior and health), 18% phase 2 (developing methods for measuring behavior), 24% phase 3 (identifying factors influencing behavior and implications for theory), and 9% phase 4 and 5 (evaluating interventions to change behavior and translating research into practice).ConclusionsEmphasis on phase 1 research indicates the field is in its early stages of development. Providing those with multiple sclerosis with necessary tools through health promotion programs is needed to reduce secondary conditions and co-morbidities. Reassessment of the field of physical activity and multiple sclerosis in the future could provide insight into whether the field is evolving over time or remaining stagnant.     

Employment Hardships and Single Mothers’ Self-Rated Health: Evidence from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics

Using a national sample of single mothers from the 2007 and 2009 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, this study examined the effects of multiple employment statuses on the selfrated health of single mothers during the recent economic recession. Unlike other studies, the current study minimized selection bias by controlling for prior self-rated health, in addition to other predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need factors. We found that underemployment, but not unemployment, is associated with lower levels of self-rated health of single mothers. Results further indicate that the 25–39 age range (compared to the 18–24 age range), lower family income, prior lower self-rated health, more chronic diseases, and binge drinking place single mothers at an increased risk of lower levels of self-rated health. In contrast, strength-building physical activity is significantly associated with higher levels of self-rated health. Implications for health care policy and social work practice are drawn from the results.