Effects of Televised Safety Models on Children's Risk Taking and Hazard Identification

Objective: To examine effects of televised safety models onchildren's willingness to take physical risks and their abilityto identify injury hazards in common situations. Methods: Sixty children, between the ages of five and eightyears, were exposed to one of three TV stimulus programs: (1)a safety educational videotape, in which actors engaged in dangerousbehavior, suffered injuries, and then enacted alternative safebehaviors; (2) an animated cartoon, which portrayed charactersengaged in safety behaviors incidental to the main story line;or (3) the same cartoon program edited to omit the scenes depictingsafety behavior. Children's willingness to take physical riskswas measured before and after the TV stimulus by a series ofpictorial child-relevant scenarios in which they could indicatethe level of risk they would take. They also completed pretestand posttest measures of hazard identification, in which theywere to identify injury hazards in several pictorial scenarios. Results: Exposure to the safety educational videotape decreasedchildren's willingness to take physical risks and increasedtheir identification of injury hazards. Exposure to the animatedcartoon with incidental safety components did not affect risktaking, but did increase ability to identify hazards. Conclusions: Findings are interpreted as evidence of observationallearning and priming of thematically related knowledge by thetelevision stimuli. Implications for safety educational curriculaare discussed.     

Japanese anger expression styles and their interpersonal influence

The purpose of the present study was to investigate Japanese anger expression styles and their influence on interpersonal relationships. In the initial study, 239 undergraduates were asked to complete a questionnaire which assessed seven distinct anger expression styles. The results indicated that the participants most often employed three anger expression styles including hyojo-kucho (nonverbal), tohmawashi (implicit), and itsumodori (none). In the second study, 162 undergraduates were asked to watch these three anger expression styles portrayed on videotape. Participants rated the degree to which the actor in the videotape felt angry and their impressions toward male or female actors in either higher, lower, or equal status, same-sex situations. The findings indicated that the effect on interpersonal relationships varied across the three different expression styles. This study has important implications for understanding Japanese anger expression in interpersonal, and perhaps cross-cultural, relationships.     

Perceived parental rearing style, parental divorce and transsexualism: a controlled study

The parental representations of male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals were rated using the EMBU inventory. Scores on the measure were compared against ratings returned by controls of similar biological sex, matched on age, educational level and number of female siblings in an ANCOVA design. In line with previous findings by Parker & Barr (1982), who studied male-to-female transsexuals only, these patients were found not to differ from the male controls in their scoring of their mothers, but did score their fathers as less emotionally warm, more rejecting and more protective. Extending the findings by Parker & Barr (1982), female-to-male transsexuals rated both parents as more rejecting and less emotionally warm, but only their mothers as more protective than their female control equivalents rated theirs. Parental divorce distinguished both patient groups from controls, although further analyses revealed this not to imply more parental absence in patients than in controls. Male and female transsexuals differed from each other in some respects (e.g. lower scores on parental emotional warmth and higher scores on maternal rejection for the female patients), while being comparable in other respects (e.g. parental divorce).     

Longitudinal investigation of changes in interviewing performance of medical students.

The purposes were to determine the direction and extent of change in a medical student's ability to relate to patients between the sophomore and senior years, to assess the degree of predicted senior year performance from the sophomore year, and to determine the reliability of two major methods: interaction analysis (IA) and global faculty ratings. Twenty-two students were video-taped conducting two 10-minute interviews with a programmed patient: one as a sophomore, the other as a senior. The results for the interaction analysis method showed that the students were more directive, used more exploratory behaviors, were less supportive and more highly rated by the patients (actors) in the senior year. The physician-evaluators' global ratings indicated the students were more supportive, empathetic and open-ended, had fewer uncommon words, but conducted better overall interviews as seniors. The IA method was more reliable than global faculty ratings.     

小学老师与精神专科医生对儿童多动症的症状评估比较

目的：本研究使用“过度活跃症状检查量表（SNAP）”，比较广州市芳村小学的老师与广州市精神病医院的精神专科医生对多动症儿童注意缺陷和多动行为表现的评估。了解了小学老师和SNAP量表在我们以后将进行的有关儿童多动症（ADHD）研究中的作用，方法：使用SNAP症状量表，让精神专科医生和在职前以及在职老师（每组各30位）分别对同一录像带上多动症患儿的表现进行症状评估；采用SPSS统计软件对评定结果进行统计。结果：三者整体比较结果显示：广州市精神病医院临床医生，在职前老师和在职老师大部分评定结果一致。差异无显著性，少数症状项目评分不一致，进一步两两比较发现主要在职前老师和医生间存在差异。结论：经验丰富的小学老师对儿童多动症的SNAP量表评定可以作为专科医生诊断和评定治疗疗效的重要参考资料。     

Children's Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions Toward a Peer with Tourette Syndrome

Examined children's ratings of attitudes and behavioral intentionstoward a boy presented, on videotape, with or without symptomsof Tourette syndrome (TS). Effects of information about TS onthese ratings were investigated as well as the influence ofgender and grade. Children in Grades 3 and 5 were randomly assignedto one of three conditions: No TS, TS, or TS/information. Onthe attitude measure, children rated the peer presented withTS less positively than they did the peer presented withoutTS. On behavioral intention measures, no significant differenceswere found between conditions. Information about TS did notaffect ratings. Implications of these findings as well as limitationsof the study are discussed.     

Cholangiocytic apoptosis in chronic ductopenic rejection

The significance of cholangiocytic apoptosis as a mechanism of ductopenia in liver rejection remains controversial. In a previous study, the presence but not the extent of ductal apoptosis was assessed by electron microscopy. Other previously published studies using an in situ hybridization method (in situ end labeling) produced conflicting results (no apoptosis v massive apoptosis). We studied 47 liver needle biopsies from 8 patients with chronic ductopenic rejection confirmed by pathologic examination of the failed grafts. These biopsies were performed because of graft dysfunction, during a period of several months before retransplantation, and they showed cholangiocytic injury with progressive ductal paucity. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis (tissue digestion with proteinase K 20 microg/mL for 20 minutes). The interlobular bile ducts did not show labeling, even in lymphocytic cholangitis with obvious epithelial injury. However, there was minimal staining of ductular nuclei. Lymphocytic nuclei were also labeled. Apoptosis was not detectable in the vanishing interlobular bile ducts, even when more representative samples were studied and a more sensitive method was used. Unless apoptosis of cholangiocytes is an exceptionally rapid process escaping detection by conventional methods, ductopenia results mainly from ordinary, nonprogrammed cholangiocytic death. Apoptosis could still be involved in the pathogenesis of ductopenia by depleting cholangiocytic precursors, generally presumed to reside in ductules. This is a possible mechanism suggested by the following: (1) the established role of apoptosis in the homeostatic control of immature/progenitor cells, (2) the paucity of ductular proliferation in chronic rejection, (3) the previously reported decrease of ductular bcl-2 expression in rejection, and (4) the sporadic ductular TUNEL labeling seen in this study.     

The relationship between expected engagement and talking therapy outcome

The aim of the study was to investigate whether client‐reported expected engagement with therapy predicted therapy outcome. It was hypothesized that higher expected engagement with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or person‐centred experiential therapy (PCET) would predict more symptomatic improvement following therapy and higher likelihood of therapy completion. The Sheffield Expected Engagement with Therapy Scale was administered to 96 clients at pre‐therapy assessment with all meeting a diagnosis of moderate or severe depression with 53 receiving CBT and 43 receiving PCET. Higher expected engagement predicted more symptomatic improvement in CBT but not PCET. Expected engagement only predicted improvement in CBT when clients rated the credibility of CBT as low or moderate. Expected engagement did not predict therapy completion in either therapy. Assessment of expected engagement could be a useful tool in prediction of symptomatic improvement in CBT.     

中国和英国精神科医生对儿童多动行为症状的评估比较

目的 :比较不同文化背景的精神专科医生在评估多动症儿童各种症状表现时的一致程度 ,探讨文化对儿童多动症诊断可能产生的影响。方法 :使用单独或集体行为观察清单 ,让两地的精神科医生对儿童多动症的各种表现进行症状评估 ;所有的评估者均观察同一录像带上患儿的行为表现 ;对其评定结果进行统计和比较。结果 :儿童独自活动观察量表的 12项中有 11项症状条目评定结果类似 ,有 3项英国医生的评分高于中国医生 ,有 9项中国医生评分高于英国医生 ,其中 1项具有显著性差异。结论 :对行为表现和症状认知的文化差异可能使流行病学的研究出现不同的结果 ,即使使用统一的诊断标准和症状评分量表作为诊断工具 ,不同文化背景的国家 ,儿童多动症的患病率仍然可不一致     

Contributions of Genes and Environments to Stability and Change in Externalizing and Internalizing Problems During Elementary and Middle School

We examined longitudinally collected behavioral reports by teachers on a unique twin sample at the ages of 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 years. As twin and adoption studies implicate the role of genetic influence on behavioral problems found to be stable in epidemiological samples, the current study employs a developmental behavior genetic model to examine the extent to which genetic and environmental contributions to problem behaviors are stable and/or change during development. In this sample of 410 monozygotic (MZ) and 354 dizygotic (DZ) twins, MZ twins were rated as more similar than DZ twins on average. In general, boys were more frequently rated as displaying externalizing behaviors than were girls across each of the six observations, while girls’ internalizing problems were found not to be significantly different from boys’. For both sexes, stability in externalizing problem behaviors was due to a single common genetic factor whose effects acted pleiotropically at each age in the presence of unique environmental influences that were transmitted from age-to-age. Change was largely due to uncorrelated age-specific non-shared environmental and additive genetic effects. Contributions to stability for internalizing problems were due to age-to-age transmission of earlier expressed genetic effects. Change for girls and boys internalizing problems were largely due to environmental experiences unique to siblings along with uncorrelated age-specific genetic effects. These results further inform the notion that individual environments are important factors in the etiology of problem behaviors, but suggest that heritable contributions to phenotypic stability are largely the same across middle childhood and early adolescence. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Differential dose effects of central CRF and effects of CRF astressin on pig behavior

The elevation of central corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) causes an increase in behavioral activity, including increases in overall activity and oral/nasal/facial (ONF) chewing-rooting-rubbing behaviors in the pig and similar behaviors in other species. This study detailed changes in the frequency, duration and sequences of behaviors after central administration of vehicle or porcine CRF (pCRF at 0.5, 5.0, 50 and 150 microg). A sequential analysis described the complex behaviors induced in a dose-dependent fashion by central pCRF. The frequency and duration of ONF behaviors were significantly increased among pigs receiving 50 microg of pCRF. For behaviors such as ONF, 50 microg represented a breakpoint at which the frequency and duration of single behaviors increased. Pigs receiving 50 microg of pCRF were considerably more active and exhibited more ONF behaviors than did pigs receiving lower doses. The highly sensitive sequential analysis revealed that very low doses of central pCRF induced subtle changes in sequences of behaviors. Low doses of central pCRF (0.5 microg) induced fear-related behavioral sequences that included ONF behaviors alternating with periods of inactivity. Central injection of astressin, a CRF receptor antagonist, blocked many, but not all, of CRF-induced behaviors. Compared with saline-injected control pigs, central pCRF increased general activity, ONF, fear-related freezing and sham chewing behaviors. When pCRF was given following astressin, fear-related freezing behaviors were not different compared with pigs receiving saline. However, pigs given astressin plus pCRF showed elevated sham chewing compared with saline-injected control pigs, as did pigs receiving intracerebroventricular (ICV) pCRF. These data indicate that central pCRF activates brain mechanisms associated with hyperactivity, ONF and fear-related behaviors, whereas other behaviors induced by pCRF may be nonspecifically mediated by CRF. Astressin antagonized some, but not all, pCRF-induced behaviors. This model represents the induction of hyperactivity and stereotyped behaviors, which may represent a new model for the study of mania or obsessive-compulsive behaviors.     

Multi-Informant Assessment of ADHD Symptom-Related Impairments Among Children and Adolescents

Existing methods of assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are limited because they do not examine impairments in relation to symptoms of ADHD. This study investigated parent and teacher ratings of multiple domains of impairment, assessed in relation to the symptom dimensions of ADHD using the ADHD Rating Scale–5. Nationally representative samples of children rated by parents and teachers were recruited through commercial research firms. One sample included 2,079 parents who rated one of their children of age 5 to 17 years. The second sample included 1,070 teachers in grades K to 12 who rated 2 randomly selected students on their class rosters. Informants rated the extent to which each child displayed the 18 behaviors symptomatic of ADHD over the previous 6 months, as well as symptom-related impairments in the areas of family/teacher relationships, peer relationships, academics, behavior problems, homework, and self-esteem. Respondents were asked to complete the 6 impairment items after rating each of the Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity symptom items. For both informants a 6-factor model that combined impairment items across source of impairment was adequate and superior to a 2-factor structure based on source of impairment (i.e., impairment due to Inattention vs. Hyperactivity-Impulsivity). Impairment ratings were impacted by child demographic factors, but effect sizes were low. In contrast, impairment ratings were strongly related to ratings on the ADHD symptom dimensions. The study provides support for assessing 6 symptom-related domains of impairment but does not support differentiating whether Inattention or Hyperactivity-Impulsivity is the source of impairment.     

Problem-solving skills in happy and distressed couples: Effects of videotape and verbal feedback

Investigated communication in happy and distressed married couples, in two studies. Fifty-eight couples' problem-solving behaviors were evaluated by the spouses themselves and by trained observers. Some distressed couples viewed their own videotape; others received a placebo intervention. Half of the distressed couples received written feedback before a second discussion. Results indicated that (a) distressed and happy couples differed on some behavioral measures; (b) both happy and distressed wives engaged in more negative behaviors than husbands; (c) videotape and written feedback were ineffective in altering behaviors; (d) husbands' and wives' negative behaviors were correlated highly; and (e) spouses' and observers' ratings were independent. Implications for research on marriage and for behavioral couple therapy are discussed.     

The relationship between affective responses in preseparation episodes and patterns of attachment behaviors in the strange situation

Fifty-six first born Japanese 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation and the relationship between affective responses in the preseparation episodes and patterns of attachment behaviors in the following episodes was examined. In the preseparation episodes, 18 infants were rated as displaying distress (HS) and 38 infants did not display distress (LS). HS infants were acutely distressed in the separation episodes, and did not easily recover from distress even after regaining close physical contact with mother in the reunion episodes. In contrast, LS infants did not show distress in the first separation and reunion episodes. Although they were distressed in the second separation, they recovered more easily than HS infants in the second reunion episode. Resistant behaviors in the second reunion were observed more frequently and were stronger in HS infants than LS infants. Eighty-three percent of B4 and C were HS infants and 84% of B were LS infants. These results indicated that the affective responses in the preseparation episodes could predict the patterns of attachment behaviors in the following episodes.     

Adrenocortical and behavioral attunement in parents with 1-year-old infants

Sethre-Hofstad et al. [2002, Psychoneuroendocrinology 27:731-747] found that behaviorally well-attuned or sensitive parents showed better physiological attunement with their 2- to 4-year-old toddlers' adrenocortical responses to a potentially challenging task than less sensitive parents. In the present study we aimed to replicate this finding in a sample of 83 parents with 15-month-old infants. Parental and infant cortisol responses were assessed using saliva samples collected before and 21 min after the child's confrontation with a stranger and a moving robot. Infant behaviors reflecting distress/uncertainty during the stranger-robot session were rated from videotape. Parental sensitivity was observed during a parent-infant teaching episode. Our findings replicate those of Sethre-Hofstad et al. [2002, Psychoneuroendocrinology 27:731-747] by showing correlated parent-infant cortisol responses for sensitive parents but not for less sensitive parents. Furthermore, sensitive parents cortisol responses were associated with their children's distress/uncertainty during the stranger-robot episode, whereas this was not true for less sensitive parents. Results indicate an important connection between behavior and physiology in parent-infant interactions that deserve more research.     

The acceptability of a culturally-tailored depression education videotape to African Americans

The aim of this project was to determine the acceptability and usefulness of an educational videotape for African Americans with depression. Four focus groups were held in two community settings and at a historically black university. Subjects included 24 African Americans, aged 18-76 years, who screened positive for depression. Focus group questions addressed the usefulness of the videotape to understand depression and its treatment, the most and least effective parts of the videotape, and the cultural appropriateness of the information presented. Participants took pre- and post-tests on attitudes about depression. Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and reviewed independently by two investigators to identify and group comments into specific themes. Two other investigators reviewed the themes and comments for consistency and relevance. The videotape was generally well received and was rated effective in improving knowledge about depression and its treatment. After watching the videotape, attitudes improved in several areas, including depression as a medical illness, effectiveness of treatment, negative perceptions of antidepressant medication and reliance upon spirituality to heal depression. This culturally tailored videotape about depression is deemed acceptable and effective for most African Americans with depression participating in focus groups. It also improved knowledge and several attitudes about depression.     

Physiological and Subjective Sexual Arousal in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women and Postmenopausal Women Taking Replacement Therapy

Twenty premenopausal, 14 postmenopausal, and 14 postmenopausal women receiving replacement estrogen therapy were studied to determine whether differences in hormone status were associated with differences in physiological and subjective sexual responses. All subjects viewed a neutral, an erotic, and a second neutral videotape while photoplethysmographic vaginal pulse amplitude was continuously recorded. Self-report ratings of sexual arousal and affective response were collected. Serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, estrone, and luteinizing hormone were obtained. The three groups did not differ in either average or maximum vaginal pulse amplitude to the videotapes nor in latency of sexual response. The postmenopausal women not taking replacement estrogen reported significantly less vaginal lubrication in response to the erotic videotape than the higher estrogen premenopausal and replacement hormone groups. Estradiol level was significantly correlated with ratings of vaginal lubrication in response to the erotic videotape but not with vaginal pulse amplitude. Results thus suggest that estrogen is important in maintaining vaginal lubrication and the perception of sexual arousal but not in determining vaginal vasocongestion.     

父母温暖和拒绝与学龄儿童违纪行为的关系:冷漠无情特质的调节作用

目的:探讨父母温暖、拒绝与学龄儿童违纪行为间的关系是否会受到儿童冷漠无情特质的调节。方法:采用儿童教养行为问卷、儿童行为核查表以及冷漠无情特质问卷对284名学龄儿童及其父母进行测查。结果:(1)父亲和母亲温暖均与儿童违纪行为显著负相关,父亲和母亲拒绝均与儿童违纪行为显著正相关。(2)父亲和母亲温暖均能够显著负向预测高冷漠无情特质儿童的违纪行为,但是不能预测低冷漠无情特质儿童的违纪行为。(3)父亲和母亲拒绝均能够显著正向预测高冷漠无情特质儿童的违纪行为,然而对低冷漠无情特质儿童违纪行为的预测作用不显著。结论:提高父母的温暖水平,降低父母的拒绝水平可能是减少高冷漠无情特质儿童违纪行为的有效途径。     

Clinical judgments of easy vs. difficult clients by counselor trainees

Thirty-one counselor trainees viewed videotapes of two actors portraying either an easy client (one who expressed intrinsic motivation for help, responded openly to questions and spontaneously elaborated on responses) or a difficult client. Trainees made 11 ratings of client functioning, likely response to treatment, and personal reactions to client. As expected, clients with a difficult interpersonal style were not regarded as more psychologically disturbed, but were rated as having less potential for change and less ego strength. They were rated as less likely to attend the next interview or to complete counseling and less likely to respond well to counseling. They also were less well-liked. Auxiliary analyses indicated that minority counselors (N = 9) appeared more optimistic about the results of counseling, though they anticipated equally much difficulty in working with the clients. A single interaction effect indicated that white counselor trainees saw less potential for change in the difficult vs. easy clients; minority Ss made no such distinction.