Adjustment In Context Research Articles

Effects of Benefit Finding, Social Support and Caregiving on Youth Adjustment in a Parental Illness Context

Social support and benefit finding are two related processes that may protect youth from the adverse effects of caring for an ill parent. The primary purpose of this study was to test a mediational model proposal that benefit finding mediates the effects of social support and caregiving on youth adjustment in the context of parental illness. Given the dearth of research on benefit finding in the youth caregiving field, an additional aim was to further clarify the benefit finding construct in the parental illness context. A total of 428 Australian youth (mean age 12.77 years) who had a parent with a serious health problem completed a questionnaire. Exploration of the benefit finding construct showed that it was unidimensional, relevant to youth caregivers, unrelated to measured demographics, but highly linked to caregiving demands and engagement. Results from path modelling analysis supported the mediational model proposal that benefit finding mediates the effects of social support and caregiving on youth adjustment. While caregiving responsibilities in general has a detrimental effect on adjustment, a small counter-balancing indirect effect was detected via the role of increased benefit finding due to caregiving responsibilities. Most of the benefit finding research in youth has been conducted in the context of trauma, where parental support is a significant protective factor. This study makes an important contribution to understanding benefit finding and social support processes in the context of a chronic stressor where one of the usual sources (parents) of significant coping support is limited.

Momentum in the European Corporate Bond Market: The Role of Bond-Specific Returns

This paper analyzes momentum patterns in the European corporate bond market. We study a broad sample of Euro-denominated investment grade and noninvestment grade bonds covering the period January 2004 to October 2016. Our empirical findings reveal that momentum is mainly concentrated among noninvestment grade bonds. Furthermore, the composition of the momentum portfolios varies over time and is related to bond characteristics. Taking this into account, we apply characteristics-based adjustments in context with performance measurement and find momentum profits to remain robust. Most importantly, bond-specific return components seem to drive momentum patterns, indicating gradual information diffusion in bond prices.

An examination of biracial college youths' family ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, and adjustment: Do self-identification labels and university context matter?

This study examined family ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, and adjustment among Latino/White and Asian/White biracial college students (n = 507), with special attention to how ethnic self-identification and university ethnic composition informed the ethnic identity process. Findings indicated that family ethnic socialization was positively related to participants' ethnic identity exploration and resolution, but not ethnic identity affirmation. Furthermore, ethnic identity resolution and affirmation were associated with higher self-acceptance and self-esteem, and lower depressive symptoms. Importantly, university ethnic composition moderated the association between ethnic identity resolution and anxiety, such that resolution promoted adjustment in contexts that were relatively more ethnically diverse. University ethnic composition also moderated the association between ethnic identity affirmation and both self-esteem and self-acceptance, such that affirmation was associated with better adjustment but only in schools that were less ethnically diverse.

The validity of the SERVQUAL and SERVPERF scales

PurposeThe purpose is to investigate, the difference between SERVQUAL and SERVPERF's predictive validity of service quality.Design/methodology/approachData from 17 studies containing 42 effect sizes of the relationships between SERVQUAL or SERVPERF with overall service quality (OSQ) are meta‐analyzed.FindingsOverall, SERVQUAL and SERVPERF are equally valid predictors of OSQ. Adapting the SERVQUAL scale to the measurement context improves its predictive validity; conversely, the predictive validity of SERVPERF is not improved by context adjustments. In addition, measures of services quality gain predictive validity when used in: less individualistic cultures, non‐English speaking countries, and industries with an intermediate level of customization (hotels, rental cars, or banks).Research limitations/implicationsNo study, that were using non‐adapted scales were conducted outside of the USA making it impossible to disentangle the impact of scale adaptation vs contextual differences on the moderating effect of language and culture. More comparative studies on the usage of adapted vs non‐adapted scales outside the USA are needed before settling this issue meta‐analytically.Practical implicationsSERVQUAL scales require to be adapted to the study context more so than SERVPERF. Owing to their equivalent predictive validity the choice between SERVQUAL or SERVPERF should be dictated by diagnostic purpose (SERVQUAL) vs a shorter instrument (SERVPERF).Originality/valueBecause of the high statistical power of meta‐analysis, these findings could be considered as a major step toward ending the debate whether SERVPERF is superior to SERVQUAL as an indicator of OSQ.

Areas of Comfort in Adolescence: A Study of Adjustment in Context

Areas of Comfort in Adolescence: A Study of Adjustment in Context

Can Good Experiences in One Setting Compensate for Problems in Another?

Originally published in Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 2003, Vol 48(6), 857-859. The fundamental question raised by Kathleen Thiede Call and Jeylan T. Mortimer in their book Arenas of Comfort in Adolescence: A Study of Adjustment in Context (see record 2001-16480-000) is whether stressful experiences encountered in one setting can be compensated for by positive experiences in other settings. Their book takes a systematic, new perspective on stressors and buffering experiences in various settings. It is one of the first broad studies that directly tests ideas about how negative experiences in one setting can be overcome by positive experiences in another. Arenas of Comfort in Adolescence is an important book. Perhaps its value is not about the empirical findings, but about the fact that it offers a fresh approach to understanding adolescent behaviors in multiple contexts, how adolescents cope with everyday stressors, and to what extent positive experiences with some can overcome problems with others. Adolescent agency is brought up as an important concept, and agency is likely to be of more central concern in future studies when scholars seek to understand how adolescents, on the basis of their experiences at home and in other settings, actively choose new environments and people.

Books and Materials Reviews

Call, K. T., & Mortimer, J. L. (2001). Arenas of Comfort in Adolescence: A Study of Adjustment in Context.Cicchetti, D., Rappaport, J., Sandler, I., & Weissberg, R., (Eds.) (2000). The Promotion of Wellness in Children and Adolescents.Friedrich, Douglas D. (2001). Successful Aging: Integrating Contemporary Ideas, Research Findings, and Intervention Strategies.Hanson, S. M. H. (2001). (Ed.) Family Health Care Nursing: Theory, Practice and Research (2nd ed.).Powell, L. H., & Cassidy, D. (2001). Family Life Education: An Introduction.Savin‐Williams, R. C. (2001). Mom, Dad, I'm Gay: How Families Negotiate Coming Out.Spock, B. (2001). Dr. Spock on Parenting: Sensible, Reassuring Advice for Today's Parent.