American Psychological Association Research Articles

Richard M. Suinn (1933-2024).

Richard M. Suinn, an eminent psychologist known for his work in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), sports psychology, ethnic minority issues, and professional association leadership, passed away on January 5, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the age of 90 years. Suinn was born on May 8, 1933, in Hawai'i. Suinn was an expert in anxiety management and developed the widely used Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale. He was the first psychologist appointed team psychologist to a U.S. Olympic team, applying his CBT expertise to five Olympic teams. Suinn developed the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale, the most widely used measure of Asian American acculturation. He served as a president of the American Psychological Association (APA) where he opened the door for APA presidents of color, and the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and a member of the Board of Directors of APA, the American Psychological Foundation, American Board of Professional Psychology, Association for the Advancement of Psychology, ABCT, and the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychology, religion and spirituality: a brief history and theoretical study

It can be said that Psychology is configured as an area of study that seeks understanding, listening, reception and assistance in the autonomy of the individual in the different situations of everyday life. Thus, an integral recognition of the human being is necessary, focusing not only on the bodily and psychic dimensions, but also on the spiritual dimension, in order to emerge a care in its entirety. Therefore, this article aims to present the history of Division 36, a subdivision entitled “Division of Psychologists Interested in Religious Problems” (PIRI) of the American Psychological Association (APA) and its challenges; the scientific productions of the Psychology of Religion; research groups in Psychology of Religion in Brazil; and the discussions of the Regional Council of Psychology in relation to the National Working Group – Psychology, Religion and Spirituality.

Evaluation of the association between excessive screen use, sleep patterns and behavioral and cognitive aspects in preschool population. A systematic review.

In this review, we analyzed the possible relationship between the excessive use of screens and sleep patterns, and how this may affect certain behavioral and cognitive factors in preschool children. The selection, extraction and synthesis of the data were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in the electronic databases Medline (PubMed), PsycINFO (American Psychological Association), Scopus and Web of Science (WOS). Of the 597 articles initially identified, 13 met the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias of the articles selected was evaluated using a specific scale created for this purpose. The results found indicate that excessive use of screens is associated with a negative impact on the duration and quality of sleep-in preschoolers, and this worsening of sleep in infancy is related with a greater probability of the appearance of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems and certain cognitive problems. The results also suggest that sleep could play a mediating or moderating role as a bioregulatory system that attenuates or increases the onset of behavioral and cognitive difficulties in those children most exposed to digital devices.

Beyond the dyad: Broadening the APA supervision guidelines to include group supervision.

Group supervision is an extensively used format across many training agencies, yet it has been largely disregarded in theory and research within the supervision literature. In fact, the Guidelines for Clinical Supervision in Health Service Psychology (American Psychological Association, 2015a) mentions group supervision only one time, despite the fact that supervision within a group context includes competencies and considerations that are both unique and essential to the effective and ethical practice of group supervision. Because supervision conducted with multiple supervisees is multilayered and-as a result-more complex, group supervisors need to develop special skills that go beyond the supervision dyad. This article looks to the literature on supervision-both individual and group modalities-and on group psychotherapy to highlight the practices and processes that set group supervision apart. Building upon the seven supervision competencies outlined by the American Psychological Association (Supervisor Competence; Diversity; Supervisory Relationship; Professionalism; Assessment/Evaluation/Feedback; Professional Competence Problems; and Ethical, Legal and Regulatory Considerations), which currently concentrate exclusively on individual supervision, we extend each area to include distinct features of group supervision. We include recommendations for supervisor training and for the application of effective group supervision practices, as well as ideas on how best to approach the formal adoption of group supervision guidelines for psychotherapists. Our hope is that, either in a revision of the Guidelines for Clinical Supervision in Health Service Psychology or in a freestanding supplement to the Guidelines, guidance for group supervision will be more explicitly included. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Design and validation of initial diagnostic tests for preservice teachers as a tool for teacher education effectiveness

ABSTRACT Teacher education quality and effectiveness have been at the centre of policy discussions in the last decades. As part of efforts to improve teacher preparation, law 20.903 requires Chilean universities to design and apply diagnostic tests assessing the construct of their choice to all first-year preservice teachers. Based on these results, universities must design strategies to support their students. However, universities are facing challenges in implementing these tests, primarily due to the complexity, time and cost associated with developing high-quality tests. In collaboration with three universities, we developed three diagnostic tests: Social Thinking Test, Attitudes Towards Diversity Questionnaire, and Mathematics test for Teaching in Primary Education. Unlike many of the tests currently used by universities, these instruments were specifically designed to measure core teaching skills and attitudes defined by the national standards for Chilean teachers. To collect validity and reliability evidence, the tests were piloted with over 850 Chilean preservice teachers. Reliability was analysed using Cronbach’s alpha, with results ranging between 0.67 and 0.92. Validity was examined based on content and internal structure evidence. The analysis of content evidence indicated good coverage of the target domains as defined by the assessment frameworks, and internal structure results point towards the presence of multidimensionality in two of the three tests. This paper discusses the results of these pilot studies and how diagnostic tests that are constructed and analysed from the perspective of the standards (American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association y National Council on Measurement in Education, 2014) can provide valuable information to improve the effectiveness of teaching education.

Discover how intro to psych lessons can apply to student affairs leadership

The American Psychological Association estimates more than 1 million students take Introductory Psychology annually. Psych 101 syllabi expose students to dozens of lessons spanning the broad field of psychology.

The Social Problem of HIV as a Driver for the Development of Psychological Science and Practice

This article presents an analysis of Eugene V. Farber’s2 speech at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in 2017. The social and psychological aspects of the HIV epidemic problem, contributing to the development of psychological science and practice, are discussed. The role of HIV-infection in the development of psychological science and practice. Among these problems are stigmatization, doctor-patient relationship, mental disorders, and behavioral changes arising in HIV-infected individuals. Humanization and contextualization of clinical counseling, transformation of medical services taking into account cultural diversity and the implementation of a patient-centered approach in the clinical environment are mentioned to be the key trends in working with HIV-infected individuals

Achieving Accurate In-Text Citations with EndNote in Academic Writing

EndNote, alongside other citation management software programs like RefWorks, Mendeley, and Zotero, functions as a crucial instrument for archiving, structuring, accessing, and referencing sources in scholarly composition. This study delves into my personal experience of refining EndNote’s default in-text citations across various reference types, for achieving accurate in-text citations adhering to the American Psychological Association (APA) style. To do so, I compiled my personal, albeit disjointed, experiences with refining the default in-text citation format sourced from the EndNote library. The findings are presented and discussed in a thematic manner, focusing on the in-text citation types and how they can be effectively managed within Microsoft (MS) Word documents. The findings ultimately affirm that EndNote’s default in-text citations can be tailored to accurately cite a broader spectrum of citation types. This implies that judicious use of EndNote facilitates precise and systematic citations, with minimal manual adjustments. This consequently streamlines and accelerates the entirety of the course of academic writing.

In Case You Haven't Heard…

Middle‐aged adults in the U.S. tend to report significantly higher levels of loneliness than their European counterparts, possibly due in part to weaker family ties and greater income inequality, according to research published in the journal American Psychologist, an American Psychological Association news release stated. “Our research illustrates that people feel lonelier in some countries than in others during middle age,” said lead author Frank Infurna, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University. “It also sheds light on reasons this may be occurring and how governments can address it with better policies.” Considering the increased public health focus in the United States, as evidenced by the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation, and abroad, as countries such as the United Kingdom and Japan have appointed ministers to address the problem, the researchers explored how loneliness has historically changed over time and how it differs across countries. Infurna and his colleagues examined data from ongoing, nationally representative longitudinal surveys from the United States and 13 European countries, with more than 53,000 participants from three different generations: (the ‘Silent Generation,’ ‘Baby Boomers’ and ‘Generation X.’ Data were collected from 2002 to 2020 and only included responses given when participants were between the ages of 45 and 65.

Ethical issues raised in using online tele-mental health (OTH): a review of studies

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing technology in online platforms has been a primary method internationally for upholding the health care system during this world health crisis. Online tele-mental health (OTH) offers exciting new breaks for mental health practitioners. However, initiation of OTH has also come with a host of trials, particularly on ethical standards. The goal of this narrative review aims to highlight the raised ethical issues among studies applying the modality of OTH which is a timely resource for mental health professionals who have been forced to move into the practice of online consultations and sessions. Using the standard key points of the mental health practitioners’ codes of ethics, applying both the American Psychological Association (APA) and the code of ethics provided by the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) is used during the review. Results show that there are problems and uncertainties for mental health providers striving to fulfill the shift in technology. In this study, the five of the most critical ethical issues found in OTH encounters include issues of competency, issues in the interruptions of psychological services in using technology, issues in integrity, issues in privacy and confidentiality, and themes that are considered accessory issues in OTH. The recommendations provided adheres to lift ethical issues raised in the review.

APA moves to promote safe firearm storage, suicide prevention

Recognizing the urgent need to address the high prevalence of firearm‐related suicides in the United States, the American Psychological Association's (APA) governing Council of Representatives approved on Feb. 24, by a vote of 157–6, a resolution aimed at promoting secure firearms storage practices. This resolution underscores the critical role that psychologists and health care providers can have in preventing suicides by advocating for secure firearm storage and safety strategies, APA officials stated.

Importance of specific vital signs in nurses' recognition and response to deteriorating patients: A scoping review.

To explore the published research related to nurses' documentation and use of vital signs in recognising and responding to deteriorating patients. Scoping review of international, peer-reviewed research studies. Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Complete, Medline Complete, American Psychological Association PsycInfo and Excerpta Medica were searched on 25 July 2023. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. Of 3880 potentially eligible publications, 32 were included. There were 26 studies of nurses' vital sign documentation: 21 adults and five paediatric. The most and least frequently documented vital signs were blood pressure and respiratory rate respectively. Seven studies focused on vital signs and rapid response activation or afferent limb failure. Five studies of vital signs used to trigger the rapid response system showed heart rate was the most frequent and respiratory rate and conscious state were the least frequent. Heart rate was least likely and oxygen saturation was most likely to be associated with afferent limb failure (n = 4 studies). Despite high reliance on using vital signs to recognise clinical deterioration and activate a response to deteriorating patients in hospital settings, nurses' documentation of vital signs and use of vital signs to activate rapid response systems is poorly understood. There were 21studies of nurses' vital sign documentation in adult patients and five studies related to children. A deeper understanding of nurses' decisions to assess (or not assess) specific vital signs, analysis of the value or importance nurses place (or not) on specific vital sign parameters is warranted. The influence of patient characteristics (such as age) or the clinical practice setting, and the impact of nurses' workflows of vital sign assessment warrants further investigation. No Patient or Public Contribution.

Validation of the Danish version of the knowledge and attitudes survey regarding pain.

Pain management is critical for nurses; therefore, knowledge assessment is also critical. The Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP), designed for testing pain management knowledge among nurses, finds widespread use internationally; yet, key validity evidence according to American Psychological Association standards is missing. Therefore, this study aimed to translate and test the psychometric traits of KASRP based on an item response theory model. Cronbach's α was included to assess internal consistency, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was included to assess the total score normal distribution goodness of fit. KASRP was tested using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test for sphericity to examine its suitability for factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis to examine construct evidence. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to assess discriminant evidence. The correlation between KASRP and the Brockopp-Warden Pain Knowledge Questionnaire (BWPKQ) was included as a measure of convergent validity evidence, and correlation with self-assessed knowledge was tested as a divergent validity measure. The questionnaire was translated using back-forth and parallel translation. The KMO test for sphericity was 0.49 for all items and 0.53 for the adjusted scale without items 30, 33, and 36, with factor analysis explaining 70.42% of the variation suggesting unacceptable construct validity evidence. Cronbach's α was 0.75, suggesting acceptable reliability evidence; the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test revealed an insignificant skewness of -0.195 and a kurtosis of 0.001, while the Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed a significance of p < 0.001. The correlation between KASRP and the BWPKQ was 0.69 (p = 0.0001), suggesting acceptable convergent validity evidence. A correlation between KASRP and self-assessed knowledge of -0.59 was also found, which suggests acceptable divergent validity evidence. The translated KASRP passed six out of seven tests based on the given sample.

Non-violent communication as a technology in interpersonal relationships in health work: a scoping review

BackgroundWorking in healthcare environments is highly stressful for most professionals and can trigger problems in interpersonal relationships that can result in horizontal violence. In order to prevent violence and improve the working environment, some strategies can be implemented to provide well-being for all those involved, whether directly or indirectly in health care, such as non-violent communication. The aim of this study was to map and synthesize the available scientific evidence on the use of Nonviolent Communication as a technology for a culture of peace in interpersonal relationships in healthcare.MethodsThis is a scoping review carried out in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, Excerpa Medica DataBASE (Embase), PsycINFO - APA/ PsycNET (American Psychological Association) and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) databases between March and August 2023. The eligibility criteria used were studies that addressed the topic of NVC in the area of health, published in Portuguese, Spanish or English, with no time restrictions.Results53 studies were found in the databases. Two additional studies were extracted from of primary research. In the first exclusion phase, 16 texts were removed due to being duplicated. 39 articles were potentially relevant, and full-texts were reviewed for eligibility along with the inclusion and exclusion criteria Thus, seven studies were included in this review, published in English (five) and Portuguese (two), two of which were carried out in Brazil, one in the United States of America, one in South Korea, one in France, one in Canada and one in Thailand. In terms of the type of study/publication, two studies were reflections, one was a review, one was a mixed study, one was an experience report and two were experimental. The studies were predominantly of high and moderate methodological quality (85.7%). The total number of participants in the studies was 185. The studies showed that NVC is a technology that has made it possible to improve interpersonal relationships between health professionals. Training programs or educational intervention projects on the subject are useful for familiarizing professionals with the subject and demonstrating situations in which the technique can be included.ConclusionThe global scientific literature indicates that Nonviolent Communication is a significant resource for improving interpersonal relationships in healthcare work. This approach can be adopted as a strategy by managers and decision-makers, both to resolve conflicts and to prevent aggressive situations between health professionals, especially when it comes to moral or psychological aspects.

APA policy supports gender‐affirming evidence‐based care

The American Psychological Association (APA) last week announced the adoption of a landmark policy‐affirming, evidence‐based statement on health care and clinical care for transgender, gender diverse and nonbinary children, adolescents and adults, noting that recent legislative attempts to obstruct access to psychological and medical interventions for such individuals puts them at risk of depression, anxiety and other negative mental health outcomes.

Embracing the interdisciplinary nature of psychology: Challenging the increasing dismissiveness of high school psychology as a social studies course

ABSTRACT Despite psychology’s position within the National Council for the Social Studies' definition of social studies, the American Psychological Association is advocating the rebranding of psychology as a science course. This study interviews six high school psychology teachers and employs a Foucauldian framework to understand different perspectives on this rebranding, what makes teachers position their psychology course as science or social studies, and how that rebranding has impacted teachers’ perceived ability to make psychology content relevant to students’ lived experiences. We find significant disagreement among psychology teachers about the degree to which they should embrace the “psychology-as-science” paradigm. We also find that most professional development for high school psychology teachers is rooted in the science paradigm and that many teachers feel limited by their ability to connect psychology content to students’ lived experiences under the science paradigm. We conclude with recommendations for teachers, curriculum leaders, researchers, and teacher preparation programs for upholding psychology as an interdisciplinary social studies course.

Communication within families of individuals with disabilities: a comprehensive literature review

Family communication is a construct that has been extensively explored in the literature from a systemic perspective. This Integrative Review aims to characterize and identify the instruments used in the context of communication within families of individuals with disabilities. The research was conducted by searching the following databases: CAPES Journal Portal, Medline/Pubmed, Virtual Health Library, Scielo-Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, Educational Research Information Center, and the American Psychological Association. The search process and refinements led to the construction of a database comprising 20 studies. The analysis revealed that 60% (n=12) of the studies were published from 2016 to 2018. In 85% (n=17) of the studies, the participants were caregivers of individuals with disabilities. 30% (n=6) of the research was conducted in North America, and 90% (n=18) of the studies were quantitative. The most commonly used instruments included the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evolution Scale; Family Assessment Device Agreement scale about cohesion, communication and Family relationships and the Family Problem Solving Communication.

The role of available resources to identify and treat low-income women with postpartum depression during Covid-19✰

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a frequent complication that occurs during the postpartum period. New mothers are at risk of developing psychiatric disorders including depression. Depression leads to impairments in social functioning, quality of life, and increased risk of health problems. In the United States, PPD is experienced by up to one in seven women (American Psychological Association, 2008) with a range of 8 % to 20 % (Webber & Benedict, 2019). Global responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 made prevalent existing sexual, reproductive health, and justice inequities among women, girls, and vulnerable populations. Efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the sexual and reproductive health of women with increased cases of domestic violence, deaths among women, and depression. This study aimed to uncover the role of available resources in identifying and treating low-income women with PPD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to interview low-income women of childbearing age (18–51), pregnant, or with children aged 2 or younger to learn from their experiences accessing resources to report symptoms and get treated for PPD during the COVID-19 pandemic. All 8 participants were Latinas between the age of 18–51; with low income defined by their family annual household income and by being a beneficiary of a financial assistance program like WIC and Medicaid; had a baby since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020; had been diagnosed with PPD or with at least five clinical symptoms of PPD (inability to sleep or sleeping much, mood swings, change in appetite, fear of harming herself or the baby, extreme concern and worry about the baby, sadness or excessive crying, feelings of doubt, guilt and helplessness, difficulty concentrating and remembering, loss of interest in hobbies, and thoughts of death) lasting more than 4 weeks. Participants with English or Spanish as their primary language were interviewed. Five themes emerged from the interviews including 1. Fear, anxiety, and loss of interest; 2. Social support; 3. Barriers to screening; 4. Lack of resources for PPD; and 5. The COVID-19 pandemic. Their experiences reflect the lack of communication between patients and health care providers as well as the absence of resources offered to low-income women. There are limitations to this study, including being limited to the experiences of low-income women living in Dallas, Texas. This study is also limited to the perceptions of low-income women who self-identified to be between the ages of 25 to 44 years and Latinas who completed a demographic survey and a one-on-one interview to share their experiences with PPD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was also narrowed by 10 semi-structured questions that the eight study participants were asked.

Mentorship in rehabilitation psychology: Attitudes and perspectives.

To characterize how mentorship has been perceived, received, and practiced by individuals in the field of rehabilitation psychology across the career lifespan. Current members of the American Psychological Association Division 22 (Rehabilitation Psychology) were invited to complete an electronic survey via REDCap assessing individual experiences and perspectives on mentorship. Thematic analysis was used to identify key constructs and themes. 39 participants (n = 25 mentors) completed the survey with valid responses. Participants spanned the career lifespan, ranging from predoctoral trainees to late-senior psychologists. Mentorship was generally perceived as helpful for both mentors and mentees. Several important qualities of mentors (e.g., availability, communication skills, self-disclosure, and emotional support) and mentees (e.g., flexibility, motivation, and openness to feedback) were identified. Among both groups, mentorship was viewed as especially beneficial for obtaining American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) board certification, which may reflect an aspect of mentoring unique to Division 22. Existing gaps in mentorship and key areas for improvement were also identified; access to mid- to late-career mentorship emerged as a notable gap in mentorship. Increased program structure, networking opportunities, and research mentorship were also identified as possible areas of growth. This study provides meaningful insights into mentorship within the field of rehabilitation psychology. Our findings demonstrate the value of mentorship across the career lifespan, and the beneficial role of mentorship in obtaining ABPP board certification. In addition, we identify key areas of growth that can inform and improve mentorship within the field. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

APA names Guillermo Corea first chief business innovation and growth officer

The American Psychological Association (APA) has named Guillermo Corea as its first chief business innovation and growth officer, responsible for developing and leading new revenue generation strategies for the association and its affiliated APA Services Inc. Corea has more than 25 years of experience in business development, marketing, partnerships and strategic management. “APA welcomes Guillermo to this critical new position, which will involve identifying and diversifying revenue for the association, alliance building and business development,” APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D., said in announcing the appointment. “He brings a stellar record that includes launching new operations and expanding revenue streams in his prior positions.” Corea most recently served nine years with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), first as director of digital media and business devel‐opment and later as managing di‐rector, workplace innovation lab and venture capital. While there he launched an impact investment vehicle, new business lines and products, and he expanded SHRM's e‐commerce revenue.