Assertive Responses Research Articles

Fast and friendly: The role of vocal cues in adolescents' responses to and perceptions of peer provocation.

Adolescents self-report using different strategies to respond to peer provocation. However, we have a limited understanding of how these responses are behaviorally enacted and perceived by peers. This study examined the extent to which adolescents' self-reported responses to peer provocation (i.e., aggressive, assertive, and withdrawn) predicted how their vocal enactments of standardized responses to peer provocation were perceived by other adolescents. Three vocal cues relevant to the communication of emotional intent-average pitch, average intensity, and speech rate-were explored as moderators of these associations. Adolescent speakers (n = 39; Mage = 12.67; 66.7% girls) completed a self-report measure of how they would choose to respond to scenarios involving peer provocation; they also enacted standardized vocal responses to hypothetical peer provocation scenarios. Recordings of speakers' vocal responses were presented to a separate sample of adolescent listeners (n = 129; Mage = 12.12; 52.7% girls) in an online listening task. Speakers who self-reported greater use of assertive response strategies enacted standardized vocal responses that were rated as significantly friendlier by listeners. Vocal responses enacted with faster speech rates were also rated as significantly friendlier by listeners. Speakers' self-reported use of aggression and withdrawal was not significantly related to listeners' ratings of their standardized vocal responses. These findings suggest that adolescents may be perceived differently by their peers depending on the way in which their response is enacted; specifically, faster speech rate may be perceived as friendlier and thus de-escalate peer conflict. Future studies should consider not only what youth say and/or do when responding to peer provocation but also how they say it.

Protocol for responding to the detection of Legionella pneumophila in drinking water distribution systems

AbstractA protocol for responding to Legionella pneumophila detections in distribution system samples is presented and justified. The protocol was developed using existing protocols for building water systems, vetted in workshops, and provided to utilities participating in a research project. The protocol provides action levels and actions that utilities can take when L. pneumophila is detected in distribution system samples. Action levels are based on the best available science and expert judgment and are similar to those in protocols for assessing building water system monitoring results. Action levels should be reassessed as additional data and knowledge on the occurrence and growth potential of L. pneumophila in distribution systems become available. All positive detections trigger assessments that focus first on conditions local to the sample location and then extend further into the distribution system. Higher concentration or more frequent detections initiate more assertive responses and communication than lower concentration and frequency detections. The protocol provides a starting point for the development of protocols for purposes such as L. pneumophila operational surveillance or within an outbreak investigation.

Decision aid and patient engagement in breast surgical consults: A treatment-compliant analysis of Alliance A231701CD.

314 Background: In a recent trial, we observed no statistically significant increase in engagement after a web-based decision aid (DA) was delivered to breast cancer patients prior to a surgical consult. However, a minority of the intervention group (44%) reviewed the DA. The objective is to assess the effect of the DA on engagement for the cohort of patients who reviewed it. Methods: A stepped wedge trial was conducted with 10 NCI Community Oncology Research Program clinics that care for a high proportion of socioeconomically disadvantaged patients (6/2019-12/2021). Clinics were randomized to time of transition from usual care (UC) to delivery of a DA. Patients with stage 0-3 breast cancer eligible for surgery provided consent prior to a surgical consult. Engagement was measured from audio-recorded surgical consults (Active Patient Behaviors, Street protocol). For this analysis, we identified a cohort of treatment compliant (TC) patients who reviewed the DA. Intervention effects comparing TC and UC groups were tested with linear mixed-effects models, accounting for time, enrollment post-COVID, and patient age, race, education, and socioeconomic disadvantage (assessed with Area Deprivation Index and dichotomized). Exploratory models were generated using Active Patient Behavior subcomponents (asking questions, assertive responses, expressions of concern) as the outcome. Results: The cohort includes 407 patients (UC 264; TC 143). TC patients were more likely to be white (TC 73%, UC 64%, p=0.03), have a college degree (TC 65%, UC 55%, p=0.05), and not be disadvantaged (TC 89%, UC 72%, p=0.001). TC was associated with increased engagement (8.2 [0.08, 16.2], p=0.048, Table). A college degree was associated with higher, while black race and socioeconomic disadvantage lower, engagement. On exploratory analyses, TC had a stronger association with higher levels of assertive responses (2.9 [-0.3, 6.1], p=0.07) compared with asking questions (5.2 [-1.4, 11.9], p=0.12) or expressions of concern (0.08 [-0.60, 0.76], p=0.82). Conclusions: We observed increased engagement in breast cancer patients who reviewed a DA prior to a surgical consult. However, we also observed differences based on race, education, and socioeconomic disadvantage. Further research will identify adjunct interventions to combine with the DA to improve cancer care delivery for diverse populations. Support: UG1 CA189823; AHRQ R01HS025194; https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org. Clinical trial information: NCT03766009 .[Table: see text]

Assessing effectiveness of heart rate variability biofeedback to mitigate mental health symptoms: a pilot study.

Introduction: The increasing burden on mental health has become a worldwide concern especially due to its substantial negative social and economic impact. The implementation of prevention actions and psychological interventions is crucial to mitigate these consequences, and evidence supporting its effectiveness would facilitate a more assertive response. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) has been proposed as a potential intervention to improve mental wellbeing through mechanisms in autonomic functioning. The aim of this study is to propose and evaluate the validity of an objective procedure to assess the effectiveness of a HRV-BF protocol in mitigating mental health symptoms in a sample of frontline HCWs (healthcare workers) who worked in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A prospective experimental study applying a HRV-BF protocol was conducted with 21 frontline healthcare workers in 5weekly sessions. For PRE-POST intervention comparisons, two different approaches were used to evaluate mental health status: applying (a) gold-standard psychometric questionnaires and (b) electrophysiological multiparametric models for chronic and acute stress assessment. Results: After HRV-BF intervention, psychometric questionnaires showed a reduction in mental health symptoms and stress perception. The electrophysiological multiparametric also showed a reduction in chronic stress levels, while the acute stress levels were similar in PRE and POST conditions. A significant reduction in respiratory rate and an increase in some heart rate variability parameters, such as SDNN, LFn, and LF/HF ratio, were also observed after intervention. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a 5-session HRV-BF protocol is an effective intervention for reducing stress and other mental health symptoms among frontline HCWs who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. The electrophysiological multiparametric models provide relevant information about the current mental health state, being useful for objectively evaluating the effectiveness of stress-reducing interventions. Further research could replicate the proposed procedure to confirm its feasibility for different samples and specific interventions.

Different Maternal Responses and Cognitions in Hypothetical Power Bouts: Relations to Parenting Styles

In order to explore how parental styles and maternal cognitions interacted with difficult extended discipline episodes called power bouts, 88 mothers were categorized as either Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive, or Uninvolved. Mothers then read six hypothetical vignettes about a 4-year-old child misbehaving and were asked how they would respond to the child and how they would respond a second time if the child did not behave. These open-ended responses were coded on a scale of increasing power assertiveness with 0 being giving in and 5 indicating using punishment through spanking, removal of privilege, or time out. Using Bell and Chapman’s (1986) Control System’s Model to understand how mothers of different parenting styles would respond in a power bout, it was hypothesized that Authoritative mothers would become increasingly power assertive in order to control the child, but that Authoritarian mothers would higher levels of power assertion over both responses while permissive parents would be consistently lower in power assertion. Results confirmed the hypothesis for Authoritative mothers, but Permissive mothers also increased power assertive responses like Authoritative mothers. Authoritarian mothers were consistent but did not react as power assertively as anticipated. Results are discussed in terms of how power bouts interact with parental cognition and discipline strategies in conjunction with Bell and Chapman’s model but could be different for Authoritative parents compared to other parental styles.

To be assertive or not to be assertive: That is the question! Students' reactions to sexual harassment in academia.

IntroductionIn the literature, no integrated definition of sexual harassment (SH) occurs but there is clear unanimity about SH being offensive, humiliating, and intimidating behavior. Within academic settings, SH has severe negative effects on students' physical or emotional wellbeing as well as on their ability to succeed academically.MethodsThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sex, gender roles, and the ways to manage SH (assertive and nonassertive reactions) in university students. It was hypothesized that female students would report more nonassertive reactions compared to male students. In addition, following the Bem theory on gender roles and using the self-report tool by the same author, it is hypothesized that female and male students, who are classified as feminine, will report more nonassertive responses, whereas male and female students, who are classified as masculine, will report more assertive responses. Our hypothesis was tested with a sample of 1,415 university students (593 men, 41.9%, and 822 women, 58.1%) who completed a questionnaire approved by the local ethical review board for research from the end of January 2019 to the first half of February 2019.ResultsContrary to our hypothesis, results showed that women react more than men in both assertive and nonassertive modalities. In addition, our results confirmed the main effect of both sex and gender roles on students' assertive and nonassertive reactions to SH in academia.ConclusionEducational programs about SH may prove useful in preventing its occurrence. Gender equality plans in academia can improve a nonsexist and safe environment for students. It is urgent to improve transparency and accountability of policies on the management of SH: academic institutions need to formulate a procedure to facilitate SH reporting, considering the sensitive balance of confidentiality and transparency issues. Support for the victims (social services, healthcare, legal representation, and advice concerning career/professional development) must be included.

South Korean housewives’ emerging economic authority and contestation of domesticity during the Cold War Era

AbstractThis article analyses the impact South Korean housewives exerted on Cold War‐era domesticity. It first traces the trans‐war trajectory of modern domesticity from Meiji Japan and its colonies through its Cold War manifestation, when America exerted hegemonic influence. Thereafter, this article examines the tactics that housewives employed to gain power within the domestic sphere and beyond: earning money, microfinance, labour and side‐line work, and an assertive response to the purse string debate in South Korea. The article also argues that even though prescriptive gender norms continued to inform the everyday lives of these housewives, their increasing bargaining power gave them economic authority to renegotiate and reimagine domesticity during the Cold War.

Racial/ethnic disparities in serious illness communication for patients with cancer.

6540 Background: Racial/ethnic disparities in serious illness communication exist between patients with cancer and their oncologists. Our prior work has shown that goals of care discussions are three minutes shorter with racial/ethnic minority patients. In this study, we sought to compare oncologist's use of serious illness communication skills, patient participatory behavior, and overall communication quality during encounters with patients with advanced cancer of different self-reported races/ethnicities. Methods: We analyzed baseline recordings from a two-arm multisite randomized controlled trial to test a coaching model of communication skills training for solid tumor oncologists and their newly diagnosed advanced cancer patients. We audio recorded post-imaging patient-oncologist encounters for patients receiving systemic cancer treatment and coded transcripts for oncologist's use of serious illness communication skills (coded as count/encounter): open-ended questions, reflections, empathic responses to patient empathic opportunities, empathic statements, “sorry” statements, and elicitation of questions. We also assessed global codes of oncologist communication (assessed on 5-point Likert scales): flow, concerns addressed, attention, warmth, and respect. Finally, we coded patient participatory behavior (coded as count/encounter): asking questions and assertive responses. We compared the skills and behaviors by race/ethnicity of the patient using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: We included the 56 (38%) recordings with oncologists who did not receive the intervention. The patients in these encounters were 25 (45%) female; 32 (57%) over the age of 65; 23 (41%) White Non-Hispanic, 20 (36%) Black Non-Hispanic, and 11 (20%) Hispanic. Overall, oncologists responded empathically to patients’ emotions only 19% of the time. Oncologists used fewer reflective statements with Black Non-Hispanic patients (mean 0.3 statements/encounter) as compared to White Non-Hispanic patients (1.1) and Hispanic patients (1.1), p = 0.02. Furthermore, coders rated oncologists as being less likely to address concerns of Black Non-Hispanic patients (mean Likert scale 3.1) as compared to White Non-Hispanic (3.8) and Hispanic (3.4) patients, p = 0.04. Finally, coders rated oncologists as having less warmth with Black Non-Hispanic patients (mean Likert scale 2.9) as compared to White Non-Hispanic (3.8) and Hispanic (3.3) patients, p = 0.04. Conclusions: In this diverse sample of patients with advanced cancer, oncologists used fewer reflective statements, were less attentive to concerns, and expressed less warmth with Black Non-Hispanic patients. Interventions are needed to overcome these striking racial/ethnic disparities in serious illness communication for patients with cancer.

Black-White Racial Context and U.S. American Youths’ Moral Judgments of and Responses to Social Exclusion Bullying

Bullied adolescents experience myriad poor outcomes, yet certain responses can have significant mitigatory effects. However, research has yet to examine how the racial context of these interactions affects adolescents’ evaluations of and beliefs about responding to social-exclusionary bullying (SEB). The sample comprised 219 ninth-grade Black (N = 84; females = 46) and White (N = 135; females = 81) students (Mage = 14.84, SD = 0.68; Nfemales= 92) recruited from 5 schools in a large, racially diverse, middle-class Mid-Atlantic metropolitan area of the United States. Participants judged the wrongfulness of 4 scenarios of same- and cross-race SEB and selected how the victims should respond to the victimization. Responses were coded as aggressive, assertive, adult assistance-seeking, or avoidant. Gender, scenario, and response strategy main and interaction effects emerged. The Black-excluder and White-victim scenario was rated least wrong. Assertive responses were selected more often in scenarios with White-excluders; avoidant responses were selected more often in scenarios with Black-excluders. Results suggest that racial context relates significantly to adolescents’ evaluations of and responses to SEB scenarios.

A unified analysis of polar particles in Farsi

Polar Response Particles (PRPs) have been widely studied in the literature, discussing the essence of their ambiguity in polarity and (dis)agreement reading sys- tems (Pope 1976) and what affects the reading preference. In languages like English and Farsi, in which the same particles satisfy both readings, PRPs are ambiguous in response to negative initiatives (including questions and assertions). In Farsi, on the other hand, PRPs are not only used in assertive responses to polar initiatives, but they also appear in interrogatives like tag questions and alternative questions. In this paper, I propose a unified analysis of PRPs in Farsi in both forms. My analysis is based on the feature marking account (Roelofsen and Farkas 2015), and I propose a lexical ambiguity that can benefit the account for interrogative forms too. Moreover, I claim that bias in the initiatives affect the reading variation in ambiguous cases, in the sense that the stronger the bias in the antecedent the higher preference for the (dis)agreement reading over the comparison to polarity reading.

Manifestations, responses, and consequences of mistreatment of sick newborns and young infants and their parents in health facilities in Kenya.

Despite efforts to incorporate experience of care for women and newborns in global quality standards, there are limited efforts to understand experience of care for sick newborns and young infants. This paper describes the manifestations, responses, and consequences of mistreatment of sick young infants (SYIs), drivers, and parental responses in hospital settings in Kenya. A qualitative formative study to inform the development of strategies for promoting family engagement and respectful care of SYI was conducted in five facilities in Kenya. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with providers and policy makers (n = 35) and parents (n = 25), focus group discussions with women and men (n = 12 groups), and ethnographic observations in each hospital (n = 64 observation sessions). Transcribed data were organized using Nvivo 12 software and analyzed thematically. We identified 5 categories of mistreatment: 1) health system conditions and constraints, including a) failure to meet professional standards, b) delayed provision of care; and c) limited provider skills; 2) stigma and discrimination, due to provider perception of personal hygiene or medical condition, and patient feelings of abandonment; 3) physically inappropriate care, including providers taking blood samples and inserting intravenous lines and nasogastric tubes in a rough manner; or parents being pressured to forcefully feed infants or share unsterile feeding cups to avoid providers' anger; 4) poor parental-provider rapport, expressed as ineffective communication, verbal abuse, perceived disinterest, and non-consented care; and 5) no organized form of bereavement and posthumous care in the case of infant's death. Parental responses to mistreatment were acquiescent or non-confrontational and included feeling humiliated or accepting the situation. Assertive responses were rare but included articulating disappointment by expressing anger, and/or deciding to seek care elsewhere. Mistreatment for SYIs is linked to poor quality of care. To address mistreatment in SYI, interventions that focus on building better communication, responding to the developmental needs of infants and emotional needs for parents, strengthen providers competencies in newborn care, as well as a supportive, enabling environments, will lead to more respectful quality care for newborns and young infants.

Development of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System for Assessing Industry Leadership in Accident Situations

Petroleum activity is characterized as a high-risk activity due to the probability of accidents with material and human losses. The leaders of this segment assume, besides the complex routine tasks, the challenge of making assertive decisions during an accident. This study aims to present an evaluation model of the Industry Leadership Index for Emergencies Situations ( <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ILIE</i> ), using the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy System (ANFIS). The model was composed of 4 input variables, namely: knowledge, behavior, skill, and attitude; and one output variable, Industry Leadership. The data collection took place in petroleum production units in Brazil, with a sample of 151 respondents through the application of a survey. The observed data were treated in an Excel tabulator and used in the development of the ANFIS model. From this model, it was possible to carry out simulations to predict the impact, which the increase or decrease in the value of each input variable can influence the leader’s profile. The model performed satisfactorily in the Root of the Mean Square Error (RMSE) analysis, being 0.199 in data training and 1.217 in data verification. The results suggest that the ANFIS method can be successfully applied to establish a model to analyze industry leaders prepared for assertive responses in crisis scenarios.

A Study of Deep Ecological Crisis in D. H. Lawrence's Poem "Love on the Farm"

This research article is based on the concept of harmonious interdependence between nature, living beings, and non-living beings for the sustained ecological balance. It makes an analysis of a poem by D.H. Lawrence, entitled “Love on the Farm” from deep ecological critical perspective. As a term, deep ecology explores how human beings, creatures, plants and trees are connected in the organic chain. Coined by Norwegian philosopher, named Aryan Naess, deep ecology became an assertive response to the menace of environmental crises taken place in different parts of the world. Considering its far-reaching consequences, universities and academic institutions began to study it seriously. As a result, initiatives were taken to broaden its study premise. Courses were devised and literary works were begun to be interpreted from ecological perspective and research outcomes produced significant insights and conclusions in order to explore this subject matter more comprehensively. On this backdrop, this article fundamentally sets three dominant premises for this research study: a) Human beings are sole causes for environmental loss, and, b) Ecological chain is prerequisite for the survival of the whole planet. On considering these premises, this present research article explores deep ecological elements in the poem “Love on the Farm” and how they are disturbed by domineering and more anthropocentric attitude of human beings. In proving the claim, this article takes first wave of eco criticism as a theoretical tool propounded by eco- critics like Jonathan Bate, Cheryll Gotfelty, and Lyn White, Jr. Then, it analyzes the poem, justifying how conflict with nature and ecology causes disturbance in entire environment. Finally, it concludes: ecological balance is the long-term solution to the survival of living and non-living beings as well as the longevity of whole planet.

RELATE—a randomised controlled feasibility trial of a Relating Therapy module for distressing auditory verbal hallucinations: a study protocol

IntroductionAuditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are associated with distress and reduced functioning. Research suggests that distress is associated with the voice hearer’s responding to AVH in a passive and subordinate manner....

Knowledge about health service waste among health professionals in a municipality in central Tocantins state, Brazil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the knowledge about the management of health service waste among the professionals of the Basic Health Units of a municipality in the central region of the State of Tocantins, Brazil. It is a descriptive, exploratory study, with a quali-quantitative approach. The interviews were carried out with 89 health workers, being constituted a sample of 26 (29%) nurses, odontologists and doctors, and 63 (71%), professionals with high school education (community health agents, nursing technicians and oral health technicians). Among the workers with higher education 25 (96.1%) interviewed correctly conceptualized the RSS, thus demonstrating knowledge on the subject, however, among the workers with secondary education 48 (76.1%) gave an assertive response, drawing attention in this group the fact that 15 (23.8%) did not answer the question correctly. Waste from health services is still understood as hospital waste by most questionnaires and the perforating ones are the most mentioned.

Is Having a Gun for Safety Associated with Feeling Safer, Safety Planning, and More Assertive Responses to Conflict Among Women with Interpersonal Victimization Experiences?

Some violence victims are advised to obtain a gun for safety, while others are discouraged from obtaining a gun. This study compared women with interpersonal victimization experiences who did (n = ...

Taking a joke seriously: When does humor affect responses to the slurring of people with intellectual disabilities?

AbstractThe use of humor may affect how bystanders respond to slurs. Undergraduates (N = 192) completed a measure of prejudice towards people with intellectual disabilities and were randomly assigned to read a scenario in which a peer uses a slur either as part of a joke (humor condition) or a statement (control condition). Participants responded to measures of intent to assertively respond and their evaluation of the speaker. Humor inhibited intent to nonverbally disagree and to verbally confront. Bystanders’ own prejudicial attitudes moderated the effects of humor on intent to verbally confront and negative evaluation. In the humor condition, compared to those with lower prejudice, those with higher prejudice showed less intent to confront and less negative evaluations. In the control condition, intent to confront, and negative evaluation were high, regardless of prejudice. These results suggest that humor inhibits assertive responses to slurs, particularly among people without highly favorable attitudes about the targeted social group.

Enhancing Listening Skills Using Games

This study aims at finding out the most appropriate games for enhancing listening skills to students of the Faculty of the Economics Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo. The process and the result of enhancing students’ listening skills of English were the main focuses of this study. Echeverría et al.’s model of classroom action research method was used to do this study. The technique consists of four stages, namely: (1) planning, (2) implementing, (3) observing, and (4) reflecting. The data was collected through the instruments were the listening tests, observation checklist, and questionnaires. The gained data were analyzed descriptively to know the process and the result of improvement caused by the application of each game. Based on the application of the games, the criteria of success were effectively reached in Cycle 2. 74% of the quantity of the students could obtain the scores more than 60, and 90% have assertive responses on the application of games. This means that using games is significantly useful to be used for enhancing the students’ listening skills.

He Said, She Said: The Effectiveness and Outcomes of Responses to Sexual Harassment

Recent high-profile cases of sexual harassment focused the spotlight on inappropriate workplace behavior. Much of the prior research on sexual harassment focuses on organizational culture, what organizations can do to create harassment-free environments, and to increase reporting when it does occur. Less work explores what happens in the actual harassment situations, or how the immediate responses to the incivility affect future interactions. This study seeks to fill that gap by exploring effectiveness of the message responses used by female targets of sexual harassment by male harassers to curtail future harassment in the workplace. We also explore how the target’s responses affect bystanders’ perceptions of her communication effectiveness and her future potential of being promoted. Data were gathered from workers with an average of 12 years of work experience. Using a variety of sexual harassment scenarios developed for this study, we found that assertive responses were considered the most effective in supporting a positive image of the target and avoidance was the least effective. To curtail future harassment, assertiveness and assertive-empathetic responses were perceived as effective strategies. In terms of maintaining the prospects for future promotions, participants again rated assertiveness as the best strategy for the target to employ. Across all scenarios, avoidance was a poor strategy. Beyond several interesting research findings, the scenarios provide materials that could be modified for use by those who are trainers dealing with sexual harassment or could be used as a foundation for more advanced research regarding sexually harassing messages.

The influencing triad of residual spaces:

This paper deals with the relationship between urban residual spaces and fragmentation urbanism, through the triad: functionality, visibility and technical density. Given that the functionality and the urban visibility present in the triad are inherent to the concept of residual space, the third item — technical density — can be considered as a booster of these spaces. This study also considers the possibility of functionality, visibility and technical density being applied by the public authorities, as actions that work the residual spaces and the fragmentation urbanism. This paper does not gleam to generate assertive responses to the relationship of the triad as something positive or negative for residual spaces. Instead, it intends to open the way for the discussion about this topic in the academic and professional spheres.