Community Adjustment Research Articles

People, recreational facility and physical activity: New-type urbanization planning for the healthy communities in China

Physical activity has been increasingly recognized as a way to promote public health. However, little is known that residents' access to such services is influenced by the distribution of those recreational facilities on a geographical basis within a city, particularly in China. This study aims to investigate disparities in spatial accessibility and characteristics of users' exercise behaviour. The research also examines the impact of planning adjustment on developing healthy communities and improving people's quality of life in the new-type urbanization era in China. Employing spatial analysis, questionnaire surveys, and in-depth interviews, the analysis of spatial allocation of community recreational facilities and physical recreation activity was conducted by a case study of Haizhu District in Guangzhou, China. The results show that the quantity and service range of existing community recreational facilities are very limited with unequal access, which affect residents' exercise/sport activities. Particularly, residents' needs of daily exercise are hardly satisfied under the existing environment forged by traditional planning. This study suggests that government plays a critical role in provision of community recreational facilities in terms of fiscal investment and management, ultimately shaping the landscape of community. It is evident that planning adjustment for healthy community focuses on not only the equal access to local facilities, but also creating a healthy environment. The findings provide implication for the equitable and rational allocation of community recreational facilities to support the formation of a healthy community, as well as for the improvement of insight implications on people's livability in other Chinese cities.

Can protected areas mitigate the impacts of climate change on bird's species and communities?

AbstractAimProtected areas (PAs) are the mainstay of our conservation strategies. While they may succeed in locally preventing species and habitat degradation due to human activities, their ability to mitigate the impacts of climate change on biodiversity is still debated. We assessed whether community and species responses to climate change were related to PAs by testing three main predictions: (1) the thermal adjustment of community composition to temperature changes should be positively related to the proportion of PAs, (2) the species that benefit most from PAs should be less impacted by temperature change, and (3) the species a priori considered the most vulnerable to global change should be even more sensitive to the mitigating effect of PAs.LocationMainland France.MethodsData from a long‐term, large‐scale standardized monitoring programme, recording annual changes in the abundance of 116 breeding bird species in France between 2001 and 2012, were used. Local temporal trends in spring temperature, community reshuffling and bird populations over the country were estimated with a moving window approach (2094 spatial windows). Generalized additive mixed models were then performed to relate these responses to the local proportion of PAs.ResultsMost PAs promote community adjustment to temperature changes. At the species scale, our results show that the more a species benefited from PAs, the less vulnerable it was to temperature changes. PAs were also more effective in mitigating the impact of climate change on the less common and northernmost birds.Main conclusionProtected areas do seem to mitigate climate change impacts on species and communities. Our study argues for the use of integrative frameworks at different biological scales to assess the usefulness and relevance of PAs faced with climate change and suggests that PAs remain key effective conservation strategies in a changing climatic world.

The Effect of Stigma on Criminal Offenders’ Functioning: A Longitudinal Mediational Model

ABSTRACTResearch has rarely considered criminal offenders’ psychological responses to stigma, but these responses may significantly influence behavior after release from jail/prison. Jail inmates’ perceived and anticipated stigma was assessed prior to release from jail/prison (N = 163), and outcomes were assessed one year post-release (N = 371). We hypothesized that perceived stigma would predict poor adjustment in several domains (i.e., recidivism, substance dependence, mental health symptoms, community adjustment) through anticipated stigma. Results showed that perceived stigma predicted worse community adjustment through anticipated stigma, and this varied by race. Results are explored from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Connectedness to the criminal community and the community at large predicts 1-year post-release outcomes among felony offenders.

Connectedness to one's community relates to positive psychological and behavioral outcomes. But what implications do connectedness to distinct communities-the criminal community and the community at large-have for inmates about to be released from jail? This study (N = 383) prospectively examined connectedness to the criminal community and community at large prior to release from jail, and functioning at one-year post-release. Connectedness to the community at large positively predicted community adjustment whereas connectedness to the criminal community positively predicted recidivism. Targeting both types of community connectedness may enhance interventions intended to undermine recidivism and increase positive outcomes for inmates.

Effects of hydraulic retention time on aerobic granulation and granule growth kinetics at steady state with a fast start-up strategy.

A hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4, 6, and 8h was employed, respectively, in three reactors to study the effects of HRT on granulation with a newly developed fast granulation strategy, i.e., a strategy by combining strong hydraulic selection pressure with high organic loading rate (OLR). Granules with clear boundary appeared within 24h after reactor start-up and all reactors reached a pseudo steady state after 6-day operation. A 4-h HRT resulted in a relatively higher increasing rate in terms of granule size during granule development period, i.e., 208μm day(-1), and the bigger granule size and the higher sludge volume index at the pseudo steady state. For HRT of 6 or 8h, no obvious difference was observed. However, it was found that HRT influenced sludge retention time (SRT) and kinetics significantly. A HRT changing from 4 to 8h led to an increased SRT from 3 to 21days, a decreased observed specific biomass growth rate (μ obs) and an decreased observed biomass yield (Y obs) of stable granules from 0.37 to 0.062days(-1), and 0.177 to 0.055g MLVSS g(-1) COD, respectively. Both μ obs and Y obs had a linear relationship with the reciprocal of HRT. In addition, the great difference of microbial community between seed sludge, sludge retained in the reactors, and sludge washed out indicated a strong microbial selection for fast granulation within 24h. However, during the granule development period from day 1 to 6, no more microbial selection was observed except an adjustment of microbial community. Little influence of HRT on microbial population in granular sludge indicated a minor role of HRT played for granulation with the fast start-up strategy adopted in this study. The results demonstrated that hydraulic selection pressure for granulation was mainly from short settling time, which led to strong microbial selection during the granulation period. Meanwhile, although HRT did not affect granulation with the fast start-up strategy, it played an important role on sludge retention time and excess sludge production. Therefore, HRT should be carefully optimized to balance benefits and shortfalls it brings to aerobic granular sludge system.

A simple nutrient-dependence mechanism for predicting the stoichiometry of marine ecosystems

It is widely recognized that the stoichiometry of nutrient elements in phytoplankton varies within the ocean. However, there are many conflicting mechanistic explanations for this variability, and it is often ignored in global biogeochemical models and carbon cycle simulations. Here we show that globally distributed particulate P:C varies as a linear function of ambient phosphate concentrations, whereas the N:C varies with ambient nitrate concentrations, but only when nitrate is most scarce. This observation is consistent with the adjustment of the phytoplankton community to local nutrient availability, with greater flexibility of phytoplankton P:C because P is a less abundant cellular component than N. This simple relationship is shown to predict the large-scale, long-term average composition of surface particles throughout large parts of the ocean remarkably well. The relationship implies that most of the observed variation in N:P actually arises from a greater plasticity in the cellular P:C content, relative to N:C, such that as overall macronutrient concentrations decrease, N:P rises. Although other mechanisms are certainly also relevant, this simple relationship can be applied as a first-order basis for predicting organic matter stoichiometry in large-scale biogeochemical models, as illustrated using a simple box model. The results show that including variable P:C makes atmospheric CO2 more sensitive to changes in low latitude export and ocean circulation than a fixed-stoichiometry model. In addition, variable P:C weakens the relationship between preformed phosphate and atmospheric CO2 while implying a more important role for the nitrogen cycle.

The critical ingredients of assertive community treatment.

In their paradigm-shifting study, Stein and Test (1) developed and evaluated a community mental health treatment model for people with serious mental illness that became known as assertive community treatment (ACT). Their approach challenged many standard practices and beliefs in psychiatry. Based on earlier work, they had concluded (2) that hospital training programs to prepare patients for community living after discharge were ineffective, and that providing training and support within community settings after discharge was far superior. The principle of in vivo assessment, training and support became a cornerstone of the ACT model. With the locus of contact in the community, ACT used assertive outreach to engage clients who were reluctant to keep appointments at a clinic. Another critical ingredient of the ACT model was a holistic approach to services, helping with illness management, medication management, housing, finances, and anything else critical to an individual's community adjustment. ACT services included assistance in routine practical problems in living, such as shopping and using public transportation. Along with the focus on the client's immediate needs and personal goals, the shift in service delivery to community settings dramatically increased client engagement in and satisfaction with mental health services (3). Drawing on their experience on hospital treatment teams, Stein and Test formulated the ACT model as requiring a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals, providing intensive, timely, and personalized services, facilitated through frequent team meetings to review treatment plans and services. ACT was also conceived as a direct service model, with clinicians providing most needed services themselves rather than referring to other providers. Another feature of the model with far-reaching influence was integration of services, which has demonstrated advantages over brokered approaches (i.e., referring clients to other programs for many services). ACT teams integrated mental health treatment, housing, rehabilitation, and many other services, and tailored them to the needs and goals of each client. Another core feature of the ACT model was a low client-staff ratio of approximately 10 clients per full-time ACT practitioner. This staffing pattern permitted multiple contacts each week with clients needing intensive support. In addition, teams provided continuous coverage, responding quickly to client emergencies, 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Finally, ACT teams committed to long-term and continuous care. Initially, the model promised lifelong care.

Rapid adjustment of bird community compositions to local climatic variations and its functional consequences.

The local spatial congruence between climate changes and community changes has rarely been studied over large areas. We proposed one of the first comprehensive frameworks tracking local changes in community composition related to climate changes. First, we investigated whether and how 12 years of changes in the local composition of bird communities were related to local climate variations. Then, we tested the consequences of this climate-induced adjustment of communities on Grinnellian (habitat-related) and Eltonian (function-related) homogenization. A standardized protocol monitoring spatial and temporal trends of birds over France from 2001 to 2012 was used. For each plot and each year, we used the spring temperature and the spring precipitations and calculated three indices reflecting the thermal niche, the habitat specialization, and the functional originality of the species within a community. We then used a moving-window approach to estimate the spatial distribution of the temporal trends in each of these indices and their congruency with local climatic variations. Temperature fluctuations and community dynamics were found to be highly variable in space, but their variations were finely congruent. More interestingly, the community adjustment to temperature variations was nonmonotonous. Instead, unexplained fluctuations in community composition were observed up to a certain threshold of climate change intensity, above which a change in community composition was observed. This shift corresponded to a significant decrease in the relative abundance of habitat specialists and functionally original species within communities, regardless of the direction of temperature change. The investigation of variations in climate and community responses appears to be a central step toward a better understanding of climate change effects on biodiversity. Our results suggest a fine-scale and short-term adjustment of community composition to temperature changes. Moreover, significant temperature variations seem to be responsible for both the Grinnellian and Eltonian aspects of functional homogenization.

Relapse in Psychosis

Relapse—including symptom exacerbations and a deterioration in functioning that often requires hospitalization—can be demoralizing for persons with a severe mental illness like psychosis. Relapses can interfere with independent living, work, and community adjustment; therefore, minimizing relapses is a common treatment goal. 1In fact, for many years the primary goal of treatment for these disorders was the prevention of relapses and the successful maintenance of a stable clinical state. Although relapse prevention continues to be an important focus of treatment, stable clinical functioning is no longer a sufficient long-term treatment goal. Patients with major mental illnesses can achieve much more than just a stable clinical state; they can continue to grow as individuals and lead rewarding, productive, and meaningful lives, despite experiencing some symptoms or impairments, if proper relapse prevention guidelines are implemented.

Site Volume is Inversely Associated With Recurrence Rate After Successful Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): An Analysis of the U.S. RFA Registry

Introduction: Factors associated with recurrent Barrett’s esophagus (BE) after successful eradication are poorly understood. We used the U.S. RFA registry to assess the relationship between site volume and recurrence of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in the U.S. RFA registry. Methods: The U.S. RFA registry is a national study of patients with BE treated with RFA at 148 institutions (113 community-based, 35 academic). We assessed the rate of recurrence of IM after initial complete eradication of IM. We divided the sites into quintiles by number of registry subjects enrolled, such that those in the 1st quintile enrolled ≤7 patients, while those in the 5th quintile enrolled ≥56. We used Kaplan-Meier estimation and proportional hazards models to assess the association of site volume with the rate of recurrence of IM.Figure 1Results: Recurrence of IM occurred at a higher rate in smaller centers (Table 1). For each increase in quintile, the hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence was 0.70 [0.64, 0.77]. The HR was somewhat attenuated, but persisted, after adjustment for initial histology, academic vs. community, race/ethnicity, BE length, age, and order treated (aHR = 0.81 [0.72, 0.90]).Table 1: Characteristics of 2072 Patients at 148 RFA Sites by Quintile of VolumeConclusion: There is a strong association between site volume and the rate of recurrence of intestinal metaplasia after initially successful RFA, with smaller volume sites demonstrating higher recurrence rates. This association persisted after controlling for potential confounders. Disclosure - Dr. Shaheen receives research funding from GI Solutions, a subsidiary of Covidien. This research was supported by an industry grant from This research was funded by GI Solutions, a subsidiary of Covidien.

El papel de los facilitadores en la implementación de los “Espacios para Crecer”: evaluación formativa del programa con menores trabajadores “Edúcame Primero, Colombia”

Se describe la evaluación formativa de un programa de intervención educativa con menores trabajadores en Barranquilla (Colombia). Un equipo internacional de evaluadores realizó entrevistas cualitativas a una selección de facilitadores (n = 8), familias de los participantes (n = 38) y profesores de los centros educativos, en los que se implementó el programa (n= 40). Las entrevistas se centraron en el proceso de implementación y analizaron el papel de los facilitadores que aplicaban el programa y desarrollaron estrategias de mediación comunitaria. Los resultados muestran la conexión entre los procesos de implicación comunitaria y la efectividad de la intervención. Los facilitadores hicieron de puente entre el programa y los contextos organizativo y comunitario. En el proceso de implementación, el papel de los facilitadores consistió en (a) ajustar el programa a las particularidades y dificultades del contexto, (b) el intercambio de buenas prácticas y (c) la mediación con el profesorado y las familias implicadas. Mientras que el papel de mediación y ajuste comunitario de los facilitadores estaba previsto en el diseño, la formación de un grupo informal entre los aplicadores más activos terminó afectando a los componentes centrales del programa. Paradójicamente, dicha dinámica mejoró la implementación y los resultados. En ese contexto, se discuten las lecciones aprendidas en la prevención del trabajo infantil.

La red de facilitadores de los “Espacios para Crecer” en Barranquilla (Colombia). Estrategias de continuidad, ajuste comunitario y mejora de la implementación en los programas de prevención del trabajo infantil.

Resumen Los “Espacios para Crecer” y el “Baul de Juegos” son dos practicas educativas basadas en la evidencia que se han mostrado efectivas en la prevencion del trabajo infantil. La iniciativa “Educame Primero, Colombia” consistio en aplicar las actividades ludicas, educativas y de desarrollo psicologico con menores trabajadores a traves de una red de facilitadores . La introduccion de esta innovacion, de caracter comunitario, mejoro la pertinencia de los materiales educativos y la implementacion del programa. Los mediadores comunitarios facilitaron la implicacion de las madres en las actividades preventivas, mejorando la conexion entre las familias y los centros educativos . Tambien fortalecieron la implementacion, involucrando al profesorado y mejorando el ajuste comunitario del programa a la institucion educativa . A lo largo de la intervencion, los facilitadores desarrollaron un mecanismo informal de trabajo en red , que facilito el intercambio de buenas practicas y la adaptacion del programa a las peculiaridades de cada contexto comunitario . La experiencia muestra como las estrategias de ajuste comunitario en este caso no solo mejoran la implementacion y la efectividad del programa, sino que contribuyen a su sostenibilidad. --------------------- Abstract Best practices and experiences of the facilitators of the program “Educame Primero Colombia” for prevention of Child Labor in Barranquilla. Sustainaibility, community fit and improvement of the implementation. Educame Primero , Colombia is an evidence-based practice implemented in a network of schools and neighborhoods for preventing child labor. The intervention consists of academic orientation, socialization among peers and personal development activities, which are usually applied in academic institutions following the instructions of the educational materials of the program. These set of activities are shown to be effective in previous applications of the program in 172 schools from Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta. The intervention is effective improving academic performance and reducing absenteeism at school. There is also evidence of an impact in the number of hours of child labor, as well as the number of children doing some labor activities. During the implementation of the program, a group of psychology graduate students was selected to coordinate the activities in each school participating in the intervention. Each student was assigned to a particular school and adopted the role of “facilitator”, adjusting the program to the specifics of the context. The main task assigned to facilitators was to apply the educational materials of the program. However, during implementation they negotiated with the principal and teachers of the school, they were in contact with the families of children participating in the program, and they informally assumed a broker role between the school, the families and the neighborhood community organizations where the intervention was taking place. These activities were not originally planned in the program, but finally revealed to be essential for the successful implementation of the program. Facilitators assumed an unanticipated role of improving community adjustment of the intervention, adapting the program to the diversity of community contexts and schools.

Modelo alternativo de intervención educativa en el contexto penitenciario. Propuesta de un planteamiento desde la unidad terapéutica y educativa de Villabona (España)

The study assumes that without a theoretical foundation any penitentiary treatment is far from being able to understand the purpose on the one that develops and, also, the results are able answer. Recognizing that the penitentiary treatment is far from offering a few good practices to follow to achieve the social reintegration of the convict, a recognized experience, internationally as good practices, to level therapeutic and educational in the prison is the project of the UTE of Villabona (Asturias, Spain). This need of foundation has gone to developing on a support of notion of conduct the offer of change as a process, far from introducing it in the area of intimidation and incorporating two processes in their understanding (co-responsibility and co-management) and a mechanism for adaptation (confrontation). The work concludes that it is possible another prison, where the penitentiary treatment does not look for a competent and community adjustment to the penitentiary context that gives step to the prison subculture. It is assumed, finally, the need of that this realized approach make concrete so much in a Legal Regulations as in a development of this one across a regulation.

Fine particulate matter air pollution and cognitive function among older US adults.

Existing research on the adverse health effects of exposure to pollution has devoted relatively little attention to the potential impact of ambient air pollution on cognitive function in older adults. We examined the cross-sectional association between residential concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and cognitive function in older adults. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we analyzed data from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study, a large, nationally representative sample of US adults aged 50 years or older. We linked participant data with 2000 US Census tract data and 2004 census tract-level annual average PM2.5 concentrations. Older adults living in areas with higher PM2.5 concentrations had worse cognitive function (β = -0.26, 95% confidence interval: -0.47, -0.05) even after adjustment for community- and individual-level social and economic characteristics. Results suggest that the association is strongest for the episodic memory component of cognitive function. This study adds to a growing body of research highlighting the importance of air pollution to cognitive function in older adults. Improving air quality in large metropolitan areas, where much of the aging US population resides, may be an important mechanism for reducing age-related cognitive decline.

一种基于合作博弈的社区检测算法

随着互联网技术的迅速发展，虚拟大规模社会网络普遍存在。社区结构是社会网络的重要特征，挖掘大规模社会网络中的社区结构能帮助人们了解网络中的内部结构和关系，从而更好的应用这些网络。因此，社区检测具有重要的现实意义。本文基于合作博弈检测社区的模型及高效计算Shapley值(SH值)的迭代公式，提出了一种以个体理性为核心的合作博弈社区检测算法(CDCG算法)。CDCG算法包括初检测和社区调整两个步骤，初检测中每个节点在不断变化的策略环境下依据自身获得最大SH值作出决策，经过多轮决策后，网络中所有节点的SH值达到平衡状态，初检测结束；社区调整是利用社区内部连接紧密、社区之间连接相对稀疏的特征对初检测产生的不合理、无意义的小簇进行调整，使得检测得出的簇具有明显的社区特征。为了提高算法时间效率，本文提出了无贡献节点剪枝策略和已归属节点剪枝策略。最后通过大量实验验证了CDCG算法能够自动确定最终社区划分个数且具有较好的社区检测效果及时间效率。 With the rapid development of Internet technology, the virtual large-scale social networks are wide- spread. Community structure is an important characteristic of social network, mining the communi-ty structure in large-scale social networks can help us to understand the internal structure and relationships of the network, so as to better apply these networks. Therefore, community detection has important practical significance. A kind of individual rationality as the core of cooperative game community detection algorithm was proposed in this paper, which based on cooperative game com- munity detection model and efficient iterative formula for computing the Shapley value (SH). CDCG algorithm includes initial detection and community adjustment. In the initial detection of changing the strategy environment, every node based on its own maximum SH value to make a decision, after several rounds of decisions, when all of the nodes’ SH value become balance in the network, then the initial detection ended. The characteristics of the internal tight connection of community and rela-tively sparse in communities, by which can detect the unreasonable and meaningless small clusters in step of community adjusting, then the detected cluster has obvious community features. In order to improve efficiency of the algorithm, no contribution nodes pruning and ownership nodes pruning strategies were proposed. Finally, extensive experiments show that CDCG algorithm can automati-cally determine the final number of divided communities, which is effective and efficiency.

The Impact of Climate Change on African Traditional Religious Practices

Developing countries especially in the African continent are bearing the brunt of the impact of climate change. However, what have not been brought to the fore are the impacts of the phenomenon of climate change on African traditional religious practices. This paper, therefore attempts to critically evaluate the impact of climate change on African traditional religious practices. This study is based on two basic assumptions-first, the African traditional religion employs natural elements as mode of expression of its faith. Secondly, the African world is suffused with religion. Using a critical phenomenological method of analysis, it was found that African traditional religion has directly and indirectly been affected by the consequences of climate change in Africa. The paper, however, recommended among other things, a collective cum community adjustment approach to the realities of climate change.

The Move to Middle School: Parents’ Expectations and Early Adolescents’ Adjustment in Rural Communities

Parents’ expectations for the middle school transition were investigated in 10 focus groups with 37 parents in two rural Appalachian communities. Parents emphasized their concerns over the social aspects of the transition for their children, particularly relationship changes and exposure to problem behaviors through peers. Moreover, parents whose children attended certain feeder schools feared their children would be socially marginalized in middle school. Student adjustment data collected from 187 6th graders in the associated middle schools were analyzed for evidence of social marginalization or poor adjustment by feeder elementary school. With few exceptions, social integration did not differ by feeder school but students from a particular feeder school experienced greater adjustment difficulties overall, according to self- and teacher-ratings. The findings highlight the need for schools to help parents understand the social transition to middle school and to monitor student adjustment when there are discrepancies across feeder schools.

Sleep pattern in adults patients with cerebral palsy

Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) are in risk to sleep respiratory disorders, due to the presence of neuromuscular alteration. There are many studies evaluating sleep pattern using questtionnares in children, but very few using polysomnography (PSG) in adults with CP. The aim of this study was evaluate the sleep pattern in adults patients with CP through PSG. 22 patients with diparegic CP,11 female and 11 male, mean neck circumference 35.4 ± 2.6, mean age 26.9 ± 5.8 and mean BMI 22.0 ± 3.63. All CP patients were recruited from the Training Program in Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, UNESP-SP-Brazil. Inclusion criteria were patients with partially preserved cognition function and ability to respond to verbal commands. Patients or caregivers that did not sign the informed consent did not participate. All patients underwent the PSG exam at Sleep Disorders Laboratory- UNINOVE University-SP-Brazil. After the habituation night, the PSG for the evaluation of sleep pattern was performed. This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committees of UNESP/SJC, n. 25000.058696/2010–74. 45.0% (10) patients presented obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Mean sleep stage 1,2,3,and REM were 35%, 41%,10% and 14% respectively. Mean oxyhemogloblin median and minimum were 96% and 91% respectively. The mean total sleep time was 210 min. Many patients had difficulty to sleep during PSG. This the first study to evaluate the sleep pattern, through PSG exam, in a group of adults with CP. The difficulty to sleep, represented for short total sleep time, may be due to neuromuscular disease characteristics. Although, even with a short sleep time, 45% of patients presented OSA. Short-sleep patterns and OSA may interfere with habilitation activities and community adjustment in this population. Diagnose of sleep pattern should be taken as early as possible to achieve improvement of their quality of live. We thanks to Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel/Postdoctoral National Program (CAPES/PNPD) for supporting this study- Grant No. 02495/09–0, for supporting this study. The Sleep Laboratory receives funding from the Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE) and EMG Laboratory is supported by Sao Paulo State University (UNESP).

In and out of prison: Do importation factors predict all forms of misconduct or just the more serious ones?

PurposeThis study was designed to investigate whether importation factors predict all forms of prison misconduct and recidivism or just the more serious forms. MethodsSix importation factors were examined: age, marital status, street gang affiliation, criminal thinking, prior drug abuse, and criminal history. Count data for two high severity infractions (assault, escape), two high-moderate severity infractions (fighting, possession of intoxicants), two moderate severity infractions (refusing programs, stealing), two high severity crimes (assault, robbery), and two moderate severity crimes (DUI, failure to appear) were regressed onto these six importation variables in samples of 2488 (prison infractions) and 1101 (recidivism) male inmates. ResultsThe importation variables successfully predicted the four infractions that were rated high and high-moderate in severity and the two crimes that were rated high severity but not the two infractions or two crimes that were rated as moderate in severity. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that importation factors are differentially predictive of more serious forms of infraction and recidivism and that the importation model may have as much to offer the study of community adjustment and recidivism as it does the study of institutional adjustment and disciplinary infractions as part of the more general theoretical construct of criminal propensity.

Brief report: Adolescent adjustment in affluent communities: The role of motivational climate and goal orientation

Researchers now recognize that affluent youth experience tremendous achievement pressures, yet contributing factors or outcomes are rarely explored. Using a sample of affluent adolescents, the present study investigates the mediating role of goal orientation (GO) on relations between school motivational climate (MC) and adolescent adjustment. Adolescents from four high schools completed measures of MC (i.e., Performance and Mastery), GO (i.e., Ego and Task), and adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety, and life satisfaction). Performance climates were associated with more adjustment problems while Mastery climates were associated with fewer adjustment problems. Adolescents with higher Ego orientation reported more depressive and anxiety symptoms, while adolescents with higher Task orientation indicated fewer depressive symptoms and greater life satisfaction. Adolescent Task orientation mediated the relations between Mastery climate and two adjustment outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms and life satisfaction). Results suggest the importance of non-competitive achievement-oriented values and collaborative school contexts in adolescent adjustment.