Control Appraisal Research Articles

Effects of an Inquiry-Based Short Intervention on State Test Anxiety in Comparison to Alternative Coping Strategies.

Background and Objectives: Test anxiety can have undesirable consequences for learning and academic achievement. The control-value theory of achievement emotions assumes that test anxiety is experienced if a student appraises an achievement situation as important (value appraisal), but feels that the situation and its outcome are not fully under his or her control (control appraisal). Accordingly, modification of cognitive appraisals is assumed to reduce test anxiety. One method aiming at the modification of appraisals is inquiry-based stress reduction. In the present study (N = 162), we assessed the effects of an inquiry-based short intervention on test anxiety.Design: Short-term longitudinal, randomized control trial.Methods: Focusing on an individual worry thought, 53 university students received an inquiry-based short intervention. Control participants reflected on their worry thought (n = 55) or were distracted (n = 52). Thought related test anxiety was assessed before, immediately after, and 2 days after the experimental treatment.Results: After the intervention as well as 2 days later, individuals who had received the inquiry-based intervention demonstrated significantly lower test anxiety than participants from the pooled control groups. Further analyses showed that the inquiry-based short intervention was more effective than reflecting on a worry thought but had no advantage over distraction.Conclusions: Our findings provide first experimental evidence for the effectiveness of an inquiry-based short intervention in reducing students’ test anxiety.

Beyond simple valence: Discrete emotions as mediators of political communication effects on trust in politicians

SCM Studies in Communication and Media , Seite 364 - 391

A cross-sectional pilot study of student's proactive behavior in midwifery education: Validation of a developed questionnaire

ObjectivesMidwifery students face major challenges in adapting quickly and effectively to different clinical settings. Proactive behavior, triggered by various individual and/or contextual antecedents, could be a significant added value to cope with these challenges. DesignA cross-sectional pilot study was conducted to investigate prognostic factors in proactive behavior in a group of midwifery students. SettingsThe setting was a Belgian University College for midwifery education. ParticipantsAll second and third year midwifery students (n=156). MethodsStudents were questioned regarding several prognostic factors: four personal characteristics, seven individual antecedents and three contextual antecedents that might trigger proactive behavior. A proportional odds logistic regression analyses was used to describe the association between prognostic factors and the probability to observe proactive behavior within the group. The strength of the newly developed questionnaire was tested. ResultsOf all tested prognostic factors, nationality, role breadth self-efficacy, referring to the self-confidence of a midwifery-student to perform tasks that exceed expectations, and control appraisal, describing the importance attached to one's perceived control, were significantly associated with proactive behavior. The overall strength of the questionnaire was ratified. Two of the original questions were deleted, two re-formulated and for one prognostic factor the answer-options were re-formulated. ConclusionsFindings from this pilot study show that midwifery students who have a high role breadth self-efficacy and low control appraisal are more likely to show proactive behavior. Additionally, Dutch students are more likely to show proactive behavior in relation to Belgian students. The questionnaire's feasibility was examined and adjustments were made for future research in a larger study to confirm these outcomes. This study can be a support in the individual guidance of midwifery students towards proactive behavior in midwifery.

Evidence-based guideline implementation of quality assurance and quality control procedures in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey

BackgroundThe World Mental Health surveys have been known to apply high standards of quality control, but few studies have been published to document this. Furthermore, the effectiveness of quality control has rarely been reported in the Middle East.Case presentationThe focus of this paper was to highlight the implementation of quality control procedures in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey under the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. The paper summarizes the guidelines implemented for the various phases of survey quality control—the quality assurance procedures, the quality control procedures and the quality control appraisal components—as per previously prescribed recommendations in literature.ConclusionsSurvey quality management is a process and not reducible to a single event. Midstream corrections are warranted by detecting problems and intervening appropriately. The Saudi National Mental Health Survey implemented such procedures through continuous quality improvement.

The dark side of working online: Towards a definition and an Emotion Reaction model of workplace cyberbullying

The introduction of new technologies created avenues for new forms of bullying. Despite an impressive body of research on cyberbullying amongst youngsters, studies in the work context have largely neglected its electronic counterpart. In this study, we define workplace cyberbullying and propose an Emotion Reaction Model of its occurrence. Our model aligns with the main proposition of the Affective Events Theory (Weiss & Cropanzano, 1996), that emotions evoked by certain work events may fuel emotion driven behaviors. However, in our model these relationships are further specified combining different literature traditions. Making inferences from the workplace bullying literature, we suggest work stressors to be the work events leading to cyberbullying. Furthermore, building on the literature on cyberbullying amongst youngsters, computer-mediated communication and emotions, we propose discrete emotions of anger, sadness and fear to play a significant role in explaining this stressor-cyberbullying relation. In addition, different moderators (i.e., control appraisal and emotion regulation) of this relationship are suggested and implications of the model are discussed.

Appraisals Generate Specific Configurations of Facial Muscle Movements in a Gambling Task: Evidence for the Component Process Model of Emotion.

Scherer’s Component Process Model provides a theoretical framework for research on the production mechanism of emotion and facial emotional expression. The model predicts that appraisal results drive facial expressions, which unfold sequentially and cumulatively over time. In two experiments, we examined facial muscle activity changes (via facial electromyography recordings over the corrugator, cheek, and frontalis regions) in response to events in a gambling task. These events were experimentally manipulated feedback stimuli which presented simultaneous information directly affecting goal conduciveness (gambling outcome: win, loss, or break-even) and power appraisals (Experiment 1 and 2), as well as control appraisal (Experiment 2). We repeatedly found main effects of goal conduciveness (starting ~600 ms), and power appraisals (starting ~800 ms after feedback onset). Control appraisal main effects were inconclusive. Interaction effects of goal conduciveness and power appraisals were obtained in both experiments (Experiment 1: over the corrugator and cheek regions; Experiment 2: over the frontalis region) suggesting amplified goal conduciveness effects when power was high in contrast to invariant goal conduciveness effects when power was low. Also an interaction of goal conduciveness and control appraisals was found over the cheek region, showing differential goal conduciveness effects when control was high and invariant effects when control was low. These interaction effects suggest that the appraisal of having sufficient control or power affects facial responses towards gambling outcomes. The result pattern suggests that corrugator and frontalis regions are primarily related to cognitive operations that process motivational pertinence, whereas the cheek region would be more influenced by coping implications. Our results provide first evidence demonstrating that cognitive-evaluative mechanisms related to goal conduciveness, control, and power appraisals affect facial expressions dynamically over time, immediately after an event is perceived. In addition, our results provide further indications for the chronography of appraisal-driven facial movements and the underlying cognitive processes.

Trajectories of psychological states of women elite fencers during the final stages of international matches

This study examined the trajectories and within-person synergies of psychological processes during the final stages of matches. A process-oriented approach was used with nine women elite fencers during an international competition. Multiple assessments of perceived control, threat and challenge appraisals, problem- and emotion-focused coping, positive and negative affects were completed after each touches using video recall method. Multilevel growth curve analyses (MGCAs) indicated that winning and losing matches were each characterised by distinct psychological processes. Specifically, perceived control, challenge appraisal, problem- and emotion-focused coping, and positive affects increased linearly and threat appraisal decreased linearly for wining matches, whereas negative affects increased linearly for losing matches. Regarding the within-person synergies of psychological processes, MGCAs indicated that (1) perceived control and challenge appraisal were significantly associated with problem- and emotion-focused coping for losing matches, the strength of these associations remaining consistent across touches; (2) problem-focused coping was significantly associated with negative affects whereas emotion-focused coping was significantly associated with positive affects for winning matches, the strength of these associations remaining consistent across touches; and (3) problem- and emotion-focused coping were significantly associated with negative affects for losing matches, the linear trajectory of negative affects accelerating at times when athletes had higher levels of emotion-focused coping. Overall, this study provided insights into transactional processes during competition.

An Application of Activity Based Costing in Public Higher Learning Institutions in Ghana: A Pilot Study

Purpose – This paper examines the extent to which the Activity Based Costing framework can be applied to Public Higher Learning Institutions in Ghana.Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows Krishnan (2006) study’s methodology and objectives. Specifically, the paper develops a costing methodology for the Higher Learning Institution.Findings – It is clear that Activity Based Costing brings new cost control and performance appraisal of cost centres and units. As well, the problems of funding constraint in the Ghanaian Public Higher Learning Institutions could also be overcome with a good Activity Based Costing structure in place.Research limitations/implications – The discussion mainly focuses on Activity Based Costing within the context of Ghanaian Public Higher Learning Institutions.Originality/value – This paper provides conceptual insights on the application of Activity Based Costing among Public Higher Learning Institution in Ghana.

Psychosocial profiles of children with achondroplasia in terms of their short stature-related stress: a nationwide survey in Japan.

To assess psychosocial profiles of children with achondroplasia using a nationwide survey. Achondroplasia, showing short stature and disproportionately short limbs, causes physical inconvenience such as difficulty in reaching high objects. It is, however, still controversial whether the condition is associated with psychological problems, especially in childhood. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed. To evaluate psychosocial profiles and adaptation processes in children with achondroplasia, we developed an inventory of scales based on the psychological stress model of which conceptual framework was comprised of stressor, coping process, coping resource and adaptation outcome domains. Participants were recruited nationwide through the largest advocacy support group for achondroplasia in Japan. Of the 130 group members, 73 X-ray-diagnosed patients, aged 8-18 years, completed the inventory of questionnaires to be analysed. As for the stressor domain, patients experienced short stature-related unpleasant experiences more frequently (z-score: +1·3 in average, +3·9 in physical inconvenience). Nevertheless, these experiences had little effect on the coping process (threat appraisal: -0·2, control appraisal: +0·1) and the adaptation outcome (stress response: +0·3, self-concept: 0·0). Interestingly, self-efficacy in the coping resource domain was noticeably increased (+3·1) and was strongly correlated with most variables in the coping process and in adaptation outcome domains. Although the children with achondroplasia experienced more short stature-related stressors, there was no evidence of any psychosocial maladaptation. This finding suggests that coping process as well as coping resources such as self-efficacy could be important targets for promoting psychological adjustment in children with achondroplasia. To help children with achondroplasia adapt socially, nurses and other healthcare providers should routinely assess their psychological adaptation process, especially cognitive appraisal and self-efficacy.

Tracking Performance of Electric Power Steering System Based on the Mixed H2/H∞ Strategy

The tracking performance of motor current is an important factor that affects the assistance torque of electric power steering (EPS) system. Bad tracking performance will cause assistant torque delay, and make road feeling bad, and is influenced by the input steering torque and system measuring noise. However the existing methods have some shortages on system's robust dynamic performance and robust stability. The mixed H2/H∞ strategy for recirculating ball-type EPS system in a pure electric bus is proposed, and vehicle dynamic model of the system is established. Due to the existence of system model uncertainty, disturbance signals, sensor noises and the demand of system dynamic performance, the indexes of robust performance and road feeling for drivers are defined as the appraisal control objectives. The H∞ method is introduced to design the H∞ controller, and the H2 method is applied to optimize the H∞ controller, thus the mixed H2/H∞ controller is designed. The response of EPS system to the motor current command with amplitude of 20 A, the road disturbance with amplitude of 500 N and the sensor random noise with the amplitude of 1 A is simulated. The simulation results show that the recirculating ball-type EPS system with the mixed H2/H∞ controller can attenuate the random noises and disturbances and track the boost curve well, so the mixed H2/H∞ controller can improve the system's robust performance and dynamic performance. For the purpose of verifying the performance of the designed control strategy, the motor current tracking performance ground tests are conducted with step response input of the steering wheel, double-lane steering test and lemniscate steering test, respectively. The tests show that the mixed H2/H∞ controller for the recirculating ball-type EPS system of pure electric bus is feasible. The designed controller can solve the robust performance and robust stability of the system, thus improve the tracking performance of the EPS system and provide satisfied road feeling for the drivers.

Mental toughness, stress, stress appraisal, coping and coping effectiveness in sport

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mental toughness, stressor appraisal, coping strategies and coping effectiveness among a sample of athletes. Participants were 482 athletes (male n = 305; female n = 177), aged between 16 and 45 years (M age = 20.44 years, SD = 3.98). In support of a priori predictions, mental toughness was associated with stress intensity and control appraisal, but not the type of stressor experienced by athletes. Total mental toughness and its six components predicted coping and coping effectiveness in relation to the self-selected stressor. In particular, higher levels of mental toughness were associated with more problem-focused coping, but less emotion-focused and avoidance coping. Coping effectiveness was influenced by the coping strategy employed by the athletes.

Control perceptions and control appraisal: Relation to measures of subjective well-being

To investigate the relationship between control variables and measures of subjective well-being. The primary question asked was "who is happy and well, and why?" A questionnaire survey and the data was analyzed by examining bivariate relationships between variables of interest. Two hundred and fifty six (256) adults within the age range of 18-88 years. They were mainly undergraduate psychology students from South-Eastern part of the United States and solicited in a manner consistent with the Institutional Review Board of the Florida State University. Elderly persons from community groups (e.g. churches, social organizations) were solicited through their appropriate leaders and announcements. The mean age of the participants was 32 years. Findings indicated significant relationship between control measures, indices of wellbeing, and individual's satisfaction with the quality of their lives. Significant correlations were between 0.177 and 0.469 at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). Having control in the areas of social support, self-acceptance, positive relationships, purpose in life, and personal growth were judged important. The findings of this study suggest that essential 'ingredients' for psychological and subjective well-being include enjoyment of good health, some financial stability, meaningful ties with others, a sense of purpose and direction in life, ability to manage complex life demands, a healthy self-acceptance and commitment to personal development. Implications for clinical utility and future research are discussed.

The impact of antipsychotic side effects on attitudes toward medication in patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review

The impact of antipsychotic side effects on attitudes toward medication in patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review

Ethnicity, Control Appraisal, Coping, and Adjustment to Chronic Pain Among Black and White Americans

To identify similarities and differences among non-Hispanic black and white patients in pain appraisal, beliefs about pain, and ways of coping with pain. We also examined the association between these factors (i.e., appraisals, beliefs, coping) and patient perception or subjective experience of their functioning in each ethnic group. Cross-sectional survey of patients with chronic pain at pretreatment assessment. Integrated pain management program at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Texas. A total of 128 non-Hispanic black Americans and 354 non-Hispanic white Americans completed self-report measures of pain appraisal, coping, and adjustment that included the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Survey of Pain Attitudes, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, and Chronic Pain Coping Inventory. Although the analyses indicated many similarities between the two groups concerning pain-related beliefs and coping, the black patients reported lower perceived control over pain, more external pain-coping strategies, and a stronger belief that others should be solicitous when they experience pain. The black patients also reported significantly higher levels of depression and disability, even after controlling for pain severity. Regression analyses revealed that the coping and appraisal factors predicting physical and psychological functioning were the same for both white and black patients, with ethnicity accounting for a nonsignificant amount of the total variance. The current findings suggest similarities as well as differences between non-Hispanic black and white patients in the ways they view and cope with pain. However, the association between psychological factors (attitudes and beliefs, coping responses) and adjustment to chronic pain was comparable for both ethnic groups. If replicated, the findings suggest that specific tailoring of cognitive behavioral therapies to different racial/ethnic groups may not be needed to maximize treatment outcome.

The long-term effects of coping strategy use in victims of bullying.

The ways in which children appraise and cope with school bullying are likely to influence the long-term outcomes experienced. To examine this possibility, 219 Spanish undergraduate students (73 male, 146 female) aged between 18 and 40, completed an adapted version of the Retrospective Bullying Questionnaire (RBQ; Schäfer et al., 2004) and a distress scale (Rivers, 1999). Results indicated that neither coping strategies reported by victims of bullying nor the match between control appraisal and coping strategy influenced levels of distress experienced as adults. Control, threat and challenge appraisals did, however, influence long-term distress. Explanations for these effects are discussed, and include the possibility that appraisals may directly influence levels of distress and the quality of emotions experienced by victims during the actual bullying episode. Active strategies were perceived by students to be effective in dealing with bullying, whereas those centered on avoiding the conflict, or which involved aggression, were considered ineffective.

Prediction of outcome: Revisiting negative emotions, pain, and functioning

Anger, anxiety, and depression are three commonly studied negative emotions in the chronic pain literature. However, the nature of the relationship among these emotions remains somewhat confusing and the results mixed. In this study, linear structural equation modeling was used to examine the associations between the negative emotions (anger, anxiety, and depression) on the one hand, and pain severity and functioning (pain interference and disability) on the other. Contrary to previous findings, the findings indicated that the impact of anger on pain and functioning is mediated by depression. The findings also support but question the commonly held notion that depression and pain have a causative bilateral relationship. Specifically, our findings indicate that depression directly predicts pain severity, but that pain severity does not directly predict depression and other negative emotions. Pain interference, and to a lesser degree, disability appears to mediate the effects of pain severity on depression. The findings also question the previous assertion of a direct relationship between depression and disability. We found that disability predicts depression and anxiety, but depression does not directly predict disability; its effect on disability appears to be mediated by pain interference. Thus, pain interference appears to emerge as a central player mediating the effect of depression (and other negative emotions) on disability, and of pain severity on depression. This finding confirms the result of a previous study (Tan et al., 2002) indicating the central importance of control appraisal over how pain interferes with one's life activities. The implication is that pain interference should be a more central focus of pain management program.

Appraisal and coping strategy use in victims of school bullying.

Transactional models of coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) can contribute to our understanding of why some children cope effectively with bullying while others suffer negative outcomes. However, previous research has relied on coping measures that are not comparable with adult measures, restricting investigation of developmental trends. Additionally, previous research has not included appraisals when measuring coping using an established coping measure. To examine the factor structure of a coping measure that is directly comparable with the adult literature; to examine the content of pupils' threat and challenge appraisals concerning bullying; and to examine the relationships between appraisals and coping strategy use within the victims of school bullying. Participants were 459 children aged 9 - 14 years. A self-report bullying questionnaire, incorporating Halstead et al.'s (1993) adolescent version of the Ways of Coping Checklist, was completed by participants. Also included were control, threat and challenge appraisal items. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that Halstead et al.'s four-factor model of coping is valid for a population of school bullying victims. Content validity of items used to measure threat and challenge appraisal was demonstrated. Ambiguity of challenge appraisal influenced the use of Wishful Thinking, Seeks Social Support and Problem Focused coping. Wishful Thinking was also influenced by control appraisal. Avoidance coping was not influenced by the appraisals measured. Halstead et al.'s Revised Ways of Coping Checklist can be used to measure coping amongst child and adolescent victims of bullying. Furthermore, including appraisal variables improves our understanding of individual differences between victims' coping strategy choices.

Measuring control appraisals in chronic pain

Research has established a positive association between appraisals of control over pain and indexes of adaptive psychologic and physical functioning among persons with chronic pain. A number of measures of control appraisals have been used in the research literature. The current study sought to determine the number of factors or dimensions embedded in these commonly used measures of pain control appraisal. The study also sought to determine the association between the control appraisal construct(s) and measures of patient functioning. Two hundred fifty-two persons with chronic pain completed a questionnaire packet that included multiple measures of control appraisals. A factor analysis resulted in 6 factors: 1 factor representing beliefs about control over life in general, 1 representing perceived control over the effects of pain on one's life, and remaining 4 factors that appear to be more closely tied to perceived control over pain itself. Consistent with previous research, control appraisals made a significant contribution to the prediction of functioning (depression, disability, and pain interference). Most importantly, perceived control over the effects of pain on one's life and perceived control over life in general were more strongly associated with functioning than perceptions of control over pain itself. © 2002 by the American Pain Society

Appraised control, coping, and stress in a community sample: a test of the goodness-of-fit hypothesis.

Lazarus and Folkman proposed one of the most comprehensive theories of stress and coping in the psychology literature, but many of their postulates have received little empirical attention, and some of the existing research hasyielded contradictory findings. This longitudinal study sought to clarify the associations among control appraisal, coping, and stress within this theoreticalframework. The theory postulates that coping strategies used tend to match the level of appraised controllability of the stressor (matching hypothesis). It further states that the effects of problem-focused versus emotion-focused coping are moderated by the appraised controllability of the stressor (goodness-of-fit hypothesis). An alternative to the latter is the main-effects hypothesis, which states that problem-focused coping is generally more effective in reducing distress regardless of appraisal. These hypotheses were tested on 72 adults who completed questionnaires on coping and control appraisal. Stress was assessed using self-report (Symptom Checklist-90-Revised) and a behavioral measure (proofreading task) at two times approximately 2 months apart. Appraised control significantly predicted type of coping such that greater control was associated with more problem-focused and less emotion-focused coping. Although the main-effects hypothesis was not supported, the goodness-of-fit hypothesis was partly confirmed by a significant control by emotion-focused coping interaction predicting both self-report and behavioral measures of stress.

Identification and Analysis of Influence of Quality Costs on the Percentage of Damaged Cans (A Case Study in PT Margo Redjo, Yogyakarta)

In the present study, quality cost elements, such as: prevention cost including the prevention costs during can exhausting, seaming and sterilization; appraisal costs including the appraisal cost during can seaming, sterilization and product quality control; internal failure costs including rework costs and those due to thrown away product, are identified to obtain normal or undamaged (not inflating, croocked, and leak) can quality. Whereas the external failure cost is assumed to be inexist. The result of the research shows that the index of quality cost of Margo Redjo mushroom canning factory during 1997 has tended to decrease. For every Rp1.000.000,00 increase in prevention cost cause the percentage of the buckled can to decrease in exhausting phase (1,29%), in can seaming phase (9,78%), in sterilization (1,03%), and in cost or wage for quality control manager (2,94%). Whereas for every Rp.1.000.000,00 increase in appraisal cost during the can seaming will increase the damaged can to 1,73%. This shows that the increase in final product for the appraisal causes the rework cost to increase. The appraisal of the final product as fire fighting action is not capable of improving the damaged can percentage. The most influential quality cost element for the damaged can is the prevention cost during the can seaming phase (48,83%), QC manager salary (24,45%), appraisal cost during sterilization and final product quality control (22,60%) appraisal cost during the can seaming phase (20,14%), and prevention cost during the sterilization phase (17,64%). The optimum quality cost is obtained at Indimesian Food and Nutrition Progress, 1999 Vol 6, 110.Rp11.538.461,00 with the percentage of damaged can of 2,3%. This amount of quality cost gives the company to avoid the damaged can to 17%.