Gatekeeper Attitudes Research Articles

Cutting in line ahead of us: the role of group relative deprivation in shaping gatekeeping attitudes across different immigrant integration contexts in Europe

ABSTRACT Although research shows that anti-immigrant sentiments are generally lower in liberal integration policy contexts, popular backlash against immigrants become salient in many pro-immigration and inclusive integration policy contexts in Europe today. Developing a contextualized mediation model, this research suggests that feelings of deprivation vis-à-vis immigrants influence attitudes toward selective immigrant admission in Europe. From a cross-country analysis of the 2014–2015 European Social Survey through multigroup structural equation modeling, our findings reveal that sentiments of group relative deprivation translate into stronger gatekeeping attitudes throughout Europe by developing threat perceptions from immigration. Relative deprivation-driven threat perceptions influence gatekeeping attitudes more potently in countries where integration policies grant immigrants more comprehensive and equal rights, while they remain relatively dormant in countries with exclusionary integration policies. These findings contribute to our understanding of how and to what extent relative deprivation sentiments vis-à-vis immigrants shape gatekeeping attitudes while shedding light on the unintended impacts of liberal integration policies on public opinion regarding immigration.

Factors Associated with Father Involvement During Infancy: A Multifactorial and Multidimensional Approach

SYNOPSIS Objective. The goal of the present study was to provide a clearer picture of the correlates of father involvement during infancy using a multidimensional and multifactorial approach. Design. In a sample of 84 couples having a 7-month-old infant, various factors (paternal psychological symptoms and sense of competence, child sex and difficultness, marital satisfaction, parenting alliance, and maternal gatekeeping attitudes and support for the father’s role) were examined in association with several dimensions of fathers’ involvement (engagement in childcare and play, accessibility, and responsibility) measured by a time diary covering a 7-day week. Results. Father engagement in childcare was associated with maternal gatekeeping attitudes and support for the father’s role, and father engagement in play was associated with child difficultness. Correlates of father involvement vary across dimensions of involvement, highlighting the importance of using a multifactorial and multidimensional framework to increase understanding of factors that promote or hinder such involvement. Conclusions. Findings highlight the importance of supporting fathers in their parenting role, especially when they are experiencing difficulty in their relationship with the child and his/her mother.

Effectiveness of an online suicide prevention program for college faculty and students

Objective Suicide prevention programs help college staff and students identify students at-risk for suicide. Kognito is an online, simulation-based suicide prevention program. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate Kognito’s effectiveness in changing suicide prevention attitudes and behavior. Participants: 170 college students and 140 college staff completed the training module and three surveys. Methods: College staff and students from 24 public, private, and community colleges and universities in Maryland completed Kognito modules and pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up assessments. Results: Both college staff and students exhibited significant improvements in reported Preparedness, Likelihood, and Self-Efficacy in gatekeeper attitudes. Students reported significant gains in gatekeeper intervention behaviors. Conclusions: The current results suggest that Kognito is associated with attitudinal change for college staff and students, but only college students demonstrated statistically significant behavioral impact for both being more likely to ask about suicide and refer peers to counseling.

Virtual Role-play: Middle School Educators Addressing Student Mental Health

Objectives: In this study, we examined the impact of a virtual training program, Kognito At-Risk role-play simulation, on the mental health and suicide prevention gatekeeping skills of middle school educators. Methods: The validated Gatekeeper Behavior Scale was administered to 33,703 participants at baseline, post-training and follow-up. Helping behaviors were measured at baseline and follow-up. We also assessed preparedness, likelihood, and self-efficacy concerning leading conversations with youth about bullying and suicide. Results: Participants showed positive change from pre-test to 3-month follow-up on variables of interest. Hotelling's T2 test indicated that, as a set, gatekeeper attitudes of preparedness, likelihood, and self-efficacy differed between pre-test and post-test, F (3, 33,512) = 16,283, p < .001, η2 partial = .59. Number of students about whom gatekeepers were concerned (p < .05), number of students approached to discuss concerns (p < .001), and number of students referred to support services (p <.001) increased significantly with training. Conclusions: The At-Risk simulation shows promise in detecting and referring students in psychological distress, including risk of suicide. Fidelity is maintained because the program cannot be altered. At-Risk can be an effective and affordable way to provide suicide prevention training for those working in schools.

Kognito's Avatar-Based Suicide Prevention Training for College Students: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial and a Naturalistic Evaluation.

To evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of Kognito At Risk for College Students, an online, interactive suicide prevention gatekeeper training. In Study 1, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the efficacy of Kognito. Retention of participants at follow-up was strong. In Study 2, administrative records were used to follow the help-seeking behavior of Kognito trainees for one academic year, contrasted with untrained students. In Study 1, between-group changes in gatekeeper attitudes were large at time-two, but attenuated modestly by 2-month follow-up. Kognito trainees referred more peers at 2-month follow-up (Cohen's d = .56, p < .05) - training 4 students in Kognito produces 1 more peer referred. In Study 2, the help-seeking rate of Kognito trainees (14.4%) was two-times the rate (6.8%) of untrained students (p < .001). Training 14 students in Kognito leads to 1 more self-referral to the Counseling Center. This first randomized controlled trial of the college student version of Kognito validates the findings of less rigorous studies. Few brief suicide prevention trainings have shown changes in trainee behaviors such as referrals of at-risk peers and trainees actual help-seeking behavior. These results are promising that Kognito may outperform other similar suicide prevention trainings.

Online role-play simulations with emotionally responsive avatars for the early detection of Native youth psychological distress, including depression and suicidal ideation.

Gatekeeper training is a widely used prevention method for training local community members to recognize the signs and symptoms of suicide and to support appropriate referrals for mental health. Training community "gatekeepers" is critical for increasing access to care for those youth who are in need, as youth often turn first to family and friends for help. This study examines the outcomes at pre-training, post-training, and 3-month follow-up for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students, teachers, and faculty completing online role-play gatekeeper training simulations. The simulations use emotionally responsive avatars that have memory and personality, and respond like real students experiencing psychological distress in realistic situations. Data from 86 matched pairs showed significant increases in self-identified gatekeeper attitudes of preparedness, likelihood (behavioral intent) and self-efficacy to engage in helping behaviors (i.e., identifying those in psychological distress, talking to them, and supporting a referral for services) 3 months after training. This study provides promising evidence for use of online avatar-based training with AI/AN communities and has the potential to address many of the current challenges with gatekeeper training in Indian Country.

Democratic Norms and Forces of Gatekeeping

Gatekeeping theory and the hierarchy of influences model were used as a framework to analyze democratic norm development in Iraq. The study developed three watchdog gatekeeping models that could be adapted for other conflict or postdictatorship environments or modified for longtime democracies. The study used hierarchical regression to analyze forces that influenced attitudes of 588 Iraqi journalists in their gatekeeping role. Individual-level forces, followed by ideological-level forces, contributed the most toward watchdog gatekeeping attitudes toward access to government meetings, and news media routine forces contributed the most toward influencing attitudes toward access to government records.

Marital problems, maternal gatekeeping attitudes, and father–child relationships in adolescence.

We evaluated maternal gatekeeping attitudes as a mediator of the relation between marital problems and father-child relationships in 3 waves when children were in Grades 7-10. We assessed each parent's contribution to the marital problems experienced by the couple. Findings from mediational and cross-lagged structural equation models revealed that increased marital problem behaviors on the part of mothers at Wave 1 predicted increased maternal gatekeeping attitudes at Wave 2, which in turn predicted decreased amounts of father-adolescent interaction at Wave 3. Decreased amounts of interaction with either parent were associated within each wave with adolescents' perceptions that they mattered less to that parent. Amount of interaction with fathers at Wave 2 positively predicted changes in boys' perceptions of how much they mattered to their fathers at Wave 3, and amount of interaction with mothers at Wave 2 positively predicted changes in girls' perceptions of how much they mattered to their mothers at Wave 3. The findings did not differ for European American versus Mexican American families or for biological fathers versus step-fathers.

Factors Associated With Attitudes Toward Suicide

Pharmacists could play a significant role in providing care for suicidal individuals. Previous studies reported that gatekeeper attitudes toward suicide could affect caregiving behaviors toward people at risk for suicide. Nevertheless, only few studies have examined the attitudes of pharmacists toward suicide. This study explores the factors associated with the attitudes of pharmacists toward suicide. A self-administered questionnaire and written explanation of the study were mailed to 541 pharmacists who had registered for the Board Certified Psychiatry Pharmacy Specialist Seminar in Tokyo, Japan. A Japanese version of the Attitudes Toward Suicide questionnaire was used to assess participant attitudes toward suicide. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to assess relationships between participant attitudes toward suicide as well as demographics, occupational, and personal factors. Participants who had previously received suicide-related education were more likely to have positive attitudes toward suicide prevention. Conversely, those with a lifetime history of suicidal thoughts had more permissive attitudes toward one's right to commit suicide. Our findings suggest that pharmacist suicide prevention training programs should aim to alter permissiveness attitudes of trainees toward suicide.

Parental Gatekeeping and Child Custody/Child Access Evaluation: Part I: Conceptual Framework, Research, and Application

Parental gatekeeping refers to parents’ attitudes and actions that serve to affect the quality of the other parent's relationship and involvement with the child. It captures a common statutory best interest factor that often becomes the center of child custody disputes, especially in relocation cases. Gatekeeping research is reviewed for its relevance to family court and child custody evaluation. Divorce conflict and litigation is expected to be associated with negative, restrictive gatekeeping. A conceptual framework for gatekeeping is presented for child custody evaluation. Scholars have proposed a gatekeeping continuum varying from very restrictive to very facilitative in coparenting attitudes and actions. Research allows for a general prediction of potential harm to the child when there is substantial restrictive gatekeeping. The concept of social capital is proposed as an efficient explanation of the “gatekeeping effect” on children of divorce. Evaluators are cautioned not to confuse restrictive gatekeeping attitudes and behaviors. Restrictive/negative attitudes are normative among custody litigants. Children's adjustment will be affected more by the level and quality of parental involvement than by parental gatekeeping attitudes. Evaluators are encouraged to identify specific gate‐closing and gate‐opening behaviors in a gatekeeping assessment. Implications for crafting parenting plans are discussed. Keypoints Gatekeeping varies along continuum from facilitative to restrictive gatekeeping. Maternal gatekeeping attitudes influence father's involvement and affects child adjustment. Restrictive gatekeeping fosters parental conflict. It is important to distinguish between restrictive gatekeeping attitudes and behaviors.

Mother knows best? Inhibitory maternal gatekeeping, psychological control, and the mother–adolescent relationship

We used structural equation modeling to explore associations between inhibitory maternal gatekeeping attitudes, reports of inhibitory maternal gatekeeping behaviors, maternal psychological control, observed mother–adolescent warmth, and adolescent reports of maternal involvement. Our random stratified sample consisted of 315 mothers and their adolescents. Results revealed that inhibitory maternal gatekeeping attitudes were positively associated with reports of inhibitory gatekeeping behaviors. Psychological control fully mediated the relationship between inhibitory gatekeeping attitudes, reports of inhibitory gatekeeping behaviors, and adolescent reports of maternal involvement. Though gatekeeping attitudes and behaviors were not associated with observed mother–adolescent warmth, psychological control was negatively associated with observed mother–adolescent warmth. Thus, although prior research emphasized the negative effects of inhibitory gatekeeping on father–child relationships, the present research elucidates that in conjunction with psychological control, inhibitory gatekeeping negatively influences the mother–adolescent relationship. All findings are discussed in the context of family systems theory.

Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in China: Role of Gatekeepers

The objective of this study was to assess the potential role of gatekeepers of establishments in promoting condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) in China. The goals of this study were to explore FSWs' perceptions of gatekeeper attitudes and support for condom use, and to assess their association with FSWs' practice, communication, intention, proper use, knowledge of correct use, and perceptions related to condom use. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study among 454 establishment-based FSWs in one Chinese county. Perceived gatekeeper support for condom use was low among FSWs. Perceived support was positively associated with condom use communication with sexual partners, condom use frequency and intention, but not associated with proper condom use among FSWs. Perceived support was significantly associated with most condom use-related perceptions (e.g., self-efficacy of condom use, barriers to condom use, and perceived peer condom use) among FSWs. Healthcare professionals should work with gatekeepers to create a supportive local environment for condom use in sex work establishments. Gatekeepers need to clearly articulate their support for condom use to the FSWs. Training and skill acquisition regarding correct use of condoms among FSWs will be necessary.

Political recruitment: gender, race and class in the British parliament

1. Puzzles in political recruitment Part I. Who Selects and How?: 2. The structure of political recruitment 3. Conservative recruitment 4. Labour recruitment 5. Minor party recruitment Part II. Who Gets Selected and Why?: 6. Supply and demand explanations 7. Gatekeeper attitudes 8. Candidate resources 9. Candidate motivation 10. Comparative candidate recruitment Part III. Does the Social Bias Matter?: 11. The values, priorities and roles of MPs 12. The personal vote 13. Reforming recruitment.