Greater Self-regulation Research Articles

Maintenance of a gluten free diet in coeliac disease: The roles of self-regulation, habit, psychological resources, motivation, support, and goal priority

IntroductionA strict lifelong gluten free diet (GFD) is the only treatment for coeliac disease (CD). Theory-based research has focused predominantly on initiation, rational, and motivational processes in predicting adherence. The aim of this study was to evaluate an expanded collection of theoretical constructs specifically relevant to the maintenance of behaviour change, in the understanding and prediction of GFD adherence. MethodsRespondents with CD (N = 5573) completed measures of GFD adherence, psychological distress, intentions, self-efficacy, and the maintenance-relevant constructs of self-regulation, habit, temptation and intentional and unintentional lapses (cognitive and behavioural consequences of lowered or fluctuating psychological resources and self-control), motivation, social and environmental support, and goal priority, conflict, and facilitation. Correlations and multiple regression were used to determine their influence on adherence, over and above intention and self-efficacy, and how relationships changed in the presence of distress. ResultsBetter adherence was associated with greater self-regulation, habit, self-efficacy, priority, facilitation, and support; and lower psychological distress, conflict, and fewer self-control lapses (e.g., when busy/stressed). Autonomous and wellbeing-based, but not controlled motivations, were related to adherence. In the presence of distress, the influence of self-regulation and intentional lapses on adherence were increased, while temptation and unintentional lapses were decreased. DiscussionThe findings point to the importance of considering intentional, volitional, automatic, and emotional processes in the understanding and prediction of GFD adherence. Behaviour change interventions and psychological support are now needed so that theoretical knowledge can be translated into evidence-based care, including a role for psychologists within the multi-disciplinary treatment team.

Adult education as corporate social responsibility in Canadian mining companies: performing the good citizen for greater self-regulation

This paper examines the underexplored role adult education activities play as part of Canadian Mining Companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. We argue that adult education as CSR provides companies with a symbolic capital they can draw upon to detract from government oversight, increase profits, and continue operations. Taking place within a structure of increased corporate power and lacking any regulatory framework, CSR is often divorced from the overall ethos of a company. Moreover, the impact of adult educational initiatives on individuals and communities remains largely unknown, highlighting the need for further research.

Does Situation-Specificity Affect the Operation of Implementation Intentions?

Interventions that encourage people to link critical situations with appropriate responses (i.e., “implementation intentions”) show promise in increasing physical activity.The study tested whether implementation intentions designed to deal with generic situations are more effective than implementation intentions designed to respond to specific situations.One hundred thirty-three participants either: (a) formed implementation intentions using a volitional help sheet with 10 critical situations (i.e., standard volitional help sheet); (b) formed implementation intentions using a volitional help sheet with one generic situation (i.e., single situation volitional help sheet); or (c) did not form implementation intentions (i.e., control condition).Participants who formed implementation intentions reported more physical activity and greater self-regulation than those in the control condition. There were no differences between participants who were provided with one generic critical situation and those who were provided with 10 specific critical situations.Implementation intentions successfully increased self-reported physical activity irrespective of critical situation specificity. The implication is that implementation intention-based interventions are robust and require minimal tailoring.

Resilience in Palestinian adolescents living in Gaza.

There were 335 Palestinian adolescents (n = 335) enrolled in 11th and 12th grades in secondary schools in Gaza refugee camps completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and self-report measures assessing coping skills, self-regulation, optimism, parenting style, family sense of coherence, national identity, ethnic identity, and other demographic variables. Participants with stronger national identity, stronger family sense of coherence, greater self-regulation, and more optimism reported less depressive and anxious symptoms. In a logistic regression analysis, significant predictors of resilience (minimal to no anxiety and depression, n = 135) were age, optimism, family sense of coherence, ethnic identity, self-regulation, and coping skills. These findings indicate that older age, optimism, perception of family seeing the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, stronger Arab ethnic identity, greater self-regulation and stronger coping skills promote adolescent adaptation and health. Salutogenesis frames information about how resilient youth living in high threat environments may respond to preventative community-based behavioral health interventions as well as treatment of depression, anxiety, and other psychological distress among adolescents living with ongoing violence. (PsycINFO Database Record

"Resilience in Palestinian adolescents living in Gaza": Correction to Aitcheson et al. (2016).

There were 335 Palestinian adolescents (n = 335) enrolled in 11th and 12th grades in secondary schools in Gaza refugee camps completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and self-report measures assessing coping skills, self-regulation, optimism, parenting style, family sense of coherence, national identity, ethnic identity, and other demographic variables. Participants with stronger national identity, stronger family sense of coherence, greater self-regulation, and more optimism reported less depressive and anxious symptoms. In a logistic regression analysis, significant predictors of resilience (minimal to no anxiety and depression, n = 135) were age, optimism, family sense of coherence, ethnic identity, self-regulation, and coping skills. These findings indicate that older age, optimism, perception of family seeing the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, stronger Arab ethnic identity, greater self-regulation and stronger coping skills promote adolescent adaptation and health. Salutogenesis frames information about how resilient youth living in high threat environments may respond to preventative community-based behavioral health interventions as well as treatment of depression, anxiety, and other psychological distress among adolescents living with ongoing violence. (PsycINFO Database Record

Metacognitive Strategies in the Introduction to Political Science Classroom

ABSTRACTThis article examines metacognitive-based teaching strategies and provides preliminary evidence about their effectiveness in the political science classroom. In a 2013 Fall semester Introduction to Political Science course, three metacognitive-based teaching strategies were designed and implemented for improving student learning through greater self-regulation and awareness. This article compares the student learning outcomes to a previous version of the course and also assesses student learning over the semester, including a pre- and postassessment of course-based knowledge. By assessing changes in student learning, the article investigates, identifies and isolates specific and transferable classroom interventions for improving student learning and proposes using metacognitive-based teaching strategies in a political science classroom.

Childhood self-regulatory skills predict adolescent smoking behavior

Cigarette smoking is the primary preventable cause of premature death. Better self-regulatory capacity is a key psychosocial factor that has been linked with reduced likelihood of tobacco use. Studies point to the importance of multiple forms of self-regulation, in the domains of emotion, attention, behavior, and social regulation, although no work has evaluated all of these domains in a single prospective study. Considering those four self-regulation domains separately and in combination, this study prospectively investigated whether greater self-regulation in childhood is associated with reduced likelihood of either trying cigarettes or becoming a regular smoker. Hypotheses were tested using longitudinal data from a cohort of 1709 US children participating in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics – Child Development Supplement. Self-regulation was assessed at study baseline when children ranged in age from 6 to 14 years, using parent-reported measures derived from the Behavior Problems Index and Positive Behavior Scale. Children ages 12–19 self-reported their cigarette smoking, defined in two ways: (1) trying and (2) regular use. Separate multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate odds of trying or regularly using cigarettes, taking account of various potential confounders. Over an average of five years of follow-up, 34.5% of children ever tried cigarettes and 10.6% smoked regularly. Higher behavioral self-regulation was the only domain associated with reduced odds of trying cigarettes (odds ratio (OR) = .85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = .73–.99). Effective regulation in each of the domains was associated with reduced likelihood of regular smoking, although the association with social regulation was not statistically significant (ORs range .70–.85). For each additional domain in which a child was able to regulate successfully, the odds of becoming a regular smoker dropped by 18% (95% CI = .70–.97). These findings suggest that effective childhood self-regulatory skills across multiple domains may reduce future health risk behaviors.

TACKLING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR: AN OVERVIEW OF THE POLICY OPTIONS, APPROACHES AND MEASURES

The aim of this paper is to review the various policy options, approaches and measures that can be used to address informal entrepreneurship. To do this, it first reviews four possible policy options, namely taking no action, eradicating informal entrepreneurship, moving formal entrepreneurship into the informal economy, or transforming informal entrepreneurship into formal entrepreneurship. Revealing that transforming informal entrepreneurship into formal entrepreneurship is not only the most viable option but also the approach most commonly adopted by supra-national agencies and national governments, a review is then undertaken of how this can be achieved using either direct controls, which seek to increase the costs of informal entrepreneurship and/or the benefits of formal entrepreneurship, or indirect controls that seek to generate a commitment to compliance and greater self-regulation. It is then revealed how these approaches and their accompanying policy measures are not mutually exclusive and can be combined in various ways, exemplified by the responsive regulation and slippery slope approaches. The outcome is a comprehensive review and evaluation of the various policy options, approaches and measures available to policy makers for addressing informal entrepreneurship along with some recommendations regarding the way forward.

Temporal Aspects of Psychosocial Predictors of Increased Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Adults with Severe Obesity: Mediation by Physical Activity

Effective and reliable obesity treatments are lacking because of a poor understanding of the health behavior change process. Community-based organizations with the capacity to train existing staff members are particularly well-positioned to implement evidence-based treatment protocols to impact obesity-related behaviors such as unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity. The aim of this study was to assess temporal aspects of psychosocial predictors (self-regulation, mood, and self-efficacy) on increased fruit and vegetable intake in adults with severe obesity, while also accounting for mediation by physical activity volume. A 6-month, randomized field investigation was conducted. Severely obese adults volunteered for behavioral support of physical activity coupled with nutrition education (n = 73) or cognitive-behavioral methods for nutrition change (n = 71). Improvements in self-regulation, mood, self-efficacy, fruit and vegetable intake (FV), and physical activity (PA) were significant, with significantly greater self-regulation at month 6 for the cognitive-behavioral group. Increase in FV was predicted by changes in the above psychosocial variables over 6 months, with mood change over 3 months also a significant predictor. Change in PA mediated the above relationships, with a reciprocal effect between changes in PA and FV. Findings have implications for the large-scale behavioral treatment of obesity.

Re-conceptualizing the ELP as a Web 2.0 Personal Language Learning Environment

This paper addresses the reconceptualization of the ELP as a Personal Language Learning Environment (PLLE), encouraging learners towards greater self-regulation. Such a development fits in with the pedagogical function of the ELP by scaffolding the plurilingual, lifelong learning of languages. Web 2.0 social media tools allow learners to work with their teachers at distance and over a longer period of time than is commonly possible within the restrictions of traditional language courses. Learners experience greater flexibility and choice in communication in both formal and informal contexts, enabling greater autonomy. Web 2.0 tools such as blogs give learners the opportunity to produce archives of authentic linguistic performances or communicative products that can be related to descriptors from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to provide contextualized evidence of proficiency and progress. The resulting language learning “footprint” is designed as a PLLE, potentially comprising linguistic performances in a number of languages in a number of settings that are relevant to the learner. This Web 2.0 PLLE may be designed either as an extension to the existing structure of the European Language Portfolio, or in a more radical scenario, its logical replacement, while maintaining the pedagogical function of the ELP.

Temperament and Childhood Obesity Risk

Temperament, or individual differences in behavioral styles, could explain why many individuals are susceptible to childhood obesity in the current environment while others are not. The objective of this article is to review the growing body of literature linking weight outcomes with 2 aspects of temperament, negativity and self-regulation. Studies conducted through 2011 and assessing at least 1 weight outcome and 1 aspect of early negativity or self-regulation in normally developing infants and young children were included. Most studies suggest that greater levels of negative reactivity in early life may increase the risk of obesity, and greater self-regulation may be protective. While temperaments of individuals tend to be relatively stable over time, there is evidence that links between early temperament and weight outcomes are malleable. Relationships between temperament and weight outcomes are becoming well established. More research is needed to confirm the longitudinal nature of these relationships and to shed light on the mediators and moderators of these relationships and their implications for obesity interventions.

Toward a 21st Century Social Contract

This article makes the case for a new contract between business and government that will help us address the critical challenge of our time: the globalization of commerce, and its disruptive effects on labor, local communities, and the environment. The authors begin by showing how globalization has created a new playing field for government and business in which our current governance models and a social contract that proved remarkably effective during the 20th century can no longer ensure economic stability and social progress. While the private sector has for the most part demonstrated its ability to adapt and flourish in a global economy, governments have struggled, thanks in large part to complex decision‐making processes and centralized bureaucracies that were created in response to 20th‐century realities. The result has been ever more indebted nations and governments that have been unable to maintain the core foundation and social investments on which their economic competitiveness and the social well‐being of their citizens depend.Our challenge now is to create a new social contract between business and government that is equal to the challenges of a global economy. The authors identify a number of key issues that must be addressed in creating this new framework, and explore recent and emerging business leadership initiatives that are working to address them. These range from initiatives that encourage greater self‐regulation by business of its impact on society and the environment to those that explore ways for the private sector to help governments deliver services more cost effectively.As part of the fallout from the recent financial crisis, business, broadly speaking, no longer enjoys the level of public trust it once did, which has added significantly to the challenges it now faces in taking on greater social responsibility. To direct its considerable resources to the greater public good while continuing to produce a competitive return to shareholders will require a degree of innovation and leadership that many companies will find difficult. But without this increased participation of business and its leaders, it is hard to see how we will prosper in the increasingly uncertain future we now face.

Learning presence as a moderator in the community of inquiry model

This study of over 2000 US college students examines the Community of Inquiry framework (CoI) in its capacity to describe and explain differences in learning outcomes in hybrid and fully online learning environments. We hypothesize that the CoI model's theoretical constructs of presence reflect educational effectiveness in a variety of environments, and that online learner self-regulation, a construct that we label ''learning presence'' moderates relationships of the other components within the CoI model. Consistent with previous research (e.g., Means, Toyama, Murphy, Bakia, & Jones, 2009; Shea & Bidjerano, 2011) we found evidence that students in online and blended courses rank the modalities differently with regard to quality of teaching, social, and cognitive presence. Differences in help seeking behavior, an important component of self-regulated learning, were found as well. In addition, results suggest teaching presence and social presence have a differential effect on cognitive presence, depending upon learner's online self-regulatory cognitions and behaviors, i.e. their learning presence. These results also suggest a compensation effect in which greater self-regulation is required to attain cognitive presence in the absence of sufficient teaching and social presence. Recommendations for future research and practice are included.

Relations Among Mindfulness, Achievement-Related Self-Regulation, and Achievement Emotions

Mindfulness has been hypothesized to directly facilitate well-being, and to indirectly do so by enhancing self-regulated functioning. No prior research has examined these relationships in the domain of academic achievement. The current study tested relationships among mindfulness, achievement-related self-regulation (e.g., delay-of-gratification, help-seeking, and self-control) and achievement emotions among a sample of 290 undergraduate students. Results revealed that indices of mindfulness, achievement-related self-regulation, and achievement emotions were significantly inter-correlated. And, results supported the hypothesis that the prediction of achievement emotions by mindfulness was mediated by greater self-regulation over achievement. Results are considered in light of recent evidence for associations among mindfulness, self-regulation, and well-being in other domains of functioning; with respect to theoretical and practical implications; and with respect to the possible fruitfulness of research bridging self-regulation as a character strength and achievement-related functioning.

Enhancing the independence of supervisory agencies: the development of courage

Recent financial scandals have led to calls for greater regulation of business activity. Increased regulation, including self-regulation, generally requires increased supervison, yet the performance of supervisors has also been under review. Elements of the supervisory task may be better performed when supervisors are able to show courage in their actions. This paper examines the nature of both courage and the supervisory role, and suggests activities which may be used to enhance courageous behaviour in supervisory agencies. Governments have responded to high profile business collapses, such as WorldCom, Global Crossing and Enron in the United States and One.Tel, Harris Scarfe and HIH in Australia with calls for greater self-regulation (Howard 2002), new corporate responsibility measures such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and reviews of the regulatory regime for the accountancy profession and for stock exchange listing (DOT 2002, FSA 2003).

Job stress-related depression — a Swedish epidemic?

There is evidence, spanning many decades of research, that the subjective well-being (SWB) of workers, including life satisfaction, job satisfaction, and positive affect, positively correlates with the performance of workers and organizations. However, the size of the relationships is typically small to moderate. In this review we address the question of why the relationships are not stronger. We first review evidence of a relationship moving from well-being to performance through various pathways. Workers who are high in SWB are now understood to have: 1. better health, 2. lower absenteeism, 3. greater self-regulation, 4. stronger motivation, 5. enhanced creativity, 6. positive relationships, and 7. lower turnover. Each of these variables can predict individual and organizational performance. However, the sheer number of known and possible pathways means the relationships are bound to be complex, and there are mitigating conditions at every turn. Thus, second, we review the evidence of moderators of these mediators, hypothesizing when a happier workforce is a more productive one, and when not. Future research is needed to firmly establish the pathways from different types of SWB through the mediators to metrics of performance, to further establish the moderating conditions in which these relations are most likely to occur, and to evaluate how much SWB is needed to maximize effectiveness. We end by urging scholars to conduct this future research using the highest standards of scientific integrity.

Transformation of Research Systems in Central and Eastern Europe: A Coincidence of Opportunities and Trouble

This paper analyzes the transformation of research systems in Central and Eastern Europe as a coincidence of opportunities and trouble. Political rebuilding has brought opportunities for the greater self-regulation of research which has been demanded by many researchers. But an appropriate institutional rebuilding of the research system is strongly restricted by sharply reduced resources, and by political pressure towards research orientated to short-term applications in industry. These factors have shaped the dynamics of the transformation of research systems in the post-communist countries and have led, so far, to rather unsatisfactory outcomes. This paper gives an overview of these developments, emphasizing the similarities between the different countries.