Positive Regard Research Articles

Latent Profiles of Parental Academic Conditional Positive and Negative Regard

SYNOPSIS Objective. Parental academic conditional regard is a socialization strategy in which parents’ displays of appreciation increase (conditional positive regard; PACPR) or decrease (conditional negative regard; PACNR) depending on the children’s academic achievement. Little is known about how adolescents perceive combinations of conditional positive and negative regard and how within-person combinations of them relate to developmental outcomes. Design. This study uses a person-oriented approach to examine within-person combinations of PACPR and PACNR and their different associations with individuals’ motivation and adjustment. Three different samples reported on perceived PACPR and PACNR: adolescent students (N = 3,891), university freshmen (N = 556), and parents (N = 760). We conducted confirmatory latent profile analyses and investigated associations between profiles and outcome measures (basic need satisfaction, self-esteem level and contingency, ability self-concept, achievement goal orientation, test anxiety, and depressive symptoms). Results. The results supported a 3-class solution in all samples: low (44.4%–61.4%) or high (14.5%–24.5%) on both, and only high on PACPR (14.1%–31.3%). Groups reporting overall high levels of conditional regard scored the least favorably on all outcomes. Individuals with only high scores on PACPR differed from those with overall low scores on conditional regard primarily in terms of higher contingent self-esteem. Conclusions. The two dimensions of conditional regard are distinct. Although combination of the two dimensions is associated with individuals’ general poor adjustment, the presence of PACPR alone is related to a fragile sense of self-esteem. Implications for future research are discussed.

Discovering careers in mental health: a qualitative pilot study of a novel simulation-based education programme

Abstract Introduction: The global burden of disease from mental illness has been increasing, whilst the number of mental healthcare professionals has been decreasing at alarming rates. Recruitment to mental healthcare workforces is a key priority to efficiently tackle this imbalance, and recruitment efforts can be aided through educational experiences for school students that encourage career choices in mental health. This pilot study evaluates a novel simulation-based education programme to inform students about careers in mental health. Methods: 94 school students aged 15–18 were opportunity sampled for this programme. Participants followed a simulated patient through four scenarios from hospital admission to returning home, whilst observing the roles of different mental health professions. Qualitative questionnaires were completed post-course, assessing the participants’ learning experience and perceptions of careers in mental health. Results: Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed a greater understanding of mental healthcare roles, participants’ desire to challenge mental health stigma, and a positive regard for simulation-based education. Discussion: Simulation-based education serves as an innovative and applicable modality for career education. Moreover, it provides a novel approach to mental health literacy and stigma reduction in students, who could form the future workforces. Our findings act as a call to action for simulation educators, urging them to consider the application of simulation-based education in not just medical but also mental healthcare education. Large-scale deployment of this programme could have important implications for supporting mental healthcare recruitment.

Maternal Interaction With Infants Among Women at Elevated Risk for Postpartum Depression.

Ample research links mothers’ postpartum depression (PPD) to adverse interactions with their infants. However, most studies relied on general population samples, whereas a substantial number of women are at elevated depression risk. The purpose of this study was to describe mothers’ interactions with their 6- and 12-month-old infants among women at elevated risk, although with a range of symptom severity. We also identified higher-order factors that best characterized the interactions and tested longitudinal consistency of these factors from 6 to 12 months of infant age. We leveraged data from eight projects across the United States (n = 647), using standardized depression measures and an adaptation of the NICHD Mother-Infant Interaction Scales. Overall, these depression-vulnerable mothers showed high levels of sensitivity and positive regard and low levels of intrusiveness, detachment, and negative regard with their infants. Factor analyses of maternal behaviors identified two overarching factors—“positive engagement” and “negative intrusiveness” that were comparable at 6 and 12 months of infant age. Mothers’ ability to regulate depressed mood was a key behavior that defined “positive engagement” in factor loadings. An exceptionally strong loading of intrusiveness on the second factor suggested its central importance for women at elevated depression risk. Mothers with severe depressive symptoms had significantly more “negative intrusiveness” and less “positive engagement” with their 6-month-old infants than women with moderate or fewer depressive symptoms, suggesting a potential tipping point at which symptoms may interfere with the quality of care. Results provide the foundation for further research into predictors and moderators of women’s interactions with their infant among women at elevated risk for PPD. They also indicate a need for evidence-based interventions that can support more severely depressed women in providing optimal care.

The Socio-Cultural Integration: The Case of Kuti Resettlement Site in Kaffa Zone, South-West Ethiopia

This study investigates the socio-cultural integration of resettler and host communities in Kuti resettlement site in Gimbo woreda one of the resettlement sites selected for the 1985/86 resettlement program. The study was conducted with 20 participants selected from the resettled and host communities. The premise for the selection of the mentioned study site is the absence of prior research in the site and to add some additional knowledge on few researches done in socio-cultural integration aspect of resettlers in general. The research follows the procedures of an exploratory case study design in examining the experiences of socio-cultural integration between the host and resettler communities. Unstructured interview guide and two FGD sessions were used as the data collection instruments. Content analysis technique was applied in this study. This technique used to analyze their socio-cultural experiences and the perceptions towards each other. Three key findings are emerged from this study. The first is that both the resettler and host communities generally have positive regard towards each other. The second finding showed that different strategies of socio-cultural integration are used by the communities such as: intermarriage, sharecropping and adoption of cultural practices. The third major finding showed that the two greatest challenges to integration are lack of equal political participation and stereotyping by both communities. In conclusion, the study findings showed that there are aspects of socio-cultural integration which were manifested socially and culturally. The social manifestations included: intermarriage, God parenting, friendship, sharecropping, borrowing and lending. The cultural manifestation pertained to the adoption of different cultural practices by both communities. The challenges of integration were also perceived by the participants as resolvable in the long run and not severe to threaten future prospects for further integration.

To Study the Role of Parents in Developing Computer Awareness among Schools Going Children in Pune City

The National Policy on Education 1986, as modified in 1992, stressed the need to employ educational technology to improve the quality of education. The policy statement led to two major centrally sponsored schemes, namely, Educational Technology (ET) and Computer Literacy and Studies in Schools (CLASS) paving the way for a more comprehensive centrally sponsored scheme – Information and Communication Technology @ Schools in 2004.The comprehensive choice of ICT for holistic development of education can be built only on a sound policy. The initiative of ICT Policy in School Education is inspired by the tremendous potential of ICT for enhancing outreach and improving quality of education. A parent is primary helper, monitor coordinator, observes, record keeper and decision maker for the child. The most important duty of parents is to look after their children and to take interest in their welfare and progress. ” Successful parenting entails both effective components in terms of commitment, empathy and positive regard for children.”

Betrayed by my body: survivor experiences of sexual arousal and psychological pleasure during sexual violence

It might be assumed that victim experiences of sexual violence are characterised by fear and pain, and while this is true for many, the phenomenology of sexual violence is more complex than this. Increasingly, sexuality research is recognising that people can desire and have a positive regard toward sexual encounters that they do not consent or agree to, however there is limited scholarship examining victim experiences of pleasure or arousal during sexual violence. This article presents a thematic analysis of 50 posts describing the experience of arousal and/or pleasure during sexual violence drawn from Reddit, the popular online discussion board. The findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between physiological arousal, psychological pleasure and consent, and the significant shame and self-blame of survivors who feel that an aroused or pleasurable response implicates them in their own assault. The article closes by reflecting on the importance of distinguishing between consent, arousal and pleasure in sexual violence policy and practice, and recognising that arousal and pleasure are features of non-consensual as well as consensual encounters.

Saudi nursing student satisfaction and evaluation of reflective practice: A cross-sectional study.

Regardless of the fact that reflection has been documented in nursing literature for several years and is recognized in the nursing profession to improve learners' knowledge and mindfulness, this topic requires investigation in Gulf countries from a student perspective, as no studies have been published in the gulf regarding nursing students' perspectives on reflective practice. A total of 261 nursing students from the third and fourth academic years at one major educational institution were recruited using a quantitative cross-sectional study design. The participating nursing students reported high scores on the level of all domains of reflective practice as well as on the level of student satisfaction, where 3rd year students scored higher on the level of reflection with others (p = .03), as well as the reflection on action domains (p < .01). A significant correlation was found between reflection and satisfaction (p < .01), where reflection explained 6.87% of the changes in variance of satisfaction. Nursing students who took part in this study has demonstrated a positive regard towards reflective practice and indicated high correlated satisfaction with learning.

Therapeutic Communication in Nursing Profession

Therapeutic communication in nursing is a patient centered communication focuses on the patient to promote a greater understanding of patients needs, concerns and feeling. The nurse helps the patent explore their own thoughts and feelings, encourages, expression of them and avoid barriers in communication. Therapeutic communication enhances Trust, Genuine interest, empathy, acceptance, positive regard and therapeutic use of self. Nurses improve Therapeutic communication by effective communication and information sharing strategies, understanding patients preferables regarding the environment. Remembering to clear, cohesive, complete, concise and concrete will enhance Therapeutic communication in nursing profession. Nursing professionals should use techniques that priorities the physical, mental and emotional well being of patients when nurses communicate in a therapeutic manner, it helps the patent to feel safe and at ease. The openness and trust inevitably creates a safe space, which gives your patients the best experience possible. Keywords: Therapeutic communication, nursing professionals, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Show Me the Real You: Enhanced Expression of Rogerian Conditions in Therapeutic Relationship Building with Autistic Adults.

Research in psychotherapy and counseling theory has shown the importance of a strong therapeutic relationship. However, in the context of working with autistic adults, the relationship appears to be de-emphasized, or "different approaches" are recommended without specifying these. Neglect of relationship building may contribute to autistic adults' negative experiences with health care professionals identified in previous studies. I interviewed 17 autistic adults about their relationship building experiences with a wide range of professionals primarily from mental and medical health backgrounds. I also interviewed two mental health counselors and one psychologist who had experience working with this client group and had been recommended by autistic participants. I elicited best practice recommendations from all participants. I analyzed the data in an interpretive-interactionist framework and present them through creative analytic practice. I address one major theme in this article: the importance of Rogerian/person-centered relationship conditions. All had to be practiced in an enhanced way: (1) Enhanced congruence could be demonstrated through therapist self-disclosure and refraining from phony relationship building "techniques" such as vocal adjustments. (2) Enhanced empathy could be demonstrated through genuine listening and accurate interpretation; however, interpretation needed to be phrased tentatively. (3) Enhanced unconditional positive regard could be demonstrated through explicit verbal expression, practical demonstration, and remembering. Results largely mirrored research with non-autistic populations: different approaches were not needed for relationship building. Participants emphasized the importance of Rogers' person-centered conditions and described pivotal relationship building moments associated with enhanced expression of these conditions.

Supporting vulnerable students: Staff and parents speak

Background: Schools are at the forefront of promoting positive mental health and wellbeing through the implementation of evidence-based actions. Few Australian studies however have explored the views and experiences of school staff and parents as to what best supports secondary school students who struggle with positive mental health. Aims: This article describes findings from an exploratory study looking at the views and experiences of 74 staff and parents at four Melbourne Catholic Secondary schools. The study sought to understand how staff and parents experienced, offered and understood support to vulnerable secondary school students. Methods: The review and analysis drew on data collected from four staff groups and four parent focus groups. Participants in each group shared their views as to what they considered effective support to vulnerable secondary school students. Results: Findings indicated that the destigmatisation of mental ill-health conditions, greater attention to the transition between primary and secondary school, and the display of unconditional positive regard are critical to supporting vulnerable young students. Conclusion: Strengthening support to vulnerable young students requires school structures that (a) mitigate against stigmatisation, (b) recognise the period between childhood and adulthood as a time of heightened risk and (c) include staff whose posture towards vulnerable young students is one of unconditional positive regard.

Does It Pay to Treat Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019? Social Perception of Physicians Treating Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the public has often expressed great appreciation toward medical personnel who were often shown in the media expressing strong emotions about the situation. To examine whether the perception of people on a physician is in fact influenced by whether the physician treats patients with COVID-19 and the emotions they expressed in response to the situation, 454 participants were recruited in May 2020. Participants saw facial expressions of anger, sadness, happiness, and neutrality which supposedly were shown by physicians who were presented as working either in COVID-19 wards or in an internal medicine ward. Participants rated how competent, empathetic, caring, and likable each physician was, to what degree they would wish to be treated by each physician, and what salary each physician deserved. Physicians treating patients with COVID-19 were seen more positively and as deserving higher pay; they appeared more competent, caring, likable, and were more likely to be chosen as a caregiver compared to physicians not treating patients with COVID-19. The expressed emotions of physicians had a strong impact on how they were perceived, yet this effect was largely unrelated to whether they treated patients with COVID-19 or not such that happy physicians seemed more empathetic, caring, and likable than the physicians who showed negative emotions. Positive regard toward physicians treating patients with COVID-19 was associated with the fact that they were seen as saving lives and not due to the risk imposed by their work.

Celtic spirituality: qualitative analysis of an experience of compassion, connection, creation, contemplation and congruence

ABSTRACT Celtic Christian spirituality has enjoyed renewed interest at the turn of the current millennium. Existing literature focusses on its theology and culture. This study considers its impact on mental health and wellbeing. Celtic spirituality (as henceforth termed) is nowadays led by dispersed modern monastic communities, notably Iona, Corrymeela, Northumbria, St Chad or Aidan and Hilda. Interpretative phenomenological analysis within a wider holistic qualitative analysis identified a unifying theme that participants experience wholeness, integrating knowledge and lived experience. This encompassed five superordinate themes: loving others, connection with community, oneness with creation, being self in the moment and being self through life. Comparison with person-centred theory reveals significant alignment with the formative and actualising tendencies and the core conditions of congruence, empathic understanding and unconditional positive regard (UPR).

Knowledge and Attitudes about Privacy and Secondary Data Use among African-Americans Using Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

Introduction: The rapidly expanding direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC GT) market is one area where narratives of underrepresented populations have not been explored extensively. This study describes African-American consumers’ personal experiences with and perceptions about DTC GT and explores similarities and differences between African-Americans and an earlier cohort of mostly European American consumers. Methods: Twenty semi-structured, qualitative interviews were held with individuals who self-identified as Black/African-American and completed DTC GT between February 2017 and February 2020. Interviews were transcribed and consensus-coded, using inductive content analysis. Results: Participants generally had positive regard for DTC GT. When considering secondary uses of their results or samples, most participants were aware this was a possibility but had little concrete knowledge about company practices. When prompted about potential uses, participants were generally comfortable with research uses but had mixed outlooks on other nonresearch uses such as law enforcement, cloning, and product development. Most participants expressed that consent should be required for any secondary use, with the option to opt out. The most common suggestion for companies was to improve transparency. Compared to European American participants, African-American participants expressed more trust in DTC GT companies compared to healthcare providers, more concerns about law enforcement uses of data, and a stronger expression of community considerations. Discussion/Conclusion: This study found that African-American consumers of DTC GT had a positive outlook about genetic testing and were open to research and some nonresearch uses, provided that they were able to give informed consent. Participants in this study had little knowledge of company practices regarding secondary uses. Compared to an earlier cohort of European American participants, African-American participants expressed more concerns about medical and law enforcement communities’ use of data and more reference to community engagement.

Using a Person-Centered Approach to Facilitate a Male Amateur Distance Runner’s Personal Growth

This case study analyzes, synthesizes, and tests a person-centered approach by a trainee sport and exercise psychologist working with a male amateur distance runner. The aim of applying a person-centered approach was to enhance the athlete’s understanding of himself, enable him to make sense of his experience, and facilitate personal growth. This case study explores the client’s change process and how developing the quality of the relationship allowed him to share his true thoughts and feelings and move towards his authentic self. The trainee describes the theoretical framework that guided the consultancy; reflects on the experiences of exhibiting empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence; and discusses the challenges with implementing the approach. The case study reflects on and evaluates the support service, so that the practitioner could learn from this experience and enhance service delivery as he moves toward the end of his formal training.

The Modern Approach to Rapport Building with Children Affected by Crisis Events

The article is dedicated to the problem of providing an opportune psychological aid to children who were affected by crisis events. Observation, surveys, conservation were used as the methods of the study. The article emphasizes that the rapport building with children and their parents is one of the first and basic steps to provide psychological help. In order to develop the effective psychological methods and techniques of working with children who were affected by crisis events, scientific works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists were analysed. Therefore, the positive regard, emergence of interest and topic of conservation were determined as essential aspects of any rapport establishing. As well as, the main goals of the rapport building are the abatement of emotional tension and mutual trust development. As a consequence of the study, two stages of the child-psychologist interaction were determined. The first is providing the sense of safety and the second is direct interaction with a child. Also, some rapport building techniques for children of different ages were proposed in the article. These techniques should be used only individually for each specific case. In addition, the rapport building is determined as an inalienable condition of any effective further treatment.

How to foster perceived partner responsiveness: High‐quality listening is key

AbstractSocial psychologists have a longstanding interest in the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of positive social connections. This article reviews and integrates two emerging but to this point disparate lines of work that focus on these mechanisms: high‐quality listening and perceived partner responsiveness. We also review research investigating the downstream consequences of high‐quality listening and perceived partner responsiveness: the how and why of understanding the process by which these downstream benefits are obtained. High‐quality listening and perceived partner responsiveness, though not isomorphic, are related constructs in that they both incorporate several key interpersonal processes, such as understanding, positive regard, and expressions of caring for another person. We develop a theoretical model for representing how listening embodies one form of interactive behavior that can promote (or hinder) perceived partner responsiveness and its downstream affective, cognitive, and behavioral effects. Finally, we discuss our model’s implications for various social‐psychological domains, such as social cognition, self‐evaluation, constructive disagreements, and interpersonal relationships.

Cross-infection and infection control in dental clinics in Nablus and Tulkarm districts

BackgroundInfection control had many developments in the COVID 19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic, despite this, there were many complications in different health care facilities as well as dentists’ clinics due to the lack of infection control knowledge and compliance failure. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and compliance with the infection control measures in the dental clinics in the Nablus and Tulkarm districts.ResultsThe results showed that the total positive response regard all infection control domains were (70.0 %). Whereas the participants gave the highest positive response for personnel protective equipment i.e. gloving was (96.10 %). They gave the instruments related to controls the lowest responses, i.e. instruments sterilization was (59.40 %). The analyzed data showed significant statistical differences in the compliance with infection control measures between Nablus and Tulkarm districts “p < 0.05” in the interest of dentists from Tulkarm.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the findings of this study showed that there is moderate compliance to infection control protocol in Nablus and Tulkarm dental clinics. Thus, there is a need to strengthen adherence to infection control measures.MethodA universal sampling was used to assess the infection control program at the dental clinics in Nablus and Tulkarm Districts. The study sample involved 265 dentists. Data was collected using a questionnaire which has been sent via email between July and August 2020. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA and Post-Hock tests have been used. Statistical significance was set at ″P <0.05″. Cronbach’s alpha has been conducted to ensure the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.

The interplay between interpersonal relationships and organisational learning behaviour: Influences of psychological safety

This study examined the association between interpersonal relationships and organisation learning behaviour among new employees; as well as the influence of psychological safety on that relationship. Participants were 1 500 newly recruited university employees (females = 41.66%; mean age = 44.67 years, SD = 8.11 years). Participants completed measures of interpersonal relationship carrying capacity (emotional carrying capacity, tensility, and connectivity), subjective experience (positive regard, mutuality, and vitality), and learning behaviour. Regression analyses indicated that higher interpersonal relationship dimension statuses predicted higher organisation learning behaviour. Psychological safety mediated the influence of interpersonal relationship on organisational learning behaviour. These findings suggest the importance for human resources managers in tertiary institutions to promote psychological safety of new employees for their work adjustment, improved organisational learning, and enhancement of productivity.

Socioeconomic disadvantage and parental mood/affective problems links negative parenting and executive dysfunction in children born very preterm.

Poverty increases the risk of poorer executive function (EF) in children born full-term (FT). Stressors associated with poverty, including variability in parenting behavior, may explain links between poverty and poorer EF, but this remains unclear for children born very preterm (VPT). We examine socioeconomic and parental psychosocial adversity on parenting behavior, and whether these factors independently or jointly influence EF in children born VPT. At age five years, 154 children (VPT = 88, FT = 66) completed parent-child interaction and EF tasks. Parental sensitivity, intrusiveness, cognitive stimulation, and positive and negative regard were coded with the Parent-Child Interaction Rating Scale. Socioeconomic adversity spanned maternal demographic stressors, Income-to-Needs ratio, and Area Deprivation Index. Parents completed measures of depression, anxiety, inattention/hyperactivity, parenting stress, and social-communication interaction (SCI) problems. Parental SCI problems were associated with parenting behavior in parents of children born VPT, whereas socioeconomic adversity was significant in parents of FT children. Negative parenting behaviors, but not positive parenting behaviors, were related to child EF. This association was explained by parental depression/anxiety symptoms and socioeconomic adversity. Results persisted after adjustment for parent and child IQ. Findings may inform research on dyadic interventions that embed treatment for parental mood/affective symptoms and SCI problems to improve childhood EF.

Lived Experiences of Tertiary Music Teachers Teaching Musically Challenged Students

This study explored the lived experiences of tertiary music teachers teaching musically challenged students. The phenomenon refers to those who have the difficulty in music aptitude, rhythmic, tonal audiation, and music theory. Seven teachers explored their experiences and best practices in dealing with the phenomenon in which three turning points were identified and these are the ideal teacher, positive regard of the music teachers toward the phenomenon, and the opportunities in dealing with musically challenged students. Key informant interviews were conducted with the participants and were treated qualitatively using thematic analysis. The results confirm that musically challenged students are offshoots of insufficient support from the system, environment, and the student as a whole. The participants? behavior toward the students are rooted and dependent on their personality, skills, and experience in teaching musically challenged students. The results suggest that positive attributes in teaching musically challenged students is inherent in the phenomenon; thus, the experience is meaningful to the teachers. Consequently, the success of the learning process in teaching musically challenged students is clearly dependent on the issues of interest, support, facilities and equipment, and most especially, the quality of teachers handling musically challenged students who innovate strategies and are willing to accommodate the learners; thus, to deal with the phenomenon, music and its related elements should be appraised as a major subject where all components will be truly demonstrated with devoted teachers employing innovative strategies with integration of technology to allow learners to find out the values immanently to make them motivated and confident in the subject.