Most efforts to categorize pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) have focused on researchers’ – rather than laypeople’s – perceptions of PEBs. Drawing on the psychometric paradigm used to categorize environmental risks, we aimed to identify the PEB attributes salient to laypeople and, from that, determine the underlying dimensions of PEB. In Study 1, participants (n = 157) evaluated 30 PEBs through open-ended questions. The results revealed 21 attributes that laypeople commonly associate with PEBs. In Study 2, 250 MTurk participants rated 74 PEBs on the 21 attributes. An exploratory factor analysis revealed four factors underlying PEB: Factor 1 (Financial and Behavioral Cost), Factor 2 (External Pressures), Factor 3 (Environmental Impact and Savings) and Factor 4 (Health and Safety Impacts). PEBs were characterized along each dimension and along multiple dimensions using biplots. Additionally, the four factors strongly predicted behavior intention. The results have implications for interventions to increase PEBs in the general public.

The present study examined tact-to-mand transfer procedures and prompting procedures on a child diagnosed with autism. There was one participant, a 3-year-old Hispanic male, with a limited manding repertoire whom also possessed knowledge of tacting items. A multiple baseline design across settings was implemented in order to increase the number of mands emitted by the participant. Data were collected using paper and pen recording by the researcher and another observer to provide interobserver agreement. Mastery probes were collected at one week, two weeks, and four weeks. Results indicated that transfer procedures may be helpful in generalizing manding for a child with a limited manding repertoire. The implications of these findings are discussed in order to enhance manding repertoires in children with autism. Further research for this study would be to expand vocalizations and knowledge in order to use a pure mand instead of a prompt.

Currently, very little is understood regarding the effectiveness of school-based Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) programs or associated attrition rates. The goal of the current study is to examine the effectiveness of school-based BPT programs, associated attrition rates, and possible moderator variables related to attrition. Searches within the databases EBSCOhost were conducted to find BPT programs located at schools as well as the associated attrition rates for each individual study. Mean associated attrition rates were calculated using the software Comprehensive Meta-Analysis. The mean weighted attrition rate across all trials of school-based studies was 42.2%. Significant moderators were also found to increase the risk of attrition in this study. For instance, interventions that were preventative or delivered at a Tier I level, were individually delivered, involved participants from non-disadvantaged backgrounds and targeted behaviors classified as mixed/comorbid. Additionally, the number of sessions and the average age of child/parent moderated the weighted associated attrition rate. Insignificant results were found for program provider and caregiver attending. Comparisons between results from this study and the clinic-based literature are discussed as well as directions for future research.

This study explores whether the observed effects of coloring on anxiety and stress apply to the elderly. Two coloring activities were administered to elderly participants to evaluate the effects on stress, anxiety, and working memory. The Mini Mental State Examination was used to establish cognitive level. The Perceived Stress Scale and Brief State Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to obtain pretest and posttest scores on stress and anxiety levels. Working memory was measured using the Backward Digit Recall to test if the potential calming effects improve working memory. A near significant increase in stress scores was demonstrated in the mandala condition. Also, a significant increase was found in backward digit recall scores in the doodling condition. The mandala difficulty and allotted time may negate the anticipated calming effects. Those wanting to implement art therapy should provide the required materials, then allow participants to self-select the activity, and time to dedicate.

Ego depletion theory postulates that the ability to exert self-control depends upon the availability of a limited mental resource. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of ego depletion on risky decision-making. We also examined the moderating effect emotional intelligence may have on this relationship. First, participants completed a trait emotional intelligence questionnaire and a self-control task. This was followed by a mood questionnaire and a series of risky-decision scenarios. Results showed (1) participants who were depleted made more risky decisions than non-depleted participants, (2) no differences in perceived task effort between groups, (3) no evidence of a moderating effect for emotional intelligence and (4) depleted participants were more aroused and their moods were more negative than non-depleted participants. Taken together, these results imply that ego depletion enhances the inclination to take risks and that decisions involving risks should not be made under these conditions.

Meta-cognitive models have been utilized to explore the relations between worry and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as, the associations between rumination and depression. However, relatively few studies have focused on the role of meta-cognitive variables and social phobia symptoms. It is possible that individuals with social phobia follow a pattern of thinking similar to that of those who experience depressive rumination and worry. Specifically, it may be that individuals with social phobia hold positive beliefs about their highly negative prolonged post-event evaluations of social interactions. The primary goal of this study was the development and assessment of the Positive Beliefs about Post-Event Processing Questionnaire (PB-PEPQ). Further, it was predicted that post-event processing would mediate the relationship between positive beliefs about post-event processing and social phobia symptoms. The findings from this study suggested that the PB-PEPQ is a valid and reliable construct. Additionally, the findings provide initial evidence for a cognitive model in which individuals who tend to hold positive beliefs about post-event processing, tend to engage in post-event processing which may increase social phobia symptoms.

The purpose of this analysis was to present a systematic review of the effectiveness of child and adolescent PTSD early intervention programs implemented within 3 months following a potentially traumatic event (PTE). The mean weighted effect sizes of the early interventions were calculated, and study variables were encoded for potential moderator variables. A statistically significant mean weighted effect size of -.26 was calculated at final follow up measures, indicating that children receiving early interventions reported lower scores on PTSD outcome measures. The individual studies’ effect sizes at follow-up showed mixed results, thus CBT-based interventions were used as a moderator variable which showed to be a significant moderator in the effectiveness of early interventions. Early interventions programs also seemed to be effective in reducing anxiety outcomes measures, but not depression. Study implications and directions for future research are presented, explaining the need for more long-term follow-up, more early interventions for different types of trauma, and more research in general so that additional potential moderator variables can be identified, allowing experts and researchers valuable information needed to develop effective early interventions following potentially traumatic events.

Self-compassion is a characteristic composed of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness that promotes adaptive cognitive, behavioral, and emotional processing. A self-compassionate mindset in the face of difficulties can lead to less anxiety and more self-forgiveness, and because of these benefits, some evidence suggests self-compassionate individuals tend to persist longer on a task after an initial failure. This study focuses on the extent to which self-compassion can improve task performance and persistence under pressure. Participants first completed the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003a) to measure trait levels of self-compassion. Self-compassion was then induced by leading participants to think about a mistake in terms of the components of self-compassion. Pressure was manipulated by stating that task performance on a series of logic problems was indicative of intelligence. Multiple regressions were conducted to explore the potential effects of both trait and induced self-compassion, as well as task pressure, as predictors of objective and subjective measures of performance and persistence. Analyses revealed that for controls, performance and persistence were highly contingent on pressure, while self-compassionately primed individuals tended to perform and persist more consistently across pressure scenarios. Additionally, self-compassionate individuals were more accurate with regard to subjective ratings of their objective performances. The realistic self-appraisals that self-compassionate individuals harbor offer a potential explanation for these unusual findings. Furthermore, it is recommended that future research focus on the connections between self-compassion and self-esteem during task performance, as well as strengthening the pressure and self-compassion manipulations.

Social connectedness, feelings of belonging and closeness with the social world, has been identified as an important aspect for the physical, emotional, and collective well-being. People faced with chronic illness may feel like they no longer belong, and this lack of connectedness may have a negative impact on health, well-being, and psychological functioning. The present study investigated social connectedness and quality of life in 151 patients with ongoing symptoms of chronic illness. It was hypothesized that lower levels of social connectedness would be associated with poorer health-related quality of life and more depression. Participants (N =151, 85.4% women, Mage = 46.5) completed four online surveys that measured the level of their connectedness (Social Connectedness Scale) and their health related quality of life (Depression PHQ Scale and the SF-36 Scale). Overall, the hypotheses were supported with social connectedness being a significant predictor of depression and seven of the eight subscales on the health outcomes SF-36 measure. There was an increase in physical and social functioning, emotional well-being, and energy as the patients’ level of social connectedness increased. Meanwhile, decreased feelings of social connectedness were associated with greater pain and role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems. These findings suggest that feelings of interpersonal closeness and belonging can be an important factor in health outcomes and quality of life within a chronically ill population.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sexual orientation, self-described gender expression and preferred levels of gender expression in romantic partners with ischemic pain performance in healthy young women. It was hypothesized that lesbian and bisexual women would be less sensitive to pain than heterosexual women. It was also hypothesized that regardless of sexual orientation, women who endorse a preference for more feminine romantic partners and who describe themselves as more masculine would report higher pain thresholds, higher pain tolerance, and lower pain intensity levels than women who report attraction to more masculine romantic partners and rate themselves as possessing more feminine dispositions. A total of 172 women completed multiple assessments of identity and gender expression followed by an ischemic pain task. The study demonstrated that ischemic pain performance is associated with sexual orientation, dispositional gender expression, and preferred gender expression in romantic partners in healthy young women. Compared to heterosexual women, lesbian and bisexual women reported lower pain intensity ratings. Among heterosexual women, attraction to more feminine romantic partners was associated with lower pain intensity ratings early into the ischemic discomfort task, and there was a slight association between self-described masculinity and lower pain intensity ratings for heterosexual women. Similar associations emerged between attraction to more feminine romantic partners and higher pain tolerance in the heterosexual group and for dispositional masculinity and higher pain threshold and tolerance levels in the combined lesbian and bisexual group. These findings provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that, irrespective of biological sex, various other aspects of sexual identity are associated with ischemic pain performance.