The aim of the present study was to examine the predictive values of sociodemographic variables, parental variables (parental stress, family functioning, parental adjustment, coping methods), and child variables (coping methods, self concept) for the adjustment of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Transactional stress and coping model was used as the conceptual framework for the study. The sample of the study was composed of 80 children with spastic cerebral palsy and one of their parents. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the child adjustment by using child gender, parent education, parental stress, family functioning, parental adjustment, parental coping methods, child coping methods, and child self concept as independent variables. Results revealed that parentalstress, parents&rsquo / problem solving/optimistic coping and fatalistic coping predicted the adjustment of children with spastic CP. However, parental adjustment, family functioning, child coping and child self concept were not significantly predicting of child adjustment. The findings, strengths, limitations as well as the implications of the findings were discussed.

Abstract Internet and information technology have changed our daily life extremely. Information technology affects not only the way people running the business but also their expectation to learning and education. All this external shift and new requirement have become the driving force of e-learning. Mission Based Learning (MBL), which proposed by pedagogical experts, are a new learning model to address the new learning pattern of e-learning. MBL would like students to be trained as entrepreneur, with entrepreneurship, willing to take risk and can learning from failure experience. Thus, MBL activity increases the difficulty of the learning tasks in order to motivate students¡¦ potential and hope that students can use innovative strategy to overcome the mission. However, this may causes students to fail in the learning activity easily. Therefore, understanding students¡¦ failure response is the key point to teach students learning from failure experience. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting students¡¦ failure response in participating MBL. The study depends on prior-research and uses questionnaires to collect data. A total of 252 students attending the MBL activity are the research subjects. The collected data is processed and analyzed with SPSS for Windows 10.0. The main findings show that students¡¦ failure tolerance, failure attribution and perceived goal structure will significantly affect students¡¦ constructive failure response. Furthermore, students¡¦ age will not affect students¡¦ failure tolerance, self-concept and failure response. Students¡¦ perceived goal structure will affect their failure tolerance and failure response in MBL activity. This research also finds that failure attribution will significantly affect students¡¦ failure tolerance, self-concept and failure response. Finally, according to the research result, this thesis proposed conclusions and suggestions for the educators and the follow-up.

Like others who endure serious stressors, cancer patients often report personal growth as a result of their illness, a phenomenon termed "posttraumatic growth." Although researchers often accept these reports as valid, temporal comparison theory suggests that people may overestimate such growth. According to the theory, remembering the past self as less positive than the present self may serve as an illusory self-enhancement process that allows one to see continual personal growth. Thus, reports of posttraumatic growth may represent perceived rather than actual change in the self. To test this possibility, we prospectively examined 88 individuals with early stage breast (Stage 0, I or II) or prostate (Stage I or II) cancer. Patients completed measures of positive attributes and personal meaning prior to radiation treatment (Time 1) and again following radiation treatment (Time 2). At Time 2, participants were also asked to recreate their Time 1 responses (Recalled Time 1). Difference scores between Time 1 and Time 2 were generated to represent actual change, and between Recalled Time 1 and Time 2 to represent perceived change. Over the three assessments, ratings of personal meaning showed no change. Ratings of positive attributes showed actual positive change, F (1, 85) = 12.88, p = .0006. Patients, however, did not perceive themselves as changing, F (1, 85) = 3.34, p = n.s. Recalled Time 1 ratings significantly overestimated actual Time 1 ratings, F (1, 85) = 4.91, p = .03. Posttraumatic growth was not correlated with actual change, r = .12, n.s., but was significantly correlated with perceived change, r = .27, p = .01. Findings suggest that self-reported posttraumatic growth may reflect perceived rather than actual change over time.

Women with an inherited BRCA mutation are at significantly increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer, often diagnosed at an earlier age than sporadic cancers. Prophylactic surgery, with bilateral mastectomy and/or bilateral prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy, represents an option for risk reduction. The purpose of this study was to explore quality of life, sexual functioning, menopausal symptoms, psychological well-being and satisfaction with risk management decisions for BRCA-positive women ages 21 to 50 (M = 38.4 years), without a personal history of cancer. A web-based, cross-sectional study design was utilized to compare women opting for any prophylactic surgery (n = 160) with those without a history of prophylactic surgery (n = 71). Quality of life (per the Quality of Life Index, Self-Anchoring Striving Scale and Body Image Quality of Life measures) and Psychological General Well-Being Index scores were essentially the same across the entire study sample. While controlling for age, prophylactic surgery (PS) predicted more severe symptoms of sexual dysfunction as measured by the Female Sexual Functioning Index (total score, Desire, Arousal, Lubrication and Satisfaction domains). Similarly, PS predicted menopausal symptoms and sleep difficulties. Women who had not undergone any prophylactic surgery had higher levels of Stigma and lower levels of Mastery, as measured by the BRCA Self-Concept scale. Prophylactic surgery also predicted higher levels of Satisfaction with Decision for hereditary cancer risk management. Findings from this exploratory study provide insight into the quality of life, sexual functioning and psychological well-being for unaffected, BRCA-positive women. Additional research is needed to examine sexual functioning prospectively, to further investigate the potential sequelae of risk-reducing surgery.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has long been associated with depression; however, few studies have addressed the presence of (prolonged) intrapersonal grief or its contribution to emotional distress in MCI. This may be a result of both an over-reliance on interpersonal models of grief (i.e. bereavement) and a systematic undervaluing of MCI individuals’ perspectives. Thus, this study took a qualitative approach, using interpretive description, to understand the first-hand experience of persons with MCI, with the intent of 1) determining whether grief occurs for this group and, if so, 2) comparing this experience to well-defined grief constructs. Six themes were identified: Uncertainty and ambiguity, losses of self and role, disenfranchisement and disconnection, primacy of MCI, emotional distress, and coping. A relationship between themes was found, such that uncertainty and ambiguity, losses of self and role, and disenfranchisement and disconnection comprised the core dimensions of the MCI experience, with losses of self and role serving a central and binding role between the other two. These core dimensions then contributed individually and collectively to the primacy of the MCI experience and emotional distress, which in turn exhibited a reciprocal relationship with coping. The overall experience of MCI reflects features of several grief reactions to nonfinite loss, most notably chronic sorrow and disenfranchised grief. Implications for practice and further investigation are discussed. / Graduate

No description available.

This study was an integral constituent of a multidisciplinary research project by the School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences: Psychology and the School for Bio-kinetics, Recreation and Sport Sciences of the Northwest University (Potchefstroom Campus). Previous research has found that children diagnosed with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) manifest with motor impairments and psychological impediments, such as a poor self-concept (Henderson, May & Umney, 1989; Losse et a/., 1991 ; Skinner & Piek, 2001). The purpose of this multidisciplinary research project was thus to intervene holistically in the lives of these children, by presenting a motor-based and psychosocial programme. The aims of this study were to compile a self-concept programme and to determine whether it would affect the self- concept, emotional intelligence and anxiety of the participants. It was a quantitative study, which was conducted using a three-group pre- and post-test design. The child kinetics researcher confirmed the DCD state of the participants (n=67), through the use of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Participants were randomly divided into four groups and allocated to an intervention method. Participants were pre-tested with the Tennessee Self- Concept Scale (TSCS), Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Scale (EQ-i:YV) and the Children's Anxiety Scale (CAS). Intervention took place as follows: experimental group 1 (motor-based intervention programme), experimental group 2 (psychological intervention programme), experimental group 3 (integrated psycho-motor intervention programme) and control group 4 (no intervention). For the purpose of this study, all four groups were taken into consideration, but were discussed only as 3 groups. After the intervention, one month was allowed before the post-testing of the subjects took place. Measuring instruments used were: TSCS, EQ-i:YV, CAS as well as the MABC. Findings were as follow: children who participated in the motor-based programme showed significant improvements in their motor proficiencies. Children who participated in the self-concept programme, showed significant improvements in their intrapersonal abilities, adaptability and total emotional intelligence and tendencies towards improvement in the following domains: identity, mood, behaviour, academics and their perception of self in relation to family. In conclusion, children diagnosed with DCD benefit from intervention such as this self- concept programme. Literature (Braet, Mervielde & Vandereycken, 1997; O'Dea & Abraham, 1999; Pierce & Wardle, 1997) however, emphasize that self-concept is not a dimension in isolation, but is also influenced by a child's physical performance and appearance. Therefore, the self-concept programme should preferably be combined with a motor-based intervention programme. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

The overall goal of this study was to develop a comprehensive model of moral development to explicate the complexities of everyday morality. Based on a holistic and complementary perspective, the model relates the constructs of “worldview” and “self-view” to represent the influence of cultural individualism-collectivism and personality on moral development. It posits that worldview shapes self-view and moral inclusiveness [what is included in one’s moral consideration (Carter, 1980)] and then worldview, self-view, and moral inclusiveness jointly influence moral orientation (the main hypothesis). Interacting with situational factors, moral orientation would further influence moral judgment and behavior, thus connecting habitual morality with reflective morality. The specific objectives were: (a) to examine the relational structures among worldview, self-view, moral inclusiveness, and moral orientation; and (b) to construct a moral orientation index that measures various moral orientations, including egocentric, family, care, norm, justice, biocentric, and religious orientations, reflecting the corresponding worldviews, self-views, and levels of moral inclusiveness. Moral inclusiveness was operationalized as relationship closeness to different social groups at expanding levels of moral inclusiveness: (1) self only, (2) family, (3) peers, (4) society, (5) humanity, (6) nature, and (7) God. Survey data were gathered from 640 Grades 8-12 students and 472 adults. Structural equation models (SEM) were developed using the student data while making some comparative references to the adult data. Results of SEMs generally supported the main hypothesis. For example, individuals scoring higher on vertical individualism, social Darwinism, and independent self scored higher on egocentric orientation; individuals scoring higher on vertical collectivism and closeness to family scored higher on family orientation; and individuals scoring higher on horizontal collectivism and interdependent self scored higher on care orientation, at Levels 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Individuals scoring higher on collectivism, horizontal worldview, and moral self scored higher on justice orientation, but individuals scoring higher on closeness to nation scored lower on justice orientation at Level 5. The primacy of worldview, particularly collectivism, over self-view and moral inclusiveness in moral orientation development has implications for education. Exploring the roots of habitual morality, this study advances theory by integrating different schools of moral psychology with cultural psychology.

Pornografijos įtaka asmenybei – tai vienas iš prieštaringiausių klausimų, atkreipusių mokslininkų dėmesį per pastaruosius dešimtmečius. Didžioji dalis tyrimų, nagrinėjančių pornografijos poveikį žmogui, tyrinėja seksualiai atviros medžiagos ryšį su elgesiu. Tačiau ne mažiau svarbu suprasti, ar pornografijos žiūrėjimas įtakoja žmogaus seksualinę Aš-koncepciją ir Aš-reprezentacijas, kadangi šios struktūros veikia ne tik žmogaus elgesį, bet ir kitus bei intrapersonalinius bei tarpasmeninius žmogaus procesus. Atliktame tyrime siekėme išsiaiškinti kaip pornografijos žiūrėjimas įtakoja seksualinės Aš koncepcijos aspektus ir žmogaus dabartinio, idealaus ir privalomojo seksualinio Aš reprezentacijas (iš savo ir reikšmingojo kito pozicijos). Tyrimo metu buvo įvertinti 70 tiriamųjų (36 vyrai ir 34 moterys), kurie turi seksualinius partnerius ir žiūri pornografinę medžiagą internete. Įvertinimui naudoti šie metodai: „Rizikingo pornografijos žiūrėjimo anketa“, „Multidimencinis Aš-koncepcijos klausimynas“ ir struktūruotas interviu. Nustatyta, kad vyrai daugiau laiko skiria pornografijos žiūrėjimui, negu moterys, nors patiriamų rizikingo pornografijos žiūrėjimo požymių stiprumas tarp abiejų lyčių nesiskiria. Nustatytas ryšys tarp rizikingo pornografijos žiūrėjimo požymių stiprumo ir šių seksualinės Aš-koncepcijos ypatumų: susirūpinimo seksu, troškimo įsitraukti į lytinius santykius, polinkio rūpintis savo seksualiniu įvaizdžiu ir galvojimo apie savo seksualinį gyvenimą, įsitikinimų, kad... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The impact of pornography on human personality is one of the most controversial questions, attracted most scientists’ attention over past decades. Vast majority of research, exploring pornography influence on personality, investigate relation of sexually explicit material and behavior. However, it is worth pointing out, how pornography influences sexual Self-concept and Self-representations. This research investigates the relation between consuming of sexually explicit material and sexual Self-concept. What is more, we tried to identify the impact of pornography viewing on Real, Ideal and Ought Self-representations (from self and significant other perspectives). Sample consisted of 70 subjects (34 women, 36 men), who announced to watch pornography on Internet and used to have an intimate partner. Three methods where used to evaluate the aspects of Self-concept and Self-representations in relation to pornography use: “Problematic pornography watching scale”, “Multidimensional sexual Self-concept Questionnaire” and structured interview, evaluating Real, Ideal and Ought Self-representations. It was found significant difference comparing male and female time spent on watching sexually explicit material, although no significant difference was found between gender and problematic pornography watching symptoms. It was found, that subjects, scored high on Problematic pornography watching scale tend to be preoccupied with sex and constantly think about aspects of their sexual life... [to full text]

This study was an integral constituent of a multidisciplinary research project by the School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences: Psychology and the School for Bio-kinetics, Recreation and Sport Sciences of the Northwest University (Potchefstroom Campus). Previous research has found that children diagnosed with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) manifest with motor impairments and psychological impediments, such as a poor self-concept (Henderson, May & Umney, 1989; Losse et a/., 1991 ; Skinner & Piek, 2001). The purpose of this multidisciplinary research project was thus to intervene holistically in the lives of these children, by presenting a motor-based and psychosocial programme. The aims of this study were to compile a self-concept programme and to determine whether it would affect the self- concept, emotional intelligence and anxiety of the participants. It was a quantitative study, which was conducted using a three-group pre- and post-test design. The child kinetics researcher confirmed the DCD state of the participants (n=67), through the use of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Participants were randomly divided into four groups and allocated to an intervention method. Participants were pre-tested with the Tennessee Self- Concept Scale (TSCS), Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Scale (EQ-i:YV) and the Children's Anxiety Scale (CAS). Intervention took place as follows: experimental group 1 (motor-based intervention programme), experimental group 2 (psychological intervention programme), experimental group 3 (integrated psycho-motor intervention programme) and control group 4 (no intervention). For the purpose of this study, all four groups were taken into consideration, but were discussed only as 3 groups. After the intervention, one month was allowed before the post-testing of the subjects took place. Measuring instruments used were: TSCS, EQ-i:YV, CAS as well as the MABC. Findings were as follow: children who participated in the motor-based programme showed significant improvements in their motor proficiencies. Children who participated in the self-concept programme, showed significant improvements in their intrapersonal abilities, adaptability and total emotional intelligence and tendencies towards improvement in the following domains: identity, mood, behaviour, academics and their perception of self in relation to family. In conclusion, children diagnosed with DCD benefit from intervention such as this self- concept programme. Literature (Braet, Mervielde & Vandereycken, 1997; O'Dea & Abraham, 1999; Pierce & Wardle, 1997) however, emphasize that self-concept is not a dimension in isolation, but is also influenced by a child's physical performance and appearance. Therefore, the self-concept programme should preferably be combined with a motor-based intervention programme. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.