No / Metamemory is integral for strategizing about memory intentions. This study investigated the prospective memory (PM) deficit in Parkinson's disease (PD) from a metamemory viewpoint, with the aim of examining whether metamemory deficits might contribute to PM deficits in PD. METHOD: Sixteen patients with PD and 16 healthy older adult controls completed a time-based PM task (initiating a key press at two specified times during an ongoing task), and an event-based PM task (initiating a key press in response to animal words during an ongoing task). To measure metamemory participants were asked to predict and postdict their memory performance before and after completing the tasks, as well as complete a self-report questionnaire regarding their everyday memory function. RESULTS: The PD group had no impairment, relative to controls, on the event-based task, but had prospective (initiating the key press) and retrospective (recalling the instructions) impairments on the time-based task. The PD group also had metamemory impairments on the time-based task; they were inaccurate at predicting their performance before doing the task but, became accurate when making postdictions. This suggests impaired metamemory knowledge but preserved metamemory monitoring. There were no group differences regarding PD patients' self-reported PM performance on the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: These results reinforce previous findings that PM impairments in PD are dependent on task type. Several accounts of PM failures in time-based tasks are presented, in particular, ways in which mnemonic and metacognitive deficits may contribute to the difficulties observed on the time-based task.

Traditionellt utvärderas effekter av kognitiv träning med objektiva prestationsmått. Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka självskattad exekutiv funktion som ett alternativt mått för att utvärdera effekter av kognitiv träning. Som utfallsmått valdes The behavior rating inventory of executive functioning - self report (BRIEF-SR). Vidare användes blandad design med för- och eftermätning samt tre oberoende grupper. Gymnasieelever (n = 63) delades in i; aktiv träningsgrupp, aktiv placebogrupp och passiv kontrollgrupp. Tränings- och placebogruppen genomförde datoriserad kognitiv träning med respektive utan adaptiv svårighetsgrad. ANCOVA med arbetsminneskapacitet som kovariat visade inga signifikanta träningseffekter på självskattade exekutiva funktioner, oavsett grupptillhörighet. Sammantaget kan BRIEF-SR vara ett lämpligt instrument vid utvärdering av kognitiv träning när ekologisk validitet prioriteras. Resultaten diskuteras avseende inverkan av tid mellan för- och eftermätning, population och förväntanseffekter. / Performance based measures have been the Golden standard when evaluating effects of cognitive training. By using The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Self Report (BRIEF-SR), this thesis aimed to explore self- rating scales as an alternative when evaluating effects of cognitive training. A sample of high school students (n = 63) and a mixed- effect model with pre- and post-measurements were chosen. The students were divided into three groups: active training, training with placebo or passive control. The two groups in training practiced with a computerized cognitive training program. The two training groups practiced with an adaptive and non-adaptive computer program, respectively.  With working memory as covariate ANCOVA reported no significant effects on self-rated executive functions independent of group condition. In sum, if ecological validity is of priority BRIEF-SR can be considered when measuring effects following cognitive training. In addition the results are discussed with regards to time between pre- and post-measurements, population and effects of expectancy. / Effekter av kognitiv träning på skolprestationer och självreglering av beteende (dnr 1,2009/0 018,5-0)

Emotional intelligence has attracted a considerable amount of attention over the past few years specifically with regard to the nature of the underlying construct and the reliability and validity of the psychometric tools used to measure the construct. The present study explored the reliability and validity of a trait measure of EI in relation to an ability measure in order to determine whether the tools can be considered as measuring conceptually valid constructs within an occupational environment. The study also examined the overlap with a trait measure of cognitive thinking styles to determine the potential for separating the trait and ability EI into two unique and distinguishable constructs. Participants included 308 employees from four different workforces within a diverse South African consulting firm. The results of the study identified a number of psychometric concerns regarding the structural fidelity of the instruments as well as concerns about the cultural bias evident in both measurement instruments. Evidence for the discriminant and incremental validity of the two instruments was, however, provided and recommendations are made for the reconceptualisation of trait EI as an emotional competence and ability EI as an emotional intelligence. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

This Master thesis explores delinquency of juvenile Czechs and Germans from seventh to ninth grade based on quantitative data. The data comes from an International Self-Report Delinquency study (ISRD-2), which is anchored primarily in the Social control theory (Hirschi, 1969/2002) and the General theory of crime (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). Therefore, in the first section, attention is paid to these and other selected criminological theories; the other theories are mainly the strain theories and the cultural deviance theories. In the second section, the thesis deals briefly with the socio- cultural differences and similarities between the Czech Republic and Germany. The core of the thesis is the third, analytical section, which presents the findings of statistical analysis. A conclusion is reached that the theories studied are by far less contradictory than what the authors of the social control theory and the general theory of crime claimed them to be. It rather seems that the individual theories are complementary and often lead to the same predictions. Hypotheses are confirmed that some characteristics of the pupils` relation to their school are related to delinquency: Pupils who like going to school are somewhat less delinquent than pupils who do not. Pupils who play truant are substantially...

Das Krankheitsbild der Adipositas hat sich weltweit zu einem relevanten Gesundheitsproblem entwickelt. Die bariatrische Chirurgie wird zunehmend als wirkungsvolle Behandlung bei schwer ausgeprägter Adipositas eingesetzt. Jedoch ist über die Rolle psychologischer Variablen im bariatrischen Behandlungsverlauf noch wenig bekannt. Die vorliegende Dissertation untersucht Einfluss und Veränderung patientenberichteter Gesundheitsmerkmale in der chirurgischen Adipositastherapie. Dazu werden in einer naturalistischen Beobachtungsstudie Patienten mit schwerer Adipositas vor und im Durchschnitt zwei Jahre nach einer bariatrischen Operation (OP) befragt. Ziele der Arbeit sind 1) die Charakterisierung adipöser Patienten vor OP hinsichtlich bio-psycho-sozialer Variablen; 2) die Identifikation möglicher Einflussvariablen auf den gewichtsbezogenen Behandlungserfolg nach OP; 3) die Untersuchung von Auswirkungen der OP auf das Essverhalten; und 4) die Analyse von Veränderungen in der essstörungsbezogenen Psychopathologie und in der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität nach OP. Die Ergebnisse der bariatrischen Patienten werden im Vergleich zu denen konservativ behandelter Patienten betrachtet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Patienten mit bariatrischem Behandlungswunsch eine somatisch und psychisch belastete Patientengruppe darstellen. Die bariatrische OP führt im zweiten postoperativen Jahr zu einer nachhaltigen und klinisch bedeutsamen Gewichtsreduktion. Der präoperative Body-Maß-Index, das Bildungsniveau und aktives Problembewältigungsverhalten sind mit dem Gewichtsverlust nach OP assoziiert. Im Vergleich zur konservativen Behandlung berichten die Patienten, die sich der OP unterziehen, über stärker ausgeprägte Verbesserungen in ihrem Essverhalten und eine Steigerung ihrer Lebensqualität. Auf Basis der Befunde wird ein routinemäßiges Monitoring der somatischen und psychischen Situation der Patienten nach bariatrischer OP empfohlen, um die gezeigten Behandlungserfolge optimal zu sichern. / Obesity has become a relevant global health problem. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for severe obesity. However, while the number of operations performed continues to increase, the role of psychological variables throughout the bariatric surgery pathway remains uncertain. The present dissertation investigates the patient-reported health status as it impacts and results from bariatric surgery. In a naturalistic observational study, patients with severe obesity are assessed before and, on average, two years after the surgical treatment. Main aims are 1) to characterize obese patients prior to bariatric surgery in terms of biological, psychological and socio-demographic variables; 2) to identify possible predictors for the postoperative weight-related treatment success after bariatric surgery; 3) to examine changes in eating behaviors; and 4) to analyze changes in eating-related psychopathology and in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The outcomes of surgical patients are compared with those of conservatively treated patients for the same follow-up period. The findings show that bariatric surgery candidates represent a vulnerable patient group with high physical and psychological burden. In the second postoperative year after bariatric surgery, a sustainable and clinically meaningful weight reduction is achieved. The preoperative body mass index, education level and active coping behavior are associated with weight loss after surgery. Compared with conservative treatment, patients who undergo bariatric surgery report not only greater improvements in their eating behavior and eating-related psychopathology but also an increase in their HRQoL. Based on the results, the provision of a routine monitoring of the somatic and psychological situation of patients following bariatric surgery is recommended to secure longer-term treatment success.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:18:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eveline Prado Jannarelli.pdf: 1870552 bytes, checksum: 002acff87d29ee501537d77cc468fc71 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-06-28 / nenhum / A busca por um melhor entendimento das variáveis que determinam o comportamento do consumidor tem sido um tema amplamente estudado por diversas áreas de atuação. Dos profissionais de marketing, aos economistas e psicólogos, o comportamento de comprar, usar e descartar artigos, serviços, idéias ou experiências tem envolvido a todos, seja por aspectos científicos e metodológicos, seja no desenvolvimento de uma atividade de trabalho. Sob uma perspectiva Behavorista Radical, este estudo buscou investigar a relação entre o dizer e o fazer para o comportamento de escolha de marcas, concentrando-se na análise do sujeito único. Para tanto foram colocadas duas questões: (1) averiguar se o dizer do consumidor em relação à compra de produtos específicos com marcas específicas é condizente com o fazer deste mesmo consumidor ao emitir o comportamento de compra destes produtos e marcas específicas e (2) averiguar se é possível encontrar um padrão entre o dizer do consumidor sobre o comportamento de compra em determinadas categorias e o comportamento efetivo de compra, a partir dos conceitos de reforço utilitário e informativo para cada situação. Para tanto foram coletados os dados de compra de 07 participantes a partir dos tickets de compras emitidos pelos estabelecimentos, durante um período mínimo de 20 semanas, para as categorias de Detergente em pó, Detergente líquido e Biscoito Doce. Para coleta do relato de compra, foi aplicada uma entrevista com cada participante após um período mínimo de dois meses do início da coleta do ticket de compra. Posteriormente, os dados de compra coletados foram comparados com os seguintes relatos de compra: freqüência de compra, amplitude de marca comprada, perfil de compra por nível de reforço informativo e utilitário geral e ao longo do período da pesquisa, preferência por uma marca, conhecimento de marca e compra declarada e razões de compra dentro da categoria. Este estudo pretende indicar alguns caminhos para a condução de um entendimento mais amplo dessa relação para o comportamento de escolha de marcas. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que: (a) houve uma maior incidência de compras para marcas classificadas com nível de reforço informativo 3, (b) não podemos afirmar que houve maior incidência de uma única combinação de nível de reforço informativo e utilitário, pois o perfil de compra por nível de reforço utilitário variou por participante e por categoria (c) há uma maior coerência entre o relato e o comportamento de compra observado para as marcas classificadas com nível informativo 3, (d) uma grande amplitude de marcas compradas dificulta o relato de conhecimento e costume de compra, (e) uma freqüência de compra menos espaçada (semanal) remete a uma melhor descrição do comportamento de compra (f) o consumidor relata com mais precisão os atributos do produtos (reforço utilitário) das marcas classificadas com nível de reforço informativo 3 do que as de nível informativo 2 e 1 e (g) houve uma maior correspondência entre o relato de compra e a compra efetiva, em primeiro lugar, para a categoria de Detergente líquido, seguida pela categoria de Detergente em pó e por último, a categoria de Biscoito Doce

Paternal postnatal depression has begun to receive attention during the last decade. Studies have shown that the consequences of paternal and maternal postnatal depression are equally serious. There are currently no validated instrument for screening of paternal postnatal depression. In this cross-sectional study a self-report questionnaire, the Edinburgh Gotland Depression Scale (EGDS) is validated against the clinical interview SCID-CV as gold standard, and is further developed. A convenience sample of Swedish fathers (N = 95) who had children in the past year, answered an online questionnaire and a subsample (n = 52) of them were later interviewed with the SCID-CV. The revised EGDS showed improved criterion-related validity, sensitivity and specificity. The scale has problems disciminating between mildly and non-depressed fathers. A cut-off score of ≥8 on the revised EGDS results in sensitivity of 91.7 per cent and specificity of 85.0 per cent. This study should be replicated and cross-validated to provide further evidence of validity. / Postnatal depression hos fäder har börjat uppmärksammas under det senaste decenniet. Studier har visat att konsekvenserna av postnatal depression hos fäder och mödrar är lika allvarliga. Det finns för närvarande inga validerade instrument för screening av postnatal depression hos fäder. I denna tvärsnittsstudie har självskattningsformuläret, Edinburgh Gotland Depression Scale (EGDS) valideras mot den kliniska intervjun SCID-CV som gold standard, och vidareutvecklas. Ett bekvämlighetsurval av svenska fäder (N = 95) som fått barn under det senaste året, besvarade en webbenkät och en undergrupp (n = 52) av dem blev senare intervjuade med SCID-CV. Det reviderade EGDS visade förbättrad kriteriumrelaterad validitet, sensitivitet och specificitet. Skalan har problem med att diskriminera mellan milt och icke-deprimerade pappor. En cut-off poäng ≥8 för den reviderade EGDS resulterar i sensitivitet på 91,7 procent och specificitet på 85,0 procent. Denna studie bör replikeras och korsvalideras för att ge ytterligare belägg för validiteten.

Emotional intelligence has attracted a considerable amount of attention over the past few years specifically with regard to the nature of the underlying construct and the reliability and validity of the psychometric tools used to measure the construct. The present study explored the reliability and validity of a trait measure of EI in relation to an ability measure in order to determine whether the tools can be considered as measuring conceptually valid constructs within an occupational environment. The study also examined the overlap with a trait measure of cognitive thinking styles to determine the potential for separating the trait and ability EI into two unique and distinguishable constructs. Participants included 308 employees from four different workforces within a diverse South African consulting firm. The results of the study identified a number of psychometric concerns regarding the structural fidelity of the instruments as well as concerns about the cultural bias evident in both measurement instruments. Evidence for the discriminant and incremental validity of the two instruments was, however, provided and recommendations are made for the reconceptualisation of trait EI as an emotional competence and ability EI as an emotional intelligence. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Objective: Dog owners have been shown to walk more per week compared to non-dog owners; however, 60% of dog owners are still not walking their dogs at intensities sufficient to reap optimal health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a 9-week feasibility randomized controlled trial involving a program of six weekly scheduled instructor-led group dog walks supplemented with theory-based strategies to encourage increased dog walking among dog owners in Greater Victoria, BC. Methods: This study was based on the multi-process action control (M-PAC) framework and utilized an open parallel randomized controlled trial design involving experimental and waitlist-control group participants. Quantitative data was collected using pedometers and self-report measures. A program evaluation survey was administered upon the completion of the study. Primary outcomes examined the feasibility and acceptability of the program; secondary outcomes analyzed pedometry and self-report moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) data; and tertiary outcomes observed changes in participants’ perceptions of M-PAC constructs. Percentage calculations were used to obtain primary outcomes, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA; controlling for baseline) was performed to examine secondary and tertiary outcomes to explore the direction of effects and obtain a first estimate of expected effect sizes. Eligibility: Male and female adults aged 18+ living in Greater Victoria, BC, who owned at least one healthy and friendly dog aged six months and above, who were not meeting recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of MVPA per week, and who were medically cleared to participate. Results: Feasibility outcomes included 74 interested responses, 23% recruitment rate (n = 17), 94% retention rate (n = 16), and 94% adherence rate (n = 15). Program participants were overall (very) satisfied with the program – worksheets (62.5%), program instructor (100%), various program/group dog walks logistics (75% to 100%). Total weekly step counts and average daily step counts, MVPA dog walking, and MVPA with dog increased at the end of the program and at follow-up, resulting in large effect sizes when compared to the waitlist-control group. MVPA dog walking and total MVPA (with and without dog) exceeded recommended guidelines at follow-up. Positive changes across time were observed for dog responsibility and M-PAC constructs of affective judgments, opportunity, planning, identity, and habit, resulting in medium and large effect sizes when compared to the waitlist-control group. Conclusions: This six-week group dog walking program is overall feasible, acceptable, and efficacious in encouraging increased dog walking and MVPA among dog owners. Attendance at weekly scheduled instructor-led group dog walks and exposure to the M-PAC construct worksheets resulted in program participants’ adoption and maintenance of positive behavioral changes at the end of the program and at follow- up. Program participants reported enjoying the program and being (very) satisfied with it. It is recommended for future studies to refine/modify initial recruitment strategies and eligibility criteria, reimburse medical/veterinarian clearance costs to reduce cost-related barriers to participation, offer a variety of options for program delivery (e.g., different locations/schedules/seasons, online programs, multi-site study) to accommodate more participants, and apply the M-PAC framework to a larger sample. / Graduate

Background: Patient empowerment is viewed as a priority by policy makers, patients and practitioners worldwide. Although there are a number of measures available, none have been developed specifically for patients in the UK with long-term conditions. It is the aim of this study to report the development and preliminary validation of an empowerment instrument for patients with long-term conditions in primary care.Methods: The study involved three methods. Firstly, a systematic review was conducted to identify existing empowerment instruments, and to describe, compare and appraise their content and quality. The results supported the need for a new instrument. Item content of existing instruments helped support development of the new instrument. Secondly, empowerment was explored in patients with long-term conditions and primary care practitioners using qualitative methods, to explore its meaning and the factors that support or hinder empowerment. This led to the development of a conceptual model to support instrument development. Thirdly, a new instrument for measuring empowerment in patients with long-term conditions in primary care was developed. A cross-sectional survey of patients was conducted to collect preliminary data on acceptability, reliability and validity, using pre-specified hypotheses based on existing theoretical and empirical work. Results: Nine instruments meeting review inclusion criteria were identified. Only one instrument was developed to measure empowerment in long-term conditions in the context of primary care, and that was judged to be insufficient in terms of content and purpose. Five dimensions (‘identity’, ‘knowledge and understanding’, ‘personal control’, personal decision-making’, and ‘enabling other patients’) of empowerment were identified through published literature and the qualitative work and incorporated into a preliminary version of the new instrument. A postal survey achieved 197 responses (response rate 33%). Almost half of the sample reported circulatory, diabetic or musculoskeletal conditions. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a three factor solution (‘identity’, ‘knowledge and understanding’ and ‘enabling’). Two dimensions of empowerment (‘identity’ and ‘enabling’) and total empowerment showed acceptable levels of internal consistency. The measure showed relationships with external measures (including quality of chronic illness care, self-efficacy and educational qualifications) that were generally supportive of its construct validity.Conclusion: Initial analyses suggest that the new measure meets basic psychometric criteria and has potential for the measurement of patient empowerment in long-term conditions in primary care. The scale may have a role in research on quality of care for long-term conditions, and could function as a patient-reported outcome measure. However, further validation is required before more extensive use of the measure.