Educational Psychology / Built from a diverse background of theatre-based education and social change theories, drama-based instruction (DBI) employs active, kinesthetic learning strategies to engage students in classroom activities. Much of DBI is grounded in scaffolding students through a Describe, Analyze, and Relate (DAR) thinking process. DAR requires students to consider information in a systematic way, leading them through the steps of Bloom’s Taxonomy and moving from lower-order to higher-order thinking skills. Examining information at this deeper level is a process similar to the automatic thought-stopping mechanism of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). As in CBT, rather than making hasty assumptions, students are guided through steps that allow them to analyze details and to examine stimuli thoroughly. Yet the context of DBI is different from many CBT therapeutic settings because DBI is situated in a classroom environment. DAR is delivered as a whole-class intervention with peer interaction occurring throughout the thinking and questioning process. Social perspective-taking involves one individual’s efforts to discern the thoughts and feelings of another individual, a skill that has been linked to more effective problem solving. When teachers offer structured exposure to thought-stopping and perspective-taking processes, students gain practice with social perspective-taking and problem-solving skills. The current study proposed a multiple baseline, single-case design to explore how practice using the Describe, Analyze, Relate (DAR) questioning technique affects students’ capacity to engage in social perspective-taking and social problem-solving. The school in this study participated in a year-long, campus-wide initiative to train teachers in how to use DAR across subjects and grade levels. Two fourth grade teachers, one fifth grade teacher, and one visual arts teacher were identified as demonstrating proficiency in the DAR technique. In each of the three core teachers’ classes, a letter was sent home explaining the project and requesting opt-in from interested parents. From those who responded, students with special education placements were removed, then two students were randomly selected per class. The researcher met individually with the selected participants to conduct repeated measures of the Interpersonal Negotiating Strategies Interview for baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases of the study over the course of the 2012-2013 school year. Additionally, participants’ teachers were asked to complete the Social Skills subscale of the Behavior Assessment System for Children for each phase of data collection. Post-intervention interviews were conducted with the teachers to assess for their perceptions of the DAR strategy and DBI-based pedagogy in general. Visual analysis was used to assess the effectiveness of the treatment on student social perspective-taking and problem-solving. Overall, the quantitative results of the current study did not conclusively link DAR with social perspective-taking and problem-solving. However, the qualitative data from teacher interviews yielded positive feedback related to the utility of DAR questioning on improving higher-order thinking in their students. Further research is necessary to clarify and deepen understanding of this effect. / text

Objective: The concept of recovery has become an integral part of modern mental health care. Understanding the outcomes and underlying mechanisms of key recovery interventions, such as Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), is essential in order to expand the theoretical understanding of recovery and inform how to target recovery in treatment. Therefore a systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the mental health outcomes of WRAP for adults. The empirical study then explored three constructs in relation to WRAP and recovery. These were social problem solving, cognitive defusion and social identification. Method: The systematic review of the mental health outcomes of WRAP was conducted by searching four databases, contacting the authors of WRAP research and seeking evaluative information from organisations that deliver WRAP. Fourteen relevant studies met the inclusion criteria. Whereas, the empirical study recruited participants on a trans-diagnostic basis from across Scotland. Using a quantitative cross sectional design, 109 participant's completed 5 self-report questionnaires. These were the Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs about WRAP Questionnaire (WRAP beliefs), the Recovery Assessment Scale - Short (RAS-S), the Social Problem Solving Inventory - Revised - Short (SPSI-R-S), the Four Item Measure of Social Identification (FISI) and the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ). Correlation, regression and mediation analysis were used to explore relationships, and in particular, the predictors and mediators of recovery. Results: The systematic review provided strong evidence that WRAP has a significant positive impact on hope and also reduces the symptoms of mental illness. However, whether WRAP improves personal levels of recovery was unclear and a possible risk of disempowerment was found. Promising preliminary mental health outcomes in the areas of confidence in managing mental health, quality of life, service use, self-advocacy and knowledge attitudes and beliefs about recovery were highlighted. Only studies that did not use peer facilitators failed to find significant increases in hope compared to treatment as usual control groups. In the empirical study, the results indicated that all the constructs examined were correlated to recovery. In the regression analysis, WRAP beliefs, social problem solving and cognitive defusion also demonstrated a predictive relationship with recovery. Mediation analysis indicated that, social problem solving mediated two distinct relationships. One between WRAP beliefs and recovery, and another between cognitive defusion and recovery. The social problem solving subscales also showed how the two predictors relate to recovery through social problem solving in different ways. Social identification with the WRAP group did not significantly predict or mediate recovery. Conclusions: The systematic review indicated having peer facilitators delivering WRAP is key to helping participants foster hope and that a further randomised control trial could help clarify if improved personal recovery is an outcome of WRAP. It additionally suggested how the relationship between WRAP beliefs and recovery could be explored, as per the design of the empirical study. Findings from the empirical study implied that improving participants' social problem solving and cognitive defusion should be specifically targeted in WRAP delivery. The studies combined indicate that to achieve the best recovery results interventions, like WRAP, should target inspiring hope through peer support, improving knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about recovery and cognitive defusion from unhelpful thoughts.

Non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behavior are prevalent in young adults, and often constitute a continuum of self-destructiveness. Not all those who self-injure, however, engage in suicidal behaviors with intent to die, perhaps due to protective intrapersonal characteristics. We examined the role of one such potential buffer, social problem-solving ability, as a moderator of the association between non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal thoughts and attempts, hypothesizing that individuals with greater social problem-solving ability would report fewer suicidal behaviors in relation to self-harm. An ethnically diverse sample was recruited from a large, Northeastern urban university, and completed self-report questionnaires assessing non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal behaviors, and social problem-solving ability. Multivariate hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. For the entire sample, individuals with higher social problem-solving abilities reported fewer suicidal behaviors associated with non-suicidal self-injury. In ethnically stratified analyses, social problem-solving significantly moderated the relationship between self-injury and suicidal behaviors for Whites and Hispanics only. Promotion of problem-solving skills may weaken the linkage between self-injury and potential for future suicidal behaviors for some individuals; however, culture-specific differences in this effect may exist.

Individuals with problem solving deficits, and higher levels of neuroticism and hopelessness, are at increased risk for suicide, yet little is known about the interrelationships between these vulnerability characteristics. In a sample of 223 low-income, primary care patients, we examined the potential mediating role of hopelessness on the relation between neuroticism and suicidal behavior, and the potential moderating role of social problem solving ability. Participants completed self-report questionnaires: Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and NEO Five Factor Inventory. Models were tested using bootstrapped moderated mediation techniques. There was a significant indirect effect of neuroticism on suicidal behavior through hopelessness, and this indirect effect was moderated by social problem solving ability. Patients with greater neuroticism also manifest greater levels of hopelessness and, in turn, more suicidal behavior, and these relations are strengthened at lower levels of social problem solving. Interventions that increase social problem solving ability and reduce hopelessness may reduce suicide risk.

The present study sought to examine how social problem solving and sexual assault are involved in suicidal risk in a sample of 221 female college students. Specifically, we were interested to examine whether sexual assault may play an additive as well as interactive role in the prediction of suicidal risk (viz., hopelessness and suicidal behaviors) above and beyond social problem solving. Results from regression analyses indicated that deficits in social problem solving, especially low positive problem orientation, and sexual assault were important and unique predictors of suicidal risk in female students. Moreover, we found support for a Social Problem Solving × Sexual Assault interaction in predicting hopelessness. Significant interactions emerged specifically for negative problem orientation and impulsivity/carelessness style. Some important implications of the present findings are discussed.

The objective of this study was to examine the combined moderating effects of life stress and loneliness on the association between social problem solving ability (SPS) and suicidal behaviors. We assessed SPS, suicidal behavior, loneliness, and stressful life events in a sample of 385 ethnically diverse college students. Overall, only loneliness moderated the association between SPS and suicidal behaviors. Across ethnic groups, loneliness moderated the association between SPS and suicidal behavior for Blacks, Whites, and Asians; life stress was a moderator for Hispanics. For most individuals, loneliness increases the strength of the association between poor problem-solving and suicidal behaviors. For Hispanics, life stress exacerbates this relationship. Ethnically-specific prevention strategies targeting loneliness and life stress may promote effective problem-solving, reducing suicide risk.

In this study the researcher set out to determine the levels and the causes of workplace stress, as well as the consequences of stress in terms of witnessed and experienced aggression in the workplace, anxiety, depression, and worry for a sample of 205 subjects. To achieve this, the following tests were used: 1) Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire, 2) the Aggression in the Workplace Questionnaire, 3) the IPAT Anxiety Scale,4) the Beck Depression Inventory, and 5) the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. The subjects’ ability to cope withexperienced stressors in relation to social problem solving was examined with the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised. The raw data were analysed by means of the usual descriptivestatistics. In addition, inferential statistics including z-tests, t-tests, analysis of variance and posthoc analyses (Scheffé) were conducted for the following groups: total group, gender, marital status, age, organizational type, qualification and position level. Results indicate that most of the subjects in the sample experienced normal levels of stress, indicating that the participants generally experienced their circumstances within or outside the workplace as satisfactory. Generally, the results also indicated that their expectations regarding their work situation were met. With reference to the consequences of stress, the total sample reported low levels of witnessing and experiencing workplace aggression, normal levels of anxiety, low levels of depression and worry. Good overall social problem solving suggests the ability to cope with demands and stressors within and outside the workplace. Generally, Pearson correlations indicated significant relationships between a) levels of stress as experienced by subjects and b) witnessed and experienced workplace aggression, c) anxiety, d) depression, e) worry and f) social problem solving. That most of the subjects in this sample were able to deal effectively with the demands and stressors placed on them, from within and outside the workplace suggests the ability to use effective problem-focused coping involving social problem solving which for most participants, was due to a positive problem orientation and effective rational problem solving skills. These findings may be useful as part of a stress management programme to help employees deal with stress proactively by becoming more effective problem-solvers. In terms of a salutogenic paradigm, and consistent with recent developments in positive psychology, the findings indicate that more attention should be paid to possible reasons why some employees appear to cope with stress more effectively than others. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / PhD / unrestricted

The main aim of this thesis was to investigate decision making from a broad developmental perspective to clarify the role of the underlying mechanisms influencing it. Problem solving and cognitive inhibitory capacity were chartered initially through the use of hypothetical vignettes depicting socially relevant situations and through the use of the Stroop task, to tap into automatic inhibitory capacity. Initial assumptions that prefrontal cortical refinement would denote enhanced social problem ability were not confirmed. Experience emerged as distinct factor in problem solving/decision-making, with the youngest participants equally as effective in producing solutions to situations that they had the most experience in. A shift in development is observed with maturation denoting greater experience and this being applied directly to problem solving and decision-making situations. Education was identified as a possible contributory factor in decision-making and this was explored in a cross-cultural study that tapped into a non-schooled population. The results reinforced the centrality of experience in shaping decision-making. Decision-making in regards to the use of experience was then looked at through real life decision-making situations, where adolescents were asked to provide their knowledge or experience of situations where risk was involved. Adolescents possessed the necessary knowledge to distinguish between optimal and sub-optimal decisions in terms of the consequences that risk behaviours carried with them. However, many still chose to engage in risky behaviours. This paradox could also be explained by actual experience, with the suggestion that positive experience in a peer group was serving as a pool from which adolescents drew to make future decision-making. If risk behaviours were not experienced adversely, the likelihood of their repetition was high. Taken together the findings suggest that adolescents are well equipped with the cognitive skills to make decisions. Compared to younger children, they have more experience of a greater range of situations from which to extrapolate responses from. They also have a great deal of knowledge and information about the negative consequences associated with a range of challenging situations and risk-taking behaviours. However, when faced with decisions in the social domain, the behaviour of friends and perceptions of what other people are doing are powerful influences on adolescent decisions.

本研究以確立中文版『社會問題解決量表-修正版（簡稱SPSI-R）』之因素結構及探討社會問題解決與憂鬱、壓力之關係為主要目的。 『社會問題解決』一詞指稱發生在日常生活中的問題解決歷程，社會問題解決模式與SPSI-R將社會問題解決歷程分為五個向度（因素）：「正向問題定向」、「負向問題定向」、「理性問題解決風格」、「衝動/粗心風格」、「逃避風格」。 本研究根據理論與過去文獻探索性因素分析結果，提出三種可能適合描述華人樣本社會問題解決的因素結構：五因素一階（原理論之模型）、四因素一階、五因素二階模型。以台灣大學生為樣本，採用驗證性因素分析，結果顯示五因素一階的因素結構為最佳模型，支持原模式之理論架構與SPSI-R五因素結構在華人樣本的可類比性。同時刪除第42題因其無法確切反應逃避風格因素之意涵。 採用本研究所確立的SPSI-R五因素結構探討社會問題解決與憂鬱關係，發現排除問題風格後，負向問題定向可顯著預測憂鬱；排除問題定向後，逃避風格可顯著預測憂鬱，顯示負向問題定向與逃避風格對憂鬱有獨特之預測力。探討社會問題解決對壓力—憂鬱關係的影響，結果顯示衝動/粗心風格為日常問題與憂鬱之調節變項。此結果支持社會問題解決模式中，分殊不同向度的必要性，並提供臨床上憂鬱之問題解決治療方案可採行的策略。 / Confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate the generalizability of the factor structure of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory- Revised (SPSI-R; D’Zurilla, Nezu, & Mayden-Olivares, 2002) The SPSI-R is based on a theoretical model and was modified by empirical data consisting of five factors – positive problem orientation, negative problem orientation, rational problem solving style, impulsivity/carelessness style, avoidance style. According to the theory model and empirical data with Chinese sample, the present study proposed another two alternative model. Thus, three different model were tested. With the sample of 916 Taiwanese undergraduate students, the results showed that the original five factor model which was proposed by D’Zurilla et al. was the best for SPSI-R in the sense of goodness of fit. This finding supports the Generalizability of SPSI-R in Taiwanese. Using the five-factor model of SPSI-R to examine the relation between SPSI-R and depression. Negative problem orientation and avoidance style were both significantly related to depression even after partialing out the variance of “Style” and “Orientation” respectively. While exploring the influence of SPSI-R on the relationship of stress and depression, a support was found for the moderator hypothesis which assumes that social problem solving interacts with everyday problems to influence the level of depression. Therefore, the findings in present study supported the distinction of five factors in SPSI-R. The implications of these results for social problem solving theory and assessment are also discussed.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:44:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1735.pdf: 2568942 bytes, checksum: bfde5207ceb122f00d43343b31cce4e7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-15 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Young offenders deficits in problem solving skills are described as one of the characteristics of this population. However, there is no data in the Brazilian literature measuring this variable. This study had two aims. Firstly, a group intervention with young offenders was conducted with the aims of promoting the discrimination and emission of competent social responses associated with their psychosocial well-being (Study 1). Six male young offenders took part of the intervention program. The study was conducted in a young offenders Detention Center in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. Instruments used to assess the intervention were: Guided Interview, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) and, School Performance Test. The intervention program consisted of three pre-intervention sessions to gather data, and ten intervention sessions in problem-solving skills training, followed by a three month post-intervention follow-up. Results indicated a history of school failure and violence victimization, as well as the use of alcohol and drugs, and involvement in aggressive episodes. High level drop-out rates was observed in this study: only two participants were present in all phases of the intervention. In the pre-test, five participants indicated anxiety and depression, and four participants indicated hopelessness. In the post-test, one participant indicated a decrease of depression, anxiety and hopelessness; the other participant maintained of depression levels (in the low range), anxiety (low) and hopelessness (low). Five participants took part of the Follow- Up. All participants indicated a decrease of depression in that phase. In terms of anxiety, in the participants who were present in all phases, one decreased his level (from severe to low), and the other presented the same performance (low). Other participants indicated: maintenance (low and moderate) or an increase (low to moderate). In terms of hopelessness, among the participants who were present in all phases, the same performance was maintained (absence). The others showed: maintenance (moderate/low) and a decrease (severe/moderate) of performance. The Social Problem- Solving Inventory-Revised data showed that four participants performance were in the average range of the normal group, and two had deficits in this area. In post-test, one participant increased his performance, and the other maintained it. In the Follow-Up, the performance varied from average to much above average. In spite of the study s methodological limitations, this is the first study in Brazil to investigate group social problem solving skills with young offenders in a Detention Center, and the first to utilize one specific instrument to analyze social problem repertory solving in this population. The second study adapted to Portuguese the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R), and investigated its evidence of criteria and content validity. Seventy six male adolescents took part of study, being 38 offenders and 38 no-offenders. The study was conducted in a Young Offenders Center, and at a public school in the city of São Carlos en São Paulo State. The instrument used to assess the study was the Social Problem- Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R). The instrument was applied in group, and the time of application was approximately 30 minutes. In terms of content validity, the study showed a 95% agreement among assessors. In terms of criteria validity, the results showed that the instrument could discriminate offenders from the non-offender population. The development of intervention programs and instruments specific to this population is much needed, as the numbers of studies in this area is reduced in Brazil. / O déficit de habilidades de resolução de problemas sociais entre adolescentes em conflito com a lei vem sendo apontado como uma das características dessa população. Entretanto, não há dados na literatura nacional que venham mensurar essa variável. Diante desta constatação, o presente estudo teve dois objetivos. Em um primeiro momento avaliou-se uma intervenção em grupo com adolescentes em conflito com a lei com o intuito de favorecer a discriminação e a emissão de respostas socialmente competentes favorecedoras ao seu bem-estar psicossocial (Estudo 1). Participaram do programa de intervenção seis adolescentes do sexo masculino, autores de atos infracionais. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma unidade da antiga FEBEM (Fundação CASA). Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Roteiro de Entrevista Individual, Inventário de Depressão Beck (BDI), Inventário de Ansiedade Beck (BAI), Inventário de Desesperança de Beck (BHS), Inventário de Resolução de Problemas Sociais Revisado: Forma Abreviada (SPSI-R:S) e Teste de Desempenho Escolar (TDE). Foram realizadas três sessões na fase pré-teste e dez sessões de ensino de resolução de problemas sociais na fase de intervenção. Três meses após o término do grupo, foi feita uma sessão para coleta de dados pós-intervenção. Os resultados indicaram: histórico de fracasso escolar; histórico de maus-tratos infantis, consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e drogas ilícitas, e envolvimento em lutas corporais. Verificou-se um índice expressivo de abandono da intervenção, apenas dois participantes estiveram presentes em todas as sessões. Na fase de pré-teste, cinco participantes indicaram quadros de depressão e ansiedade, e quatro participantes indicaram desesperança. Na fase de pós-teste, um participante indicou diminuição da depressão, da ansiedade e da desesperança; o outro manteve os níveis de depressão (leve), de ansiedade (leve) e de desesperança (ausente). Na fase de follow-up, cinco participantes responderam ao instrumento. Todos indicaram diminuição da depressão. No que se refere à ansiedade, entre os que estiveram presentes em todas as fases, um diminuiu (de grave para leve) e outro apresentou o mesmo desempenho (leve). Os demais indicaram: manutenção (leve e moderado) ou aumento (leve para moderado). Quanto à desesperança, os que estiveram presentes em todas as fases apresentaram o mesmo nível (ausente). Os demais indicaram: manutenção (moderado/leve) e diminuição (grave/moderado). Quanto à habilidade de resolução de problemas,verificou-se que quatro participantes apresentavam repertórios na média do grupo normal e dois participantes tinham déficits de tais habilidades. Na fase de pósteste, um participante melhorou o desempenho e outro manteve o mesmo repertório. Na fase de follow-up, o desempenho oscilou indo da média do grupo normal a muito acima da média. Apesar das limitações metodológicas, como a ausência de dados sistemáticos, o presente estudo é o primeiro no Brasil a examinar habilidades de resolução de problemas sociais em grupo com adolescentes internados em uma unidade da FEBEM e o primeiro a utilizar um instrumento específico para análise do repertório de resolução de problemas sociais (SPSI:S-R) nessa população. Este estudo demonstra a relevância de se trabalhar com adolescentes infratores em situação de internação, população tipicamente excluída na sociedade brasileira. O Estudo 2 buscou validar, para uso no contexto brasileiro, o Inventário de Resolução de Problemas Sociais-Revisado: Forma Abreviada (SPSR:S), bem como investigar a evidência de validade de conteúdo e critério. Participaram do estudo 76 adolescentes do sexo masculino, sendo 38 adolescentes infratores e 38 não infratores. A pesquisa foi realizada em dois locais distintos: no Núcleo de Atendimento Integrado (NAI) destinada ao atendimento de adolescentes em conflito com a lei na cidade de São Carlos e em escola estadual da mesma cidade. O instrumento utilizado foi o Inventário de Resolução de Problemas Sociais Revisado: Forma Abreviada (SPSI-R:S). O instrumento foi aplicado coletivamente e o tempo de aplicação foi de aproximadamente 30 minutos. Os resultados mostraram no que se refere às evidencias de validade de conteúdo uma concordância entre os juízes de aproximadamente 95%. Quanto à validade de critério, o instrumento foi capaz de discriminar populações de infratores e não infratores. Pode-se afirmar que há uma relação aparente entre o Escore e o Grupo, ou seja, quanto maior o escore total no SPSI-R:S maior a probabilidade de o jovem não ser infrator. O desenvolvimento de programas de intervenção e instrumentos específicos para esta população se mostra relevante uma vez que o número de pesquisas voltadas à intervenção e mensuração, apesar dos esforços de estudiosos, ainda é reduzido no Brasil.