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The research examines the relationship between cyber addiction (excessive use of the Internet, CA), information overload (IO), and assesses their impact on workplace productivity. A multi-methods approach is used employing the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and a quantitative survey design to assess and test the stated hypothesis. The study used random sampling methods targeting 150 respondents from different information technology departments of various organizations. The study hypothesizes that CA and IO have a reciprocal association, which adversely affects workplace productivity and employee performance. From the findings, IAT scores increase with an associated possibility of reporting burnout, fatigue, and other components associated with CA and IO. Also, CA and IO were significantly correlated, as evaluated by the chi-square test, although the same approach did not yield significant associations between CA and perceived internet dependence. Other findings CA components, such as social media use, significantly associated with task postponement and burnout. As well, CA affected IO with substantial impacts on workplace productivity. The paper highlights managerial aspects that organizations should consider in optimizing the output of their staff. Recommendations include wellness programs, altering the leadership and management styles, and sensitizing the employees on the adverse effects caused by the two variables.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:29:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcia Maria Bignotto.pdf: 807791 bytes, checksum: cbd31bd6800c47196215c3fea0f860fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-10 / The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a new method for treating stress, designated stress control training for children (known locally as TCS-I) in the reduction of the symptomatology of stress in children between 8 and 9 years of age. The TCS-I was composed of 16 weekly meetings lasting 90 minutes each, in group session, and was based on cognitive behavior theory. The participants consisted of 20 children equally divided into two groups: the GTCSI which received the TCS-I training and the GC (control group) who had 16 weekly sessions with a psychologist, which did not involve stress control. Initial testing evaluated the symptomatology of stress, the stressors which the children would normally encounter in their everyday lives and what were the confrontation strategies they used. Using the quadriphase model as a theoretical benchmark which emphasizes four phases in the stress process, namely alert, resistance, near-exhaustion and exhaustion, results show that 60% of children were in the near-exhaustion phase, with a prevalence of psychological reactions. The stressors most mentioned by the children were internal in nature, and related to feelings of anxiety and situations related to impaired self-esteem. It was also found that they made use of numbers and types of strategies that were not sufficient to control their levels of tension. The two groups were compared before and after the GTCSI sessions. Initially, the groups showed no significant differences in terms of the level and phase of stress they were facing. After intervention, it was noted that the GTCSI showed a significant reduction in their level of stress when compared to the control group. It was concluded that stressed children, when subjected to stress control training specific to their needs, are capable of developing confrontation skills and achieving a reduction in levels of stress. It was also concluded that TCS-I is very effective in reducing stress in children and the internal sources of this stress. / Este estudo objetivou testar a efic?cia de um m?todo novo de tratamento do stress, designado treino psicol?gico de stress infantil (TCS-I) na redu??o da sintomatologia do stress em crian?as de 08 anos a 09 anos anos de idade. O TCS-I se constituiu de 16 encontros semanais de 90 minutos de dura??o, em grupo, e se baseou na teoria cognitivo-comportamental. Os participantes foram 20 crian?as distribu?das igualmente em dois grupos: GTCSI que recebeu o TCS-I e outro (grupo comparativo GC) que teve 16 encontros semanais com a psic?loga, n?o direcionados ao controle do stress. A testagem inicial avaliou a sintomatologia de stress, os estressores com os quais as crian?as se deparavam no dia a dia e quais estrat?gias de enfrentamento elas utilizavam. Considerando-se como referencial te?rico o modelo quadrif?sico que enfatiza quatro fases no processo do stress: alerta, resist?ncia, quase exaust?o e exaust?o, os resultados indicam que 60% das crian?as encontravam-se na fase de quase exaust?o, com preval?ncia de rea??es psicol?gicas. Os estressores mais mencionados por elas eram de natureza interna e se referiam a sentimentos de ansiedade e situa??es referentes a uma autoestima prejudicada. Verificou-se ainda que faziam uso de um n?mero e tipo de estrat?gias que se mostrou insuficiente no controle de seus n?veis de tens?o. Os dois grupos foram comparados antes e ap?s a interven??o do GTCSI. No inicio, os grupos n?o mostraram diferen?as significativas quanto ao n?vel e fase do stress na qual se encontravam. Ap?s a interven??o, observou-se, que o GTCSI apresentou uma redu??o significativa no seu n?vel de stress quando comparado ao GC. Concluiu-se que as crian?as estressadas quando submetidas a um treino de controle de stress espec?fico ?s suas necessidades, s?o capazes de desenvolver habilidades de enfrentamento obtendo redu??o nos n?veis de stress. Concluiu-se tamb?m que o TCS-I ? muito eficaz na redu??o do stress infantil e das fontes internas de stress.

Dois estudos avaliaram o impacto e o processo de um modelo de grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental para 49 meninas vítimas de abuso sexual com idade entre 9 e 16 anos. O Estudo I avaliou: o impacto do modelo na redução de sintomas de depressão, stress, ansiedade, transtorno do estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) e crenças distorcidas sobre o abuso e o efeito do tempo de espera por tratamento nestes sintomas; a manutenção do impacto da grupoterapia após 6 e 12 meses do término; e os fatores preditores para a resposta à grupoterapia. Os resultados, obtidos através do teste t para amostras pareadas apontaram que o modelo de grupoterapia apresentou impacto positivo, reduzindo significativamente os sintomas avaliados; o efeito da espera entre os grupos não revelou diferença significativa; os efeitos terapêuticos se mantiveram após um ano; e, os fatores preditores da resposta à grupoterapia foram: idade de início do abuso, presença de estupro e sintomas de revivência do TEPT antes da grupoterapia. O Estudo II avaliou o processo terapêutico a partir da análise clínica descritiva de dois casos, considerando as participantes que obtiveram escores extremos na análise da redução de sintomas. Os resultados apontaram que a idade de início do abuso, forma de abuso, experiência de abrigamento, resposta ao treino de inoculação do estresse e percepções de culpa foram aspectos que diferenciaram a resposta à grupoterapia. O modelo avaliado se mostrou efetivo para tratamento de meninas vítimas de abuso sexual. / Two studies assessed the effectiveness impact and process of a cognitive behavioral group therapy model applied to 49 female children and adolescents victims of sexual abuse (9-16 years). The Study I evaluated: the impact of the model in the reduction of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the beliefs on the abusive experience and the effect of being in a waiting list for treatment in these symptoms; the permanence of the group therapy effects impact in a 6 and 12 months follow ups; the predictors factors for a group therapy response. The results, analyzed through the test t, revealed: the model showed positive impact, reducing the evaluated symptoms; the effect of being in the waiting list did not reveal significant difference in both groups; the therapeutic impact were maintained through the follow ups; the predictor factors for a response to group therapy were: age of the sexual abuse, rape presence and re-experiencing symptoms of the PTSD before the group therapy. The Study II assessed the therapeutic process using a two cases clinic analysis, considering the participants that obtained extremes scores in the analysis of symptoms reduction. The results pointed out to: the age of the sexual abuse, rape presence, sheltering, response the stress inoculation training and self perceptions of blame were aspects that explained the different response to the group therapy. The model was effective to the treatment of the girls victims of sexual abuse.

Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-04-24T17:58:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana da Rosa Pureza.pdf: 1746305 bytes, checksum: 1269d0c651ad291f9b63480eddd161e4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-24T17:58:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana da Rosa Pureza.pdf: 1746305 bytes, checksum: 1269d0c651ad291f9b63480eddd161e4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-01-31 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A presente dissertação teve como objetivo estudar as intervenções para o fenômeno bullying na infância. Ela encontra-se composta por dois estudos organizados no formato de artigo. O primeiro deles, apresenta uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre intervenções para o fenômeno bullying na infância, datadas de 2002 a 2013 e localizadas nas bases MEDLINE, LILACS, SCIELO, ASP (EBSCO), Oxford University Press, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect e Web of Science. Foram analisados 19 artigos, cuja maioria destacou que as intervenções tiveram como objetivo a diminuição dos índices de bullying e ocorreram no ambiente escolar no formato grupal, envolvendo participantes de toda a escola. Também se identificou- a existência de diversos procedimentos de avaliação para o bullying na infância e a escassez de estudos realizados com crianças menores de oito anos, além da falta de clareza acerca dos modelos teóricos que fundamentaram as intervenções e da pouca associação do bullying a outros fenômenos psicológicos. Já o segundo estudo teve como objetivo avaliar uma intervenção baseada na psicologia positiva e na terapia cognitivo-comportamental para o tratamento de crianças envolvidas no bullying. Participaram 40 crianças (10 a 12 anos), matriculadas em escolas estaduais de Porto Alegre-RS, que responderam a instrumentos sobre o envolvimento no bullying, as habilidades sociais e os indicadores de depressão. Dessas, 26 compuseram o grupo de intervenção e 14 o grupo de comparação. A coleta foi realizada nas escolas, coletivamente, em oito encontros semanais. Análises estatísticas revelaram que antes da intervenção o grupo de intervenção era mais deprimido (p<0,00) e o grupo de comparação mais habilidoso socialmente (p<0,02). Porém, depois da intervenção os grupos se mostraram mais homogêneos, somente o grupo de intervenção apresentou um aumento quanto ao papel de testemunha (p<0,01). Esses resultados indicam que a intervenção pode ser considerada efetiva para algumas variáveis relacionadas ao bullying, principalmente para o papel de testemunha e das vítima extrema e. A discussão desses resultados a luz da psicologia positiva é relevante devido à sua importância para a prevenção e promoção da saúde mental na infância. / The present Master Degree thesis aimed to study interventions on bullying in childhood. It is organized in two separated studies in article formats. In the first paper, a systematic literature revision is presented about studies on bullying interventions in childhood, published in the years 2002 to 2013 and taken from MEDLINE, LILACS, SCIELO, ASP (EBSCO), Oxford University Press, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect e Web of Science data bases. Nineteen scientific papers were analyzed and it was possible to observe that the majority of interventions described in these studies aimed to decrease bullying levels or behaviors as well as occurred inside schools, involving participants from the whole the school in a group format. It was also possible to identify the existence of a greater diversity in what refers to the measures about bullying in childhood and a lack of theoretical models as backgrounds to the development of these interventions. Besides that, few studies focused oneight-year-old or younger children and verified the association between bullying and other psychological phenomena. At study 2, the objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention based on Positive Psychology and Cognitive Behavior Therapy to children involved in bullying. Forty children from 10 to 12 years-old, students of public schools in Porto Alegre city, South Brazil, answered questionnaires about bullying, social skills, and depression symptoms. The intervention group included 26 children and the control group had 14. Data collection was held in schools, collectively, during eight days, one per week. Statistical analysis by Mann Whitney showed that before intervention (T1), the intervention group was more depressed symptoms (p<0,00) and the control group showed higher levels of social skills (p<0,02). After the intervention (T2), the groups were more homogeneous and the intervention group showed an increase of witness role in bullying (p<0,01). These results indicate that intervention can be considered effective to some variables related to bullying, mainly extreme victimzation and 15 bystander. The discussion of these results based on Positive Psychology approach is essential, due to its importance to prevention and mental health promotion in childhood.

<p>The present dissertation comprises four empirical studies within the area of behavioral treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia. The focus is on studying issues pertaining to outcome, treatment process and determinants of change. The first study is a randomized controlled treatment study of 73 patients undergoing 16 sessions of either exposure in vivo (E), or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Both treatments showed clear improvements at post-treatment that were well maintained at 1-year follow up, and there were no significant differences between the treatments.</p><p>The second study concerned prediction of outcome in the same sample. From a variety of pre-treatment characteristics severity of avoidance was the one most related to outcome. Most predictors were found unrelated. Two approaches of prediction were also compared: treating outcome as a categorical vs. continuous variable. The different approaches yielded a somewhat dissimilar picture of the impact of pre-treatment severity of avoidance. The third study examined different aspects of the therapeutic relationship, and their relation to outcome. Clients’ perceptions of therapists and their ratings of the working alliance were generally not related to outcome at any point. On the other hand, therapists’ perceptions of patients as showing goal-direction and active participation were related to outcome from early on in therapy. The fourth study examined different aspects of change. It was found that change in indices of the frequency of panic attacks was not closely related to change in agoraphobic avoidance at post-treatment. Change in avoidance was also more related to other aspects of outcome. At one-year follow-up, a more unitary picture, regarding the different aspects of change was observed.</p>

The present dissertation comprises four empirical studies within the area of behavioral treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia. The focus is on studying issues pertaining to outcome, treatment process and determinants of change. The first study is a randomized controlled treatment study of 73 patients undergoing 16 sessions of either exposure in vivo (E), or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Both treatments showed clear improvements at post-treatment that were well maintained at 1-year follow up, and there were no significant differences between the treatments. The second study concerned prediction of outcome in the same sample. From a variety of pre-treatment characteristics severity of avoidance was the one most related to outcome. Most predictors were found unrelated. Two approaches of prediction were also compared: treating outcome as a categorical vs. continuous variable. The different approaches yielded a somewhat dissimilar picture of the impact of pre-treatment severity of avoidance. The third study examined different aspects of the therapeutic relationship, and their relation to outcome. Clients’ perceptions of therapists and their ratings of the working alliance were generally not related to outcome at any point. On the other hand, therapists’ perceptions of patients as showing goal-direction and active participation were related to outcome from early on in therapy. The fourth study examined different aspects of change. It was found that change in indices of the frequency of panic attacks was not closely related to change in agoraphobic avoidance at post-treatment. Change in avoidance was also more related to other aspects of outcome. At one-year follow-up, a more unitary picture, regarding the different aspects of change was observed.

Depression is a significant mental health concern with a pivotal increase of incidence during adolescence, specifically for females. Currently, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most widely tested treatment for depression. Yet, it is unclear how CBT functions to produce effective outcomes. Adult studies have shown that behavioral components of CBT are more effective than cognitive components in reducing depression at acute treatment. Both behavioral and cognitive components have been shown to be effective in preventing relapse of depressive symptoms at follow up. Yet less is understood about how treatment components work together to provide positive outcomes, particularly for depressed youth. The overall goal of this study was to examine which parts of treatment (cognitive and/or behavioral) aid in symptom reduction and to determine if treatment outcome is mediated by cognitive change. Forty two pre-adolescent girls, aged 9-14, participated in a 20-session manualized group CBT program. The first portion of treatment (session 1-9) focused the behavioral intervention and the second portion of treatment (sessions 11-19) focused on cognitive interventions while continuing to reinforce behavioral interventions when necessary. Self report measures and diagnostic interviews were completed at pre-treatment and post-treatment. Using multiple regression analyses, the findings of this study supported the role of behavioral and cognitive interventions in reducing depression. Behavioral interventions were found to significantly reduce depression at post-treatment. Additionally, cognitive interventions were found to play a small, but significant role in post-treatment outcome, with preliminary evidence that cognitive interventions could also be linked to treatment outcome one year later. Treatment specificity could not be tested, as the cognitive change of depressed girls was not directly influenced by the behavior and cognitive interventions. Exploratory analysis demonstrated the significant role of behavioral techniques such as behavior activation, positive reinforcement, homework review, and skills training in predicting outcome of treatment. Implications of the results, limitations, and recommendations for future research are provided. / text

Self-monitoring, lowered arousal training (i.e., biofeedback and relaxation training) and maintenance follow-up appeared to contribute to effective treatment of hypertension. Cognitive therapy, while effective in treatment of some stress-related disorders, has not been studied as a specific treatment component for hypertension. The present study explored the use of cognitive therapy as a treatment variable to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive persons. The effectiveness of a multi-element treatment including cognitive therapy, blood-pressure biofeedback, and relaxation training was also assessed. Self-monitoring and maintenance training were included as a part of each treatment process.