The motivational climate, as created by coaches, and athletes’ goal orientations are key constructs in understanding children’s experiences with sport. In this study, the relationship between the perceived motivational climates, male adolescents’ goal orientation, and their experiences of self-esteem, sport competence, enjoyment, and ultimately, intention to continue participating in sport was examined. Participants were 405 male adolescents (Sample A: n = 200; Sample B: n = 205) aged 13-15 years old. Structural equation modeling indicated an overall good fit to the structural model for both data sets. A task goal orientation was predicted by higher levels of coach-created task climate. Participants with higher task goal orientation had greater sport competence, self-esteem, and more enjoyment in sport; enjoyment was the only significant predictor of their intention to continue playing the sport they believe is most important over the next three years.

Four studies provide support for the development and validation of a framework for understanding the range of social psychological outcomes valued subjectively as consequences of negotiations. Study 1 inductively elicited and coded elements of subjective value among students, community members, and negotiation practitioners, revealing 20 categories that negotiation theorists in Study 2 sorted to reveal four underlying dimensions: Feelings about Instrumental Outcomes, the Self, Process, and Relationship. Study 3 proposed a new Subjective Value Inventory (SVI) questionnaire and confirmed its 4-factor structure, and Study 4 presents convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity data for this SVI. Results suggest the SVI is a promising tool to systematize and encourage research on the subjective outcomes of negotiation.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that approximately 6.7 million or 10.9% of women in the United States, between the ages of 15 and 44 have difficulty getting or remaining pregnant and of these women 6% are considered infertile (CDC, 2012). Infertility is defined as twelve months of regular, 2015 Appalachian Student Research Forum Page 53 unprotected intercourse yielding no pregnancy. Research suggests the experience of infertility has been associated with negative psychological outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Even more problematic is that infertility can persist for an extended period of time and have long-lasting effects on psychological distress in those who remain unable to have children. Given the negative psychological outcomes experienced by those struggling with infertility, uncovering why and how these outcomes evolve for women with infertility may simultaneously reveal points of intervention to improve outcomes. The present study is premised on the idea that examining infertility in the context of stigma may provide an explanation for the increased psychological distress reported by women experiencing infertility. In the present study, we examined stigma as a framework for understanding the negative psychological outcomes for women who experience infertility. More specifically, we examined the relationship between stigma (public and internalized stigma) and psychological distress and the mediational role of self-esteem and partner satisfaction. The sample consisted of women experiencing infertility (N > 100) who completed an online survey titled “Survey on Women’s Experience with Infertility”. The average woman in the study was 33 years of age (M = 32.8, SD = 6.74), reported being married (70%), and was Caucasian/White (86.6%) and college educated. On average, women in the study had been trying to conceive for almost three years (M= 32.71 months, SD = 12.87). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the hypothesized relationships between public stigma, internalized stigma, self-esteem, partner satisfaction, and psychological distress. Overall the mediational model was supported, which suggests the relationship between public stigma and psychological distress may be partly explained by internalized stigma, selfesteem, and partner satisfaction. The results provide initial support for a stigma framework as an explanation for the negative psychological outcomes experienced by women struggling with infertility.

While there are studies linking positive psychological outcomes with exercise, few have focused on choice as a moderating factor. The research that has examined choice as a moderator yielded mixed results. Currently no research has looked at the impact of choice of exercise intensity on the psychological benefits of acute exercise; specifically, affective and cognitive gains. According to Landers (2008), acute exercise refers to a single bout of exercise usually lasting a short duration, whereas chronic exercise refers to long term repeated bouts of exercise (e.g., weeks, months, or years). Participants in this study consisted of 117 collegiate psychology students. The study consisted of two trials. The first trial was used to establish a baseline. Next, students were randomly assigned to one of four conditions for the second trial. Everything stayed consistent from the first trial to the second trial, except the extent of choice given with regard to exercise intensity. Affect and cognition measures were given to all participants on both days. For trial two, group 1 was given full choice, e.g., they were able to exercise at their own pace. Group 2 had to exercise at the average pace from their first session, group 3 exercised at a pace equivalent to two rate of perceived exertion (RPE) levels above their average pace from the first session, and group 4 exercised at a pace two RPE levels below their average pace from the first session. A mixed model MANOVA was used to analyze the participants’ cognitive and affective data. Although the outcomes of the study were limited, Group 1 (choice) performed better on two of the executive function measures (Trail Making Test, Letter Number Sequence) for the second trial than the other experimental groups.

This study attempted to determine whether perceptions of reactions to disclosure are related to psychological and physical outcomes among individuals with a history of youth sexual abuse (YSA). It was expected that receiving more hurtful responses overall would be related to higher levels of internalizing, somatic, and PTSD symptoms. It was also predicted that perceptions of response to disclosure would predict psychological and physical outcomes beyond the influence of relevant abuse characteristics. Eighty-six female undergraduates recruited from a large Midwestern university completed a series of questionnaires assessing YSA, non-sexual trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, somatic symptoms, disclosure, and social reactions to disclosure. Results indicated that those who reported experiencing YSA had higher levels of psychological and physical symptoms than those who reported a non-sexual traumatic event. Also, those who reported receiving more hurtful responses to disclosure overall had higher levels of PTSD and internalizing and physical symptoms. However, this relationship was only true for survivors of YSA. In addition, response to disclosure predicted internalizing and physical symptoms beyond the influence of the duration of abuse, accounting for 23 percent of the variance. These findings suggest that many survivors of YSA may need psychological services, and that an important focus of treatment may be assessing and strengthening social support.

Huntington disease (HD) is a genetically transmitted fatal neurodegenerative condition that currently has no cure. The symptoms of HD are manifested as cognitive declines, neuropsychiatric disturbances, and motor dysfunction. An autosomal dominant genetic defect is responsible for the onset of HD, which means that the children of an affected parent have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. Predictive genetic testing for HD has been available since 1993, and a positive test result means that a person will develop HD with 100% certainty. People who have the HD-gene expansion, but have not yet manifested unequivocal motor signs, are said to be in the prodromal phase of HD. A number of studies have examined concerns about the utility of genetic testing and its negative psychological consequences for gene-expanded and non-expanded individuals (e.g., traumatization, suicidal ideation). Although research has understandably focused on the potential for distress, there has been some evidence suggesting that individuals may actually experience psychological growth related to a receiving a genetic test result (e.g., improved relationships, pursuing new opportunities). The aim of the present study was to understand the relationship between genetic testing, prodromal HD symptoms, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Participants were recruited through the multinational PREDICT-HD study (Jane Paulsen, PI) and they completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) to assess permanent positive psychological change as a result of learning about their HD-gene status. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (Smith, 1991), Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale Motor Exam (Huntington's Study Group, 1996), and the SCl-90-R Depression subscale (Derogatis, 1994) were also completed. A total of 82 gene-expanded patients and 37 non-expanded patients took part in this study. Results revealed that gene-expanded and non-expanded individuals reported experiencing PTG, particularly in their appreciation for life and ability to relate to others. Gene-expanded and non-expanded participants did not differ in the amount of growth they reported, which indicated that the outcome of genetic testing was not related to how much growth people experienced. Age and gender were associated with PTG, with younger participants and women reporting the most growth. The amount of time elapsed since genetic testing, estimated proximity to a diagnosis of HD, and the clinical characteristics of prodromal HD were not related to PTG. In conclusion, people experience positive psychological change as result of genetic testing for HD. The findings of this study have important implications for future research and for mental health professionals assisting people through the genetic counseling process.

A sample of 816 metropolitan police officers in Thailand completed a survey consisting of a set of job characteristics, including job control, support, and job demands, in addition to measures of emotional labour (surface acting and deep acting), and a set of psychological outcomes, to test a proposition based on Karasek and Theorell's (1990) model. 1t was argued that the emotional labour requirements of police officers would act as a moderating factor that would impact adversely on their wellbeing. The survey instruments were translated and back-translated from the original English to Thai, and their psychometric properties were assessed through confirmatory factor analysis. Tests based on validation and cross-validation procedures indicated that the measurement model was valid and reliable. The effects of job characteristics on wellbeing were assessed through canonical correlation and hierarchical moderated multiple regression analyses. Results revealed that deep acting was inversely related to wellbeing, and had a moderating effect on the relationship between job demands and wellbeing/psychological distress. A moderating effect was also detected for surface acting on the relationship between co-worker support and wellbeing. Neither surface acting nor deep acting had a moderating effect on the relationship between job control and wellbeing/ psychological distress. Implications of the results and recommendations for future research are discussed together with methodological limitations of the study.

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The number of people aged 60 years and over has doubled since 1980and the World Health Organization predicts that the population of over60s will reach 2 billion by the year 2050. An ageing population poses bothchallenges and opportunities for society and for individuals. Whilst theseare positive statements, increases in life spans do not directly lead to increasesin health spans. The naturally occurring ageing process can leadto reductions in functionality and, in order to address this, scholars haveargued the benefits of regularly engaging in physical activity, and especiallyresistance training. Therefore, an important challenge for modernsociety is to develop strategies that delay the onset of disease, such as interventionsthat include physical activity. This licentiate thesis investigatesolder women’s physical activity in a resistance training context and howthis affects different aspects of their health.The overall aim of the thesis is to explore healthy and physically activeolder women’s experiences of what maintains and enhances their healthafter starting resistance training.This thesis used a quantitative and a qualitative approach to investigatea group of old adult women. Data collection was structured in questionnaires(n=32) with one intervention group and one control group for thepaper I, and focus group interviews (n=14) in paper II. Paper I studied theeffects of resistance training on physically active and healthy olderwomen. Paper II relates to the women who continued to exercise after theresistance training intervention ended in order to explore their health resources.The theoretical framework used in this thesis is a movement towardshealth as explained by salutogenic theory.This thesis showed that resistance training has positive effects on psychologicalwell-being and is important because it not only benefits thosewho are physically inactive, but also those who are already physically activeand healthy.From a salutogenic perspective, physical activity provides a meaningful,comprehensible and manageable way for older women to engage in theongoing process of maintaining health.

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