Denna studie har undersökt skolformen “second chance” school. Studien utgick från en specifik verksamhet i Norrland som kallas “Unga till arbete eller studier”, eller UTAS. Syftet med undersökningen var att ta reda på vad som krävs av en studie- och yrkesvägledare som väljer att jobba inom en sådan verksamhet. Studien undersökte även hur denna typ av verksamhet påverkar deltagarnas självförmåga, och vilka möjligheter och svårigheter som kan finnas i denna typ av verksamhet. Arbetet baseras på tidigare forskning om social cognitive career theory, tidigare forskningsrapporter gjorda om second chance school verksamheter och gruppvägledningsmetoden WATCH som står för ”What Alternatives? Thinking Coping Hoping”. En kvalitativ metod användes, och semi-strukturerade intervjuer gjordes med fyra anställda på verksamheten UTAS: två studie och yrkesvägledare, en specialpedagog och verksamhetens samordnare. Resultatet av studien beskriver vilka kunskaper som krävs av en studie- och yrkesvägledare som vill arbeta inom denna typ av verksamhet, bland annat en mer finkänslig förmåga att anpassa sig till sin klient. Resultaten visade även att second chance school verksamhet har en positiv inverkan på deltagarnas självförmåga, och ger deltagarna det stöd och den stabilitet de kan behöva. Slutligen visade även resultaten tydliga tecken på att orsaken till att denna typ av utbildning behövs, är samhälleliga problem som ligger utanför skolväsendet.

With the expansion of online communities, extant research in multiple disciplines has attempted to investigate its adoption and use among individuals. However, the biggest challenge encountered by managers of these communities is supplying knowledge, particularly, the willingness to share knowledge among the members. It is extremely important to maintain committed members in terms of active participation. Yet their level of participation might vary based on some social, behavioral and environmental factors that eventually affect their intentions on whether to participate actively or not, in fact some users choose to discontinue participating totally in the community. Cancers figure among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades. Among men, the 5 most common sites of cancer diagnosed in 2012 were lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer. According to the world cancer report, among women the 5 most common sites diagnosed were breast, colorectal, lung, cervix, and stomach cancer. For this reason, there is an ever-increasing need to establish communities to offer empathic support to patients. Though peer support groups have been known to offer adequate support to patients with cancer and are considered to be an important complement to the formal health care system, however, practical barriers such as time, mobility and geography limit their use, this is where the online communities serve an advantage, as they have the potential to overcome barriers posed by regular offline communities. To achieve its objectives, this study mainly adopts the Social cognitive theory and two components of the social influence theory. According to the SCT, user behaviour is influenced by two factors: personal cognition and environment. Social influence model postulates that individual behaviour in a community can be affected by the social environment and three factors constitute this, they are compliance, identification and internalization. The study aims to provide insights on how and why patients diagnosed with cancer (and their relatives) seek social support using the Internet and social media. In particular, we seek to understand the motivation for joining these groups and the values derived from the community for the users both active and non-active.

African American women's HIV incidence rates are disproportionately higher than other population groups in the United States. Social cognitive theory concepts were used to perform a quantitative content analysis of the magazines Essence, Ebony, and Jet, which are sources of health information and vicarious learning, to evaluate the quality of the HIV/AIDS prevention messages for 2000 to 2006. The data reveal some positive reflection of health messages, but many articles focus more on dramatic risk factors and less on providing useful information and proposed behaviors for African American women. Environmental risks and gender-specific risks are not emphasized. The public health community should use the media messages that are already present to build a media advocacy campaign that provides more comprehensive information and bring about social change.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural breakdown of the skeleton. The disease may be prevented through weight-bearing, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which is important for peri- and postmenopausal women who are at great risk for OP. However, most women do not participate in activity according to guidelines, which can negatively impact bone health. A better understanding of multidimensional factors that influence MVPA may help inform physical activity interventions aiming for OP prevention. The purpose of this study was to utilize social cognitive theory (SCT) to understand the associations between social cognitive factors and MVPA among peri- and postmenopausal women. Eighty-seven peri- and postmenopausal women (aged 43 to 65) completed this study. Participants completed demographic, health, calcium, and SCT questionnaires. SCT variables assessed included task self-efficacy (SET) and barrier self-efficacy (SEB), perceived social support from friends (SSFR) and family (SSFA), and perceived access to facilities (ACF) and home equipment (ACH). Participants wore an NL-1000 pedometer for one week to assess total steps per day and minutes spent in MVPA. Past year MVPA, past week leisure MVPA, and past week occupational/ transport MVPA were assessed with the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire. Stepwise regression analysis was used to identify the direct relationships between cognitive variables and each of the physical activity outcome measures. Moderation-mediation analysis was conducted to determine if significant interaction effects or confounding effects existed between social cognitive variables and each physical activity variable. Age, income, BMI, and highest level of education were controlled for in all analyses. Results showed significant relationships between social cognitive factors and each physical activity outcome, supporting the use of such variables for understanding physical activity behavior in peri- and postmenopausal women. For steps per day and MVPA minutes per day, 32% and 26% of the variance in activity was explained. For past year MVPA, past week leisure MVPA, and occupational/ transport MVPA, 39%, 26%, and 27% of the variance in activity was explained, respectively. The combination of variables entering the models was different for each physical activity outcome, but overall, SEB consistently emerged as the most prominent factor. Moderation analyses revealed a three way interaction effect between SEB, SSFR, and ACF for steps per day, and two-way interaction effects between SEB and SSFR for past year MVPA and past week leisure MVPA. Mediation analysis indicated SSFA confounded the relationship between SEB and past year MVPA. Results of this study indicate social cognitive factors are directly and indirectly associated with total and MVPA in peri- and postmenopausal women. These relationships should be considered when aiming to develop physical activity intervention programs for prevention of OP in peri- and postmenopausal populations.

This qualitative grounded study explores the potential relationship between wildlife TV viewing and human-animal interactions for exotic pet owners. The method involved 13 in-depth interviews and a qualifying open-ended questionnaire with 37 individuals. The interviews gathered viewers' interpretations of two different human-wildlife interactions on TV and served as a launching point for discussion. Findings supported the literature in that wildlife TV was an important source of information, emotion, and contradictory messages. Themes also emerged regarding participants' characterizations of their relationships with their pets. Drawing from social cognitive theory, this thesis suggests the following potential motivators for participants to model animal interactions as seen on screen: 1) visual instruction that increases viewer efficacy; 2) identification with the spokesperson; and 3) emotional connection to the animal. The study concludes with preliminary recommendations for wildlife programming on TV.

Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to test patients ages 13 to 64 years for HIV at health care settings, routine HIV testing is lacking. As a result, many people are unaware of their HIV seropositive status. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine relationships between HIV testing and provider type, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding HIV testing in the acute care setting. The study was informed by social cognitive theory. Using a convenient sampling method, a questionnaire derived from previous surveys (Society of General Internal Medicine and University of Washington) was sent to 600 eligible acute care providers from a suburban Chicago hospital who treated HIV-negative patients ages 13 to 64 years. Completed surveys were received from 88 participants. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression testing showed no significant relationships between HIV testing and provider type (p = .09), age (p = .91), gender (p = .84), experience (p = 1), and race/ethnicity. However, knowledge of HIV testing regulations and positive attitudes about HIV testing were significantly associated with the likelihood of offering an HIV test (p = .026, p = .004 respectively). Results have some clinical importance, but also indicated a lack of routine opt-out HIV testing. Results may be used to promote HIV testing among acute care providers which could reduce HIV-status unawareness in the population.

Turnover of experienced nurses is a component of the nursing shortage, which has created a lack of expert nurses administering bedside care. The project site is a Chicago suburban hospital with an average first year turnover of experienced nurses at 35%. This rate is above the 27% first year turnover reported by the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council. This project focused on development and evaluation of an evidence-based mentorship program supported by theory that can contribute to an increase in experienced nurse retention. A detailed literature review references causative factors of turnover, such as an increasing workload, a multigenerational and aging workforce, and a lack of belonging as reasons for job dissatisfaction and separation of employment. These factors were also cited in exit interviews of nurses resigning from the project site. Synthesis of the literature suggests that an evidence-based, theory-supported, nurse mentorship program may decrease experienced nurse turnover and increase the longevity of the nurse providing bedside care. The social cognitive career theory and components of Zey's mutual benefits model were used in the design of the mentorship program to include the mentor, mentee, and culture of the organization. Program design and materials were evaluated by 10 experienced nurses. The program was approved by 100% of the formative panel and was recommended for summative review by the 4-member nurse executive council. The summative review resulted in a final approval to implement the program. Implementation of this project will create social change through empowerment of experienced nurses and by providing strong mentors for new nurses resulting in reduced turnover of both new and experienced nurses, increased job satisfaction, reduced replacement costs, and improved patient care.

In a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital on the East Coast of the United States, behavioral outbursts result in 2 out of 10 veterans dismissed from a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) unit prior to completing the 6-week program. The purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement project was to create a clinical practice guideline (CPG) based on social cognitive theory (SCT) to provide new strategies for managing veterans with PTSD and to improve the confidence of the nurses in managing outbursts. The Star Model guided the project development with the Delphi method to achieve participant consensus, the AGREE II to assess the CPG quality, and the Generalized Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale to measure the change in participant knowledge and confidence. The literature was searched, compiled, assessed, and shared with 10 participants, registered nurses on the PTSD unit. Through the Delphi process, the participants achieved consensus (8/10) for the CPG, with two neutral participants. The GSE was administered pre- and post-test and analyzed using a paired t test to measure the mean differences of the GSE scores. The data was normally distributed to different scores to gauge the impact of the CPG development process on improving nursing knowledge and confidence was normally distributed [t(9) = -4.188, p < 0.05, &, t(9) = -2.714, p =0.003]. The data indicated a significant increase in participant knowledge about role of SCT, and confidence toward implementing the CPG into clinical practice. This project contributes to positive social change as nurses identified a clinical practice problem, transferred evidence about strategies from the literature into their clinical practice through a CPG, and implemented the CPG with the knowledge and confidence to impact patient care.

The Muslim population in the United States has faced numerous challenges in the aftermath of September 11th, including increased negative portrayal of Muslims in the media. While there is increased understanding that the social environment in the US has become more Islamophobic, there is little research in applied psychology fields to understand how this is influencing the life choices of young Muslims in the United States. This investigation focuses on South Asian Muslim Americans and the factors that influence their career decision-making process. Lent and Colleagues’ (1994) Social Cognitive Career Theory career choice model was used to develop a better understanding of these factors. This study investigated how the variables of gender, ethnicity, religiosity, perceived discrimination, and family involvement relate to career decision-making self-efficacy and outcome expectations for South Asian Muslim college students. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to understand the relationships among the variables. The goal of this study was to provide initial understandings of the factors influencing South Asian Muslim Americans career decision-making process. The study did not find a significant relationship among the variables or the applicability of the SCCT career choice model to this population. These findings demonstrate a need to learn more about the career process for this population and other factors specific to the population that may be involved in the career development process. The results provide valuable information for counseling psychologists in university counseling centers to broaden their understanding and support the needs of South Asian Muslim American students during the career choice process.

Social support has been identified as an important component of planning for careers among high school students. Lent, Brown, and Hackett (2000) advocated for the importance of this support within Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). These authors identified a need for further research with better measurement for examining contextual support and its connection to career decision-making. Ali et al. (2011) developed a set of measures to address this need for better measurement, but identified the need for more nuanced examination of specific types of contextual support. The current study was designed to assess the importance of nuanced measuring of different types of support in career-decision making. Specifically, two scales, School Personnel and Community, from the Contextual Support of Post Secondary Planning Scales (CSPSPS) are analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis to force the scales into the factor structures proposed by Ali et al. (2011). Additionally, exploratory factor analysis was used to further examine the school personnel scale. Finally, interventions to aid School Personnel and Community in ways to support students in career decision-making are considered.