Why the belief in one's equal rights matters: Self-respect, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in Western and non-Western countries.

The present research investigated the relationship between self-respect (i.e., a person's belief of possessing the same rights as others) and depressive symptoms. Based on earlier longitudinal findings that self-respect fosters assertiveness and that assertiveness negatively predicts depressive symptoms, we tested these relationships in Western and non-Western countries. Additionally, we explored associations with suicidal ideation. Across seven countries (N = 2408) we found that self-respect and depressive symptoms were negatively correlated. In addition, we found evidence for an indirect path via assertiveness as well as negative correlations with suicidal ideation in countries with available measures. Finally, within-manuscript meta-analyses confirmed the main path between self-respect and depressive symptoms across all seven countries. This research presents the first evidence for the negative association between self-respect (feeling equal to others) and depressive symptoms and highlights new directions for linking self and self-regard to mental health.

Longitudinal Effects of a sit-stand desk intervention - persistence, Fade-Out, and psychological momentum: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether the effects of a sit-stand desk (SSD) intervention on employees' musculoskeletal complaints (i.e., intensity and prevalence) and activation (i.e., vigilance and vitality) persist or fade out and whether velocity and acceleration of health improvements can predict medium-term (six-month) and long-term (24-month) improvements. Drawing from dynamic models of self-regulation, as well as the psychological momentum theory, we hypothesized that velocity and acceleration of health improvements in the early stages of the intervention would predict medium-term health improvements, which sustain long-term. METHODS: We used data from a six-month seven-wave randomized controlled trial with employees in mostly sedentary occupations and supplemented this by follow-up data from the same participants 18 months later, resulting in eight waves. RESULTS: Bayesian structural equational modeling revealed no significant intervention effect after 24 months implying a fade-out. But more importantly, velocity and, partially, acceleration of health improvements at earlier stages predicted medium-term improvements in musculoskeletal complaints and long-term improvements in vigilance. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that positive intervention effects fade out over time and health effects benefit from prompt progresses at the beginning of the intervention, warranting exploration in prolonged longitudinal studies.

Losing and regaining organizational attractiveness during the recruitment process: a multiple-degment factorial vignette study / Ganar y recuperar atractivo organizacional durante el proceso de reclutamiento: un estudio factorial multisegmentario con viñetas

How applicants’ perceptions of organizational attractiveness (OA) change over the recruitment process and whether OA, once lost, can ever be regained, has hardly been investigated. Therefore, drawing on organizational justice and signaling theories, we examined the effects of treatment (fair vs. unfair), re-evaluation (positive vs. negative), and outcome (offer vs. rejection) on OA. Results from a multiple-segment factorial vignette study (N = 193 employees) showed a reduction in OA (67%) after applicants were treated unfairly. Up to 24% of this loss was regained in subsequent stages through positive re-evaluation and by being offered a job. The results also showed a reduction in OA (52%) for applicants who were treated fairly but re-evaluated their experience negatively and received a rejection. Thus, one good experience may not be enough to attract applicants, and understanding the combined effect of experiences is even more important than understanding the effect of a single experience.(AU)

Apenas se ha indagado en cómo cambia la percepción del atractivo de la organización (AO) de los aspirantes a lo largo del proceso de reclutamiento y si puede recuperarse cuando se pierde. Así, partiendo de la justicia organizativa y de las teorías de la señalización analizamos el efecto del tratamiento (justo vs. injusto), reevaluación de las teorías de justicia organizacional (positiva vs. negativa) y resultados (oferta vs. rechazo) en el AO. Los resultados de un estudio factorial multisegmentario con viñetas (N = 193 empleados) mostraron una disminución del AO (67%) después de haber tratado a los aspirantes de modo injusto. Hasta un 24% de esta pérdida se recuperó en etapas posteriores gracias a una reevaluación positiva y a una oferta de trabajo. Los resultados igualmente mostraron una disminución del AO (52%) en los aspirantes a los que se trató de modo justo pero reevaluaron su experiencia negativamente y sufrieron rechazo. Así, una buena experiencia no garantiza que se atraiga a los aspirantes. Además, desentrañar el efecto combinado de las experiencias resulta aún más importante que explicar el efecto de una única experiencia.(AU)

Teams in Transition: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study of Reflection, Implicit and Explicit Coordination and Performance Improvements.

Research has shown that team reflection is a critical transition process for coordination processes and team performance, but our understanding of its dynamics and relationship to action processes and performance is incomplete. The goal of the present study was to examine the long-term change in reflection in teams over time and explore whether these changes are related to implicit and explicit coordination processes and performance improvement. Drawing on the recurring phase model of team processes and team reflexivity theory, we hypothesized that team reflection is at least stable or increases over time for dissimilar tasks, that reflection trajectories are positively associated with implicit and negatively associated with explicit coordination in the later phases, and that implicit coordination mediates the relationship between team reflection and performance improvement. This model was tested in a three-wave longitudinal study (N = 175 teams) over a 2-months period. Results from growth curve modeling and structural equation modeling provided support for our hypotheses.

Academic performance: A longitudinal study on the role of goal-directed rumination and psychological distress.

BACKGROUND: In this research, we examine the relationship between goal-directed rumination, psychological distress, and performance. Although previous research has largely contributed to our understanding of how these constructs are related, the direction of their relationships remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: We argue that goal-directed rumination and psychological distress (conceived as perceived stress and strain) are reciprocally related, and that goal-directed rumination has a positive effect on performance when controlling for the negative effect of psychological distress. DESIGN: We explored these relationships in a longitudinal field study, drawing on multiple sources: self-reports of 147 students on goal-directed rumination and psychological distress and objective ratings of academic performance. METHOD: Based on structural equation modelling, we employed a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model and hierarchical regressions to examine our hypotheses. RESULTS: We demonstrated that goal-directed rumination predicted perceived stress one week later but not vice versa, while its relationship to strain was less clear. Furthermore, goal-directed rumination positively predicted academic performance when we controlled for psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence for a unidirectional relationship between goal-directed rumination and psychological distress, especially for perceived stress. Additionally, we observed that psychological distress diminishes the beneficial effect of goal-directed rumination on academic performance.

Goal-directed rumination and its antagonistic effects on problem solving: a two-week diary study.

BACKGROUND: The tendency to repetitively and intrusively think about a particular negative event, goal failure, or problem (i.e., goal-directed rumination) is generally associated with impairments in well-being, thus decreasing performance in solving this failure. However, rumination is also associated with higher levels of resources invested in problem solving, likely leading to an improvement in performance. OBJECTIVES: The current study thus examines the indirect effect of rumination via various mediators on subjective problem-solving performance in the everyday context. DESIGN: Over a period of two weeks, 147 students completed a brief survey each evening (i.e., diary study). METHODS: Data were analyzed by means of a multiple mediation model in the multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) framework. RESULTS: The analyses revealed that perceived stress and negative mood negatively mediated the relationship between rumination and problem solving, while attention and effort positively mediated this relationship. Finally, both a negative direct and total effect of rumination on problem solving was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusively, goal-directed rumination exerted a negative indirect effect on subjective problem solving via perceived stress and negative mood, whereas it positively affected problem solving via attention and effort. Possible limitations and implications are discussed.

Beneficial, adverse, and spiraling health-promotion effects: Evidence from a longitudinal randomized controlled trial of working at sit-stand desks.

In a 6-month longitudinal randomized field experiment, we examined how using height-adjustable sit-stand desks could have beneficial, adverse, and spiraling effects on people's musculoskeletal and psychovegetative complaints, and on positive (vitality and vigilance) and negative psychological symptoms, namely, stressor uncontrollability (i.e., perceived uncontrollability of workload), psychological tension, and mental tiredness. A total of 127 employees in various, mostly sedentary, occupations were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control group. Variables were assessed monthly for 6 months on a self-reported basis. Bayesian structural equation modeling showed that the intervention produced large inhibiting between-subjects effects for musculoskeletal problems in the neck, back, and shoulders (ß ranged between -.26 and -.21). Within-subject analyses revealed that the intervention produced large inhibiting effect sizes for intensity (g = 3.06) and prevalence of musculoskeletal (g = 1.19) and psychovegetative complaints (g between 0.76 and 1.57). For negative psychological symptoms (i.e., psychological tension and mental tiredness), participants in the intervention group showed a steeper decrease than participants in the control group (g between 2.34 and 3.74). For positive indicators (i.e., vitality and vigilance), the intervention produced large promoting effects for participants in the intervention group compared with participants in the control group (g between 0.70 and 1.65). There was no change in stressor uncontrollability between the two groups. Finally, findings suggest that sit-stand desks can be effective in improving occupational health by weakening a downward-spiraling effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Politicization as an antecedent of polarization: Evidence from two different political and national contexts.

Using longitudinal research designs, we examine the role of politicization in the development of polarization. We conducted research in two different political and national contexts. In Study 1, we employ a panel sample of supporters of the Tea Party movement in the United States and examine the relationship between the strength of their politicization and their subsequent feelings towards conservatives versus liberals (affective polarization) as well as their subsequent perceptions of commonalities with conservatives versus liberals (cognitive polarization). In Study 2, we employ a panel sample of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community in Germany and examine the politicization-polarization link with regard to feelings towards, and perceived commonalities with, feminists versus supporters of a populist right-wing political party. We obtained converging evidence suggesting that politicization promotes both affective and cognitive polarization. There was also some, but very limited evidence pointing to reverse causation. The danger of escalating polarization is discussed.