Organizational and psychological features of successful democratic enterprises: A systematic review of qualitative research.

In organizational psychology the positive effects of democratically structured enterprises on their employees are well documented. However, the longstanding viability as well as economic success of democratic enterprises in a capitalistic market environment has long been contested. For instance, this has given rise to widespread endorsement of the "degeneration thesis" and the so-called "iron law of oligarchy". By reviewing 77 qualitative studies that examined 83 democratic enterprises (including 15 studies on nine enterprises of the Mondragon Cooperative Cooperation network) within the last 50 years, the present systematic review provides evidence that such enterprises are able to economically survive and prosper. The majority of studied enterprises (63.5%) either resisted pressures toward degeneration or subsequently regenerated after undergoing degenerative processes. Only 9.5% fully degenerated in accordance with the degeneration thesis and the "iron law of oligarchy", while 27.0% of the democratic enterprises showed diverse and mixed forms of degeneration tendencies, indicating that the notion of an "iron law" needs to be revised. Within the nine investigated cases of Mondragon not one single enterprise or group fully degenerated. Three cases showed degenerative tendencies, another three one degeneration tendencies and simultaneously regeneration, one case fully resisted degeneration tendencies (retention) and two cases regenerated. Further, this systematic review provides an overview of organizational and external conditions, non-/democratic or non-/participative practices and psychological phenomena that contribute to the degeneration, regeneration, or resistance to degeneration (i.e., retention). The described examples of such practices may help practitioners to implement and maintain democratic structures and processes in contemporary organizations.

[Validation of a German-Language Version of the Multidimensional Offline and Online Peer Victimization Scale (MOOPV) in Adolescent Students]. / Validierung der deutschsprachigen Version der Multidimensional Offline and Online Peer Victimization Scale (MOOPV) für Jugendliche an einer Schülerstichprobe.

Peer victimisation (PV) in childhood and adolescence can come along with psychological stress through the life span. Even though there exist a large number of questionnaires that measure PV, evidence of the use is often missing. Particularly instruments for capturing cyberbullying lack psychometric calculations such as factor analysis for investigating scales and data on validity and reliability. An exception constitutes the Multidimensional Offline and Online Peer Victimization Scale (MOOPV) of Sumter et al., which is only available in Dutch. This questionnaire is not medium-specifically designed, has been psychometrically properly explored, and differentiates between direct and indirect as well as online and offline PV. The present study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the German version of the Multidimensional Offline and Online Peer Victimization Scale (MOOPV). The factor structure, validity and reliability was examined in a sample of 777 pupils aged 10-20. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original four-factor model. The scales direct offline, indirect offline, direct online, and indirect online demonstrated high internal reliability and construct validity. The MOOPV can be used as a validated instrument in research and practice to capture PV in childhood and adolescence.

Exhausted through client interaction-Detached concern profiles as an emotional resource over time?

OBJECTIVE: To identify long-term profiles of Detached Concern (DC), based on its core dimensions detachment (D) and empathic concern (C), and to determine their association with burnout among human service professionals. METHOD: Self-reported data from healthcare, teaching and social professionals (N = 108) were collected in 3-waves over an 8-month period. Latent profile analysis and analysis of covariance for repeated measures were applied. RESULTS: Five relatively stable longitudinal DC profiles emerged: (1) 'detached' (high D-low C; 33%); (2) 'empathic' (high C-moderate D; 31%); (3) 'balanced' (high D-high C; 21%); (4) 'boundless' (high C-low D, curvilinear trend; 8%); (5) 'moderately uninvolved' (low C-moderate D, increasing; 7%). Findings revealed profile differences based on gender (p < 0.05; χ2(4) = 9.73) and work experience (F [4, 103] = 3.26, p < .05). Differences could also be found for emotional exhaustion (F [4, 101] = 6.34, p < .001). The lowest emotional exhaustion over time occurred among balanced professionals. A stable or increasing risk of exhaustion over time was found in particular among profiles with moderate-to-low levels of detachment. CONCLUSION: A balanced DC protects professionals' mental health because it is associated with the lowest levels of emotional exhaustion over time among the distinct DC profiles. Findings provide evidence-based information for education and health-promoting interventions and contribute to self-awareness of the strengths and risks of DC and burnout for human service organisations and professionals.

[The Impact of Risk Factors and Effective Factors on Success in Crisis Intervention for Children and Adolescents]. / Der Einfluss von Risiko- und Wirkfaktoren auf den Erfolg in der Krisenintervention für Kinder und Jugendliche.

The Impact of Risk Factors and Effective Factors on Success in Crisis Intervention for Children and Adolescents This article focuses on the evaluation of (inpatient) crisis interventions for children and adolescents, who can be admitted into the residential area of the KIZ for up to eight weeks in order to provide acute protection against massive violence, neglect or family conflicts in emergency situations. How successful the crisis intervention is or can be depends on various factors that have been worked out in this study. Various factors have an impact on success in crisis intervention; above all the participation, a good relationship and/or cooperation with the Counselors in the Crisis Intervention Center contribute to a great success. Restoring their own possibilities for action after a massive crisis, the strengthening of self-efficacy in crisis intervention must be considered critically. The young clients see little change here. The crisis intervention must therefore not only focus on its most important function, protection and security, but also on the strengthening of self-esteem and a positive sense of coherence as part of the crisis intervention.

Measuring distributed leadership agency in a hospital context.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate an instrument that can measure distributed leadership (DL) as employees' active participation in DL tasks. The authors designate this as the distributed leadership agency (DLA). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected throughout all departments and occupational groups at a merged centralized hospital setting in Denmark. A total of 1,774 employees from 24 hospital departments and 16 occupational groups completed our survey. Structural equation model and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to identify appropriate items and a test for measurement invariance, predictive, discriminant and convergent validity, and ANOVAs were applied to analyse group differences in DLA. Findings The identified unidimensional questionnaire consists of seven items, as it is different from, but associated with, empowering leadership, organizational influence, attitude to participation and trust in management. As theoretically predicted, DLA is positively related to self-efficacy, job satisfaction and innovative behaviour. Chief physicians, permanent employees and employee representatives scored higher on the scale than the rest of their respective counterparts. Practical implications The survey offers a method to assess a distribution of leadership agency in hospital organizations. Such assessment may provide a basis for organizational and leadership development. Originality/value The present study provides a reliable and valid quantitative instrument that measures how much employees at all hierarchical levels are involved in concrete leadership activities in the hospital context. Taking a normative perspective the authors could show that DL - measured with the DLA-questionnaire - has positive effects on employees' behaviour.

Quality of life, coach behaviour and competitive anxiety in Winter Youth Olympic Games participants.

BACKGROUND: To ensure the highest technical performance, speed, safety, excellent control and to improve competitive performance, a successful regulation of competitive anxiety is necessary. Therefore, it seems crucial to identify factors influencing competitive anxiety of adolescent athletes. Research suggests that people reporting high quality of life are more capable to cope with stressful and challenging situations than others. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of quality of life, the involvement of parents in sports career and coach's leadership behaviour on competitive anxiety in Winter Youth Olympic Games participants. METHODS: During the first Winter Youth Olympic Games 2012 in Innsbruck/Austria, 662 (316 women) participants completed questionnaires and single items to assess quality of life, coach's leadership behaviour, parental involvement in sports career and competitive anxiety. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis revealed positive influences of high quality of life and useful coach instruction on competitive anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between quality of life, coach behaviour and competitive anxiety in young elite athletes competing at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games should be considered in long-term programmes for reducing competitive stress.