Level of Effort and Economic Dishonesty: Are Expectations Relevant?

Some research has shown that expectations modulate people's economic dishonesty. These studies have allowed their participants to precisely establish the dishonest extra financial gain, without threatening their image of honesty. In this article, we show that in situations where our economic dishonesty is driven by hard-to-quantify motivators such as level of effort, it is difficult to change the categorization of (dishonest) judgments. Faced with this ambiguity, people make decisions guided by moral intuitions that are not conditioned by changing expectations. We carried out three studies (one single-group study and two experimental between-subjects studies) in which we tested whether the level of deception varies when manipulating expectations of transparency/privacy and dishonesty/honesty. Our results show that the levels of dishonesty remain low, regardless of the participants' expectations. When our decisions are motivated by more ambiguous factors, in terms of being able to justify ourselves, our economic dishonesty becomes more rigidly directed toward the dictates of our moral intuitions.

Positive Adolescent Development: Effects of a Psychosocial Intervention Program in a Rural Setting.

The Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach identifies adolescents as resources to be empowered rather than problems to be solved. All adolescents have strengths and will fully develop when these strengths are integrated with healthy resources in the diverse environments where they live and interact. The objective of this study was twofold: (1) to present the Positive Development Program for Adolescents living in rural areas (DPAR Program) and (2) to pilot test the intervention program. The DPAR program was evaluated using a repeated-measures design before and after the intervention, with an intervention group and a control group. The sample consisted of 176 adolescents between 11 and 15 years old (M = 12.89, SD = 0.90) who belonged to two high schools with similar characteristics located in rural settings. A mixed-design analysis of variance was performed for each dependent variable. Results showed a significant increase in most of the study variables (self-esteem, self-efficacy, group identity, empathy, relational skills, assertiveness, and conflict resolution) and a significant decrease in alexithymia, as well as better academic performance. All this evidence indicates that the DPAR program is effective in promoting positive adolescent development and addresses the lack of programs based on the PYD approach in rural areas.

Association Between Group Identification at School and Positive Youth Development: Moderating Role of Rural and Urban Contexts.

These studies are framed within Social Identity Theory and the Positive Youth Development approach. The aim is: (1) to analyze the relationship between group identification at school and key positive development variables (such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, assertiveness, empathy, alexithymia, satisfaction with life, and academic performance); and (2) examine the moderator role of context (rural or urban areas of residence) and sex in these relationships. The samples were composed of 246 adolescents from a rural context (Study 1) and 156 students from rural and urban contexts (Study 2). As proposed in our hypotheses, the results show statistically significant relationships between group identification and all the variables considered, higher group identification with the class in the rural context, and a moderator role of the context in the relationships between group identification and satisfaction with life, assertiveness, and empathy. These results are relevant for designing and implementing psychoeducational programs to promote positive youth development in both rural and urban contexts.

Method effects associated with negatively and positively worded items on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12): results from a cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of Catalonian workers.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies into the factorial structure of the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) have shown that it was best represented by a single substantive factor when method effects associated with negatively worded (NW) items are considered. The purpose of the present study was to examine the presence of method effects, and their relationships with demographic covariates, associated with positively worded (PW) and/or NW items. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, observational study to compare a comprehensive set of confirmatory factor models, including method effects associated with PW and/or NW items with GHQ-12 responses. SETTING: Representative sample of all employees living in Catalonia (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: 3050 participants (44.6% women) who responded the Second Catalonian Survey of Working Conditions. RESULTS: A confirmatory factor analysis showed that the best fitting model was a unidimensional model with two additional uncorrelated method factors associated with PW and NW items. Furthermore, structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that method effects were differentially related to both the sex and age of the respondents. CONCLUSION: Individual differences related to sex and age can help to identify respondents who are prone to answering PW and NW items differently. Consequently, it is desirable that both the constructs of interest as well as the effects of method factors are considered in SEM models as a means of avoiding the drawing of inaccurate conclusions about the relationships between the substantive factors.

Effects of ultrasound on anxiety and psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy.

Ultrasound is a common medical care procedure during pregnancy which has psychological implications. Research has found that it reduces the mother's level of anxiety, but there is not enough literature on the effects of the ultrasound in relation to the trimester it is done (first, second, and third) and the effects on the psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the ultrasound in the first, second, and third trimester on anxiety and variables related to psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy. A pre-post intervention design was used. Participants were 111 pregnant women attending a prenatal diagnosis ultrasound scan procedure, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) were used to measure anxiety and psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy, respectively. Previous history was obtained through an interview. Results indicated that anxiety diminished after the ultrasound regardless of the trimester in which the ultrasound took place. However, first trimester ultrasound showed an additional benefit favoring the mother's psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy, identification with the motherhood role, and the quality of the relationship with the partner. These findings suggest that in addition to the medical value of the ultrasound, it also has an important psychological value that has to be considered in order to guarantee an integral care of the pregnant women, especially in the first trimester.

Wording effects and the factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).

The 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) has become a popular screening instrument with which to measure general psychological health in different settings. Previous studies into the factorial structure of the GHQ-12 have mainly supported multifactor solutions, and only a few recent works have shown that the GHQ-12 was best represented by a single substantive factor when method effects associated with negatively worded items were considered. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to compare competing measurement models from previous research, including correlated traits-correlated methods and correlated traits-correlated uniquenesses approaches, to obtain further evidence about the factorial structure of the GHQ-12. This goal was achieved with data from 3,050 participants who completed the GHQ-12 included in the Catalonian Survey of Working Conditions (Catalonian Labor Relations and Quality of Work Department, 2012). The results showed additional evidence that the GHQ-12 has a unidimensional structure after controlling for method effects associated with negatively worded items. Furthermore, we found evidence for our hypothesis about the spurious nature of the 3-factor solution in Graetz's (1991) model after comparing its fit with that found for alternative models resulting from different combinations of the negatively worded items. An implication of our results is that future research about the factor structure of the GHQ-12 should take method effects associated with negative wording into account in order to avoid reaching inaccurate conclusions about its dimensionality.

Modeling offenses among motorcyclists involved in crashes in Spain.

In relative terms, Spanish motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in crashes than other drivers and this tendency is constantly increasing. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that are related to being an offender in motorcycle accidents. A binary logit model is used to differentiate between offender and non-offender motorcyclists. A motorcyclist was considered to be offender when s/he had committed at least one traffic offense at the moment previous to the crash. The analysis is based on the official accident database of the Spanish general directorate of traffic (DGT) for the 2003-2008 time period. A number of explanatory variables including motorcyclist characteristics and environmental factors have been evaluated. The results suggest that inexperienced, older females, not using helmets, absent-minded and non-fatigued riders are more likely to be offenders. Moreover, riding during the night, on weekends, for leisure purposes and along roads in perfect condition, mainly on curves, predict offenses among motorcyclists. The findings of this study are expected to be useful in developing traffic policy decisions in order to improve motorcyclist safety.

Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on psychological distress, well-being, and maternal self-efficacy in breast-feeding mothers: results of a pilot study.

Several pilot studies have provided evidence that mindfulness-based intervention is beneficial during pregnancy, yet its effects in mothers during the early parenting period are unknown. The purpose of the present pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention in breast-feeding mothers. We developed and tested an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention aimed at improving maternal self-efficacy, mindfulness, self-compassion, satisfaction with life, and subjective happiness, and at reducing psychological distress. A randomized controlled, between-groups design was used with treatment and control groups (n = 26) and pretest and posttest measures. ANCOVA results indicated that, compared to the control group, mothers in the treatment group scored significantly higher on maternal self-efficacy, some dimensions of mindfulness (observing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity), and self-compassion (self-kindness, mindfulness, over-identification, and total self-compassion). In addition, mothers who received the treatment exhibited significantly less anxiety, stress, and psychological distress. The results supported previous research findings about the benefits of mindfulness-based intervention in women from the perinatal and postpartum periods through the early parenting period. Additional research is needed to validate our findings in non-breast-feeding mothers and to examine the intervention's indirect benefits in terms of family relationships and child development.

Efectos de interacción en la predicción del abandono en los estudios de Psicología / Interaction effects in the prediction of university drop-out for psychology students

Numerosos trabajos han analizado el abandono de los estudios universitarios pero es escasa la información sobre la incidencia y los determinantes de este fenómeno en la titulación de Psicología. En este estudio se analiza la capacidad predictora sobre el abandono de un conjunto de variables sociodemográficas y educativas de los estudiantes que ingresaron en esta titulación en los años 2000 y 2001 en la Universidad de Valencia (N=785). Este análisis se basó en la comparación de modelos de regresión logística anidados, en que el modelo de partida incluía los efectos de interacción de primer orden de las variables consideradas. Como resultado más novedoso respecto a estudios previos, se constata que en la predicción del abandono aparece un efecto moderador de la modalidad de bachillerato cursada, tanto sobre la nota de acceso, como sobre el orden de preferencia manifestado en la preinscripción a la universidad. Estos resultados permiten plantear algunas hipótesis acerca de las consecuencias derivadas de la adscripción de la titulación de Psicología a la rama de Ciencias de la Salud y el consiguiente cambio en el tipo de formación requerida para acceder a esta titulación (AU)

Although there have been a number of studies which have analysed university dropout, there is little information on the incidence and determinants of this phenomenon in the degree of Psychology. In this study, we analyze the capacity of a set of sociodemographic and educational variables to predict university dropout. The data came from the students admitted to this degree at the University of Valencia in 2000 and 2001 (N = 785). The analysis was based on the comparison of nested logistic regression models in which the starting model included first order interaction effects of the variables under consideration. Compared to previous studies in this area, the most innovative result in the prediction of university dropout is the moderator effect of the high school curriculum on both the students high school average, and on the order of preference stated in the university enrolment. These results allow us to raise some hypotheses about the consequences of assigning the degree of Psychology to the branch of Health Sciences and the subsequent change in the type of training required to gain access to this degree (AU)

Modelos lineales y no lineales en la explicación de la siniestrabilidad laboral / Linear and non linear models explaining occupational safety

En la investigación empírica sobre siniestralidad laboral los datos son usualmente recogidos bajo la forma de recuentos de sucesos que ocurren durante un período de tiempo definido. A menudo estas variables de recuento son tratadas como si fueran de naturaleza continua y analizadas mediante el Modelo de Regresión Lineal. Ante el incumplimiento de los supuestos de este modelo, una solución usual es la aplicación de transformaciones sobre la variable criterio. Una solución alternativa a estas transformaciones, teóricamente más adecuada ya que asume una distribución de Poisson de la variable recuento, consiste en la aplicación de un modelo de regresión no lineal: el Modelo de Regresión de Poisson. En este trabajo se comparan los resultados obtenidos mediante las tres aproximaciones anteriores a partir de una muestra de 483 trabajadores, incidiendo en las implicaciones prácticas de estos resultados

Empirical research on occupational accidents frequently analyzes counts data over a specific period of time. These variables are often treated as if they were continuous and are analyzed using a Linear Regression Model. When this model’s assumptions are violated, the usual solution is to transform the criteria variable. A third possibility, theoretically more sound because it assumes a Poisson distribution for the counts variable, would be to use Non Linear Poisson Regression Models. This paper compares the results obtained using the three aforementioned methodological approaches with a sample of 483 workers, and discusses the practical implications of these findings

Eating behaviour by gender: an alternative methodological approach for the analysis of categorical data / Comportamiento alimentario por sexos: un enfoque metodológico alternativo para el análisis de datos categóricos

This study offers relatively new methodological tools for an accurate and exhaustive analysis of categorical data, such as those from nominal and ordinal scales usually reported by means of contingency tables. The data about change in dieting status for men and women collected by Heatherton et al. (1997) in their longitudinal study of eating behavior, are reanalyzed now through an alternative approach, consisting of several applications derived from Generalized Linear Models. These techniques can result highly useful for a desirable increase in the rate of repeated measures or panel works, whose data have been in most occasions missanalyzed so far because of an abusive rest on the classic statistical methods. A very interesting feature observed throughout this modeling approach is the different patterns of eating behavior by gender; so the same models must not be applied to the analysis of women’s and men’s responses, on pain of losing crucial information (AU)

En este artículo se proponen instrumentos metodológicos relativamente nuevos para analizar datos categóricos con precisión y exhaustividad, como los datos procedentes de escalas nominales y ordinales que usualmente se presentan en tablas de contingencia. Heatherton y otros (1997), en su estudio longitudinal sobre comportamiento alimentario, recogieron datos sobre cambio en hábitos de dieta que se reanalizan ahora desde un enfoque alternativo, compuesto de varias aplicaciones derivadas de los Modelos Lineales Generalizados. Estas técnicas pueden resultar muy útiles de cara al deseable incremento en el número de trabajos con medidas repetidas y diseños de panel, cuyos datos han sido en muchas ocasiones pobremente analizados debido sobre todo al abusivo recurso a los métodos estadísticos clásicos. Un rasgo muy interesante observado gracias a este enfoque de modelado es la existencia de diferentes patrones de conducta alimentaria según sexos, por lo que modelos idénticos no deberían aplicarse al análisis de las repuestas de hombre y de mujeres, so pena de perder información importante (AU)