Now showing 1 - 10 of 62
  • Publication
    Efficacy of psychological interventions for selective mutism in children: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
    (Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2021-11)
    Steains, Sophie Y
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    Background: Selective mutism is a rare childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a consistent failure to speak in certain social situations where speech is expected, despite fluent speech in other situations. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the efficacy of psychological interventions for selective mutism in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
    Methods: Five RCTs with a total of 233 participants were analysed using a randomeffects model. A quality assessment of the included studies revealed that psychometrically sound measures and treatment manuals were used across all studies.
    Results: The results of the analyses showed psychological interventions to be more effective than no treatment, with the overall weighted effect size of g = 0.87, indicating a large mean treatment effect. This effect did not significantly differ with whether only selective mutism specific or nonselective mutism specific measures were included in the analysis.
    Conclusions: These findings provide support for the efficacy of psychological treatment for selective mutism. Future research could examine the effects of the successful treatments identified in this meta-analysis when compared with a psychological placebo or another bona fide treatment.
  • Publication
    Social and emotional competencies as predictors of student engagement in youth: a cross-cultural multilevel study
    (Routledge, 2023)
    Santos, Anabela Caetano
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    Arriaga, Patrícia
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    Daniel, João R
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    Cefai, Carmel
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    Melo, Márcia H S
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    Psyllou, Agoritsa
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    Shieh, Jin-Jy
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    Furtado, Crispiniano
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    David, Celso H
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    Azevedo, Manecas C
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    Andreou, Eleni
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    Simões, Celeste

    Student engagement research in university students has been scarce, despite its major positive role on performance, degree completion and mental health. Social and emotional competencies, which are currently called twenty-first-century skills, exert some impact on student engagement in youth. Since engagement is cultural-sensitive, individual (social and emotional competencies) and cross-cultural (human developmental index and unemployment rate) characteristics were examined in association with student engagement in youth. This study included 2,092 participants from nine countries/regions, aged between 17 and 27 years (M = 21.52, SD = 2.27), mostly cisgender woman (n = 1,035, 68.7%) and undergraduate (n = 1,401, 96.2%). Data were collected using a cross-sectional online survey that included the Student Engagement Scale, the Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire, and the prosocial behaviour/resources subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multilevel-models showed that social and emotional competencies were relevant predictors of student engagement independently of the country-level variables. Moreover, student engagement varied with country/region human development and unemployment rate, with students from higher developed countries/regions and lowered unemployment reporting lower engagement. This study reinforces the need to implement evidence-based social and emotional learning programmes in universities worldwide, as well as public policies that can influence engagement and protect youth.

  • Publication
    Effects of Meeting Leader Training on Meeting Attendees
    (Association of Leadership Educators, Inc, 2021-01)
    Schuleigh, Vivien E
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    This study assessed the effectiveness of training leaders in behaviors that satisfy meeting attendees’ psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Three managers who regularly lead meetings with their work-groups participated in the study. The study used a research design of multiple baselines across groups and began with baselines ranging over three to five meetings. Group leaders then received a session of behavioral skills training with a role-play component, followed by post-training assessment over three to five meetings. The final assessment occurred one month later. Leaders reported the number of recommended leader behaviors they used prior to training and at subsequent meetings. Group members anonymously completed ratings of (1) the extent of their psychological need satisfaction, (2) their satisfaction with each meeting, and (3) how productive each meeting was. Meeting leaders showed significantly more use of the recommended behaviors after training than before training. Member ratings indicated a significant increase in need satisfaction, satisfaction with meetings, and meeting productivity after the training of their leader. Significant positive effects remained at a one-month follow-up. The findings show that training leaders in needs-focused behaviors to use in running meetings can be used to satisfy attendee-needs and to improve meeting satisfaction and productivity.
  • Publication
    How Team Emotional Intelligence Connects to Task Performance: A Network Approach
    (Sage Publications, Inc, 2020-08-01)
    Zhang, Hui-Hua
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    Ding, Cody
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    Li, Rui
    Drawing on a social network analysis, we examined the role of social network structure (i.e., friendship network density) as a mediating factor linking team average emotional intelligence (EI) with team task performance and how this relationship is influenced by intrateam trust. The results from 97 teams (466 team members) working on student projects in a business university over a semester indicated that teams with higher average EI exhibit a higher density of friendship networks and better team task performance in contexts characterized by higher intrateam trust. The study increases our understanding of the mechanism through which EI at the team level may affect team performance and provides new insights into how team managers and members might enhance the effectiveness of project teams.
  • Publication
    The connection between mindfulness and flow: A meta-analysis
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2023-01) ;
    This meta-analysis consolidated findings on the relationship between mindfulness and flow. A weighted meta-analytic effect size of r = 0.38, p = .0001, based on 17 studies comprising 10,102 individuals, indicated that greater mindfulness is associated with higher levels of flow. Mindfulness was more strongly associated with dispositional, or trait, flow than with state flow. Both mindfulness and flow have connections with a variety of beneficial outcomes. A better understanding of synergistic relationships between the two characteristics may provide a foundation for further theoretical development and has practical implications for programs intended to facilitate positive outcomes.
  • Publication
    Psychological interventions intended to increase use of contraception decrease unintended pregnancies: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
    (University of New England, 2021-11-16) ; ; ;
    Swain, Le'Sa
    Despite innovations in contraceptive methods, unintended pregnancies remain common. Researchers have examined psychological approaches to decrease unintended pregnancies through contraceptive use. Research findings on the effects of these psychological approaches show conflicting evidence. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify the impact of these psychological interventions on unintended pregnancies. Twenty-five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 29,479 participants were analysed. Psychological interventions intended to increase the use of contraceptive methods were efficacious compared to control conditions, odds ratio for pregnancy in the intervention condition = 0.83. The results also showed that the longer an intervention’s follow-up period was, the less the prevention effect. Quality assessment of included studies indicated that all used a treatment manual and reported attrition. It also showed that most studies reported the reasons for drop-out and assessed the facilitator’s adherence to the intervention protocol. Altogether, these results support the efficacy of psychological interventions aimed at preventing unintended pregnancy thought contraceptive use.
  • Publication
    Cultural responsiveness for mental health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients: a concept analysis
    Objective: An analysis of the literature was conducted to clearly define the meaning of cultural responsiveness as it applies to the work of mental health practitioners who engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

    Method: This concept analysis utilised Rogers' (2000) protocol, seeking to understand the key terms defining cultural responsiveness. A search of databases yielded a sample of 13 articles for analysis after screening and quality assessment.

    Results: Five major themes emerged, which were considered definitive of cultural responsiveness: Knowledge, Inclusive Relationships, Cultural Respect, Social Justice/ Human Rights, and Self-Reflection.

    Conclusion: These themes are presented as core values or components of culturally responsive mental health services with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. The implications for practitioner professional development and the education of students within mental health disciplines are also discussed.
  • Publication
    Friendship network mechanisms linking emotional intelligence and subjective well-being: Beyond a mediation model
    (Psychology Press, 2020-07-03)
    Zhang, Hui-Hua
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    Li, Rui
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    This study examined whether the status (central or peripheral position) of individuals in a friendship network and the quality of a friendship network represent key mechanisms in determining how emotional intelligence is associated with subjective well-being. Using data collected from 217 Chinese senior undergraduates, we found that the interaction of the quality of a friendship network and a peripheral position in a friendship network mediated relations of emotional intelligence with subjective well-being. Although a central position in a friendship network did not interact with the quality of a friendship network, it did mediate the relations of emotional intelligence with subjective well-being on its own. The findings expand the growing body of research findings on the association between emotional intelligence and subjective well-being by investigating the role of friendship networks and highlight the importance of a network perspective in understanding the association.
  • Publication
    The Relationship Between Self-Determination and Positive Personality Characteristics
    (University of New England, 2022-02-03) ; ;

    The aim of this thesis was to examine the relationship between self-determination, as described by Self-Determination Theory, with positive personality characteristics. An associated aim was to test whether positive affect might be a mediator in these relationships. The Broaden and Build Theory presents a foundation for the expectation that positive affect might be a connection between greater self-determination and a higher level of positive characteristics.

    Five studies (reported in four separate manuscripts in journal article format) comprised the program of research. Study 1 was a quantitative meta-analysis of correlational effect sizes between intrinsic motivation and positive and negative affect reported in a number of studies. Study 2 was a quantitative meta-analysis of correlational effect sizes between basic need satisfaction and positive and negative affect found in a number of studies. Study 3 had two components. First, a correlational analysis examined the relationships between intrinsic motivation, positive affect, and positive personality characteristics, including self-compassion, empathy, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and character strengths" and also assessed whether positive affect was a mediator in the relationships between intrinsic motivation and the positive characteristics. The second component of the study was an experimental intervention, which aimed to increase intrinsic motivation and assessed the resulting impact on positive affect and self-compassion, a selected positive personality characteristic. Study 4 included a correlational analysis, which examined the relationships between basic needs satisfaction, positive affect, and positive personality characteristics" and also assessed whether positive affect might be a mediator in the relationships between basic needs satisfaction and positive personality characteristics. Study 5 consisted of an experimental intervention, which aimed to increase basic need satisfaction and assessed the impact of this on positive affect and selfefficacy, a selected positive personality characteristic.

    The results across studies suggested that greater self-determination, represented by intrinsic motivation and basic needs satisfaction, is related to a higher level of positive personality characteristics, and that positive affect is a mediator in this relationship. Further, the experimental components of the studies provided some evidence of a causal relationship between intrinsic motivation and self-compassion, and basic need satisfaction and self-efficacy, with positive affect being a mediator in these relationships. This set of studies advances theoretical understanding of Self-Determination Theory and adds to empirical findings regarding self-determination, positive affect, and positive psychological outcomes. The findings have implications for positive psychology interventions, specifically for those focused on facilitating positive personality characteristics.

  • Publication
    Using Signature Strengths to Increase Happiness at Work
    Use of signature strengths at work may increase happiness. Signature strengths are the character strengths most prominent in an individual and include strengths in the categories of wisdom and knowledge, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Greater use of signature strengths is associated with happiness and well-being, as well as work-related outcomes such as a greater perception of the meaningfulness of work, more engagement with work, greater work satisfaction, better organizational citizenship behavior, better work performance, and lower job stress. The Values in Action Inventory is commonly used to help individuals identify their signature strengths. Intervention studies examining the effect of signature strength training indicate that assisting employees identify their strengths and encouraging them to use their signature strengths can lead to increased happiness. Across studies examining the outcomes of signature character-strength interventions compared to control conditions with various types of employees, signature strengths training increased the use of signature strengths, and resulted in increased positive affect and life satisfaction. Future signature strengths training programs might investigate the benefits of specific aspects of programs for different types of workplaces and employees and examine the usefulness of incorporating additional elements, such as emotional intelligence training, into signature strengths development programs.