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We examined the rate of depression among 110 parents of children with disabilities and tested a model to determine the unique factors associated with parental depression. Consenting parents completed measures [...]

Although much is known about the risks to health and well-being that occur among family caregivers of children with disability, little is known about the unique group of caregivers of [...]

The Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised Scale (SPSI-R) has been shown to be a reliable and valid self-report measure of social problem-solving abilities. In busy medical and rehabilitation settings, a brief and efficient screening version with psychometric properties similar to the SPSI-R would have numerous benefits including decreased patient and caregiver assessment burden and administration/ scoring time. Thus, the aim of the current study was to identify items from the SPSI-R that would provide for a more efficient assessment of global social problem-solving abilities. This study consisted of three independent samples: 121 persons in low-vision rehabilitation (M age=71 years old, SD=15.53), 301 persons living with diabetes mellitus (M age=58, and SD = 14.85), and 131 family caregivers of persons with severe disabilities (M age = 56 years old, SD = 12.15). All persons completed a version of the SPSI-R, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Using Rasch scaling of the SPSI-R short-form, we identified a subset of 10 items that reflected the five-component model of social problem solving. The 10 items were separately validated on the sample of persons living with diabetes mellitus and the sample of family caregivers of persons with severe disabilities. Results indicate that the efficient 10-item version, analyzed separately for all three samples, demonstrated good reliability and validity characteristics similar to the established SPSI-R short form. The 10-item version of the SPSI-R represents a brief, effective way in which clinicians and researchers in busy health care settings can quickly assess global problem-solving abilities and identify those persons at-risk for complicated adjustment. Implications for the assessment of social problem-solving abilities are discussed. Keywords: social problem solving; rehabilitation; screening; health conditions; medical settings

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.03.006 Byline: Timothy R. Elliott (a), Jack W. Berry (b), Joan S. Grant (b) Abstract: To examine the effectiveness of an individualized problem-solving intervention provided to family caregivers of women living with severe disabilities. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Educational Psychology, 4225 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845-4225, USA (b) University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA Article History: Received 19 March 2008; Revised 4 March 2009; Accepted 16 March 2009

Our objective was to examine the effectiveness of a brief individualized problem-solving intervention for family with caregivers of persons with recent-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). Family caregivers were randomly assigned to a usual care control group (N = 30) or an intervention group (N = 30) in which participants were to receive three face-to-face problem-solving training sessions (PST), educational materials, and telephone contacts as requested over the first year of caregiving. The participants included 60 caregivers (49 women, 11 men). The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised, the Inventory to Diagnose Depression, and the SF-36 were administered at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Caregivers in the intervention group reported a significant decrease in dysfunctional problem-solving styles scores over time; there were no observable effects for PST on caregiver depression. There was also some indication that the intervention had beneficial effects on caregiver social and physical functioning. An intervention for new caregivers featuring brief PST, education, and contact may be associated with lower dysfunctional problem-solving styles over time and may promote certain aspects of caregiver quality of life. We also discuss limitations and implications of the present study. Keywords: caregiver; randomized controlled trial; spinal cord injury; problem solving

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of an individualized problem-solving intervention delivered in videoconferencing sessions with family caregivers of persons living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and possible contagion effects on care recipients. Design: Family caregivers were randomly assigned to an education-only control group or an intervention group in which participants received problem-solving training (PST) in monthly videoconference session for a year. Participants: Sixty-one caregivers (54 women, 7 men) and their care recipients (40 men, 21 women) consented to participate. Main outcome measures: The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised was administered to caregivers. Caregivers and care recipients completed the Inventory to Diagnose Depression, the SF-36 and the Satisfaction with Life scale at pre-treatment, 6 months and 12 months. Results: Twenty-eight caregivers discontinued the study and their follow-up data were unavailable at the final assessment. Older caregivers were more likely than younger caregivers to remain in the study. Intent-to-treat analyses projected a significant decrease in depression among caregivers receiving PST; efficacy analyses indicated this effect was pronounced at the 6th month assessment. ITT analyses and efficacy analyses revealed that care recipients of caregivers receiving PST reported gains in social functioning over time. Conclusions: Community-based, telehealth interventions may benefit family caregivers and their care recipients, but the mechanisms of these effects are unclear. Attrition and sample issues should be considered in future studies with these populations. Keywords: Caregiver Randomized controlled trial Spinal cord injury Telehealth Problem-solving

The authors support the assertion that counseling psychology expertise should be present at all levels of therapeutic activity that may benefit persons who live with chronic health conditions. They consider the impact of the increasing rates of chronic health conditions on health care systems, society, and health service professions. In order for the field to have an influential role in service delivery and policy formation that benefit individuals with chronic health conditions, the authors offer four recommendations: (a) Participate in, promote, and reward interdisciplinary research and service; (b) conduct, promote, and reward policy-relevant research programs; (c) promote and utilize participatory research methods; and (d) consider the implications of these activities for our training programs.

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2007.00171.x Byline: Siu-kuen Azor Hui (a1), Cynthia R. Lindsey (b), Timothy R. Elliott (c) Abstract: Marital commitment between spouses has been found to be an important predictor of successful marriages. Beliefs about marital commitment among never-married young adults are of interest because of their probable influence on subsequent marital behaviors. The current study examined social-cognitive processes; specifically, religiousness, locus-of-control beliefs, and gender role attitudes, in the prediction of marital commitment beliefs among 294 undergraduate never-married women. We found that higher religiousness and lower chance locus of control were significantly correlated with stronger marital commitment beliefs. Multiple regression analyses revealed that religiousness was the best predictor of marital commitment beliefs in this sample. Social learning processes are implicated in the development of marital commitment beliefs. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed. Author Affiliation: (a)University of Alabama at Birmingham (b)Northwestern State University of Louisiana (c)Texas A & M University Article note: (1) Siu-kuen Azor Hui, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, CH415, 1530 3rd Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35294. E-mail: shui@uab.edu

Study on HIV medication adherence using a social problem-solving framework is examined.

Clinical psychology is positioned to play key roles in mental and physical health issues of 21st century America. In this regard, however, the present Boulder model of educating clinical psychologists is not preparing our graduates to meet the diverse demands of either today's or tomorrow's marketplaces. Accordingly. we introduce a new, four level 'matrix model' for the education of future clinical psychologists. The core focus of the proposed matrix model is on the weaknesses and strengths of people in their personalities and their environments. Moreover, this matrix model operates at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and societal-community levels of analyses. The details and implications of this proposed educational curriculum are described. Keywords: Boulder model: clinical psychology graduate education; four level matrix model

Self-report measures of social problem solving abilities have yet to be associated with objective problem solving performance in any consistent manner. In the present study, we investigated the relation of social problem solving abilities - as measured by the Social Problem Solving Skills Inventory - Revised (SPSI-R [Maydeu-Olivares, A. & D'Zurilla, T. J. (1996). A factor analytic study of the Social Problem Solving Inventory: an integration of theory and data. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20, 115-133]) to performance on a structured problem solving task. Unlike previous studies, we examined the relation of problem solving skills to performance curves observed in repeated trials, while controlling for affective reactions to each trial. Using hierarchical modeling techniques, a negative problem orientation was significantly predictive of performance and this effect was not mediated by negative affectivity. Results are discussed as they pertain to contemporary models of social problem solving.

Psychotherapists are susceptible to prevailing negative stereotypes that exist in society at large. Inappropriate negative attitudes toward depressed and ill patients can adversely affect interactions with such clients. The authors examined the reactions of psychologists to vignettes that described a client who emitted either depressed or nondepressed behavior and who varied in terms of cancer prognosis. Clinicians had negative mood reactions after reading the vignette of the depressed client; they also believed the depressed client possessed many undesirable personal attributes. Practicing psychologists are urged to reflect on their attitudes and beliefs so they do not negatively affect assessment and therapy services.

According to the revised social problem-solving model, problem solving skills should be associated with cognitive and behavioral attempts to solve or prevent personal problems. We reasoned that the Approach-Avoidance scale on the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner, 1988) measures problem-solving skills as defined in the model, and predicted that scores on this factor would be predictive of health-compromising behaviors among 96 undergraduate students. An aspect of the problem-orientation component would be predictive of global health perceptions. Ineffective problem-solving skills were associated with greater alcohol intake over a 2-week period, and with more sedentary leisure behavior on retrospective and prospective measures. Perceived control over emotions was predictive of health perceptions, as hypothesized. However, elements of problem solving were unrelated to tobacco use, illicit drug use, and exercise behaviors.

Lightsey's (1996) work on subjective well-being explores an important area of counseling psychology research. He identifies several psychological characteristics that he calls 'psychological resources' and links these with psychological and physical health. However, the study suffers from several weaknesses, including Lightsey's disregard for learning theory and his random use of isolated facts, correlational data, deterministic models and select variables

The articles included in this special issue have presented a balance of reviewing and synthesizing the literatures, translating what has been learned into guidance relevant to practice, and addressing future directions. This summary article briefly highlights some of the new contributions of the four topical articles and concludes that considerable work remains, particularly for counseling psychology, to continue to enhance the integration of these fields.

Social cognitive variables are salient factors in the prevention, development, and maintenance of health-related problems. These variables are of particular interest to counseling psychologists, as they are amenable to a variety of psychological interventions. We review several social-cognitive processes that have been studied in relation to behavioral health and health-related problems. We then discuss implications for assessment and theory-based interventions.

This article briefly discusses some circumscribed important areas where social and counseling psychology interface. Some of the historical routes of the interface are noted and the effect of this work is addressed. It is concluded that considerable progress has been made in translating social psychology research into counseling research and practice but that much more remains to be investigated. We note that most of the research and practice advances have come from social to counseling psychology. Counseling psychologists are encouraged to contribute to the interface and advance our general knowledge of human behavior. The article concludes by introducing the four companion articles in this special issue and the final summary article.

A group 20 experts came to a uniform conclusion that psychology has a positive future in public health care, with increasing applicabilities of psychology in health care. Psychologists should acquire new methodologies to compete in the market, and they should be informed about the changing health care systems. The experts are from different fields of practice and research on issues of training and public policy.

According to the social problem-solving model, a positive problem orientation wards off negative affect and promotes positive affect to enhance problem solving. It was hypothesized that the Problem-Solving Confidence and Personal Control factors on the Problem-Solving Inventory (Heppner, 1988) constitute facets of the problem orientation component; therefore, these variables Should be significantly associated with negative affect, positive affect, and psychological distress over time. In a series of studies, a positive problem orientation was prospectively associated with greater positive and lower negative affect under a variety of conditions. However, the relation of the problem orientation variables to distress appeared to be mediated by trait affectivity. Results are interpreted in light of the social problem-solving model, and implications for counseling are discussed.

In the work we present in this article, we examined the contaminating effects of trait negative affectivity (TNA) on the relations between social support and psychological distress among college undergraduates. In the first study, it was suspected that controlling for TNA would substantially alter the associations between social support (as measured by the Social Provisions Scale) and depression at the initial assessment and later with negative mood prior to a course examination. Actual results from cross-sectional hierarchical regression analyses revealed that controlling for TNA reduced - but did not nullify - associations between reassurance of worth support and depression. TNA did not mediate the relation of reliable alliance support to state NA measured 2 weeks later prior to a course examination. Finally, a second study controlling for TNA found reassurance of worth support remained a significant prospective predictor of depression during the week of final examinations. Results are integrated with theoretical and measurement issues in social support research.

The hypothesis that the appraisal of one's own ability to solve problems would moderate the effects of social support among two samples was tested. In the study, college students completed measures of depression, problem-solving appraisal, and social support. Although both predictor variables were significantly associated with depression, the 2 did not significantly interact in the prediction of depression. In the 2nd study, persons who had sustained severe physical disabilities completed the same independent measures and questionnaires of depression and psychosocial impairment. Problem-solving appraisal and social support were predictive of both criterion variables. The 2 independent variables significantly interacted in the prediction of psychosocial functioning. Results are discussed as they pertain to the effects of social support, with particular focus on persons who may have a higher frequency of contact with institutionalized and formal sources of support.

The effects of self-appraisal problem-solving ability and oral contraceptive use on ratings of menstrual pain were studied among 130 undergraduate women. Participants completed the Problem-Solving Inventory (Heppner, 1988) and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (Moos, 1984). Regression analyses indicated that oral contraceptives - which are often prescribed to relieve menstrual pain among college women - were not predictive of lower pain ratings. Problem-solving appraisal, however, was significantly predictive of pain. Ratings of effective personal control during problem solving were associated with lower ratings of premenstrual and menstrual pain. Results are discussed as they pertain to the study of psychological factors in menstruation, and to the study of problem solving and behavioral health.

The utility of different reality negotiation strategies among 57 persons who had traumatically acquired severe physical disabilities was examined. It was predicted that a sense of goal-directed determination ('agency'; Snyder, 1989) would predict lower depression and psychosocial impairment scores soon after injury. To meet the demands of rehabilitation and social integration, however, it was hypothesized that a sense of ability to find ways to meet goals ('pathways') would predict lower depression and psychosocial impairment among persons who had been disabled for a longer period. The expected interaction was significant in the prediction of psychosocial impairment but not of depression. The sense of pathways was predictive of impairment and depression regardless of the time since injury. Results suggest that in the reality negotiation process the different components of hope as defined by Snyder have salient effects on perceptions of ability to function in social capacities.

Tested predictions that assertiveness and social support would be significantly predictive of psychological adjustment. Furthermore, it was anticipated that assertiveness and certain types of social relationships would differentially interact to predict adjustment, since positive and negative effects of both variables have been noted in prior research. Trained raters interviewed 156 persons receiving either in-patient or out-patient care for cord injuries and administered measures of assertiveness, social support, depression and psychosocial impairment. Persons who reported a keen sense of responsibility for the welfare of another reported more depression and impairment. Persons reporting higher levels of support facilitating social integration and reassuring personal worth were less depressed. Several significant interactions between assertiveness and different social support relationships revealed beneficial and deleterious effects on depressive behavior and impairment secondary to the disability. Results are discussed as they advance theoretical understanding of the effects of assertiveness and social support. Implications for discriminate cue learning in assertion training for persons with physical disability are proposed.

Examined the interpersonal responses of persons engaged in dyadic interactions with confederates who enacted either depressed or socially appropriate roles and appeared either with or without a physical disability. Subject negative evaluations of confederates were indirectly obtained from a thought-listing measure. The overt behaviors of subjects were surreptitiously recorded on videotape and measures of verbal and nonverbal behavior were acquired. Subjects spoke less to the depressed targets and had significantly higher rates of negative evaluations of these persons. In addition, subjects gazed less at the depressed confederates. These effects were not moderated by target physical appearance. Findings are discussed as they relate to social models of depression and the stigmatizing effects of disability.

Although research has established that socially supportive relationships are important factors in psychological adjustment under stress, social support research has not examined the interaction between interpersonal variables and social support. Personal assertiveness in particular is one interpersonal variable that theoretically could enhance the beneficial aspects of social support. Data collected from two independent samples of college students in an urban setting provide evidence that personal assertiveness significantly augments specific types of social relationships to predict psychological symptoms under stressful conditions.

We examined the relations among problem-solving appraisal, self-reported study habits, and academic performance for 63 college students enrolled in a developmental course for academically unprepared students. The participants completed measures of self-appraised problem-solving ability and study habits. Indexes of academic ability and performance were also collected. Regression analyses revealed that problem-solving appraisal was significantly predictive of study habits and semester grade-point average. The results indicate that problem-solving appraisal is related to study habits and academic performance among academically at-risk students, and they suggest that problem-solving appraisal encompasses more than social skill.

Commentary writers vary in their agreement with the ideas presented in the C.R. Snyder and T.R. Elliott lead article (this issue, pp 1033-1054), but they share the view that clinical-counseling psychology already is in the midst of an evolution. There are two general camps to such commentaries. First, there are those who caution us to move slowly and carefully as we respond to the change-inducing forces. Second, there are those who see this time as one in which we should make bold moves in our field in response to the societal forces that we are encountering. We suggest that the lightning rod for potential changes in the field of clinical-counseling psychology must be a shared emphasis on our scientific heritage. Keywords: clinical--counseling psychology

The authors examined the relation of social problem-solving abilities to trajectories of adjustment of family caregivers in the initial year of their caregiving role. Persons who recently assumed the caregiver role for a family member with a recent-onset spinal cord injury completed measures of problem solving, depression, anxiety, and health during the inpatient rehabilitation program and at 3 other times throughout the year. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that negative problem orientation explained significant variation in the rates of change in caregiver depressive behavior, anxiety, and health complaints. Caregivers with a greater negative orientation were at risk to develop psychological and health problems at a significantly higher rate over the year. Implications for psychological interventions and health policy concerning the needs of family caregivers and their care recipients are discussed.

We examined the relation of self-appraised social problem-solving abilities and personality-disorder characteristics to the adjustment and compliance of persons with dual diagnoses in substance-abuse treatment. It was hypothesized that elements of the problem-orientation component would remain predictive of depressive behavior and distress after considering personality-disorder characteristics among 117 persons receiving inpatient-substance-abuse treatment. Furthermore, self-appraised problem-solving abilities were expected to predict the occurrence of 'dirty' drug and alcohol screens during treatment and compliance with the first scheduled community follow-up visit. Results supported predictions concerning the relation of problem-solving confidence to depressive behavior, distress, and substance-use screens; however, a paradoxical relation was observed between the problem-orientation variables and compliance with the first outpatient visit. The results are interpreted within the context of contemporary models of social problem solving and the implications for cognitive-behavioral assessment and intervention are considered. [C] 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 75-92, 2001. Keywords: social problem solving; dual diagnosis; personal disorder

Few studies have examined psychoanalytic constructs in the adjustment of individuals with physical disability. According to H. Kohut (1977), optimal adjustment during life transitions is contingent on the individual's capacity for maintaining and pursuing meaningful goals, which reflects a stable sense of self. A series of studies was conducted to determine if goal instability would predict adjustment and health following disability. Goal instability was predictive of depressive behavior and acceptance of disability among individuals with recent-onset disability. Goal instability predicted subjective well-being 1 year later. Among community residents with a disability, goal instability was associated with life satisfaction; this relationship was not mediated by perceived stigma or community mobility. These findings indicate that a flexible yet durable goal orientation is associated with optimal psychological adjustment among individuals with a physical disability.

ABSTRACT What do groups do for their members? A functional model that assumes groups satisfy a number of basic survival, psychological, informational, interpersonal, and collective needs is offered. The authors [...]

According to contemporary trait models, personality variables influence the relation of certain social-cognitive processes to coping and adjustment. Specifically, neuroticism may effect a greater perception of threat in a given stressor and thus effect a greater propensity for emotion-focused coping efforts. Similarly, higher levels of conscientiousness may be related to a greater use of problem-focused coping. We tested these presumed effects of personality traits on the association between stress appraisals and coping among 141 undergraduates. Resulting models indicated that certain personality characteristics are related to appraisal and coping activities, but these relations do not fully explain the association between stress appraisal and coping.

In the Spring 1999 issue of this journal, the authors of The Functions of Groups: A Psychometric Analysis of the Group Resources Inventory (IJAM, 52, 1--14) were not listed correctly [...]