Abira Reizer

Assessing Individual Differences in Working Models of Caregiving The Construction and Validation of the Mental Representation of Caregiving Scale

In the current series of studies, we developed a self-report measure of mental representations of caregiving (MRC). Study 1 (N = 841) describes the development and factor structure of the MRC scale. Studies 2-4 provided convergent, discriminant, and construct validity of the MRC scale, by examining its associations with attachment dimensions, empathy, emotional control, relational interde- pendent self-construal, communal orientation, and value priorities. Study 5 revealed significant associations between caregiving repre- sentations and parenting attitudes (desire to have a child, feelings toward parenthood, and expectations of self-efficacy as a parent). Overall, the results provide highly consistent evidence for the reliability and validity of the new MRC scale. The implications of individual differences in mental representation of caregiving for prosocial behavior and helping are discussed.

Living at risk: Dyadic examination of the links among environmental stress, attachment orientations and marital support provision

The current research examined whether the associations between attachment orientations and support provision are mediated by personal distress, and whether these mediation paths are moderated by exposure to geopolitical stress. One-hundred and thirty-three married couples, who were exposed to different levels of geopolitical stress, participated in the study. We found that personal distress mediated the link between attachment anxiety and support provision, and that this effect was stronger among people in high-risk areas than in low-risk areas. Personal distress mediated the link between attachment avoidance and support provision, but only among people living in high-risk areas. Our results highlight the importance of considering personal, interpersonal, and contextual factors when studying marital support processes.

Standoffish Perhaps, but Successful as Well: Evidence That Avoidant Attachment Can Be Beneficial in Professional Tennis and Computer Science

Attachment-related avoidance and anxiety have repeatedly been associated with poorer adjustment in various social, emotional, and behavioral domains. We examined 2 domains in which avoidant individuals might be better equipped than their less avoidant peers to succeed and be satisfied--professional singles tennis and computer science. These fields may reward self-reliance, independence, and the ability to work without proximal social support from loved ones. In study 1, we followed 58 professional singles tennis players for 16 months and found that scores on attachment-related avoidance predicted a higher ranking, above and beyond the contributions of training and coping resources. In study 2, we sampled 100 students and found that those who scored higher on avoidance were happier with their choice of computer science as a career than those who scored lower on avoidance. Results are discussed in relation to the possible adaptive functions of certain personality characteristics often viewed as undesirable.

Conditional regard in close relationships.

People in relationships with others often try to influence them by making their regard contingent on others enactment of specific behaviors. We present findings suggesting that while conditional regard might lead to enactment of expected behaviors, this practice has several psychological costs. We refer to four types of costs: (1) Stressful and conflicted internalization of socializing agent expectations, (2) rigid and low-quality performance, (3) poor well-being, and (4) poor relationship quality with the other. Moreover, our research suggests that in the long run providing more warmth and acceptance contingent on the others compliance with the agents expectations (i.e. conditional positive regard), is as harmful as withdrawing regard when others do not comply with the agents expectations (i.e. conditional negative regard).

Supervisors’ Autonomy Support as a Predictor of Job Performance Trajectories

Studies have shown that supervisors’ autonomy supportive managerial style predicts static job performance and other positive organisational outcomes (Gagne & Deci, 2005). The present study extends these results by investigating the ways in which supervisors’ autonomy support affected job performance trajectories over a period of 5 months in a sample of 68 newly employed sport analysts. Multilevel modeling indicated that performance increases in a decelerated fashion over time. Perceived supervisors’ autonomy support significantly moderated the linear and quadratic performance trajectories. Thus, over time, the performance growth of employees who perceived their supervisors as supportive of their autonomy was steeper and decelerated at a slower rate. The implications are discussed in the light of autonomy support within Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000).

Influence of Employees’ Attachment Styles on Their Life Satisfaction as Mediated by Job Satisfaction and Burnout

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to obtain better insight into the associations between attachment styles and employees’ life satisfaction. This was achieved by examining the mediating roles of burnout and job satisfaction. Three hundred and thirty-nine employees, from a convenience community sample, participated in the current study. Results of the mediation model indicated that the associations between avoidance and life satisfaction were mediated by burnout and job satisfaction. However, the associations between attachment anxiety and life satisfaction were mediated by burnout but not by job satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications for organizations and for attachment theory at work are discussed.

Sugarcoated isolation: evidence that social avoidance is linked to higher basal glucose levels and higher consumption of glucose

Objective: The human brain adjusts its level of effort in coping with various life stressors as a partial function of perceived access to social resources. We examined whether people who avoid social ties maintain a higher fasting basal level of glucose in their bloodstream and consume more sugar-rich food, reflecting strategies to draw more on personal resources when threatened. Methods: In Study 1 (N = 60), we obtained fasting blood glucose and adult attachment orientations data. In Study 2 (N = 285), we collected measures of fasting blood glucose and adult attachment orientations from older adults of mixed gender, using a measure of attachment style different from Study 1. In Study 3 (N = 108), we examined the link between trait-like attachment avoidance, manipulation of an asocial state, and consumption of sugar-rich food. In Study 4 (N = 115), we examined whether manipulating the social network will moderate the effect of attachment avoidance on consumption of sugar-rich food. Results: In Study 1, fasting blood glucose levels corresponded with higher attachment avoidance scores after statistically adjusting for time of assessment and interpersonal anxiety. For Study 2, fasting blood glucose continued to correspond with higher adult attachment avoidance even after statistically adjusting for interpersonal anxiety, stress indices, age, gender, social support and body mass. In Study 3, people high in attachment avoidance consume more sugar-rich food, especially when reminded of asocial tendencies. Study 4 indicated that after facing a stressful task in the presence of others, avoidant people gather more sugar-rich food than more socially oriented people. Conclusion: Results are consistent with the suggestion that socially avoidant individuals upwardly adjust their basal glucose levels and consume more glucose-rich food with the expectation of increased personal effort because of limited access to social resources. Further investigation of this link is warranted.

Media Exposure and Romantic Relationship Quality: A Slippery Slope?:

This study examines whether media consumption predicted relationship quality among 188 college students who were involved in romantic relationships. The respondents assessed their commitment to the relationship, their satisfaction from the relationship, and their tendency to engage in conflicts within the relationship. Media consumption was measured by assessing the time dedicated to television viewing in general, watching specific genres, Internet use, and news-paper reading. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that total TV viewing time statistically predicted lower commitment to the relationship, while viewing of programming focusing on romantic relationships predicted lower satisfaction and stronger tendency to engage in conflicts. Consumption of media other than television and the control factors did not predict any indicator of relationship quality. The pattern of negative associations between TV viewing and relationship quality is discussed with reference to cultivation theory and mood management theory.

Place Attachment and Perceived Environmental Uncertainty in Elder Adults Living in the Renewed Kibbutz

Since the early eighties the kibbutz movement began to undergo a process of structural change including the privatization of services, a separation of the economic- business organization from the social ones, and the establishment of a direct connection between the work and the remuneration of the member. A consequence of the many and significant changes introduced in the living environment of the kibbutz was the creation of upheavals in the life of the people, and in particular the elder. The new situation offers an opportunity for exploring the effects of such changes in the aged population living in the kibbutz. In this study we examine how different age groups in the renewed kibbutz perceived their place attachment. Moreover, we investigate whether perceived uncertainty towards the new environment mediates the associations between age and place attachment.

Caregiving representations at work and the moderating role of job self-efficacy.

This study measured the effect of job self-efficacy and caregiving dimensions (hyperactivation and deactivation) on Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) in a sample of 160 customer service workers. While job self-efficacy and caregiving deactivation independently had moderate main effects on OCB–Individual and OCB–Organizational, the effect of caregiving hyperactivation was smaller and significantly contributed solely to OCB–Organizational. When caregiving dimensions were examined in interaction with job self-efficacy, the effect of deactivated caregiving on OCB–Organizational was stronger for workers who scored high on job self-efficacy.