Elena Fiabane

Older workers: stereotypes and occupational self-efficacy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between organizational age stereotypes and occupational self-efficacy. First, the authors intend to test the measurement invariance of Henkens’s (2005) age stereotypes scale across two age group, respectively, under 50 and 50 years and older. Then, the moderator role of age groups in the relationship between age stereotypes and occupational self-efficacy is investigated. Design/methodology/approach The survey involved a large sample of 4,667 Italian bank sector’s employees. Findings The results show the invariance of the three dimensional structure of organizational stereotypes towards older workers scale: productivity, reliability and adaptability. Furthermore, the moderation is confirmed: the relationship between organizational age stereotypes and occupational self-efficacy is significant only for older respondents. Research limitations/implications Future studies should aim to replicate the findings with longitudinal designs. Practical implications The study suggests the importance to emphasize the positive characteristics of older workers and to reduce the presence of negative age stereotypes in the workplace, especially in order to foster the occupational self-efficacy of older workers. Originality/value The findings are especially relevant in view of the lack of evidence about the relationship between age stereotypes and occupational self-efficacy.

Return to work after coronary revascularization procedures and a patient’s job satisfaction: A prospective study

ObjectivesResearch into work reintegration following invasive cardiac procedures is limited. The aim of this prospective study was to explore predictors of job satisfaction among cardiac patients who have returned to work after cardiac rehabilitation (CR).Material and MethodsThe study population consisted of 90 cardiac patients who have recently been treated with coronary angioplasty or heart surgery. They were evaluated during their CR and 12 months after the discharge using validated self-report questionnaires measuring job satisfaction, work stress-related factors, emotional distress and illness perception. Information on socio-demographic, medical and occupational factors has also been collected.ResultsAfter adjusting for demographic, occupational and medical variables, baseline job satisfaction (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.01) and ambition (p < 0.05) turned out to be independent, significant predictors of job satisfaction following return to work (RTW). Patients who had a partial RTW were more satisfied with their job than those who had a full RTW, controlling for baseline job satisfaction.ConclusionsThese findings recommend an early assessment of patients’ psychosocial work environment and emotional distress, with particular emphasis on job satisfaction and depressive symptoms, in order to promote satisfying and healthy RTW after cardiac interventions.

Motivation to change and posttreatment temptation to drink: a multicenter study among alcohol-dependent patients

Background An inpatient 28-day rehabilitation program for alcohol dependence is focused on detoxification, enhancing motivation to change, and coping strategies for the management of emotional distress and temptation to drink. The aims of the present study were to investigate 1) changes over time in motivation to change, anxiety, and depression in individuals undergoing residential rehabilitation treatment for alcohol addiction, and 2) which pretreatment factors are associated with posttreatment temptation to drink. Methods We assessed 432 patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision) consecutively recruited from seven residential rehabilitation centers in Northern Italy. Patients were assessed by means of self-report questionnaires at the beginning of rehabilitation (pretreatment) and before their hospital discharge (posttreatment) regarding motivation to change and self-efficacy (motivation assessment of change – alcoholism version), readiness to change and temptation to drink (visual analog scales), and depression and anxiety (cognitive behavioral assessment – outcome evaluation). Results Results showed an overall improvement in motivation to change and a significant reduction over time in depression and anxiety levels for the total sample, particularly patients with low baseline level of temptation to drink. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that significant predictors of posttreatment temptation to drink were polysubstance dependence (p<0.001), readiness to change (p=0.01), and self-efficacy (p=0.05). Conclusion Inpatients’ rehabilitation for alcohol dependence is associated with an overall improvement in motivation to change and a significant reduction of psychological distress. Treatments for alcohol-dependent patients should focus on motivation to change, negative moods, and relapse prevention strategies for the management of craving.

Computational rehabilitation of neglect: Using state-space models to understand the recovery mechanisms

Unilateral spatial neglect is a neuropsychological syndrome often observed in right hemisphere stroke patients. The symptoms differ from subject to subject. A few rehabilitation approaches, e.g. prism adaptation, have demonstrated some effect in reducing the symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms are still largely unclear. Recently, neural models have been proposed to qualitatively describe cortical lesions, the resulting neglect symptoms and the effects of treatment. However, these predictions are qualitative and cannot be used to compare different hypotheses or to interpret symptoms at individual subjects level. Here we propose a computational model of the trial-by-trial dynamics of training-induced recovery from neglect. Neglect is modelled in terms of an impaired internal representation of visual stimuli in the left hemispace. The model assumes that recovery is driven by the mismatch between defective representations of visual stimuli and the corresponding hand positions. The model reproduces the main observations of prism adaptation experiments. Using standard system identification techniques, we fitted the model to data from a rehabilitation trial based on a novel rehabilitation approach based on virtual reality, involving reaching movements within an adaptive environment. Our results suggest that the model can be used to interpret data from individual subjects and to formulate testable hypotheses on the mechanisms of recovery and directions for treatment.

Comorbidity of alcohol dependence with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the role of executive dysfunctions

The Attention-De icit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is de ined as a disorder of the neuropsychological development characterized by the following nuclear symptoms: attention de icit, increased impulsiveness, hyperactivity, disorganization and emotional instability [1]. ADHD in adulthood is considered a hidden disorder where common diagnostic criteria are lacking, therefore adult patients who often arrive for consultation are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD in comorbidity than with ADHD itself [2,3]. This makes it dif icult to detect the disorder and, in most cases, it has been noticed that it was associated with other psychiatric conditions, such as Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Syndrome, Antisocial and Narcisistic Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder [4,5]. However, previous studies have identi ied signi icant variability in ADHD prevalence estimates worldwide [4]. In addition, in spite of it being historically considered a Abstract

Salute occupazionale ed engagement nei lavoratori anziani: gli effetti di discriminazioni e stereotipi

In the labor market there is an increasing proportion of older workers, which can perceive age stereotypes and age discrimination. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between age stereotypes and discrimination and work engagement in a sample of older workers. Results indicate that age stereotypes and discrimination can influence occupational and psychological wellbeing in this professional category.