Michael L. Frank

Shyness, Internet use, and personality

To investigate the association between shyness and Internet usage, 88 undergraduate students completed the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale, the Online Cognition Scale, a computer/Internet familiarity scale, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised (short version) and the Abbreviated Duke Social Support Index. Significant correlations were found between shyness, Internet use, and personality traits. A stepwise regression analysis indicated that shyness was predicted by introversion, neuroticism, and problematic Internet usage as assessed by the Online Cognition Scale.

Suicidal behavior among members of Gamblers Anonymous.

A national sample of 500 members of Gamblers Anonymous was surveyed by mail in order to gather information on suicidal history. One hundred sixty two usable surveys were returned representing 32.4% of the original sample. Compulsive gamblers who had a history of suicidal preoccupation began gambling at an earlier age than nonsuicidal gamblers and were more likely to have stolen to support their gambling. They also tended to have addicted relatives and children more than nonsuicidal gamblers did. The data suggest that those gamblers who had been suicidal tend to be more serious gamblers than nonsuicidal respondents.

Underage gambling in Atlantic City casinos.

A three-year survey of college students was conducted to ascertain the frequency and preferences of student gambling at nearby casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The data suggest that gambling by underage college students is common and indicates that age control at casino entrances is quite poor. An additional finding of differential memory for wins and losses suggests the need for an information processing analysis of memory for gambling outcomes.

Illusion of control and gambling in children

This paper outlines a cognitive theory to explain persistent gambling behavior. The major thesis is that people who persist in gambling in the face of significant losses do so, in part, because they misattribute the locus of control of the outcome of gambles to themselves rather than a random environmental event. Stated differently, this implies that people who are involved in gambling situations and win, find ways to take responsibility for winning, and that people will seek to exert control and direction over future gambles as well. This explanation is not intended to totally supplant existing theoretical analyses of persistent gambling such as models of addictive processes, or psychodynamic motivations, but rather to add a cognitive process dimension. Indeed, the different models are not mutually exclusive. In all probability, parts of each are useful in explaining pathological gambling. This study suggests that more importance and more research is need in the cognitive area to fully understand pathological gambling.

An Exploratory Study of Students' Use of Cell Phones, Texting, and Social Networking Sites

In a sample of 128 undergraduate students, a higher frequency of texting to others was associated with finding the relationships with those others less fulfilling. Similarly, having more social network “friends” was associated with finding the relationships with those individuals less fulfilling.

Risky Behaviors in Hispanic Youth

Analysis of responses of 16,262 high school students surveyed in the 1997 National School-Based Youth Risk Survey indicated that Hispanic male youths engaged more often in risky behaviors than White or Black male youths, whereas Hispanic and White female youths engaged less often in risky behaviors than Black female youths. The pattern of involvement in risky behavior was different for youths from the three ethnic groups.

The seasonal variation in suicide in urban and rural areas: comment on Micciolo, Zimmerman-Tansella, Williams and Tansella.

Micciolo et al. (1988) reported on the seasonal variation of suicide rates in Italy from 1969 to 1981, and they noted that the seasonal variation was stronger in urban areas than in rural areas

PREDICTING ANXIETY IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS

The relationship between attitudes toward winning and competitive anxiety was explored in 59 undergraduate students competing on four different New Jersey-based, NCAA Division III sports teams. In a backward multiple regression analysis, cognitive anxiety was predicted significantly only by self-confidence, while somatic anxiety was predicted significantly by self-confidence and the rated importance of the competition.

The effects of statistical fluctuations and perceived status of a competitor on the illusion of control in experienced gamblers

An experiment in gambling behavior was conducted under the most realistic conditions possible in our laboratory. Not only was there a significant monetary prize offered but subjects believed that they could be eliminated by a competitor. Subjects were 45 adults (25 females & 20 males; age range=23 to 73, mean age=51). Subjects were pitted in a gambling game against either a formidable or a vulnerable competitor. The competitor was a confederate playing one of the roles. The subjects either enjoyed a statistically favorable sequence of outcomes or suffered through a statistically negative sequence. In other words, they were made to lose badly, or made to win significantly. The object was to determine the effects of statistical fluctuations and the perceived status of a competitor on the illusion of control as measured by magnitude of risk taking. We hypothesized that we would see greater risks taken against a vulnerable competitor and during the favorable sequence, while lesser risks would be taken against a formidable competitor and an unfavorable sequence. However, neither variable was found to significantly effect the subjects on these measures. Unexpectedly, we identified a significant effect with respect to the number of wagers. It was found that subjects took significantly higher risks as a function of exposure to the gambling situation, without respect to conditions.

Comparison of day rehabilitation to skilled nursing facility for the rehabilitation for total knee arthroplasty.

Objectives Day rehabilitation (DR) is emerging in the United States as an alternative postacute rehabilitation setting. There have been no published studies focused on the efficacy of DR for a postacute orthopedic population. This study investigated the efficacy of DR as an alternative to inpatient skilled nursing facility (SNF) status post total knee arthroplasty. Design A retrospective chart review was conducted. Subjects were 50–75 yrs old, underwent total knee arthroplasty in 2009, and were discharged from an SNF or DR affiliated with a postacute healthcare system. The sample consisted of all DR (n = 56) and randomly selected SNF (n = 45) subjects. Results Upon admission, there were no differences between DR and SNF groups for age, sex, comorbidity score, pain score, knee range of motion, ambulation distance, locomotion Functional Independent Measure score, or body mass index. Upon discharge, there was no difference in knee range of motion or pain between groups. Discharge ambulation distance (P = 0.000) and locomotion Functional Independent Measure score (P = 0.001) were greater for the DR compared with the SNF group. Cost was lower (P = 0.000) and length of stay was shorter (P = 0.000) for the DR compared with the SNF group. Conclusions Subjects discharged from DR had similar or improved outcomes compared with subjects discharged from SNF at a lower cost and shorter stay. Results suggest that DR delivered significant cost savings when compared with SNF without compromising patient outcomes.