Nicola Cogan

Metamotivational dominance, states and injuries in risk and safe sports

Male risk sport participants (36 snowboarders) were compared with male safe sport participants (26 badminton players) using the Telic Dominance Scale [Murgatroyd, S., Rushton, C., Apter, M.J., and Ray, C. (1978) The development of the telic dominance scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 42, 519-527] and the Negativistic Dominance Scale [McDermott, M.R., and Apter, M. J. (1988). The Negativism Dominance Scale. In M. J. Apter, J.H. Kerr, and M.P. Cowles (Eds.), Progress in reversal theory. Amsterdam: North-Holland] and the Telic/Paratelic State Instrument. Subjects also completed an Injury Behaviour Checklist giving information on the objective risk of the sports pursued. Risk sportsmen scored significantly lower than safe sportsmen on the TDS total score and on the Serious-Mindedness and Arousal Avoidance subscales, but there were no significant differences in Planning Orientation. Risk sportsmen scored significantly higher than safe on total NDS and on the Proactive subscale but not on the Reactive subscale. Analysis of T/PSI scores showed that both groups remained in their dominant state throughout the time course of the investigation. Risk sportsmen received more frequent and more serious injuries throughout the period of study and both TDS and NDS scores were significantly correlated with number of injuries. Discussion of high-risk sport as a way of meeting arousal, escape and control needs, and as expressing rebellion is related to values and stereotypes involved in risky sports and to implications in identifying possible addictions and preventing injuries. Language: en

Behaviour support in secondary schools: what works for schools?

Abstract Between June 2000 and December 2001 a team from the University of Glasgow evaluated the effectiveness of behaviour support in one education authoritys secondary schools. The context was Scottish Executive incentives to education authorities to develop more inclusive approaches to young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. This education authority enabled its 21 secondary schools to shape their own responses, resulting in the emergence of sometimes very different forms of behaviour support across schools. The evaluation project set out to answer four questions: what is working; where are systems not working; what else is needed; and is the initiative providing value for money? Two sets of information collected over the first year of the project were analysed, including exclusions data, school reports on the initiative and case studies relating to 116 pupils receiving behaviour support. The article gives findings from the first year and discusses the implications for informing behaviour support policy and provision.

The understanding and experiences of children affected by parental mental health problems: a qualitative study

Children of parents with mental health problems (MHPs) have been reported to be ‘at risk’ of diagnosable psychopathology, as well as impairment in cognitive, emotional, social and school functioning. How children understand MHPs has been found to influence how they cope with their family situation. This study explores the understanding and experiences of children affected by parental MHPs (affected children). Comparisons are drawn with the perspectives of children of ‘well’ parents (comparative children), using a semi-structured interview schedule. The qualitative data were managed using the NUD*IST computer package and analysed using the Huberman and Miles (1994) interactive model. Analysis revealed that affected children were found to be less likely to convey stigmatizing views of people with MHPs, largely due to their personal experience of living with parental MHPs, than comparative children. These results have implications for the development of effective health promotion programmes and specialist interventions for children ‘at risk’ of adversity.

Mental health and parenting in rural areas: an exploration of parental experiences and current needs

Abstract Background: Research on parental mental health problems (MHPs) has predominantly used urban samples and focused on the risks for children. Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore rural parents’ lived experiences of parenting with a MHP. Method: Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers who were using a mental health service in rural Ireland. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed. Results: Themes identified were: “Being Observed and Negatively Judged by Others”; “Overshadowed by the Duality of Parenting and MHPs”; “Dominance of Medication Over Other Treatment Options”; “Uncertainty (of Impact on Parenting Ability and Children)” and “Need for Inclusion”. Although parents’ experienced a variety of concerns generic to parenting and mental health, living in a small, rural community was related to pronounced concerns regarding the stigma, devaluation and uncertainty associated with MHPs and service use. Conclusion: Further investigation into and consideration for the specific needs and experiences of parent service-users could benefit both parents and their families and inform service development.

Psychological impacts of challenging behaviour and motivational orientation in staff supporting individuals with autistic spectrum conditions.

Despite increased risk of experiencing challenging behaviour, psychological impacts on community and residential staff supporting adults with autistic spectrum conditions are under-explored. Studies examining related roles indicate protective psychological factors may help maintain staff well-being. This study investigated relationships between motivational orientation (eudaimonic or hedonic), challenging behaviour frequency and type (physical, verbal or self-injurious) and psychological impacts (anxiety, depression and life satisfaction). Participants (N = 99) were recruited from six organisations providing autism-specific adult services within Scotland. A series of binary logistic regressions demonstrated weekly challenging behaviour exposure (compared to monthly or daily) significantly increased the likelihood of anxiety caseness. Increased eudaimonic motivation significantly reduced the likelihood of anxiety caseness while also predicting higher life satisfaction. Furthermore, having high levels of eudaimonic motivation appeared to moderate the impact of weekly challenging behaviour exposure on anxiety. No motivational orientation or challenging behaviour factor significantly predicted depression. This sample also demonstrated higher anxiety, lower depression and equivalent life satisfaction levels compared with general population norms. The results highlight the need for considering staff’s motivational orientations, their frequency of exposure to challenging behaviour, and both positive and negative psychological outcomes, if seeking to accurately quantify or improve well-being in this staff population.