Shelley M. MacDermid

An Episodic Process Model of Affective Influences on Performance

In this article, the authors present a model linking immediate affective experiences to within-person performance. First, the authors define a time structure for performance (the performance episode) that is commensurate with the dynamic nature of affect. Next, the authors examine the core cognitive and regulatory processes that determine performance for 1 person during any particular episode. Third, the authors describe how various emotions and moods influence the intermediary performance processes, thereby affecting performance. In the final section of the article, the authors discuss limitations, future research directions, and practical implications for their episodic process model of affect and performance.

Couple therapy with combat veterans and their partners

Service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan face psychological challenges that can exert profound effects on families and couples, but can also be treated within a systemic context. Couple therapy offers a means of increasing social support, decreasing interpersonal conflict, and addressing the experiential avoidance that maintains posttraumatic symptoms. For combat veterans and their partners, we present an adaptation of integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) that reduces conflict and encourages intimacy through acceptance and skills strategies. By doing so, IBCT exposes service members in couple therapy to emotions, interpersonal situations, and activities that facilitate recovery from combat-related distress. We illustrate common presenting problems in this population and the utilization of IBCT with a case example.

Ways of Coping among HIV-infected Individuals

A sample of 85 HIV-infected Americans completed a questionnaire that assessed coping styles, depression, and physical illness. We examined the relationships of emotion-focused coping and problem-focused coping to depression and physical illness. A two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect for emotion-focused coping on depression: Those who used more emotion-focused coping also experienced more depression. No interaction effects or main effects for problem-focused coping were found.

Partner Reactions to Work-to-Family Conflict: Cognitive Appraisal and Indirect Crossover in Couples:

In studying observed work-to-family conflict in 139 couples, the authors integrate theory from cognitive appraisal and indirect crossover processes to explain how partner reactions may affect a focal employee’s work attitudes. The focal employee’s work-interfering-with-family behaviors were positively associated with the partner’s reports of observed work-to-family conflict, resulting in more partner blame attributions and negative emotional displays when discussing work. The partner’s negative emotional displays were related to less career resilience and more turnover exploration by the focal employee. Theoretical and practical implications of the dynamic reactive consequences of appraisal and crossover of observed work-to-family conflict are discussed.

Feminist Teaching: Effective Education.

Teaching about families from a feminist perspective is likely to result in more effective family life education than teaching from more traditional perspectives. Three core assumptions shared by feminists are used to examine the contributions of feminist perspectives to the content and methods of, and participants in, family life education. Regarding content, feminist critiques have deepened our understanding of families and children and have informed the process of conducting research. Regarding methods, feminist perspectives are more likely to engage learners by facilitating their connectedness and empowerment within the educational process. Feminist perspectives highlight the unique strengths, characteristics, and needs of participants.

Identity Development as a Mediating Factor Between Urban Poverty and Behavioral Outcomes for Junior High School Students

This study examines the developmental issue of identity development among 102 eighth graders living in a context of economic hardship. Results show that links between economic deprivation and behavioral outcomes were mediated by identity development for two of three outcomes. Support also was found for the hypothesis that content-specific identity development is more strongly related to behavioral outcomes than global assessments of identity development. Much of the research on youth living in urban poverty has focused on problem behaviors, such as drug use or dropping out of school. Less is known about how normal developmental transitions are resolved. Results are discussed relative to the protective nature of identity development and to theoretical and methodological issues regarding measuring identity development within specific populations.

Linkages between employee benefits and attitudinal and behavioral outcomes: A research review and agenda

Abstract The purpose of this article is to set forth a research agenda for examination of the impact of benefit program features and levels on employee attitudes and behaviors important to the firm. We conducted a comprehensive search of the current research literature for references to the following benefit categories: medical and medically-related benefit payments; retirement and savings plan payments; payments for time not worked; life insurance and death benefits; and miscellaneous benefits, including benefits sometimes categorized as “family-friendly.” Empirical research examining the links between employee benefits and the following outcome variables is summarized: applicant attraction, employee benefit satisfaction, organizational commitment, employee performance, employee absenteeism and employee turnover. The closing sections of the article present general guidance for future research on employee benefit-outcome linkages.

A Qualitative Investigation into the Meaning of Family Well-Being from the Perspective of Part-Time Professionals

Through analysis of interviews conducted in 1996-98 with reduced-load professionals and managers in organizations, this study examines in-depth the meaning of a good family life from the perspective of those seeking to enhance their personal and family experience by cutting back on hours devoted to work. The results suggest that the concept of family well-being is more complex and multi-faceted than prior research has indicated. Six different dimensions of family well-being are identified through examination of recurrent themes in the interviews: (1) spending high quality time with family members; (2) being able to relax in free time; (3) emotional well-being and health of family members; (4) high quality communication and support; (5) high quality child care and education; (6) satisfaction with work and work load at home. Finally, three paradigms of family well-being derived from interview data are proposed: Family well-being as effective parenting, family well-being as love and being together, family well-being as peace and harmony.

Organizational Size and Work-Family Issues

Although the number of small businesses has grown significantly, and the majority of American workers are employed by smaller companies, very little attention has been given to conducting research studies about work-family issues in these companies. This article presents information about other business studies that have focused on organizational size, and it highlights several research traditions that can be used to develop future studies of company size and work-family issues: organizational theories, and studies of community and school size. Studies that explore organizational and employee perspectives on work-family issues in smaller businesses are presented. Finally, recommendations are made for future studies to explore the relationship between organizational size and work family issues, including the suggestion that multilevel studies be conducted that combine both organizational and employee perspectives.

Lessons From Work—Life Research for Developing Human Resources

The problem and the solution. Human resource development (HRD) and work/life share several goals. Both are concerned with ensuring workers are effective and with the “business case” justifying their efforts within organizations. This article develops insights for HRD professionals by drawing on articles identified in the international competition for the Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work—Family Research. Specifically, work hours and work overload as well as gender and gender inequity are powerful influences on worker effectiveness. Several exemplary articles also generate important information for the business case for work/life. This article provides access to resources that can support HRD efforts in organizations.