The Effect of Computerized Simulation Games on the Moral Development of Youth in Distress

Summary

This study deals with the development and application of a computerized therapeutic simulation game for the purpose of raising the moral level of youth in distress. The effects of the game on moral development were determined by a moral development measure (MOTEC) set out by Ziv, (1976). The level of moral development of a research group (n = 13) and a control group (n = 14) were measured before and after exposure to the therapeutic game, A total of five indices of moral development were used. Two of these, Moral stage and Punishment reveal a positive effect on the participants. The study concludes with a discussion of the effects of therapeutic games on moral development and their potential use in the field.     

Associations among trauma,depression, and alcohol use profiles and treatment motivation and engagement in college students

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study examined how profiles of alcohol use and symptoms of common mental health disorders (depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) influenced the perceived need for and actual seeking of different types of treatment (for alcohol versus psychological distress) in college student drinkers. Participants: Undergraduate students (n = 164) were assessed between September 2009 and August 2015. Methods: We classified students into different symptom profiles using model-based clustering and compared these profiles on a variety of variables. Results: The cluster model yielded three profiles: Low Risk (n = 66), Concomitant (n = 35), and Heavy Drinking (n = 63). Students in these profiles significantly differed in alcohol consumption, alcohol-related cognitions and problems, and perceptions of need and prior engagement in treatment. Conclusion: A variety of strategies can be used to engage students experiencing heavy drinking and/or mental health problems into treatment on campus.     

Inter-rater Agreement Indices for Multiple Informant Methodology

This paper addresses the potential applications of multiple informant methodology (MIM) to family research. The MIM is used when data on the same unit of analysis are collected from more than one informant, and when the researchers’ purpose requires a dyadic or group level of analysis. The MIM relies on inter-rater agreement (IRA) indices, which are needed to both estimate agreement among informants and aggregate scores from different informants. This review describes the main IRA indices: reliability within-group index (r_WG), agreement within-group index (a_WG), average deviation indices (AD_M and AD_Md), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and random group index (r_WG). For each index, we describe the aim, application contexts, formula(s), ranges, cutoffs, requirements to apply the index, and its possible application to family research.     

Hierarchy of players in swap robust voting games

Ordinarily, the process of decision making by a committee through voting is modeled by a monotonic game the range of whose characteristic function is restricted to {0, 1}. The decision rule that governs the collective action of a voting body induces a hierarchy in the set of players in terms of the a-priori influence that the players have over the decision making process. In order to determine this hierarchy in a swap robust game, one has to either evaluate a power index (e.g., the Shapley–Shubik index, the Banzhaf–Coleman index) for each player or conduct a pairwise comparison between players, whereby a player i is ranked higher than another player j if there exists a coalition in which i is more desirable as a coalition partner than j. In this paper, we outline an alternative mechanism to determine the ranking of players in terms of their a-priori power. This simple and elegant method uses only minimal winning coalitions, rather than the entire set of winning coalitions.     

Egalitarian property for power indices

In this study, we introduce and examine the Egalitarian property for some power indices on the class of simple games. This property means that after intersecting a game with a symmetric or anonymous game the difference between the values of two comparable players does not increase. We prove that the Shapley–Shubik index, the absolute Banzhaf index, and the Johnston score satisfy this property. We also give counterexamples for Holler, Deegan–Packel, normalized Banzhaf and Johnston indices. We prove that the Egalitarian property is a stronger condition for efficient power indices than the Lorentz domination.     

The Freshman 15—A Closer Look

Abstract

Objectives and Participants: Changes in body weight, composition, and size were examined in college freshmen at the beginning (initial, n = 240) and end of fall semester 2007 (n = 214) and the end of spring semester 2008 (n = 205). Methods: Height, weight, body composition, and waist and hip measurements were assessed. Results: Mean weight, body mass index (BMI), absolute and percent body fat all increased significantly over fall semester and the academic year. About 31% of freshmen lost ≥5 lbs. Mean academic year weight gain was 2.6 lbs (entire group) and 6.0 lbs (weight gainers); body fat increased by 4.4 lbs in the weight gainers. A significant correlation (r = .509) was found between weight change and waist circumference change, but not between weight change and waist to hip ratio change. Conclusions: Freshmen weight gain is associated with increases in body fat and waist circumference, which may be troublesome should the trend continue throughout college.     

The inverse Banzhaf problem

Let ${\mathcal{F}}Let F{\mathcal{F}} be a family of subsets of the ground set [n] = {1, 2, . . . , n}. For each i ? [n]{i \in [n]} we let p(F,i){p(\mathcal{F},i)} be the number of pairs of subsets that differ in the element i and exactly one of them is in F{\mathcal{F}}. We interpret p(F,i){p(\mathcal{F},i)} as the influence of that element. The normalized Banzhaf vector of F{\mathcal{F}}, denoted B(F){B(\mathcal{F})}, is the vector (B(F,1),...,B(F,n)){(B(\mathcal{F},1),\dots,B(\mathcal{F},n))}, where B(F,i)=\fracp(F,i)p(F){B(\mathcal{F},i)=\frac{p(\mathcal{F},i)}{p(\mathcal{F})}} and p(F){p(\mathcal{F})} is the sum of all p(F,i){p(\mathcal{F},i)}. The Banzhaf vector has been studied in the context of measuring voting power in voting games as well as in Boolean circuit theory. In this paper we investigate which non-negative vectors of sum 1 can be closely approximated by Banzhaf vectors of simple voting games. In particular, we show that if a vector has most of its weight concentrated in k < n coordinates, then it must be essentially the Banzhaf vector of some simple voting game with n − k dummy voters.     

Symmetry extensions of “neutrality”

For n3 candidates, a system voting vector W ⁿ specifies the positional voting method assigned to each of the 2 ⁿ –(n+1) subsets of two or more candidates. While most system voting vectors need not admit any relationships among the election rankings; the ones that do are characterized here. The characterization is based on a particular geometric structure (an algebraic variety) that is described in detail and then used to define a partial ordering among system voting vectors. The impact of the partial ordering is that if W ⁿ ₁ W ⁿ ₂, then W ⁿ ₂ admits more kinds of (single profile) voting paradoxes than W ⁿ ₁. Therefore the partial ordering provides a powerful, computationally feasible way to compare system voting vectors. The basic ideas are illustrated with examples that completely describe the partial ordering for n=3 and n=4 candidates.This reearch was supported in part by NSF Grant IRI-9103180.     

Characterizations of two power indices for voting games with r alternatives

In the first three sections of this paper we present a set of axioms which provide a characterization of an extension of the Banzhaf index to voting games with r alternatives, such as the United Nations Security Council where a nation can vote “yes”, “no”, or “abstain”. The fourth section presents a set of axioms which characterizes a power index based on winning sets instead of pivot sets. Received: 4 April 2000/Accepted: 30 April 2001     

Voces populi and the art of listening

The strategy most damaging to many preferential election methods is to give insincerely low rank to the main opponent of one’s favourite candidate. Theorem 1 determines the 3-candidate Condorcet method that minimizes the number of noncyclic profiles allowing the strategic use of a given cyclic profile. Theorems 2, 3 and 4 establish conditions for an anonymous and neutral 3-candidate single-seat election to be monotonic and still avoid this strategy completely. Plurality elections combine these properties; among the others ‘conditional IRV’ gives the strongest challenge to the plurality winner. Conditional IRV is extended to any number of candidates. Theorem 5 is an impossibility of Gibbard–Satterthwaite type, describing three specific strategies that cannot all be avoided in meaningful anonymous and neutral election methods.     

A universal meta bargaining implementation of the Nash solution

This paper follows van Damme (1986) in presenting a meta bargaining approach that justifies the Nash bargaining solution. But in contrast to van Damme's procedure our meta bargaining game is universal in the sense that all bargaining solutions are allowed as strategic choices in the meta bargaining game. Also our result holds true for any number n of players. Received: 31 July 2000/Accepted: 19 March 2001     

Is computer gaming a craft? Prehension,* practice,and puzzle-solving in gaming labour

ABSTRACT

This article applies sociological theories of ‘craft’ to computer gaming practices to conceptualise the relationship between play, games, and labour. Using the example of the game Dota 2, as both a competitive esport title and a complex game based around a shared practice, this article examines the conditions under which the play of a computer game can be considered a ‘craft’. In particular, through the concept of ‘prehension’, we dissect the gameplay activity of Dota 2, identifying similarities with how the hand practices craft labour. We identify these practices as ‘contact’, ‘apprehension’, ‘language acquisition’ and ‘reflection’. We argue that players develop these practices of the hand to make sense of the game’s rules and controls. From this perspective, it is the hand that initiates experiences of craft within computer gameplay, and we offer examples of player creativity and experimentation to evidence its labour. The article concludes with a discussion on the need for future research to examine the quality of gaming labour in the context of esports.     

Prevention of shape and weight concerns among college students: An examination of education status variables

Objective: The current study examined whether overlooked aspects of the postsecondary student experience predicted individuals’ body-related concerns, beyond the influence of demographic factors that have upheld explanatory power in past research. Participants: Undergraduate and graduate students (n?=?3,259) took part in the multi-institute Healthy Bodies Study during the 2015 academic year. Method: Participants completed an online survey that assessed their undergraduate/graduate statuses, academic majors, extracurricular involvements, and body-related concerns. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were run to answer primary study questions. Results: Gender, body mass index (BMI), undergraduate/graduate student status, being a male graduate student, major, and extracurricular activities predicted shape concern (SC), weight concern (WC), and whether these concerns increased since students began at their universities. The addition of the student-specific variables uniquely contributed to the variance in body-related concerns. Conclusions: Further research on the body-related discontent of the identified student groups should be conducted to elucidate potential campus-based treatment targets.     

Typologies of Childhood Exposure to Violence: Associations With College Student Mental Health

Abstract

Objective: This study examined typologies of childhood violence exposure (CVE) and the associations of profiles with current demographic characteristics and mental health in emerging adulthood. Participants: The study evaluated a sample of college students from 2 US geographic regions (Midwest, n = 195; Southeast, n = 200). Methods: An online questionnaire (collected 2013–2014) assessed CVE and current mental health. Latent class analysis was used to identify typologies of CVE. Follow-up analyses were conducted to distinguish differences between typologies in demographic characteristics and mental health. Results: Four distinct profiles emerged: High-Exposed, Domestic-Exposed, Community-Exposed, and Low-Exposed. High- and Domestic-Exposed groups were more likely to be first-generation college students and to experience symptoms of psychopathology. Conclusions: This study offers a unique presentation of CVE profiles and a nuanced interpretation of their differential relationship to current demographic characteristics and mental health. It may befit university mental health initiatives to engage first-generation students and utilize comprehensive assessments of previous victimization.     

Health-enhancing physical activity during practice among student football managers at a Division I university

Abstract

Objective: Student football managers have demands on their time that may pose barriers to meeting recommended current physical activity (PA) guidelines. The study sought to assess the amount of PA obtained by student football managers at a NCAA Division I Football university. Participants: Subjects were student football managers (n?=?14) with data collected in the fall 2015. Methods: Participants wore an Omron HJ-720ITFFP pedometer for seven consecutive days during football activities only, while self-reporting their overall PA on day 7. Measures were analyzed using repeated measures and mixed-design ANOVAs. Results: Managers averaged 8474 steps/day for each practice/game. All PA measures significantly varied by day and manager experience. Overall PA equated to 78?hours of walking. Conclusions: Student football managers easily met and surpassed the recommended aerobic health-enhancing PA guideline. While their manager-related PA was 140?minutes per week, other PA allowed them to easily reach significantly healthy levels of PA.     

Subcyclic sets of linear orders

A set T of linear orders of [n] = {1,2, . . . ,n} is subcyclic if every 3-set in [n] has one order that appears in no order in T. With g(n) the maximum cardinality of a subcyclic set for n, Raz [8] proved that g(n)<cⁿ for some c>0, thus resolving a longstanding conjecture of a similar upper bound for maximum acyclic sets. The present paper proves that g(4)=14 and g(5)=42 with both maxima attained only by subcyclic sets with a particular structure for all quadruples in [n]. We conjecture a similar result for larger n, in which case g(n) is the n^th Catalan number and min(c)=4 for Raz’s bound.     

A value for games with coalition structures

This paper presents an axiomatization of a value for games with coalition structures which is an alternative to the Owen Value. The motor of this new axiomatization is a consistency axiom based on an associated game, which is not a reduced game. The new value of an n-player unanimity game is the compound average of the new values of all the (n-1)-player unanimity games. The new value of a unanimity game allocates to bigger coalitions a larger share of the total wealth. Note that the Owen value allocates to all the coalitions the same share independently of their size.     

Association between testosterone levels and the metabolic syndrome in adult men

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between testosterone levels and the metabolic syndrome (MS) in men older than 45 years.

Methods: Six hundred and sixty men (45–70 years) selected from 2906 participants of a population screening for prostate cancer were included in this study. Testosterone and the components of MS were assessed in all men. MS was diagnosed according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. Triglycerides (TG)/HDL-cholesterol (chol) index was calculated.

Results: The presence of MS was inversely associated with testosterone (χ², p?<?0.001), independently of age (OR 0.802, CI 95%: 0.724–0.887, p?<?0.0001). Hypertension was the most frequent abnormality observed followed by elevated TG and waist circumference (WC). Testosterone correlated positively with HDL-chol (r: 0.14, p?<?0.0001) and negatively with body mass index (BMI)(r: ?0.29, p?<?0.0001), WC (r: ?0.26, p?<?0.0001), TG (r: ?0.20, p?<?0.0001), TG/HDL-chol (r: ?0.20, p?<?0.0001), glucose (r: ?0.11, p?=?0.005) and MS score (r: ?0.23, p?<?0.0001).

Conclusions: Our results show that in men older than 45 years, as long as testosterone levels decline, the prevalence of MS increases, independently of age. The correlations found between testosterone and four of the five components of MS, as well as with BMI and TG/HDL-chol ratio, a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, suggest considering male hypogonadism as a determinant of developmental abnormalities typical of MS.     

The “Aging Males’ Symptoms” (AMS) Scale assesses depression and anxiety

Abstract

Objective: Emotional distress may be associated with severe aging symptoms. This study aimed to investigate aging symptoms in male psychiatric outpatients and their relationship with anxiety and depression.

Method: About 176 male psychiatric outpatients aged 40–80?years were enrolled into this single-center cross-sectional study, and completed self-reported questionnaires including “Aging Males’ Symptoms” (AMS) scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Result: Age was correlated with less anxiety (r?=??0.23), less psychological (r?=??0.16) and more sexual symptoms (r?=?0.31). After controlling demographic variables, the partial correlation coefficients of HADS and AMS scores ranged from 0.30 to 0.73. Four groups were defined by HADS: control (C; n?=?103), depression (D; n?=?18), anxiety (A; n?=?26) and mixed anxiety and depression (M; n?=?29). The M group had the most severe aging symptoms, and the C group the least. The A group had more psychological and less sexual symptoms than the D group. “Impaired sexual potency” was the only aging symptom in males not significantly different among the four groups.

Conclusions: Anxiety and depression was associated with more severe aging symptoms in male psychiatric outpatients. Sexual dysfunction could be regarded as the core manifestation to differentiate aging symptoms from syndromal emotional distress.     

Beliefs about Romance and Mate Selection and Intentions to Seek Pre- or Post-Marital Counseling: a Latent Profile Analysis of Emerging Adults

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is a developmental period in which many individuals begin the process of mate selection, yet a considerable number of emerging adults endorse unrealistic relationship beliefs and/or believe relationship myths. This study identified belief profiles, using latent profile analysis, among emerging adults (N?=?154) about romance and mate selection and examined the association between profiles and intentions to seek pre- and post-marital counseling. Profiles represent distinct groups of emerging adults based on relationship beliefs; they were identified as Realists, Apprehensive Realists, Romantics, and Ambivalent/Uncertain. While the Realists, Apprehensive Realists, and Romantics endorsed different relationship beliefs that may impact relationship dynamics, these groups held similar, favorable attitudes towards counseling. The Ambivalent/Uncertain profile, characterized as less intentional towards relationships, was least likely to seek counseling.