Filling a critical gap: measuring work policies that affect families globally

Work is a central element in most people's lives, and its adequacy and value cannot be measured by simple figures showing how many people have gained or lost jobs. Current measures of decent work are more comprehensive in terms of what matters to individuals, but deficient in their coverage of work policies that matter to families. In this article, we argue the importance and feasibility of measuring policies and laws that shape work quality, and in particular those that shape how work affects families on a global basis. We make the case that this policy area is especially critical under changing social conditions, and propose a manageable and feasible set of indicators permitting an assessment of the extent to which national labor policies facilitate the ability of working adults to meet the requirements of their jobs as well as the needs of their families. Methods are described and findings mapped for all UN countries in key areas including maternal leave, paternal leave, leave to care for children's health, leave to care for adult family members, and leave to meet other family needs.     

Sex life after 65: How does erectile dysfunction affect ageing and elderly men?

Introduction. We report the findings pertinent to the ageing and elderly participants of a population-based study of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Method. We examined the sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported morbidities and responses to the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) of participants aged ≥65 years and ≥80 years.

Results. Most (73%) participants were married or had partners. Among the participants aged ≥65 years, the prevalence of ED (IIEF-5 scores <22) was 67% and of severe ED (IIEF-5 scores <8) 48%. About 32% were sexually active, and 11% had regular sexual intercourse. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was reported in 37% and diabetes mellitus (DM) in 13%, with odds of ED at 3.91 and 4.68, respectively. Among those aged ≥80 years, the prevalence of ED was 68% and of severe ED 57%. About 12% were sexually active, and 3% had regular sexual intercourse. CVD was reported in 44% and DM in 11%, with corresponding odds of ED at 2.55 and 2.90.

Conclusions. Most ageing and elderly men are in a relationship and many are sexually active. ED is prevalent and severe. Morbidities are common and significantly associated with ED, impairing the sex lives of affected men.     

Adolescents Prefer More Immediate Rewards When in the Presence of their Peers

Adolescents take more risks in the presence of their peers, but the mechanism through which peer presence affects risky decision‐making is unknown. We propose that the presence of peers increases the salience of the immediate rewards of a risky choice. The current study examined the effect of peer presence on reward sensitivity in a sample of 100 late adolescents ages 18 through 20 (M=18.5) using a delay discounting task, which assesses an individual's preference for immediate versus delayed rewards. Participants were randomly assigned to complete the task alone or with 2 same‐age, same‐sex peers observing. Consistent with our prediction, adolescents demonstrated a greater preference for immediate rewards when with their peers than when alone. Heightened risk taking by adolescents in the company of their friends may be due in part to the effect that being with one's peers has on reward sensitivity.     

Aktuelle Herausforderungen im internen Change Management der Commerzbank und der Deutschen Bahn

Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie (GIO) - Dieser Artikel der Zeitschrift ?Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO)“...     

What “likes” have got to do with it: Exposure to peers' alcohol-related posts and perceptions of injunctive drinking norms

Objective: Examine 1) whether observed social reinforcements (i.e., “likes”) received by peers' alcohol-related social media posts are related to first-year college students' perceptions of peer approval for risky drinking behaviors; and 2) whether associations are moderated by students' alcohol use status. Participants: First-year university students (N = 296) completed an online survey in September, 2014. Method: Participants reported their own alcohol use, friends' alcohol use, perceptions of the typical student's approval for risky drinking, and ranked 10 types of social media posts in terms of the relative numbers of “likes” received when posted by peers. Results: Observed social reinforcement (i.e., “likes”) for peers' alcohol-related posts predicted perceptions of peer approval for risky drinking behaviors among non-drinking students, but not drinking students. Conclusions: For first-year college students who have not yet initiated drinking, observing peers' alcohol-related posts to receive abundant “likes” may increase perceptions of peer approval for risky drinking.