Reminiscing Style During Conversations About Emotion‐laden Events and Effects of Attachment Security Among Italian Mother–Child Dyads

Previous research has established that mothers' and children's elaborative/evaluative styles during conversations about emotion‐laden events are associated with a range of social‐cognitive accomplishments, and this has prompted researchers to identify factors that predict stylistic differences in conversation styles. The study explored whether patterns and variations in reminiscing styles reported in other cultures would be observed in an Italian sample (N = 40 dyads). Attachment security, assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview for mothers and the Q‐Sort for children, were tested as possible sources of variation in conversation style. The two reminiscing styles identified through a clustering procedure were consistent with those displayed by dyads from other cultural groups; moreover, these were significantly related to both mothers' and children's attachment security. These results extend knowledge on reminiscing conversations during early childhood to a different cultural context and contribute to an understanding of how individual differences in attachment affect partners' participation in such conversations.     

The intelligence of Twins. A comparative study of eleven-year-old twins. II

The scores of about one thousand Scottish eleven-year-old twins on a group intelligence test are compared with those of a similar group of about seven thousand non-twin children. The average score of the twins is found to be significantly lower than that of the non-twins. This difference is examined in connexion with the age of the child's mother, the degree of overcrowding in the home, and the occupation of the father. The mothers of the twins are found to be significantly older than those of the non-twins. The relationship of twinning and fertility is examined. There is also a slight predominance of twins in the higher social classes. Despite differences in family structure and social environment, the twins remain of lower average. intelligence throughout.     

The effects of meal-timing on self-rated hunger and dietary inflammatory potential among a sample of college students

College is an important time for young adults to establish healthy eating habits since students are at risk for gaining weight during the college years. An emerging area of research is examining the effect of meal-timing, which involves the timing of food intake throughout the day, in an effort to improve satiety and bodyweight. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of meal-timing among a sample of college students and to assess what aspects from an intervention could help them to adhere to meal-timing long term. Participants were randomly assigned to either a daytime group (≤30% total kcals after 5?pm) or a nighttime group (≥50% total kcals after 5?pm). After completing the intervention, almost half of participants (49%) reported they could adhere to meal-timing long-term. Having more resources that support meal-timing are needed to help students potentially achieve a healthy weight and prevent chronic diseases.     

A Locally Most Mean Powerful Based Score Test for ARCH and GARCH Regression Disturbances

This article considers the twin problems of testing for autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) and generalized ARCH disturbances in the linear regression model. A feature of these testing problems, ignored by the standard Lagrange multiplier test, is that they are onesided in nature. A test that exploits this one-sided aspect is constructed based on the sum of the scores. The small-sample-size and power properties of two versions of this test under both normal and leptokurtic disturbances are investigated via a Monte Carlo experiment. The results indicate that both versions of the new test typically have superior power to two versions of the Lagrange multiplier test and possibly also more accurate asymptotic critical values.     

Likelihood-based Estimation of the Regression Model with Scrambled Responses

A significant problem in the collection of responses to potentially sensitive questions, such as relating to illegal, immoral or embarrassing activities, is non-sampling error due to refusal to respond or false responses. Eichhorn & Hayre (1983) suggested the use of scrambled responses to reduce this form of bias. This paper considers a linear regression model in which the dependent variable is unobserved but for which the sum or product with a scrambling random variable of known distribution, is known. The performance of two likelihood-based estimators is investigated, namely of a Bayesian estimator achieved through a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling scheme, and a classical maximum-likelihood estimator. These two estimators and an estimator suggested by Singh, Joarder & King (1996) are compared. Monte Carlo results show that the Bayesian estimator out-performs the classical estimators in all cases, and the relative performance of the Bayesian estimator improves as the responses become more scrambled.     

Organizational affiliation and effectiveness: the case of rape crisis centers

Many rape crisis centers (RCCs) that were founded as autonomous organizations have affiliated with other organizations. The relationship of affiliation type and effectiveness is examined in a sample of 25 RCCs in Florida. Effectiveness is defined in terms of range of services for rape victims and involvement in rape prevention (social change) activities. The data show that 23 RCCs are affiliated with six types of organizations and two are free-standing. Each affiliation type has advantages and disadvantages but, overall, free-standing RCCs appear to be most effective and RCCs affiliated with community mental health centers, least effective. Of the seven types, free-standing agencies are most involved in rape prevention activities aimed at social change.     

Covenant Attachment: A Constructivist Grounded Theory of Christian Couples and God

The purpose of this constructivist grounded theory study was to develop a deeper understanding of the relational system of married couples and God. We interviewed nine marital couples from Christian denominations that reported having a strong relationship with each other and with God together. We used constructivist grounded theory techniques presented by Charmaz (2006) and analyzed emergent categories of behaviors, emotions, and cognitions to construct a theory and model of Christian marital couples and their shared relationship with God. We then compared and contrasted the results and theory to existing literature on attachment theory and theorized a shared attachment to God. We applied the theological concept of kinship covenant to the results in order to organize and situate the theory into a Christian framework. Finally, we discuss clinical, pastoral, and future research implications.