Direct observation of computer workplace risk factors of college students

Recently, researchers have reported high musculoskeletal symptom prevalence at several US colleges. Since ergonomic interventions have been shown to prevent and reduce disability, it is important to identify the risk factors for developing symptoms among college students. A nested case-control study was completed to determine computer-related ergonomic risks associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. A trained observer completed ergonomic assessments on 52 randomly selected cases and controls. More than 75 percent (cases and controls combined) of the population was exposed to nine potential postural strains including: arms not along side during keying or mousing; lower back not supported; not having chair accessories; computer monitor not adjustable; mouse being too high or low; hand/wrist/forearm in contact with the desk edge; lack of wrist support; and keyboard not being adjustable. Cases and controls were equally likely to have substantially elevated risks but because the sample was small and lacked power, no risks were statistically significant. Since many known risk factors were prevalent in cases and controls, more research is required to evaluate and prevent injury in this population.     

Mind the gap: The role of leadership in multiteam system collective cognition

The increasing prevalence of team-based organizations places a premium on leadership that will “mind the gap” and enable smooth synchronization of activities across multiple distinct teams. Prior work shows that leaders can be trained to directly facilitate between-team coordination processes. Yet, relatively little is known about the intervening psychological mechanisms that enable between-team coordination. Here, we advance multiteam-interaction mental models—cognitive structures containing knowledge of appropriate between-team activities—as one mechanism that facilitates coordination among multiple teams. We use leader and team cognition data gathered in DeChurch and Marks' (2006) MTS study to test these ideas. Results reveal leaders' multiteam-interaction mental model accuracy “transfers” to teams through strategic communication, and leader strategic communication enables between-team coordination by promoting accuracy in followers' mental models. This study highlights the importance of leadership for developing collective cognition that allows teams to “scale up” from small stand-alone teams to larger and more complex systems.     

Working Between Worlds: Qualitative Methods and Social Psychology

We invite social psychologists in the United States to join with psychologists in other countries and with researchers in other disciplines to include qualitative approaches in their research repertory. Several classic studies in social psychology used field-based qualitative approaches, yet in recent decades, these ways of working have been on the margins of American social psychology. We explore what a qualitative stance offers and entails, giving examples from our own and others' research. The relentless attention that qualitative workers have given to issues of bias, subjectivity, and research ethics prompts us to consider how such issues are always present in research, regardless of its methods.     

Doing Things Differently: Can Water Supply,Sanitation, and Hygiene Services Support Peace‐ and State‐Building Processes?

Interventions across all sectors in fragile states are called to contribute to tackling conflict and fragility despite the lack of evidence on how/if this is possible. This article reviews the existing literature to identify five entry points through which water supply and sanitation service delivery might interact, both positively and negatively, with state‐building and/or peace‐building processes. Evidence for the relevance of these entry points was assessed in the Republic of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our research suggests that the way in which water and sanitation services are delivered is more important than the delivery of these services per se. Moreover, we find that the effects are largely modest and likely to be localised, and that greater attention is still needed to avoid potential negative consequences.     

Positive psychology coaching

Researchers have found that we live in a world our questions create because what we ask people determines what they discover and shapes their ability to imagine plan and create their future reality. So are you asking questions that help people to discover the true, the good and the possible in their situations in ways that fuel their confidence, courage and commitment? In this article we’ll begin by understanding the growth of strengths-based coaching, explore the potential benefits of a strengths approach and see how coaches are putting a strengths focus into practice, the tools they are using, the questions they are asking and the emerging research that is guiding their work.     

Toward a dimensional model of risk and protective factors influencing children's early cognitive,social, and emotional development during the COVID-19 pandemic

Variation in infants’ home environment is implicated in their cognitive and psycho-social development. The pandemic has intensified variations in home environments through exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities, and increasing psychological stressors for some families. This study investigates the effects of parental (predominantly maternal) mental health, enriching activities and screen use on 280 24- to 52-month-olds’ executive functions, internalising and externalising problems, and pro-social behaviour; with socioeconomic status and social support as contextual factors. Our results indicate that aspects of the home environment are differentially associated with children’s cognitive and psycho-social development. Parents who experienced sustained mental distress during the pandemic tended to report higher child externalising and internalising problems, and executive function difficulties at follow-up. Children who spent more time engaged in enriching activities with their parents showed stronger executive functions and social competence six months later. Screen use levels during the first year of the pandemic were not associated with outcomes. To mitigate the risk of persistent negative effects for this ‘pandemic generation’ of infants, our study highlights the importance of supporting parents’ mental health. As our results demonstrate the impact of social support on mental health, investing in support services and interventions promoting building support networks are likely to be beneficial.