Volume 21, Issue 1, 2013

School psychological counselors’ perceptions about child abuse and negligence: A case study in Turkey
Gündoğdu, R., & Yavuzer, Y.Pages 7-27Author(s): Rezzan Gündoğdu, Yasemin Yavuzer
Language: English
Subject(s): Psychology
Issue: 1/XXI/2013
Page Range: 7-27
No. of Pages: 21
Keywords: child abuse;; neglect; prevention; psychological counselor
Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate opinions expressed by school psychological counselors that work in primary and secondary educational institutions about child abuse and neglect. 78 school psychological counselors among the ones that work three middle sized provinces located in Central Anatolia Region participated in this study. Data have been gathered via a questionnaire consisting of three sections and prepared by the researchers. The psychological counselors did not receive sufficient level of education in preventing child abuse. The most challenging issue is to communicate with the relevant agencies/legal process. Among the precautions that can be taken at a society level, they propose the training of parents. They think that their duties fall within the scope of preventive services. New elective courses can be added in Psychological Counseling and Guidance undergraduate program and effective in-service training programs can be prepared for the counselors in service with the participation of lecturers from the Psychological Counseling and Guidance departments of universities. Besides, school based preventive actions should be planned, implemented and evaluated.
Download full article

Families’ perception on play in the early childhood setting
Huisman, S., Catapano, S., Moody, A. K., & Gates, L. K. Pages 28-48Author(s): Sarah Huisman, Amelia K. Moody , Leigh K. Gates , Susan Catapano
Language: English
Subject(s): Psychology
Issue: 1/XXI/2013
Page Range: 28-48
No. of Pages: 21
Keywords: play; families; perception; early childhood; childcare; learning
Summary/Abstract: Play has been emphasized as important for the development of children through years of research. Recently with the testing-movement emphasizing strong academics and cognitive skill, play is not always seen as important as more traditional learning for young children. This research sought to explore how families’ perceive play in the early childhood setting. Findings were that families’ perception of the role of play in the early childhood classroom did not change when measured against the age of the child or the setting for the play, school or child care. However, families’ perceptions of learning did change based on the age of their child. The younger the child, the less families were concerned about what was being learned and how skills were obtained through play- based instruction in the classroom.
Download full article

Psychometric properties of the revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale on a sample of married adults
Turliuc, M. N. & Muraru, A. A. Pages 49-76Author(s): Antoaneta A. MURARU, Maria-Nicoleta Turliuc
Language: English
Subject(s): Psychology
Issue: 1/XXI/2013
Page Range: 49-76
No. of Pages: 28
Keywords: marital adjustment; RDAS; factor analysis; reliability; validity
Summary/Abstract: In the field of couple and family psychology, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale is a widely used measure of marital adjustment. D. M. Busby et al. (1995) published a revised version of the scale (The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale/RDAS), which includes only 14 items. Three components of marital adjustment are operationalized: consensus, satisfaction and cohesion. This present study examined the factorial structure and reliability of RDAS on a sample of 383 Romanian married adults. Exploratory factor analysis yielded three factors accounting for 65.7% item variance. Except for item 14, the other items showed high or very high loadings in one of the three factors. For models with three latent correlated factors, confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable statistical fit. Further, invariance of the measurement model across gender groups was tested. The configural model proved a satisfactory fit across gender groups. When measurement weights and structural covariance were constrained to be equal across gender, the invariance of measurement model was also supported. RDAS can confidently be used in both research and evaluation of interventions’ outcomes on marital couples. Some implications are briefly discussed.
Download full article

New psychometrical data on the efficiency of Satisfaction With Life Scale in Romania
Marcu, R. Pages 77-90Author(s): Radiana Marcu
Language: English
Subject(s): Psychology
Issue: 1/XXI/2013
Page Range: 77-90
No. of Pages: 14
Keywords: life satisfaction; SWLS; CFA
Summary/Abstract: Subjective wellbeing is probably the most popular theoretic perspective, but during the last decades the concept of life satisfaction is also getting more and more present. The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was conceived in order to measure general life satisfaction of respondents. Psychometric data for the scale are presented in the study but also the results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). SWLS presents a good temporal stability both in the case of teenagers and adults in agreement with other two studies (Marian, 2007) from Romania, bringing new confirmation data.
Download full article

The evolution of a psychodrama training group from the perspective of the group process
Enikő, A. L., & Barna, K. Pages 91-104Author(s): Enikő Albert-Lőrincz, Katalin Barna
Language: English
Subject(s): Psychology
Issue: 1/XXI/2013
Page Range: 91-104
No. of Pages: 14
Keywords: group dynamics; stages of group development; manifest content; latent content
Summary/Abstract: In our study we deal with the process of group evolution and structuring, which are one of the key elements of group dynamics. We are presenting the main theories regarding group development. We demonstrate our hypothesis that a training group undergoes the same specific development as other groups do through examples taken from the life of a psychodrama training group. Knowing this process is important since it gives a better understanding of different group events. In the history of groups, the development of the group as a whole and the development of the individual as part of the group go on simultaneously. We are able to deduct at which stage of group development is the team - formation, problem period (riots), consolidation, actual operation, ending - from the way the participants talk about their attitude towards the group and from the way they define their problems. In this study, we examine the process of group development through the attitudes of the members towards the group. We have included in tables some of the subjects discussed in the group and we have pointed out the latent content of these manifestations, and also, what these manifestations tell about the internal needs of the participants.
Download full article

Short psychotherapeutic eclectic intervention for ambivalence: A case study
Rotaru, T. Ş. Pages 105-121Author(s): Tudor-Ștefan Rotaru
Language: English
Subject(s): Psychology
Issue: 1/XXI/2013
Page Range: 105-121
No. of Pages: 17
Keywords: clinical case study; ambivalence; dead end; double messages; eclectic intervention
Summary/Abstract: This article presents a case study on the psychotherapeutic intervention with a 27 year old female patient. The client complains about being blocked in her professional and personal life and about depressive moods. Three alternative conceptualizations (Ericksonian, systemic and motivational) show an inefficient problem formulation by the patient, ambivalence, unexposed guilt and a double messages as well as scapegoat’ family pathology. By exploiting these conceptualizations, we describe eclectic interventions meant to clarify the motives, to redefine problems, to reframe family behaviors and to exonerate the blame. In 10 months after the last session, the client successfully initiated her change cycle and feels satisfied by her choices. More profound personality features still favor excessive emotional dependency.
Download full article