‘Time Out’: An Effective Educational Method or a Possible Instance of Ostracism?

Abstract

The article presents an educational method, colloquially called ‘time out’, from the perspective of research on the phenomenon of ostracism. Described are the theoretical models and the results of research on social exclusion. It has been shown that leaving a child in isolation can have negative emotional and behavioral effects. Possible side effects of the use of the ‘time out’ method were also presented. The discussion covers the conditions in which the use of the ‘time out’ procedure may contribute to positive effects.

Psychological Syndrome of Adolescent Aggression in the Context of the Functioning of the Family and Parents

Abstract

The aim of the presented research was to determine whether there were connections between the dimensions of family functioning (cohesion, communication, autonomy – control, identity), behaviors of parents and the psychological syndrome of adolescent aggression (PSA). 135 adolescents, aged 16–18, were asked to complete The Family Relations Questionnaire (KRR) by Plopa and Połomski, and The Psychological Inventory of Aggression Syndrome (IPSA) by Gaś. This study has shown (1) no differences between boys and girls in the general level of PSA, (2) gender differences in the intensity of particular aggressiveness/aggression dimensions, (3) a relationship between the dimensions of family functioning and the PSA of adolescents, (4) a link between the parents` behavior in the relationship and the dimensions of the adolescents’ PSA, determined by the gender of the child and the parent. 

Perception of the Parenting Techniques and Satisfaction with Life of Young People in Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Abstract

The authors analyze the satisfaction with life of young people in relation to the perception of the parenting techniques. 524 school and university students from the Podkarpacie region aged 13–22 were surveyed using the Inventory of Parental Discipline Techniques (IPDT) by Gała and the Student’s Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) by Huebner. The dominant technique used by parents is that of introduction to principles. Fathers use the technique of indifference more often than mothers. Mothers use the technique of power assertion more frequently as their children grow in age. Parenting techniques have a significant relationship with the level of life satisfaction of the adolescents and young adults, but at different stages of development different parental techniques are associated with their life satisfaction.

The Specificity of Functioning of the Multiple Sclerosis Patient’s Families in The Olson  Circumplex Model

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the typical features of functioning of a family with the multiple sclerosis patient as perceived by the patient and his/her spouse, as well as to identify the supposed psychosocial problems experienced by the patients and their loved ones, including the children. The presented research involved 216 people (108 families) who were divided into three groups: a criterial group (CG) and two comparative groups. Family functioning was assessed using the David Olson Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-IV).

In the light of the performed study particularly difficult has proved to be the situation of the adult children / grown children whose parents were suffering from MS. Their families were characterized by strong emotional bonding, over-identification, high dependence and mutual loyalty (family systems strongly intertwined with each other). Excessive concentration on the family seems to be unfavorable for children with multiple sclerosis parents. While high cohesion in certain circumstances may be  adaptive, it may pose a threat to the development of the children’s autonomy and delay their entering adulthood. 

Self-Esteem and Attachment Style as Predictors of Communication Behavior of Self and Partner

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the quality of communication and the factors that predict good communication in the partner relationship. 118 people (59 heterosexual couples) in the early adulthood participated in the study. The average age of the subjects was 34 years. The self-esteem of the respondents and their attachment style were considered to be important factors for the quality of partner communication measured by the Plopa Marriage Communication Questionnaire. Measurements of the independent variables were made using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale adapted by Łaguna, Dzwonkowska, and Lachowicz-Tabaczek (2008), and the Plopa Attachment Style Questionnaire.

Analyzes carried out as part of the study have confirmed to a limited extent the importance of the attachment style and the level of self-esteem for the quality of communication between partners. The study provided further empirical evidence confirming that the trustful, safe attachment is a predictor of the positive, successful, and happy dyadic relationship as opposed to the unsure bonds patterns. 

Self-Efficacy, Health Behavior and Satisfaction with Life among Dietetics Students

Abstract

The aim of the study was the investigation of the generalized sense of self-efficacy, the intensification of health behaviors and the level of life satisfaction, as well as the analysis of the relationships between these variables in people with specific interests and knowledge related to health and its promotion. The study group consisted of 252 dietetics students. The following validated scales were used: Inventory of Health-Related Behaviors (IHRB), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). In the examined group the self-efficacy was significantly higher in relation to the Polish normative values. Similary, healthrelated behaviors were significantly higher in the examined group in comparison to the normative values. However, the level of satisfaction with life was comparable to that obtained in the Polish standardization studies. Further analysis revealed in the study group a weak but significant correlation between the generalized self-efficacy, the inventory of health-related behaviors, and the satisfaction with life. Dietetics students with high GSES scores had significantly greater life satisfaction, and therefore were more content with their current life and the educational choices they had made, which translate into the health-related behaviors.