The study aimed to examine whether students' different career decision styles predict their difficulties in deciding about their future education. We measured students' adaptive self-confident and ...three maladaptive decision-making styles: avoidant, panic, and impulsive, and examined how these styles are related to students' difficulties in career decision-making: internal and external conflicts, lack of information, and dysfunctional beliefs. Our sample comprised 792 final-year students from 26 Slovenian secondary schools. We used the Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) and Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire (ADMQ), which we adapted to the Slovenian language. The results showed that boys use self-confident and impulsive decision-making styles more often and panic decision-making style less often than girls do. Boys reported less internal conflicts, lack of information and dysfunctional beliefs. Among CDDQ scales, we found a strong correlation between Internal Conflicts and Lack of Information scale scores and moderate correlations of these two scales with External Conflicts. Correlations between ADMQ scales were low to moderate: Self-Confident Style scale score correlated negatively with scores on scales of all three maladaptive styles. The Lack of Information score was best predicted by the Panic Decision-Making Style score, the External Conflicts score by the Panic and Impulsive Decision-Making Style scores, and the strongest predictors of Dysfunctional Beliefs score was the Panic Decision-Making Style score. Having more pronounced panic style and being a girl turned out to be related to more difficulties in all domains of career decision-making. Some practical career counselling implications of these findings are discussed.
Cilj je ovoga istraživanja bio ispitati predviđaju li različiti stilovi odlučivanja poteškoće u donošenju profesionalnih odluka, odnosno, poteškoće u odabiru smjera nastavka obrazovanja kod srednjoškolaca. Preciznije, ispitano je kako su samopouzdani stil i tri maladaptivna stila odlučivanja, izbjegavajući, panični i impulzivni, povezani s poteškoćama u donošenju odluka vezanih uz profesionalnu orjentaciju: internalnim i eksternalnim konfliktima, nedostatku informacija i disfunkcionalnim vjerovanjima. Uzorak se sastojao od 792 učenika završnih razreda 26 srednjih škola u Sloveniji. Korišteni su Upitnik poteškoća u donošenju profesionalnih odluka (engl. Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire; CDDQ) i Upitnik stilova odlučivanja adolescenata (engl. Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire; ADMQ), koji su adaptirani na slovenski jezik. Rezultati su pokazali da se mladići češće nego djevojke koriste samopouzdanim i impulzivnim, a rjeđe
paničnim stilom odlučivanja. Nadalje, mladići izvještavaju o nižim internalnim konfliktima, manjem nedostatku informacija i nižim disfunkcionalnim vjerovanjima. Između skala CDDQ-a pronađena je visoka povezanost skala internalnih konflikata i nedostatka informacija, a umjerena je povezanost ovih dviju skala sa skalom eksternalnih konflikata. Korelacije među skalama ADMQ-a u rasponu su od niskih do umjerenih: rezultat na skali samopouzdanog stila odlučivanja negativno je povezan s rezultatima na skalama svih triju maladaptivna stila. Panični stil odlučivanja najbolji je prediktor rezultata na skali nedostatka informacija, dok su panični i impulzivni stil odlučivanja prediktori rezultata na skali eksternalnih konflikata. Također, panični je stil odlučivanja najbolji prediktor rezultata na skali disfunkcionalnih vjerovanja. Izraženiji panični stil povezan je s većim poteškoćama u svim domenama donošenja profesionalnih odluka, osobito kod
djevojaka. Raspravljene su praktične implikacije dobivenih rezultata u vidu savjetovanja o donošenju odluka u vezi s profesionalnom orijentacijom.
Student motivation represents an important factor in their academic performance. The present study explored university students' academic motivation across the academic year and its relationship with ...psychological need satisfaction in the study context and academic adjustment. Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory (SDT) presents a theoretical framework of this study. 124 students participated in both waves of data collection. They answered the Academic Motivation Scale, College Version (AMS-C 28) in the fall of the academic year, and seven months later they answered the question about their certainty of study choice and completed again the AMS-C 28. Additionally, they answered the items about their psychological need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness) in the current academic year and the items about their satisfaction with the study. The results showed that all forms of academic motivation (as distributed along the SDT motivational continuum) remained highly stable within one academic year. More autonomous motivational orientation related to higher perceived satisfaction of psychological needs. Furthermore, it significantly predicted students' satisfaction with the study and certainty about the study choice. When students' satisfaction of psychological needs in the current academic year was entered into the regression model, it predicted satisfaction with the study and certainty in study choice over and above the students' level of autonomous motivation. The study showed the importance of creating learning environments that respond to students' psychological study needs.
Motivacija studenata predstavlja važan čimbenik školskoga postignuća. Ovim je istraživanjem ispitana akademska motivacija studenata tijekom akademske godine i njezin odnos sa zadovoljenjem psiholoških potreba u kontekstu studiranja te s akademskom prilagodbom. Teorijski okvir ovog istraživanja predstavlja teorija samoodređenja (SDT) Decija i Ryana. U obje su točke mjerenja sudjelovala 124 studenta. Na početku akademske godine studenti su ispunili Skalu akademske motivacije, verziju za studente (AMS-C 28), a sedam mjeseci kasnije odgovorili su na pitanje o svojoj sigurnosti izborom studija te ponovno ispunili AMS-C 28. Pored toga, procijenili su stupanj zadovoljenosti psiholoških potreba (za autonomijom, kompetencijom i povezanošću) u tekućoj akademskoj godini te svoje zadovoljstvo studijem. Rezultati su pokazali da su svi oblici akademske motivacije (raspoređeni po motivacijskom kontunuumu SDT-a) tijekom akademske godine ostali vrlo stabilni. Viša autonomna motivacijska orijentacija bila je povezana s većim percipiranim zadovoljenjem psiholoških potreba te je bila značajan prediktor zadovoljstva studenata studijem i sigurnosti u izbor studija. Kada je zadovoljenje psiholoških potreba studenata u tekućoj akademskoj godini uneseno u regresijski model, predviđalo je zadovoljstvo studijem i sigurnost u izbor studija povrh autonomne motivacije studenata. Istraživanje je uputilo na važnost stvaranja okruženja za učenje koje je responsivno na psihološke potrebe studenata vezane uz studij.
The importance of self-regulated learning (SRL) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and measures for assessing students' self-regulation skills and knowledge are greatly needed. We present the ...results of the first thorough adaptation of the Children's Perceived use of Self-Regulated Learning Inventory (CP-SRLI). The inventory, consisting of 15 scales measuring nine components of SRL, was administered to a sample of 541 Slovenian ninth graders. Confirmatory factor analyses supported internal structure validity of most components, but two components required some structural modifications. Internal consistency coefficients were acceptable for the majority of scale scores and were highly comparable to the original ones. While metric invariance across gender was confirmed, the scalar invariance of some scales needs further examination. Meaningful correlations with relevant externally assessed and self-reported self-regulation and school performance variables indicated good criterion validity of the inventory. The Slovenian version of the CP-SRLI thus proved to be a sufficiently valid and reliable instrument for assessing pupils' learning self-regulation.
High grade gliomas are associated with cognitive problems. The aim of the study was to investigate cognitive functioning in a cohort of patients with high grade glioma, according to isocitrate ...dehydrogenase (IDH) and methyl guanine methyl transferase (MGMT) status and other clinical characteristics.
The patients with the high-grade glioma treated in Slovenia in given period of time were included in study. Postoperatively they completed neuropsychological assessment consisting of Slovenian Verbal Learning Test, Slovenian Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Trail Making Test Part A and B and self-evaluation questionnaire. We analysed results (z-scores and dichotomized results) also according to IDH mutation and MGMT methylation. We examined differences between groups using T-test, Mann-Whitney U, χ
and Kendall's Tau tests.
Out of 275 patients in the cohort, we included 90. Forty-six percent of patients were unable to participate due to poor performance status and other conditions related to tumour. Patients with the IDH mutation were younger, with better performance status, larger proportions of grade III tumours and MGMT methylation. In this group cognitive functioning is significantly better in the domains of immediate recall, short delayed recall and delayed recall, and in the fields of executive functioning and recognition. There were no differences in cognitive functioning in regard to MGMT status. Grade III tumours were associated with more frequent MGMT methylation. Self-assessment proved week tool, associated only with immediate recall.
We found no differences in cognitive functioning according to MGMT status, but cognition was better when IDH mutation was present. In a cohort study of patients with high-grade glioma, almost half were unable to participate in a study, which points to an overrepresentation of patients with better cognitive functioning in the research.
Abstract Objective We explored differences between high and low-impulsive incarcerated individuals in the context of lifetime self-mutilation, suicide ideation and suicide attempt. Methods A total of ...1265 males detained in Italian penitentiary institutions were studied between January 2006 and December 2008. The study raters were specifically trained to discriminate between suicide attempters, ideators and self-mutilators. Participants completed the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Brown–Goodwin Assessment for Lifetime History of Aggression (BGLHA) and Buss and Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Based on BIS 7 total score distribution, two extreme quarters — high-impulsive group ( n = 306) and low-impulsive group ( n = 285) — were compared. Results Over 42% of participants had lifetime suicide ideation, 13% attempted suicide and 17% were self-mutilators. High-impulsive subjects were younger, more often single and with more prominent psychoticism, extraversion, aggression, hostility and resilience capacity. They were more frequently diagnosed with substance use disorders and engaged in self-mutilating behaviour. There was no difference in the rate of suicide attempts between the two groups. Conclusion Although high-impulsive subjects were more prone to suicidal behaviour, it was not predicted by higher impulsivity when other psychological variables were accounted for.
Increasing amounts of text are read from various types of screens. The shape and the size of a typeface determine the legibility of texts. The aim of this study was to investigate the legibility of ...different typefaces displayed on LCD screens. Two typefaces (Georgia and Verdana), designed for screen renderings were analyzed by eye-tracking technology in 8 different sizes. Regardless of the font size, the texts set in Verdana were read faster. For both typefaces the reading speed increased with increasing the font size. The number of fixations increased with the character size, while the fixation time was shorter.
In television broadcasts, important information is often conveyed with short inscriptions. In such elements, the typeface, letter case, positioning, timing and colour combinations may affect the ...speed of information processing to the level of recognition. It is therefore necessary to choose an appropriate combination of these properties. In the present study, we were especially interested in the effects of applied colours in connection with the above-mentioned factors. The speed of recognising three-letter words was measured in different experimental conditions where the typeface of the inscription, its position and colour combination varied. Two typefaces (i.e. Calibri and Georgia), two letter cases (i.e. upper-case and lower-case), two positions (i.e. upper left and right) and four colour combinations (i.e. white on blue, blue on white, white on red and red on white) were tested. The results showed that colour combinations affected the speed of word processing to the level of recognition.
The existing literature provides evidence of the link between media reporting and suicide in terms of either preventive or provocative effects. Hence, working with media representatives on ...responsible reporting on suicide is of great importance. Until recently in Slovenia, there has been an obvious lack of communication between media representatives and suicidologists. The aims of the present study were twofold; firstly, to introduce the adaptation and dissemination of intervention on responsible media reporting, and secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented intervention on suicide reporting.
We used a pre-post research design. Newspaper articles were retrieved over two 12-month periods: the baseline period and the follow-up period. In between, we had a year of implementation of our intervention program (launching and disseminating the Guidelines via workshops). Each retrieved article was rated qualitatively with respect to its adherence to the Guidelines.
The comparison of baseline and follow-up periods revealed some significant differences. Reporting in the follow-up period was less sensationalistic, there was less reporting about specific cases of suicides and more about causes of suicide and pathways out of mental distress. Furthermore, in the follow-up period, there was a significant improvement related to headlines of media articles. Contact information about where to seek help was more often included in the articles.
The findings are promising, but working with the media needs to be continuous and ongoing if sustainable results are to be achieved.
Pandemija covida-19 je po vsem svetu povzročila negotovost, strahove in skrbi ter s tem povečala možnost pojavljanja anksioznosti. V spletni anketi, ki smo jo izvedli aprila 2020 na vzorcu Slovencev, ...starih 18 let in več, smo zbrali podatke o generalizirani anksioznosti, nevroticizmu, psihosocialni ranljivosti, izgubi zaznanega nadzora in vplivu različnih z epidemijo povezanih težav. Prispevek predstavlja rezultate 110 študentov (med njimi 78 % žensk) ter jih primerja z rezultati neštudentov (n = 779). Ugotovili smo, da so bili za študente v primerjavi z ostalimi udeleženci značilni višja generalizirana anksioznost, večja izguba zaznanega nadzora in večji vpliv težav, povezanih z epidemijo. Pri študentih je bila generalizirana anksioznost pozitivno povezana z vplivom z epidemijo povezanih omejitev, izgubo zaznanega nadzora in nevroticizmom. Študija izpostavlja dejavnike tveganja za generalizirano anksioznost študentov med zdravstveno krizo in podaja možne usmeritve za razvoj preventivnih ukrepov.
Vidno pozornost, ki je pomembna kognitivna funkcija, saj pomaga izbrati relevantno in fi ltrirati nerelevantno informacijo iz vidnega prizora, je mogoče z urjenjem izboljšati. V raziskavi smo razvili ...računalniški trening fokusirane in razpršene pozornosti ter preklapljanja pozornosti med globalnim in lokalnim procesiranjem informacij in preverili njegovo učinkovitost pri zdravih mladostnikih. V eksperimentalni skupini (n = 11) so dijaki športne gimnazije šest tednov trikrat na teden po 20 minut reševali naloge za treniranje vidne pozornosti. Po koncu vsakega srečanja so dobili povratno informacijo o uspešnosti in so spremljali svoj napredek. Njihovi vrstniki v kontrolni skupini (n = 10) v tem času niso prejeli nobene intervencije. Za preverjanje učinkov treninga pozornosti so udeleženci obeh skupin pred in po treningu rešili različne kognitivne teste, med katerimi so bili nekateri bolj, drugi manj podobni treniranim nalogam. V primerjavi s kontrolno skupino so se v eksperimentalni skupini v večji meri skrajšali časi reagiranja na testu selektivne pozornosti in lokalno-globalnega procesiranja, medtem ko pri drugih uporabljenih kognitivnih testih nismo zaznali konsistentnih učinkov treninga. Rezultati so torej pokazali, da razviti trening lahko izboljša izbrane vidike vidne pozornosti, vendar je njegov učinek, skladno z večino ugotovitev o kognitivnih treningih v literaturi, omejen in se izboljša uspešnost reševanja le na nalogah, ki so zelo podobne treniranim.
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