Monitor on Psychology - February 2012 - (Page 16)

brief In Thinkstock study showed that a “handsoff ” leadership style, role conflict and role ambiguity were strongly related to bullying at the departmental level. The authors say that targeting these departmental or organizational practices may be one of the most effective ways to reduce bullying (International Journal of Stress Management, November). They did not find, however, that hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen, affected cognition (Cancer, Dec. 12). n Another study confirms that alcohol consumption causes people to consider having unsafe sex, according to researchers at the University of Toronto. Through a series of 12 experiments, study participants were randomly assigned to drink alcohol or not. Then researchers asked participants whether they would engage in unsafe sex. They found that for every 0.1 mg/mL increase in blood alcohol level, participants’ willingness to engage in unprotected sex increased by 5 percent (Addiction, January). n Changes in mothers’ mental states before and after giving birth may slow infant development, according to a University of California, Irvine study. Researchers assessed pregnant women for depression before and after giving birth, and followed their babies’ development for several months. They found n Some personality traits that mental and physical are broadcast through scent, development was faster in according to research at the babies with mothers who University of Wroclaw in either were depression-free or In one study, babies’ mental and physical development Poland. Researchers collected had depression both before was faster when their mothers were either depressioncotton T-shirts worn over and after giving birth. Babies’ free or had depression both before and after giving birth. three consecutive nights by development was slower if their 60 participants and asked mothers went from depressed raters to smell the shirts and guess patients treated with chemotherapy before birth to non-depressed after birth how the donors’ rated on the “Big and radiation, 67 patients treated or from non-depressed before birth Five” personality traits — openness with radiation only and 184 women to depressed after birth (Psychological to experience, conscientiousness, with no history of cancer, completed Science, Nov. 10). extroversion, agreeableness and neuropsychological assessments six neuroticism. The raters predicted months after finishing treatment n Breast cancer survivors struggle the donor’s level of extroversion and and again 36 months later. The study with cognitive problems several neuroticism through smell at an above confirmed that both chemotherapy and years after treatment, finds a study chance level — about as accurately as radiation can cause cognitive problems out of the Moffitt Cancer Center and participants in past research predicted in breast cancer survivors that persist for Research Institute in Tampa. Study these personality traits based on a three years after they finish treatment. participants, including 62 breast cancer 16 M o n i t o r o n p s y c h o l o g y • F e b ru a ry 2 0 1 2 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.26432/abstract http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/str/18/4/305/ http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/str/18/4/305/ http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/str/18/4/305/ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03621.x/abstract

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - February 2012

Monitor on Psychology - February 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
APA files two briefs in support of same-sex couples
New registry seeks to understand addiction recovery through ‘crowdsourcing’
APA launches a database of tests and measures
Watch for new member benefit: “APA Access”
Apply now for APA’s Advanced Training Institutes
PsycTHERAPY, APA’s new database, brings therapy demos to life
In Brief
APA scientists help guide tobacco regulation
A-mazing research
‘A machine for jumping to conclusions’
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
Righting the imbalance
The beginnings of mental illness
Science Directions
Improving disorder classification, worldwide
Protesting proposed changes to the DSM
Interventions for at-risk students
Harnessing the wisdom of the ages
Anti-bullying efforts ramp up
Hostile hallways
R U friends 4 real?
Support for teachers
Speaking of Education
Record keeping for practitioners
Going green
At the intersection of law and psychology
Division Spotlight
Grants help solve society’s problems
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - February 2012