Chronic Procrastination Among Iranians: Prevalence Estimation, Latent Profile and Network Analyses.

Procrastination is the deliberate, unjustified postponing of an intended course of action despite its costs or unfavorable effects. The present study used a self-report online survey and collected data from a large convenience sample of the general adult population (N = 2,076; females = 55.73%; Mage = 35.1 years [SD ± 12.7]) with diverse demographics. Following the ring-curve distribution, the results indicated a 15.4% prevalence rate of procrastination among the Iranian community, which was significantly higher among women and divorced individuals and lower among nomadic individuals and those with higher academic degrees. A latent profile analysis demonstrated two distinct profiles, one for procrastinators (high scores on chronic procrastination, psychological distress, neuroticism, and extraversion; and low scores on general self-efficacy, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and one for non-procrastinators (demonstrating a reverse pattern compared to procrastinators). Moreover, additional network analysis suggested that the examined networks were invariant across procrastination status and gender. The results indicate that procrastination differs by demographic characteristics and is associated with a unique psychological profile. However, none of the aforementioned key study variables were considered a potential vulnerability for procrastinators due to the finding that all variables were peripheral and none were central in the examined networks. Therefore, relying on the differences in mean scores on psychometric scales does not appear to be an optimal way of determining the most important variables in a therapeutic context when treating procrastination.

The Involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous Scale - Short Form: Factor Structure & Validation.

Background: The aim of this research was to examine the psychometrics of a short form version of the multidimensional Involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous scale (IAA-SF) by assessing the factor structure, internal consistency, and predictive validity. While there are several existing measures of involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous, many are either unidimensional or are limited in their ability to gather variation in the level of involvement in the different dimensions of 12-step programs. Objective: To achieve our aim, we used exploratory and principal axis factor analysis, correlation, and logistic regression with two unique and diverse samples. Longitudinal data were collected from a northern Illinois sample of 110 post-treatment adults, and cross-sectional data were from a random sample of 296 recovery home residents in the United States. Results: Results from the first sample suggested three exploratory factors (Principles Involvement, Social Involvement, and Spiritual Involvement) that were concordant with the proposed conceptualization and were then confirmed in the second sample. A 2nd order factor of global involvement was also found. All subscales demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency and were moderately associated with AA affiliation. Global and social involvement predicted greater odds of abstinence 2 years later, but principles and spiritual involvement did not. Conclusion: Overall results suggest the IAA- SF is a valid and reliable 12-item instrument for assessing involvement in the AA program, and the differential prediction suggests potential utility for a multidimensional approach to 12-step involvement.

Predictors of e-waste: Considerations for community psychology prevention and intervention.

E-waste, the overabundance of unused technology products, is a growing issue as new technology is rapidly innovated and our society promotes the need to always have the "latest and greatest" products. Community psychology, as a field, is concerned with the global climate crisis, and subsequently must be concerned with e-waste. This study tested predictors of individual's likelihood to recycle e-waste with 883 US adults (459 males, 420 females, 3 other/nonbinary; 62.7% 54-year-old or younger) through a crowdsourcing procedure. Similar to previous recycling literature, the present study found that personal norms, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control positively predicted the likelihood for an individual to recycle; however, the present study provides further empirical evidence for these relationships and expands recycling literature by focusing on e-waste recycling. Implications for the field of community psychology with preventive and interventive actions are detailed.

Substance abuse relapse in Oxford House recovery homes: A survival analysis evaluation.

BACKGROUND: This study used survival analysis to examine risk factors for substance abuse relapse among residents in Oxford Houses (OH), a national network of self-run, self-financed aftercare homes for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. METHODS: Participants who entered OH within 60 days of a 1-year longitudinal study (N = 268) were selected from of a nationally representative US sample. Discrete-time survival analysis compared baseline risk of relapse with 4 hypothesized survival models that included time-invariant and time-varying factors across 3 subsequent time periods. RESULTS: The model predicting higher risk for more severe substance use disorders and psychiatric problems was supported. The hypothesized model that predicted time-varying increases in alcohol (but not drug) abstinence self-efficacy significantly affected risk of relapse. Hypothesized demographic and employment variables did not significantly predict relapse risk. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggested that OH recovery homes may reduce relapse by providing closer monitoring and referring additional services to new residents with more severe prior addiction severity. Risk for relapse may also be reduced by enhancing abstinence self-efficacy for alcohol regardless of drug of choice.

Vocational Training and Employment Attainment among Substance Abuse Recovering Individuals within a Communal Living Environment.

PURPOSE: The present study explored the effects of length of stay in an Oxford House (a sober living environment) with the number of days attended school/vocational training and days worked in the past 90 days with 292 women and 604 men. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This paper presents quantitative data. FINDINGS: Results indicated that number of days residing in these recovery homes was related to number of days attending school/vocational training and days worked. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The present study suggested that in addition to staying abstinent from alcohol and drugs, Oxford House residents may gain useful life skills through vocational education, training, and employment. This is an area of further exploration for the substance abuse recovery community.

Person-environment interactions among residents of Oxford Houses.

The continued struggle of addiction recovery support systems suggest that the paradigm of this field needs to continue its evolution, which has increasingly emphasized environments. Field Theory suggests that the products of individual and environmental characteristics be considered rather than a summation of the two. This study examined such interactions in Oxford Houses, a network of democratic, and self-governed addiction recovery homes. This study examined sobriety in experienced houses (average length of residency > six months) compared to less experienced houses (average length of residency ≤ six months) in relation to individual resident characteristics (age, length of residence in an Oxford House, and referral from the criminal justice system). Using multilevel modeling, findings indicated that older residents living in an experienced Oxford Houses were more likely to remain abstinent over time than those in inexperienced homes. Additionally, for inexperienced houses, residents who had been in the Oxford House for a longer period had a higher the probability of abstinence than those that had been in the house for a shorter period of time. Finally, legal referral was related to a lower probability of one-year abstinence but only for those in experienced homes. These types of person-environment interactions point to the need for more research to better understand how person variables interact with environmental variables in the processes of recovery and adaptation to settings, as well as for treatment professionals' consideration of both person and environment when making recovery home referrals.

Reactance, Decisional Procrastination, and Hesitation: A Latent Class Analysis of Clutter Behavior.

During the 2019-2020 global pandemic, mandated time at home suggested engagement in personal projects, such as home decluttering. Clutter (an overabundance of possessions) may impede one's quality of life by interfering with space livability and social connections and prompting negative affect and financial problems. The present study explored action-state orientation, psychological reactance, and decisional procrastination with 227 American adults (M age = 49.9 years old). A latent class analysis tested for differences in cognition across groups. Results supported that persons who struggle with clutter reflect clusters or "classes" given their self-reported cognitive processes, with hesitant and indecisive participants experiencing greater negative impacts of clutter than action-oriented and decisive participants. Our findings suggested improving the decision-making and goal-directed capacities of those struggling with clutter may be effective as preventive and/or interventive strategies. Future research might consider when hesitation to initiate challenging tasks and indecision emerge in the decluttering timeline and how those who are prone to these cognitions may be supported in managing their personal possessions.

Spiritual Awakening in 12-Step Recovery: Impact Among Residential Aftercare Residents.

Spiritually-based interventions in the form of 12-step programs are frequently offered as a part of substance use treatment programs in the United States. Programs based in the 12 steps guarantee that by working their program, an individual will undergo a process of transformation labeled a spiritual awakening. However, the impact of this experience on recovery factors and treatment adherence is unclear. The current study investigated adult residents (n = 115) who experienced a spiritual awakening attributed to 12-step group affiliation during their stay at residential aftercare facilities for substance use disorder. Self-efficacy and hope were greater for individuals who experienced a spiritual awakening versus those persons who did not experience awakening. Awakening was associated with greater affiliation to AA and decreased negative exit from the facility. Results revealed the potential for an awakening to improve treatment behavior and outcomes in a residential environment, as well as benefit an individual's personal recovery resources. Further theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Hope as a Predictor of Reincarceration Among Mutual-Help Recovery Residents.

Given the rates of reincarceration in the U.S., it is important to understand criminal justice risk and protective factors. Hope is a potentially important factor with two components-agency (goal-directed determination) and pathways (planning to meet goals) (Snyder et al., 1991). We conducted a secondary data analysis (n = 45) of a longitudinal survey of mutual-help recovery home residents. As hypothesized, greater global hope and agency significantly predicted lower odds for reincarceration, and lower levels of pathways was not predictive. We relate these findings to hope theory and potential community applications.

Older Adults and Clutter: Age Differences in Clutter Impact, Psychological Home, and Subjective Well-Being.

Previous research found mixed results for clutter's impact on individuals' sense of home and subjective well-being in a variety of samples. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, archival data were utilized to examine the relationship between clutter, psychological home, and subjective well-being across two age categories, specifically older adults aged ≥65 (n = 225), and younger adults aged ≤64 (n = 225). Three moderation analyses used age categories as a moderator exploring the relationship between (a) clutter predicting psychological home, (b) psychological home predicting subjective well-being, and (c) clutter predicting subjective well-being. Results found that age categories significantly moderated the relationship between clutter and psychological home but did not moderate the other variable relationships.

Online and Academic Procrastination in Students With Learning Disabilities: The Impact of Academic Stress and Self-Efficacy.

The steady growth in the number of college students with learning disabilities (LD) increases the need to investigate their unique characteristics and behaviors in academia. The present study examined the differences in academic and online procrastination, academic stress, and academic self-efficacy between college students with and without LD. In addition, the relationship between these variables was examined. It was assumed that the difficulties experienced by college students with LD would lead them to increased levels of academic stress, and academic and online procrastination. The results showed significant differences in the levels of all variables except online procrastination between students with (n = 77) and without (n = 98) LD. Further analysis indicated that academic stress and academic self-efficacy mediated the link between LD and academic and online procrastination. These findings support the notion that during higher education, students with LD experience more difficulties than students without LD, which at times will lead them to increased levels of procrastination. However, further studies are needed to understand the nature of online procrastination in students with LD in higher education.

Unaccompanied migrant minors in Europe and U.S.: A review of psychological perspective and care challenges.

Unaccompanied migrant minors are youth under the age of 18 who migrate alone, traveling separately from both parents. These youth may be asylum seekers, recognized refugees, or other externally displaced persons. Unaccompanied migrant minors have become an increasingly prevalent global issue. However, this phenomenon might be better understood considering the peculiarities of their contexts, since there are differences related to specific conditions and reception systems. The present study reviewed and compared visually previously reported psychological perspective of unaccompanied migrant minor receiving services from select European countries and the U.S. Unaccompanied migrant minors create a challenge on a nation's care system because these minors are the most vulnerable group in the context of migration. Our explorative assessment suggested underlining similarities and differences between contexts, reflecting the unique needs of the unaccompanied migrants and proposed services and intervention models.

Home Away from Home: Comparing Factors Impacting Migrants' and Italians Sense of Psychological Home.

Psychological home is an understudied concept within community psychology, especially focused on migrants. Previous literature on psychological home found a positive relationship with well-being and resilience in general populations and migrants. Studying psychological home in migrants may provide important tools to buffer various stresses associated with migration. The present study explored the relationship between psychological home and demographic factors, including dwelling type and situation between migrants (n = 132) and Italian citizens' population (n = 76). Results offer theoretical reasons explaining the differences in the meaning of home between migrant and non-immigrant populations.

Veterans residing in self-governed recovery homes for substance abuse: sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: Veterans commonly experience both psychiatric and substance abuse problems following their reintegration into the community postwar. The present study describes a sample of veterans residing in self-governed recovery homes. METHODS: A subsample of 24 veterans within a large national study were examined using demographic data and psychiatric and substance abuse measures. Participants were evaluated at baseline and at a one-year follow-up. RESULTS: Abstinence rates for the veteran subsample were high. Additionally, results suggested that participants experienced a reduction in anxiety and depression over time. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The psychiatric and substance use improvements of this veteran subsample provide incentive for further research of this at-risk population as residents of self-governed recovery homes.

Residents of mutual help recovery homes, characteristics and outcomes: Comparison of four US ethnic subgroups.

This study compared the characteristics and outcomes of four ethnic groups living in mutual help recovery homes. The sample consisted of 524 Caucasian, 305 African American, 31 Latino/a, and 17 American Indian (AI) participants. This article includes a short review of relevant literature on AIs and substance use, provides an analysis of characteristics and outcomes of four ethnic groups and includes a discussion of the implications of the findings for knowledge of patterns of use among AIs. AIs were more likely to report being on parole or probation and being referred for aftercare by the legal system. Additionally, AIs reported greater disharmony within their recovery residences than Caucasians, but there were no significant ethnic differences in baseline length of stay in Oxford House, length of alcohol or drug sobriety, or substance use outcomes four months after the baseline assessment.

How Type of Treatment and Presence of PTSD affect Employment, Self-regulation, and Abstinence.

The present study examined self-regulation, unemployment, and substance use outcomes for individuals with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who had transitioned from substance use treatment centers to the community. Participants, recruited from substance abuse treatment centers, were randomly assigned to an Oxford House self-help communal living environment (n = 75) or received usual aftercare (n = 75). Among these 150 individuals, 32 participants (27 women, 5 men) were diagnosed with lifetime PTSD. At a two year follow-up, individuals with PTSD in the usual aftercare condition showed significantly lower levels of self-regulation than those in the Oxford House condition with or without PTSD. These findings highlight the importance of abstinence supportive settings following substance use treatment, especially for individuals with PTSD.

Combining a dispersal model with network theory to assess habitat connectivity.

Assessing the potential for threatened species to persist and spread within fragmented landscapes requires the identification of core areas that can sustain resident populations and dispersal corridors that can link these core areas with isolated patches of remnant habitat. We developed a set of GIS tools, simulation methods, and network analysis procedures to assess potential landscape connectivity for the Delmarva fox squirrel (DFS; Sciurus niger cinereus), an endangered species inhabiting forested areas on the Delmarva Peninsula, USA. Information on the DFS's life history and dispersal characteristics, together with data on the composition and configuration of land cover on the peninsula, were used as input data for an individual-based model to simulate dispersal patterns of millions of squirrels. Simulation results were then assessed using methods from graph theory, which quantifies habitat attributes associated with local and global connectivity. Several bottlenecks to dispersal were identified that were not apparent from simple distance-based metrics, highlighting specific locations for landscape conservation, restoration, and/or squirrel translocations. Our approach links simulation models, network analysis, and available field data in an efficient and general manner, making these methods useful and appropriate for assessing the movement dynamics of threatened species within landscapes being altered by human and natural disturbances.

Understanding student complaints in the service learning pedagogy.

This study draws upon student evaluations across 3 years of service learning (SL) courses at a large, urban, faith-based university identifying issues of greatest concern to students. Analysis of qualitative responses revealed perspectives on the limits, pitfalls, and barriers to successful SL student work in the community replicated over the 3 year timeframe. Over 2,200 written responses were coded and tested for reliability for each of 3 years. The top three comments SL students were most likely to express included: (1) concern about their placement in the community, for example, that sites were not prepared or that further goal-setting, communication and training by the university was necessary; (2) that the university's choice of sites may have been ill considered; and, (3) that there were problems with time and scheduling. Ongoing assessment of students' perspectives on their placement experience identifies practices that can enhance their learning and contributions toward building stronger communities.

Self-Efficacy and Sense of Community among Adults Recovering from Substance Abuse.

Previous researchers found that abstinence-specific self-efficacy has been predictive of the likelihood of relapse for individuals in recovery from substance abuse. Oxford Houses are sober living homes that provide mutual support and are resident funded and operated. The relationships between house level sense of community and abstinence-specific self-efficacy were examined in the present study with a sample of 754 adults living in 139 Oxford Houses nationwide in a multilevel model. A significant positive relationship between house level sense of community and self-efficacy was observed. These findings have both research and therapeutic implications.

Time is on My Side-or Is It? Assessing How Perceived Control of Time and Procrastination Influence Emotional Exhaustion on the Job.

The job demands-control model (JDC) postulates that an increased control over work resources mitigates or "buffers" the positive association between job stressors and strainers. However, the inconclusive validation of the buffering hypothesis across multiple studies suggests the need for fresh approaches, both conceptual and methodological. We integrated aspects of the JDC framework and time management process models to construct a model that tested both the direct and indirect effects of the perceived control of time (PCT) on emotional exhaustion arising from workload demands. Furthermore, we tested whether procrastination tendencies moderated the benefits of PCT on work stressors and strains. Data were collected in an Internet survey with 356 US adult office workers obtained from Prolific. The results supported the buffering effect of PCT on emotional exhaustion. PCT both mediated and exerted direct effects on the relationship between workload and emotional exhaustion. Procrastination tendencies moderated PCT and, in turn, undermined high PCT ability to reduce emotional exhaustion. Overall, the findings suggested that giving workers more control over their time may reduce stress associated with demanding workloads. However, chronic procrastinators may benefit less from having more control over time resources if they are not provided with tools to help them self-regulate more effectively.