Precursors of falls from height in two main contractor companies in the Chilean construction sector and their subcontractors: Shared vision and preventive prioritization.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors that can result in serious injuries or deaths are frequently not understood or prevented because of the traditional way in which organizations approach safety. This is especially true for falls from heights in the construction sector, which remain a leading safety hazard in construction globally. METHODS: A theoretical framework derived from a thorough review of international evidence provided the foundation for the conduct of 50 structured focus groups with a total of 209 participants representing construction workers and supervisors in two main Chilean construction contractor companies and their subcontractors. RESULTS: A total of 627 precursors (risk factors), 56 taxonomies (work tasks/activities), and 622 defenses (prevention actions) were identified. These were classified in three macro dimensions and 13 subdimensions in total, providing a comprehensive framework for the origin, manifestation, and neutralization of such precursors. DISCUSSION: The findings provide a useful framework for understanding of the most critical risks to which workers are exposed and actions to prevent them. This framework should form the basis for the development of practical safety programs and tools such as management and training checklists, and data analysis for early warning signs.

'Does it matter how old I feel?' The role of subjective age in a psychosocial intervention for improving depressive symptomatology among older adults in Brazil (PROACTIVE).

OBJECTIVES: Depression is a prevalent mental health condition that also often affects older adults. The PROACTIVE psychosocial intervention was developed to reduce depressive symptomatology among older adults within primary care settings in Brazil. An important psychological marker that affects individuals' aging experience relates to how old people feel. Known as subjective age, this marker has been shown to be a risk factor for experiencing greater depressive symptoms if individuals report feeling older than their (chronological) age. In this study, we perform secondary analyses of the PROACTIVE cluster-randomized controlled trial to examine the role of subjective age. METHOD: The sample included 715 Brazilian older adults (74% female, Mage 68.6, SD = 6.9, age range: 60-94 years) randomized to intervention (n = 360, 74% female, Mage 68.4, SD = 6.6, age range: 60-89 years) or control (n = 355, 74% female, Mage 68.9, SD = 7.2, age range: 60-94 years) arms. Here our primary outcome was depressive symptoms at the 8-month follow-up assessed with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a continuous variable. Our previous analyses demonstrated improved recovery from depression at follow-up in the intervention compared with the control arm. RESULTS: Relevant main effects and interactions in regression models for PHQ-9 presented here found that those reporting older subjective age had worse depressive symptoms at follow-up but that they benefitted more from the intervention when initial levels of depression were high. For participants who reported younger subjective ages the intervention showed positive effects that were independent of initial levels of depression. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating possible underlying mechanisms that can help clarify the impact of mental health interventions.

Determinantes da proatividade e do capital psicológico: fatores individuais e organizacionais / Determinants of proactivity and psychological capital: individual and organizational factors / Determinantes de la proactividad y del capital psicológico: factores individuales y organizacionales

A proatividade e o capital psicológico (PsyCap) são construtos associados às virtudes psicológicas, recursos despertados por fatores individuais e organizacionais, que podem maximizar resultados. Este estudo visou investigar qualitativamente os determinantes e aspectos que podem estimular o PsyCap e a proatividade, a partir da perspectiva de trabalhadores de duas empresas brasileiras. A pesquisa foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com uma amostra de 26 funcionários. Os resultados revelaram determinantes comuns para a proatividade e o PsyCap, dentre eles a aprendizagem formal e informal, o feedback, a felicidade, a persistência, a curiosidade, os desafios e a estratégia. Foram observados alguns consequentes positivos, como euforia, alegria, realização, entusiasmo, engajamento e gratidão. Notou-se também que a ausência de proatividade e níveis baixos de PsyCap podem desencadear reações negativas, como indignação, tristeza, procrastinação, paralisação, desequilíbrio e frustração. Esses resultados sugerem que intervenções focadas no desenvolvimento da proatividade e do PsyCap podem ser essenciais para potencializar o bem-estar individual e resultados positivos nas organizações.(AU)

Proactivity and psychological capital (PsyCap) are concepts associated with psychological virtues, resources awakened from individual and organizational factors, which can maximize results. This study aimed to investigate qualitatively the determinants and aspects that can stimulate PsyCap and proactivity, from the perspective of workers of two Brazilian businesses. The research was carried out with semi-structured interviews with a sample of 26 employees. The results revealed common determinants for proactivity and PsyCap, among them formal and informal learning, feedback, happiness, persistence, curiosity, challenges, and strategy. Some positive consequences were observed, such as euphoria, joy, fulfillment, enthusiasm, engagement, and gratitude. Also note that the absence of proactivity and low levels of PsyCap could trigger negative reactions, such as indignation, sadness, procrastination, paralysis, imbalance, and frustration. These results suggest that interventions focused on the development of proactivity and PsyCap can be essential to enhance individual well-being and positive results in organizations.(AU)

La proactividad y el capital psicológico (PsyCap) son constructos asociados a las virtudes psicológicas, recursos que pueden ser despertados por factores individuales y organizacionales para maximizar los resultados. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar cualitativamente los determinantes y aspectos que pueden despertar el PsyCap y la proactividad desde la perspectiva de los trabajadores de dos empresas brasileñas. Este estudio se realizó mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas en una muestra de 26 empleados. Los resultados revelaron determinantes comunes para la proactividad y el PsyCap, entre ellos, el aprendizaje formal e informal, la retroalimentación, la felicidad, la persistencia, la curiosidad, los desafíos y la estrategia. Se observaron algunas consecuencias positivas, como euforia, alegría, logro, entusiasmo, compromiso y gratitud. También se señaló que la ausencia de proactividad y los bajos niveles del PsyCap pueden desencadenar reacciones negativas, como indignación, tristeza, procrastinación, parálisis, desequilibrio y frustración. Estos resultados sugieren que las intervenciones centradas en el desarrollo de la proactividad y del PsyCap pueden ser esenciales para mejorar el bienestar individual y los resultados positivos en las organizaciones.(AU)

How can internal marketing practices help achieve organizational success? / ¿Cómo las prácticas de marketing interno pueden ayudar a lograr el éxito organizacional? / Como as práticas de marketing interno podem ajudar a alcançar o sucesso organizacional?

Abstract Internal marketing is a concept still little recognized and disseminated, with most of the research on this area of marketing focusing on the service sector and well-consolidated and industrialized markets. This article sheds light on the importance of internal marketing practices by identifying their impact on workers' proactive behavior and life satisfaction while observing the effects of affective commitment and job satisfaction. The study collected 428 valid questionnaires from Portuguese workers (218 in the private sector and 210 in the public sector) and applied structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses. The results showed how adopting an internal marketing perspective can contribute to successful organizational and human resource management. It was observed that internal marketing practices lead to affective commitment and job satisfaction in both the private and public sectors, although more pronounced in the private sector. Also, the findings pointed out that the workers' affective commitment leads to adopting proactive behavior and life satisfaction only in the public sector and that job satisfaction leads to proactive behavior and life satisfaction for workers of both the private and public sector. This study contributes to increasing understanding of internal marketing, its applicability, and its importance for workers and organizations. Additionally, comparing the private and public sectors helps understand and show how this practice matches the workers' expectations.

Resumen Este artículo tiene como objetivo arrojar luz sobre la importancia de las prácticas de marketing interno, identificando su impacto en el comportamiento proactivo y en la satisfacción con la vida de los trabajadores, a través de los efectos del compromiso afectivo y la satisfacción laboral. El marketing interno sigue siendo un concepto poco reconocido y difundido. Esta investigación compara estos efectos entre los trabajadores del sector público y privado para reforzar la importancia de dicho concepto. En total, se recogieron 428 cuestionarios válidos de trabajadores portugueses (218 del sector privado y 210 del sector público). Se utilizó el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales para testar las hipótesis de estudio. Esta investigación muestra cómo la adopción de una perspectiva de marketing interno puede contribuir a una gestión organizacional y gestión de personas exitosa. Los resultados mostraron que las prácticas de marketing interno generan compromiso afectivo y satisfacción laboral, tanto en el sector privado como en el público, aunque de forma más acentuada en el sector privado. También se constató que el compromiso afectivo conduce a la adopción de conductas proactivas y a la satisfacción con la vida de los trabajadores del sector público únicamente, y que la satisfacción laboral conduce a la adopción de esta conducta y a la satisfacción con la vida para ambos, sector público y privado. Este trabajo contribuye a una mejor comprensión del concepto de marketing interno y su aplicabilidad e importancia para los trabajadores y las organizaciones. Además, al comparar los sectores público y privado, ayuda a comprender y mostrar cómo esta práctica coincide con las expectativas de los trabajadores de estos dos sectores.

Resumo Este estudo pretende evidenciar a importância das práticas de marketing interno, identificando o seu impacto no comportamento proativo e na satisfação com a vida dos trabalhadores, através dos efeitos do compromisso afetivo e da satisfação no trabalho. O marketing interno continua a ser um conceito com pouco reconhecimento e divulgação, uma vez que a maioria das pesquisas relacionadas com esse campo de marketing é direcionada para o setor de serviços e concentra-se predominantemente em mercados bem estabelecidos e industrializados. Esta pesquisa compara esses efeitos entre trabalhadores do setor privado e público para reforçar a importância deste conceito, sendo que, no total, foram recolhidos 428 questionários válidos junto de trabalhadores portugueses (218 no setor privado e 210 no setor público). O modelo de equações estruturais foi utilizado para testar as hipóteses de investigação. Esta pesquisa mostra como a adoção do marketing interno pode contribuir para o sucesso da gestão organizacional e da gestão de pessoas. Os resultados mostraram que as práticas de marketing interno levam ao comprometimento afetivo e à satisfação no trabalho, tanto no setor privado como no público, embora mais pronunciadas no setor privado. Constatou-se também que o comprometimento afetivo leva à adoção de comportamentos proativos e leva à satisfação com a vida dos trabalhadores, mas apenas do setor público, e que a satisfação no trabalho leva à adoção desse comportamento e à satisfação com a vida para ambos, setor privado e público. Este trabalho contribui para uma melhor compreensão do conceito de marketing interno, da sua aplicabilidade e importância, quer para os trabalhadores, como para as organizações. Além disso, ao comparar os setores privado e público, ajuda a entender e mostrar como essa prática atende às expectativas dos trabalhadores desses dois setores.

Advance Care Planning in Brazil.

Brazil is a country of continental size marked by extreme social inequalities. Its regulation of Advance Directives (AD) was not enacted by law but within the scope of the norms that govern the relationships between patients and physicians, as a resolution of the Federal Medical Council without any specific requirement for notarization. Despite this innovative starting point, most of the debate regarding Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Brazil has been dominated by a legal transactional approach focused on making decisions in advance and the creation of AD. Yet, other novel ACP models have recently emerged in the country with a focus on the creation of a specific quality of relationship between patients, families, and physicians aiming at the facilitating future decision-making. Most of the education on ACP in Brazil happens in the context of palliative care courses. As such, most ACP conversations are performed within palliative care services or by healthcare professionals with training in that area. Hence, the scarce access to palliative care services in the country means that ACP is still rare and that those conversations usually happen late in the course of disease. The authors posit that the existing paternalistic healthcare culture is one of the most important barriers to ACP in Brazil and envision with great concern the risk that its combination with extreme health inequalities and the lack of healthcare professionals' education on shared decision-making could lead to the misuse of ACP as a form of coercive practice to reduce healthcare use by vulnerable populations.

Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Personalidad Proactiva en profesores de escuelas de Lima (Perú) / Psychometric Properties of the Proactive Personality Scale in schoolteachers in Lima (Peru)

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Personalidad Proactiva en una muestra de profesores de escuelas de Lima (Perú). Participaron 302 profesores de ambos sexos (72.20 % mujeres) seleccionados a través de un muestreo no probabilístico de tipo intencional, cuyas edades estaban en el rango de 24 a 65 años (M = 43.04, DE = 10.75) y que enseñaban en los niveles educativos de educación primaria y secundaria (75.83 % en educación secundaria). Además de la Escala de Personalidad Proactiva, se aplicó la Escala Sentimiento de Autoeficacia en el Profesor para evaluar la validez convergente. Los resultados indican que la Escala de Personalidad Proactiva se ajusta a una estructura unifactorial (CFI = .949, TLI = .934, RMSEA = .076 y SRMR = .044), se evidencian correlaciones estadísticamente significativas (p < .001) y un tamaño del efecto mediano (rs > .10) con la mayoría de las dimensiones de la Escala Sentimiento de Autoeficacia, y presenta una adecuada consistencia interna (ω = .89). Se concluye que la Escala de Personalidad Proactiva cuenta con evidencias de validez basada en la estructura interna, validez convergente y una fiabilidad adecuada para medir la personalidad proactiva en profesores de escuela.

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Proactive Personality Scale in a sample of teachers from schools in Lima (Peru). Participants were 302 teachers of both sexes (72.20% women) selected through a non-probabilistic sampling of intentional type, whose ages were in the range from 24 to 65 (M = 43.04, DE = 10.75) and who taught at the educational levels of primary and secondary education (75.83% in secondary education). In addition to the Proactive Personality Scale, the Teachers Self Efficacy Scale was applied to assess convergent validity. The results indicate that the Proactive Personality Scale was adjusted to a unifactorial structure (CFI = .949, TLI = .934, RMSEA = .076 y SRMR = .044), there are statistically significant correlations (p <.001) and with a mean effect size (rs> .10) with most of the dimensions of self-efficacy feeling and adequate internal consistency (.89). The Proactive Personality Scale has evidence of validity based on internal structure, convergent validity, and adequate reliability to measure proactive personality in schoolteachers.

Invarianza factorial según sexo del Cuestionario de Agresión Proactiva y Reactiva en adolescentes peruanos / Reactive Proactive Aggression Questionnaire and its factorial invariance according to sex in Peruvian adolescents

Introducción: en esta investigación se analiza la validez, confiabilidad e invarianza del Cuestionario de Agresión Reactiva/Proactiva. Método: el estudio fue de tipo instrumental. Se evaluó a 2803 adolescentes, de los cuales 48.9% fueron mujeres 51.1% varones de la ciudad de Arequipa. Se aplicó el Cuestionario de Agresión Reactiva Proactiva (RPQ). Resultados: la prueba obtuvo índices de bondad de ajuste adecuados y se confirmó la estructura bifactorial mediante el análisis factorial confirmatorio. La prueba presentó invarianza escalar y estricta en función al sexo de los estudiantes evaluados, de modo que los varones muestran una mayor agresividad reactiva y proactiva que las mujeres. Las medidas de confiabilidadfueron satisfactorias. Conclusión: el RPQ es válido con una estructura de dos factores, además es invariante en función al sexo de los evaluados.

Introduction: in this research, we analyze the validity, reliability and invariance of the Reactive/Proactive Aggression Questionnaire. Method: the study was an instrumental sort of. We assessed 2803 adolescents, 48.9% female and 51.1% male from Arequipa City. The Reactive/Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) was applied. Results: the test obtained adequate levels of goodness of fit and the bifactorial structure was confirmed by a confirmatory factor analysis. The test presented scalar and strict invariance based on the sex of the evaluated students, so men showed greater reactive and proactive aggressiveness than women. Reliability measures were satisfactory. Conclusion: the RPQ is valid with a two-factor structure; it is also invariant depending on the sex of those evaluated.

Análisis y gestión del riesgo biológico en el laboratorio de Control Microbiológico de Liorad / Analysis and management of biological risk in the microbiological control laboratory of Liorad, Havana, Cuba

Introducción: El análisis del riesgo biológico en los centros donde se manipulen muestras biológicas permite conocer a los riesgos a los que están expuestos y tomar medidas para minimizar los mismos. Objetivo: realizar un análisis y gestión del riesgo biológico en el laboratorio de Control Microbiológico de la Unidad Empresarial de Base Laboratorio Liorad. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un análisis de riesgo cualitativo y una gestión proactiva a través de las siguientes áreas: valoración de los riesgos biológicos que incluyó un diagrama de bloque e identificación de los posibles fallos, gestión de los riesgos por el método ¿Qué Pasaría Sí?, los riesgos identificados se colocaron en un orden jerárquico, se realizó la comunicación de los resultados, se propuso un plan de acciones correctivas y revisión. Resultados: El diagrama de bloque facilitó conocer las áreas donde se manipulan muestras biológicas. El método ¿Qué Pasaría Sí? identificó los posibles fallos. La matriz permitió clasificar los riesgos en insignificantes, bajos, moderados y altos. Los riesgos en orden jerárquico permitieron dar un orden de prioridad para cumplir las acciones correctivas. La comunicación de los resultados permitió al personal conocer los riesgos a los que están expuestos. El plan de acciones se estableció para disminuir la incidencia de los riesgos. La revisión permitirá controlar si las acciones propuestas funcionan, y planificar una nueva evaluación de riesgo. Conclusiones: El análisis y gestión del riesgo biológico permitió identificar los posibles fallos que pueden ocurrir durante la manipulación de las muestras biológicas y evaluar los riesgos.

Introduction: The analysis of the biological risk in the centers where biological samples are handled allows to know the risks to which they are exposed and to take measures to minimize them. Objective: to perform an analysis and management of biological risk in the Microbiological Control Laboratory of Liorad Laboratory Base Business Unit. Method: A qualitative risk analysis and proactive management were carried out through the following areas: assessment of biological risks that included a block diagram and identification of possible failures, risk management by the What if? Method, the identified risks were placed in a hierarchical order, the communication of the results was carried out, a corrective action plan and review was proposed. Results: The block diagram made it easier to know the areas where biological samples are handled. The what if? method identified possible failures. The matrix made it possible to classify the risks into insignificant, low, moderate and high. The risks in hierarchical order allowed giving an order of priority to comply with the corrective actions. The communication of the results allowed the laboratory staff to know the risks they are exposed. The action plan was established to reduce the incidence of risks. The review will make it possible to check monitor whether the proposed actions work, and to plan a new risk assessment. Conclusions: The analysis and management of biological risk made it possible to identify possible failures that may occur during the handling of biological samples and to assess the risks.

Characterizing Organizational Lifecycle through Strategic and Structural Flexibility: Insights from MSMEs in Mexico.

Today's lifespan of companies tends to be low in the so-called micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Organizational life cycle (OLC) theory indicates that organizational aging is related, but not determined, by the firm chronological age or its size. Therefore, a firm's aging should be analyzed by other factors such as flexibility. The literature considers flexibility as an essential capability, a source of competitive advantage, and an enabler of long-term growth for MSMEs. However, little attention in emerging economies has been paid to examine the nuances of this concept in relation to the OLC in this type of companies. Additionally, studies tend to analyze flexibility as a general term, ignoring that it is a polymorphic concept. That is why there is a need to research the different categories of flexibility. Drawing on a quantitative approach conducting a factor analysis, a two-step cluster, and decision tree analysis to interrogate data from 257 MSMEs in Mexico, this study provides evidence of different dimensions of strategic and structural flexibility that help to characterize and predict the growth, maturity, and declining stages of MSMEs. Our results show that mature firms present more strategic and structural flexible characteristics than those involved in growth or decline stages. The flexible factors that help classify and predict an MSME in the maturity stage include open communication, decentralized decision making, and formalization. We provide a model with these results to illuminate unaddressed issues regarding the broad term of flexibility and its relationship to OLC.

Two sides of the same coin: ADHD affects reactive but not proactive inhibition in children.

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present a deficit in inhibitory control. Still, it remains unclear whether it comes from a deficit in reactive inhibition (ability to stop the action in progress), proactive inhibition (ability to exert preparatory control), or both.We compared the performance of 39 children with ADHD and 42 typically developing children performing a Simon choice reaction time task. The Simon task is a conflict task that is well-adapted to dissociate proactive and reactive inhibition. Beyond classical global measures (mean reaction time, accuracy rate, and interference effect), we used more sophisticated dynamic analyses of the interference effect and accuracy rate to investigate reactive inhibition. We studied proactive inhibition through the congruency sequence effect (CSE).Our results showed that children with ADHD had impaired reactive but not proactive inhibition. Moreover, the deficit found in reactive inhibition seems to be due to both a stronger impulse capture and more difficulties in inhibiting impulsive responses. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how ADHD affects inhibitory control in children.

Factorial Analysis and Invariance Testing for Age and Gender of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ).

Reactive aggression is characterized by high emotional activation, impulsivity, and hostility, while proactive aggression presents a cold, instrumental, and planned strategy. The aim was to perform a psychometric analysis of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire [RPQ]. A non-probability sample of 502 people between 18 and 40 years old was formed, grouped by sex (n=297, 59.2% women and n=205, 40.8% men) and age (n = 224, 44.62% under 25 years old and n=278, 55.38% over 25 years old). The instruments were the RPQ, the Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), and an affective scale (PANAS) in printed format. In this instrumental psychometric study, we found that the RPQ fits better in a model of two factors interrelated with residual covariances (CFI = .928, RMSEA = .044), presenting significant correlations with negative affect and anger rumination, as evidence of validity of concurrent criterion, especially with reactive aggression (anger rumination r = .542, and negative affect r = .359). Also, the test was not invariant between sexes and ages, given that the best fit was in the male sex and those under 25 years of age (∆CFI < 0.01, ∆RMSEA < 0.015). We concluded that women and adults over the age of 25 have a different aggressive response profile. These findings represent new directions of research around the measurement of aggressive behavior and the development of gender differentiated interventions for adolescents and young adults.

La agresión reactiva se caracteriza por una elevada activación emocional, impulsividad y hostilidad, mientras que la agresión proactiva presenta una estrategia fría, instrumental y planificada. El objetivo fue realizar un análisis psicométrico del Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire [RPQ]. Se conformó una muestra no probabilística de 502 personas entre 18 y 40 años, agrupadas por sexos (n=297, 59.2% mujeres y n=205, 40.8% hombres) y edades (n= 224, 44.62% menores de 25 años y n=278, 55.38% mayores de 25 años). Los instrumentos fueron el RPQ, una escala de rumiación-ira (ARS) y una de afecto (PANAS) en formato impreso. En este estudio instrumental psicométrico se encontró que el RPQ se ajusta mejor en un modelo de dos factores interrelacionados con covarianzas residuales (CFI = .928, RMSEA = .044), presenta correlaciones significativas con el afecto negativo y la rumiación-ira, como evidencias de validez de criterio concurrente, en especial con la agresión reactiva (rumiación-ira r=.542, y afecto negativo r=.359). Además, el test no fue invariante entre sexos y edades, dado que el mejor ajuste estuvo en el sexo masculino y menores de 25 años (∆CFI < 0.01, ∆RMSEA < 0.015). Se concluyó que las mujeres y los adultos mayores de 25 años presentan un perfil de respuesta agresiva diferente. Estos hallazgos representan nuevas direcciones de investigación en torno a la medición de la conducta agresiva y el desarrollo de intervenciones diferenciales por sexos para los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes.

The Effects of Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Self-Control on Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Bullying.

The social cognitive approach to moral development posits that moral self-schemas encourage character strengths and reduce adolescents' aggression. However, limited research has examined the influence of positive personal characteristics on proactive behaviors and reactive aggression in bullying. This study examined direct and mediational relationships between forgiveness, gratitude, self-control, and both proactive and reactive aggression in bullying. The extent to which the structural relations of this model were invariant by gender and stage of adolescence were also evaluated. Participants in this study were 1000 Mexican students, 500 early adolescents (M age = 12.36, SD = 0.77 years) and 500 middle adolescents (M age = 16.64, SD = 0.89 years), between 12 and 17 years old. Structural equation and multi-group invariance analysis were performed. Results indicate that gratitude and forgiveness are positively related to self-control. Gratitude, forgiveness, and self-control are also negatively related to reactive and proactive aggression. Forgiveness and gratitude had an indirect relationship by decreasing both proactive and reactive aggression through their positive effects on self-control. Additionally, gender moderated the relationships between variables proposed in the model, whereas stage of adolescence did not. Overall findings suggest that moral self-schemas and strengths explained both types of aggression in bullying.

Proactive and Reactive Aggressive Behaviors: Dimensionality of Self-Report Scales.

The literature distinguishes aggressive behavior as being either proactive or reactive; however, despite being highly comorbid, they appear to possess unique correlation patterns to external variables. We propose to assess the dimensionality and latent profiles that emerged based on the Peer Aggressive Behavior Scale (PAB-S) and the Peer Aggressive and Reactive Behavior Questionnaire (PARB-Q). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted on two self-report scales in a non-representative Brazilian sample composed by 2,517 students of elementary school (1,275 girls; 50.7%), aged from seven to 16 years. CFA analyses showed inconclusive results regarding the dimensionality of the data. LPA results, for both instruments, indicated the interdependence between proactive and reactive factors. We suggest that dimensionality issues concerning human aggression might depend, at least in part, on the method used to assess the phenomenon.

Failure to Recover from Proactive Semantic Interference and Abnormal Limbic Connectivity in Asymptomatic, Middle-Aged Offspring of Patients with Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: We have obtained previous evidence of limbic dysfunction in middle-aged, asymptomatic offspring of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) patients, and failure to recover from proactive semantic interference has been shown to be a sensitive cognitive test in other groups at risk for LOAD. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of specific proactive semantic interference deficits as they relate to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neocortical and limbic functional connectivity in middle aged offspring of individuals with LOAD (O-LOAD) and age-equivalent controls. METHODS: We examined 21 O-LOAD and 20 controls without family history of neurodegenerative disorders (CS) on traditional measures of cognitive functioning and the LASSI-L, a novel semantic interference test uniquely sensitive to the failure to recover from proactive interference (frPSI). Cognitive tests then were correlated to fMRI connectivity of seeds located in entorhinal cortex and anterodorsal thalamic nuclei among O-LOAD and CS participants. RESULTS: Relative to CS, O-LOAD participants evidenced lower connectivity between entorhinal cortex and orbitofrontal, anterior cingulate, and anterior temporal cortex. In the offspring of LOAD patients, LASSI-L measures of frPSI were inversely associated with connectivity between anterodorsal thalamus and contralateral posterior cingulate. Intrusions on the task related to frPSI were inversely correlated with a widespread connectivity network involving hippocampal, insular, posterior cingulate, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, along with precunei and anterior thalamus in this group. Different patterns of connectivity associated with frPSI were observed among controls. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that both semantic interference deficits and connectivity abnormalities might reflect limbic circuit dysfunction as a very early clinical signature of LOAD pathology, as previously demonstrated for other limbic phenotypes, such as sleep and circadian alterations.

Correction of vital statistics based on a proactive search of deaths and live births: evidence from a study of the North and Northeast regions of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In the last 20 years, Brazil has undergone dramatic changes in terms of socioeconomic development and health care. In the first decade of the 2000s, the Ministry of Health (MoH) developed a series of programs focused on reducing infant mortality, including the Family Health Program as a national policy for primary care. In this paper, we propose a method to correct underreporting of deaths and live births. After vital statistics are corrected, infant mortality trends are analyzed for the period 2000-2010 by macro-geographical region. METHODS: A proactive search of live births and deaths was carried out in the Amazon and Northeast regions in 2010 to find vital events that occurred in 2008 and were not reported to the Ministry of Health. The probabilistic sample of 133 municipalities was stratified by adequacy of vital information reporting. For each municipality, the adequacy analysis was based on the reported age-standardized mortality rate per 1,000 population and the ratio between reported and estimated live births. Correction factors were estimated by strata based on additional vital events found in the proactive search. The procedure was generalized to correct municipal vital statistics for the period 2000-2010. RESULTS: In the proactive search, 35% of non-reported deaths were found within the health system (hospitals and other health establishments), but 28% were found in non-official sources, like illegal cemeteries. In areas of extreme poverty and unreliable vital information, the estimated completeness of infant death reporting was only 33%. After correction of vital information, the estimated infant mortality rate decreased from 26.1 in 2000 to 16.0 in 2010, with an annual rate of decrease of 4.7%, greater than the required rate to achieve the Millennium Development Goal. Among Brazilian regions, the Northeast showed the largest decrease, from 38.4 to 20.1 per 1,000 live births. CONCLUSIONS: The proactive search for vital events was shown to be a good strategy both in terms of understanding local irregularities and for correcting vital statistics. The methodology could be applied in other countries to routinely assess the pattern and extent of birth and death under-registration in order to improve the utility of these data to inform health policies.

Comportamento pró-ativo e normas sociais: validação de medidas e estudo correlacional / Proactive behavior and social norms: validation of measures and correlational study

O comportamento pró-ativo se refere a uma série de comportamentos dirigidos a metas em que o trabalhador busca ativamente por oportunidades de mudança e está associado com desempenho e efetividade organizacional. Verifica-se um aumento na literatura sobre o tema e na agenda de pesquisa é apontada a necessidade de serem investigados novos antecedentes, como a influência do grupo. Considerando a lacuna apresentada, o objetivo geral do presente estudo é identificar o impacto das normas sociais na emissão de comportamentos pró-ativos. Para tanto, foram desenvolvidos três estudos distintos. No primeiro, foi construída e validada uma medida de normas sociais para a pró-atividade; no segundo, foi validada uma versão reduzida da Escala de Comportamentos Pró-ativos nas Organizações (ECPO), e o terceiro investigou a influência das normas sociais no comportamento pró-ativo. Os resultados mostraram que as medidas desenvolvidas apresentam qualidade psicométrica elevada. A variável antecedente incluída no modelo se mostrou preditora de comportamento pró-ativo, sendo a norma social com maior intensidade aquela que versa sobre o trabalhador que apresenta comportamentos pró-ativos e também encoraja os colegas a fazer o mesmo. Os impactos dos resultados são discutidos no trabalho.(AU)

Proactive behavior refers to a series of behaviors directed toward goals in which the employee actively seeks opportunities for change. It is also associated with performance and organizational effectiveness. There is an observed increase in the literature on the topic, and, in the research agenda, an indicated need to investigate new variables, such as the influence of the group. Given the lack of studies that have investigated the influence of the group in these behaviors, the overall goal of this study is to identify the impact of social norms on proactive behavior. To this end, three separate studies were developed. In the first one, a measure of pro-active social norms was constructed and validated; in the second, a short version of the scale of proactive behavior in organizations was validated; and the third one investigated the relationship between the social norm and pro-active behavior variables. The measures developed presented high psychometric properties. Social norms predicted proactive behavior, and the social norm with greater intensity was the one dealing with the worker who presents proactive behaviors, and also encourages co-workers to do the same. The impacts of the results are discussed.(AU)

Comportamento pró-ativo e normas sociais: validação de medidas e estudo correlacional / Proactive behavior and social norms: validation of measures and correlational study

O comportamento pró-ativo se refere a uma série de comportamentos dirigidos a metas em que o trabalhador busca ativamente por oportunidades de mudança e está associado com desempenho e efetividade organizacional. Verifica-se um aumento na literatura sobre o tema e na agenda de pesquisa é apontada a necessidade de serem investigados novos antecedentes, como a influência do grupo. Considerando a lacuna apresentada, o objetivo geral do presente estudo é identificar o impacto das normas sociais na emissão de comportamentos pró-ativos. Para tanto, foram desenvolvidos três estudos distintos. No primeiro, foi construída e validada uma medida de normas sociais para a pró-atividade; no segundo, foi validada uma versão reduzida da Escala de Comportamentos Pró-ativos nas Organizações (ECPO), e o terceiro investigou a influência das normas sociais no comportamento pró-ativo. Os resultados mostraram que as medidas desenvolvidas apresentam qualidade psicométrica elevada. A variável antecedente incluída no modelo se mostrou preditora de comportamento pró-ativo, sendo a norma social com maior intensidade aquela que versa sobre o trabalhador que apresenta comportamentos pró-ativos e também encoraja os colegas a fazer o mesmo. Os impactos dos resultados são discutidos no trabalho...

Proactive behavior refers to a series of behaviors directed toward goals in which the employee actively seeks opportunities for change. It is also associated with performance and organizational effectiveness. There is an observed increase in the literature on the topic, and, in the research agenda, an indicated need to investigate new variables, such as the influence of the group. Given the lack of studies that have investigated the influence of the group in these behaviors, the overall goal of this study is to identify the impact of social norms on proactive behavior. To this end, three separate studies were developed. In the first one, a measure of pro-active social norms was constructed and validated; in the second, a short version of the scale of proactive behavior in organizations was validated; and the third one investigated the relationship between the social norm and pro-active behavior variables. The measures developed presented high psychometric properties. Social norms predicted proactive behavior, and the social norm with greater intensity was the one dealing with the worker who presents proactive behaviors, and also encourages co-workers to do the same. The impacts of the results are discussed...

Relações entre comportamento pró-ativo e comprometimento organizacional / Relations between proactive behavior and organizational commitment

O comportamento pró-ativo diz respeito a ações que visam beneficiar a organização e antecipar problemas futuros, por esse motivo é altamente aquilatado no atual mundo do trabalho. Entre os antecedentes dessa variável, um aspecto pouco investigado e com resultados contraditórios é o comprometimento organizacional. Com vistas a preencher tal lacuna, o objetivo geral do presente trabalho é investigar a influência do comprometimento organizacional (afetivo, calculativo e normativo) no comportamento pró-ativo. Para a condução do estudo, foi utilizada uma amostra não probabilística de 457 trabalhadores de 22 organizações públicas e privadas. Foram utilizadas escalas validadas psicometricamente para aferir cada uma das variáveis. Os resultados mostram que os trabalhadores pesquisados apresentam pró-atividade acima do ponto médio da escala (3,31; dp= 0,88). A análise de regressão múltipla padrão mostrou que as três variáveis antecedentes explicaram 16% da variável critério, comportamento pró-ativo. Os resultados são discutidos com base na literatura da área.

Proactive behavior is related to actions that will benefit the organization and anticipate future problems; therefore it is highly gauged in the current labor market. Among the antecedents of this variable is the impact of organizational commitment which is one of little investigated and with contradictory results. In order to address this research gap, the overall purpose of the present study is to identify the influence of organizational commitment (affective, calculative and normative) on proactive behavior. To conduct the study a non-probability sample of 457 workers from twenty-two public and private organizations was selected. Psychometrically validated scales were used to measure each variable. The results show that workers presented pro-activity above the midpoint of the range (3.31, SD = 0.88). An analysis of the standard multiple regression showed that the three antecedent variables explained 16% of the criterion variable, proactive behavior. The results are discussed based on literature from the area.

Relações entre comportamento pró-ativo e comprometimento organizacional / Relations between proactive behavior and organizational commitment

O comportamento pró-ativo diz respeito a ações que visam beneficiar a organização e antecipar problemas futuros, por esse motivo é altamente aquilatado no atual mundo do trabalho. Entre os antecedentes dessa variável, um aspecto pouco investigado e com resultados contraditórios é o comprometimento organizacional. Com vistas a preencher tal lacuna, o objetivo geral do presente trabalho é investigar a influência do comprometimento organizacional (afetivo, calculativo e normativo) no comportamento pró-ativo. Para a condução do estudo, foi utilizada uma amostra não probabilística de 457 trabalhadores de 22 organizações públicas e privadas. Foram utilizadas escalas validadas psicometricamente para aferir cada uma das variáveis. Os resultados mostram que os trabalhadores pesquisados apresentam pró-atividade acima do ponto médio da escala (3,31; dp= 0,88). A análise de regressão múltipla padrão mostrou que as três variáveis antecedentes explicaram 16 por cento da variável critério, comportamento pró-ativo. Os resultados são discutidos com base na literatura da área(AU)

Proactive behavior is related to actions that will benefit the organization and anticipate future problems; therefore it is highly gauged in the current labor market. Among the antecedents of this variable is the impact of organizational commitment which is one of little investigated and with contradictory results. In order to address this research gap, the overall purpose of the present study is to identify the influence of organizational commitment (affective, calculative and normative) on proactive behavior. To conduct the study a non-probability sample of 457 workers from twenty-two public and private organizations was selected. Psychometrically validated scales were used to measure each variable. The results show that workers presented pro-activity above the midpoint of the range (3.31, SD = 0.88). An analysis of the standard multiple regression showed that the three antecedent variables explained 16 percent of the criterion variable, proactive behavior. The results are discussed based on literature from the area(AU)

Effects of visual and auditory stimuli in a choice reaction time task

The effect produced by a warning stimulus(i) (WS) in reaction time (RT) tasks is commonly attributed to a facilitation of sensorimotor mechanisms by alertness. Recently, evidence was presented that this effect is also related to a proactive inhibition of motor control mechanisms. This inhibition would hinder responding to the WS instead of the target stimulus (TS). Some studies have shown that auditory WS produce a stronger facilitatory effect than visual WS. The present study investigated whether the former WS also produces a stronger inhibitory effect than the latter WS. In one session, the RTs to a visual target in two groups of volunteers were evaluated. In a second session, subjects reacted to the visual target both with (50% of the trials) and without (50% of the trials) a WS. During trials, when subjects received a WS, one group received a visual WS and the other group was presented with an auditory WS. In the first session, the mean RTs of the two groups did not differ significantly. In the second session, the mean RT of the two groups in the presence of the WS was shorter than in their absence. The mean RT in the absence of the auditory WS was significantly longer than the mean RT in the absence of the visual WS. Mean RTs did not differ significantly between the present conditions of the visual and auditory WS. The longer RTs of the auditory WS group as opposed to the visual WS group in the WS-absent trials suggest that auditory WS exert a stronger inhibitory influence on responsivity than visual WS.