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Two reliable and valid instruments to assess first- and second-grade children's (N = 100, M = 6.8 years) environmental attitudes and behaviors are presented. A series of games derived primarily from dimensions of the new ecological paradigm theory of environmental attitudes are described for the assessment of environmental attitudes. The games include felt board construction, a board game, and an adjustable worry thermometer. Environmental behaviors are assessed in the same sample using magnitude estimation (jumping different distances to indicate frequency of engagement in behavior) based on an adoption of Kaiser's General Environmental Behavior Scale for adults. The behavior scale employs a Rasch measurement model because environmental behaviors are viewed as a consequence of attitudes in concert with difficulties to implement actions. (Contains 3 tables and 4 figures.)

Two reliable and valid instruments to assess first- and second-grade children's (N=100, M=6.8 years) environmental attitudes and behaviors are presented. A series of games derived primarily from dimensions of the new ecological paradigm theory of environmental attitudes are described for the assessment of environmental attitudes. The games include felt board construction, a board game, and an adjustable worry thermometer. Environmental behaviors are assessed in the same sample using magnitude estimation (jumping different distances to indicate frequency of engagement in behavior) based on an adoption of Kaiser's General Environmental Behavior Scale for adults. The behavior scale employs a Rasch measurement model because environmental behaviors are viewed as a consequence of attitudes in concert with difficulties to implement actions. Keywords: children; environmental attitude

Purpose: This study explored collaborative goal setting with children, parents, and teachers, and children's reasons for their goals based on their perceived self-efficacy, using the Austrian-German Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (AG-PEGS). Method: Thirty-eight children from age 5 to 10 years (referred to occupational therapists because of difficulties in performing everyday activities), their parents and teachers participated in this mixed methods study. Participants' goals were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Data were grouped into thematic categories, and attributed to health factors according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health-Children & Youth Version (ICF-CY). Results: Children's responses underlined the significance of self-efficacy and participation for a child's health and well-being. They gave priority to their independence, competence, and joy in meaningful everyday activities and indicated social motives such as belonging to and being accepted by others for their mainly participation-oriented goals. Parents' main concerns were related to school task performance, whereas teachers mainly chose body functions and school activities to be the focus of occupational therapy intervention. Conclusions: Exploring clients' priorities, the meanings they attributed to activities in daily life, and their underlying motives for goals should be part of therapeutic intervention. Children and their caregivers are valid and important sources for therapeutic goal setting. Basic human needs, e.g., for relatedness, competence (self-efficacy), autonomy, and meaningful personal orientation, should be considered when prioritizing goals for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The author prospectively examined the power of persistent dissociation in predicting acute and chronic posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) in psychologists, psychotherapists, crisis intervention teams and clergymen after a disaster., Methods: 135 psychosocial disaster workers were assessed (6 weeks and 6 months after the catastrophe) with the Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS), the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and the German short version of the Dissociative Experience Scale (FDS-20). Correlational analysis and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis were conducted., Results: Persistent dissociation and acute stress symptoms were correlated with later acute and chronic PTSD diagnosis. Together, persistent dissociation und acute stress symptoms accounted for 74 % (m)/36 % (w) of the acute and 58 % (m)/44 % (w) of the variance in PTSD symptoms., Conclusions: The results support that persistent dissociation is a main predictor of acute and chronic posttraumatic stress symptoms in disaster workers.

Objectives: This recent study assesses the correlation of incidence- and reaction-related variables to predict acute and posttraumatic stress disorder in rescue workers after the catastrophe of Kaprun (2000) in Austria, Europe., Methods: In a prospective longitudinal study, 250 emergency medical personnel, crisis intervention teams and police officers were assessed using the Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASD), the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and an incidence- and reaction-related questionnaire 6 weeks and 6 months after their mission., Results: After 6 weeks, 7.3 % of the emergency medical personnel, 22.2 % of the crisis intervention team workers and 25.7 of police officers suffered from ADS. At 6 months after the disaster, 6.3 % of all rescue workers showed PTSD. The incidence-related predictors of PTSD assessed in the study were duration of the mission and early arrival at the site. Uncertainty about the help given was found to be a reaction-related predictor., Conclusions: This study provides further support for the usefulness of incidence- and reaction-related factors to predict acute and posttraumatic stress disorder in rescue workers. These results will aid in the development of special prevention strategies for rescue workers.