Push and Pull Motivations for Quitting: A three-wave investigation of predictors and consequences of turnover

We report a new analysis of data from a multi-year study, some of which were previously published in the current journal. A longitudinal sample of 380 computer specialists was followed over two years, yielding three measures each of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions, as well as actual turnover, and reasons for leaving, at Times 2 and 3. Career paths were more diverse than the classical distinction between stayers and leavers implies. Furthermore, although the largest single group of leavers cited “push” reasons, conforming to the classical withdrawal model, a sizable number were attracted to another job (“pull motivation”). In a three-wave structural equation model, job (dis)satisfaction predicted turnover, while organizational commitment exerted its influence only via its association with job satisfaction. As expected, however, attitudes predicted turnover only for participants with push motivation. Quitting, in turn, predicted an improvement in both satisfaction and commitment, indicating that it paid off for the individual. The necessity to study consequences of turnover and to distinguish between different subgroups of stayers and leavers is emphasized.

Short-term functional versus patient-reported outcome of the bicruciate stabilized total knee arthroplasty: prospective consecutive case series

BACKGROUND The main goals of the standard treatment for advanced symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, total knee arthroplasty (TKA), are pain reduction and restoration of knee motion.The aim of this study was to analyse the outcome of the patient-based Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the surgeon-based Knee Society Score (KSS) and its Knee Score (KS) and Knee Functional Score (KFS) components after (TKA) using the Journey knee prosthesis, and to assess the correlation of these scores with range of motion (ROM). METHODS In a prospective case series study between August 1st 2008 and May 31st 2011, 99 patients, all operated by a single surgeon, received Journey bicruciate stabilized total knee prostheses. The female/male ratio was 53/34, the mean patient age at surgery was 68 years (range 41-83 years), and the left/right knee ratio was 55/44. The KOOS, range of motion, and KS and KFS were obtained preoperatively and at 1-year follow-up. The pre- and postoperative levels of the outcome measures were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Correlation between ROM and patient outcomes was analysed with the Spearman coefficient. RESULTS All KOOS subscores improved significantly. Ninety percent of patients improved by at least the minimum clinically relevant difference of 10 points in stiffness and other symptoms, 94.5% in pain, 94.5% in activities of daily living, 84.9% in sports and recreation, and 90% in knee-related quality of life. The mean passive and active ROM improved from 122.4° (range 90-145°) and 120.4° (range 80-145°) preoperatively to 129.4° (range 90-145°) and 127.1° (range 100-145°) postoperatively. The highest correlation coefficients for ROM and KOOS were observed for the activity and pain subscores. Very low or no correlation was seen for the sport subscore.There was a significant and clinically relevant improvement of KSS (preop/postop 112.2/174.5 points), and its KS (preop/postop 45.6/86.8 points) and KFS (preop/postop 66.6/87.8 points) components. CONCLUSIONS The Journey bicruciate stabilized knee prosthesis showed good 1-year postoperative results in terms of both functional and patient-based outcome. However, higher knee ROM correlates only moderately with patient-based outcome, implying that functionality afforded by the Journey bicruciate TKA is not equivalent to patient satisfaction.

Autonomy as a protective factor against the detrimental effects of ego depletion on tennis serve accuracy under pressure

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that athletes in a state of ego depletion do not perform up to their capabilities. We assume that autonomous self-control exertion, in contrast to forced self-control exertion, can serve as a buffer against ego depletion effects and can help individuals to show superior performance. In the present study, we applied a between-subjects design to test the assumption that autonomously exerted self-control is less detrimental for subsequent self-control performance in sports than is forced self-control exertion. In a primary self-control task, the level of autonomy was manipulated through specific instructions, resulting in three experimental conditions (autonomy-supportive: n = 19; neutral: n = 19; controlling: n = 19). As a secondary self-control task, participants executed a series of tennis serves under high-pressure conditions, and performance accuracy served as our dependent variable. As expected, a one-way between-groups ANOVA revealed that participants from the autonomy-supportive condition performed significantly better under pressure than did participants from the controlling condition. These results further highlight the importance of autonomy-supportive instructions in order to enable athletes to show superior achievements in high-pressure situations. Practical implications for the coach–athlete relationship are discussed.

Ego depletion and attention regulation under pressure: Is a temporary loss of self-control strength indeed related to impaired attention regulation?

In the current study we investigated whether ego depletion negatively affects attention regulation under pressure in sports by assessing participants' dart throwing performance and accompanying gaze behavior. According to the strength model of self-control, the most important aspect of self-control is attention regulation. Because higher levels of state anxiety are associated with impaired attention regulation, we chose a mixed design with ego depletion (yes vs. no) as between-subjects and anxiety level (high vs. low) as within-subjects factor. Participants performed a perceptual-motor task requiring selective attention, namely, dart throwing. In line with our expectations, depleted participants in the high-anxiety condition performed worse and displayed a shorter final fixation on bull's eye, demonstrating that when one's self-control strength is depleted, attention regulation under pressure cannot be maintained. This is the first study that directly supports the general assumption that ego depletion is a major factor in influencing attention regulation under pressure.

Ego depletion and attention regulation under pressure: Is a temporary loss of self-control strength indeed related to impaired attention regulation?

In the present study we investigated whether ego depletion negatively affects attention regulation under pressure in sports by assessing participants’ dart throwing performance and accompanying gaze behavior. According to the strength model of self-control the most important aspect of self-control is attention regulation (Schmeichel & Baumeister, 2010). As higher levels of state anxiety are associated with impaired attention regulation (Nieuwenhuys & Oudejans, 2012) we chose a mixed design with ego depletion (yes vs. no) as between-subjects and anxiety level (high vs. low) as within-subjects factor. A total of 28 right-handed students participated in our study (Mage = 23.4, SDage = 2.5; 10 female; no professional dart experience). Participants performed a perceptual-motor task requiring selective attention, namely, dart throwing. The task was performed while participants were positioned high and low on a climbing wall (i.e., with high and low levels of anxiety). In line with our expectations, a mixed-design ANOVA revealed that depleted participants in the high anxiety condition performed worse (p < .001) and displayed a shorter final fixation on bull’s eye (p < .01) than in the low anxiety condition, demonstrating that when one is depleted attention regulation under pressure cannot be maintained. This is the first study that directly supports the general assumption that ego depletion is a major factor in influencing attention regulation under pressure.

Psychosocial and environmental predictors of calcium intake, physical activity and bone health among adolescent girls

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to identify the psychosocial and environmental predictors and the pathways they use to influence calcium intake, physical activity and bone health among adolescent girls. Methods. A secondary data analysis using a cross-sectional and longitudinal study design was implemented to examine the associations of interest. Data from the Incorporating More Physical Activity and Calcium in Teens (IMPACT) study collected in 2001-2003 were utilized for the analyses. IMPACT was a 1½ year nutrition and physical activity intervention study conducted among 718 middle-school girls in central Texas. Hierarchical regression modeling and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to determine the psychosocial predictors of calcium intake, physical activity and bone health at baseline. Hierarchical regression was used to determine if psychosocial factors at baseline were significant predictors of calcium intake and physical activity at follow-up. Data was adjusted for included BMI, lactose intolerance, ethnicity, menarchal status, intervention and participation in 7th grade PE/athletics. Results. Results of the baseline regression analysis revealed that calcium self-efficacy and milk availability at home were the strongest predictors of calcium intake. Friend engagement in physical activity, physical activity self-efficacy and participation in sports teams were the strongest predictors of physical activity. Finally, physical activity outcome expectations, social support and participation in sports teams were significant predictors of stiffness index at baseline. Results of the baseline SEM path analysis found that outcome expectations and milk availability at home directly influenced calcium intake. Knowledge and calcium self-efficacy indirectly influenced calcium intake with outcome expectations as the mediator. Physical activity self-efficacy and social support had significant direct and indirect influence on physical activity with participation in sports teams as the mediator. Participation in sports teams had a direct effect on both physical activity and stiffness index. Results of regression analysis for baseline predicting follow-up showed that participation in sports teams, self-efficacy, outcome expectations and social support at baseline were significant predictors of physical activity at follow-up. Conclusion. Results of this study reinforce the relevance of addressing both, psychosocial and environmental factors which are critical when developing interventions to improve bone health among adolescent girls. ^

Césped deportivo : comportamiento del cultivar AZ-1 de Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov. (kikuyo). Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina

A fines de 2001 se incorporó al mercado argentino el cultivar AZ-1 de Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov. (kikuyo) para ser utilizado en campos deportivos o con fines ornamentales. Con el propósito de caracterizar esta variedad comercial en el departamento Paraná (provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina) se evaluó su comportamiento y aptitud para césped ornamental y/o deportivo en condiciones de mantenimiento para césped de calidad, bajo dos condiciones de drenaje. Se evaluaron cobertura, color, textura, distancia de entrenudos, grosor de estolones y período de dormición. El ensayo se realizó en Oro Verde, departamento Paraná, en un suelo Molisol y consistió en 2 tratamientos: con y sin drenaje, con 4 repeticiones cada uno. El tamaño de la parcela fue de 2,5 por 5,0 m. El diseño experimental utilizado fue parcelas apareadas y las mediciones se realizaron desde junio hasta noviembre de 2005. Las características climáticas locales son: temperatura media anual de 18,1°C y un régimen isohigro de 947,6 mm de precipitación anual. El cultivar se comportó como apto para césped en las características y condiciones de manejo evaluadas, sin diferencias entre los tratamientos con y sin drenaje. Presentó rápida implantación, niveles altos de cobertura, color claro y uniforme, textura media y estolones gruesos a medianos a través del tiempo. En invierno no perdió cobertura ni color. Se caracterizó como un césped no apto para campos deportivos de alta exigencia, pero recomendable para clubes de bajo presupuesto y mantenimiento.

Impacto de un programa de promoción de actividad física para la salud en niños de edad escolar de la ciudad de La Plata

Introducción. El aumento de la obesidad y el sedentarismo en niños es un problema social grave. La adopción de hábitos activos contribuye a la prevención de estos trastornos. Objetivos. Medir el efecto de un programa escolar de promoción de actividad física (AF). Material y método. Estudio de intervención controlado no aleatorizado. Participaron 123 niños de ambos sexos, 32 en el grupo intervención (I) y 92 en el grupo control (C). El nivel de AF se obtuvo por cuestionario. Se ponderó el grado de asociación conceptual entre AF y salud mediante test relacional. El grupo I participó de talleres durante 8 semanas durante una hora semanal en horario escolar. Resultados. La práctica deportiva creció 10 en grupo I y 2,9 en C, la diferencia entre medias fue 7.1. (p menor a 0.05). El grupo I aumentó la cantidad de veces que usan la bicicleta por semana 2,88 a 3,56. En el grupo I el tiempo de pedaleo aumentó 30.57 min./sem y disminuyó las horas frente al TV en 1.40 min/día. El grupo I aumentó la importancia que los niños asignan a la AF relación a la salud en forma significativa. Conclusiones. Implementar estrategias de promoción de AF puede favorecer cambios de hábitos y conductas hacia un estilo de vida saludable cuando se trabaja sistemáticamente en talleres mediante la participación activa de niños y maestros.

Democracia e esportes em Atenas

In the commonsense among specialists there was a democratization in sports practice in the Classical Athens (centuries V and IV B.C.). That said, we suggest to study the relation between democracy and the dissemination of athletic practices in the Athenian polis, using athletic ´Çü gures from Greek vases as a form to explain this fact, such as the discobulos, which is considered as a symbol of the Athenian democracy.

Impacto de un programa de promoción de actividad física para la salud en niños de edad escolar de la ciudad de La Plata

Introducción. El aumento de la obesidad y el sedentarismo en niños es un problema social grave. La adopción de hábitos activos contribuye a la prevención de estos trastornos. Objetivos. Medir el efecto de un programa escolar de promoción de actividad física (AF). Material y método. Estudio de intervención controlado no aleatorizado. Participaron 123 niños de ambos sexos, 32 en el grupo intervención (I) y 92 en el grupo control (C). El nivel de AF se obtuvo por cuestionario. Se ponderó el grado de asociación conceptual entre AF y salud mediante test relacional. El grupo I participó de talleres durante 8 semanas durante una hora semanal en horario escolar. Resultados. La práctica deportiva creció 10 en grupo I y 2,9 en C, la diferencia entre medias fue 7.1. (p menor a 0.05). El grupo I aumentó la cantidad de veces que usan la bicicleta por semana 2,88 a 3,56. En el grupo I el tiempo de pedaleo aumentó 30.57 min./sem y disminuyó las horas frente al TV en 1.40 min/día. El grupo I aumentó la importancia que los niños asignan a la AF relación a la salud en forma significativa. Conclusiones. Implementar estrategias de promoción de AF puede favorecer cambios de hábitos y conductas hacia un estilo de vida saludable cuando se trabaja sistemáticamente en talleres mediante la participación activa de niños y maestros.

Democracia e esportes em Atenas

In the commonsense among specialists there was a democratization in sports practice in the Classical Athens (centuries V and IV B.C.). That said, we suggest to study the relation between democracy and the dissemination of athletic practices in the Athenian polis, using athletic ´Çü gures from Greek vases as a form to explain this fact, such as the discobulos, which is considered as a symbol of the Athenian democracy.

Impacto de un programa de promoción de actividad física para la salud en niños de edad escolar de la ciudad de La Plata

Introducción. El aumento de la obesidad y el sedentarismo en niños es un problema social grave. La adopción de hábitos activos contribuye a la prevención de estos trastornos. Objetivos. Medir el efecto de un programa escolar de promoción de actividad física (AF). Material y método. Estudio de intervención controlado no aleatorizado. Participaron 123 niños de ambos sexos, 32 en el grupo intervención (I) y 92 en el grupo control (C). El nivel de AF se obtuvo por cuestionario. Se ponderó el grado de asociación conceptual entre AF y salud mediante test relacional. El grupo I participó de talleres durante 8 semanas durante una hora semanal en horario escolar. Resultados. La práctica deportiva creció 10 en grupo I y 2,9 en C, la diferencia entre medias fue 7.1. (p menor a 0.05). El grupo I aumentó la cantidad de veces que usan la bicicleta por semana 2,88 a 3,56. En el grupo I el tiempo de pedaleo aumentó 30.57 min./sem y disminuyó las horas frente al TV en 1.40 min/día. El grupo I aumentó la importancia que los niños asignan a la AF relación a la salud en forma significativa. Conclusiones. Implementar estrategias de promoción de AF puede favorecer cambios de hábitos y conductas hacia un estilo de vida saludable cuando se trabaja sistemáticamente en talleres mediante la participación activa de niños y maestros.

Democracia e esportes em Atenas

In the commonsense among specialists there was a democratization in sports practice in the Classical Athens (centuries V and IV B.C.). That said, we suggest to study the relation between democracy and the dissemination of athletic practices in the Athenian polis, using athletic ´Çü gures from Greek vases as a form to explain this fact, such as the discobulos, which is considered as a symbol of the Athenian democracy.

The introduction of teaching innovations into the traditional teaching of construction and building materials

The traditional teaching methods used for training civil engineers are currently being called into question as a result of the new knowledge and skills now required by the labor market. In addition, the European Higher Education Area is requesting that students be given a greater say in their learning. In the subject called Construction and Building Materials at the Civil Engineering School of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, a path was set three academic years ago to lead to an improvement in traditional teaching by introducing active methodologies. The innovations are based on cooperative learning, new technologies, and continuous assessment. The writers’ proposal is to offer their experience as a contribution to the debate on how students can be encouraged to acquire the skills currently demanded from a civil engineer, though not overlooking solid, top-quality training. From the outcomes obtained, it can be concluded that using new teaching techniques to supplement a traditional approach provides more opportunities for students to learn while boosting their motivation. In our case, the introduction of these changes has resulted in an increased pass rate of 29% on average, when such a figure is considered in the light of the mean value of passes during the last decade.

La comunicación como factor clave en la implantación de la responsabilidad social corporativa: el caso de Crédit Agricole España

This paper considers the role of communication in the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a vital management system for achieving advantages and motivation in employees. The paper also highlights the relevant functions assumed by information professionals to overcome communication deficiencies and lack of knowledge about these relatively new areas of responsibility. A case study of Crédit Agricole España (CAE) is presented, with results that highlight the importance of all the communication-related aspects of implementing CSR.