Showing papers by "Kathryn L. Mills published in 2015"
TL;DR: It is suggested that multitasking during social interactions incurs performance deficits, and that adolescents are more sensitive than adults to the effects of cognitive load while multitasking.
Abstract: Multitasking is part of the everyday lives of both adolescents and adults. We often multitask during social interactions by simultaneously keeping track of other non-social information. Here, we examined how keeping track of non-social information impacts the ability to navigate social interactions in adolescents and adults. Participants aged 11–17 and 22–30 years old were instructed to carry out two tasks, one social and one non-social, within each trial. The social task involved referential communication, requiring participants to use social cues to guide their decisions, which sometimes required taking a different perspective. The non-social task manipulated cognitive load by requiring participants to remember non-social information in the form of one two-digit number (low load) or three two-digit numbers (high load) presented before each social task stimulus. Participants showed performance deficits when under high cognitive load and when the social task involved taking a different perspective, and individual differences in both trait perspective taking and working memory capacity predicted performance. Overall, adolescents were less adept at multitasking than adults when under high cognitive load. These results suggest that multitasking during social interactions incurs performance deficits, and that adolescents are more sensitive than adults to the effects of cognitive load while multitasking.
20 citations
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: A training manual and guidebook for parent support providers has been adapted from Children/Youth with Disabilities: Their Parents are YOUR Employees, a workbook for human resource professionals originally produced by the Work-Life Integration Project at Portland State University as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: T his training manual and guidebook for Parent Support Providers has been adapted from Children/Youth with Disabilities: Their Parents are YOUR Employees, a workbook for human resource professionals originally produced by the Work-Life Integration Project at Portland State University. The research behind the manual comes from over two decades of federally funded studies focused on understanding the work-life experiences of parents with children challenged by behavioral health disabilities. Supplemental materials to the manual for group training purposes include a slide presentation, and a training script. The survey at the end of this manual may be used as a pre/post evaluation of knowledge and attitudes with a group; or simply as an evaluation by individual Parent Support Providers of their learning after working through the modules. The seven modules are structured to include a brief introduction, objectives, salient information, and a summary of key points. At the end of each module is a Notes and Reflections page. These pages are designed specifically for the Parent Support Provider to highlight what has been most meaningful to learn about the module's topic, keep track of additional questions about the material, and to personally reflect on the content's relevance. Parent Support Providers are in a unique position because of their lived experiences, to give support and guidance to other parents facing similar challenges. Reflecting on one's own work-life experiences and workplace support needs strengthens the Parent Support Provider's knowledge in this area and associated advocacy skills. Module 7, Accessing Workplace Support, is a set of conversations and planning activities that may be initiated by Parent Support Providers with parents. The foundational information for the suggested dialogues and potential plans in Module 7 is covered in the preceding modules. Throughout the modules are concepts in bold type, indicating that further explanation can be found in the Glossary. In addition to the Glossary, The Appendix includes a brief list of website resources, the Parent Support Provider Knowledge Check, and a Workplace Support Resources Inventory. If you have any questions, suggestions or comments please contact us. W e are grateful for the opportunity to share our knowledge about the the work-life integration experiences, needs, and strengths of employees who are parents of children and youth with disabilities. During the past twenty years, we have talked with family members caring for children and youth with disabilities and workplace professionals, including human resource staff, work-life specialists, and workplace supervisors, …