Showing papers by "University of Colorado Colorado Springs published in 1997"

Terror Management Theory of Self-Esteem and Cultural Worldviews: Empirical Assessments and Conceptual Refinements

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter proposes that the potential for abject terror created by the awareness of the inevitability of death in an animal instinctively programmed for self-preservation and continued experience lies at the root of a great deal of human motivation and behavior. This chapter presents the results of a substantial body of research that attests to the broad influence of the problem of death on human social behavior and illuminates the processes through which concerns about mortality exert their influence. The chapter overviews the primary assumptions and propositions of terror management theory and a description of the initial research conducted to test the theory. It presents a detailed consideration of more recent research that establishes the convergent and discriminant validity of the mortality salience treatment and the robustness of its effects through the use of alternative mortality salience treatments and comparison treatments, and replications by other researchers; it extends the range of interpersonal behaviors that are demonstrably influenced by terror management concerns. Moreover, it demonstrates the interaction of mortality salience with other theoretically relevant situational and dispositional variables, and provides an account of the cognitive processes through which mortality salience produces its effects. Finally, this chapter discusses the relation of terror management motives to other psychological motives and gives a consideration of issues requiring further investigation.

Why Do We Need What We Need? A Terror Management Perspective on the Roots of Human Social Motivation

Abstract: In this article, we use terror management theory to address the question of why people are motivated to achieve a variety of specific psychological endstates. We argue that the most basic of all human motives is an instinctive desire for continued life, and that all more specific motives are ultimately rooted in this basic evolutionary adaptation. We propose a tripartite motive system through which this prime directive for continued life is achieved, along with a hierarchical model of the relation between motives at different levels of abstraction. This analysis specifies the relation between the self-preservation instinct and various more specific and concrete psychological motives. The three major branches of this motivational hierarchy consist of (a) direct biological motives, which are oriented toward attaining the biological necessities of life (e.g., food, air, water); (b) symbolic-defensive motives, which are oriented toward control- ling the potential for existential terror brought on by awareness...

Suppression, accessibility of death-related thoughts, and cultural worldview defense: Exploring the psychodynamics of terror management.

Abstract: Previous research has shown that after a mortality-salience (MS) treatment, death thought accessibility and worldview defense are initially low and then increase after a delay, suggesting that a person's initial response to conscious thoughts of mortality is to actively suppress death thoughts. If so, then high cognitive load, by disrupting suppression efforts, should lead to immediate increases in death thought accessibility and cultural worldview defense. Studies 1 and 2 supported this reasoning. Specifically, Study 1 replicated the delayed increase in death accessibility after MS among low cognitive load participants but showed a reversed pattern among participants under high cognitive load. Study 2 showed that, unlike low cognitive load participants, high cognitive load participants exhibited immediate increase in pro-American bias after MS. Study 3 demonstrated that worldview defense in response to MS reduces the delayed increase in death accessibility. Implications of these findings for understanding both terror management processes and psychological defense in general are discussed.

The Effects of Ethnic Identity, Ethnicity, and Gender on Adolescent Well-Being

Abstract: Ethnic identity was conceptualized into three categories: (1) unexamined, (2) searching for identity, and (3) achieved ethnic identity. Analyses of data collected from 12,386 adolescents showed that ethnic identity is an important qualifier of the relationships between independent variables of ethnicity and gender, and dependent variables of global self-esteem, academic self-confidence, and purpose in life. Whites and Native Americans had lower ethnic identity, and Blacks and Hispanics had higher ethnic identity. Asians and repondents of mixed ethnicity had intermediate levels of ethnic identity. The greater the ethnic identity, the higher the self-esteem, purpose in life and self-confidence. This mechanism applies to ethnic minorities and to women among whom achieved ethnic identity may blunt the negative effects of social denigration and stereotyping, and it applies to whites, too. The paper argues that multiculturalism in the schools can increase ethnic identity.

Guidelines for undergraduate degree programs on Model curriculum and guidelines for undergraduate degree programs in information systems

Abstract: The IS'97 report is the latest output from model curriculum work for information systems that began in the early 1970s and has matured over a twenty year period. This report represents the combined effort of numerous individuals and reflects the interests of thousands of faculty. It is grounded in the expected requirements of industry and represents the views of organizations employing the graduates. This model curriculum is the first collaborative curriculum effort of the ACM, AIS and AITP (formerly DPMA) societies and is supported by other interested organizations. The draft was reviewed at eleven national and international meetings involving over 1,000 individuals from industry and academia. All aspects of the computing field have had rapid, continuous change. As a result, university-level Information Systems (IS) curricula need frequent updating to remain effective. Since most academic units have mechanisms to maintain currency of curricula, why have professional society curriculum committees? If an IS academic unit were providing graduates solely to local business and government, the input on program contents could be derived from representatives of local organizations that hire the graduates. However, local employment is not the sole objective for undergraduate majors in Information Systems. Students from IS programs accept jobs in widely dispersed geographic areas. Therefore, availability of curriculum models enables local academic units to maintain academic programs that are consistent both with employment needs across the country and with the common body of knowledge of the IS field. The first IS curriculum models were introduced in the early 1970s. This early work was followed by model curricula developed by ACM and DPMA. Details of this history are reviewed in Appendix 2. Professional society curriculum reports serve several other objectives. One important use is to provide a local academic unit with rationale to obtain proper resources to support its program. Often, administration at the local institution is not aware of the resources, course offerings, computing hardware, software, and laboratory resources needed for a viable program. Administration may be unaware of the specialized classroom technology, library resources, or laboratory assistants essential for proper education of IS undergraduates. Finally, administration might not recognize the rapid turnover of knowledge in the field and the need for resources to support constant retooling of faculty. Curriculum reports provide recommendations in these resource areas as well as content for the necessary body of knowledge. They provide important information for local IS academic units to use in securing from their institution the necessary levels of support. The importance of the curriculum effort is based on continuing strong demand for graduates. A strong demand for IS professionals is forecast by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to continue through the year 2005 (Occupational Outlook Quarterly 1993). For example, the forecast increase in demand for system analysts is 110 percent for the period 1992-2005, averaging over 8 percent annually. Of all occupations analyzed, the systems analyst position is projected to have one of the highest demands. The IS field also remains attractive in regard to compensation. In 1993, raises in IS were second highest of all professions, only slightly below engineering (Sullivan-Trainor 1994). These growth and pay level factors indicate undergraduate degrees in IS will continue to be in strong demand over the next decade. In a time of restricted academic budgets, some IS academic departments have been under downsizing pressure from other academic disciplines in their own institutions, citing a decline in employment in central IS organizations. However, there is no lessening in demand for IS knowledge and ability in organizations; to the contrary, the demand is expanding as the functional areas of the organization gain more capability in IS. Many areas of the organization are now hiring IS majors for departmental computing activities. There is also strong demand for the IS minor by students in other disciplines who need IS expertise in order to be effective in their work and to assist in developing applications in their functional area. A third reason that the demand for IS courses will continue to increase is that students in related disciplines want to acquire basic and intermediate IS skills. Every discipline is experiencing growth in computer use, and students who enrich their IS knowledge are at a career advantage.

Subliminal Exposure to Death-Related Stimuli Increases Defense of the Cultural Worldview

Abstract: Three experiments reported here provide empirical support for the hypothesis derived from terror management theory that unconscious concerns about death motivate allegiance to cultural beliefs Study 1 contrasted exposure to a subliminal death-related stimulus, a standard mortality-salience treatment, and a neutral subliminal stimulus, and found that both the subliminal and the standard reminder of mortality led to more favorable evaluations of people who praised subjects' cultural worldview and more unfavorable evaluations of those who challenged it Study 2 replicated this finding by comparing the effects of exposure to subliminal death stimuli and subliminal pain stimuli Study 3 contrasted subliminal death stimuli, supraliminal death stimuli, and subliminal pain stimuli and found that only subliminal death stimuli produced these effects

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the United States

Abstract: The study objective was to examine the current national prevalence of allergic rhinitis by gender, age, geographic region, population density (urban/rural), and household income. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 15,000 households representative of the U.S. population in respect to these factors. The household member who knew the most about the family's health status and health history in the previous 12 months was asked to estimate the number of days during which household members had experienced sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose or head, itchy eyes, or watery eyes. They were also asked about physician diagnosis of hay fever, rhinitis, persistent stuffy nose or head, or allergies involving the eyes, nose, or throat. The 9946 households responding (66.3%) represented 22,285 persons, 8394 of whom had experienced the symptoms described. In a follow-up questionnaire sent to a balanced sample of 1450 responders (>90% white, slightly more females than males), subjects were asked to indicate which of the following best described their symptoms: a common cold; a seasonal allergy (i.e., hay fever); an allergy I have all the time; an allergy only when exposed to triggers (i.e., dust, pollution); or sinus problems. Of the 1065 subjects (73.4%) responding, 31.5% reported ≥7 days of nasal/ocular symptoms, and 17.7% reported ≥31 days of symptoms. Physician-diagnosed hay fever was reported by 8.2% and allergic rhinitis (seasonal plus perennial) by 14.2%. Prevalence was highest among those age 18 to 34 years and 35 to 49 years, decreasing after age 50 years. No major trends were evident with regard to other variables studied. Extrapolation based on 1993 census data suggests that at least 35.9 million persons have symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis and up to 79.5 million persons experience ≥7 days of nasal/ocular symptoms yearly.

Electronic message forwarding system

Abstract: A telecommunications system (100) includes a service provider node (116) that is capable of forwarding electronic mail messages addressed to a user of the service provider node. The forwarding process is controlled by a message transfer agent (202), a subscriber database analyzer (204), a queue directory (206), and a message queue agent (208). The subscriber database analyzer performs a comparison between data that the user has provided and the message content. The subscriber database causes the message queue agent to forward the message to a user-defined telecommunications address based upon the message content and the results of the comparison.

Model Curriculum and Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Information Systems

Abstract: IS'97 is a model curriculum for undergraduate degree programs in Information Systems. Information Systems, as an academic field, encompasses two broad areas: (1) acquisition, deployment, and management of information technology resources and services (the information systems function) and (2) development and evolution of technology infrastructures and systems for use in organization processes (system development). The model curriculum provides guidelines, a set of courses, source materials, curriculum design objectives, and knowledge elements. It provides advice to a number of intended users of the report who have a stake in the achievement of quality IS degree programs.

Catheter for delivery of electric energy and a process for manufacturing the same

Abstract: A catheter (10) for delivering electrical anergy to a selectable region of a patient's body has at least one layer (46) of fibers with at least one electrically conductive fiber (50-56, 60-68) stranded over a flexible core (28). Each layer (46, 42, 34) of fibers is stranded over the flexible core (28) and underlying layers opposite in direction from that of the immediately preceding layer so as to provide a catheter with good torque transfer properties in addition to its electrical energy transfer properties. The outermost layer (46) of stranded fibers is electrically conductive and is covered by an electrically insulative outer layer (17) which is mechanically strippable to expose selectable regions of the underlying layer of stranded fibers. Electrical anergy is transmitted along the outermost layer (46) of stranded fibers to tissue which is in contact with the exposed contact region of the outermost layer of stranded fibers. The catheter can also deliver electrical energy through a cutting tip for multipolar electro-cautery.

Dynamic, self-modifying graphical user interface for relational database applications

Abstract: A dynamic database interface for relational and object-oriented databases includes a dynamic, self-modifying graphical user interface defining a plurality of graphical windows for searching and editing the contents of the relational database, as well as modifying the structure of the database tables. The graphical user interface recognizes modifications to the structure of the database tables and regenerates the graphical windows to accommodate such modifications. The graphical windows also depict schematic representations of physical locations of objects stored within the tables of the relational database. In addition to using the graphical windows to edit the contents and modify the structure of the relational database, batches of data may be imported to both edit the contents of the relational database and modify the structure of the relational database tables.

Terror management and cognitive-experiential self-theory: evidence that terror management occurs in the experiential system.

Abstract: The authors hypothesized, on the basis of terror management theory and cognitive-experiential self-theory, that participants in an experiential mode of thinking would respond to mortality salience with increased worldview defense and increased accessibility of death-related thoughts, whereas participants in a rational mode would not. Results from 3 studies provided convergent evidence that when participants were in an experiential mode, mortality salience produced the typical worldview defense effect, but when participants were in a rational mode it did not. Study 4 revealed that mortality salience also led to a delayed increase in the accessibility of death-related thoughts only when participants were in an experiential mode. These results supported the notion that worldwide defense is intensified only if individuals are in an experiential mode when considering their mortality. Discussion focuses on implications for understanding terror management processes.

Fracture initiation at sharp notches under mode I, mode II, and mild mixed mode loading

Abstract: In the context of linear elasticity, a stress singularity of the type Knrδ(δ<0) may exist at sharp re-entrant corners, with an intensity Kn In general the order of the stress singularity δ and the stress intensity differ for symmetric (mode I) and antisymmetric (mode II) loading Under general mixed-mode loadings, the magnitudes of the mode I and II intensities fully characterize the stress state in the region of the corner A failure criterion based on critical values of these intensities may be appropriate in situations where the region around the corner dominated by the singular fields is large compared to intrinsic flaw sizes, inelastic zones, and fracture process zone sizes We determined the mode I and II stress intensities for notched mode I tensile specimens and notched mode II flexure specimens using a combination of the Williams (1952) asymptotic method, dimensional considerations, and detailed finite element analysis We carried out a companion experimental study to extract critical values of the mode I and II stress intensities for a series of notched polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) tensile and flexure specimens with notch angles of 90- The data show that excellent failure correlation is obtained, in both mode I and II loading, through the use of a single parameter, the critical stress intensity We then analyzed and tested a series of T-shaped structures containing 90- corners The applied tensile loading results in mixed-mode loading of the 90- corners Failure of the specimens is brittle and can be well-correlated with a critical mode I stress intensity criterion using the results of the notched mode I tensile tests This is attributed to large difference in the strength of the stress singularities in modes I and II: δ= -04555 and -00915 for modes I and II for a 90- notch As a result, the mode I loading dominates the failure process for the 90- corner in the T-structure

Fifteen-month follow-up of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and psychological trauma

Abstract: The present study is a 15-month follow-up of the effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on the functioning of 66 participants, 32 of whom were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prior to treatment, PTSD participants improved as much as those without the diagnosis, with both groups maintaining their gains at 15 months. At 15-month follow-up, the three 90-min sessions of EMDR previously administered (S.A. Wilson, L.A. Becker, & R. H. Tinker, 1995) produced an 84% reduction in PTSD diagnosis and a 68% reduction in PTSD symptoms. The average treatment effect size was 1.59; the average reliable change index was 3.37. Implications of the maintenance of EMDR treatment effects are discussed.

Efficacy and Safety of Fexofenadine Hydrochloride for Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract: Background H 1 -receptor antagonists are effective for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. In rare circumstances, some second-generation H 1 -receptor antagonists have been associated with prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QT c ), thus increasing the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. Fexofenadine HCl, the carboxylic acid metabolite of terfenadine, is a new second-generation antihistamine that is nonsedating and does not cause electrocardiographic effects. Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of fexofenadine HCl in the treatment of ragweed seasonal allergic rhinitis and to characterize the dose-response relationship of fexofenadine HCl at dosages of 60, 120, and 240 mg bid. Methods A multicenter, 14-day, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted with patients suffering from moderate to severe ragweed seasonal allergic rhinitis who met symptom severity criteria after a 3-day placebo baseline period. Patients with minimal or very severe symptoms during the baseline period were excluded. Patients were randomized to receive fexofenadine HCl (60, 120, or 240 mg bid) or placebo at 12-hour dosing intervals (7:00 am and 7:00 pm). The primary efficacy measure was patient-assessed 12-hour reflective total symptom score before the evening dose (trough). Results Five hundred seventy patients completed the trial. Fexofenadine HCl at each dosage provided significant improvement in total symptom score ( P c , were detected. Conclusions Fexofenadine HCl is both effective and safe for the treatmnet of ragweed seasonal allergic rhinitis. Because there was no additional efficacy at higher dosages, 60 mg bid appears to be the optimal therapeutic dosage for these patients.

Quality of life and rhinitic symptoms: Results of a nationwide survey with the SF-36 and RQLQ questionnaires

Abstract: Health care delivery is increasingly driven by results of outcomes studies. The best single instrument or combination of instruments for measurement of outcome in patients with symptoms of rhinitis has not been determined. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), a generic instrument, and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), a disease-specific instrument, have both been used. We carried out a population-based study in 312 subjects with nasal/ocular symptoms who filled out both questionnaires. We then compared their responses with those of healthy controls. Statistically significant differences between patients and controls were observed in seven of nine dimensions in the SF-36 questionnaire and in all of the seven dimensions and the aggregate score of the RQLQ. In all cases, the direction of the changes in health status indicated impairment of quality of life, particularly in ability to perform normal physical roles. Patients were troubled by repeated nose blowing, had a disrupted sleep pattern, were fatigued, and had a reduced ability to concentrate. We conclude that these outcomes should be incorporated into clinical trials, effectiveness research, and therapeutic strategies.

Coping self-efficacy buffers psychological and physiological disturbances in HIV-infected men following a natural disaster.

Abstract: The importance of coping self-efficacy (CSE) appraisals on psychological and physiological functioning for HIV seropositive patients facing a severe environmental stressor was tested comparing 37 HIV-infected gay men and 42 healthy male control participants following Hurricane Andrew. Results suggested that greater levels of CSE were related to lower emotional distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in both groups. In addition, greater CSE was associated with lower norepinephrine to cortisol ratios in the HIV group but not in the healthy control group. Results are discussed in relation to the coping process for HIV-infected individuals specifically and chronically ill populations in general who face severe environmental stressors.

Method and apparatus for preparing integrated circuit thin films by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract: A mist is generated by a venturi from liquid precursors containing compounds used in chemical vapor deposition, transported in carrier gas through tubing at ambient temperature, passed into a heated zone where the mist droplets are gasified at a temperature of between 100° C. and 200° C., which is lower than the decomposition temperature of the precursor compounds. The gasified liquid is injected through an inlet assembly into a deposition reactor in which there is a substrate heated to from 400° C. to 600° C., on which the gasified compounds decompose and form a thin film of layered superlattice compound.

The economic impact of allergic rhinitis

Abstract: Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic allergic disease. Symptoms include continuous or periodic nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, itching of the nose and eyes, generalized malaise, irritability, and fatigue. We conducted an evaluation of the costs related to management of allergic rhinitis in a U.S. population. Data are based on self-reported trends in medication and health care services usage from a nationwide population sample selected from a base of 15,000 households. The average per-patient expenditure for prescription medications was $56 yearly. The mean per-patient expenditure for nonprescription medications was $56 yearly. Based on the findings of this study, the estimated total annual medication cost associated with allergic rhinitis in the United States is $2.4 billion. Because 63% of our study population had consulted a physician within the last 12 months, we estimate that a further $1.1 billion is associated with physician billing. The cost of the comorbid conditions of asthma and sinusitis originating from or exacerbated by allergic rhinitis could significantly alter these figures. If management of these conditions were allowed to contribute, even in part, to the indirect cost, the financial impact of this disease would be more properly appreciated.

Timing adjustment control for efficient time division duplex, frequency division duplex or hybrid time division duplex/frequency division duplex communication

Abstract: A system and method for time division duplex communication over a single frequency band wherein guard time overhead is reduced by active adjustment of reverse link transmission timing as a function of round trip propagation time. A time frame is divided into a plurality of time slots, during each of which the base station transmits to a user station and the user station transmits to the base station. Communication is initiated by a round trip timing transaction. In response to a general polling message from the base station, a user station seeking to establish communication transmits a short reply message. The base station calculates the distance of the user station by measuring the propagation delay with respect to receipt of the reply message. The base station sends a timing adjustment command to the user station instructing the user station to advance or retard its timing according to the calculated distance, so as to minimize guard times between time slots. Thereafter, the base station monitors the user station transmissions and periodically commands the user station to advance or retard its timing in a like manner. The user station may transmit a control preamble at the start of each time slot to allow the base station to perform round trip timing calculations, and/or to allow adjustment of user station power or antenna selection. The system is capable of independently selecting frequency bands and time slots for a duplex communication link, providing a pure Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode, Frequency Division Duplex (FDD mode or Hybrid Time Division Duplex/Frequency Division Duplex (TDD/FDD) mode.

Perceived Consensus, Uniqueness, and Terror Management: Compensatory Responses to Threats to Inclusion and Distinctiveness Following Mortality Salience

Abstract: An experiment assessed the proposition that competing motives for inclusion and individuation both function to control concerns about mortality. Combining ideas from terror management theory and optimal distinctiveness theory, the authors hypothesized that mortality salience would increase the tendency of participants given feedback that they had strong conformist tendencies to underestimate social consensus for their attitudes and the tendency of participants given feedback that they were deviant to exaggerate social consensus for their attitudes. Participants were given either one or the other type of feedback, responded to open-ended questions about either their own death or their next important exam, completed a measure of social projection in which they indicated their own attitudes, and then estimated the percentage of the general population that shared their opinions. Results on a social projection measure consisting of the partial correlation between own and others' attitudes, controlling for soci...

Physiological profiles of elite off-road and road cyclists

Abstract: There are minimal scientific data describing international caliber off-road cyclists (mountain bikers), particularly as they compare physiologically with international caliber road cyclists Elite female (N = 10) and male (N = 10) athletes representing the United States National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) Cross-Country Team were compared with elite female (N = 10) and male (N = 10) athletes representing the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) National Road Team Submaximal and maximal exercise responses were evaluated during the "championship" phase of the training year when athletes were in peak condition All physiological tests were conducted at 1860 m Among the female athletes, physiological responses at lactate threshold (LT) and during maximal exercise (MAX) were similar between NORBA and USCF cyclists with two exceptions: 1) USCF cyclists demonstrated a significantly greater (P < 005) absolute (16%) and relative (10%) maximal aerobic power, and 2) MAX heart rate was significantly higher (P < 005) for the USCF athletes (6%) Among the male athletes, physiological responses at LT and MAX were similar between NORBA and USCF cyclists with two exceptions: 1) USCF cyclists produced significantly greater (P < 005) absolute (18%) and relative (16%) power at LT, and 2) USCF cyclists produced significantly greater (P < 005) absolute (12%) and relative (10%) power at MAX These data suggest that, in general, elite off-road cyclists possess physiological profiles that are similar to elite road cyclists

Computer simulation of a breast cancer metastasis model

Abstract: Recent analysis of relapse data from 1173 untreatedearly stage breast cancer patients with 16–20 yearfollow-up shows that the frequency of relapse hasa double peaked distribution. There is a sharppeak at 18 months, a nadir at 50months and a broad peak at 60 months.Patients with larger tumors more frequently relapse inthe first peak while those with smaller tumorsrelapse equally in both peaks.No existing theory of tumor growth predicts thiseffect. To help understand this phenomenon, a modelof metastatic growth has been proposed consisting ofthree distinct phases: a single cell, an avasculargrowth, and a vascularized lesion. Computer simulation ofthis model shows that the second relapse peakcan be explained by a steady stochastic progressionfrom one phase to the next phase. However,to account for the first relapse peak, asudden perturbation of that development at the timeof surgery is necessary.Model simulations predict that patients who relapse inthe second peak would have micrometastases in statesof relatively low chemosensitivity when adjuvant therapy isnormally administered. The simulation predicts that 15% ofT1, 39% of T2, and 51% of T3staged patients benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, partially offsettingthe advantage of early detection. This suggests thatearly detection and adjuvant chemotherapy may not besymbiotic strategies. New therapies are needed to benefitpatients who would relapse in the second peak.

The Impact of Validation Group Therapy on Nursing Home Residents With Dementia

Abstract: This study examined the effectiveness of validation group therapy for reducing problem behav iors, use of physical restraints, and use of psychotropic medications, and for increasing positive social interactions and psychosocial well-being in nursing home residents with dementia. In four skilled-care nursing homes, 88 residents with dementia were randomly assigned to a group receiving validation therapy (VT), a social contact (SC) group, or a usual care (UC) control group, and were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year. The nursing staff reported that VT participants showed less physically and verbally aggressive behavior and were not as depressed as residents in the SC or UC group. VT was not effective, however, in reducing the use of physical restraints or the use of psychotropic medications, and it was less effective than SC or UC in reducing physically nonaggressive problem behaviors.