SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Problem Solving”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Social skills and problem-solving training for children with early-onset conduct problems: who benefits?

Families of 99 children with early-onset conduct problems, aged 4-8 years, were randomly assigned to a child training treatment group (CT) utilizing the Incredible Years Dinosaur Social Skills and Problem Solving Curriculum or a waiting-list control group (CON). Post-treatment CT children had significantly fewer externalizing problems at home, less aggression at school, more prosocial behavior with peers, and more positive conflict management strategies than CON children. Significantly more CT than CON children showed clinically significantly improvements on reports and independent observations of aggressive and noncompliant behavior. The differential treatment response was evaluated according to child comorbidity with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), parenting discipline practices. and family risk factors. The only risk factor related to failure to make improvements in child conduct problems after treatment was negative parenting (i.e., maternal critical statements and physical force). The long-term follow-up 1 year later indicated that most of the significant post-treatment changes were maintained.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed1989

The relation between stressful life events and adjustment in elementary school children: the role of social support and social problem-solving skills.

This study investigated the relation between stressful life events and adjustment in elementary school children, with particular emphasis on the potential main and stress-buffering effects of social support and social problem-solving skills. Third through fifth graders (N = 361) completed social support and social problem-solving measures. Their parents provided ratings of stress in the child's environment and ratings of the child's behavioral adjustment. Teachers provided ratings of the children's behavioral and academic adjustment. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed significant stress-buffering effects for social support and problem-solving skills on teacher-rated behavior problems, that is, higher levels of social support and problem-solving skills moderated the relation between stressful life events and behavior problems. A similar stress-buffering effect was found for problem-solving skills on grade-point average and parent-rated behavior problems. In terms of children's competent behaviors, analyses supported a main effect model of social support and problem-solving. Possible processes accounting for the main and stress-buffering effects are discussed.

Achievement↗

PubMed1996

The relationship between resource constraints and physician problem solving. Implications for improving the process of care.

OBJECTIVES: Research suggests that physicians will engage in more vigilant problem-solving under conditions of resource constraints than under conditions of resource slack. Increased vigilance related to physicians' clinical strategies enhances care by disposing physicians toward more optimal care choices. The authors examine whether pressures for clinical resource constraints encourage increased and sustained vigilance in problem-solving among cardiologists treating acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: The physician problem-solving process is reconstructed from the medical records of all eligible cases of acute myocardial infarction treated by the physician sample set over a 6-year period. The sample period encompasses phases of both resource slack and resource constraints. The Herfindahl index is used to measure the relative amount of vigilant problem-solving activity exhibited in each of five major tactical areas of the physician care strategies in each year of the study. RESULTS: The results support the hypothesis that resource constraints initially promote a shift to increased vigilance in physician problem-solving. Only one of the five major tactical areas, however, is characterized by sustained vigilance over time. The other areas are, instead, associated with a substantial reduction in vigilant activity after the initial peak period. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that resource constraints do set the stage for improved clinical decision-making. Sustained vigilance, however, appears to apply only to those portions of the care strategy for which the physician can draw a clear link between optimizing clinical activity and reducing resource consumption. For those portions of the care strategy for which the physician cannot establish a clear link, ongoing pressures to conserve resources results in reduced vigilance and a potential reduction in quality of clinical decision-making.

Cardiology↗

PubMed1991

Parent-child problem-solving interactions in families of visually impaired youth.

Investigated problem-solving and conflict-resolution strategies, an important aspect of family functioning, in visually impaired adolescents and their parents. Visually impaired adolescents were compared to adolescents with spina bifida and a control group of adolescents without disabilities. Parent-adolescent dyads participated in a problem-solving discussion of topics reflecting family disagreement. Videotapes of these discussions were rated for patterns of interaction using the Marital Interaction Coding System (MICS-III). Examination of positive and negative reciprocal patterns of interaction using sequential analyses and contrasting frequencies of specific behavioral codes revealed no differences between groups for adolescents, mothers, and fathers on the problem-solving discussion. Results are discussed in terms of (a) the impact of visual impairment on family functioning and (b) the need to identify those subgroups of visually impaired and their families that may be at heightened risk for maladjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1991

Interpersonal problem-solving in depressed students.

This study investigated whether depressed students suffer from a deficit in interpersonal problem-solving and attempted to specify the hypothesized deficit using a qualitative analysis of problem-solving strategies. Twenty depressed students were compared with 20 nondepressed controls with respect to the strategies they developed on a Situation Specific Problem-Solving Inventory. Results supported the hypothesis of a problem-solving deficit in depressed students. Although depressed students seemed to have an adequate definition of the problem and the target, they showed a significant lack of action-oriented strategies.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Problem-solving abilities in unipolar depressed patients: comparison of performance on the modified version of the Wisconsin and the California sorting tests.

Problem solving relies on such abilities as decision-making, planning, initiation and hypothesis testing. Although problem-solving deficits have been consistently reported in depression, the specific nature of these deficits is not fully elucidated. In order to assess and isolate cognitive processes underlying problem-solving impairments in depression, depressed patients and normal controls were evaluated with the modified version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the California Card Sorting Test (CCST). The California Card Sorting Test, unlike the modified WCST, provides several different measures of concept generation, concept identification and concept execution. Compared with controls, depressed patients did not show any deficits on all the measures of the modified WCST. In contrast, depressed patients evidenced mild impairment on the CCST with a specific deficit on concept generation but no major problems in concept identification and concept execution. The deficit in concept generation may be rooted in multiple factors such as hypothesis-testing deficits, a loss of cognitive flexibility and a conservative style of response. Since a positive relation between problem-solving deficits and the mean duration of the depressive episode was observed, problem-solving abilities might be predictive of poorer outcome in patients with unipolar affective disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

How we measure problem-solving ability.

A review of some of the more recent literature on problem solving is presented. An attempt is made to identify factors which may lead to discrediting the PMP (Patient Management Problem) as a measure of problem-solving ability. A definition of competence in problem solving is proposed and the question of scoring is discussed. A possible method for future research is suggested.

Australia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Planfulness and problem solving in older adults.

The applicability of problem solving concepts such as planfulness and depth of search to older adult cognitive behavior was considered. Eighteen males (sixty to eighty-nine years) and eighteen females (sixty to eighty-two years) solved isomorphic inquiry problems involving elimination of number and letter alternatives from a twenty-four item stimulus array. Half of the participants were given planning instructions designed to deepen their search through existing knowledge, while half received no instructions. Analyses of the total number of questions to solution and the percentage reduction in number of alternatives produced by each question revealed no reliable gender-related differences. Planning instructions, however, reduced the number of questions prior to solution and increased the informational value of most inquiries. The results were interpreted in terms of a metacognitive strategy deficiency in later life. Theoretical issues related to the construction and validation of information-processing models that depend on "real-world" knowledge were discussed.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Social problem solving among popular and unpopular children.

The present study investigated two issues related to children's social status and problem solving: the content of problem-solving measures and judgments of the quality of responses to social problems. Three types of social problem situations were studied: peer entry/initiation, maintaining social interaction, and management of conflict. The quality of children's strategies for solving these problems was rated on two dimensions: effectiveness and social competence. Liked-most children obtained significantly more effective and socially competent ratings than liked-least children for only one of the social problem situations--management of conflict. Significant differences between liked-most and liked-least children were also found between the quality of their best effective and best socially competent solution and their worst socially competent solutions. Results are discussed in terms of the psychometric adequacy of social problem-solving measures and the resultant problems in interpretation.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1994

Coalitions and family problem solving with preadolescents in referred, at-risk, and comparison families.

This study tested the hypothesis that the mother-father coalition, parent-child coalitions, and parental warmth expressed toward the child are associated with family problem solving in families with a preadolescent child referred for treatment of behavior problems (n = 30), families with a child at-risk for conduct disorder (n = 68), and a sample of comparison families (n = 90). Referred and at-risk families displayed less effective problem solving. A regression analysis, which controlled for gender of the child, family structure, family income, marital satisfaction, and severity of child problems, showed that strong parental coalitions were linked to low levels of family problem solving in at-risk and referred families. Parent-child coalitions had little apparent impact while parental warmth was highly correlated with better family problem solving. The results may be interpreted as evidence for a tendency for parents in at-risk and referred families to "scapegoat" a preadolescent during family problem-solving sessions. This may undermine progress on family problem solutions and may complicate family-based prevention and treatment programs that use family problem-solving sessions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

[Development of a questionnaire for problem solving].

Presented is the development of a measuring instrument in order to assess the problem solving ability (PLF). The PLF consists of 5 scales: a) experiencing problems, b) problem denial, c) tendency to solve problems in an unconventional way, d) dealing with the problem and e) tendency to conservative problem solving. Test-theoretical analyses are reported as well as, in greater detail, studies for test validation on various populations. High covariations can be shown especially for personality factors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1999

Customer-centered problem solving.

If there is no single best way to attract new customers and retain current customers, there is surely an easy way to lose them: fail to solve the problems that arise in nearly every buyer-supplier relationship, or solve them in an unsatisfactory manner. Yet, all too frequently, companies do just that. Either we deny that a problem exists, we exert all our efforts to pin the blame elsewhere, or we "Band-Aid" the problem instead of fixing it, almost guaranteeing that we will face it again and again.

Commerce↗

PubMed1997

A randomised controlled trial and cost analysis of problem-solving treatment for emotional disorders given by community nurses in primary care.

BACKGROUND: We set out to investigate whether community nurses could be trained in problem-solving therapy and, once trained, how effective they would be in treating emotional disorders in primary care. METHOD: Seventy patients with an emotional disorder in primary care were randomly allocated to receive either problem-solving therapy from a trained community nurse or treatment as usual from their general practitioner. Interview and self-rated assessments of clinical and economic outcome were made pretreatment, at eight weeks and at 26 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: There was no difference in clinical outcome between patients who received problem-solving treatment and patients who received the general practitioner's usual treatment. However, patients who received problem-solving treatment had fewer disability days and fewer days off work. The health care cost of problem-solving was greater than that of the general practitioner's usual treatment but this was more than offset by savings in the cost of days off work. CONCLUSIONS: Problem-solving treatment can be given by trained community nurses. The clinical effectiveness and cost-benefit of the treatment will depend on the selection of appropriate patients.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed1995

Problem-solving counselling or phone-call support for outpatients with chronic illness: effective for whom?

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine the effectiveness of problem-solving counselling or phone-call support provided by nurses to outpatients not well adjusted to chronic illness. Subjects (N = 293) completed measures at baseline and after the six-month period of intervention for psychosocial variables including coping behaviours, purpose in life, and psychosocial adjustment to illness. Subjects receiving phone-call support from nurses demonstrated less psychological distress. Results also suggest that problem-solving counselling improves psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness for outpatients who live alone, infrequently use problem-solving coping skills, or frequently use avoidance coping methods. As well, outpatients with a low purpose in life who show infrequent use of problem-solving coping skills appear to benefit most from problem-solving counselling provided by nurses. On the other hand, those not well adjusted who frequently use problem-solving coping seem to be served more effectively by phone-call support.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2000

Problem solving as a core strategy in the prevention of schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the rationale for implementing training in structured problem solving as a primary prevention strategy for major mental disorders. METHOD: The evidence that training people in a structured method of solving their personal problems is an effective strategy in the treatment of established cases of schizophrenic and major mood disorders, is selectively reviewed. RESULTS: Most of the relevant research focused on the prevention of major recurrent episodes of psychosis. There is some evidence to support the hypothesis that this strategy may assist many people to achieve a full and sustained recovery from the clinical and social impairments of these disorders, especially when patients are taught to use structured problem solving with members of their personal resource groups, and they continue to take optimal doses of psychoactive medication. There is support for the hypothesis that the key therapeutic factor associated with these benefits is the improved efficiency of the management of life stress. CONCLUSIONS: The simplicity of problem solving, the educational methods used, and the widespread application to a person's lifestyle would appear to make this a possible candidate for a primary prevention program for major mental disorders. Guidebooks and teaching aids have been developed and show excellent consumer acceptance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Adolescent stealers' and nonstealers' social problem-solving skills.

Eleven adolescents with a history of stealing in the past year were compared to 11 nonstealers on social problem-solving skills. The stealers showed a tendency not to consider the passage of time necessary for solving social problems on the Means-Ends Problem Solving (MEPS) test. In addition, adolescents who exhibited delinquency tendencies, as measured by the Jesness Inventory, showed a cognitive bias for generating ineffective solutions to hypothetical social problems. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

Adult age differences on traditional and practical problem-solving measures.

Eighty-four adults between the ages of 20 and 79 were presented with two types of problem-solving tasks. One was a task that is typically used in problem-solving research and the other was a task composed of practical problems that adults might encounter in their daily lives. Performance on the two types of tasks exhibited different developmental functions across age. Performance on the traditional problem-solving task decreased linearly across the page while performance on the practical problems increased to a peak in the 40- and 50-year-old groups and decreased thereafter. The results indicate that the developmental function obtained for problem-solving during the adult years depends on the type of problems that are presented. While performance on the abstract type of problems typically employed in research may decrease with age during the adult years, performance on practical problems may exhibit a different relationship with age.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Who's got the power? Gender differences in partners' perceptions of influence during marital problem-solving discussions.

Previous research on marital communication indicates that women have more influence in marital problem solving because they raise the issues and shape the discussion. Other studies suggest that men have the power in marital problem solving. This study re-examines power and influence from the partners' point of view. Twenty-seven couples-18 with a first child under 2, and 9 undecided about having children-were videotaped while working on a self-selected problem concerning their division of family labor. Data sources included: (a) transcribed audiotaped accounts given by each partner while viewing a videotape of their problem-solving discussion; (b) self-report questionnaires; and (c) ratings by a research team of the concordance between spouses' accounts. Husbands and wives were perceived as having a primary influence on different aspects of the discussion. Women tended to raise the issues and draw men out in the early phase of the discussion, while men controlled the content and emotional depth of the later discussion phases, and largely determined the outcome. The women's accounts emphasized that their influence in the early phase was often illusory: their behavior was shaped primarily by the effort to choose strategies that would avoid upsetting their husbands. In terms of overall satisfaction with marriage, wives had greater tolerance than their husbands for conflict in the area of division of domestic labor, but less tolerance for their husbands' domination of the discussion process. Women's marital satisfaction was higher when there was concordance between spouses in their accounts of their problem-solving discussion. This research highlights the importance of eliciting spouses' own perceptions and definitions in understanding the impact of gender-linked power differences in martial communication.

Adult↗