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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↗

PubMed1991

Problem solving and diabetes self-care.

An important objective of diabetes care is to provide patients with self-regulation skills. For patients to assume responsibility for their own regimens, they need to have good problem-solving skills to cope with ongoing personal, social, and environmental barriers to adherence. Therefore, a Diabetes Problem Solving Interview for adults was developed and evaluated with 126 non-insulin-dependent outpatients. Interviewers elicited problem-solving strategies patients would use to cope with a variety of situations potentially interfering with dietary, exercise, and glucose testing adherence. Interviews were tape recorded and coded by trained raters to produce scores on both overall problem-solving skill ratings and frequency of use of different types of strategies. Results revealed only minor influences of patient characteristics on problem-solving measures. Prospective analyses revealed that problem-solving measures were significant and independent predictors of levels of dietary and exercise self-care at a 6-month follow-up.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2004

Verbal memory, problem-solving skills and community status in schizophrenia.

Neuropsychological deficits have been associated with poor community functioning in individuals with schizophrenia. Previous research suggests that verbal memory capacity is related to functional capacity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between verbal memory, problem-solving skills and community functioning, as measured by treatment status (inpatient vs. outpatient) in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Evaluations were done on 162 individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, seen in inpatient (n=87) and outpatient settings (n=75). Verbal memory was assessed using narrative recall and list recall measures. Problem-solving skills for independent living were assessed using a social reasoning measure and a daily problem-solving skills measure. Better verbal memory performance was associated with better problem solving for independent living. However, inpatient vs. outpatient status was best determined by problem-solving skills for independent living rather than verbal memory performance. The results reveal the importance of daily problem-solving skills for community status in schizophrenia. Although verbal memory performance is associated with problem-solving skills for independent living, predictive probability of community status does not improve when memory performance is taken into account.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The problem-oriented dental record: a key to dental hygiene treatment planning and the problem-solving model for dental hygiene practice.

The problem-solving model for dental hygiene practice requires careful assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation to provide quality dental hygiene care. To facilitate this problem-solving approach, a method of recording information in an organized and highly communicative manner must be established. This paper describes the components of a problem-oriented dental record used by students at the Vancouver Community College and discusses the benefits of using this tool in clinical practice.

Dental Hygienists↗

PubMed2000

Problem-solving skills of senior student nurses: an exploratory study using simulation.

The Stages Model of problem-solving as evidenced in the use of the nursing process is the key vehicle for the operationalisation of problem-solving in current nursing practice. An expanded variant of the model formed the theoretical framework for this study which aimed to explore and compare the problem-solving skills of senior student nurses (n=253) from three pre-registration nurse education programmes (RGN, diploma RN, integrated degree). Students' care planning skills were explored using a video-tape simulation exercise and data were subjected to statistical testing. Findings indicated a large range in the global care plan scores and while performance was similar in a number of areas independent of programme type, certain key differences also emerged. The findings are discussed in the wider context of professional education and practice and the potential for further development of problem-solving skills in pre-registration nurse education is explored.

Education, Nursing↗

PubMed1980

Task demands and problem-solving strategies in middle-aged and older adults.

Elderly individuals tend to use less efficient strategies on problem-solving tasks such as the Twenty Questions task than younger adults. Two studies were undertaken in an attempt to facilitate the problem-solving performance of elderly individuals by manipulating the demands of the problem-solving tasks. In the first study, problems that were so difficult as to be virtually insoluble without the use of an efficient strategy were compared with standard Twenty Questions problems. While middle-aged individuals tended to use an efficient strategy on both the difficult and the standard problems, elderly individuals tended to use an efficient strategy much more frequently on the difficult problems than on the standard problems. In the second study, problems with stimuli that were more easily classifiable than the standard stimuli were compared with standard Twenty Questions problems. Middle-aged individuals again tended to use an efficient strategy on both types of problems while elderly individuals tended to use an efficient strategy much more frequently on the problems with the easily classifiable stimuli. The fact that elderly individuals can use more efficient strategies under certain circumstances when they have not been given training in the use of such strategies suggests that the elderly have such strategies in their repertoires. It is not clear why they are less likely than younger adults to use efficient strategies in at least some problem-solving situations.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Interpersonal problem solving in preschool and first grade: developmental change and ecological validity.

Examined problem-solving strategies, their correlation with multiple-informant ratings of behavior problems and social competence, and developmental change over a 2-year period. Shure's (1999) model targets children's production of alternative solutions to interpersonal problems. Others have found that solution quality correlates more highly with adjustment. Children (N = 208, M age = 60 months) completed the Preschool Interpersonal Problem Solving (PIPS) task in Head Start and again 2 years later. Many children achieved substantial gains in problem-solving skill as measured by PIPS. The prosocial or forceful quality of children's responses correlated with observational, caregiver, and teacher ratings of behavior problems and social competence. Quality of response appeared more important than solution quantity in predicting ecologically valid behaviors, implying that interventions should concentrate on response content more than quantity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Dissociation between performance on abstract tests of executive function and problem solving in real-life-type situations in normal aging.

This study examined the effects of normal aging on real-life-type problem-solving performance, using problems that had previously been found to be sensitive to lesions involving the frontal lobes. Executive skills assessed on abstract neuropsychological tests tend to decrease with normal aging. The effects of aging on tasks reliant on everyday knowledge and experience are less well understood. In the present study, groups of healthy older and younger people were compared on ability to solve real-life-type problems covering a range of everyday interpersonal situations. Performance was also examined on a range of standardized neuropsychological tests involving executive skills. Older people were similar to younger people in most aspects of everyday problem-solving performance, although the older group appeared to use a different strategy to the younger group in generating potential problem solutions. Both groups performed normally for their age on the executive tests. Comparisons based on raw scores rather than age-adjusted scores showed the younger group to perform better on the executive tests, but not on the problem-solving task. The possible contribution of knowledge and experience to problem solving on the current task is discussed. The greater life experience of the older group is likely to be the biggest contributory factor in maintaining problem-solving performance.

Adult↗