Psychological safety has been hypothesised as an important antecedent of the success of agile software development (ASD) teams. However, there is a lack of investigation on psychological safety in large-scale agile (LSA) software development teams. This study explored the antecedents and effects of psychological safety on LSA teams. We conducted semi-structured interviews with software professionals working on LSA project in a Scandinavian technology company. The results suggest that building a psychologically safe environment is a multi-dimensional factor that requires proactive leadership approach, open communication and constructive feedback. The focus should be on designing teams for learning, remuneration safety, and a well-prepared onboarding process for new team members. A psychologically safe environment contributes to effective teamwork, work satisfaction, and promotion of learning. Absence of such an environment leads to brain drain, highlighting the consequences of neglecting this essential aspect of organisational culture. Future research directions are proposed in this paper.

Psychological safety, a pivotal factor in team dynamics, has been proposed as a crucial determinant of success in agile software development (ASD) teams and learning. However, the extent of its influence within the domain of large-scale agile (LSA) software development teams remains underexplored. This research investigates the multifaceted dimensions of psychological safety within LSA teams, examining both its precursors and outcomes. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with software professionals actively involved in LSA projects within a Swedish software consultancy company. The findings underscore the intricate nature of establishing a psychologically safe environment within LSA teams, revealing it as a multidimensional construct necessitating a proactive leadership approach, fostering open communication, and cultivating an ecosystem of constructive feedback. The study highlights the critical importance of intentionally shaping teams to facilitate continuous learning, ensuring remuneration safety, and implementing a comprehensive onboarding process for incoming team members. By fostering psychologically safe settings, LSA teams enhanced teamwork dynamics, heightened job satisfaction, and facilitation continuous learning and development. Notably, the absence of such an environment exacerbates the phenomenon of brain drain, exposing the tangible consequences of overlooking this fundamental aspect of organizational culture. This study proposes avenues for future research directions, aiming to further unravel the nuances of psychological safety and its cascading effects within the realm of contemporary LSA software development context.

To provide a scalable solution to mental health problems caused by stress, we developed Oiva, a mobile phone intervention for improving mental and physical wellbeing. Oiva is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and its aim is to teach the users skills to increase their psychological flexibility. The application contains 45 text, audio, and video exercises. Two user studies demonstrated the usability and acceptability of the application and concept. The evaluations also revealed that the users expected guidance on the application for performing the intervention program. They also wanted to have possibilities to individualize the application by saving their own reflections about the exercises as notes. The preliminary evaluation results indicate that Oiva is a good starting point for the further design and research of mobile applications for reducing stress and improving wellness.

Genomförbarheten av Project Support (PS), ett individuellt föräldrastöd för våldsutsatta mammor utvecklat i USA, utvärderas inom ramen för svensk socialtjänst i denna studie. Sammanlagt trettio behandlare har utbildats i metoden, som anpassats till svenska förhållanden i samarbete med upphovsmännen. Tjugonio familjer hade inkluderats i behandling vid sttudiens avslut. Såväl behandlare som mammor uppskattade metoden och bedömde att den var en lämplig insats som förbättrade föräldrarnas samspel med sina barn. Mammornas självskattade föräldraförmåga förbättrades signifikant, och barnens symtomnivåer sänktes. Vissa svårigheter för implementering identifierades, dels metodspecifika, dels relaterade till omständigheter i socialtjänsten.

Guided internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) has been found to be effective in several controlled trials, but the mechanisms of change are largely unknown. Therapeutic alliance is a factor that has been studied in many psychotherapy trials, but the role of therapeutic alliance in ICBT is less well known. The present study investigated early alliance ratings in three separate samples. Participants from one sample of depressed individuals (N = 49), one sample of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (N = 35), and one sample with social anxiety disorder (N = 90) completed the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) modified for ICBT early in the treatment (weeks 3-4) when they took part in guided ICBT for their conditions. Results showed that alliance ratings were high in all three samples and that the WAI including the subscales of Task, Goal and Bond had high internal consistencies. Overall, correlations between the WAI and residualized change scores on the primary outcome measures were small and not statistically significant. We conclude that even if alliance ratings are in line with face-to-face studies, therapeutic alliance as measured by the WAI is probably less important in ICBT than in regular face-to-face psychotherapy.

Several hundred new synthetic drugs, novel psychoactive substances (NPS) or “legal highs” have in recent years appeared on the drug market. These can effortlessly be obtained from on-line vendors, offering an easy access to a plethora of new and untested substances, often with unknown or dangerous effects. Several different attempts to reduce the availability of NPS and to prevent accidents and fatalities have been applied by governments around the world. Nonetheless this complex and constantly evolving situation provides palpable dilemmas and challenges to legislators and prevention strategists. One unintended consequence from prohibition and current drug policies occurs when possibly more precarious substances are used to substitute older and more well-known illicit drugs; so called “substance displacement”. We have performed extensive research on the use of NPS, by analyzing Internet resources (drug discussion forum, on-line questionnaires), and published several NPS studies. During our research we observed how substance displacement is a common issue, with implications for both clinical practices, drug prevention strategies, as well as for legislators. In the present review we discuss two common themes of substance displacement: 1) Synthetic cannabinoids replace herbal cannabis, and 2) Different attempts for self-medication using NPS. Incitements for substance displacement, that exposes the user to possibly more harmful substances, are founded both in legislation (availability of substances and fear of legal repercussions) as well as from certain policies or cultural perceptions of various medical conditions. We offer no obvious solutions to these complications, but would like to contribute to awareness of how these factors effects drug users and how measures intended to reduce harm in many cases have the opposite effects. Further studies on the divergent motivations and different groups of NPS users are highlighted as imperative to find new and realistic solutions going forward. 

Aim: The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the effects experienced by users of a novel psychoactive substance, the benzodiazepine flubromazolam, by analysing users' own accounts on the Swedish forum Flashback.org. Method: A thematic analysis of anonymous self-reports published on the forum was performed and generated five general themes describing effects and experiences by flubromazolam users. Results: The themes which emerged were: Onset and duration, Desired effects, Adverse effects and addiction, Loss of control, General estimations and evaluations. The main reported characteristics of flubromazolam were heavy hypnotic and sedative effects, long-lasting amnesiac effects and the rapid development of tolerance. Flubromazolam was also anxiolytic and acted as a muscle relaxant for many users. Some users experienced euphoria or intense wellbeing. Other prominent characteristics were loss of control (leading to poor choices and actions, with unpleasant consequences) and long-lasting, often severe withdrawals. There were also serious incidents where users had been admitted to hospital, acute psychiatric treatment or taken into custody by the police. Conclusion: Flubromazolam appears to be a highly addictive and precarious benzodiazepine with many, possibly severe, side effects. The substance is generally described as very potent and with long-lasting effects. Memory loss and loss of control are common adverse effects, and withdrawals appear to be severe for many users

The aim of the study was to investigate whether or not 33 flotation sessions were more effective for stress-related ailments than 12 sessions. Participants were 37 patients, 29 women and 8 men, all diagnosed as having stress-related pain of a muscle tension type. The patients were randomized to one of two conditions: 12 flotation-REST treatments or 33 flotation-REST treatments. Analyses for subjective pain typically indicated that 12 sessions were enough to get considerable improvements and no further improvements were noticed after 33 sessions. A similar pattern was observed concerning the stress-related psychological variables: experienced stress, anxiety, depression, negative affectivity, dispositional optimism, and sleep quality. For blood pressure no effects were observed after 12 sessions, but there was a significant lower level for diastolic blood pressure after 33 sessions. The present study highlighted the importance of finding suitable complementary treatments in order to make further progress after the initial 12 sessions.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is often associated with lower function. Self-criticism is associated with depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore if fusing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and compassion-focused therapy could improve psychological well-being and disability in individuals with chronic pain with high levels of self-criticism in comparison to a wait-list control group. METHODS: Individuals with chronic pain (n=71) were randomly assigned to an 8-week internet-based intervention focused on acceptance and compassion or a wait-list condition. Primary treatment outcomes were the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, and Pain Disability Index. Secondary outcomes were the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Quality of Life Inventory, Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire. RESULTS: Missing data at postintervention were 22.5%. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted using linear mixed models. The results revealed greater levels of acceptance and self-compassion for the treatment group, which were primary outcomes, with effect sizes ranging from small to large, and these results were maintained at 6-month follow-up. The rates of clinically significant improvements were also greater for the treatment group in comparison to the wait-list control group on acceptance and compassion. The treatment group also improved in the third primary outcome, pain disability. Significant differences were found in several of the secondary outcomes, in favor of the treatment group. DISCUSSION: Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with compassion-focused therapy components shows promise as a viable treatment option in the management of chronic pain. 

Idag finns en mängd olika digitala lösningar för att hjälpa oss att bli mer hälsosamma. Det finns applikationer, eller ”appar”, för att få oss att äta nyttigare, röra oss mer eller sova bättre, för att bara nämna några få hälsorelaterade områden. Frågan är om och hur de hjälper oss?

Abstract

This study presents an exploratory factor analysis of a questionnaire regar­ding military recruits’ social support from friends and family (i.e., Social support) for their voluntary enlistment, and participation in the basic military training. The participants consisted of the 1290 (1133 men and 157 women) who had been accepted to and started the first rounds of basic military training in the new Swedish Armed Forces All-volunteer Force in 2011. The exploratory factor analysis (Principal Component Analysis, with Oblique-rotation) yielded a simple structure where 11 of the original 13 statements loaded on four related factors. Two of the fac­tors consisted of the statements which were common to all participants, that is, all participants were able to answer them. These two factors re­garded an articulated support for family and friend, and an unspoken dis­approval, respectively. The remaining two factors where specific for the participants who had either been deployed on international operations previously, or were in (or had recently ended) a relationship. The study also explores the relationships between the emerging four factors and two questions regarding the participants’ rating of the importance of social support for their well-being (i.e., Importance of social support), and the prevalence of previous relationship problems (i.e., Relationship problems). However, the structure, and in particular the two latter factors need to be evaluated further, and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution. In addition, the introduction to this study presents a theoretical background to the field of social support, and its importance for military populations.

This study investigated whether “re-usable” soldiers, that is, those who performed well during operations (Military capacity), and were able to readjust post-deployment (Civil adjustment), could be identified pre-deployment. Participants were 364 UN peacekeeping soldiers. Three hypotheses were posed: (a) the selection system for conscripts cannot identify soldiers with low Military capacity, (b) the selection system for conscripts cannot identify soldiers with poor Civil adjustment after deployment, and (c) the two aspects of “re-usability” (Military Capacity and Civil Adjustment) would be intertwined. Results showed that the selection system for conscripts was unable to identify soldiers’ Military Capacity and Civil Adjustment. Results also showed that these two aspects were unrelated, and did not interact. Indications on possible consequences, and improvements were discussed.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the expectations and experiences regarding a robotic shower, from a dual user perspective. Design/methodology/approach This was an explorative qualitative study in which elderly and personnel were interviewed before the robotic shower was installed and again after four or five months of usage. Findings The elderly participants found the robotic shower empowering. The personnel's experiences encompassed their own work conditions, as well as the user value for the elderly. A shared experience for both user groups was a more independent shower situation for the elderly. Originality/value This study presents a dual user experience of a DAT in an intimate care situation and shows the importance of including both elderly and personnel to fully understand the value of DATs.

This study is a construct validation of a profession-focussed personality questionnaire (PQ), based on the Big Five, and developed for a military population and context. The sample (N = 363) consisted of participants selected for international services in the Swedish Armed Forces. The structure of the PQ was modelled by means of confirmatory factor analysis, and its convergent validity was tested against the FFPI (A. A. J. Hendricks, K. B. W. Hofstee, & B. de Raad, 1999, 2000) and the SIMP (S. A. Woods & S. E. Hampson, 2005) as correlations. The emergent structure of the PQ - 41 items and seven aspects - showed good internal consistency, and acceptable convergent validity with both criterion instruments. The only non-convergence was found between the Agreeableness aspect of the PQ, Concern for Others, and Agreeableness of the SIMP, most likely due to the broader SIMP factor. The structure of PQ was tested on a new sample (N = 274) and was found stable regarding the factor loadings and the relations between the factors. While the PQ needs to be investigated further, it seems as if it may become a useful tool in the research of military teams and contexts.

Military staff performance may be inferior due to several reasons. The purpose of the present survey was to study the impact of stress reactions, personality factors, situation awareness, and maladaptive group dynamics on the frequency of faulty decision-making in Swedish high-level military staffs. Participants were mainly captains and majors, but also lieutenant colonels and colonels took part (n = 256, 61 % response rate). A self-made questionnaire was administered in two staff exercises. Maladaptive group dynamics, stress exposure, lack of situation awareness, and negative stress reactions were the strongest predictors of poor staff performance, while personality had less impact.

This study explores a user perspective on fitness-trackers and how they are used to maintain healthy behaviors; and how fitness trackers could be designed to better maintain healthy behaviors. A thematic analysis was conducted on the transcriptions from semi-structured interviews with eight seasoned non-professional runners who regularly used fitness trackers in their exercise regime. The main findings are: (a) the maintenance of healthy behaviors rely more on what happens in the intermission – that is, between healthy behaviors – than during the actual behavior itself; and (b), by visualizing the history of healthy behaviors, intermission feedback help motivate the repetition of healthy behavior in a way that mimics broad choice bracketing and behavioral streaks. Thus, fitness-trackers should focus more on the motivational aspects during the intermission between the healthy behaviors rather than encouraging the performance during the target behavior.

Project Support (PS) is an evidence-based individual support and parenting program developed for mothers exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) whose children have developed conduct disorders. This Swedish feasibility study focuses on changes in the mothers' psychiatric symptoms, in relation to social and emotional support received as part of PS. In a within-subject design in a naturalistic setting (i.e., 10 social service units), mothers (n = 35) reported a significant decrease in symptoms, but from an individual perspective, most mothers still suffered from clinical levels of psychiatric symptoms. The need for additional interventions for mothers exposed to IPV is discussed.

Background and aims

Chronic pain not only affects the person in pain, but can also have a negative impact on relationships with loved ones. Research shows that chronic pain is associated with difficulties in marital relationships, which in turn is related to a variety of negative outcomes such as psychological distress and conflict within the family. This suggests that couples where chronic physical pain is present also struggle with emotional pain and relationship problems, and thus targeting relationship skills and interpersonal functioning might be helpful for these couples. Although studies in this area are promising, their numbers are few. In the present study, validation as a way of communicating is suggested for handling emotional expression in interpersonal interactions. Validation communicates understanding and acceptance of the other person's experience, and it has been shown to have a down-regulating effect on negative emotions. It has previously been demonstrated to be important for these couples. However, the feasibility and effects of increasing partner validation in these couples are unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate if a brief training session in validation for spouses would result in more validating and fewer invalidating responses towards their partners with pain, and to investigate if changes in these behavioural responses were associated with changes in emotion and pain level in the partner with pain.

Methods

Participants were 20 couples where at least one partner reported chronic pain. The study employed a within-groups design in which spouses of people with pain received validation training (without their partner's knowledge), and their validating and invalidating responses were rated pre- and post-intervention using a reliable observational scale. Also, positive and negative affect and subjective pain level in the persons with pain were rated pre- and post-intervention.

Results

Results showed that the validation training was associated with increased validating and decreased invalidating responses in the partners. Their spouses with chronic pain reported a decrease in negative affect from pre- to post-training.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the partner or closest family member, after brief validation training, increased validating responses and decreased invalidating responses towards the person with pain, which had an immediate positive impact on emotions in the other person.

Implications

This study suggests that using validation in interpersonal interactions is a promising tool for couples where chronic pain is present.

The aims of this scoping review were to map the current literature on interventions for improving mental health in athletes, identify knowledge gaps, and generate future research questions. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guided this review. A systematic literature search was conducted in SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS and 44 intervention studies met the inclusion criteria. Results showed that 22 studies (50%) implemented cognitive behavioural principles, and the majority of these studies were influenced by various mindfulness programmes. Most studies (93%) included healthy athlete samples, and athletes aged 15–19 were the most examined age group (43%). Only three studies used clinical criteria in their sampling of participants and mediators were examined in two studies. The scarcity of studies examining mediators and subclinical or clinical samples revealed critical knowledge gaps in the literature. Furthermore, the critical appraisal showed that regardless of study design, most studies demonstrated low internal validity. We propose the use of high-quality single-case studies with athletes who experience subclinical or clinical mental health issues, and further investigation of mechanisms of change linking intervention components to outcomes of interest. 

BackgroundProvoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common pain condition, negatively impacting the relationships and sexual lives of sufferers. Women's coping behaviour has been associated with psychosexual outcomes, yet coping patterns in clinical PVD samples are unexplored, and it is not known how women's coping relates to their relational context.MethodWomen (N = 128) with PVD answered questionnaires about psychosexual function, pain coping (avoidance and endurance), relational- and pain catastrophizing, sexual goals and perceived partner responses. Cluster analysis was used to explore coping patterns; clusters were validated on measures of pain and psychosexual function and compared on catastrophizing, sexual goals and partner responses using multivariate analyses of variance.ResultsThe analysis yielded four clusters: endurance; combined high avoidance and endurance; avoidance; and combined low. The group with high levels of both avoidance and endurance coping displayed the worst psychosexual outcomes and high levels of pain- and relational catastrophizing, approach and avoidance goals and perceived negative partner responses.ConclusionThere are distinct patterns of coping among women with PVD, and these coping patterns are associated with psychosexual outcomes and relational cognitions and goals, and perceived partner responses. Women who alternate between avoidance and endurance are more distressed and report worse psychosexual functioning. This pattern needs to be identified and addressed in the treatment of PVD.Significance StatementThis study extends previous findings on vulvar pain coping patterns to a clinical population of women with PVD. It is further the first study to address the relationship between relational variables, such as partner responses and relational catastrophizing and different coping patterns. Thus, the contribution of this study is the contextualizing of coping patterns among women with PVD. The results showed that a combined pattern of avoidance and endurance coping is associated with high distress, poor psychosexual outcomes, and indications of insufficient relational coping, highlighting the need for clinical assessment and intervention to target both women's individual coping patterns and their relational context.

Bakgrund: Lagbollsport i idrottsundervisningen har kritiserats för att likna föreningslivets resultatorienterade sätt att bedriva den. Något jag märkte när jag gjorde min idrottslärarpraktik var att många elever inte blev delaktiga under lektionerna då lagbollsport utövades. Kan man som idrottslärare genom att påverka motivationsklimatet få flertalet elever att uppleva mer glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära nytt i lagbollsport?

Syfte: Syftet med fältexperimentet är att skapa två olika motivationsklimat, processorienterat/resultatorienterat, samt utföra dem under fyra idrottslektioner i fotboll. Detta för att kunna påvisa eventuella för- och nackdelar mellan de båda motivationsklimaten genom resultaten från elevers upplevelser i glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära nya saker.

Metod: I studien användes en kvantitativ metod i form av enkäter. Totalt deltog 45 årskurs 7 elever från en skola i södra Värmland.

Resultat: Resultaten visade att eleverna upplevde båda experimentsituationerna/lektionerna processorienterade och inga större skillnader kunde mätas gällande glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära sig något nytt. Totalt sett så upplevde båda könen ett starkare samband mot samtliga bakgrundsvariabler (glädje, delaktighet, variation, tid att lära nytt) i ett upplevt processorienterat motivationsklimat jämfört med ett upplevt resultatorienterat. Vid könsjämförelser hittar man starka samband att speciellt flickor som upplevt motivationsklimatet resultatorienterat kände mindre glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära sig nya saker jämfört med pojkar.

Diskussion:

Idrottslektioner är olikt föreningsidrotten i stort då flickor och pojkar idrottar tillsammans, detta är en viktig del av utbildningen i det sociala och livslånga färdigheter av sammarbete samt fysisk aktivitet. Då ett processorienterat motivationsklimat tyder på effektivare inlärningsstrategier samt tron på idrott och hälsa är till för att utveckla sociala och livslånga färdigheter borde varje idrottslärare vara medveten om vad som händer med en grupp om man påverkar motivationsklimatet process- eller resultatorienterat. 

Biases in people's judgments of time saved by increasing the speed of an activity have been studied mainly with hypothetical scenarios (Svenson, 2008). The present study asked whether the classic time-saving bias persists as a perceptual bias when we control the speed of an activity and assess the perceived time elapsed at different speeds. Specifically, we investigated the time-saving bias in a driving simulator. Each participant was asked to first drive a distance at a given speed and then drive the same distance again at the speed she or he judged necessary to gain exactly three minutes in travel time compared to the first trip. We found that that the time-saving bias applies to active driving and that it affects the choice of driving speed. The drivers' time-saving judgements show that the perception of the time elapsed while driving does not eliminate the time-saving bias.

This study examines the effects of season and weather on mood (valence and activation) and travel satisfaction (measured by the Satisfaction with Travel Scale). Analyses are presented of 562 time-sampled morning commutes to work made by 363 randomly sampled people in three different Swedish cities asking them to use smartphones to report their mood in their home before and directly after the commutes. These reports as well as satisfaction with the commute obtained in summer and winter are linked to weather data and analyzed by means of fixed-effects regression analyses. The results reveal main effects of weather (temperature and precipitation) on mood and travel satisfaction (temperature, sunshine, precipitation, and wind speed). The effects of weather on mood and travel satisfaction differ depending on travel mode. Temperature leads to a more positive mood, wind leads to higher activation for public transport users, and sunshine leads to a more negative mood for cyclists and pedestrians. Sunshine and higher temperatures make travel more relaxed although not for cycling and walking, and rain and snow lead to a higher cognitive assessed quality of travel.

I den här rapporten presenteras resultaten av en studie av verkan av samtalen vid Samtalsakuten i Karlstad. Samtalsakuten är en öppen verksamhet som erbjuder stödsamtal för personer som befinner sig i kritiska livssituationer, är över 18 år och bor i Forshaga, Hammarö, Karlstad eller Kil. De kan ta direkt kontakt med Samtalsakuten. Alla som tar kontakt tas emot och det krävs ingen remiss för att få en tid. ”Samtalsstöd i kris” är den arbetsmodell som tillämpas. Den anknyter till såväl rådgivning som korttidsterapi och psykoterapi.

Två frågeställningar utgjorde utgångspunkt för studien: Gör samtalen vid Samtalsakuten skillnad för klienterna? Får man hjälp med det man sökte för? Studien har genomgått en etisk prövning och godkänts av Regionala Etikprövningsnämnden i Uppsala.

Mellan september 2011 och juli 2013 samlades data in från 106 personer som deltog i studien, 77 kvinnor (72,6 %) och 29 män (27,4 %). Data rörande deltagarnas bakgrund och sökorsaker och om deras självupplevda känsla av sammanhang, ångest, depressivitet och sömnsvårigheter samlades in. När samtalsserien avslutades ifylldes ett utvärderingsformulär och sex månader senare sändes samtliga självskattnings- och ett utvärderingsinstrument ut på nytt till deltagarna för att få uppföljningsdata.

De personer som söker kontakt med Samtalsakuten gör det i en situation som upplevs som ohållbar. Studien visar att ”samtalsstöd i kris” gör skillnad för deltagarna vad avser ångest, nedstämdhet/depression, sömn och känsla av sammanhang. Skillnaden uttrycks av deltagarna som ett nytt sätt att se, begripa och hantera sin vardag och sitt livssammanhang. Deltagarna anser sig ha fått god hjälp, är nöjda med sina samtalsterapeuter och deras arbetssätt och anser att de blivit väl mottagna.

Samtalsakuten är en verksamhet som genom studien visar sig genomföra goda insatser. För kommuninvånarna i Forshaga, Hammarö, Karlstad och Kil är det en lätt tillgänglig resurs och verksamhet väl värd att bevara men det finns även goda skäl att utveckla modellen och sprida den till fler län och kommuner.

Samtalsakuten (the Counseling Emergency) is an open crisis center operated in collaboration between the municipalities of Forshaga, Hammarö, Karlstad, and Kil; the Church of Sweden; and the County Council of Värmland. Its mandate is to offer crisis counseling to adults who contact the center when they are in an acute life crisis. Samtalsakuten uses a working model influenced by the various tradi-tions and approaches of several talk therapies. The aim of the study was to examine counseling effec-tiveness at Samtalsakuten. The study was based on a replicated single-case design, and quantitative and qualitative data were collected prior to each counseling session as well as six months after the completion of the session series. Our main finding is that counseling made a significant difference and had a positive effect on anxiety, depression, insomnia, and sense of coherence for clients who com-pleted their sessions in mutual agreement with their therapist.

In a mail survey of 951 residents of three urban areas of Sweden, satisfaction with their most recent work commutes was measured using self-report rating scales developed in previous research. The ratings were aggregated to index measures of two affective (stressed versus relaxed, alert versus sleepy) and one cognitive (high versus low standard) satisfaction component. Positive correlations were demonstrated with a measure of affect balance constructed from self-reports from memory of frequency times intensity of daily negative affects experienced last month subtracted from frequency times intensity of daily positive affects experienced last month. The affect balance measure was in turn positively correlated with ratings of overall life satisfaction. The results also showed that feelings during the work commutes were predominantly positive or neutral. Explanatory factors include desirable physical exercise from walking and biking, as well as that short commutes provide a buffer between the work and private spheres. For longer work commutes, social and entertainment activities would either increase positive affects or counteract stress and boredom.

This study focuses on the association between cognitive, medical, and physical difficulties; mental illness; travel autonomy; and perceptions of the possibilities of participating in desired daily activities; further, we examine their association with happiness and life satisfaction. We present and empirically test an integrated framework with travel autonomy, defined as the prerequisites, freedom, and possibility to travel the way one wants, at its core. We use web survey data (n = 1041) collected in Sweden in 2021. Using partial least squares structural equations, we find a valid and reliable model with travel autonomy as a distinct and reliable latent construct. Furthermore, travel autonomy yields significant paths to perceived accessibility, happiness, and life satisfaction, highlighting the importance of capabilities, independent travel, freedom, and possibilities in the overall construct of travel autonomy. Finally, mental illness plays an important role in how people rate their travel autonomy.

Organizing the way people travel in a more sustainable way is a key challenge. This changes the definition of transportation problems, the influencing factors as well as the types of solutions that need to be considered. It also influences the transport research agenda. The new challenge furthermore places in focus the psychology of the transport user who is now perceived as an active agent in the transport system. Thus, transport policy measures will be more successful if taking into account users’ capabilities and perceived constraints.

Presentation om hur införandet av en automatiserad duschlösning skapade olika värden för två användargrupper, äldre och vårdpersonal. Där oberoende var en viktig aspekt för både personal och äldre, men där personalens perspektiv var mer tvetydigt och ambivalent då deras arbetsinsatser inte bara förbättrades utan även i vissa aspekter försvårades. De äldre användarnas perspektiv handlade mer om ett ökat oberoende och upplevelsen av att återfå kontrollen i duschsituationen. Här diskuterades också resultatens implikationer samt lärdomar från studien.

In this chapter, we first address two questions: why are automobiles purchased, and why are automobiles, after being purchased, used to such a large extent? We argue that instrumental and economic factors (including time savings) play important roles. Yet, psychological factors appear to also play a decisive role. Following a brief overview of factors accounting for the unprecedented historical increase in automobile ownership (Section 19.2), determinants of private car use will be analysed in the following section, 19.3. Substantial environmental and societal costs of private car use such as congestion, noise, air pollution, excessive land use crowding out other uses and depletion of material and energy resources are expected future consequences of the worldwide increasing trend in automobile ownership and use (Goodwin, 1996; Greene and Wegener, 1997; van Wee, 2012, 2014). In many urban areas, these consequences are already being felt, leading to various policy measures for reducing or changing private car use being placed high on the political agendas. In Section 19.4, we describe and classify a number of such policy measures. Following this classification, we review in the same section evidence of the policy measures’ effectiveness, public acceptability and political feasibility. Historical Trends in Private Car Ownership and Use The automobile has drastically altered the development of the world like few other human inventions. In the developed countries, and now in developing countries, its versatility strongly contributes to why it is chosen for urban, suburban and rural travel (Jakobsson, 2007). Versatility (in this chapter, referred to as instrumental motives) is, however, not a sufficient explanation. As will be argued, the automobile is also chosen because it is fun to drive and ride, provides privacy and security and signals social status (Gatersleben, 2007, 2014; Stradling, 2002). Even though cars were available at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was only in the years after World War II with the subsequent spread of affluence and the acceleration of automobile mass production that ownership was brought within the reach of a majority of households in the industrialised world.

The present study was carried out to examine the treatment effect of cognitive behavioral therapy provided by trainee therapists at a university clinic, focusing on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) optimism and symptoms. The study was conducted through a repeated measures design and included a treatment group (n = 21), which received cognitive behavioral therapy for an average of 10.7 therapy sessions and a control group (n = 14), that was put on a wait list for 8.6 weeks on average. After treatment, the treatment group improved significantly concerning general health (p = 0.028) and optimism (p = 0.027). In addition, clients improved in several areas within mental health and displayed some reduction in anxiety symptoms. Concurrently, the results also indicated some improvement within the control group, which may have been caused by the initial therapeutic contact, expectancy effects or spontaneous remission. The study concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy provided by trainee therapists may have a positive effect on areas within HRQOL and optimism.

At the psychotherapy training center at Karlstad University, a study was carried out to examine the levels of symptom change and satisfaction with therapy in a heterogeneous population of clients treated using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) by less experienced trainee therapists with limited theoretical education. The clients received an average of 11 therapy sessions. The results suggested that CBT performed by less experienced trainee therapists can be effective. According to client estimations, a statistically significant reduction in symptoms, measured using the Symptoms Checklist, was achieved for seven of nine variables (p ≤ .006), as well as a significant increase in satisfaction with life (p ≤ .001). Also, the pre- and posttherapy measurements using the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale showed a statistically significant improvement in the clients' condition. According to the therapists' estimations, 64% (SD = 32.01) of the clients experienced a significant improvement in their condition. In addition, the results of a survey of client satisfaction demonstrated that the clients were very pleased with the therapy received. Also the therapists were, to a great extent, satisfied with the treatment process itself, including the supervision received, and very satisfied with the client alliance. A correlation analysis between the clients' perceived level of improvement and therapist satisfaction showed a strong correlation between the two variables (r = .50, p < .005). By including the Comparative Psychotherapy Process Scale (CPPS) in our study it was possible to measure trueness to therapy form. An analysis of the CPPS results confirmed that the form of therapy used at the training site was more strongly CBT than psychodynamic interpersonal treatment (p ≤ .001). The CBT subscale score indicated that the therapy was characteristic of CBT, confirming that the interventions used in the therapy belong to the CBT genre.

This study investigates the effect of gamification on in-store mobile advertisement. More specifically, it investigates the effect of gamification on the inclination to act on offers gained at point of purchase. For this purpose, a field experiment was conducted at a supermarket, where real customers were recruited. Eye tracking, smartphone activity logging and choice were used to investigate the customers’ behaviour. The results reveal that gamification is not always useful for increasing the tendency to act on offers. In fact, engagement in a gamified shopping task is needed; otherwise, the tendency to act on offers might even decrease when gamifying.