Moving Away from Coercion: Social Justice and Behavior Change in Disability Services

The use of coercion to alter behavior in persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities has a long history. Despite the work of leaders in the development of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), the use of chemical, mechanical, physical or personal, and environmental restraints continues, resulting in traumatization, physical and emotional harm, and in some instances, death. When coercion is used, the trust between people breaks down, and the lack of trust is reinforced by the power differentials present when coercion occurs. Social justice provides an avenue for rebalancing power and regaining trust, but people affected by disabilities have historically been excluded from theories of social justice and, in some cases, do not fall within the definition of what it means to be a person in the paradigms put forth by a number of different authors. The term non-coercive has been used in an attempt to reframe behavior change theories and practices, but this term describes the absence of negative circumstances and interventions, rather than the presence of positive and affirming interactions which improve the quality of life of all stakeholders.

Impact of Risk Perception about COVID-19 on the Coping Behavior of the Elderly:Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy

Objective:This study aimed to explore the mediating role of self-efficacy on the relationship between risk perception and the coping behavior of the elderly during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Methods:The study employed the convenience sampling method to select a total of 550 elderly from Chongqing,Chengdu and Luohe in China.A questionnaire composed of the perception scale,self-efficacy scale,and coping behavior scale was used to collect data.Results:Risk perception exerted a significantly direct effect on positive coping behavior and avoidant coping behavior.Moreover,it positively predicted the components of self-efficacy.In turn,self-efficacy positively predicted the components of positive coping behavior,which confirm that it plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between risk perception and positive coping behavior.Moreover,self-efficacy negatively predicted the components of avoidant coping behavior,which confirms that it also plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between risk perception and avoidant coping behavior.Conclusion:A simple mediation model revealed that self-efficacy partially mediated the direct and indirect effects of risk perception on coping behavior.Based on the results,the study recommended several countermeasures and suggestions for enhancing the positive coping behavior of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Substrate use and postural behavior in free-ranging snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus bieti)in Yunnan

Extant colobines represent a predominantly arboreal primate radiation,but there are outliers such as some species of snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus spp.)that utilize both arboreal and terrestrial substrates.We quantified the degree of terrestriality and the distribution of individuals across canopy levels,the extrinsic and intrinsic determinants and constraints of strata association as well as use of postures in relation to behavior and food sources in a wild population of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus bieti)in the Samage Forest,China.The subjects spent 80.5%of the observation time in the trees and 19.5%on the ground.Ground use occurred most frequently in the context of travelling(61%)and less often in the context of feeding and resting(30%combined).Adult males frequented the ground significantly more often than other age-sex classes.Age-sex differences were also apparent in substrate preferences,which likely reflect body weight constraints.Adult males were significantly more associated with solid substrates and less with terminal branches than adult females and juveniles.Juveniles were seen more often on unstable ground(i.e.on thin and oblique branches)and in the upper canopy.Substrate use also varied with behavior:feeding was much more common in the upper stratum,outer canopy,on highly inclined and thin branches,as compared to resting.Severe weather also influenced canopy use in that tree crowns were used less often during periods of snowfall.The most frequently exhibited resting and feeding postures was sitting.Standing and suspensory postures were most often used in the context of feeding on lichens.