Brigitte Almudever’s research while affiliated with Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès and other places

Background: Among the workshops of our therapeutic patient education (TPE) program, the medication workshop (TPEM workshop) is very frequently proposed to patients in view of the difficulties they encounter related to the complexity of managing antiparkinsonian treatment. Patients' appropriation of their medications could depend on their social representations. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of our TPEM workshop on the social representations PD patients have of their medications and to compare it with that of another therapeutic intervention such as a talking group defined as the control group. Methods: This single-center, prospective, randomized, parallel-group study investigated the social representations of medication through a questionnaire on knowledge about antiparkinsonian medications, a questionnaire on beliefs about medication (BMQ), and a word association task. Results: In the TPEM group (n=16), the workshop induced significant effects over time on the knowledge questionnaire (P=0.01), BMQ specific necessity and concerns scores (P=0.04 and 0.01, respectively), necessity-concerns differential (P=0.04), and BMQ general harm (P=0.04). No significant difference was found in the talking group (n=6). Comparison of the two groups showed a significant difference of the BMQ general harm with a decrease in belief in the harmfulness of the medications in the workshop group (P=0.03). The results of the verbal association task showed a modification in the content and structure of the social representations of medication in the TPEM group. Discussion: The TPEM workshop helped reduce initial negative aspects of medication representations. Improved knowledge of their medication allowed patients to feel more competent and legitimate in communicating with caregivers, modifying their beliefs about medications. Indeed, the medication was perceived as less restrictive, care becoming central as shown by the emergence of the medical team in the social representations of the medication. Conclusion: All the results show a specific beneficial effect of the TPEM workshop through an evolution of the social representations of medications, which became more positive in our PD patients.

Identity management strategies in the workplace, social support-seeking behaviors and psychological well-being at work: a question of congruence between identities exposed by lesbian and gay employees in work and nonwork domains? Since they might be the targets of institutional and interpersonal discrimination, lesbian and gay employees may use various identity management strategies in the workplace (counterfeiting, avoiding, integrating) in order to conceal or to disclose their sexual orientation. The vocational literature assumed concealment to have negative effects, and disclosure to have positive ones. However, empirical studies have shown mixed results concerning the links between identity management strategies adopted in the workplace and variables related to relationship building or to mental health at work. In order to highlight these mixed results, the current study explored whether identity management used in nonwork domains served as moderators in the relationships between identity management strategies used at work and two indicators of work socialization: (a) social support-seeking behaviors in the workplace and (b) psychological well-being at work. A Web-based internet survey conducted among 234 lesbian and gay employees revealed that the use of an integrating strategy at work only had a positive relationship with social support-seeking behaviors when integrating was also highly used in nonwork domains (indicating the congruence of the integrating strategy across life domains). They also indicated that counterfeiting in the workplace only had a negative relationship with psychological well-being at work when counterfeiting was poorly used in nonwork environments (indicating that counterfeiting is non-congruent in work and nonwork domains). These results are discussed in the light of earlier studies and suggest several paths of intervention for psychologists.

Introduction Les traitements antiparkinsoniens sont lourds et contraignants. L’appropriation des traitements par les patients pourrait dépendre des représentations des médicaments. Objectifs L’objectif de cette recherche est d’évaluer les effets d’un atelier collectif d’éducation thérapeutique (ETP) centré sur le médicament, sur la représentation sociale du médicament chez les patients Parkinsoniens. Patients et méthodes Les représentations du médicament ont été évaluées grâce à un questionnaire de croyances (Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire [BMQ] explorant la nocivité des médicaments, l’excès d’utilisation de médicaments, le besoin et l’inquiétude de prendre des médicaments) et de connaissance sur les médicaments antiparkinsoniens avant et après un atelier collectif d’ETP chez 16 parkinsoniens ou un groupe de parole chez 6 Parkinsoniens (groupe contrôle). Les représentations du médicament ont été analysées à l’aide de tests non paramétriques. Résultats Après l’atelier ETP médicament, on observe une diminution de l’inquiétude vis-à-vis du médicament (p = 0,014), et de la croyance en sa nocivité (p = 0,041). Les connaissances sur le médicament sont améliorées (p = 0,009). Ces résultats ne sont pas retrouvés dans le groupe de parole. La comparaison des 2 groupes révèle une différence significative concernant la nocivité perçue (p = 0,02) et une tendance concernant l’inquiétude (p = 0,07). Discussion L’atelier ETP médicament permet de diminuer les aspects négatifs des représentations du médicament. L’amélioration des connaissances sur le médicament permet aux patients de se sentir plus compétents et légitimes dans la communication avec les soignants et modifient leurs croyances sur les médicaments. Conclusion L’ensemble des résultats montre que la participation à l’atelier collectif ETP Médicament favorise l’appropriation, par les patients Parkinsoniens, de leur traitement médicamenteux.

This French study aimed to explore the links between different dimensions of perceived workplace discrimination (i.e., perceived heterosexist events, workplace climate toward LGBT employees, organizational policies against discrimination) and disclosure of one’s homosexuality at work among 234 lesbian and gay employees. Drawing on the theoretical model of an active and plural socialization, we postulated that prior experiences of coming out across different life domains (i.e., family, work, friends) moderated these links. Findings from the Web-based internet survey revealed that prior negative coming out experiences with friends moderated these links, but in a different way whether individuals were faced with personal discrimination (i.e., heterosexist events) or with a more general discrimination risk (i.e., workplace climate, organizational policies). Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed in the field of work and organizational psychology.

Biographies and autobiographies of collectives. Epistemological stakes of biographical research applied to work collectives From 1981, F. Ferrarotti invited to apply « life story » method to groups. Since then, several approaches, varied and more or less formal, were drawn up – « community life story », « collective life narratives »... We suggest to name them « collective biography » and we present their diversity by distinguishing two classes of approaches: biography of collectives and autobiography of collectives. We illustrate them and argue the interest of applying collectives’autobiography to psychosocial research and intervention on work. We discuss two epistemological issues: what is the status of the subject- author in work collectives’autobiography? What is the specificity of the biographisation process within such autobiography?

Genesis and significances of “hyperwork behaviour”: personalization issues Adressing the concept of a “plural subject” with regard to people who adopt “hyperwork behaviour” - i.e. who are heavily and “voluntarily” invested at work at the risk of sacrificing their other activities – may at first seem paradoxical. Nevertheless, the idea that it is necessary to depart from the area of work to understand the “hyperwork behaviour” obviously seems essential in this field of research more than in others. Based on a biographical and systemic approach, the qualitative research presented in this article examines the genesis and the significances of “hyperwork behaviour”. The results – founded on 34 interviews with employees of IT services and multimedia sectors – highlight three figures of hyperwork characterized by specific modes of articulation of life domains. The article deals with the issue of hyperwork’s effects on “personalization” processes.

La problématique des rapports travail/hors travail s’est développée en lien avec des enjeux sociétaux et organisationnels. Elle a fait l’objet de différentes approches ouvrant sur des débats théoriques et méthodologiques relatifs tant à la description qu’à la modélisation des relations entre domaines de vie. Elles soutiennent aussi des pratiques variées, notamment en faveur de la conciliation travail/hors travail.