Acute stress reactions to everyday stressful life events among sexual abuse survivors with PTSD

This study examined symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), which is often thought of as a precursor to PTSD, among 54 women who already had PTSD for childhood sexual abuse for which they were seeking treatment. We examined the prevalence of ASD symptoms as well as their relationships to trauma symptoms measured by the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40. The ASD diagnosis requires the occurrence of a traumatic life event as well as meeting specific symptoms criteria. We found that fourty-four percent of participants met all symptom criteria for ASD, but only three of these 24 participants described a traumatic life event. Moreover, ASD symptoms were significantly related to trauma symptom scores. These findings suggest that a significant proportion of women with PTSD for childhood sexual abuse may be highly symptomatic for everyday stressful events that would not be experienced as traumatizing to others. Thus, these individuals need assistance in coping with everyday life stressors that do not involve a serious threat or injury in addition to needing help to alleviate their trauma symptoms.     

When the rehabilitation ideal fails: a study of parental rights termination

This study explored the circumstances of parents whose extreme neglect and abuse of their young children justified the drastic state action of termination of their parental rights. Records of 97 children age 6 and under whose parental rights were terminated between 1991 and 1997 in Minnesota were reviewed. Profiles of parents and children were drawn from these data, and a "risk pool" of parents whose children became wards of the state was identified. Guidelines are drawn from this "risk pool" that may help alert practitioners to those parents who are unlikely to safely maintain their children. Questions and implications for policy and practice are highlighted.     

Using focus group interviews to understand staff perceptions from training in the therapeutic community model

The current article is concerned with the use of focus group interviews in understanding staff perceptions of training to work with drug users during the different stages of change from addiction to rehabilitation in the Therapeutic Community model. The article discusses the use of the focus group interview as the most appropriate method for the scope of this study, based on the assumption that trainees are aware of their own needs and demands from training. Methodological issues relevant to the use of focus groups and the individual responses to the training program are discussed. The content and structure of the training program are also discussed. The article concludes that gaining information on people's own perceptions and experiences from the training process can contribute significantly to program improvement.     

Contents to Volume 15, 2002

Volume Contents

Contents to Volume 15, 2002     

The Interaction of Grievances and Structures in Social Movement Analysis: The Case of JUST*

Drawing upon insights from the social movement literature as well as leadership experience in a successful social movement organization, this paper suggests aspects of a framework for integrating traditional and contemporary approaches. The case history of JUST (Johnstowners United to Stop anoiuci Tragedy) is used to illustrate the interaction of grievances and structures in the career of a social movement organization. In addition to helping fill a lacuna in the literature on the internal dynamics of such organizations, this analysis also demonstrates the importance of the nature of the grievance as well as the target group's structural entrenchment. The paper focuses upon a relatively anomalous case for U.S. social movement organizations: an SMO which was successful despite displacement goals. The final section of the paper includes a summary diagram of the factors involved in JUSTs successful protest effort as well as broader generalizations suggesting the conditions under which grievances or infrastructures are more salient in explaining social movement phenomena.     

Block designs with block size two

Algorithms are given for the construction of binary block designs with replications and concurrences differing by at most one. The designs are resolvable and/or connected wherever the parameters permit.     

An evaluation of substance abuse aftercare program for homeless women with children using confounding variable-control design

An outcome evaluation of a substance abuse aftercare program for homeless women with children was conducted using confounding variable-control evaluation design. The confounding variables are chosen from pre-treatment and other contextual variables of the clients that are known to have significant influence on the program outcome, but those that could not have been influenced a priori by the client involvement in in-treatment program activity at Transition House (TH). The latter is the independent variable of this evaluation design. The pre-treatment variables are measured by severity of alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems of the clients, their mental health status, age, and their job status before enrollment in the program. The contextual confounding variables are composed of family and social support available to the clients before and during recovery. While applying multiple regression analysis, we were able to explain 50.8% of the total variance in program outcome by four pre-treatment variables. By adding two contextual variables of family and social support, the total variance in program outcome explained is increased to 64.1%. Finally, by adding the degree of client involvement in in-treatment program activity, we were able to augment the total variance of the program outcome to 69.7%. By estimating the changed variance of program outcome by the in-treatment program activity during the final step, controlling for all other variables previously entered, we were able to establish that client involvement in in-treatment program had unique and positive impact on the program outcome distinct from those explained by the confounding variables. The additional variance uniquely added by in-treatment program activity is 5.6% (p < .001). It has been determined that the degree of client involvement in in-treatment program had positive and systematic impact on the program outcome.