Same-Sex Couples’ Decisions and Experiences of Marriage in the Context of Minority Stress: Interviews From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT

In the emerging context of marriage equality, it is important to explore the reasons for and experience of marriage for long-term same-sex couples, including the role of minority stress. In Wave 3 of the population-based, longitudinal CUPPLES Study we interviewed 21 long-term same-sex couples (14 female, 7 male) who resided in 12 different states and who were legally married. Couple members ranged in age from 37 to 84 and reported being together as a couple from 15 to 41 years. Seven couples lived in states that did not recognize their marriage at the time of the interview. Legal protection and social validation emerged as the two primary domains that captured couples’ lived experiences of marriage. Minority stress experiences emerged in the narratives in the context of couples’ long-term commitment, the availability of civil marriage, and couples’ participation in activist efforts on behalf of marriage equality for themselves and others.     

Using Mixture Regression to Identify Varying Effects: A Demonstration With Paternal Incarceration

The most widely used techniques for identifying the varying effects of stressors involve testing moderator effects via interaction terms in regression or multiple‐group analysis in structural equation modeling. The authors present mixture regression as an alternative approach. In contrast to more widely used approaches, mixture regression identifies varying effects without reliance on tests of moderator variables, such as using interaction terms or multiple group analyses. In many instances, the use of mixture regression also more effectively tests higher order and multiple interactions. A mixture regression example is presented using 214 families from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, half of whom had experienced paternal incarceration. Whereas typical regression and moderator analyses fail to find an effect or varying effects, mixture regression identified 4 classes uniquely influenced by the incarceration.     

Managing workplace stress: A Canadian Delphi study among human resource managers

The human and finacial costs of stress in the workplace have been extensively documented in the literature. The present study used a two-round Delphi methodology with 17 human resource managers from 17 medium-sized and large Canadian organizations. The main purposes of the study were to predict future policy and programme directions as well as expected benefits and constraints on organizations during the 1990s. This panel of experts predicated even greater stress in the workplace in large part due to greater (global) competition and greater resource constraints on organizations for programmes and services for their employees as well as management resistance to such directions. Organization will be challenged to identify cost effective means to prevent or, at least, to amelorate stress. Several practical ideas were generated by the panel for organizations to consider.     

The effects of poverty on sleep problems in Sweden

Does relative poverty measured as low disposable household income or the presence of personal financial crisis affect health measured in terms of self-reported sleep problems? If so, is this effect modified by macroeconomic conditions or life changes such as unemployment experience, divorce or limiting illness, and it is buffered by social networks or coping behavior such as smoking? These questions are studied on a representative sample of employed people aged 20-65 who participated in the Survey of Living Conditions conducted by Statistics Sweden for the years 1980-1981 (7180 people) and 1986-1989 (13,376 people). The results reveal a conditional relationship between poverty and sleep problems. Among men it is modified, in particular, by previous experience of unemployment. Among women strong social networks buffers the effect but smoking aggravates it. Men's sleep was affected more by poverty and unemployment in the late 1980s than in the earlier period.     

The rise and fall? Of mental stress claims in the USA

Occupation-related mental stress has been associated with significant loss in terms of diminished productivity, higher absenteeism, and increased workers' compensation claims. The Liberty Mutual Group workers' compensation data were analysed for the years 1984-93 for mental stress-related claims. This represented over 7 million claims, over 17000 of which were identified as mental stress-related. The proportion of all stress claims was estimated for each year. The proportion by gender, age and occupation (job classification code and occupation name) was also described. Stress claims increased during the late 1980s, peaking in 1991, accounting for 0.48% of all claims and 1.69% of all claims costs, and has declined since. Even at its peak, mental stress claims were not a major portion of workers' compensation losses. However, they are expensive. The average costs of a stress claim in 1993 was about $13000. The state of California accounts for 60% of the claims reported to Liberty Mutual over this 10-year period. In 1993 women accounted for 51% of the stress claims and about 30% of all claims. The mean age of workers with stress claims was 39.3 years, with most stress claims from 30 to 34 year-olds. High-risk occupations and industries include banks, insurance companies, general labourers, management, salespersons, and drivers. The current decline in stress claims can largely be explained by a combination of changes in unemployment, increasing litigation, and changes in law in California and other states that made more stringent the requirements whereby a mental stress claim can be considered work-related. While the data presented are helpful for comparing stress claims to all claims reported to Liberty Mutual and for identifying high-risk occupations and industries, because of the uniqueness of the stress claim selection algorithm and the uncertainties with cost estimates, the cost figures are not directly comparable to other claims reporting systems.     

Using psychometric analysis to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the Coping Response Indices

The Coping Response Indices developed by Billings and Moos (1984a) are frequently used in stress research in the social science and clinical fields. These indices were originally developed in a clinical setting using a conceptual process rather than psychometric methods. This study investigates the factorial structure of the Coping Response Indices scale using a nonclinical sample. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation yields three distinct dimensions within the scale. Considerable support is found for the conceptualization of the Coping Response Indices, as proposed by Billings and Moos. There is also some indication, however, that the conceptualization and measurement of the indices need further revision and testing, especially if they are to be used in social science research. Her research interests include economic strain, stress and coping, and child functioning in diverse family structures. She received her Ph.D. from Oregon State University. Her research focuses on vulnerable children and families, life-span caregiving issues, intergenerational relations, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. She received her Ph.D. from Oregon State University. Her research focuses on family resource management, work, stress, and families, and multiple role management. She received her Ed.D. from Utah State University.     

超纯铁素体不锈钢在内蒙古天然碱苛化烧碱蒸发完成液中的腐蚀性能

本文用7种超纯铁素体不锈钢及其对比材质 Ni 板和奥氏体不锈钢 1 Cr18Ni9Ti,在内蒙古天然碱苛化烧碱蒸发完成液中,进行了动态和静态腐蚀实验。用失重法测定腐蚀速度,用扫描电镜和透射电镜观察试样表面的腐蚀形貌特征,并评定其耐蚀性等级。试验结果表明,高铬钼型和高铬钼镍型超纯铁素体不锈钢,在内蒙古天然碱苛化烧碱蒸发完成液中有很好的耐蚀性能,其耐蚀等级比1 Cr18Ni9Ti钢优越很多,用 Cr30Mo2钢钢和 Cr26Mo 钢代替目前广泛使用的1 Cr18Ni9Ti 钢制造蒸发器换热管,使用寿命有可能大幅度提高。     

我国西部农村教师工作压力现状研究

通过问卷调查、访谈、实地考察、实物收集的方法，对我国西部2236名农村教师的工作压力状况进行研究。结果显示，总体上教师工作压力较大，压力来源主要有四个方面：生存的压力、应试教育的压力、新课程改革的压力以及教育工作本身引起的压力。在对以上诸方面分析的基础上提出相应的建议。     

河南省高校体育教师职业压力致因分析及对策研究

通过实证调查，以河南省高校体育教师为研究对象，采用文献资料、问卷调查等方法，分析了河南省高校体育教师职业压力状况、职业压力与离职意向的状况，探讨了河南省高校体育教师的压力源及自我应付策略。结果表明：河南省高校体育教师总体职业压力感偏高，离职倾向比较严重；普通高校与民办高校体育教师职业压力源略有不同；普通高校与民办高校体育教师自我应付职业压力采用的策略不尽相同，从总体上来看，河南省高校体育教师职业压力自我应对的策略是积极的。     

对5·12汶川大地震后心理援助工作的思考

5·12汶川大地震给人们带来了极大的心理冲击，对地震中的受灾者进行心理援助具有重要意义。但是，灾后心理援助过程中出现了专业心理援助人员严重匮乏、心理援助工作呈无序状态、对心理援助对象的认定有局限、对灾区群众的心理援助缺乏系统和长期的规划、媒体宣传带来心理伤害、心理援助带有盲目性等问题。因此，应加强灾后心理援助的制度支撑和统一领导，建立长期的灾后心理援助机制，进一步培育专业的心理工作者，发展心理援助的民间力量，把心理重建与思想重建和文化重建结合起来，对受灾者及其他人群进行多种形式和科学有序的心理援助。