A Preliminary Examination of the Knowledge of Normative Infant Development (KNID) Inventory Using Structural Equation Modeling

Structural equation modeling is a general statistical model that combines confirmatory factor analysis, multiple regression, and path analysis. It provides a comprehensive approach for testing the adequacy of measures, but virtually no applications of this approach exist in the social work literature. This article presents a new measure of parental knowledge of normative infant development, it describes the use of structural equation modeling to analyze the results of a study of 273 mothers designed to test this measure, and it discusses general considerations in the use of structural equation modeling to test measures. Results indicate that the Knowledge of Normative Infant Development (KNID) inventory measures two uncorrelated factors, early and late expectations of infant development. Each of these factors is distinct from but correlated positively with maltreating expectations, as predicted. Contrary to predictions, neither factor is correlated with family conflict.     

Selection,Optimization, and Compensation: Strategies to Maintain,Maximize, and Generate Resources in Later Life in the Face of Chronic Illnesses

This qualitative study of 45 older adults examines how they allocate their resources in the face of chronic health conditions. Participants were recruited from 2 senior centers and interviewed about their repertoire of activities, any changes in those activities in later life, and meanings they ascribed to those changes. The Selection, Optimization, and Compensation model guided our analysis and interpretation of participants' responses. The findings demonstrate the complexity of participants' responses to age-related changes, particularly in how they adapted and negotiated both their perception and life goals when faced with changing social landscapes. We discuss some implications and nuances of our findings.     

The Structure of Subjective Well-Being of Elderly Hispanics

This study examines the structure of a model of subjective well-being in an oversample of the elderly Hispanics from the data of a cross-sectional survey. The covariation among the items of the Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA) was viewed as a function of three correlated latent dimensions of subjective well-being including mood tone, zest for life and congruence. Confirmatory factor analysis via LlSREL VI was used to evaluate the measurement model of subjective well-being. The findings reveal that the model encompassing 10 observed items and three latent factors of subjective well-being was highly supported by the data. In addition, a second-order factor model of subjective well-being was not suitable for the data. Several important methodological issues are discussed.     

Multiracial Identity Integration: Perceptions of Conflict and Distance among Multiracial Individuals

This article examines how multiracial individuals negotiate their different and sometimes conflicting racial identities. Drawing from previous work on bicultural identity integration (see   Benet-Martínez & Haritatos, 2005 ), we proposed a new construct, multiracial identity integration (MII), to measure individual differences in perceptions of compatibility between multiple racial identities. We found that MII is composed of two independent subscales: racial distance that describes whether different racial identities are perceived as disparate, and racial conflict that describes whether different racial identities are perceived as in conflict. We also found that recalling positive multiracial experiences increased MII, while recalling negative multiracial experiences decreased MII. These findings have implications for understanding the psychological well-being of multiracial individuals, and the development of social policy and programs catered to this population.     

Development and Validation of an Organizational Competency Scale (OCS) for Elder Civic Engagement Programs: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study developed and validated an organizational competency scale (OCS) for elder civic engagement programs. The OCS was used to comprehensively measure the organizational competencies at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Thirty-two formal organizations in the State of Texas participated in this study. Based on the factor analyses of data collected from these organizations, the original 31-item OCS was reduced to a 28-item, seven-factor scale. The derived factors were client discovery with support, client-centered planning and management, client assessment and training, integration of diverse groups, promotion of adaptation between groups, integration of resources to address the structural constraints, and promotion of social recognition and social justice. Findings from the reliability tests and hierarchical regression analysis supported the reliability and criterion-related validity of the OCS. As a reliable and valid tool, the OCS can be used by formal organizations to evaluate the current competencies, identify areas for improvement, and find future directions for organizational development. It can also serve as practice guidelines to help organizational practitioners integrate available resources within the multi-level systems to better engage older participants. To further test the stability of the OCS and evaluate the overall fit of the structural model, additional research is needed.     

The Substance Abuse Treatment Self-Efficacy Scale

Abstract

Evaluating substance abuse services in ordinary treatment environments requires the use of instruments to measure various dimensions of the intervention process in order to link those processes with client outcomes. This paper reports on the further validation of the Alcohol and other Drug Self-Efficacy Scale (AODSES), designed to measure social workers' perceived self-efficacy with regard to the implementation of substance abuse services. In the first validation study, Kranz (2003) employed exploratory factor analysis to reduce the original 98 items to six factors (43 items) that accounted for 76% of the variance, and demonstrated excellent internal consistency. The current study is a reanalysis of the same data using confirmatory factor analysis, a more stringent test of construct validity. Results were strongly supportive of a 5-factor model with seven of eight indices showing excellent fit of the observed data to the model, and high internal consistency for all subscales. Potential practical applications for clinical evaluation in substance abuse environments and limitations of the study are discussed.     

Administrative Buy-in for User Participation in Managing Social Services

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a study conducted in Hong Kong on the value position of the social service providers regarding user participation in service management. Using a survey instrument to collect data from 642 service providers in an elderly service organization, the study explored whether or not the value position had an effect on the views of the service providers on the structural set-up for user participation, and whether the value position of the professional staff was significantly different from that of the non-professional staff. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA), confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were applied in the analysis. The findings identify that administrative buy-in needed to support shared decision-making with the welfare service users has not been achieved in the studied organization, owing to the absence of value commitment to the user participation cause. As the professional staff was more supportive of values favoring user participation, the paper calls for an acculturation process that would be stimulated and led by professionals to develop a participatory culture. The paper also recommends conducting similar study on a larger scale and qualitative inquiry into factors influencing the formation of values about user participation in future research.     

Bonding and Bridging Social Capital Development by Social Workers

ABSTRACT

Developing service users’ bonding and bridging social capital is an increasingly recognized role of social workers. A survey of 570 Chinese service users, sampled from 41 social service units in Hong Kong, provided data for the study. Results demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity in a confirmatory factor model about the measurement of bonding and bridging social capital development, mutuality, and assistance to the community. This evidence for the validity and usefulness of social capital development endorses social workers’ role in developing service users’ social capital. Further research needs to assess the generalizability of the present findings in other sociocultural settings.     

影响农民工精神健康的社会因素

本项研究运用定量数据从个体的社会经济地位、迁移压力和社会资本三个角度,分析了影响农民工精神健康的社会因素。研究发现：（1）相对社会经济地位对农民工的精神健康产生的影响远大于绝对社会经济地位的影响;（2）农民工群体的迁移过程面临的压力,例如被排斥、不公平待遇等会对他们的精神健康产生较大的消极影响;（3）相较于其他群体,社会资本和精神健康的关系在农民工群体中的表现更为复杂。有的社会资本对精神健康有积极的影响,例如信任和网络密度;而有的社会资本则对精神健康产生消极影响。     

The Role of Social Contact in the Experience of Discrimination: Implications for Subjective Health Among Marriage Migrant Women in South Korea

Several studies have found that various social contexts could serve a protective role for minorities facing discrimination. One of these contexts is frequency of social contact, which is known to be positively associated with health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of social contact with various social groups as a protective factor against the negative association between perceived discrimination and subjective health. Using data from the 2009 Korean National Survey of Multicultural Families, a total of 27,083 marriage migrant women were analyzed via hierarchical multiple regression. After controlling for socio‐demographic factors and Korean proficiency, the experience of discrimination was found to be significantly associated with lower levels of subjective health (B = ?0.22; P < 0.001). More frequent meetings with one's family of origin (B = 0.02; P < 0.01) and in‐laws (B = 0.06; P < 0.001) were associated with higher levels of subjective health, while more frequent meetings with neighbors were negatively associated (B = ?0.02; P < 0.001). More frequent contact with one's family of origin (B = 0.03; P < 0.05), rather than with other groups, such as friends from their country of origin, in‐laws, and neighbors, seemed to reduce the negative influence of discrimination on subjective health.     

Assessment of multiple constructs of social integration for older adults living in nursing homes

ABSTRACT

A variety of terms and measures have been used in the literature to denote being socially integrated, and many studies of older adults focus on only social networks or social support and often only include those living in the community. The purpose of this study was to assess multiple constructs of social integration (i.e., social networks, social capital, social support, and social engagement) for older adults in nursing homes. Data were collected from 140 older adults at 30 nursing homes in Kansas. We interviewed older adults’ in-person using a survey questionnaire, and used multilevel confirmatory factor analysis to analyze the data. The final model that included the four constructs had acceptable fit (χ² = 174.71; df = 112; p < .01; CFI = .93; RMSEA = .06; SRMR-W = .06; SRMR-B = .12). The results showed that the proposed model was supported at the individual level. At the between-level, social networks and social support were supported. Study results have methodological and practice/policy implications for the study of older adults in long term care settings. In particular, this study contributes to understanding how to operationally define and differentiate social integration variables in studies of older adults, particularly when study data are hierarchical.     

Researching Quality of Life in Early Old Age: The Importance of the Sociological Dimension

Measurement of quality of life has become a major feature of much social and epidemiological research in health and social care settings. It is seen as an important alternative to more process‐based outcome measures but remains poorly defined. A major weakness is the absence of any coherent theoretical underpinning whether sociological, psychological or philosophical. Into this conceptual vacuum proxies for quality of life have been introduced. Quality of life [QoL] research into older populations has focused on measures of health and illness as equivalents of QoL. This paper argues that this response is inadequate as it reduces old age to a dimension of health, disability and disease. Instead, we argue that it is necessary to create a theoretically based measure of QoL in early old age which relates to those aspects of later life that are not defined by health. We present a model of QoL that is derived from aspects of contemporary social theory as they relate to the ontology of late modernity. In particular, we utilize a model based upon needs satisfaction. The model contains four domains: Control, Autonomy, Pleasure and Self‐realization. The measure consists of a 19‐item scale. The four domains load on to a single latent QoL factor. We argue that the CASP 19 scale offers an approach to QoL that integrates a sociologically based model of quality of life with a meaningful and valid research instrument.     

A Study of Older Chinese in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objective: We extended the volunteer process model (Omoto & Snyder, 1995) to identify factors influencing the persistence of volunteer activities in older Chinese.

Method: We individually interviewed 318 older Chinese volunteers about their demographic information, history of volunteer activities, subjective health status, perceived social support, motivation for volunteering, integration into volunteer group, satisfaction from volunteer work, and intention to continue volunteering in the coming year.

Results: Bivariate correlation analyses generally supported the volunteer process model. In particular, intention to continue volunteering was related to antecedent factors of high educational attainment, mental well-being, social support, and fulfillment of altruistic and self-oriented motives as well as volunteer experiences of integration into the volunteer group and satisfaction with volunteer work. Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that fulfillment of self-oriented motives was the most salient factor in predicting the persistence of volunteer activities when shared variances of various factors were also considered.

Discussion: Research and practical implications were discussed to facilitate the retention of older Chinese volunteers.     

Susceptibility to Emotional Contagion

Abstract

This article reports a psychometric evaluation of a measure of susceptibility to emotional contagion, designed to measure the degree to which a person is vulnerable to “catching” and sharing the emotion experienced by another. The scale was examined to test its application to depression, burnout, and impairment among practicing social workers. Data from a probability sample of 751 practicing social workers were collected in an anonymous survey about social workers' health and work issues. The sample was split to conduct exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The factor analyses resulted in a revised scale that demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability, good content validity, excellent factorial validity, and preliminary construct validity. Susceptibility to emotional contagion was related to burnout, depression, and professional impairment. Future recommendations are made and this instrument may be a useful tool for the identification, prevention, intervention, and education of social workers at risk for depression, burnout, and professional impairment.     

Individual performance as a multidimensional construct: a test of construct validity

While much of the extant literature in public management has focused on individual performance using only in-role or job performance, there is a need to consider another approach to individual performance, one that includes extra-role performance. However, public sector organizations have rarely emphasized the integration of these two types of behavioral performance to measure individual performance. Using confirmatory factor analysis and other statistical analyses, this study examines the construct validity of a multidimensional measure of individual performance. This analysis supports a multidimensional approach to individual performance. The implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.     

Social integration and suicide: Denmark, 1906–2006

Research on the relationship between social integration and suicide rates has neglected a historical perspective. Analyses are often based on relatively short time periods where there may not be enough variation in integration to affect the national suicide rate, or where overall integration levels are not low enough to buttress a link between a specific index of low integration, such as divorce, and suicide. The present investigation contributes to the literature by testing a hypothesis on domestic integration and suicide over a century, the longest period studied to date, encompassing periods of low and high overall social integration, and emergent risk and protective factors. Data are available for core variables for Denmark, 1906–2006. Annual data include those on suicide, and indicators of integration (divorces, births, marriages), as well as for economic strain (unemployment) and time trends. A log linear Poisson model is estimated, which explores the central divorce–suicide relationship under controls for confounders. Controlling for confounders, a one percent increase in divorce increases male suicides by 0.52% and female suicides by 1.12%. As anticipated, marriages decrease suicide: a one percent increase in marriages reduces suicide by 0.77% for men and by 0.63% for women. The trend in divorce, in particular, offers accurate predictions of suicide throughout the century. The relationship between divorce and suicide over a century is robust. The results offer the strongest support to date in support of a social integration model based on long term historical data on suicide and divorce.     

Development and validation of the Dutch Social Attunement Questionnaire (SAQ)

The social plasticity hypothesis proposes that social attunement, that is, the adaptation to and harmonization with one's environment, plays a crucial role in the risk for developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs) during adolescence, whereas in adulthood it paradoxically may make individuals more sensitive to the social pull to reduce drinking. This study aimed to develop a valid measure of social attunement: the social attunement questionnaire (SAQ). A total of 26 items were developed and the questionnaire was completed by 576 Dutch mid to late adolescents and adults over three rounds of online data collection. Using exploratory factor analysis in part of the sample (N = 373), the final questionnaire was reduced to two subscales with a total of 11 items. This structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis in the second part of the sample (N = 203). Results showed that the SAQ has acceptable internal consistency, good measurement invariance to gender, and subscales assessing both cognitive as well as behavioural components of social attunement. In line with expectations on alcohol use settings, SAQ scores were not associated directly with alcohol use, but they were predictive of alcohol use when taking into account the interaction between perceived peer drinking and age. The SAQ appears suitable for the assessment of social attunement in (young) adult men and women, particularly assessing the role of social attunement in alcohol use settings. Further research is needed to confirm the utility of the SAQ in older adults and a broader variety of social settings.     

Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Father Involvement Scale Used in a Retrospective Pretest–Posttest Design

Abstract

Several programs that address responsible fatherhood exist; however, these programs need strategic evaluation and appropriate tools to measure success of the programs. The goal of this research was to understand the structure and psychometric properties of a father involvement measure used to assess the change in parenting and co-parenting behaviors of fathers in a child welfare program. Analyses used secondary data from a father parenting program, with a retrospective pretest–posttest design. Participants were fathers (N?=?361) who attended a parenting program in three large counties in the North Texas region. Missing data diagnosis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on 13 items to investigate scale structure and psychometric properties. The following three factors with adequate to good internal consistency emerged: self-efficacy, parenting (emotional and physical support), and co-parenting skills. Fit indices showed good model fit for pretest items and a moderate fit for posttest items. The survey instrument demonstrates potential to be adapted to diverse populations, other languages and cultures to further expand program components. Based on the findings, future research should utilize more items to enhance the alpha reliability of the scales. Furthermore, revised scales can be validated across diverse populations based on socioeconomic, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds.