Pregnancy Prevention from the Teen Perspective

One hundred and five teens from primary and secondary pregnancy prevention programs attended focus group interviews. This article reports teens' perceptions of the factors that contribute to adolescent pregnancy and the steps that can be taken to prevent early childbearing. Lack of knowledge and accessibility to contraceptives as well as unfulfilled emotional needs were considered crucial factors. Suggestions for service delivery from findings are explored.     

A Multi-Method Impact Evaluation of a Therapeutic Summer Camp Program

This article reports on a multi-method impact evaluation of a therapeutic summer camp program for children and youth with learning disabilities and related psychosocial problems. The study examines the degree to which program objectives were achieved through a pre-camp, post-camp, follow-up design using a series of standardized instruments, camp evaluations, and interviews with parents. The results indicate that the campers reported less social isolation, experienced modest improvements in self-esteem, and expressed high levels of satisfaction with the camp. The measures for social skills generally failed to register significant changes, although parents reported improvements in the areas of cooperation, responsibility, and self-control.     

A Participant-Informed Model for Preventing Teen Pregnancy in a Rural Latino Community

Recognizing the need for health prevention efforts that are tailored to the needs of Latinos in rural communities, the researchers utilized focus groups to ascertain the perspectives of Latino children and their parents who participated in a teen pregnancy prevention program. This article presents a Latino-driven conceptual design of an evidence-informed comprehensive, community-based, and culturally sensitive teen-pregnancy prevention program. The new model, called the Family-Festival Prevention Model, (1) used culturally relevant and experiential learning activities, (2) promoted community connections, (3) incorporated strategies that engaged fathers, and (4) engaged important faith-based and community stakeholders to involve the whole community in prevention efforts.     

Community-based Arts Program for Youth in Low-Income Communities: A Multi-Method Evaluation

This article reports on a multi-method evaluation of a national arts program conducted over 3 years in five sites across Canada. Statistical analysis involve growth curve modeling of five waves of data and interviews with participating youth and parents. The results indicate that high-quality arts programs have a significant effect on children’s in-program behavior and emotional problems. The findings from the qualitative interviews suggest that active recruitment, removing barriers to participation, and high parental involvement enhanced youth engagement. Perceived youth gains included increased confidence, enhanced art skills, improved prosocial skills, and improved conflict resolution skills.     

Evaluation of the RAINN National Sexual Assault Online Hotline

ABSTRACT

This article describes the evaluation of rainn National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, a new model for delivery of rape and sexual assault crisis services through a secure, confidential chat-based online hotline. Outcome data from 623 visitors and 54 volunteers for the first 11 months of the program are presented. The results indicate that the model is viable and useful for approximately 80 percent of visitors, and volunteers are satisfied with the program. Recommendations for program development and further research are presented.     

Assessment of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Interventions Among Middle School Youth

The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes for students enrolled in two teen pregnancy prevention programs: the Youth Asset Development Program (YADP); and the Postponing Sexual Involvement Program (PSIP) and identify possible areas for program refinement. The study design consisted of two sets of comparisons: (a) sixth-grade students who completed the PSIP versus the control school; and (b) the YMCA Success Centers where the YADP was introduced versus the control school. Two hundred thirty-seven students were selected to participate in the study. Students who participated in the prevention programs had significantly (p < .05) higher academic achievement, participation in school related activities, and enjoyed school much more than students from the control school. However, no statistically significant differences were found between program participants and the control group when they were compared on personal orientation and judgments about teenage parenthood. Implications for program modification and program effectiveness are discussed.     

A Multi-Trait,Multi-Method Analysis of Three Career Development Measures

Campbell and Fiske's (1959) multi-trait, multi-method analysis was applied to three popular measures of career development. College students completed the Attitude Scale of the Career Maturity Inventory (Crites, 1978a), the Vocational Preference Inventory (Holland, 1978), and the Decision-Making Scale of the Career Development Inventory (Super, Thompson, Lindeman, Jordaan, & Myers, 1981). Participants also took part in a structured interview to assess their career development. The table of multi-trait, multi-method correlation coefficients for the three measures of career development supported their construct validity. Implications and ideas for future research are discussed.     

Stability and Change in the Ecological Structure of Winnipeg: A Multi-Method Approach*

Après avoir recueilli dans la littérature de l'écologie sociale un ensemble de propositions obtenues par Panalyse factorielle, on procéda à les verifier en utilisant une stratégie polyvalente de recherche sur des données longitudinales provenant de Winnipeg. II semble que la structure écologique de cette ville peut être décrite en utilisant trois variables générales et cela correspond aux attentes. Ces variables sont: le statut économique, le statut familial, et le statut d'immigration; ajoutons, toutefois que certaines de ces variables acquièrent une importance qui se distingue de celle que l'on retrouve dans les études américaines sur le même sujet. Contrairement aux previsions, toutefois, l'importance relative du statut économique diminue avec le temps bien que son importance absolue ait gardé une valeur constante. L'importance relative et absolue du statut familial s'est accrue tandis que celle du statut d'immigrant s'est abaissée. Au surplus, les données suggèrent qu'avec le temps la différenciation écologique s'atténue plutôt que de s'accroître. A certains égards ces résultats contredisent les prévisions générées par les études antérieures et les théories de l'écologie urbaine et soulèvent plusieurs problèmes d'interprétation. A set of propositions is gleaned from the literature in the social area analysis-factorial ecology tradition, and tested using a new multi-method research strategy applied to longitudinal data gathered for Winnipeg. Generally consistent with what was expected, it would appear as if the ecological structure of this city can be described in terms of three general constructs: economic status, family status, and immigrant status, although certain of these constructs differed in important ways from their counterparts in studies of us cities. Contrary to what was expected, however, the relative importance of economic status seems to have declined over time, although its absolute importance has remained quite constant. The relative (and absolute) importance of family status has increased, while the converse has happened with regard to immigrant status. In addition, the evidence suggests that the over-all level of ecological differentiation may be decreasing over time, rather than increasing. These results run counter in several respects to predictions generated from current research and theory in urban ecology, and pose a number of interesting and difficult problems of interpretation.     

Competing Corporate Cultures: A Multi-Method,Cultural Analysis of the Role of Internal Communication

A combination of 41 depth interviews and analysis of 453 surveys conducted in two organizations was done to examine the coorientation of organizational definitions and communication efforts. Interpersonal communication was both a product and a facilitator of communication between management and employees. Organizations with meaningful interpersonal communication may achieve a better shared definition of the organization and hence a better communication environment. Public relations practitioners should supplement traditional journalistic methods with interpersonal ones in addressing employee publics.     

Teen Childbearing and Educational Attainment: A Comparison of Methods

This research examines the impact of teenage childbearing on secondary school completion, while focusing on the problem of causal ambiguity in the relationships among self-determined behaviours. Techniques for dealing with the teenage childbearing problem are discussed, and results from these methods are compared. Data from the High School and Beyond Study on young women (n = 5257) who were enrolled as sophomores in sample schools in February 1980 and who had not given birth before November 1980 are used. Results indicate that teen childbearing reduces the probability of completing high school by 8% to 10%. Some evidence suggests that programs that target reduction of teen childbearing in improving young women's education and subsequent economic and labor force outcomes.     

A Comparison of Hispanic and Anglo Calls to a Gambling Help Hotline

Prevalence studies have found that problem gamblers tend to be non-Caucasians. Nevertheless, information on non-Caucasian gambling patterns and problems is virtually non-existent. Data collected during years 1992–1998 on Hispanic (N = 209) and Anglo (N = 5311) problem gamblers calling the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling Hotline for help is examined to provide information on one such non-Caucasian group: Hispanics. A sharp difference in the number of Hispanic and Anglo callers was found during this six year period (3.8% Hispanic and 96.2% Anglo). Differences were also found in the likelihood of Hispanics calling about their own problems, having gone for previous help, and types of gambling activities. Similarities were found between the two groups regarding age, marital status, and the three most cited problems caused by gambling: problems with family, inability to pay bills and going into debt. Anglos were significantly more likely to engage in illegal activities for gambling money and problems with job. Group differences caution against using Anglo based prevention and treatment programs with Hispanics populations.     

Experiences of Peer Evaluation of the Leicester Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Strategy

The Centre for Social Action was commissioned by the Leicester City Council to evaluate its Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Strategy. This was a multi‐stage project with a central element of consulting with young people. This article outlines the process that was followed in order to recruit, train and support young people through the process of being peer researchers. Issues covered include retention of interested young people, experiences of training peer evaluators and supporting them throughout the project. The added value of using peer evaluators will be discussed and recommendations given for those wanting to work with young people as researchers in future.     

Evaluation of Corporate Governance in Chinese Mainland and Taiwan: A Comparative Study of Educational Foundations

This study compares educational foundations in the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan systematically and empirically using a complete evaluation index-system tool based on corporate governance theory that involves both static governance structures and dynamic governance mechanisms. Understanding the differences between foundations in the Mainland and Taiwan can affect government policy and foundation management methods. A group decision making-analytic hierarchy process (GDM-AHP) alongside an evaluation index value of foundation governance (EIVFG) model established a weight coefficient of the evaluation index system, yielding EIVFG scores. Despite having similar EIVFG scores, foundations in the Mainland and Taiwan have distinct governance structures. The governance mechanisms of foundations are more important than their governance structures, and Taiwanese educational foundations are more mature than Mainland foundations with regard to their underlying governance mechanisms. These findings underscore the importance of policies that employ the principles of fairness and impartiality (rather than requiring legal inspections) and that establish thereby an environment of mutual trust that fosters foundations’ maturity and growth.     

Power of Teen Motherhood in Predicting Later Educational Attainment

Abstract

This article investigates the power of teen motherhood in predicting later educational attainment. Data for mothers are extracted from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79). Findings show that teen motherhood is inversely related to later educational attainment. Poverty, welfare receipt and the number of children have a direct influence on later educational attainment. Employment, the age of the woman at the time of her first marriage, and being married currently, had a direct positive influence on educational attainment. The implications for social work practice are discussed.     

Longitudinal Evaluation of a Teenage Pregnancy Case Management Program in Oklahoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a school-based case management intervention in reducing teen-pregnancy. A nonrandomized intervention/comparison schools mixed-method evaluation design was employed. Participants included 203 pregnant and parenting teens with annual follow-up over a 3-year period. The results indicated that the time to repeat pregnancy was delayed among pregnant teens, high school drop-out rates were reduced among parenting teens, and pregnant teens were less likely to deliver before 36 weeks in the intervention versus the comparison school. Case management at a school setting is a promising approach to decrease repeat teen pregnancy.     

Life in the Corporation: A Multi-Method Study of the Experiences of Male and Female Asian,Black, Hispanic and White Employees

Organizational experiences of male and female Asian, Black, Hispanic and White managers in a Fortune 500 company were examined using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Oral histories were conducted to identify the antecedents to advancement within this organization. We used focus groups to expand our understanding of these antecedents and to determine differences among the racial/ethnic groups according to gender. Data from a follow-up survey of 1,645 employees were subjected to MANCOVA to determine race/ethnicity and gender effects, controlling for the effect of organizational tenure. Main effects for race/ethnicity were found on three measures and main effects for gender were found on eight measures. Follow-up size-of-effect tests (eta squared) revealed that the strength of the relationship was strong for two significant gender findings and one significant race finding.     

A Cross-Cultural Content-Analytic Comparison of the Hookup Culture in U.S. and Dutch Teen Girl Magazines

This quantitative content analysis investigated the hookup culture in U.S. and Dutch teen girl magazines. Using Hofstede's cultural dimension of masculinity/femininity, the hookup culture (i.e., the relational context of sex, emotional context of sex, specific sexual activities, and contraceptives) was examined in 2,496 stories from all 2006 through 2008 issues of the three most popular U.S. (i.e., Seventeen, CosmoGirl! U.S. edition, and Teen) and Dutch teen girl magazines (i.e., Fancy, CosmoGirl! Netherlands edition, and Girlz!). Regarding the relational context of sex, stories about casual sex occurred more often in U.S. magazines, and Dutch magazines focused more on committed sex. Dutch magazines also emphasized sex within the emotional context of love more often than did U.S. magazines. In terms of sexual activities, coital sex was mentioned more often in U.S. coverage, while petting was mentioned more frequently in Dutch coverage. Condoms were covered more positively in U.S. magazines than in Dutch magazines. Overall, the hookup culture seems to be more visible in U.S. magazines for the occurrence of casual sex and lack of love stories, whereas it does not emerge in Dutch magazines due to the presence of committed sex and love-related articles.     

Teen Sexual Behavior: Applicability of the Theory of Reasoned Action

We examined the utility of the theory of reasoned action for predicting sexual intercourse among teenagers and determined whether it holds for both genders and for those with and without prior sexual experience. The data include 749 students who were in 9th–11th grades when the predictors were measured and in 10th–12th grades when sexual intercourse was assessed. About half (53%) were girls, about half (48%) were non‐Hispanic European Americans. Results showed that prior sexual experience was related to a higher rate of sexual intercourse, but boys and girls did not differ. Tests of the causal model for subgroups (boy and girl virgins, boy and girl nonvirgins) yielded similar results. As predicted, paths from intentions to behavior and from norms and attitudes to intentions were significant, as were paths from outcome and normative beliefs to attitude and norm, respectively.