People with experience of long-term drug use and homelessness teaching with us: experts by experience participation in university social work education

ABSTRACT

Participation of experts by experience in university social work education is an important shaping factor for future social workers. This article presents two-year long experience in lecturing together with people who have had experience with long-term drug use, homelessness and have a lot of experience with being in a role of social work clients as well. The aim of the presented approach is to recognize their experience, opinions, and attitudes as an important source of knowledge in social work. Based on the research outcomes, the authors discuss topics such as: the role of experts, empowerment, breaking the stereotypes and ethical issues related to experts’ participation. They conclude with practical recommendations.     

Socialization factors in contraceptive attitudes: Roles of affective responses,parental attitudes,and sexual experience

Attitudes about using specific contraceptives were hypothesized to be based mainly on heterosexual or autoerotic feelings. Affective responses to two stimulus themes were correlated with attitudes toward the use of contraceptives. The prediction was confirmed, moderated by levels of sexual experience and parental attitudes reported by the college student participants. Attitudes toward the use of contraceptives which involve genital manipulation, such as the diaphragm or condom, were positively correlated with feelings about masturbation themes presented in slides. Similarly, a positive relationship was found between attitudes about non‐genitally manipulative contraceptives, such as the pill, and heterosexual themes. Having little sexual experience or reporting negative parental attitudes toward sex increased the observed frequency of several of these predicted correlations. Explanations for these results included a reinforcement interpretation of the socialization experiences determining the development of attitudes toward using the various methods of birth control.     

The strategic use of Twitter to manage personal public relations

This study examined the effect of personal public relations developed through Twitter on cognitive and attitudinal aspects, particularly focusing on the use of Twitter by CEOs. According to the responses of young consumers who participated in this study, their attitudes toward the use of Twitter by CEOs positively influenced their perception of transformational leadership (H1). Further, perceived transformational leadership was positively associated with attitudes toward CEOs using Twitter; this in turn positively influenced attitudes toward corporations (H2). The positive evaluation of the use of Twitter by CEOs directly influenced attitudes toward such CEOs (H3), whereas attitudes toward such use did not influence attitudes toward corporations. The results indicated that microblogging is beneficial for the development of effective personal public relations by corporate leaders.     

Internet use for health information among college students

Use of the Internet to retrieve health information is increasingly common. The authors surveyed 743 undergraduate students at 2 academic institutions to examine their Internet use, health-seeking behaviors, and attitudes related to the use of the Internet to obtain health information. Fifty-three percent of the respondents indicated that they would like to get health information online, and 28% reported that they would like to attend a health program online. Overall, 74% of the students reported having ever received health information online, and more than 40% reported that they frequently searched the Internet for information. They used various search engines and multiple Web sites to find health information. Issues related to the credibility of the information on health Web sites were crucial considerations for students. The study found differences in Internet use for health information by gender and by level of Internet experience.     

Computer Information and Human Knowledge

Summary

Modem ideas in social work are subsumed under the term “new thinking.” Controversies in its concepts directly reflect controversies in attitudes toward computer application. Fundamental to modern problems with technology is the persisting dispute between two philosophical traditions. On one side there is the formal and technically oriented thinking; on the other the reflexive, dialectical and hermeneutical approach. The reappearance of the conflict in actual discussions is described considering data storage, formal methodology and the social impact of computer use.     

Factors influencing selected heterosexual male college students' condom use

This study assessed selected heterosexual male college students' use of condoms, their reasons for using condoms, and their attitudes toward sexuality and condoms. Three hundred five male subjects completed a questionnaire that assessed class standing, marital status, reasons for using condoms, number of recent sexual partners, intention to use condoms, and attitudes toward sexuality and condoms. Although no relationship between attitudes toward sexuality and attitudes toward condoms was noted, a negative correlation (-.42) was found between attitude toward condoms and intention to use condoms within the next month if the subject were to have intercourse during that time. Recommendations for increasing condom use are presented.     

Complexity of change in ethnic tolerance following use of a Complex Instruction unit on the Holocaust in Latvia

Implementation of the first Complex Instruction (CI) based unit developed especially for Latvia focused on the Holocaust. It has provided an opportunity to examine issues of ethnic tolerance among Latvian high school students and teachers. Two independent studies were conducted by the first author to measure the impact of the unit. The first study compared the level of ethnic intolerance among students before and after participation in the CI-based unit activities. Results showed reduced prejudice among this group, but also a decrease within the control group. Analysis of these results pointed to the influence of the history teacher. This teacher taught both groups of students. During interviews, teachers indicated that they had changed as a result of participation in CI seminars and through the use of the CI unit. The teachers stated that they felt an increase in self-esteem, empathy and ethnic tolerance. The aim of the second study was to measure attitude change among a larger group of teachers before and after participation in CI training seminars. Results showed an increase in civic responsibility attitudes. Further analysis indicates that the degree of change is influenced by the amount of exposure to and experience with the new teaching methods.     

A survey of homework use, experience of barriers to homework, and attitudes about the barriers to homework among couples and family therapists

Homework is a therapeutic process that has strong theoretical and empirical basis, but existing research has focused on "compliance" rather than considering the broader and more clinically meaningful construct of "engagement." Absent in the literature is empirical study of the barriers to engagement or study of homework use among couple and family therapists (CFTs). The current study investigates the frequency and type of homework, as well as the influence of homework compliance, quality of compliance, and experience of barriers to compliance on CFTs' attitudes and beliefs toward barriers to homework completion for couples and families. Results indicated CFTs (N=226 AAMFT Clinical members) use homework more often with couples than with families, and CFTs report greater homework compliance and quality of compliance for couples when compared to families. A path analysis examining compliance, quality of compliance, and barriers to compliance as predictors of attitudes/beliefs toward barriers revealed no significant findings. A discussion presents implications for future research and practice for homework in couple and family therapy.     

Foster youth and drug use: Exploring risk and protective factors

Substance use and misuse experiences of foster youth remain an under-researched area. Given that early use of drugs is said to be a common factor among 90% of those who develop substance misuse problems in their lifetime, this is an important area of academic study (Dennis, White, & Ives, 2009). By drawing upon primary empirical data from a mixed-methods study, this paper addresses an important gap in the literature and seeks to provide an improved understanding of foster youth, drug use and vulnerability. A total of 261 foster youth, who had exited care, contributed to a quantitative survey, and a further 35 provided qualitative narratives of their lived experience. Key risk factors including experience of homelessness, school exclusion and living setting are identified as strong influences that predict high levels of drug use among foster youth. Targeted social support and interventions in the form of pre-leaving care in the context of a strong practitioner/youth relationship are suggested to help ameliorate poor outcomes to obviate the problem of substance misuse among foster youth.     

Computer Acceptance by Social Workers

Summary

Much has been said and written concerning the influence of intrinsic personal and professional factors on the use of computers in general and in the social services in particular. For example, much has been made of the negative attitudes of professional personnel towards computer use. Little data however has been forthcoming to demonstrate the accuracy of this viewpoint. Theoretical analyses of the computerization process have mentioned three general issues in overcoming the imputed outcomes of these negative attitudes.

An ex post facto study on computer acceptance by social workers, employed in municipal social service agencies (MSSA) in Israel, where a computerized case management system was implemented, was conducted. The impact of (1) intrinsic attitudes towards computer utilization in Human Services; (2) organizational factors; and (3) system design related factors on system acceptance was explored. It was found that readiness to computerize was related mainly to organizational and system design factors and not, contrary to expectations, to intrinsic attitudes of social workers. Implications of these findings on system implementation are discussed.     

Computer use and ulnar neuropathy: results from a case-referent study

We aimed to evaluate associations between vocational computer use and 1) ulnar neuropathy, and 2) ulnar neuropathy- like symptoms as distinguished by electroneurography. We identified all patients aged 18-65 years, examined at the Department of Neurophysiology on suspicion of ulnar neuropathy, 2001-2007. We mailed a questionnaire to 546 patients with ulnar neuropathy, 633 patients with ulnar neuropathy-like symptoms, and three community referents per case, matched on sex, age, and primary care centre. From a Job Exposure Matrix we extracted estimates of daily hours of computer use. The analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression.There were a negative association between daily hours of computer use and the two outcomes of interest. Participants who reported their elbow to be in contact with their working table for 2 hours or more during the workday had an elevated risk for ulnar neuropathy (OR=2.16, 95 % CI; 1.06-4.44).The two outcomes were not associated with daily hours of computer use. Findings suggested specific effects of pressure on the elbow, and might be an explanation for the overweight of left-sided outcomes in this primarily right-handed group. Preventive efforts would then be straightforward by providing appropriate arm support for the left arm and elbow.     

Control Attitudes and Perceptions of Drug use: An Exploratory Study

Control attitudes represent opinions about the formal or informal control of a behavior by society. This study investigates control attitudes toward drug use based on data from semistructured in-depth interviews. The analysis shows that control attitudes toward drug use consist of a normative component (philosophical principles) and a perceptive component (perceptions of harm and perceptions of immorality). In particular, control attitudes are shaped by combinations of (1) libertarian principles and perceptions of harm to others, (2) paternalistic principles and perceptions of self-harm, and (3) moralistic principles and perceptions of immorality. The implications of the results in the study of normative culture are discussed.     

Painkilling drugs in collegiate athletics: knowledge, attitudes, and use of student athletes

This study was designed to examine the attitudes of student athletes toward the use of painkilling drugs. A total of 563 student athletes at two Division One NCAA universities were surveyed in this study. Twenty-nine percent of the student athletes (n = 165) reported that they felt there is nothing wrong with using painkilling drugs on the day of competition (when injured) to cope with pain. These student athletes reported that they would use painkilling drugs to mask injury in order to continue to participate in their sport. Student athletes' perceptions of societal norms and expectations related to competition, and the degree of control student athletes perceive that they have when deciding to use painkillers, may be important determinants governing the extent to which they may be at risk for abusing these substances. Research on planned behavior and reasoned action against suggests that salient beliefs affect intentions and subsequent behaviors, either through attitudes or subjective norms, or the degree of (perceived) control that an individual feels he/she has over the behavior [1, 2]. This theoretical model was used as a guiding framework for analyzing the attitudes of college athletes toward painkilling drugs. Recommendations are included in this article for coaches, educators, team physicians, team trainers, and administrators who are concerned about controlling the use and abuse of painkilling drugs by student athletes.     

The effects of perceived parental behaviors, attitudes, and substance-use on adolescent attitudes toward and intent to use psychoactive substances

The effects of parental behaviors, attitudes, and drug-use as perceived by adolescents on the latter's attitudes toward and intent to use psychoactive substances were studied. Perceived parental rejection, acceptance, and attitudes significantly differentiated between adolescents who reported favorable attitudes toward and high intent to use substances and those who expressed less favorable attitudes. On most parameters, the father's influence was significant, whereas the effect of the mother did not reach significance. Positive and significant relationships were also found between perceived parental rejection, acceptance, and attitudes and adolescent attitudes and intent to use psychoactive substances. No relationships were found between controlling parental behavior and adolescent attitudes and intent to use psychoactive substances. The role of the parents, as well as implications of the findings for prevention are discussed.     

Data entry workers perceptions and satisfaction response to the "stop and stretch" software program

Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD) is a collection of chronic musculoskeletal disorders caused by frequent, sustained, and repetitive movements, most notably by computer usage at the workplace. A computer based break reminder program (Stop and Stretch) has been developed and installed to prevent CTDs caused by prolonged computer usage at the workplace. We investigated users' opinions to the Stop and Stretch program at their work place. 19 computer users were recruited as the subjects of the study. We conducted a survey after all the subjects used the Stop and Stretch program for one month. Among the nineteen subjects, 52.5% or 10 noticed a difference of symptoms after using the program; 63.3% or 12 thought the program had positive effect on their productivity; 100% or all 19 thought the program was easy to follow; 100% or all 19 thought it was helpful; 94.7% or18 were satisfied with the program; and the same value would recommend the program to others. When grouped into those who had prior experience with using stretch and exercise as part of their work routine15 subjects had no prior experience; and 14 participants within that group were satisfied or very satisfied with the program; 93.3% or 14 would recommend it to co-workers; and over half of those 15 thought the program is easy to use. The study provided insight to the response to using "stretch break software" and provided indicators of satisfaction with the Stop and Stretch program and that the program had sufficient usability and acceptance within a workplace setting which might be applied in other work settings similar to these.     

Organizational Development and Information Systems

Summary

The experience of a human service organization which made the commitment to computerizing their client records early in the 1980s is described. The development of this system was plagued by several difficulties due, in part, to the fact that personal computer LAN technology was fairly new and few consulting companies had direct experience with these types of applications. As well, for certain human service organizations the 1980s was a time for reconceptualizing how services were provided based on the ideologies of consumer empowerment, community integration and normalization. This shift translated into new ways of making service decisions, hence new needs for information and strategies for its use.     

Alcohol use and attitudes: a comparison of college athletes and nonathletes

The purpose of this study was to compare patterns of use and attitudes toward alcohol by college athletes and nonathletes. One hundred forty-six college students from colleges in the Jackson, Mississippi area were compared on athletic participation, sex, and race as these variables affected alcohol use and attitudes toward use. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire administered by the investigators. Chi squares and t-tests for differences between means were utilized to assess differences among subgroups on dependent variables. Analysis of data indicated that minimal differences existed in drinking behaviors of athletes and nonathletes. Athletic participation exerted a slight influence upon the drink of choice and patterns of drinking. Some significant racial and gender-related differences were found in drinking behaviors. The more negative attitudes of athletes toward alcohol consumption did not result in drinking behaviors distinct from nonathletes.     

Peer cluster theory and adolescent alcohol use: an explanation of alcohol use and a comparative analysis between two causal models

This study tests the premise of peer cluster theory as it applies to individual alcohol use, and makes a comparative analysis between its ability to explain alcohol use and marijuana use. Using the results of a 1996 drug and alcohol survey of 1312 Western Kentucky University students, path analysis was used to measure the influence of six of peer cluster theory's psychosocial characteristics on the percentage of the respondent's college friends who use alcohol. All of these variables were then regressed on the respondent's alcohol use. The results of the causal models did show some support for peer cluster theory. The direct effect of the student's association with alcohol-using peers on individual alcohol use was shown to have the strongest direct influence on this outcome variable. However, a few limitations of this theoretical perspective were identified. The causal model for alcohol use showed that the indirect influence of two of these psychosocial characteristics (parental attitudes on alcohol use and success in school) was weaker than their direct influence on individual alcohol use. And, the comparative analysis showed that peer cluster theory is better suited to explain the use of marijuana than the use of alcohol.     

Anabolic steroid use: indications of habituation among adolescents

The use of anabolic steroids (AS) by adolescent males is argued to be more widespread than currently acknowledged. Although the long-term physiological and psychological ramifications of use are not well established, current research and anecdotal information suggest that there is reason for concern. In addition, very little is known about the attitudes and behaviors of these adolescent AS users. While the debate concerning the physiological versus the psychological dependence liability of various drugs continues to evolve, there seems to be a consensus that drug dependence is not a per se phenomenon and that the characteristics of dependence differ in accordance with the drug being used. The following article attempts to identify characteristics of the adolescent male AS user and suggests that AS use does have a dependence potential. The AS user population was found to be significantly different from nonusers in several areas such as self-perceptions of health and strength, interest in controlling AS use, and perceptions of peer AS use. The AS user group was also found to contain several subgroups (heavy users [greater than or equal to 5 cycles] versus other users, and those who initiated use prior to age sixteen who reported significantly different attitudes and/or behaviors. These differences suggest that prevention efforts will have to focus on different motivations for AS use.     

The Black catalyst to tweet: the role of discrimination experience,group identification,and racial agency in Black Americans’ instrumental use of Twitter

The strong presence of Blacks on Twitter has attracted scholarly attention, but few empirical studies have provided a clear, theory-driven answer to the question of how Blacks use Twitter. Drawing on the uses and gratifications framework and the rejection-identification model, we examined how discrimination experience, group identification, and racial agency influence Black Americans’ instrumental use of Twitter. An online survey conducted with a national adult sample of 323 Black American Twitter users showed that the experience of discrimination in everyday settings indirectly predicted three types of instrumental use of Twitter (information seeking, opinion expression, and social networking) through serial mediation of group identification and racial agency. The direct effects of discrimination experience on the three types of instrumental use were not significant, nor were the indirect effects of discrimination experience on instrumental use only through group identification and only through racial agency. These results indicate that Black Americans’ goal-driven, purposeful use of Twitter may be understood as a form of problem-focused coping with discrimination experience. The current findings also suggest that Black users’ identification with their racial group and desire to make a positive difference in the Black community constitute a pivotal mechanism underlying their instrumental use of Twitter.