Schizophrenia: The Impact of Parental Illness on Children

This research sets out to discover what impact parental schizophreniamakes on a child’s life. It focuses on the daily lifeand experiences of children. Their health, education, familyand leisure activities are examined. Contact with helping agenciesand their unmet needs are investigated. The sample was drawnfrom the children of patients attending the mental health servicesin South West Dublin. They were matched with a control groupof children of well parents. The majority of children who haveone parent with schizophrenia had similar profiles to the childrenof well parents in the areas of physical health, positive familyfeelings, friendships, hobbies and household tasks. In a numberof other areas, however, differences were found. Sample childrenhad more psychiatric disturbance, more problems associated withschool, less contact with relatives and spent more time at home.The children had little access to services and were upset byhospital visiting. The need for an educational programme andsupport for these children was demonstrated. It is recommendedthat a more co-ordinated approach is required by both adultand child mental health services in order to meet their needs.     

The Long-term Outcome of Reunions Between Adult Adopted People and their Birth Mothers

Summary Increasing numbers of adult adopted people are searching forand having reunions with their birth relatives. Although a growingnumber of studies now exist that have looked at the search andreunion process, few have examined reunion outcomes over thelong term. The present study investigated the experiences of48 adult adopted people who first had contact with their birthmothers at least eight years prior to the survey. Outcomes wereexamined in terms of the adopted person's evaluation of theirown adoption experience, and the frequency of contact, if any,currently occurring between the adopted person and their adoptiveand birth mothers. Although over half of adopted people werestill in contact with their birth mother eight years or morepost reunion, the number still in touch with their adoptivemothers was higher still. Furthermore, of those still in contactwith both their adoptive and birth mothers, the frequency ofcontact was more likely to be higher with the adoptive motherthan with the birth mother. The results are discussed in termsof the search for identity, filial relationships, genetic relatednessand affectional bonds formed during childhood.     

The Impact of Social Ties on Depressive Symptoms in U.S. and Japanese Elderly

This study examines the effects of social ties (with spouse, children, friends, neighbors, other relatives, and community groups) on depressive symptom levels in U.S. and Japanese adults aged 60 and over. Nationally representative survey data from the United States ( N = 1,419) and Japan ( N = 2,200) indicate that having a spouse, or increased contacts with friends, neighbors and relatives was associated with fewer depressive symptoms in both samples. The effects of spousal presence were significantly larger in the United States than in Japan. The presence of children was associated with fewer depressive symptoms in Japan only, and this effect was significantly stronger among those currently unmarried as opposed to those who are currently married. We discuss these similarities and differences between countries.     

The Buffering Role of Social Support on the Psychosocial Wellbeing of Orphans in Rwanda

Little is known about the buffering role of social support among orphans living in Africa. This study examined (1) how perceived social support (PSS) varied across orphan‐related characteristics (e.g., orphan status, such as single, maternal or paternal, and their living environments, such as in child‐headed households, on the street, in an orphanage or in a foster home) and (2) the relative importance of sources of PSS (relatives/community/adults and peers) and functional social support (emotional/informational/instrumental and social) and its association with emotional well‐being and mental distress. The participants included 430 orphaned Rwandan children and youth aged between 10 and 25 years (Mean age= 17.74), of whom (n =179, 41.6 percent) were females and (n = 251, 58.4 percent) were males. Result showed that children living in an orphanage exhibited a higher level of PSS from all sources of social support than did children in other living environments. A higher level of PSS from relatives, communities and adults was associated with high level of emotional well‐being, and only adult support was associated with low level of mental distress. Furthermore, the functional PSS indicated that emotional support and companionship support were equally important in their association with higher levels of emotional well‐being and lower levels of mental distress. The findings highlight the importance of having different sources of social support and their functions in relation to psychosocial well‐being.     

The Buffering Role of Social Support on the Psychosocial Wellbeing of Orphans in Rwanda

Little is known about the buffering role of social support among orphans living in Africa. This study examined (1) how perceived social support (PSS) varied across orphan‐related characteristics (e.g., orphan status, such as single, maternal or paternal, and their living environments, such as in child‐headed households, on the street, in an orphanage or in a foster home) and (2) the relative importance of sources of PSS (relatives/community/adults and peers) and functional social support (emotional/informational/instrumental and social) and its association with emotional well‐being and mental distress. The participants included 430 orphaned Rwandan children and youth aged between 10 and 25 years (Mean age = 17.74), of whom (n = 179, 41.6%) were females and (n = 251, 58.4%) were males. Result showed that children living in an orphanage exhibited a higher level of PSS from all sources of social support than did children in other living environments. A higher level of PSS from relatives, communities and adults was associated with high level of emotional well‐being, and only adult support was associated with low level of mental distress. Furthermore, the functional PSS indicated that emotional support and companionship support were equally important in their association with higher levels of emotional well‐being and lower levels of mental distress. The findings highlight the importance of having different sources of social support and their functions in relation to psychosocial well‐being.     

Is Unemployment a Health Hazard? Health-related behaviours of a sample of unemployed Sydney youth in 1980

A self-report questionnaire, tapping a variety of areas of health-related behaviours, was administered individually to a hundred young men and women aged between 15 and 24 years, solicited outside the Commonwealth Employment Service Office in Liverpool, New South Wales, in August 1980, all of whom described themselves as having been continuously unemployed for at least four weeks up to the time of interview. The group was divided at its approximate median of five months in terms of duration of current period of unemployment, and the short-term and long-term unemployed groups thus derived were contrasted on all variables. The resultant analysis showed the total long-term unemployed group to be characterized by heavier smoking, reduced participation in sport, and, though not statistically significant, increased drug usage, relative to the short-term group. Within the long-term group, females were drinking more, and visiting the doctor more, than their short-term peers; males were changing their drinking, friendship, eating and sleeping habits in directions indicative of loss of social contact.     

唐代省亲现象与省亲制度

唐代特殊社会群体的省亲现象,包括官员省亲、士子省亲、僧人省亲等。官员省亲是实现官员"忠孝两全"的道德理想和国家"以孝治国"的有效途径;科考赴举、落第、擢第省亲体现士子获得鼓励、安慰或扬名显亲的心理;僧人省亲现象在初盛唐具有争议到中晚唐为社会普遍接受。更具社会伦理意义的官员省亲受国家政治制度约束,包括省亲假及其时限、请假程序、省亲赏赐等。     

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Various Approaches to Visiting Isolated Community Elderly

Two studies were conducted evaluating the effectiveness of friendly visitor programs in increasing clients' life satisfaction. Study 1 found no difference between face-to-face visiting, phone visiting, and a no treatment control on client life satisfaction. Study 2 found a marginally significant difference in favor of a personal history approach over a companionship approach to visiting in increasing client life satisfaction. Clients' living situation (alone or with others) had no effect on changes in life satisfaction in Study 1. However, in Study 2 clients who lived with someone increased their life satisfaction more than clients who lived alone.     

差序格局和伦理本位:从丧服制度看中国社会结构的基本原则

本文是对以“差序格局”为基本特征的中国社会关系和社会结构的理论研究。差序格局的形式和内容可以回溯到先秦时期延续至晚清民国的丧服制度。通过对经学文献中关于丧服研究的梳理,可以看出“亲亲”和“尊尊”是构成这种制度的基本原则。亲亲和尊尊结合在一起,从家族延伸到政治,塑造了古代政治、社会关系的一些基本特征,这些特征仍然在当代的政治和社会关系中有明显表现。本文指出,亲亲和尊尊与儒家思想中提倡的“仁”与“义”有着密切的联系,后者作为基本伦理和美德,以亲亲和尊尊的形式表现于社会结构之中。本文的观点,有助于我们理解当代中国社会研究中“关系”和“人情”等现象的历史根源。     

Letters and Visits to Long-stay Broadmoor Patients

Summary Long-stay psychiatric patients are at risk of being institutionalisedand abandoned by their relatives. Special Hospital patientsare particularly vulnerable due to the compounded features ofmental disorder and criminality, together with the long termnature of their detention. A survey of 132 long-stay Broadmoor patients showed that a largenumber were neglected by their families but that many were sociallyisolated before admission. There was a significant differencebetween the amount of contact enjoyed by male and female patients.It is suggested that isolated patients should be identifiedand encouraged to take a more active interest in the outsideworld, and relatives given more encouragement to maintain theirinterest.     

Kin Visiting and the Biological Attachment of Long-Term Foster Children

This study examines the relationship between visiting by extended family members and biological family attachment for 92 long-term foster children. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that kin visiting has a significant association with family attachment. The effect kin visiting has on the foster children's family attachment is independent of the influences foster family attachment, parental visiting and age at placement have on the relationship. The findings highlight the importance of biological family involvement for children in placement.     

Elderly African Americans as intragenerational caregivers

A growing number of older Americans serve as caregiving resources for their elderly spouses, partners, relatives, and/or friends. Yet, little research has addressed the impact and implications of this trend among African Americans. This article describes the results of a qualitative study examining the intragenerational caregiving experiences and perspectives of two cohorts of African Americans (urban and rural, N = 129) between the ages of 58 and 89. Its findings reveal important differences and commonalities associated with elderly African American caregivers and their care giving in urban and rural settings. Additionally, the study suggests that volunteer caregivers can often fill the void left by partners and relatives who predecease or fail to assume responsibility for the care of their elderly relatives. Their efforts do not displace those of friends and family members, but rather address unmet needs in available care. The discussion focuses on the implications of the study findings for public policy and practice.     

Admission to Nursing Homes in Taiwan

The population of Taiwan is facing a radical ageing process. A proportion of the growing number of people aged 65 and over is expected to need nursing home care. This research concerns the family context of decision‐making in the process of admission to a nursing home in Taiwan. Employing survey data from interviews with elderly people in nursing homes (235 interviews) and their carers/key families (265 interviews), the factors affecting their views about admission were explored. Bivariate analysis and a logistic regression model were also used to examine perceptions of alternatives to nursing home care among family members with elderly relatives in nursing homes. Most elderly people in Taiwan are cared for in their own homes by their families but, in some circumstances, entry to a nursing home seemed inevitable. This research found that the decisions were taken mainly within a family context. The adult children of the elderly people, carers/key families’ preferences and the availability of carers influenced the decision. Apart from the important need factors of elders, families’ views about alternatives to nursing homes were significantly influenced by their preferences. This study has important implications for long‐term care in Taiwan. It is hoped that this will be needs‐led, both by elderly people and their families.     

Family Caregivers of the Elderly

Two groups of primary family caregivers were interviewed; one whose older relatives received assistance from an inhome chore services program, the other whose relatives had been terminated from service due to budget reductions. Both groups of caregivers were found to be actively involved in providing care to their older relatives. The assistance that caregivers provided was similar whether or not their relative received chore services. No significant differences were found in the type of tasks they provided nor in the amount or length of time they have provided care. The data suggest that there may be limits to the assistance that these caregivers can provide and that care of the elderly beyond such limitations needs to be supplied by other sources. Caregiving may be influenced both by the particular circumstances of the caregiver and the individual needs of the older relative. These findings support the notion that there is a need for shared responsibility between the family and government, based on an understanding of the tasks that family caregivers are best able to provide.     

传统伦理视域中的父子关系——构建支撑和谐社会的父子关系(上)

传统父子伦理关系在诸多封建伦理关系中的凸显经历了漫长的演变过程,它是封建社会秩序文化自觉的必然产物。父子伦理是双向度的伦理体系,既包括慈父伦理又包括孝子伦理,慈父伦理有父义母慈、正身率下、端蒙重教、爱子有道等,孝子伦理有养亲、尊亲、谏亲、显亲、继亲、祭亲等。     

The Effects of Marketization of Long-term Care Services for Older Adults in Korea

To cope with the rapid increase in aging population, the South Korean government introduced new long-term care insurance in 2008 by using the market forces and mechanisms of competition and choice. The study explored the effect of the marketization of long-term care (LTC) services on the provision of services under the Korean long-term care insurance (LTCI) system. By adopting qualitative semi-structured in-depth interview methods, the experiences of 17 home visiting service provider managers were examined. The study results suggest that the marketization of LTC services faces several challenges. Some of the stakeholders in the field, such as home visiting service providers, care workers, and older clients, appear to employ unlawful activities or unprincipled behaviors to maximize their individual interests. The results also suggest that the unprincipled behavior, unlawful activities, and financial problems that service providers face contribute to low quality care services. Future studies should explore these issues using larger samples of service users and providers.     

Does Volunteering Experience Influence Advance Care Planning in Old Age?

Advance care planning (ACP) increases the likelihood patients will receive end-of-life care that is congruent with their preferences and lowers stress among both patients and caregivers. Previous efforts to increase ACP have mainly focused on information provision in the very late stage of life. This study examines whether a relationship exists between volunteering and ACP, and whether this relationship is associated with social support. The sample comprises 877 individuals who were aged 55+ in 2008, and were deceased before 2010. The sample is derived from seven waves (1998–2010) of data from the Health and Retirement Study. Logistic regression results showed that overall ACP and durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC) were both higher (OR = 1.61 and 1.71, respectively) for older adults with volunteering experience in the past 10 years than those without such experience. Available social support (relatives and friends living nearby) was not associated with the relationship between volunteering and ACP. Other factors related to ACP included poorer health, death being expected, death due to cancer, older age, and being a racial minority. Involving older people in volunteer work may help to increase ACP. Future research is encouraged to identify reasons for the association between volunteering and ACP.     

USE OF GROUPS WITH RELATIVES OF DEPENDENT OLDER ADULTS

This paper reviews and analyzes work with several small groups of relatives of older adults who have increased dependency problems due to physical frailty, diagnosed brain diseases, disorganization, memory loss, reduced mobility, depression and other physical and mental changes. Content includes: 1) Usefulness of group approaches with peers led by professionals (social workers, social gerontologists, psychologists) for stresses experienced by the care giving relatives: 2) group objectives including; support giving, understanding the older relatives' problems and behaviors, anticipatory planning for inevitable changes, coping, improved interpersonal functioning, and gaining insight to feelings of both the older person and the care giving relative; 3) group processes deliberately used by workers in the creation, convening, maintenance and termination of these groups; 4) repetitive themes of concern expressed by the care givers and their dependent relatives.     

Seasonal Vulnerability of the Old and Cold

The stress of coping with cold weather problems-hypothermia, cold-associated illness or injury, enforced isolation, rapidly escalating fuel costs--can overwhelm even the sturdiest older person. The present study obtained information from 162 directors of senior citizen centers in New York State on, 1) the relative extent of cold weather problems faced by center participants, 2) the extent to which service demands change in the winter, and 3) the actual and potential response capability of senior centers to these seasonal needs. Transportation was seen by center directors as the problem affecting the greatest number of their members, both in urban and rural areas. Problems of insufficient income to pay for fuel and inadequate heat at home, while affecting sizeable minorities of elderly, were mentioned less frequently. It was noted that the greatest increase in demand for service, other than requests for assistance with heat complaints and energy program entitlements, was for transportation service and home-delivered meals. These were followed in frequency by requests for telephone reassurance, friendly visiting, and escort services. Yet most centers are best geared to provide congregate meals and organized recreation, services for which demand was least likely to increase. Directors expressed willingness to provide additional seasonal supports, but indicated they were already overextended and understaffed, and would require additional resources to do so. A number of recommendations are made to increase centers' capability to respond to seasonal needs of the elderly.