Effects of work and retirement within long-term marital relationships

Long-term marriages of 21 retired working class couples were examined for the post-retirement effects on the marriage's social integration, happiness, involvement and satisfaction. Evidence suggests that marital patterns evolving in response to the work situation result in different types of relationships for dual paycheck and traditional couples. While both groups were happy, satisfied and involved in home, family and their own dyadic relationship, dual paycheck couples had more egalitarian and cooperative relationships. Their increased happiness, satisfaction and involvement are indicative of the benefits of their former dual employment.     

Impact of methods for reducing respondent burden on personal network structural measures

We examine methods for reducing respondent burden in evaluating alter–alter ties on a set of network structural measures. The data consist of two sets, each containing 45 alters from respondent free lists: the first contains 447 personal networks, and the second 554. Respondents evaluated the communication between 990 alter pairs. The methods were (1) dropping alters from the end of the free-list, (2) randomly dropping alters, (3) randomly dropping links, and (4) predicting ties based on transitivity. For some measures network structure is captured with samples of less than 20 alters; other measures are less consistent. Researchers should be aware of the need to sample a minimum number of alters to capture structural variation.     

Long range planning of paper and board supplies

Most standard textbooks identify three essential elements of effective corporate planning: an information input of appropriate depth, critical appraisal of the company's relative position and application of advanced evaluation techniques. Extension of the vision period, for long range or strategic planning, will unavoidably introduce further complexities into these constituent routines of corporate planning as well as into the strategic decision making process. The author reviews the long term outlook for paper and board suppliers and users and points out the strategic advantages of these basic materials.     

Designing an ADP planning process

A great deal has been written about the frustrations of carrying out long range planning in large organizations. Although far less has been written about ADP planning, similar frustrations (as well as benefits) have been suggested.The case study described in this article deals with the recent experiences of a large, federal regulatory agency— the Food and Drug Administration—in the design and implementation of an ADP planning process from 1974 to the present. Although the process was designed to meet the Agency's specific needs, many of the lessons learned will be useful to others contemplating a process for their organization (public or private).     

Effects of a multimodal activation program (SimA-P) in residents of nursing homes

Is it possible to maintain or even enhance functional and cognitive independence in residents of nursing homes? Little is known about the potentials and limits of therapeutic methods designed to maintain independence in elderly people already in need of residential nursing care. The aim of the “Rehabilitation in Nursing Homes” research project was to determine the practicability and effectiveness of a rehabilitative approach targeting residents of nursing homes. The main objectives of the activation program were to maintain and enhance residents’ cognitive and functional autonomy. Data on psychological, functional, and medical variables were obtained from a sample of 294 nursing home residents (age range?=?70–99 years) at three points of measurement over a 12-month period. The intervention approach draws on the theoretical and practical findings of the SimA Study (“Bedingungen der Erhaltung und Förderung von Selbstständigkeit im höheren Lebensalter,” “conditions on maintaining and supporting independent living in old age”; Oswald et al., Z. Gerontopsychol. Psychiatr., 15:61–84, 2002, Z. Gerontopsychol. Psychiatr., 15:13–31, 2002) and incorporates the results of recent therapeutic and rehabilitative studies in the fields of geriatrics and gerontopsychiatry. The intervention involves a combined program of cognitive and physical activation. An alternative program based on biographical information was designed specifically for residents with dementia. Results show that the intervention had significant effects on cognitive and functional parameters. Moreover, transfer effects were observed with respect to activities of daily living and frequency of falls.     

Stress management for pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers: A pilot study

A five week stress management program for pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers emphasizing deep muscle relaxation and cognitive control methods was pilot tested with 23 experimental and 12 control subjects. The experimental group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in cognitive and affective manifestations of stress and an increased belief in their ability to deal with stress. While the differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance with respect to changes in overall stress levels or use of specific coping strategies, a consistent trend was demonstrated in the data for more positive changes in the experimental group. Recommendations were made for an expanded program, the inclusion of incentives, and the program's inclusion in the school schedule.     

Returning to psychotherapy with the same therapist: A self psychological perspective

Terminations or interruptions of psychotherapy which have been followed by a patient's resuming therapy with the same therapist at a later time have often been viewed as premature with the implication that the initial therapy has been inadequate or deficient. This paper suggests, however, that a patient returns to the same therapist because the selfobject bond established in the initial treatment is still intact, and that the hiatus between treatments can be a time of further development and strengthening of self structure. Two clinical cases are described which illustrate these ideas.