Moving Up the Continuum of Hope: Developing a Theory of Hope and Understanding its Influence in Couples Therapy

For years therapists have suggested that hope is an important catalyst in the process of change. This study takes a grounded theory approach to address the need for a clearer conceptualization of hope, and to place interventions that increase hope within a therapeutic context so that therapists know how and when to use those interventions. Fifteen active and experienced marriage and family therapists from across the United States participated in hour-long phone interviews about hope in couples therapy. Moving Up the Continuum of Hope emerged as the core category from the grounded theory analysis of the data. This category represents a process, with general and specific conditions and consequences that increase a couple’s level of hope. This study serves as a foundation for future process research on couples therapy, as well as research on hope in other contexts (e.g., individual and family therapy) and with other perspectives (e.g., clients).     

Intervening in Children's Involvement in Gangs: Views of Cape Town's Young People

Gangs have a long history in Cape Town and children tend to begin involvement around age 12. Children's views on causes of children's involvement in gangs and appropriate interventions, were sought for inclusion in policy recommendations. Thirty focus group discussions were held with in- and out-of-school youth in different communities. Participants identified failing social structures as the causes of gangsterism. They recommended interventions to enable social structures to provide a wide range of opportunities for positive youth development, rather than programmes narrowly focused on gangs.     

Social Anxiety in Obese Youth in Treatment Setting

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of social anxiety in obese children treated in a weight management clinic. We hypothesized that social anxiety would positively correlate with obesity, and that “extremely obese” patients would have significantly higher rates of social anxiety when compared to “obese” patients. Information was collected at a multidisciplinary treatment clinic for obese youth during the first clinic visit. The social anxiety scale was administered (including parent-report and self-report scales for both elementary and adolescent versions) and demographic data was obtained. Social anxiety was found to be significantly positively correlated with BMI percentile. In addition, “extremely obese” patients had significantly higher social anxiety scores than “obese” youth at least for elementary-age youth. Trends in gender differences and racial differences in this obese pediatric clinical sample were consistent with results found in community samples. Social anxiety and obesity were found to be positively correlated in this pediatric clinic-based population. For elementary-age patients, “extremely obese” patients were at greater risk than “obese patients” for social anxiety and its various symptoms—fear of negative evaluation, social avoidance/distress in new situations, and social avoidance/distress in general. Results for adolescents were less clear. Clinical implications of these results were discussed. Limitations of this study, and directions for future research were also discussed.     

Some Implications of the Block Grant for Social Work Education

An empirical inquiry into a block grant specimen revealed that expenditures among the priorities of control, maintenance, and change varied according to variations in poverty and minority rates in the population. Implications are that without a clearly defined national role in grant-in-aid decision making, the poor and other disadvantaged citizens may be neglected under the block grant. Social work faces a condition of change and uncertainty, which underscores the need for curricula reexamination of the preparation of professionals for successful management of this condition, if it is to continue as an organized entity in the development and delivery of services.     

Fairyland and its Fairy Kings and Queens

'Fairyland and its Fairy Kings and Queens' is a review article of a collection of essays examining the responses to the death of Princess Diana, entitled 'After Diana: Irreverent Elegies'. The purpose of this article is to trace the origins of the Diana phenomenon, and particularly that variant which possessed the English political imagination in late summer 1997; and in so doing to investigate further the cultural context of a constitution that is presently the subject of considerable debate regarding its potential reform. The first part will take a closer look at 'Diolatry'. The second part will then concentrate upon the ultimate Diana figure in English constitutional history, Gloriana herself, Elizabeth I. The third part of the article discusses the residual authority of monarchical iconography in the English constitutional culture. The conclusion will then suggest why, rather than testifying to a supposed mood of fundamental constitutional change abroad in the country, reactions to Diana's death evidence the innate strength of a constitutional imagination that still craves the reassurance of its Fairy Kings and Queens.     

Temporal Relation Between Youths’ Perceived Spirituality and Indicators of Positive Development

Using data from the 4‐H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD), we employed a cross‐lagged model to examine the temporal order of the relationship between PYD and youths’ spirituality. Our sample consisted of 1,842 youth from 32 states in the continental United States. Mean age across the two waves of data used in this study was 15.5 and 16.6, respectively. The cross‐lagged model allowed us to test the model suggesting that youth must develop certain abilities (e.g., Cs of PYD) prior to constructing and internalizing abstract notions of spirituality. Findings supported this argument, with relations varying across conceptions of spirituality. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of mechanisms and processes linking youths’ spirituality and PYD, highlighting several important implications for research and practice.     

The Safety First Assessment Intervention: A Whole Family Approach for Young People with High Risk Mental Health Presentations

The following article provides a comprehensive guide to the clinical implementation of the Safety First Assessment Intervention (SFAI). The SFAI is a systemised, whole family approach for young people with high‐risk issues presenting in a mental health crisis. It is underpinned by the Safety First Model (Bickerton et al., 2007 ) and promotes community‐based care. The SFAI operationalises the foundation levels of the Safety First Model (SFM) through a highly structured clinical process. It draws on family systems theory, predominantly the work of Bowen ( 1978 ), to conceptualise distress through a multi‐generational systems lens and to prioritise the young person's natural support system (their family, friends, school and community) as their key resource. The SFAI engages this natural support system and facilitates open communication about symptoms, distress, safety and risk. This promotes a shared understanding of the key issues in a relational context and forms the basis of collaborative risk management. Thus, a system of safety emerges prioritising the family's role in optimising the young person's community‐based recovery. The need for pharmacotherapy and hospitalisation is therefore minimised. The article includes background theory, an outline of the structured assessment intervention and clinical techniques, including strategies for complex family situations. Specific strategies are illustrated with fictional vignettes. The work is based on the authors' accumulated experiences of working with young people and their families and carers in an acute Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for over a decade.     

They Say Bad Things Come in Threes: How Economic,Political and Cultural Shifts Facilitated Contemporary Anti‐Immigration Activism in the United States

This paper, first, provides an analysis of contemporary anti‐immigration activism in the United States, situating it historically and theoretically through an examination of nativism and vigilantism. Second, it merges insights from political process theory and structured ignorance theory to develop an historical account of three key preconditions that set the stage for and accelerated contemporary anti‐immigration activism. In so doing this paper addresses fundamental empirical and theoretical gaps in political process theory and demonstrates how structured ignorance theory can help us better understand how shifting structural conditions promoted contemporary anti‐immigration mobilization by generating perceptions conducive to conservative activism.