Violence and hostility among families of Vietnam veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

The current study provides a portrait of emotional-behavioral functioning within a small sample of Vietnam veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), their partners, and older adolescent and adult children. Veterans, their partners and children reported moderate-low to moderate-high levels of violent behavior. In addition, partner and veteran hostility scores were elevated relative to gender and age matched norms. Partners also reported heightened levels of psychological maltreatment by veterans. Veterans' combat exposure was positively correlated with hostility and violent behavior among children but unrelated to partner variables. Veterans' reports of PTSD symptoms were positively associated with reports of hostility and violence among children, and hostility and general psychological distress among partners. Veterans' violent behavior was also positively correlated with children's violent behavior, but did not yield significant correlations with other child or partner variables. Findings are discussed in relation to prior work and directions for future research are addressed.     

A Health Risk Benchmark for the Neurologic Effects of Styrene: Comparison with NOAEL/LOAEL Approach

Benchmark dose (BMD) analysis was used to estimate an inhalation benchmark concentration for styrene neurotoxicity. Quantal data on neuropsychologic test results from styrene-exposed workers [Mutti et al. (1984). American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 5, 275-286] were used to quantify neurotoxicity, defined as the percent of tested workers who responded abnormally to > or = 1, > or = 2, or > or = 3 out of a battery of eight tests. Exposure was based on previously published results on mean urinary mandelic- and phenylglyoxylic acid levels in the workers, converted to air styrene levels (15, 44, 74, or 115 ppm). Nonstyrene-exposed workers from the same region served as a control group. Maximum-likelihood estimates (MLEs) and BMDs at 5 and 10% response levels of the exposed population were obtained from log-normal analysis of the quantal data. The highest MLE was 9 ppm (BMD = 4 ppm) styrene and represents abnormal responses to > or = 3 tests by 10% of the exposed population. The most health-protective MLE was 2 ppm styrene (BMD = 0.3 ppm) and represents abnormal responses to > or = 1 test by 5% of the exposed population. A no observed adverse effect level/lowest observed adverse effect level (NOAEL/LOAEL) analysis of the same quantal data showed workers in all styrene exposure groups responded abnormally to > or = 1, > or = 2, or > or = 3 tests, compared to controls, and the LOAEL was 15 ppm. A comparison of the BMD and NOAEL/LOAEL analyses suggests that at air styrene levels below the LOAEL, a segment of the worker population may be adversely affected. The benchmark approach will be useful for styrene noncancer risk assessment purposes by providing a more accurate estimate of potential risk that should, in turn, help to reduce the uncertainty that is a common problem in setting exposure levels.     

The implications of adoption for donor offspring following donor-assisted conception

In this paper the authors, all experienced social workers with research and practice interests in assisted conception, review practices concerning access to genetic origins information in adoption, and consider to what extent these may be relevant for practice in donor‐assisted conception. The paper concludes with policy and practice recommendations that take account of the views of donor offspring and their desire for increased information about their genetic heritage.     

Gendered Inequalities in Earnings: A Study of Canadian Lawyers*

Cette étude analyse les salaires des avocats et explore si, et pourquoi, les hommes et les femmes reçoivent un traitement salarial différent. Un modèle, tiré de la théorie du human capital et de la théorie de la segmentation des occupations, est proposé. Malgré le fait que le sexe des avocats n'a pas d'effet direct sur leur salaire, les femmes sont désavantagées par rapport à plusieurs facteurs qui augmentent de façon significative les salaires de leurs collègues masculins. Plus spécifiquement, les avocates ont moins d'expérience dans la pratique du droit, travaillent des heures plus courtes, sont moins nombreuses à avoir des enfants d'âge préscolaire et ont moins d'autonomie dans leur travail que leurs homologues masculins. Les résultats demontrent aussi que les avocats et avocates ne sont pas rémunérés différemment pour leurs investissements en capital humain, mais nous suggérons que la discrimination salariale opère de façon plus subtile. Nous faisons aussi des recommandations quant aux recherches à venir. This study examines lawyers' earnings and explores if and why male and female lawyers are differentially rewarded. A model is proposed that draws from human capital theory and occupational segmentation theory. Although lawyers' sex does not have a direct impact on earnings, women were found to be disadvantaged along many of the factors that significantly increased lawyers' earnings. Specifically, women in law have less experience practising law, work shorter hours, are less likely to have preschool‐aged children, and have less job autonomy than their male counterparts. The results also show that male and female lawyers are not differentially rewarded for their human capital investments, but we suggest that pay discrimination may be operating in more subtle ways. Recommendations for future research are presented.