Physical,sexual and psychological abuse in high school dating relationships: Prevalence rates and self-esteem issues

The present study examined the rates of victimization by physical, sexual and psychological abuse in adolescent dating relationships, with self-esteem being explored as a mediating variable. Subjects included 257 students from a coed, ethnically diverse, religiously affiliated high school. Information was obtained using a self-report questionnaire on teenage dating behaviors. Of the 114 male and 118 female subjects who had dating experience, 59% had been victimized at least once in some past or current dating relationship by physical violence, 96% had experienced some form of psychological maltreatment and 15% had been forced to engage in sexual activity. Significantly more males than females reported experiencing physical abuse overall. Significantly more males than females experienced acts of moderate physical abuse, while there was no significant gender difference in the experience of acts of severe physical abuse. Thirteen percent of the subjects stated they had remained in a physically abusive relationship at one time, with females being more likely to remain than males. Self-esteem was not a factor in the level of physical abuse sustained in dating relationships, nor was there a significant difference in the levels of self-esteem between subjects who remained in, terminated, or never were involved in, physically abusive dating relationships. For all subjects, self-esteem negatively correlated with the level of psychological maltreatment sustained in dating relationships, but separate analysis by gender found the correlation was significant only for female subjects.     

Population growth — Should we be worried?

Because of continuing acceleration in number of births, in resource use and in many aspects of environmental rundown, including growing destruction of the ecosystem, and encouraged by an exploitive economic system and misuse of technology, the planet's carrying capacity has long been exceeded and any immediate prospect of sustainability has faded. Nearly half the population of the world is below breeding age and, although growth rates are falling in some regions, they are constant in others. Family planning has only been effective in limited areas of the world. Any prospect of demographic transition to lower fertility is uncertain and yet to be realized. The momentum of population growth will continue at present rates for at least another twenty years.     

Alumni Relationship Management als Erfolgsfaktor im Wettbewerb der Hochschulen

Alumni Relationship Management is an important attribute in the increasingly competitive environment of German universities. Alumni are ambassadors of their alma mater and are part of its reputation. The retention of alumni is of further importance because it enhances the transfer between the academic’s and practitioner’s worlds and can contribute to a sound financial basis of universities. This empirical survey of alumni organisations of universities shows two general types of alumni organisations which can be differentiated by their parameters and activities. The success of alumni relationship management is reflected by professionalism of its organisation and the quality, which is determined by its acceptance of its members.     

Modelle ohne Akteure

Esser’s model approach explaining divorces is discussed. It is shown that the approach results in behavioristic models which are misleadingly mixed up with a mentalistic rhetoric. Furthermore, it is argued that such models cannot explain divorces in any empirically meaningful sense, neither from an actor’s view nor from the view of an external observer.     

Die stille Umverteilung

During the last decades income inequality has risen again in western societies. Whereas empirical indicators and statistical data show in detail the changes in income distribution, sociology has no adequate knowledge about the corresponding micro-level motives. The globalization of value chains, technological change, the increasing occupational participation of women, the decline of union participation and tax reform are considered to be the main factors relevant for the increase in income inequality. It is shown that these variables do not sufficiently explain the micro level of organizational allocation structures, which are mainly experienced as budgetary exigencies. Not only business organizations but also public administrations, welfare organizations, schools, universities and health care organizations are governed by budgets in a similar way. It is hypothesized that budgeting functions as a micro-mechanism to transform economic stagnation into income inequality at a societal level. Delegation of responsibility and the creation of consensus are discussed to be central goals of budgeting in enterprises, social administrations, educational and health organizations and the effects of budgeting on the distribution and the allocation of resources are analyzed.