Strategic CSR for innovation in SMEs: Does diversity matter?

Both corporate social responsibility and diversity influence firms' innovation, yet their relationship and links to innovation remain uncertain, especially among small to medium-sized enterprises. Relying on strategic and institutional CSR perspectives and a value-in-diversity approach, this study examines the mediating roles of gender and nationality diversity on the CSR–innovation link at the organizational level. With a sample of 1348 SMEs from Luxembourg, the results show that strategic CSR can promote both types of diversity, but only nationality diversity triggers technological innovation. Nationality diversity emerges as a partial mediator of the relationship between CSR and SMEs’ technological innovation. Thus, strategic CSR, through the genuine pursuit of such diversity, can help SMEs attain positive returns on their product or process innovation. These results have important theoretical and managerial implications.     

Distress in Emerging Adults: Further Evaluation of the Painful Feelings About Divorce Scale

Young adults from divorced families experience clear emotional distress despite most not meeting diagnostic criteria for emotional disorders. Laumann-Billings and Emery (2000) developed the Painful Feelings About Divorce (PFAD) scale to assess the emotional distress emerging adults feel regarding childhood parental divorce. The study sample is undergraduates predominately between the ages of 18 and 22. This study adds to the literature by (a) further demonstrating the PFAD scale reliability and validity, (b) including participants with both divorced and separated but never married parents, and (c) assessing generalizability of the PFAD with a more diverse socioeconomic sample.     

Lost in translation? The hazards of applying social constructionism to quantitative research on sexual orientation development

This article explores the hazards faced by social constructionists who attempt to conduct quantitative research on sexual orientation development. By critically reviewing two quantitative research studies, this article explores the ways in which the very nature of social constructionist arguments may be incongruous with the methodological requirements of quantitative studies. I suggest this conflict is a result of the differing natures of these two modes of scholarly inquiry. While research requires the acceptance of certain analytical categories, the strength of social constructionism comes from its reflexive scrutiny and problematization of those very categories. Ultimately, social constructionists who try to apply their theories/perspectives must necessarily conform to the methodological constraints of quantitative research. The intent of this article is not to suggest that it is futile or self-contradictory for social constructionists to attempt empirical research, but that these are two distinct modes of scholarly inquiry which can, and should, co-exist in a dialectical relationship to each other.     

"An Old Way to Solve an Old Problem": Provider Perspectives on Recovery-Oriented Services and Consumer Capabilities in New Mexico

The goal of recovery has emerged as a core value in the reformation of public and private mental health services in the last twenty years. However, definitions of recovery remain as varied as methods of implementation. Through an ethnographic lens, we examine meanings of recovery in the context of a major statewide reform of mental health services in New Mexico, focusing specifically on provider-voiced concerns regarding recovery and recovery-oriented care. We argue that the concept of recovery functions as a symbol that seemingly reconciles the long-standing tension between biological and social explanations of mental illness. Drawing upon provider perspectives, we also discuss concerns that popular rhetoric about recovery may mask some needed fundamental changes to transform the mental health system to a recovery orientation. Finally, we consider recovery from a capabilities standpoint and discuss how this view lends itself to addressing both individual and social components of mental illness.     

Back to Africa: Second Chances for the Children of West African Immigrants

This paper examines the phenomenon of West African parents living in Europe and North America who send their older children back home: from places of high immigrant aspiration to those of hardship and privation. Drawing on a project on West African immigration to Europe and on previous field studies in Africa, we conclude that West African immigrants fearing the consequences of their children's indiscipline in the West, where racism and hostility can endanger the entire family, may send unruly children back to the home country. In doing so, we believe, they build on long‐standing African disciplinary efforts in hopes of toughening their children's resilience to the challenges in the new place and wait for the risk to dissipate.     

A systematic review of relationship adjustment and sexual satisfaction among women with provoked vestibulodynia

The main objective of this article was to conduct a systematic review of the literature examining relationship adjustment and sexual satisfaction among women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). Although only a small number of studies have included partners, the literature regarding partner's relationship adjustment and sexual satisfaction was also examined. Relevant articles were identified by a literature search conducted between August 2008 and May 2010. Studies were included if they contained at least one group or subset of participants with PVD or dyspareunia (i.e., painful sexual intercourse), and if they assessed relationship adjustment or sexual satisfaction as a primary outcome measure. Within this review, the methodological quality of 33 studies was systematically rated, and effect sizes were calculated when possible. Methodological type and quality greatly varied across the studies, as did the pain samples included and the outcomes reported. Nevertheless, the results of controlled studies indicate that PVD is associated with decreased sexual satisfaction. The controlled results also suggest, however, that PVD is not necessarily associated with general relationship maladjustment for women and their partners. Future research, using various methodologies, is needed to further understand intimate relationships among women with PVD and the impact that this condition may have on couples.     

ON A STOCHASTIC MODEL FOR AN IRREVERSIBLE SYSTEM OF COMPARTMENTS

A continuous time stochastic model for an irreversible system of kcompartments with nonhomogeneous Poisson inputs is considered. The model allows an arbitrary residence time for each of the compartments. Individuals may enter the system through any compartment and may depart from the system via any compartment.