Homeless families on the border: A demographic profile

The southwestern borderland region of the United States is characterized by a large immigrant population, high levels of poverty, high unemployment rates, and a growing number of homeless families. In order to assist these families it is necessary to gain information about the demographics and service needs of this population. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of homeless families in El Paso using the “point in time” technique. Face to face interviews were conducted with 95 homeless families. The data was compared to information on homeless families presented in Ten Cities, 1997-1998: A Snapshot of Family Homelessness Across America as well as to demographic characteristics of domiciled families in El Paso. What emerges is the unique profile of the homeless family in this southwestern city.     

Male Batterers’ Alcohol Use and Gambling Behavior

Little work has examined the interrelations among intimate partner violence (IPV), alcohol use, and gambling behavior, and no studies have examined these relationships among males court-ordered to batterer intervention programs (BIPs). The aim of the current investigation was to explore the associations between IPV, alcohol use, and gambling behavior among 341 males court-mandated to attend BIPs utilizing self-report measures. Voluntary, anonymous questionnaires were administered and completed during regularly scheduled BIP sessions. Compared to the general population, a higher percentage of the sample met criteria for pathological gambling (9%), and problem gambling (17%). Further, males exhibiting pathological gambling were more likely to be hazardous drinkers, and hazardous drinkers were more likely to exhibit pathological gambling. Additionally, pathological gamblers were at an increased risk for the perpetration of both physical and sexual aggression. Finally, gambling behavior uniquely predicted the perpetration of sexual aggression above and beyond alcohol use, impulsivity, and relationship satisfaction. The implications of these results for future research and intervention are discussed.     

Randomized controlled trial of emotionally focused couple therapy compared to treatment as usual for depression: Outcomes and mechanisms of change

This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for depression and relationship satisfaction versus usual care (i.e., couple therapy other than EFT), and explored mechanisms of change. Mixed model trajectory analyses of 16 couples indicated EFT was associated with greater improvement in relationship satisfaction among men and women. Men receiving EFT reported greater improvements in depressive symptoms compared to usual care. Unified structural equation modeling revealed changes in relationship satisfaction preceded changes in depressive symptoms in one cluster of partners, while changes in depression preceded changes in relationship satisfaction in a second cluster. Two other clusters reported simultaneous changes in satisfaction and depression. This study provides encouraging results on the effectiveness of EFT for depression, and insight into mechanisms of change.     

Midwives’ personal use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) influences their recommendations to women experiencing a post-date pregnancy

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) have increasingly been used by pregnant women with a steady rise in interest by midwives. Literature describing CAM and self-help options midwives recommend to women experiencing a post-date pregnancy is sparse. This study aimed to investigate if Australian midwives’ personal CAM use impacts on discussions and recommendations of CAM/Self-help strategies.

The Mexican Drug War and Early-Life Health: The Impact of Violent Crime on Birth Outcomes

This study examines the relationship between exposure to violent crime in utero and birth weight using longitudinal data from a household survey conducted in Mexico. Controlling for selective migration and fertility, the results suggest that early gestational exposure to the recent escalation of the Mexican Drug War is associated with a substantial decrease in birth weight. This association is especially pronounced among children born to mothers of low socioeconomic status and among children born to mothers who score poorly on a mental health index.     

“Oh My God,I Sound Like a Horrible Person”: Generic Processes in the Conditional Acceptance of Sexual and Gender Diversity

This article outlines a generic process in the reproduction of inequality that we name “conditional acceptance.” Based on 20 in‐depth interviews with cisgender, heterosexual Christian women who support same‐sex marriage legalization, supplemented with reviews of LGBT, religious, and inequalities scholarship, we demonstrate how members of dominant groups may maintain boundaries that facilitate the persistence of social inequality by conditionally accepting members of marginalized groups. Specifically, our findings suggest that respondents both created the appearance of tolerance and maintained the devaluation of LGBT people by (1) supporting equality with a few caveats, (2) suggesting acceptance of those who cannot help being abnormal, (3) arguing that social change was not their responsibility, (4) defining sexual and gender difference as a personal choice, and (5) asserting that they could hate the sin while loving the sinner. In conclusion, we argue that examining processes of conditional acceptance may provide insight into (1) the persistence of social inequality despite social movement victories, and (2) the importance of integrating existing scholarship focused on sexual, gendered, and religious boundary maintenance.     

Video Game Use as a Tool for Assessing and Intervening with Identity Formation and Social Development in Family Therapy

Because video games are becoming such an integral part of our culture, modern family therapists are more likely than ever to encounter families with members who play them. It is easy to overlook video game use in terms of its potential as a therapeutic tool, particularly if a therapist possesses only limited knowledge of the medium. Using existing literature and my experience as a lifelong gamer, I provide family therapists with a background of the major video game genres and explain how video games can aid in the assessment of factors such as identity formation and social development. I also provide a systemic case example, recommendations for practice, and a table for quick reference to highlight potential videogame‐based family therapy interventions.     

Using Housing Vouchers to Create Stable Mixed-Income Gentrifying Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Over-the-Rhine,Cincinnati, OH

The Over-the-Rhine (OTR) neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio is a gentrifying inner-city community undergoing rapid revitalization. In a gentrifying neighborhood like OTR, the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) could help sustain a mix of incomes within an increasingly high-income community. This study uses geographic information system analysis to examine the role of HCVP in OTR from 1995 to 2012, that is, changes in voucher holder density, hotspots, and migration patterns. Discussions with key stakeholders provide additional insight on gentrification in OTR and the ways HCVP could be used to create a mixed-income neighborhood that would benefit lower-income households.