Spirituality Among Alzheimer's Caregivers: Psychometric Reevaluation of the Intrinsic Spirituality Scale

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to reevaluate psychometric properties of the Intrinsic Spirituality Scale (ISS) and to compare its results to the original psychometric report. Attendees of Alzheimer's caregiver support groups constituted the sample, relevant to this measure given their traditional, frequent use of spirituality as a coping resource. Data were randomly split for factor and reliability analyses (N ₁= 152) and validity analysis (N ₂= 152). Factor analysis on the ISS loaded all items on a single dimension of spirituality. Reliability was strong. Convergent validity was suggested via significant correlations with prayer measures. Enhanced with the original findings, these results lend credibility to the ISS as a viable spiritual assessment tool. The ISS offers social service professionals a valuable tool for assessing spirituality that is inclusive of individuals whose spirituality is nontheistic or for whom spirituality exists independently from, or outside of, organized religious structures. Future analyses with additional populations may broaden the ISS applicability among persons with diverse demographic and spiritual backgrounds.     

沈宝基与法国革命诗歌译介

法国革命诗歌在中国的介与传播 ,曾极大地鼓舞中国人民的革命斗争。在众多的译者中 ,沈宝基是译介得最多、译品质量最高的翻译家之一。本文简略地介绍了沈先生在《国际歌》、《马赛区》贝郎瑞革命歌谣和巴黎公社诗歌汉译方面的杰出贡献与译介特点。     

Gerontological Competencies among MSW Students: Evaluation of a Gerontology Specialization Program

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of a gerontology specialization program (GSP) within a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)–accredited master of social work (MSW) program. This study utilized a pretest/posttest design with a three-group comparison: group 1—GSP students; group 2—students from the group 1 program but not in GSP; and group 3—students at two external MSW programs with no GSPs. The overall sample comprised 220 advanced year students. A CSWE Gero-Ed Center/Hartford Partnership empirical measure was used to assess overall, gero social work practice competency. Within-group analyses revealed a significant increase in gero competency scores from pretest to posttest among all groups, with GSP students showing the largest increase. Between-group analysis at pretest revealed that the GSP group showed lower gero competency scores than both non-GSP groups. At posttest, these results overturned: GSP students scored significantly higher gero competency scores than both non-GSP groups. These preliminary findings suggest that the GSP offers an impactful, positive role in development of practice skills for the next generation of gero social work practitioners and scholars. A follow-up study with additional years of data will increase longitudinal rigor and confidence in the long-range efficacy of this GSP.     

Private prayer among Alzheimer's caregivers: mediating burden and resiliency

This study examined whether the coping method of private prayer served as a protective factor of resiliency among a sample (N = 304) of Alzheimer's caregivers. Participants in caregiver support groups completed questionnaires that assessed a number of constructs, including caregiving burden; prayer frequency; use of private prayer as a means of coping; and perceived resiliency. The sample averaged a moderate level of burden and a great extent of prayer usage. Caregiving burden had positively affected the extent of prayer usage and negatively influenced perceived resiliency. Findings from hierarchical regression analysis showed that caregiving burden and private prayer significantly influenced variation in perceived resiliency scores. Results from a regression equation series and path analysis provided support for prayer as a mediator between burden and perceived resiliency. Implications for social work practice and education are discussed.     

萨满教与北方少数民族节日文化述略

本文认为在信仰萨满教的民族中 ,宗教节日和民间节日之间尽管相互影响、相互渗透 ,但萨满教祭典对民间庆典和节日活动的影响占主导地位。有些萨满祭典活动由于本身就带有为全民的平安、幸福而祈祷的特点 ,所以这种祭典很容易成为全民性的民俗节日     

Marital Therapy — My Style

This paper is one of a series in which experienced therapists were invited to outline their approach to marital therapy — Editor.