Ambivalence in Later‐Life Family Networks: Beyond Intergenerational Dyads

In later life, changing conditions related to health, partnership, and economic status may trigger not only support but also conflict and ambivalence, with the consequent renegotiation of family ties. The aim of this study is to investigate both conflict and emotional support in the family networks of older adults, taking the research beyond the level of intergenerational dyads. We used a subsample of 563 elders (aged 65 years and older) from the Swiss Vivre/Leben/Vivere survey. Multiple correspondence analysis and in‐depth case studies were used to identify the key social conditions that relate to the prevalence of conflicted and supportive dyads in family networks. Findings showed that the balance of conflict and emotional support in older adults' family networks varied according to the composition of their family network as well as their age, health, income, and gender.     

Why dictators hold semi-competitive elections and encourage the use of semi-independent courts: a comment on Thornhill and Smirnova’s “litigation and political transformation”

In this comment, I highlight similarities between Russia’s contemporary political system and other post-Cold War dictatorships. Most modern dictatorships hold semi-competitive elections. That is, regime officials face competition in elections, but playing fields are tilted so as to leave little suspense about who will win. I suggest that semi-competitive elections and the encouragement of litigation by citizens against local and regional officials, as described by Thornhill and Smirnova (Accepted/In press), have similar functions from the dictator’s point of view. They help the ruling elite with monitoring and controlling local officials whose behavior might otherwise alienate citizens enough to threaten the dictatorial elite with overthrow. Thus the real benefits citizens receive from the increased use of the courts to resolve disputes and electoral competition among politicians are counterbalanced by the contribution these institutions make to the prolongation of dictatorship.     

Effective workload management in child welfare: Understanding the relationship between caseload and workload

A common assumption in public social service organizations is that workload may be positively associated with caseload. However, few empirical studies have examined what specific characteristics of caseload affect caseworkers' workloads in the child welfare system. This study attempts to address this gap by identifying specific individual and regional factors that influence both subjective and objective dimensions of workloads. Survey data were collected from 1,244 caseworkers at one public child welfare agency in a Midwestern state in the United States. The data indicated that both perceptions of unmanageable workloads and self‐reported overtime work were significantly higher when caseworkers had a greater number of cases than the state caseload standard for the investigations units and worked with at least two different types of cases simultaneously (e.g., working with both investigation and ongoing service cases). Additionally, sufficient staffing numbers to meet caseload demands at the regional level significantly decreased the odds ratio of having to do overtime work. The major findings suggest that the objective and subjective dimensions of workload vary by individual‐ and regional‐level variables. Practice implications are discussed for effective and efficient workload management in the public child welfare system.     

The recent literature on public leadership: Reviewed and considered

The purpose of the article is to review the academic literature on public leadership. The discussion is generally confined to books and articles in which leadership in the public realm is explicitly at the center of the discussion; and it is limited to materials published in 1999 and 2000. The literature on leadership is divided into five groups: individuals, groups/organizations, nations, transnational arrangements, and cross-cutting themes (diversity, ethics, mass movements). The article concludes by noting that although the literature on public leadership, at least as generated by contemporary academicians, remains meager, it is growing in richness and diversity. In fact, this review demonstrates that scholars, teachers, and practitioners have a range of relevant materials from which to draw information and ideas. An enormous amount of work remains to be done before the literature on public leadership reaches a critical mass. But some good work is being accomplished in a field that is clearly expanding, and that is of increasing interest to constituencies both within and outside academia.     

Socioeconomic disparities in climate vulnerability: neonatal mortality in northern Sweden, 1880–1950

Population and Environment - The aim of this study was to analyse the association between season of birth, temperature and neonatal mortality according to socioeconomic status in northern Sweden...     

What the 2008 stock market crash means for retirement security

The 2008 stock market crash raises concerns about retirement security, especially since the increased prevalence of 401(k) and similar retirement saving plans means that more Americans are now stakeholders in the equity market than in the past. Using a dynamic microsimulation model, this paper explores the ability of alternate future stock market scenarios to restore retirement assets. The authors find that those near retirement could fare the worst because they have no time to recoup their losses. Mid-career workers could fare better because they have more time to rebuild their wealth. They may even gain income if they buy stocks at low prices and get above-average rates of return. High-income groups will be the most affected because they are most likely to have financial assets and to be invested in the stock market.     

Alcohol and other substance use among deaf and hard of hearing youth

Little research has focused on alcohol and illicit drug use among deaf and hard of hearing youth. Findings are reported from survey data collected among high school students at two phases of a program of research primarily focusing on tobacco use [Phase 1: (1999/2000) n = 226, Phase 2: (2004) n = 618). Evidence of considerable ever (lifetime) drinking (59.1%, 42.6%) and other substance use (21.1%, 18.9%) was found. Gender, age, race/ethnic, grade, school type (mainstream vs. school for the deaf), age when deafened, and aspects of self-perception were examined for their possible association with substance use. Current use rates are reported, and study findings are discussed in relation to national data. Understanding these use patterns is critical to developing interventions for this culturally and linguistically unique population.     

The Evolution of Understanding Menopause in Clinical Treatment

This paper integrates the meanings created about menopause through a biopsychosocial perpective. Once understood only as a biological illness creating affective disorders, new paradigms provide understanding based on the psychological and social constructions of the process. History emphasizes a view of women experiencing increasing deficiency and loss, while modern interpretations view women as gaining new freedoms. Case material is presented to direct attention to the meanings of menopause as it emerges in the treatment process.     

How Adult Learners Make Sense of Their Dyslexia

Although dyslexia was officially recognised as a disability in the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, more widespread awareness of hidden disabilities has often been and remains problematic. Comparatively little has been written about the experiences of dyslexic adults; this paper aims to demonstrate that the non-recognition of dyslexia has been inherently disabling for one group of adult learners who participated in focus group research after attending a cycle of evening classes provided for adult dyslexic students. The concept of recognition is analysed in detail in a number of ways: the official recognition or 'diagnosis' of dyslexia and the consequences of labelling in primary and secondary education; the effects of non-recognition; recognition of dyslexia in wider society and the media; and, finally, the importance to them of recognition and understanding in their personal contexts.     

Religiosity and Contraceptive Method Choice: The Jewish Population of Israel

The primary purpose of this paper is to explore therelationship between religiosity and contraceptivemethod choice, among users of contraception. Weanalyze a representative sample of 1,751 married urbanIsraeli Jewish women interviewed in 1987–1988. Ourfindings indicate that the contraceptive choices ofreligious women are determined largely byconsiderations unrelated to religious doctrine. Acombination of factors, including the suitability ofspecific methods to fertility control needs, peerinfluences, and other cultural effects, appear tomodify the acceptance and application of a particularreligious theology.