“I Learned That the Aging Population Isn't That Much Different From Me”: The Final Outcomes of a Gero-Ed BEL Project

This article describes a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Gero-Ed Center BEL Project's activities and reports its final outcomes. An oral history interview in paired human behavior and practice skills courses addressed gerontological social work competencies focused on assessing and addressing values and biases regarding aging, and the ability to relate concepts and theories of aging to practice. Significant increases in perceived proficiency in these competencies occurred, as did significant decreases in negative attitudes toward older people and working with older adults. Qualitative data supported these results. Findings suggest social work educators utilize a combination of classroom-based and experiential learning to maximize student development.     

The story of Lucy: lessons learned,lessons taught

ABSTRACT

This article provides an extended case example highlighting the value of a supportive approach to practice, in addition to the importance of holding a psychodynamic developmental frame of reference. Concepts of repetition compulsion, the holding environment, and object constancy are applied to the clinical material. The case is underscored for its value as a teaching tool.     

Exploring Nondeliberative Practice through Recreational,Art, and Music-Based Activities in Social Work with Groups

ABSTRACT

This article reviews the history of recreational, arts, and music-based activities in social work with groups, providing a nondeliberative practice context. The article begins with an overview of nondeliberative practice, then presents various uses of recreational, art, and music-based activities during the Settlement House and Recreational Movements, in mid-20^th-century group work practice and in present practice. The article concludes with a review of current projects in the Chicago land area and highlights their potential to decrease young person on young person violence.     

Differential Relationships Between Religiosity,Cigarette Smoking,and Waterpipe Use: Implications for College Student Health

Abstract

Objective: Using a framework informed by problem behavior theory, ¹ Jessor, R and Jessor, S. 1977. Problem Behavior and Psychosocial Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth, New York, NY: Academic Press.  [Google Scholar] the authors examined differential relationships between religiosity and the frequency of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco smoking. Participants: Six hundred fourteen individuals beginning their freshman year at a large, public, midwestern university. Methods: Paper-and-pencil surveys were administered to students who attended freshman orientation. Electronic surveys were sent to students who did not attend orientation. Results: Although a latent, generalized religiosity factor was negatively associated with frequency of cigarette smoking, there was no such relationship for frequency of waterpipe use. Conclusions: Conceptualizing waterpipe tobacco smoking in terms of problem behavior theory may be inappropriate, given its lack of association with religiosity. These results may reflect the perception that waterpipe use is a more socially acceptable form of tobacco use that is less harmful to health than cigarette smoking, despite medical evidence to the contrary. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.     

Sex Differences Among College Students in Awareness of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine and Vaccine Options

Abstract

Objectives: To explore awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) and use of HPV vaccines (Gardasil and Cervarix) by college students. Participants: The sample was composed of 817 undergraduates at 2 northeastern US universities; they participated between February and May 2010. Methods: Students were provided with a link to an anonymous, self-administered, Web-based survey comprised of 76 questions. The survey included questions about health behaviors, awareness, and knowledge of HPV and the 2 HPV vaccines, and vaccine uptake. Results: Results indicate high levels of awareness of HPV as well as marked sex differences related to vaccine awareness and uptake. Both sexes are largely unaware of Cervarix and the differences between Cervarix and Gardasil. Conclusion: The study affirms the importance of a clinician's recommendation for HPV vaccination. Public health messaging should become more inclusive of adolescent and young adult males. College students’ awareness of HPV vaccine options mirrors Gardasil's market dominance in the United States.     

Exponential random graph models of preschool affiliative networks

Exponential random graph models were used to assess the relevance of reciprocity, popularity, transitivity controlling for effects based upon ego and alter sex, and sex homophily, on the formation of affiliative ties in 19 Portuguese preschool peer groups. The number of times two children were recorded as nearest neighbors in focal samples was used as an indicator of the relationship's strength. Independent parameter estimates of the different models (one for each group) were summarized, separately for the three age groups (“3-year-olds”, “4-year-olds” and “5-year-olds”) using a multi-level approach to meta-analysis. Results showed that affiliative ties between children were sex segregated, highly reciprocal, more likely to be directed to a restricted number of children and with a tendency to create transitive triads. The structural processes underlying the formation of affiliative ties were quite stable between classrooms.     

Elder Abuse Coverage in Newspapers: Regional Differences and its Comparison to Child-Abuse Coverage

ABSTRACT

Dozens of studies have examined how the press portrays crime. Most of these studies focus on some aspect of the criminal or the response to the event. Few have considered the portrayal of victims and even fewer have examined the way the media portrays older victims. To fill this void, this study examines (1) whether elder abuse coverage varies across newspapers and (2) how the extent of elder abuse coverage compares to child-abuse coverage. Results indicate that regional differences appear to exist and child abuse receives far more coverage than elder abuse. Implications are provided.