A first generation critic comes of age: Reflections of a critical gerontologist

This paper reflects upon the direction and evolution of my scholarly endeavors as a sociologist of four decades in the field of aging, with thoughts on the future direction of this work and the challenges for the larger field. The perspective presented is located within two frameworks of active debate: the sociology of knowledge(s) [Gouldner, A. 1970. The Coming Crisis of Western Sociology. New York: Basic Books] and public sociology, which is one of the four major types of sociology identified by Burawoy [Burawoy, M. (2005, 2007). A call for public sociology. In D. Clawson, R. Zussman, J. Misra, N. Gerstel, R. Stokes, & R. L. Anderton (Eds.), Public Sociology. Berkeley: University of California Press.], also including traditional professional sociology, policy sociology, and critical sociology.     

Categorical Regression Analysis of Acute Exposure to Tetrachloroethylene1

Exposure-response analysis of acute noncancer risks should consider both concentration (C) and duration (T) of exposure, as well as severity of response. Stratified categorical regression is a form of meta-analysis that addresses these needs by combining studies and analyzing response data expressed as ordinal severity categories. A generalized linear model for ordinal data was used to estimate the probability of response associated with exposure and severity category. Stratification of the regression model addresses systematic differences among studies by allowing one or more model parameters to vary across strata denned, for example, by species and sex. The ability to treat partial information addresses the difficulties in assigning consistent severity scores. Studies containing information on acute effects of tetrachloroethylene in rats, mice, and humans were analyzed. The mouse data were highly uncertain due to lack of data on effects of low concentrations and were excluded from the analysis. A model with species-specific concentration intercept terms for rat and human central nervous system data improved fit to the data compared with the base model (combined species). More complex models with strata denned by sex and species did not improve the fit. The stratified regression model allows human effect levels to be identified more confidently by basing the intercept on human data and the slope parameters on the combined data (on a C × T plot). This analysis provides an exposure–response function for acute exposures to tetrachloroethylene using categorical regression analysis.     

Money Over Marriage: Marriage Importance as a Mediator Between Materialism and Marital Satisfaction

While the negative relationship between materialism and marital satisfaction is well documented, mediators that possibly explain this association have not been widely explored. Based on the Incompatibility of Materialism and Children Model and Marital Paradigms Theory, this article explores the perception of marriage importance as a potential mediator between materialism and marital satisfaction. Using a sample of 1310 married individuals, we found evidence of partial mediation in that materialism was negatively associated with perception of marriage importance, and this association partially explained why being materialistic was associated with lower marital satisfaction. Thus, as counselors, therapists, and financial planners work with married clients, it is important that they consider how their clients’ materialistic tendencies may influence the family both financially and relationally. Suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Anger Perception, Caregivers' Use of Physical Discipline, and Aggression in Children at Risk

We analyzed the relations between teacher reports of aggressive behaviors, caregiver reports of their use of physical discipline, anger perception accuracy, and anger perception bias in middle childhood and teacher reports of aggressive behaviors two years later in a sample of children from economically disadvantaged families (n =152). Fisher r‐to‐z analyses showed a gender difference in the relation between anger perception accuracy and aggressive behavior in third grade. For girls, anger perception accuracy was significantly negatively related to aggression, and for boys, there was no relation between anger perception accuracy and aggression. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that third grade aggressive behavior, caregivers’ reports of their use of physical discipline, and anger perception bias were significantly positively related to teacher reports of aggressive behavior two years later after controlling for gender and anger perception accuracy.