Childhood Sexual Abuse Profiles and Psychological Functioning in Adult Males

ABSTRACT

This study used a person-centered approach to generate profiles of males’ sexual abuse characteristics and then link profiles to other types of childhood maltreatment and adversity, and adult outcomes. Data were drawn from 215 North American males (86% Caucasian) aged 17–61 years recruited from websites offering support for sexual abuse. Latent profile analysis identified three profiles, ranging from 1–2 instances of fondling by an unfamiliar extrafamilial perpetrator to chronic, penetrative abuse by individuals within and outside the family. Profiles were labeled Severe (26%), More Severe (33%), and Most Severe (41%). Chi-squares and analysis of variance showed that men in the Most Severe profile were more likely to experience childhood emotional and physical abuse, and a greater number of non-victimization adversities, than men in the other two profiles. After controlling for multiple victimization and adversity, men in the More Severe and Most Severe profiles reported significantly greater internalizing problems than men in the Severe profile, and men in the Most Severe profile reported significantly more trauma symptoms than men in the Severe profile. While these results require replication, they suggest that treatment should be tailored to the individual needs of male survivors.     

Consequences of work-family conflict on employee well-being over time

The effects of work-family conflict on the well-being of a diverse sample of 342 non-professional employees from the greater Los Angeles area were examined. Data were collected at two points in time, and a rigorous research design was employed. The effects of self-report bias were considered by controlling for social desirability bias, and by collecting two sources of data (i.e. self-reports and co-workers reports). The results revealed that work-family conflict predicted employee well-being over and above social desirability bias. In addition, analyses were consistent when both self-reports and co-workers reports were utilized. Finally, work-family conflict was a longitudinal predictor of employee's positive well-being. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were consistent across self-reports and co-worker reports.     

Using a Community Participatory Research Approach to Understand Satisfaction with Psychopharmacology Among Families of Children with Psychiatric Co-Morbidities

How do parents of children with psychiatric co-morbidities perceive their children’s use of psychiatric medications? To learn more, the Parent/Professional Advocacy League of Massachusetts (PAL), representing families of children with mental health needs, collaborated with researchers on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study. A questionnaire assessed satisfaction with psychiatric medication as it pertained to children with psychiatric co-morbidities (n = 212). Satisfied parents were likely to employ alternative therapies and feel that prescribers had informed them about medication use and side effects. Results reinforce the need for prescribers to discuss psychopharmacology with families. CBPR improved study relevance and supported PAL’s advocacy efforts.     

Young Generations' Activism in Italy: Comparing Political Engagement and Participation of Native Youths and Youths from a Migrant Background

Focusing on individuals aged 14–35 still living with their family of origin, we compare the political activism of Italian natives with their first and second-generation migrant peers. We based our analysis on two different national household surveys, carried out by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) in 2011–2012: the survey 'Condizione e integrazione sociale dei cittadini stranieri' [Condition and Social Integration of Foreign Citizens] and 'Aspetti della vita quotidiana' [Multipurpose Survey on the Aspects of Everyday Life]. Our results revealed that natives are more likely to be involved in politics compared to their migrant peers. However, the migrant background is not a factor negatively affecting youth participation or involvement in politics in itself. The gap with native is fully explained by differences in socio-economic background and family political socialisation. When these aspects are controlled, data suggest that no differences exist in participation to most time-consuming acts (such as taking part in political meetings, demonstrations, participation in a political association, etc.). More of it, young people with migrant backgrounds are more likely to be engaged in activities that reflect a general interest in politics, such as discussing politics, seeking information on Italian politics, and listening to political debates, compared to their native counterparts.

     

Bayesian decision procedures for binary and continuous bivariate dose-escalation studies

In this paper, Bayesian decision procedures are developed for dose-escalation studies based on binary measures of undesirable events and continuous measures of therapeutic benefit. The methods generalize earlier approaches where undesirable events and therapeutic benefit are both binary. A logistic regression model is used to model the binary responses, while a linear regression model is used to model the continuous responses. Prior distributions for the unknown model parameters are suggested. A gain function is discussed and an optional safety constraint is included.     

Distribution of local plant knowledge in a recently urbanized area (Campeche District,Florianópolis,Brazil)

All over the world, coastal villages are changing rapidly due to the increasing pressures from tourism and urbanization. In this study we investigate ethnobotanical knowledge of current residents of Campeche District, a coastal area that has undergone a rapid process of urbanization, related to 13 native plant species. We also discuss how residents understand and conceptualize the term ‘restinga’, which corresponds to the areas of native vegetation still found at the study site. We interviewed 176 residents in four strata according to time of residence in the district: 0–9 years, 10-19 years, 20-29 years and +30 years, corresponding to the periods of most accentuated demographic growth in the area. Psidium guajava and Eugenia uniflora were the most known, recognized and used plants by respondents. Plant recognition, naming and known uses are strongly correlated; yet there was no difference related to the age of respondents. The only stratum with significant differences in the number of plants named, known and used is the +30 year of residence time, not related to the age of respondents. Explanations given by respondents for the definition of ‘restinga’ were grouped into: vegetation, physical space and ecosystem. Most answers associated ‘restinga’ to vegetation. Knowledge on local flora is affected by the increased amount of migrants and the rapid urbanization in the district during the last 30 years.     

Parental Perspectives on the Emotional,Relational and Logistical Impacts on Siblings of Youth Who Sexually Offend

This qualitative study explored parents’ perspectives on the collateral consequences of youth sexual offending on siblings through the analysis of interview data among 16 caregivers from 10 Canadian families. Using thematic coding procedures, findings indicated that parents identified a range of safety, emotional and interpersonal impacts on siblings beginning with the criminal justice and child welfare investigations of the sexual offending and extending to siblings’ relationships with the offending youth, their caregivers and other relatives. Results demonstrate the need for greater acknowledgement of, and parent‐informed interventions that specifically address the impact of youth sexual offending on siblings by professionals and non‐professionals (e.g. relatives) alike.     

Promoting interculture through content and competences within bilingual education: teachers in action

ABSTRACT

Content and Language Integrated Learning incorporates among its main aims the development of intercultural awareness and understanding. Nowadays, it is imperative to prepare students to become active citizens in globalised societies. The principal objectives of this study are to examine how curricular competences impact content planning and which factors influence the way teachers plan content and competences in order to enhance ‘interculture’ through this approach in Primary Education. An open-question questionnaire was used to analyse the opinions of 59 Primary Education CLIL teachers who were working in private and semi-private schools in Cordoba (Spain) during the 2015/2016 academic year. The results show that several curricular competences influenced the selection of content. Moreover, there were significant differences in competences relating to gender, qualification degree, subject and textbook. Content was also influenced by the same variables except for qualification degree. Outcomes highlight the influence of competences on content planning when teachers aim to promote intercultural knowledge and sensitivity among students. This study also suggests that bilingual teacher training needs reinforcement.