Self-concept protection by children with physical differences

In exploring how elementary school children cope with being physically different, this study of twenty children who are also experiencing academic difficulty found that 85% used five defensive-adaptive techniques at least several times a week to protect their sense of self and self-worth from a mental representation of body image as different or defective. Significant differences in coping style were identified between children born with physical differences and children acquiring these differences later in that members of the first group were more likely to use defensive-adaptive techniques designed to repair the difference symbolically while members of the latter group were more likely to use techniques designed to eradicate the physical difference.a clinical social worker at Christ Child Society School Counseling Program.     

Getting There is Only Half the Battle: Stigma Consciousness and Maintaining Diversity in Higher Education

Increases in stigma consciousness since arriving at a primarily White college could predict the college performance and self-esteem of the academically stigmatized. After reviewing relevant research, the authors report on a study in which 44 stigmatized (African Americans and Latinos/Latinas) and 79 nonstigmatized (Whites and Asian Americans) students completed measures of stigma consciousness, GPA, disengagement from academics, and self-esteem. Among stigmatized males, increases in stigma consciousness predicted lower GPAs and greater disengagement. Although stigmatized females had low GPAs regardless of their increases in stigma consciousness, with increases in stigma consciousness came less disengagement from school and lower self-esteem. The discussion offers suggestions for how to minimize these negative effects of heightened stigma consciousness levels.     

The War of the Words: How Linguistic Differences in Reporting Shape Perceptions of Terrorism

In four studies, we demonstrate that subtle linguistic differences in news reporting are sufficient to influence whether people interpret violent acts as patriotism or terrorism. In Study 1, a content analysis of newspaper articles describing violence in Iraq revealed that words implying destruction and devious intent were typically used in reference to violent actions associated with Iraq and opponents of the United States, while more benign words were used in reference to the United States and its allies. These observed differences in word usage establish schemas that guide perception of violence as terrorism or patriotism, thereby affecting people's attitudes toward (Study 2) and memory for (Studies 3 and 4) violent events. Implications for the media's impact on public policy are discussed.     

EMPLOYEE AWARENESS OF FAMILY LEAVE BENEFITS: The Effects of Family, Work, and Gender

The 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was intended to help employees meet short-term family demands, such as caring for children and elderly parents, without losing their jobs. However, recent evidence suggests that few women and even fewer men employees avail themselves of family leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. This paper examines the organizational, worker status, and salience/need factors associated with knowledge of family leave benefits. We study employees covered by the FMLA using the 1996 panel of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to ascertain what work and family factors influence knowledge of leave benefits. Overall, 91 percent of employed FMLA-eligible women report they have access to unpaid family leave, compared to 72 percent of men. Logistic regression analyses demonstrate that work situations more than family situations affect knowledge of family leave benefits and that gender shapes the impact of some work and family factors on awareness. Furthermore, work and family situations do not explain away the considerable gender difference in knowledge of family leave.     

Termination of foster care for the older adolescent: Issues of emancipation and individuation

Adolescents currently constitute almost one-half of the foster care population and social work with this population now often includes helping the adolescent make the often fairly abrupt transition to independent living. The authors suggest that this process can be productively viewed as a microcosm of the first individuation process, analogous to the early individuation of self from mother with opportunities for individuation and further growth. The effect of the worker's own level of individuation and self-awareness on this process is discussed.is also in private practice.National Catholic School of Social Service, is also Principal Researcher and Program Consultant, Project Stepping Out of Foster Care Into Independent Living.     

Sex differences in psychological and psychophysiological arousal patterns: a study of 'working couples'

A pilot study of six couples, in which both partners had jobs outside the home, was carried out to examine the impact of 'dual task-dual role' status on the female relative to the male partner. Psychological well-being and adrenomedullary functioning were monitored in 'at home' and 'outside the home' work situations. Results showed that females' adrenomedullary activity remained high across both situations, while males' 'at home' levels for the 'Late' Saturday and 'Early' and 'Late' Sunday periods were significantly lower than their 'outside the home' midweek levels. Males' and females' 'outside the home' levels and 'Late' Sunday 'at home' levels did not differ significantly, but females had significantly higher levels of adrenomedullary activity than males on the 'Late' Saturday and 'Early' Sunday periods. Differences in self-rated positive and negative mood were not significant either within or between groups. The implication of these trends for research on sex differences in stress is discussed.     

Financial challenges in remarriage

Remarried couples, especially those with children from a previous marriage, face financial complexities unknown to couples in their first marriages. The few empirical investigations which have explored this feature of stepfamily life have revealed that couples often have a difficult time with the financial functioning aspect of their remarriage. While further research is needed to examine the dynamics of the financial aspects of remarriage, educators and counselors need to begin to help remarried couples to develop management strategies for coping with their unique situations. Recommendations for a workshop are made and resources are listed.Supported in part by Utah State University Vice President for Research. Scientific contribution Number 1480 from the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station.Jean M. Lown received her Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Family Economics and Consumer Studies. Currently Dr. Lown is assistant professor, Department of Home Economics and Consumer Education, UMC-2910, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322.Elizabeth M. Dolan is associate professor, Department of Family and Consumer Studies, Pettee Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824. Drs. Lown and Dolan are collaborating on a research investigation into the dynamics of financial management in remarried families.