The mental health demographic profile system: A longitudinal information system

This paper presents the plans currently being developed to make the Mental Health Demographic Profile System into a longitudinal information system useful for research and program planning. Topics discussed are as follows:

1. Development of a data base that contains 1960, 1970, and 1980 small areas (census tracts, MCDs or CCDs, counties). Preliminary tables for 1960,and 1970 will be displayed. Problems of identifying constant small areas for 1960 and 1970 are discussed.
2. Items to be included in the standard profile and items to be available for use (but not part of the standard profile) are discussed.
3. Improvement of access to the data system is discussed. This includes a discussion of the interactive programs being developed and the possible transfer of service and maintenance functions (but not development functions) to the National Center for Health Statistics.

     

Genetic influence on age at first birth of female twins born in the UK, 1919–68

Using a sample of monozygotic (945, 42?per cent) and dizygotic (1,329, 58?per cent) twin pairs born 1919–68 in the UK, we applied innovative tobit models to investigate genetic and environmental influences on age at first birth (AFB). We found that a substantial part (40?per cent) of the variation in AFB is caused by latent family characteristics. Genetic dispositions (26?per cent) play a more important role than the shared environment of siblings (14?per cent), with the non-shared environment/measurement error having the strongest influence (60?per cent). Like previous studies, this study reveals marked changes in estimates over time, and supports the idea that environmental constraints (war or economic crisis) suppress and normative freedom (sexual revolution) promotes the activation of genetic predispositions that affect fertility. We show that the exclusion of censored information (i.e., on the childless) by previous studies biased their results.

Supplementary material for this article is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2015.1056823     

Societal Crises–Strategies for Social Work Education

This paper examines existing literature on anticipated role problems by mothers who reenter higher education after marriage and child rearing, and presents data from a study that examined the characteristics, role difficulties, and role satisfactions of a group of women with children who recently completed an MSW program. The findings revealed an absence of major problems for these women, both during and after MSW training. The dominant theme was one of rewarding, ego-enhancing, and relatively easy movement of these women through their MSW training and subsequently into professional positions.     

Sociology and the study of non-western societies

This paper attacks parochialism, ethnocentrism, and universalism in Western sociology. Conceptual limitations of the discipline are discussed in light of the emergent transnational scene. The author argues that new or revised analytical and theoretical concepts in the discipline are essential for sociological studies in non-Western societies. The professional role of the sociologist undertaking research in a non-Western society is discussed from the standpoint of international competency, language facility, and constraints and challenges. The fledgling movement toward cross-national and world sociology in the United States is indicated in developments such as dependency studies, world system theory, and the activities of the American Sociological Association. The author ofHistorical and Cultural Dictionary of Thailand. His research publications have focused on the Thai rural family, medical professions, and socioeconomic change in Southeast Asia.     

What can child care do for human capital?

This study reviews the evidence on the possible contribution that a publicly supported child care program could make to the stock of human capital that future generations will bring into the nation's labor force, focusing on the development of children most at risk of future poverty and dependency.The analysis first discusses the potential benefits to individuals, and to society at large, of increased human capital investment. Next, evidence is reviewed on how pre-school programs have affected educational attainment. The link between educational attainment and earning capacity is then examined using evidence drawn from census surveys as well as a limited amount from longitudinal studies of pre-school alumni. In conclusion the evidence supports the claim that investment in child care, incorporating tested developmental components, can yield net benefits to society by enhancing the human capital of upcoming generations.     

Community dissatisfaction and depressed mood in Suburbia

Because of contradicting theoretical statements and empirical data, there is a need to specify the exact part that neighborhood and individual characteristics represent in determining mental health related behavior and the livabiiity of residential neighborhoods. This article adds to the understanding of the general problem by exploring the contributions that economic and social status of neighborhoods and individuals make towards depressed mood and community dissatisfaction. The study was limited to men residing in “classic suburbia” in the early 1960s. Seven hypotheses were proposed — the expectancy congruence, the additive, the big reward, and big failure, the atypical person, the reward visibility, and the economic status maintenance hypotheses. Support for the big reward and pan of the additive hypothesis was observed. The relationships presented in the paper clearly demonstrate that to gain an understanding of community dissatisfaction and depressed mood we must examine an individual's social and economic status and that of his neighborhood.     

The whistle blower and the whistle-blowing profession

A recent whistle-blowing incident in a public child welfare service generated considerable political fallout, widespread press converage, and surfaced a number of critical ethical issues. The case history of the incident provides a substantive base for exploring these ethical issues in light of current ethical assessment alternatives. Guidelines are suggested for professional social workers in whistle-blowing situations.This paper was originally presented at Simmons College School of Social Work on October 4, 1984.