Team-Based Volunteerism with the Seriously Ill: A Qualitative Analysis from 10 Volunteers' Perspectives

Volunteers offer means through which social workers may extend their ability to support individuals with serious illnesses near the end of life. This study explored the experience of volunteers on teams organized initially as a grassroots movement in response to stigmatized and often socially isolated people with HIV/AIDS dying in the community. Volunteer care teams later expanded to individuals with other serious illnesses. This model spread as a means of meeting the growing need for practical support for seriously ill homebound individuals. Yet, little has been reported in the scientific literature about the interworkings of these teams and their optimal level of functioning. Qualitative inquiry, in the form of semi-structured interviews, explored perspectives of 10 volunteers with experience in volunteer team caring and identified the social processes that shaped their work. The volunteers discussed balance between positive life meaning gained from volunteer work, lessons learned, and negative aspects of a volunteer team approach to caring for the seriously ill in the community. Further investigation is warranted to validate the volunteer care team approach as a cost-effective tool to help seriously ill individuals and caregivers.     

Exercise and executive functioning in older women

Research suggests that exercise can slow the rate of decline in cognitive functioning in older adults. The effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on executive functioning was examined in 68 women over 50 years of age. Participants completed the Tower of London and Benton Controlled Oral Word Association tests. Findings indicated that individuals participating in both aerobic and resistance exercises performed significantly better than individuals not participating in exercise. Individuals who were participating in both aerobic and resistance exercises did not perform disproportionately better. Thus the form of exercise appears to be less important than engaging in some form of exercise.     

Is Hypersexuality Dimensional or Categorical? Evidence From Male and Female College Samples

The recent attempt to introduce hypersexual disorder into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), has increased empirical scrutiny of the construct. Consensus on its definition and underlying structure remains elusive. Whereas some conceptualizations favor a categorical latent structure, others speculate that hypersexual behavior is dimensional. Research on the latent structure of hypersexual behavior, however, has been sparse. This is unfortunate, because determination of the latent structure can contribute to more accurate assessment, diagnosis, and understanding of etiological process. To date the only study on hypersexuality's latent structure found consistent evidence of a dimensional structure for males but less clear results for females. In the present study the Multidimensional Inventory of Development, Sex, and Aggression (MIDSA), a self-report, contingency-based inventory, was administered to 1,146 college students. Four indices of hypersexual behavior and six indices of sexual compulsivity were analyzed, using three taxometric methods (mean above minus below a cut [MAMBAC], maximum covariance [MAXCOV], and latent mode factor analysis [L-Mode]). Evidence supported a dimensional latent structure for hypersexuality in male and female samples. Future assessments of hypersexuality must focus on adequate reliability and discriminant validity across the continuum of sexual behavior rather than on attempts to differentiate between arbitrarily developed diagnostic categorizations.     

Electronic distribution of public assistance benefits: System performance and stakeholder opinions

Several states have conducted pilot projects to test the feasibility of using electronic banking techniques to deliver public assistance benefits. These systems establish electronic account balances which recipients access through the use of a debit card at terminals such as bank automatic teller machines or transaction authorization machines like those that validate credit card charges. The present study examines the first test of a comprehensive electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system for multiple benefit programs, a pilot project for cash and food stamp programs conducted by the state of Maryland in the city of Baltimore. Surveys examined the issues perceived by the three primary sets of stakeholders:

• 1. 

  1. representatives of government, including social service workers (n = 47) and key state personnel;

• 2. 

  2. two-thirds of the participating retailers (n = 110); and

• 3. 

  3. benefit recipients (n = 882).All stakeholder groups were generally favorable regarding EBT. However, some subgroups were less favorable: small store operators were less favorable than larger ones and cash recipients were more favorable than food stamp participants. Understanding these opinions requires a closer examination of the meaning and use of public assistance programs by all participants.

     

Parent Perspectives on Intensive Intervention for Child Maltreatment

Multi-level intervention, based on an ecological perspective, has been promoted at the preferred model of providing parenting support to high-risk families. However, parent views regarding such interventions have not been determined. Focus groups consisting of 24 parents who had recently completed an intensive parenting program yielded results supporting multi-level interventions but highlighting processes rather than content within such programs as well as the reciprocal effect of particular level interventions. Processes identified at intervention levels included Affirming Parent Self-Worth, Non-Directive Instruction, Promoting Social Connections, and Empowering Communication. Increased understanding of and attending to processes in intensive intervention with high-risk families is indicated.     

REVIEWS

Brody, L. (1999). Gender, emotion, and the family .
Fowers, B. J. (2000). Beyond the myth of marital happiness: How embracing the virtues of loyalty, generosity, justice, and courage can strengthen your relatoinship .
Jones, E., & Asen, E. (2000). Systemic couple therapy and depression .
Joyce, P. (2001). Couples: Real people, real issues .
Woody, R. H. (2000). Child custody: Practice standards, ethical issues, & legal safeguards for mental health professionals .     

Bayesian methods for analysing ringing data

A major recent development in statistics has been the use of fast computational methods of Markov chain Monte Carlo. These procedures allow Bayesian methods to be used in quite complex modelling situations. In this paper, we shall use a range of real data examples involving lapwings, shags, teal, dippers, and herring gulls, to illustrate the power and range of Bayesian techniques. The topics include: prior sensitivity; the use of reversible-jump MCMC for constructing model probabilities and comparing models, with particular reference to models with random effects; model-averaging; and the construction of Bayesian measures of goodness-of-fit. Throughout, there will be discussion of the practical aspects of the work - for instance explaining when and when not to use the BUGS package.