Aging Well and Gay in Rural America: A Case Study

Using person–environment-fit theory as a theoretical framework, this qualitative case study examined, through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the lived experience of an older gay man who has lived solely in rural communities. An overarching theme of life satisfaction clearly emerged, along with themes regarding supportive social networks and disclosure management of his sexual orientation. The findings suggest that although it is important to understand the challenges faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in rural environments, it is equally important to shed light on the ways in which older adults age well within these communities.     

Health and distress in social workers: Results of a national survey

Abstract

This study investigated the physical and emotional health status of professional social workers as well as their levels of distress. The results of this national survey of 668 randomly selected NASW‐member social workers indicated that while most were healthy and satisfied with work and relationships, 17% experienced distress, defined as substance abuse, emotional problems, and/or physical illness. The distressed social workers were more likely to experience difficulties in many areas of their lives, including dissatisfaction with work and low self‐esteem. Some of the social workers reported seeking help for personal/ emotional problems, but very few sought help for alcohol/other drug problems.     

Working with communities: critical perspectives

Schools are often an entry point for offering psychosocial interventions to communities following disasters. However, teachers often lack skills to facilitate classroom activities that can address post-traumatic symptoms. Further, they are not trained in mental health and they themselves have been traumatised. A solution is to provide teachers with an intervention protocol to be used in the typical classroom. As an alternative to traditional counselling, holistic interventions can alleviate traumatic symptoms, while promoting personal wellness and community development. A method for offering both expressive arts and integrated body-mind-spirit approaches is offered with reference to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China.     

Play Therapy: A Paradigm for Work with Families*

The dream-like, open-ended process of play therapy has much in common with the family therapy style of the authors. This paper provides a partial list of similarities between play therapy and family therapy. It reviews methods for using play with families and considers the question of indications and contraindications for play therapy with families. Clinical examples are utilized to illustrate throughout the paper.     

The current differential in black and white life expectancy

The 1980 National Center for Health Statistics life tables for the U.S. black and white populations reveal a difference in life expectancy of 7 years between black and white males and 6 years between black and white females. Using cause-substituted life tables, we show that a number of causes of death contribute to the difference. The largest contributors are cardiovascular disease for both sexes and homicide and cancer for males.     

Alternative Service Delivery in Developing Countries: NGOs and Other Non-Profits in Urban Areas

This paper examines NGOs and other non-profits (NONPROs) as alternatives to government service-delivery in developing urban areas. Reconfiguration is suggested in a three-way ironic triangle including host governments and external donors. Examples are given as well as requisites for strengthening of NONPROs. Service-provision will become increasingly indigenous and bottom-up if cooptation can be avoided and NONPROs can increase their capacities.     

Jane's Jealousy: A Narrative Analysis of Emotion Experience in Its Social Context

This article provides a narrative analysis of one written account of jealousy. The analysis assumes the importance of cultural, historical, and social context in making sense of the experience of jealousy. Our analysis was organized around the positioning triad of story line, positioning, and social acts. We were particularly guided by a structural Labovian (1972) approach to the basic story line. The story we examined was chosen for its useful illustration of three subject positions: victim, avenger, and outsider. The analysis highlights the way in which jealousy is constituted through a sequential unfolding of events that are made meaningful within the context of local mores, adolescent romance, and revenge.     

Observing the Delivery of a Domiciliary Support Service

This paper describes a study of the work of domiciliary support services which have been developed under the All-Wales Strategy for services to people with learning difficulties. The study employed direct observation methodology to describe the pattern of activities of domiciliary support workers and their clients. Twenty-eight sessions were observed, with the work of the domiciliary support worker with each client being observed twice. The pattern of work observed broadly fell into four categories: physical care in the family home, sitting-in, support for skill development and support in community activities. The results revealed that while support workers worked with skill and sensitivity in the family home they require further guidance and support if they are to assist successfully in skill development and community integration activities.     

Time together,time apart: An analysis of wives' solitary time and shared time with spouses

The time spouses spend together in household work activities, leisure activities, and in eating are analyzed and compared with the time spent alone by wives in these same activities. The purpose of the analysis is to distinguish between two hypotheses: (a) that the time spent by spouses together in the same activity is charged with extra meaning when compared with the time spent by the wife alone in the same activity; and (b) that the time spent by spouses together in the same activity is a perfect substitute for time spent alone in the same activity by the wife. Multivariate probit, OLS and Tobit analyses are conducted with data taken from the 1977–78 NE-113 Time-Use Data for Louisiana, New York, Utah, and Wisconsin. Statistical tests confirm the hypothesis that shared times in the three activities studied are charged with extra meaning when compared with wives' solitary time in the same activities. Solitary times spent by the wife in the three activities are negatively related with family income. Solitary time spent by wives in household work activities and in leisure activities are positively related to husband's price of time. Spouses' shared times in these activities rise and wives' solitary times fall on weekends.Thanks are due to Bob Avery, Barbara Brown, Robin Douthitt, Jenny Gerner, Jutta Joesch, Sally Lloyd, Cathy Zick, Peter Zorn, members of S-206 Time-Use Regional Committee, the graduate research workshop of the Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, the seminar participants at Utah State University, and the seminar participants of the Department of Family Economics and Management, University of Missouri for stimulating, cautionary, and corrective discussions pertaining to this paper. Any remaining errors and obscurities are the responsibility of the authors.W. Keith Bryant is Professor, Consumer Economics and Housing, 117D Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Dr. Bryant received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Yan Wang is MacNamara Post-Doctorate Fellow, The World Bank, Washington, DC. She received her Ph.D. from Cornell University.