PROBLEM SOLVING SELF-APPRAISAL AND COPING EFFORTS IN DISTRESSED AND NONDISTRESSED COUPLES*

The present study sought to investigate the relationship between problem solving self-appraisal (i.e., perceived confidence, personal control, approach-avoidance), specific coping efforts (negotiation, optimistic comparisons, advice seeking, emotional discharge, selective ignoring, and resignation) and marital distress. Seventy-five couples completed the Problem Solving Inventory, the Marital Coping Questionnaire, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. When compared to nondistressed spouses, distressed spouses showed less problem solving confidence, a tendency to avoid different problem solving activities, and poor strategies to control their behavior. In addition, three coping efforts-optimistic comparisons, negotiation, and resignation–differentiated distressed from nondistressed spouses. However, the results of multiple regression analysis suggest that specific coping efforts are more important than problem solving self–appraisal in predicting marital satisfaction. These findings are discussed in terms of the role of cognitive factors in marital dysfunction.     

Convergence results for sequences of quadratic forms

Let (XI,)be a sequence of independent random variables, and let Q_n= where for each N,(an:,k)is a doubly indexed sequence of weights. The convergence and the rate of convergence of the sequence of quadratic forms {Q_n} are studied. These quadratic forms are linear sums of dependent variables; however, their convergence properties are similar to those of linear sums of independent variables provided the variables have finite rth absolute moments with 0 < r 2.while the rate of convergence has not been obtained for r< 2, it is shown to be different from that of linear sums.     

Allocation of resources in households: children's perspectives

This paper incorporates children's perspectives on the issue of resource distribution in households. It is part of a relatively new trend of sociological explorations into childhood. The paper aims to review earlier studies and literature on children's access to money, food, space and time. The data illuminates norms governing distributive justice between adults and children in families.     

Impact of marital and psychological distress on therapeutic alliance in couples undergoing couple therapy

In this study, we describe the psychometric properties of the Couple Therapy Alliance Scale--revised (CTAS-r) and investigates the impact of marital and psychiatric distress on alliance. Seventy-nine couples in therapy completed a French version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and of the Psychiatric Symptoms Index at session one, and a French version of the CTAS-r at session three. Results indicate that the French version of the CTAS-r has adequate psychometric properties, although the subscales of the instrument are highly intercorrelated. Furthermore, marital adjustment predicts alliance scores, whereas psychiatric symptoms do not. Finally, male marital adjustment and female psychiatric symptoms are lower in couples where spouses have divergent perceptions of the alliance. Future research directions are discussed.     

Self-destructive and delinquent behaviors of adolescent female victims of child sexual abuse: rates and covariates in clinical and nonclinical samples

Self-destructive and delinquent behaviors were assessed in three samples of adolescent females. The first sample (N=140) were substantiated victims of sexual abuse recruited from clinical settings. They were contrasted to a second sample (N=430) of secondary school students, and a third sample from the same school setting (N=94), that reported that they had been sexually abused. Few differences were found between the two groups of sexually abused girls, and both groups reported significantly more at-risk behaviors than nonabused girls. Family adversity was a consistent predictor of both self-destructive and delinquent behaviors. However, violence during the abuse, lower quality mother-daughter relationships, and depression were also related to self-destructive behaviors, while family economic problems and self-blame for the abuse were the only correlates of delinquent behavior.     

A Loss of Credibility: Patterns of Wrongdoing Among Nongovernmental Organizations

This paper analyzes, from a cross-national perspective, publicized incidents of wrongdoing by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). A content analysis of media reports of scandals over the past four years involving NGOs was conducted to identify issues and trends in governance and management problems. The analysis is confined to NGOs that are involved in the financing and/or delivery of health and human services in order to facilitate comparisons. International and U.S. cases of wrongdoing, covering the gamut of embezzlement to mismanagement, are identified and the common elements and unique features of these cases are examined. The underlying problems that allowed these cases to occur and their implications in regard to NGO credibility and public trust are identified and options for enhancing accountability explored.     

Reciprocity and Romance

This article examines the place of romance in the lives of single mothers. Drawing on interviews with single mothers in a rural state, I challenge prevailing views of relationships between single mothers and romantic partners that highlight the issues of exchange and that emphasize the possibility that women will be exploited by men. I argue instead that although single mothers generally adhere to the norm of reciprocity in their other relationships, in romantic relationships they accept substantial imbalances. In explaining this surprising finding, I consider the significance of romance within the context of the daily lives of single mothers and I explore how romance can become a strategic explanation for imbalance.