Childhood Sexual Abuse Profiles and Psychological Functioning in Adult Males

ABSTRACT

This study used a person-centered approach to generate profiles of males’ sexual abuse characteristics and then link profiles to other types of childhood maltreatment and adversity, and adult outcomes. Data were drawn from 215 North American males (86% Caucasian) aged 17–61 years recruited from websites offering support for sexual abuse. Latent profile analysis identified three profiles, ranging from 1–2 instances of fondling by an unfamiliar extrafamilial perpetrator to chronic, penetrative abuse by individuals within and outside the family. Profiles were labeled Severe (26%), More Severe (33%), and Most Severe (41%). Chi-squares and analysis of variance showed that men in the Most Severe profile were more likely to experience childhood emotional and physical abuse, and a greater number of non-victimization adversities, than men in the other two profiles. After controlling for multiple victimization and adversity, men in the More Severe and Most Severe profiles reported significantly greater internalizing problems than men in the Severe profile, and men in the Most Severe profile reported significantly more trauma symptoms than men in the Severe profile. While these results require replication, they suggest that treatment should be tailored to the individual needs of male survivors.     

Developing an understanding of lean thinking in process industries

The research described in this article has set out to determine the extent to which lean thinking is being adopted as a manufacturing philosophy by process industries. It concerns the application and examination of key lean manufacturing principles, namely, the alignment of production with demand, the elimination of waste, the integration of suppliers (IS) and the creative involvement of the workforce in improvement activities, to a range of process industry types based on Dennis and Meredith's taxonomy of process industry transformation systems [Dennis, D. and Meredith, J., 2000a. An empirical analysis of process industry transformation systems. Management Science, 46 (8), 1085–1099]. Seventy-nine process industry product streams across 62 sites were studied. In addition, a five-site investigative field study was also undertaken. The findings demonstrate that lean practices associated with the elimination of waste are consistently used for improving manufacturing performance throughout the taxonomy of process industries but practices associated with other lean principles are inconsistently applied. In addition, explanations are provided on the appropriateness of lean thinking as a manufacturing philosophy and a strategy for improving manufacturing performance in different process industry types, and on the extent to which lean principles and practices are dependent on the characteristics of process industry transformation systems.     

Globalization and Social Work: International and Local Implications

Globalization can seem a remote process, related only to theeconomic and commercial world. However, it impacts (differentially)on the work opportunities and living conditions of populationsaround the world and has also influenced thinking about welfarepolicies, including through state provision. It thus has implicationsfor the practice and education of social and community workersin both affluent and poverty stricken states. In addition tosocial professionals who seek opportunities to work internationally,globalization is also affecting the practices of those who wouldpreviously have seen their work as essentially rooted in localconditions and community needs. This paper therefore gives someexamples of the ways in which local practice may have cross-borderand international dimensions, drawing on experiences in thechild-care field, particularly in the UK and European context.The author indicates how international social work courses areaiming to equip specialist international social workers, whilealso arguing for the development of educational programmes whichprepare ‘local’ social workers for practice in aninterdependent world.     

Personnel policy and manpower planning in banking

Forces of rapid change and strong competition are now operating in the world. Banking with its rapidly changing technology must keep pace with these forces but it must at the same time provide secure and continuous employment for staff. Personnel policy now encompasses manpower planning which is defined as ‘A strategy to acquire, utilize, retain and develop people by formulating and implementing sound manpower policies agreed with employees and their unions’.     

Opportunities? Barriers? It's up to you.

This career advice column is usually directed toward those in transition--physician executives who are actively pursuing job opportunities or preparing to do so. But most of your career is actually spent in a position and on the job. So it seems appropriate to focus on the great majority of physician executives who are not currently in the job market. Take a look at opportunities to learn and grow in your present position.     

Urban ecosystem management: bringing science and policy together

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has many programs that directly affect urban ecosystems, and many more, such as the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of natural resource data, that affect rural and urban areas alike. The policy challenge is to bring the vast scientific resources of the Department to the urban decision maker in an effective manner. This requires teamwork on the part of federal agencies, which can be greatly improved by innovative programs such as the Urban Resources Partnership. In spite of the progress being made, there are many challenges and opportunities ahead as national policymakers seek to bring science and policy together in ways that assist local leaders and citizens in improving environmental quality and the quality of life in urban and suburban areas.