Anticipated and experienced changes in activities after husbands retire

As an element of anticipatory socialization, ability to predict future roles accurately may impact subsequent adaptation. Part of a larger study of retirement and marital quality, this longitudinal research examined husbands' and wives' (n = 61 couples) anticipations of change (more/less/same) in six individual and joint activities following husbands' retirement, and compared them with couples' reported experiences a year after husbands had retired. With the exception of household tasks, continuity in levels of activity from pre-to post-retirement was greater than couples had anticipated. Cross-classification of responses at baseline and Time 2 indicated only modest congruence between anticipated and experienced change in activities. Accuracy of anticipation was not related significantly to retirement satisfaction as hypothesized, but direction of retirement-satisfaction mean scores, especially among wives, suggest that future testing would be warranted.     

The recalled childhood gender questionnaire‐revised: A psychometric analysis in a sample of women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

We administered the 18‐item Recalled Childhood Gender Questionnaire‐Revised (RCGQ‐R), female version, to 147 adult women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) representing three different degrees of prenatal androgenization due to 21‐hydroxylase deficiency and to non‐CAH controls. A principal components analysis generated 3 components accounting for 46%, 9%, and 6% of the variance, respectively. Corresponding unit‐weighted scales (high scores = feminine) were labeled Gender Role (13 items; Cronbach α = .91), Physical Activity (3 items; a = .64), and Cross‐Gender Desire (2 items; α = .47). Discriminant validity was demonstrated in terms of highly significant comparisons across the 4 groups. We concluded that the first 2 RCGQ‐R scales show good psychometric qualities, but that the third scale needs to be evaluated further in a sample that includes women with gender identity disorder.     

Contemporary forms of slavery

Slavery in Brazil: A Link in the Chain of Modernisation: the Case of Amazonia, (A Report by Anti‐Slavery International, no.7 Human Rights Series). ALISON SUTTON. London, 1994. 154pp., bibliography, maps, glossary, photographs. £5.95. ISBN 0–900918–32–2.

Britain's Secret Slaves: An Investigation into the Plight of Overseas Domestic Workers (with contributions from Anti‐Slavery International & Kalayan and the Migrant Domestic Workers, no.5 Human Rights Series). BRIDGET ANDERSON. London, 1993. 122pp., references, appendices, photographs. £5.50. ISBN 0–900918–29–2.

Child Labour in Nepal (A Report by Anti‐Slavery International and Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre no.13 Child Labour Series), OMAR SATTAUR. London, 1993. 71pp., bibliography, maps, glossary, appendices, photographs. £5.00. ISBN 0–900918–31–4.

Ethnic Groups in Burma: Development, Democracy and Human Rights (A Report by Anti‐Slavery International, no.8 Human Rights Series), MARTIN SMITH. London, 1994. 139pp., bibliography, maps, chronology, photographs. £5.95. ISBN 0–9009–18–34–9.     

“I did a lot of Googling”: A qualitative study of exclusive breastfeeding support through social media

Background

Little qualitative research has been done to explore the quality of breastfeeding support through social media in New Zealand.

Racial inequalities in housing: An examiation of recent trends

Changes in racial differences in homeownership and objective indicators of housing quality are examined using 1960 Census data and 1977 Annual Housing Survey data. Blacks, net of differences in socioeconomic status, family composition, and regional-metropolitan location, remained less likely than whites to own homes and somewhat more likely to live in older, crowded and structurally inadequate units in 1977. In general, however, net effects for race were much smaller in 1977 than in 1960. Racial differences in homeownership and crowding were smaller among recent movers than among the total sample in 1977, suggesting continued but gradual improvement in housing conditions for blacks in the latter 1970s.     

A human ecological approach to quality of life: Conceptual framework and results of a preliminary study

A human ecological framework for study of quality of life is proposed and used in the study of the QOL of a rural sample in northern Michigan. The framework is based on an ecosystem, i.e., the interaction of humans, the environed units, with their interrelated environments. These are conceptualized as: natural, human constructed and human behavioral. Quality of life indicators can measure aspects of the environed units, environments, and their interaction. Scales to measure perceived overall quality of life (POQL), community satisfaction (COMSAT), and the importance of and satisfaction with selected life concerns (SALI and SALS) were used. The life concerns represented human needs, attributes of the self, conditions and resources of the three environments, or implied interaction with or action upon the environment. Objectives were to study how these life concerns contributed to POQL; the relationship between SALI and SALS ratings and how this influenced POQL; the relationship between COMSAT and POQL; and whether or not satisfaction with these two variables varied by demographic characteristics. A relatively high POQL was found; those with higher incomes and children living at home had higher scores. COMSAT was also generally high, but did not vary by demographic characteristics. POQL and COMSAT were significantly related. Family life, health, safety, house, and financial security ranked highest in importance; clothing, spare time activities, and fun ranked lowest. Family life, religious faith, food work, and safety ranked highest in satisfaction; national government, financial security, developing oneself, health, and an interesting life ranked the lowest. The various life concerns appear) to behave differently in regard to how the discrepancy between importance of a concern and satisfaction with it influences overall quality of life. Satisfaction with accomplishments, family life, work and financial security accounted for over half the variance in POQL. These represent essential human needs which are satisfied with resources of the near environment, suggesting the salience of one's most proximate environment to evaluation of quality of life. Findings, while preliminary, illustrate the viability of a human ecological model as a unifying framework for conceptualization and measurement of quality of life. Further specification and elaboration of the model are indicated.     

Field Note—Integrating Policy and Political Content in BSW and MSW Field Placements

Practice incorporating policy and political social work is a key component of the social work profession and an area in which students would benefit from exposure during social work education. Field education presents a significant opportunity for students to develop policy and political practice skills; however, individual and structural barriers may prevent students from developing practice experience in this area. Based on a survey of bachelor of social work and master of social work field directors in the United States, this field note examines the current state of policy and political practice field opportunities and examines barriers to offering such opportunities more widely. Ideas to facilitate these field opportunities, including curriculum-wide education about policy practice, relationship building, creativity, and identifying diverse placement sites, are presented.     

Everyday discrimination among formerly homeless persons in permanent supportive housing

ABSTRACT

Experiences of discrimination are associated with poor health and are particularly common among persons experiencing homelessness. Permanent supportive housing (PSH) provides a foundation for improved well-being among persons with homelessness histories, but research on discrimination among this population is limited. We examined changes in experiences of, and perceived reasons for, everyday discrimination when persons moved into PSH. 421 adults in Los Angeles County completed baseline (pre-housing), 3-, 6- or 12-month post-housing structured interviews. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) examined change in discrimination outcomes, controlling for demographic characteristics. Everyday discrimination experiences decreased significantly when persons moved from homelessness into PSH, and remained consistently lower across the first year in PSH. Reports of homelessness/poverty, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood as reasons for discrimination also decreased from baseline levels. PSH may offer respite from everyday discrimination, but the persistence of discrimination and particularly racism in society requires structural solutions addressing implicit bias and systemic inequities.