Self-Reported Gender Identity and Sexuality in an Online Sample of Cisgender,Transgender, and Gender-Diverse Individuals: An Exploratory Study

The relations between self-reported aspects of gender identity and sexuality were studied in an online sample of cisgender (n = 4,954), transgender (n = 406), and gender-diverse (n = 744) groups. Aspects of gender identity and sexual fantasies, attraction, behavior, and romantic relations were assessed using the Multi-gender Identity Questionnaire (Multi-GIQ) and a sexuality questionnaire. Results show a wide spectrum of gender experiences and sexual attractions within each group, an overlap among the groups, and very weak relations between atypical gender identity and atypical sexuality. At the group level, aspects of gender identity and sexuality were mainly predicted by gender and sex-gender configuration, with little contribution of sex assigned at birth. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that measures of gender identity and of sexuality were independent, the structure of sexuality was mostly related to gender, whereas the structure of gender identity was mostly related to sex-gender configuration. The results of both approaches suggest that measures of gender identity could roughly be divided into three classes: one including feeling as a man and feeling as a woman; a second including measures of nonbinary and “trans” feelings; and a third including feeling as a “real” woman and feeling as a “real” man. Our study adds to current scientific data that challenge dichotomous conventions within gender identity and sexuality research. Possible social and clinical implications are discussed.     

Development,a Question of Opportunity? A Critique of the 2006 World Development Report: Equity and Development

The World Bank's World Development Report 2006 addresses equity and development, defining equity as respect for equal opportunities combined with the avoidance of absolute deprivation. Equity has up to now remained a marginal issue in development economics. This detailed analysis endeavours to place the subject within the context of the evolution of World Bank thinking and policies. The wealth of the concept is illustrated, the downside being the difficulty in defining it accurately. We also emphasise the gap between the prospects opened up by such an enlargement of development goals and the report's policy recommendations, which are generally merely an extension of the World Bank's traditional analyses.     

Analyzing the Cost of Screening Selectee and Non-Selectee Baggage

Determining how to effectively operate security devices is as important to overall system performance as developing more sensitive security devices. In light of recent federal mandates for 100% screening of all checked baggage, this research studies the trade-offs between screening only selectee checked baggage and screening both selectee and non-selectee checked baggage for a single baggage screening security device deployed at an airport. This trade-off is represented using a cost model that incorporates the cost of the baggage screening security device, the volume of checked baggage processed through the device, and the outcomes that occur when the device is used. The cost model captures the cost of deploying, maintaining, and operating a single baggage screening security device over a one-year period. The study concludes that as excess baggage screening capacity is used to screen non-selectee checked bags, the expected annual cost increases, the expected annual cost per checked bag screened decreases, and the expected annual cost per expected number of threats detected in the checked bags screened increases. These results indicate that the marginal increase in security per dollar spent is significantly lower when non-selectee checked bags are screened than when only selectee checked bags are screened.     

University students' knowledge of alcoholic drinks and their perception of alcohol-related harm

A total of 371 university students were asked to estimate the amount of alcohol contained in a standard drink and to estimate the number of standard drinks contained in popular alcoholic beverages. In addition, students completed questionnaires assessing their perception of short and long term harm related to the consumption of beer, wine, spirits and pre-mixed alcopops. Results revealed that students were generally inaccurate in their estimate of alcoholic content of beverages, and national guidelines for low risk drinking. Students were also found to hold different perceptions regarding how harmful different alcoholic beverages were. While both male and female students considered spirits to be more harmful than beer, wine and pre-mixed drinks, males also believed beer to be more harmful than wine when considering the short term consequences. The pattern of beliefs reported by this sample suggest a high-risk population who are not aware of the risks they are exposing themselves to through their drinking behavior.     

COMPONENT ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIORAL MARITAL THERAPY: 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP AND PREDICTION OF RELAPSE

The present study provides 2-year follow-up data for a comparison between a complete behavioral marital therapy treatment package (CO) and two of its major components, behavior exchange (BE) andcommunication/problem-solving training (CPT). Data are reported for 34 couples who were randomly assigned to one of these three treatments, completed the treatment to which they were assigned, and were available for the 2-year follow-up. The effects of therapy at the 2-year follow-up were evaluated using a global measure of marital satisfaction and a checklist of presenting marital problems. Statistically significant differences between the three treatments were not in evidence on any of the measures. However, couples in the CO treatment condition were most likely to be happily married and least likely to be separated or divorced. Attempts to identify variables which predicted long-term outcome were largely unsuccessful. Ananalysis based on standardized telephone interview indicated that, while neither therapist attributes nor maintenance of treatment-derived relationship skills were associated with long-term marital satisfaction, stressful life events subsequent to therapy termination were negatively related to marital satisfaction.     

Sexual at-risk behaviors of sexually abused adolescent girls

The present study investigated sexual at-risk behaviors of sexually abused adolescent girls. Variables of interest were presence of consensual sexual activity, age at first consensual intercourse, number of sexual partners, condom use, and pregnancies. Participants were 125 sexually abused adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years. Results showed that severity of sexual abuse (e.g., penetration, multiple perpetrators, physical coercion, multiple incidents of abuse) was related to a greater number of sexual at-risk behaviors. For instance, adolescents with a history of sexual abuse involving penetration were 13 times as likely to have been pregnant. Although family characteristics were significantly associated with being sexually active, their effect proved non-significant in the final hierarchical regression. Regression analyses clearly showed that the likelihood of engaging in sexual at-risk behaviors increased as a function of the number of severity factors.     

Historical Overview of Tobacco Legislation and Regulation

In this paper we describe the legislative and regulatory history of tobacco control efforts and discuss ways in which the debate over tobacco control has been framed. From a regulatory perspective, primary concern is how to balance the individual's legal use of tobacco products with society's obligation to limit the use of a lethal product. Our review demonstrates the progress tobacco control advocates have made in enacting statewide legislation and local ordinances, especially during the past fifteen years, to restrict both smoking in public places and youth access to tobacco products. Nevertheless, this progress may be threatened by a powerful and determined tobacco industry. We discuss various strategies for determining how and where to allocate tobacco control resources.     

Interevention for victims of child sexual abuse: An evaluation of the Children's Advocacy Model

Interagency coordination is a strategy for reducing trauma experienced by children during investigations of alleged sexual abuse. This report examines characteristics and outcomes of clients participating in three programs using the Children's Advocacy Model of interagency coordination. Implications for intervention with victims of child sexual abuse are discussed.