Underprotection of Unpredictable Statistical Lives Compared to Predictable Ones

Existing ethical discussion considers the differences in care for identified versus statistical lives. However, there has been little attention to the different degrees of care that are taken for different kinds of statistical lives. Here we argue that for a given number of statistical lives at stake, there will sometimes be different, and usually greater, care taken to protect predictable statistical lives, in which the number of lives that will be lost can be predicted fairly accurately, than for unpredictable statistical lives, where the lives are at stake because of a low‐probability event, such that most likely no one will be affected by the decision but with low probability some lives will be at stake. One reason for this difference is the statistical challenge of estimating low probabilities, and in particular the tendency of common approaches to underestimate these probabilities. Another is the existence of rational incentives to treat unpredictable risks as if the probabilities were lower than they are. Some of these factors apply outside the pure economic context, to institutions, individuals, and governments. We argue that there is no ethical reason to treat unpredictable statistical lives differently from predictable statistical lives. Moreover, lives that are unpredictable from the perspective of an individual agent may become predictable when aggregated to the level of a societal decision. Underprotection of unpredictable statistical lives is a form of market failure that may need to be corrected by altering regulation, introducing compulsory liability insurance, or other social policies.     

The risk of partner aggression research: impact of laboratory couples conflict protocols on participants

The impact of male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) research on participants is unknown. A measure of impact was given to participants in an IPV study to assess systematically the impact of completing questionnaires, engaging in conflict conversations, and being interviewed individually about anger escalation and de-escalation during the conversations. Participants completed a six-question, Likert-scaled impact measure. Both male and female participants rated the impact of the study as helpful to them personally and to their relationships. Female participants rated different segments of the study as more helpful to themselves and their relationships, while male participants did not find any segment of the study to have a different impact than other segments.     

A profile of childminding: implications for planning

After friends and relatives, childminders are the most common form of child care. This paper reports the results from a postal survey of a nationally representative sample of over 1,000 childminders. Results are reported concerning childminders' training and employment histories, working conditions, motivation, commitment and satisfaction with their work. Two groups of childminders emerge; a group where childminding may be a passing phase in their employment career and a group who consider it as a long‐term career. The findings are discussed with reference to the aims of the National Childcare Strategy and the role of Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Barriers to accessing HIV and sexual health services among gay men in Tasmania,Australia

We examined barriers to accessing HIV and sexual health services among gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Tasmania, Australia, using in-depth interviews. Most participants were satisfied with the care they had received at public sexual health services. Barriers included the limited number of services, concerns about anonymity and privacy in small communities, difficulties accessing services via a general practitioner, and perceived stigma and discrimination. Improving the accessibility and availability of HIV and sexual health services in Tasmania is crucial to promote the engagement of GBM, which could be achieved via combined efforts of government services and community organizations.     

The Alliance in Relationship Education Programs

Couple relationship education (CRE) programs are associated with positive romantic relationship outcomes; however, the mechanisms by which these gains occur are less understood. The current study (122 couples) utilized actor–partner modeling to examine the association between the therapeutic alliance and dedication and negative and positive communication for racial/ethnic minority couples. Additionally, we examined whether gender and delivery format moderated these relationships. Results demonstrated that both men's and women's alliance scores were significantly related to their own outcomes. Higher ratings of alliance were related to partner outcomes for men only. The association between partners' alliance and dedication outcomes was stronger within the group format as compared to the couple format. Implications for leaders of CRE programs are offered.     

Informing ourselves about early childhood services

Using a range of examples, the paper argues that there is an information deficit concerning early childhood services; even on the most basic issues, there is either no information or such information as does exists is unreliable, limited or outdated. This matters because information is a necessary condition for good policy, for open and democratic decision making and for giving visibility to young children. The article concludes by considering how an adequate information system might be developed based on annual returns from individual services and regular surveys of households with children.     

Survey of midwives’ perinatal mental health knowledge,confidence, attitudes and learning needs

Background

Midwives have a primary role in facilitating the first stage of perinatal mental health risk reduction through inquiring about perinatal mental health, identifying risk factors and current perinatal mental health problems, providing support or crisis intervention, referring for treatment and decreasing stigmatisation.