Length of caregiving and well-being among older widowers: implications for the dual process model of bereavement

The intent of this study was to examine if length of caregiving was associated with older widowers' adjustment to bereavement and to identify factors, based on principles underlying the Dual Process Model of Bereavement, that might mitigate the potential adverse effects of time spent caring. Two-hundred men over the age of 60 and in the second year of bereavement were identified from death records of older women who had died within a 12-month period. Interviews lasted about 2 hours and focused on widowers' experiences surrounding their wives' deaths along with questions about social support, health, retirement, and other demographic information. The Bradburn Affect Scale was used to measure positive and negative affect. Restoration-oriented coping, such as starting new relationships and activities were measured. These variables included extent of family contact, number of friends, having a confidante, involvement with neighbors, and participation in sports and clubs. Time since death and demographic variables were used as controls. Hierarchical linear regression was conducted on positive and negative affect after which potentially moderating effects were analyzed. Results indicated that the most important influences on negative affect were time since death, ethnicity, and participation in clubs while for positive affect the most significant factors included length of caregiving, number of friends, and having a confidante. Although no interaction effects were significant, patterns emerged. Implications for applying the DPM with older bereaved men are made.     

Constructing Collective Ethnic Identities: The Case of Second Generation Asian Indians

This paper examines the role of micro-level social interactions in the construction and maintenance of collective ethnic identity, taking as a case in point collective ethnic identity among the children of Asian Indian immigrants. An extensive ethnographic study of the behavior of first and second generation voluntary organizations reveals that the common public rhetoric claiming the second generation is stuck between two worlds bears little resemblance to the identity created as the second generation appropriates and reinterprets the rhetoric of first generation public life to differentiate itself from the immigrant generation. The analysis stresses the overlap of the social processes of collective identity formation and coming of age.     

Face facts: An unbidden role for features in communication

Physiognomic or facial structure influence was investigated with regard to perceived facial expression. Subjects saw nine drawings, three of which had been altered for eyebrow characteristics, three for lip characteristics, and three for differing face shapes. Subjects rated the faces within each feature variation group as differing significantly on exhibited facial expression, even though the physiognomic structure of only one feature had been varied. Statistically, heavy eyebrows and a narrow face shape had the most effect on perceived facial expression. Physiognomic change alone led to different perceptions of exhibited facial expression. Implications for human interaction and personality development are discussed.     

Research on the brain

Sponsored by the Movement Disorder Society, the 3rd International Workshop on Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson's Disease Dementia was held on 17 to 20 September 2003 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. This meeting report summarizes findings presented at this meeting. The presentations focused on clinicopathological correlations, therapy, genetics, and basic science research.     

Women Sociologists in the Midwest: A Status Report*

This report examines the status of Midwest women sociologists in occupational attainment and professional participation, and seeks to answer three questions: (1) What is the current status of Midwest women sociologists? (2) What changes have occurred in the status of Midwest women sociologists in recent years? and (3) How does the status of women sociologists in the Midwest compare to their colleagues nationally?     

The development of preferences for specific body shapes

Research with adults has shown a preference for average-weight female figures with waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) of 0.7, and average weight male figures with waist-to-hip ratios of 0.9. This study investigated the development of preferences for WHR sizes as well as preferences for specific body weights. Five-hundred eleven children ranging in age from 6 to 17 were presented with drawings of 12 male and 12 female silhouettes varying in weight and WHR and asked to select one they thought looked the nicest or most attractive. The youngest children showed preferences for the underweight figures, changing to consistent preferences for the average weight figures in the teenage years. The developmental curves for waist-to-hip ratio preferences were linear, changing gradually over time to become more adult-like. Potential developmental models for the development of preferences for specific body shapes are considered in relation to these data.     

Evaluation of a Goal Attainment Program using the Goal Attainment Scale for Psychiatric In-patients in vocational rehabilitation

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the newly developed clinical protocol "Goal Attainment Program" to assist psychiatric in-patients in Hong Kong to formulate realistic life goals, with a view to shortening their length of stay and motivating them to join in work rehabilitation. The Goal Attainment Scale for Psychiatric In-patients was validated and used to evaluate the change in life goals after attending the four-session Goal Attainment Program. The validated 10-item version of the Goal Attainment Scale for Psychiatric In-patients (GASPI-10) was found to have good inter-rater reliability (rho_{I} ranged from 0.64 to 0.88,p < 0.01; N = 26) and internal consistency (alpha of rater 1 = 0.92, rater 2 = 0.87, N = 26). Twenty-five chronic psychiatric in-patients of Castle Peak Hospital in Hong Kong completed the Goal Attainment Program and were assessed using a pre and post-test quasi-experimental design. The T-score computation of GASPI-10 indicated that 92% of patients showed improvement in goal attainment. Some 92% of patients stated that they were willing to leave hospital, and 72% of participants planned to seek paid employment upon discharge after completion of the program. The overall results of this study verified the effectiveness of the Goal Attainment Program in instilling hope in chronic patients with schizophrenia and the use of the Goal Attainment Scale in documenting patients' progress.     

An exploration of the effect of on-site 12-step meetings on post-treatment outcomes among polysubstance-dependent outpatient clients

Rates of return to active substance use after addiction treatment tend to be high; participation in 12-step fellowships (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) reduces relapse rates but many clients do not attend or attend for a short period only. This quasi-experimental study uses repeated measurement to explore the role of presence/absence of on-site 12-step meetings during treatment on post-treatment outcomes. Polysubstance-dependent clients (N = 219) recruited at a program with and one without 12-step on-site, were followed for one year post-treatment. On-site 12-step enhanced 12-step attendance, especially during treatment, and predicted continuous abstinence for the post-treatment year. Holding 12-step meetings on-site is a low-cost strategy that programs should consider to foster post-treatment remission maintenance.