Evaluation of a Resilience Intervention to Enhance Coping Strategies and Protective Factors and Decrease Symptomatology

Objective: In this pilot study, the authors examined the effectiveness of a 4-week resilience intervention to enhance resilience, coping strategies, and protective factors, as well as decrease symptomatology during a period of increased academic stress. Participants and Methods: College students were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 30) and wait-list control (n = 27) groups. The experimental group received a psychoeducational intervention in 4 two-hour weekly sessions. Measures of resilience, coping strategies, protective factors, and symptomatology were administered pre- and postintervention to both groups. Results: Analyses indicated that the experimental group had significantly higher resilience scores, more effective coping strategies (ie, higher problem solving, lower avoidant), higher scores on protective factors (ie, positive affect, self-esteem, self-leadership), and lower scores on symptomatology (ie, depressive symptoms, negative affect, perceived stress) postintervention than did the wait-list control group. Conclusions: These findings indicate that this resilience program may be useful as a stress-management and stress-prevention intervention for college students.     

Personalized boosters for a computerized intervention targeting college drinking: The influence of protective behavioral strategies

ABSTRACT

Objective: Computerized interventions are cost-effective and can quickly deliver individual feedback to many students. However, in-person interventions are more efficacious. The current study sought to improve the efficacy of a popular online intervention via e-mailed boosters with personalized feedback. Participants: Participants were 213 student drinkers at a southeastern public university, ages 18–24. Methods: Students were randomized into (1) intervention only, or (2) intervention plus booster. Alcohol consumption and related problems were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks post, and 4 weeks post. Results: Boosters yielded reductions in drinking, but not alcohol-related problems. Boosters were associated with significant reductions for drinking frequency, heavy drinking days, peak drinks, and associated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) moderated this effect, with significant reductions for students low in PBS, but not students already highly engaged in PBS use. Conclusions: Easy dissemination and low cost make e-mailed boosters a very efficient way to promote student health.     

Perceptions of Adult Protective Services Workers of the Support Provided by Criminal Justice Professionals in a Case of Elder Abuse

ABSTRACT

This paper summarizes results of a 1997 survey of adult protective services workers in 43 states. The survey yielded ratings of police and victim assistants in detecting and treating elder abuse and estimates of the likelihood that criminal justice professionals would provide ten forms of assistance in a case of elder abuse. Respondents also reported the most helpful services supplied by criminal justice professionals, the services that were most difficult to obtain, and overall ratings of criminal justice professionals in cases of elder abuse. Findings provide insights about relationships between adult protective services workers and criminal justice professionals.     

Evaluation of Adult Protective Services: Perspectives of Community Professionals

ABSTRACT

Due to challenges associated with client characteristics, funding, and the expectation of poor outcomes, few studies have evaluated the services provided by Adult Protective Services (APS). The article reports community-based professionals' satisfaction with APS when investigating cases of suspected elder abuse. Results from a 12-item quantitative survey indicate respondents were most satisfied with the intake process, followed by assessment, and case management. Satisfaction was higher than expected, though areas for improvement are identified. This survey and its results should serve as a starting point for more extensive evaluation methodologies needed to enhance the delivery of services provided by APS.     

Examining Parental Monitoring as a Pathway From Community Violence Exposure to Drug Use,Risky Sex,and Recidivism Among Detained Youth

ABSTRACT

This study examined whether parental monitoring mediated the relationship between community violence exposure and a spectrum of behaviors such as recidivism, risky sex, and drug use among youth with a history of being detained. It also explored whether risk pathways differed by gender. Adolescents (n = 550) who were detained or previously detained were recruited from eight regional detention facilities in Georgia. Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing technology was used to assess demographic factors (i.e., age, race, and socioeconomic status), risky sex, drug use, and recidivism prior to being detained. Major findings indicated direct relationships between community violence exposures and risky sex and drug use in the 2 months prior to being detained. Findings also indicated that parental monitoring mediated these relationships for both adolescent males and females. These findings document that parental monitoring is an important element even for troubled youth across a broad spectrum of risk factors. Consequently, it is recommended that intervention programs examine the differential effects of monitoring behaviors by a variety of groups such as parental figures, teachers, and peer mentors.     

Advance Care Planning in the Delivery of Adult Protective Services

ABSTRACT

In ensuring the safety and protection of older adults from abuse and exploitation, adult protective services (APS) workers face a variety of situations involving serious illness and end-of-life conditions. Many older adults encountered in APS will present with one or more chronic conditions that may warrant discussion of advance care planning with clients and their families. This study surveyed APS workers (n = 508) in 21 states regarding encounters with end-of-life situations and the practice of future care planning. Results revealed that three-fourths of APS workers encounter clients with serious illnesses and about two-thirds do discuss planning in advance for care. More than one-half of the respondents indicated client incapacity and refusal to address future care needs as barriers to discussing planning in advance for care. Recommendations to enhance advance care planning among APS workers are discussed.     

The shape of protective capacity in unbalanced production systems with unplanned machine downtime

Several studies have shown that when both statistical fluctuations and dependent events exist, unbalanced production lines out-perform balanced lines. By definition, unbalanced lines have some amount of protective capacity built into them; however, little research exists to address the question of quantity and position of protective capacity necessary to counteract the impact of variation on system performance. This research seeks to improve our understanding concerning the shape of protective capacity in unbalanced lines when faced with variation in the form of unplanned machine downtime. Both Kanban and drum-buffer-rope (DBR) controlled lines are investigated. Results show that balancing the protective capacity yields superior results over both increasing and decreasing protective capacity shapes (holding average protective capacity equal). Results also show that Kanban lines behave differently than DBR lines.     

台湾地区优秀西洋近代建筑赏析与保护性旅游开发启迪

优秀西洋近代建筑是中国大地上一种特殊的文化载体和现象,具有多方面的历史、文化、艺术和使用价值,对城市旅游和文化休闲旅游开发意义巨大。就建造时间、设计者、建筑风格、保存现状来看,台湾地区的优秀西洋近代建筑可以分为两类特色各异的建筑,如原台湾总督府、台北宾馆、台湾博物馆及其土银展示馆、台中火车站和台湾文学馆等。在优秀西洋近代建筑的保护性旅游开发上,台湾地区"强调再利用,以人为本,彰显品质,不忘细节和企业参与"的五点做法对大陆城市颇具启迪和借鉴作用。     

A Study on the Construction of Ecological Protective Screen System in the Arid Valley Area of the Upper Reaches of the Min River

The Min River is a large tributary in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Its source is the south range of the Min Mountains in the area where Sichuan and Gansu share a bounda￣ry. The area consists...     

图书馆计算机网络安全与防范

随着互联网的迅速发展和广泛应用,网络信息安全问题显得愈来愈严峻。本文分析了图书馆计算机网络的安全隐患,并提出了相应的防范措施。