Adult Adoptees as Partners and Parents: The Joint Task of Revisiting the Adoption History

Adoption is unanimously considered a lifelong process, but adulthood and parenthood are life cycle stages that up to now have been explored only marginally. The principal aim of the present study is twofold: first, to analyze whether and how parenthood might lead the adoptee and his/her partner to reinterpret the adoption history and, second, to verify whether the attitudes of the two partners concerning adoption are similar or complementary. Thirty-four couples consisting of one adopted and one non-adopted partner, now parents, were interviewed and a graphic instrument, the Double Moon Test, was administered. Results revealed that most couples showed a shared attitude in valorizing both the origin background and the adoptive family. However, in a number of cases a divergent position emerged, highlighting the crucial role of the non-adopted partner in encouraging the adoptee to revisit his/her adoption history. Overall, the practical relevance of the research findings is discussed and future direction of research are suggested.     

Young adult carers: a literature review informing the re-conceptualisation of young adult caregiving in Australia

The experiences of young adult carers (YACs) have been vastly under-researched, particularly within Australian caregiving literature. This article explores the existence, extent and nature of informal young adult caregiving in Australia, defining YACs as individuals aged between 18 and 25 years who provide unpaid care or support to family members living with chronic illness or disability. The aim of this article is to provide a foundation for the re-conceptualisation of YACs as a distinct carer cohort who, without suitable recognition and specifically targeted support, may experience significantly reduced future life opportunities. The traditional, narrative-based review will first redefine YACs in accordance with overseas literary definitions and will then explore the complex nature and extent of young adult caregiving in Australia. Explanations as to why young adults are increasingly undertaking these informal caregiving roles and how YACs differentiate from their non-carer peers will then follow. Finally, three prominent paradigms, namely the clinical, social capital and carers' rights' perspectives, will be presented to establish a greater understanding of the implications, contextual experiences and unmet civil rights of YACs in Australia.     

1912年～1937年北京公用事业发展中的市民维权活动

民国时期,电力照明、自来水、有轨电车等现代城市公用事业在北京取得了较大的发展,但其经营、管理上也存在不少问题,对用户权益,乃至市民公共利益造成了损害,从而引发了北京市民的维权抗议活动。     

大学后继续教育问题探讨

大学后继续教育,是一种高层次的成人教育,在世界各国社会经济的发展中,发挥着极其重要的智力支持和人才贡献作用。深刻认识大学后继续教育的科学内涵,切实把握大学后继续教育的特征与功能,对于促进大学后继续教育的发展,推动我国全面建设小康社会目标的实现,具有十分重要的意义。     

成人依恋研究

依恋是人类适应生存的重要方式,是人类长期生物进化的结果,它会影响到成年后亲密关系的建立、人际社会功能的表达以及人格功能和人格特质的形成。目前成人依恋的研究大概可以分为两个方面:成人依恋的个体差异和成人依恋的检测维度。     

试论构建成人教育现代化目标体系

构建成人教育现代化目标体系必须了解其特点、职能、本质、内涵、外延等诸方面因素,必须更新教育观念,创立多元化办学模式,创建先进教育设施,造就优秀的师资队伍,统筹规划,使宏大的育人工程全面推向21世纪.     

对开拓中医药成人高等教育潜在市场的思考

我国的成人高等教育 ,在实现从计划经济到市场经济转变后 ,出现了前所未有的竞争场面。作为行业性很强的中医药成人高等教育 ,要想生存和进一步发展 ,必须在积极参加市场竞争的同时 ,根据自身的优势和特点 ,从社会发展的高度 ,大力开拓潜在市场 ,努力寻找中医药成人高等教育的发展空间     

中华民族的伟大复兴——中国共产党民族理论与民族政策的理论性与实践性

中国的民族事务是关系中国共产党和国家全局的重大事务。在世界范围内,没有任何一个国家的执政党肩负着13.7亿人口实现共同发展、共同繁荣的现代化重任。同时,也没有任何一个国家,像中国这样面对着消除民族问题"历史遗产"的复杂形势、面对着解决民族问题现实因素的繁重任务。中国共产党根据马克思主义的民族理论的基本原理,与中国统一的多民族国家实际相结合,确立和实行了解决民族问题的基本政治制度——民族区域自治,制定了一整套以制度、法律、政策构成的,立足于真正平等基础上的,涉及政治、经济、文化、社会生活诸方面的民族政策体系,有力地维护了各民族人民的平等权利,为维护国家统一、民族团结、各民族共同繁荣发展提供了切实保障,为实现中华民族伟大复兴保驾护航。坚持和完善这套民族政策体系,是中国解决民族问题的理论和实践必须高度重视的任务。     

Evaluating Social Integration and Psychological Outcomes for Older Adults Enrolled at a University Intergenerational Program

Abstract

Intergenerational programs are proliferating. The basic assumption of such programs is that pairing older and younger people in various activities and contexts such as educational programs will produce positive developmental benefits for all participants. Educational programs appear to help adults to remain socially active and connected. The University of Valencia (Spain) initiated in 1999–2000 a “University Program for Seniors” for adults age 55 and over, entitled “Nau Gran.”The goal of this paper is to present baseline results on the benefits and impacts for older adults enrolled at the program during 2002. Results from a sample of 212 sophomore and junior older adult participants are presented. The questionnaire included socio-demographic information and items regarding health, social integration, and psychological outcomes. Results indicated that older adults attending courses at the University increased their level of social integration.     

Support Between Siblings and Between Friends: Two Worlds Apart?

This research examines whether siblings and friends resemble each other in supportive behavior. Using a Dutch national sample of 6,289 individuals containing 12,578 relationships with siblings and friends, we investigated the relative importance of gender composition, geographical proximity, relationship quality, and contact frequency for support exchange with siblings and friends. Results show that, controlling for other influences, siblings exchange more practical and less emotional support. High relationship quality and contact frequency are positively related to exchange of emotional support with siblings more than with friends, as is—unexpectedly—living further away. Fewer differences exist in practical support exchange. In conclusion, siblings and friends are similar with regard to practical support but different when it comes to emotional support.