Peer Support Groups for Child Welfare–Involved Families

Studies on risk factors and circumstances related to child maltreatment have continuously emphasized the important role of social support. As a result, peer support groups have been gaining attention and recognition in recent years in the field of child maltreatment prevention. However, little is known about the benefits that child welfare–involved parents receive in peer support groups, as well as the distinctive service elements that make these groups successful. By examining child welfare–involved parents’ experiences participating in peer support groups, this study provided a better understanding of the perceived beneficial aspects of peer support groups, specific types of supports offered to and by peers, and unique characteristics of these groups.     

The Use of Peer Support for Parents and Youth Living with the Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse: An Innovative Approach

ABSTRACT

This article describes and reports on an innovative intervention program for parents of sexually abused children and youth. Peer support provided by non-professional staff and volunteers, who have been personally affected by the trauma of child sexual abuse, is an approach with unique advantages. Many of these consumers have not been able to benefit from traditional service delivery approaches. Goals and objectives of the Peer Support Program (PSP) have been developed through inter-agency collaboration initiatives comprised of a coalition of existing social service agencies. This report examines characteristics of service delivery and level of consumer satisfaction of parents and youth who have participated in the peer support program. Implications for interventions with sexually abused youth and parents of sexually abused children are discussed.     

Attitudes toward gambling among adolescents

It is well documented that attitudes toward gambling are a good predictor of problem gambling during adolescence. However, so far, little is known about what factors are associated with adolescents' gambling attitudes. This study used cross-sectional data (N = 2055, response rate 70.4%) from a representative sample of 17-year-olds in Norway to investigate the relationship between demographic, personality, motivational and social variables and gambling attitudes. Overall, adolescents' attitudes toward gambling were slightly negative. A multivariate analysis revealed that more favourable attitudes toward gambling were most strongly associated with family/peer approval of gambling. In addition, significant associations were found for gender (males more favourable); Sensation Seeking (positive association); Agreeableness (negative association); and family/peer gambling history (positive association for lifetime gambling, negative association for problematic gambling). Although a variety of individual-level and social factors are associated with more favourable attitudes toward gambling, it appears that family and peer approval of gambling are most important.     

The Longitudinal Effects of a Rape-prevention Program on Fraternity Men's Attitudes,Behavioral Intent,and Behavior

Abstract

Rape myth acceptance, likelihood of raping, and sexually coercive behavior of 145 fraternity men randomly assigned to a control group or a rape-prevention program were surveyed. One third of 23 fraternities on a mid-Atlantic public university campus volunteered to participate in the study. The rape-prevention intervention consisted of “the men's program,” a victim empathy-based presentation titled “How to help a sexual assault survivor: What men can do.” Although no evidence of change in sexually coercive behavior was found, significant 7-month declines in rape myth acceptance and the likelihood of committing rape were shown among program participants. In the case of rape myth acceptance, the 7-month decrement remained lower in the participant group than in the control group. Implications of using these initial findings from the men's program for rape-prevention programming are discussed.     

Two Facets of Peer Review and the Proper Role of Study Sections

The current National Institutes of Health study section system is under increasing criticism due to tight budgets and decreased levels of perceived competence. There is also an overemphasis on written critiques from the study section by unsuccessful applicants. It is argued that this arises from confusion between two different purposes of peer review. A system of universal participation in peer review by senior funded investigators is proposed to ameliorate these problems.     

A psychosocial approach to supporting injured dancers

Professional dancers experience injury as a crisis and threat to identity that often leads to numerous psychosocial concerns. This article describes a group model designed to help injured dancers recover. As a program of The Actors Fund, this 10-week Support Group for Injured Dancers reduces unwanted isolation caused by injury and provides dancers with strategies for stress reduction and healing. The purpose of this article is to aid practitioners in mitigating emotional distress among injured dancers by providing the history and rationale behind the group, an overview of the group’s structure and methods, and suggestions for further research and growth.     

Outcome evaluation of peer support programme for helping Chinese parents under stress

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a support group programme using peer parent counsellors in reducing participant stress and enhancing social support. Participants included 173 Chinese parents with 134 providing complete data. They were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups at service-centre level. The results indicated that there was a significant decrease in psychological distress and increase in social support among intervention group participants at post-intervention, compared with the control group. Qualitative data also indicated that participants' stress was reduced through sharing with their peers. Implications for social service practice were discussed.     

Quality and Peer Review of Research: An Adjudicating Role for Editors

Peer review gives research a stamp of approval, but the reviews themselves can be flawed. This is potentially serious for the writer, the journal, and journal user. This study describes shortcomings of the peer review process and condenses them into an explanatory framework involving situational, personal, social, and ethical factors. Some proposals to improve matters are impractical and may make them worse. Some data is offered which illustrates the problem and suggests a potential solution. Informed editors who avoid mechanical approaches engage cautiously and critically with reviews and guard against bias, even in themselves, could make a significant difference.     

Commentary: Perverse Incentives or Rotten Apples?

Around 2% of the investigators admit to have falsified or fabricated data at least once. Also, 34% report to have been guilty to one or more questionable research practices, such as doing many statistical analyses and to publish only what fits their theoretical framework. Prevention of questionable research practices is very important. Universities should ensure that the training is in order and the research culture is adequate, and they should critically look at perverse incentives, such as a too high publication pressure, but also by ensuring proper guidelines, and by having a fair and transparent procedure for suspected violations of scientific integrity.     

中国大学毕业生劳动力市场中的同群效应

随着高校毕业生就业制度的改革和高等教育规模的扩大,大量的大学毕业生进入了劳动力市场,这些大学毕业生在劳动力市场的表现是一个值得关注的问题。针对目前国内关于大学生就业等问题的实证文章较少的现状,文章使用2007年中国大学毕业生就业与能力年度调查数据,利用空间计量经济学的方法研究我国大学毕业生劳动力市场中的同群效应。研究的结果发现,在我国大学毕业生劳动力市场中存在着显著的、正向的同群效应,并证实了这种同群效应一部分可由大学生在校期间的各种知识和能力培养的相互影响所解释。