Surviving in “Localistic Communitas”: Endogenous Multicultural Community Organizing among Migrant Workers in Post-Socialist China

ABSTRACT

Based on 5 months of ethnographic fieldwork and 43 in-depth interviews with villagers of T Township, the author uncovers an emerging approach of endogenous multicultural community practice in the cities where the villagers have migrated to work. Cadres and villagers transplant their localistic networks to the new urban contexts while transforming hierarchical and clientelistic personal ties into more horizontal relations of comradeship. Through these redefined ties, they manage to transcend the persisting boundaries of village units, class status, and lineage institutions that segment the rural society, and succeed in mobilizing community resources to fight for urban survival and social justice. Although neither community service nor the social work profession is fully institutionalized in contemporary China, innovative organizing is appearing in grassroots communities in response to sweeping social changes. This article draws academic attention to these community practices and discusses their implications for the future development of strength-based social work and social services in post-socialist China.     

Can a Self-Regulation Skills and Cultural Arts Program Promote Positive Outcomes in Mental Health Symptoms and Academic Achievement for At-Risk Youth?

ABSTRACT

Self-regulation skills programs focusing on emotional regulation and executive functioning and arts programs have separately demonstrated reductions in internalizing and externalizing disorders and academic difficulties and have shown improvement in self-regulation skills. This study sought to evaluate participants in Prodigy (a program synthesizing arts and self-regulation skills) regarding changes in mental health symptoms and academic performance. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest was conducted with 108 at-risk adolescents and their parents. Significant reductions in internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms and increases in academic self-efficacy with positive trends in improved academic achievement were noted. Future research regarding the potential of these two modalities is discussed.     

Building cultural competence: A systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of culturally sensitive interventions with ethnic minority youth

Growing diversity within the US population accentuates the need for the development and implementation of culturally competent services in the field of child welfare. Despite this, few studies exist that examine the effectiveness of culturally sensitive interventions (CSIs) with ethnic minority populations, who are considerably more at risk of developing psychosocial problems including substance and alcohol abuse, delinquency, low academic achievement, and poor self-esteem. With the demand for evidence-based practice it is imperative that we examine the effectiveness of CSIs designed to prevent and treat youth problems. The main goal of this review was to systematically analyze the methodology of recent CSI research with populations of ethnic minority youth in order to evaluate each intervention's ability to adhere to existing standards of evidence-based practice. The fifteen CSI studies examined in this review illustrate progress in their attempt to adhere to the methodological rigor required of evidence-based practice. This review encourages the field of child welfare to position itself analogously with and embrace the movement toward building cultural competence by further investigating the effectiveness of culturally-sensitive interventions with ethnic minority youth.     

“Talking It Out”: A Computer-Based Mediation Process for Adolescents

SUMMARY

This article describes the development of a multimedia mediation program (“Talking It Out”) that helps young adolescents resolve conflict peacefully. The development and content are described, together with pilot test data from 16 pairs of disputing students. These case studies provide evidence of the popularity and effectiveness of computer-based mediation.     

Adolescents with Gambling Problems: From Research to Treatment

Considerable interest in the area of youth gambling has prompted an increase in empirical investigations examining the correlates associated with youth experiencing severe gambling problems. Based upon the current state of knowledge and our clinical experience, the development of the treatment program for youth with serious gambling problems employed at the McGill University Youth Gambling Research and Treatment Clinic is described. The major tenets, underlying philosophy, and therapeutic processes are presented. A case study is included to illustrate the therapeutic approach. The authors present the need for greater funding for more basic and applied research and the necessity for further scientifically validated treatment and prevention programs.     

青年学生时间洞察力结构的初步探讨

通过文献分析和开放式问卷调查,初步构建了青少年时间洞察力的理论结构.探索性因素分析表明:该研究所构建的时间洞察力结构比较合理,可以分为过去时间洞察力、现在时间洞察力和未来时间洞察力三个维度,每个维度下又包含相应的几个因素.     

试论知青作家的精神姿态及其心理基点

知青作家在 80年代表现出“神奇土地”拟构型、“知青苦难”状写型和“远村岁月”感悟型三种精神姿态。其共同的心理基点 ,是知青时期“生命乐园”失落后的命运自悲情结。心理逻辑分别表现为“殉道”意愿及其自我维护、自命优越及其自悯自谅、自伤身世及其对乡村的“他者”意识     

《露水情》的社会和历史解读

第二次世界大战后工党统治下的英国被称誉为“福利国家”,其表面的繁荣掩盖了中下层人民的贫困。年轻的一代对此产生迷惘 ,愤怒之情油然而生。因此 ,英国文坛出现了一批“愤怒的青年”的作品。《露水情》便是当时较为成功的一部。小说深刻地对当时的英国进行了社会批判。     

国外关于社区对儿童和青少年影响的研究

国外关于社区 (neighborhood)对儿童和青少年影响的研究已有多年的历史并取得了不少成果。社区对儿童和青少年的影响效应一般从入学准备情况与学业成绩、行为和情绪问题 (包括外化的和内化的 )、性行为与生育等三个方面来研究考察。社区的结构维度大致可划分收入 /社会经济地位 (可划分为高、中、低三类 ) ,种族混杂程度 ,居民搬迁率等三个。社区对儿童和青少年的影响机制一般从机构资源、亲子关系和组织度三个角度来探讨     

Prevalence Rates of Youth Gambling Problems: Are the Current Rates Inflated?

While there is a general consensus in the literature that it is common for youth to gamble, considerable variability in the reported prevalence rates of youth problem gambling has been found. More recently, issues concerning the possible overestimation of these rates have been raised. Arguments underlying the proposition that problem gambling rates for youth are inflated are examined. It is acknowledged that more rigorous research is required, including the need for the development and refinement of current adolescent instruments and screening tools, agreement upon a gold standard criterion for adolescent problem gambling, and clarity of nomenclature issues. The advancement of scientific knowledge concerning the underlying risk factors associated with the onset and course of youth gambling involvement and the role of effective adolescent prevention and treatment programs will require these fundamental research questions to be addressed.