Group Work with New Populations: Knowledge and Knowing

No abstract available for this article.     

Labour Contracting and Changing Employment Relationships in South Korea

Not only has there been a growth in the utilisation of non‐standard workers in South Korea in recent years, but a qualitative shift has also occurred in the nature of contracting practices. This article attempts to improve understanding of this trend by shedding light on the contradictory nature of the contracting system, while also addressing problems associated with the deployment of an external labour force with fewer employment entitlements on user‐firm sites, and the implications of these phenomena for employment practices and workers' rights.     

Content of This Issue

No abstract available for this article.     

Nurturing the virtuous circle: Looked After Children's participation in reviews,a cyclical and relational process

Children's participation in decision making of all kinds is of increasing interest across the world as more and more countries seek to comply with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The participation rights of children who are in the care of the state are of particular concern. Recent research in England suggests that Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) can play a crucial role in ensuring that looked after and accommodated children are able to participate in care planning and review processes. This paper outlines the findings of the first Scottish study to investigate the role of Reviewing Officers in encouraging children's participation in reviews. Surveys were collected from social workers, Reviewing Officers and young people after 69 review meetings as part of an action research study. Follow‐up qualitative interviews were then completed with 10 young people and a focus group held with the five participating Reviewing Officers. The findings suggest that participation in looked after reviews can best be understood as a cyclical and relational process and that taking part in action research may enhance participation practices. While the role of the Reviewing Officer was found to be important, the findings suggest that everyone involved in the care and support of the young person needs to encourage participation processes that are individualized.     

关系行政对政府政策运行影响分析——以泰安地区民办教师政策运行为例

人际关系渗透到政治生活中，就会产生关系行政。政府政策运行活动作为政治行为的一种，难免深陷“人情陷阱”。根据对泰安地区民办教师政策运行过程的研究分析和对近年针对民办教师“转正”“清退”等政策研究成果的梳理发现，在现代社会，个人或团体为维护自身利益,破坏正常的政策约束，严重情况下，关系的影响力甚至将强于政策本身影响力。通过关系行政对政府政策运行过程的影响作用进行分析，为政府政策措施的制定和实施执行探寻合理思路以及高效的途径。     

Going Along to Get Along? Interpersonal Processes and Girls' Delinquency

Although social development research indicates that affiliation with delinquent peers predicts adolescent delinquent behavior, less is known about how peer relationships may impact girls' delinquent behavior differently than boys' behavior. To address this gap, this study examines adjudicated girls' perceptions of how their peer relationships impacted their decisions to engage in delinquency. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, a sample of eight adjudicated girls shared their perceptions of how same-gender friendships, opposite-gender non-romantic friendships, and opposite-gender romantic relationships influenced their choices to enact delinquent behavior. The study findings offer important implications for designing future gender-specific programming to prevent and/or reduce girls' delinquency.     

Widowers as Single Fathers

This paper suggests that widowed fathers while con- tinuing to fill the traditional family role of provider, are also capable of providing tender, loving care for the emotional and physical needs of their children. Role theory will be used to examine the processes widowers go through as they adapt to their new parenting role and how they cope with their own feelings. Three facets of the parental role that may enhance the widowed fathers relationship with their children will be discussed. Their therapeutic role is to provide conti- nuity and sensitivity to help their grieving children cope with the loss of their mother. Their child socialization role relates to the teaching of family values to their children. The child-care role involves the physical well being of their children. The ecological perspective will be used to examine how they adapt to changes occurring in systems outside the family, such as the workplace. Implications for profes- sionals and recommendations for further study of the widower as custodial parent will be discussed.     

Women's Health Care

No abstract available for this article.     

A model of an organization–public relationship for the banking industry

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of healthy relationship outcome indicators—control mutuality, satisfaction, trust, and commitment—on a public's behavior and attitude toward the banking industry. The relationships between five national retail banks and their customers were measured to test for effects on customers’ attitudes and behavior. Results indicated that all four of the relationship outcome indicators played a significant role in predicting publics’ attitudes toward most of the banks examined.     

The Decision to Remain in an Involuntarily Celibate Relationship

Based upon qualitative data from a sample of 77 married or long‐term cohabiting heterosexuals self‐defining as involuntarily celibate, we used social exchange theory to develop a model for understanding the causes and consequences of sexual inactivity in committed relationships. Although reported consequences of involuntary celibacy tended to be negative, most partnered celibates were in stable relationships and reluctant to leave. As a result, they developed diverse coping strategies, and most were still hopeful of resuming sexual activity. Based upon these findings, the paper concludes with a discussion of practical implications and directions for further research.