Unexpected consequences of deinstitutionalization of the mentally disabled elderly

An unexpected consequence of the rapid deinstitutionalization of state mental hospital patients has been a sharp rise in posttransfer mortality among the elderly. Considerable evidence suggests that outcome is mediated by two factors. Elderly patients with certain characteristics - especially physical frailty and severe cognitive impairement - comprise a high-risk subgroup for whom relocation is likely to be fatal. Among other elderly persons, environmental, personality and personality-environment congruence are associated with posttransfer prognosis. The studies reviewed indicate that the therapeutic value of deinstitutionalization for mentally disabled elderly persons is problematic.     

Mental health needs of the chronically mentally ill elderly

The treatment histories and current social, financial, and clinical status of 111 chronically mentally ill (CMI) persons over the age of 60 were examined. Information was obtained from Ss, family, mental health records, and mental health professionals familiar with Ss. Psychiatric symptoms were observed in 74% of Ss. Many Ss experienced long periods without acute episodes of illness. Recurring episodes eventually appeared in most Ss, however, and ongoing deficits in daily functioning and social contacts were prototypical. Two thirds of the Ss were living in the community, relying heavily on family contacts; the rest lived primarily in nursing homes (23.4%) or psychiatric hospitals (7.2%). Social support was the best predictor of level of functioning. Findings suggest that failure of CMI elderly to use mental health services is not due to lack of need. Mental health services currently do not appear to be meeting the needs of this population.     

Health needs and concerns of male adolescents

Lifestyle factors established within the family help determine health-care functioning. Adolescents first may be challenged to meet their own health needs as freshmen in college. A 153-item questionnaire was utilized to examine concerns in the areas of alcohol and other drug use, auto safety, weight and dieting, smoking, sexuality, coping and stress, and selection and utilization of health-care services. One hundred fifty-nine male college students responded. Major problems with alcohol use, auto safety, weight control, stress and sexuality were identified. Positive lifestyle factors that were strongly supported included regular exercise, nonsmoking, regular medical and dental checkups, and the development of some support systems to cope with stress. Health-care services designated by respondents to meet their own needs were significantly different from those services they pointed out as needed for their peers.     

School competence needs of mildly handicapped adolescents

Mildly handicapped adolescents have been identified by their deficient social skills as well as by their learning difficulties. School failure may be due not only to academic difficulties but to ineffectiveness in meeting the demands of the school environment. Using a naturalistic emergent design, this study identifies specific areas of need in coping with the high school environment. Individual interviews were conducted with "stakeholders" in the education of mildly handicapped high school students: 41 teachers, 12 handicapped students, and 12 parents of handicapped students. An analysis of the qualitative data indicated that study and organizational skills, communication, and social skills are areas of particular concern. Specific skill areas are delineated (i.e., class participation, handling criticism, and test taking), and recommendations for direct instruction that could affect both school and postschool success are made.     

Television viewing habits of emotionally disturbed,learning disabled,and mentally retarded children

Two studies were conducted to compare the television viewing habits of handicapped and nonhandicapped children. In Study 1, one group (N = 38) of emotionally disturbed (ED), learning disabled (LD), and educable mentally retarded (EMR) children and two groups of matched controls comprised of nonhandicapped peers were interviewed about their television viewing habits. In Study 2, 42 ED boys and 42 non-ED boys completed a television program diary. The studies found that handicapped children watch more television overall and more aggression-laden programs (i.e., crime dramas and cartoons) than nonhandicapped children. The potential impact of viewing television aggression on the behavior of handicapped children is discussed.     

BIP-Bender protocols of learning disabled and regular education students

20 learning disabled and 20 normal elementary school children took the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test twice, once under standard conditions and again using Background Interference Procedure paper. Based on Koppitz's scoring system, the disabled pupils did equally poorly on both modes but performed significantly worse than the normal children when given the standard Bender first. No other differences were found. Other scoring methods are suggested for investigation.     

Family life education in Chicago schools: a study of programs implemented by nonschool agencies

Although nonschool agencies provide important complementary courses on family life education (FLE) in public and private schools, little is known about the scope and content of such curricula. This paper describes a study documenting the types of school-based family life education programs implemented by nonschool agencies in Chicago. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with professionals from 26 health care and social service agencies, identified as offering FLE courses in the metropolitan area. The surveyed organizations provided FLE programs in almost 100 public and private schools in Chicago during the 1982-83 and 1983-84 school years. Most programs were relatively short, utilized few interactive teaching techniques (e.g., role-playing, exercises), covered a wide variety of topics, and were integrated into other curricula units rather than implemented as separate courses. Agency personnel covered topics viewed as important by school administrators and teachers, most notably information on contraception and sexual decision making.     

Family structure and functioning: Influences on adolescents psychological needs,goals and aspirations in a South African setting

This study aimed to determine the effects of family structure and functioning on basic psychological need fulfilment, life goals and aspirations of adolescents in a South African setting. Participants were 457 adolescent learners (M_age = 16.31, SD = 1.45, females = 54%, coloured = 56%) selected from four public schools in the Western Cape, South Africa. The adolescents completed the Family Assessment Device, Aspirations Index and Psychological Needs Scales. Results following multiple regression analysis suggested that a two-parent family structure predicted higher satisfaction of basic psychological needs and higher pursuit of extrinsic goals among adolescents than did a one-parent family structure. Family functioning determined pursuit of intrinsic goals by adolescents from one-parent families.     

Family structure and dating behavior of adolescents

This study investigated the effect of family structure on previous dating behavior of older adolescents, and examined the relationship of family structure, family relationship variables, and personal attributes to previous dating behaviors. Data were obtained from 96 males and 81 females enrolled in human development courses at two midwestern universities; 122 were from intact, nuclear families and 55 were from nonintact families. The Dating and Courtship Behavior Questionnaire, adapted from questionnaires by Winch (1949a) and Landis (1963), was administered to subjects during regular class periods. Family structure did not have an effect on number of partners or steadies, but adolescents from nonintact households began dating at younger ages than those from intact households. Personal attributes were more often related to dating behaviors than family structure or family relationship variables. Little support was found for the proposition that dating behaviors were affected by family structure.     

Causal attributions of physical education majors and mentally retarded adults

This exploratory study examined the causal attributions and expectancies of 51 physical education majors and 25 mentally retarded adults. The majors completed a written questionnaire concerning their causal attributions and expectancies for motor performance of the adults. The adults responded through an interview procedure regarding causal attributions and expectancies for their own motor performance. Analysis did not support the hypothesis that people make stable attributions about the performance of mentally retarded populations and subsequently maintain low expectancies. Previous experiences of failure did not diminish the expectancies of the adults for their own future success.     

The use of group history as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of the severely mentally disabled

This paper deals with the integration of individual, group, milieu,behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. Group history is a record of the episodes or events in a therapeutic group culture. The group history is used as a confrontational screen in the treatment of individuals with fragile ego structures because it maintains focus on the here-and-now, preventing disclosure of painful material from the personal history of each group member. This technique increases the participants' awareness of their own interactions, their repetitive patterns of behavior as well as their assets and vulnerabilities. Therapeutic change is obtained through the medium of constructive feedback provided by both the members and therapists.     

Computer games,self-esteem and gratification of needs in adolescents

Playing computer games has become an increasingly popular leisure time activity amongst adolescents, but concerns have been expressed over possible associated consequences. One research area has investigated reasons for playing, and two prior explanations relate it to the functional concepts of ‘electronic friendship’ and ‘self-esteem’. A questionnaire study was conducted among 120 adolescents to obtain information on a number of measures including gratification of needs and self-esteem. Results showed that playing computer games is equally popular with males and females, but males spend more time on it. Positive correlations between playing and items on the needs scales were obtained. In particular males who were heavy players scored highly on the ‘preference to friends’ need, but interestingly they were also likely to see their friends more often outside school, thus providing no support for the theory that computer games are taking the place of normal social interaction. For females there was evidence of a negative relationship between self-esteem and need gratification through playing computer games. However more adolescents spend much more time watching television than playing computer games. These results are discussed in the context of previous research.