Assessment of stress-buffering effects of social networks on psychological symptoms in an inner-city elderly population

Social network researchers have been divided into two camps: those who propose that social networks have a direct effect on subsequent psychological symptoms and those who posit a stress-buffering effect as well. Previous research has been limited by rudimentary measures of social interaction and the absence of longitudinal data as well as by different approaches to the assessment of possible buffering effects. In the present study, using 19 social network variables, the authors followed 133 elderly residents of mid-Manhattan SRO hotels for 1 year. Three different methods of determining buffering effects were examined: Dividing the sample into high- and low-stress groups and contrasting differences in percentage variance accounted for by social networks between the two groups; Examining the group as a whole to assess if any Network Variable X Stress interactional terms are significant; Examining the group as a whole to assess whether there is a reduction in the beta value of stress with respect to psychological symptoms when network variables are added to the analysis. Method 1 indicated a direct network effect, but none of the methods indicated a buffering effect. Of clinical relevance was the nonlinearity of the network effects, that is, depending upon a person's stressor level, different network dimensions must be emphasized and strengthened.     

Linking empirically based theory and evaluation: The family bereavement program

Conclusion We have illustrated how our small theory (Lipsey, 1990) of bereavement guided the development and evaluation of a preventive intervention for bereaved children. Our small theory, based on prior empirical research, enabled us to identify family processes that appeared to mediate the effects of parental death on child mental health. Our intervention was designed to attempt to change these processes. The evaluation of our experimental trial of the intervention assessed changes on these processes as well as the more distal mental health outcomes. The experimental trial showed some-what encouraging results, in terms of the program's ability to modify the warmth of the parent–child relationship and to decrease symptomatology in the adolescent children. We also obtained further empirical support for our underlying theoretical model. Finally, implications for redesign of the program were derived from assessing the adequacy of the program components to change each of the mediators in the theoretical model.Support for this research was provided by NIMH grant P5OMH39246 which is gratefully acknowledged. David R. Pillow is now at Western Psychiatric Institute, Pittsburgh; Fred Rogosch is at the University of Rochester; Janette Beals is now at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Kim D. Reynolds is now at the University of Alabama, Birmingham; Carl Kallgren is now at the Pennsylvania State University, at Erie; and Rafael Ramirez is now at the University of Puerto Rico.     

The costs of having a first child for women aged 33–38, Canada 1991

This research is placed within the framework of the second demographic transition. The focus of the paper is on Canadian women aged 33–38 who began childbearing relatively late in the reproductive years. These women are compared to both single and ever-married or cohabiting women in the same age group who have no children on a series of cultural and economic variables (N= 9682). Approximately 10% of the sample consists of visible minorities. The results indicate that women with young children aged 2–5 present in the home (and no other children present) are disadvantaged in terms of economic outcome, especially labor force participation, full-time work, and income. The findings suggest that having a first child even at an older reproductive age results in women bearing a major opportunity cost for that fertility. Implications are discussed in the context of alternative childrearing behaviors.     

Multinational efforts in substance abuse prevention

This article is a review of the world-wide efforts of clinicians and researchers in the area of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of multiple substance abuse. Represented are studies in cross-cultural prevention research and substance abuse which address the new and burgeoning area of clinical prevention research from a multidisciplinary perspective. The article also discusses the theory and methods in prevention in New York City, Israel, Italy, Spain, and in Cali, Columbia. The authors hope that this information will result in greater recognition for the need to understand effective measures of drug prevention, and to develop new research directions which shall enrich and enhance our present state of knowledge in substance abuse prevention programming.     

Computers,information and ethics: A review of issues and literature

Editorial note:The following bibliographic survey of computer ethics is intended as a general introduction useful to guide both preliminary research and course development. It is the first of a series that Carl Mitcham will be doing on a number of specific discussions of ethics in science and technology. Future installments are projected on nuclear ethics, engineering ethics, ethics in scientific research, and biomedical ethics. With this [book] I issue “a call to arms.” The world needs much more discussion and writing on the social and ethical issues surrounding computing. I hope readers .... will take up the challenge.     

The Absurd Sensibility of Existential Psychotherapy: Clinical Application of Survivors' Experience of Treblinka and Other Death Camps

A pragmatic existential therapy was developed to help patients stuck in intractable life situations make the psychic turn of death camp survivors who learned to adapt to savage conditions in extremity. Using a model of absurd heroism inimical to therapies seeking to modify intrapsychic dynamics, this hardminded intervention thematizes (a) the clinical activation of biological intelligence; (b) reconciliation with the existential situation; (c) problem-solving; (d) therapeutic shaping of realistic, life-affirming attitudes; and (e) absurd happiness. Phenomenological evidence of the survivors' existential posture is drawn from death camp literature, while a comparative case application features a patient afflicted with neurofibromatosis.