Commitment Predictors: Long‐Distance Versus Geographically Close Relationships

In this web‐based study, the authors examined long‐distance relationships (LDRs) and geographically close relationships (GCRs). Two hierarchical multiple regressions (N = 138) indicated that attachment predicted LDR and GCR commitment in Step 1. Final equations indicated that high satisfaction and investments predicted LDR commitment, whereas low attachment avoidance, low cooperative caregiving, high satisfaction, and low alternatives predicted GCR commitment. The pattern of predictors differed for LDRs versus GCRs.     

Valuing money more than people: The effects of materialism on work–family conflict

Can valuing money and material possessions lead to conflict between work and family? In this paper, we build on Carlson and Kacmar's call for more research on personal values in the context of the work–family interface. In a field study, we examined the relationship between materialism and two components of work–family conflict: work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). Results supported our main hypotheses that materialism is associated with both forms of work–family conflict. Further, work overload mediated the relationship between materialism and WIF, while FIW moderated the association between materialism and work overload, thus supporting a model of mediated moderation. By linking materialism to work–family conflict, this study adds to the growing evidence of the deleterious effects of holding materialistic values.     

Parent–child relationship quality and infantile amnesia in adults

The first years of life are typically shrouded by infantile amnesia, but there is enormous variability between adults in how early and how much they can remember from this period. This study examined one possible factor affecting this variability: whether the perceived quality of parent–child relationships is associated with the number of early memories young adults can retrieve, and their age at the time of their first memory. We found such associations but they were qualified by parent gender. Mother–child relationships that were more affectively intense (greater social support but also more negative interchanges) were associated with recalling more early memories, although paternal companionship was most associated with how early an individual's first memory was. Affective tone of retrieved memories was also assessed, and a greater proportion of affectively positive memories (as well as fewer affectively neutral memories for males) was associated with high parental involvement in children's lives.     

Marital commitment,money and marriage preparation: What changes after the wedding?

This paper explores conceptions of commitment and styles of money management in heterosexual couples at two points in time: Just before the wedding (T1) and about a year later (T2). It also examines the potential effects of using FOCCUS as a form of marriage preparation (MP). Forty‐two couples were recruited at T1 and randomly allocated to either A MP group and a group that would not be offered any marriage preparation ‐ the Non‐Marriage Preparation group (NMP). Individual, in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were carried out at T1 and T2, recorded and fully transcribed. A thematic analysis (TA) yielded three themes or levels of commitment which were used to categorize couples at T1 and T2. Their money management styles were defined based on Pahl's ( 1989 ) typology. The results showed that conceptions of commitment had developed slightly overall by T2, and had been enhanced in the MP group. At T2, a more elaborated conception of commitment was associated with a greater tendency to treat money as a collective resource. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of depression symptoms in dialysis withdrawal.

Among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis, death from withdrawal from life-sustaining dialysis is increasingly common. The present study's objective was to examine depression as a potential risk factor for hemodialysis withdrawal. Two hundred forty ESRD hemodialysis (133 male and 107 female) patients were followed for an average of 4 years after depression symptom assessment. Of these, 18% withdrew from dialysis. Using multivariate survival analysis and after controlling for the effects of age (p < .001) and clinical variables, the authors found that level of depression symptoms was a unique and significant predictive risk factor for the subsequent decision to withdraw from dialysis (p < .05). The potential impact that depression may have on the decision to withdraw from hemodialysis should be considered by health care providers, patient families, and patients.     

Terrorism, altruism, and patriotism: An examination of children’s letters to Santa Claus, 1998–2002

One annual tradition that children participate in is writing letters to Santa Claus. While parents and teachers pass on the general “rules” for the letters, the children often dictate the contents. The current study focused on whether the letters to Santa have changed over the years, especially in light of recent terrorist actions (for example, on the World Trade Center and Pentagon), and if so, how. Although many aspects of the letters to Santa have remained the same across the years, results indicated that requests for gifts for other people and the number of patriotic sentiments and drawings increased in 2001 and 2002. Also, compared to the year 2000, fewer gifts were requested in 2001. Santa Claus appears to be conceptualized as part demigod, part social worker, and part grandfather. The letters to Santa Claus provide a provocative and insightful look into the everyday life and world events that impact children.     

Gender differences in perceptions of normal body weights

The current study employed an alternative methodology to assess perceptions of normal range body weight. Male and female undergraduates were asked to give weight ranges for male and female targets, rather than use figure silhouettes. Male respondents felt that lighter weights in men and women were more normal. Female participants believed that heavier weight ranges were normal, both for themselves and for men. Despite this, women were no more likely than men to report being overweight and to be dieting. Future studies should utilize both figure silhouette drawings and acceptable weight range estimates to determine the influence of methodology on reported findings.     

Overt and Hidden Processes in 20th Century Music

For the purpose of contributing to a clarification of the term “process”, different kinds of musical processes are investigated: A rule-determined phase shifting process in Steve Reich's Piano Phase (1966), a model for an indeterminate composition process in John Cage's Variations II (1961), a number of evolution processes in György Ligeti's In zart fliessender Bewegung (1976), and a generative process of fractal nature in Per Nørgård's Second Symphony (1970). In conclusion I propose that six process categories should be included in a typology of processes: Rule-determined, goal-directed and indeterminate transformation processes, and rule-determined, goal-directed and indeterminate generative processes.     

Posture,muscular tone and visual attention in 5 month‐old infants

The present paper aims at studying the relationships between posture, muscle tone and visual attention in 5 month‐old infants. To this end, a specially designed seating arrangement made it possible to vary posture while keeping constant the spatial relationship between eyes and stimuli. Five month‐olds were placed in the reclining position (30°) or in a more erect position (60°). The more erect the posture, the more difficult it should be for the infant to maintain a straight body axis. Muscle tone was evaluated, and infants distinguished in terms of whether they were hypertonic or hypotonic. It was hypothesised that in a more erect position hypotonic children, who experience more difficulties in maintaining posture, should organise their visual exploration in ways different from those considered to be hypertonic. To test it, pairs of three‐dimensional stimuli were presented in the distal visual field for one group (N=48) and in the proximal visual field in another group (N=32) for 2 min in each posture. The dynamical organisation of attention was evaluated through the number and duration of fixations on each target, the number of shifts from one target to the other (alternations) and the number of repetitions (back to the previous target). Results showed that visual behaviour was significantly affected by the distance at which stimuli were presented. Infants spent more time in visual exploration when the object was within reach than when it was out of reach. Although posture was shown to play a role in the organisation of visual exploration, no link with muscle tone was found, a surprising result which is discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of family environment and donor source on patient quality of life following renal transplantation.

The authors examined the degree to which the supportiveness of a patient's family environment predicts change in quality of life following renal transplantation. The sample consisted of 95 patients receiving renal grafts from either a living donor or a cadaveric donor. Patients were initially assessed prior to transplantation with follow-up assessment occurring an average of 5.5 months after transplantation. Among patients receiving a living-donor kidney, those reporting a more supportive family environment exhibited reduced depression, improved mobility, and improved social functioning. However, those living-donor recipients reporting less family support exhibited increased depression and diminished mobility and social functioning after transplantation. Patients receiving a kidney from a cadaveric donor showed modest improvements in quality of life regardless of the degree of family support.