The relationship between preretirement occupation and older adults' life satisfaction and self-rated health

Pensioners currently compose nearly 20% of the British population; men and women can expect to spend an average of about 17 years and 19 years in retirement, respectively. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of preretirement occupation and self-rated health (SRH) on the attainment of life satisfaction in retired people. A total of 121 community-dwelling men and women (M age = 75.8 years, SD = 7.1) completed a survey to assess life satisfaction, self-rated health, retirement stress, retirement adjustment, and recollected aspects of preretirement occupation. Results revealed positive and significant correlations between scores on a life satisfaction measure and SRH, retirement stress, and retirement adjustment (all ps < .001). Path analysis indicated that aspects of previous employment that may predict an adverse influence on current life satisfaction and that engagement in voluntary work appears to have benefits for both life satisfaction and SRH. The authors conclude that many of the adverse effects of preretirement occupation can be helped or avoided through suitable retirement preparation and training.     

Animal research in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

This review summarizes the 6 studies with nonhuman animal subjects that have appeared in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and offers suggestions for future research in this area. Two of the reviewed articles described translational research in which pigeons were used to illustrate and examine behavioral phenomena of applied significance (say-do correspondence and fluency), 3 described interventions that changed animals' behavior (self-injury by a baboon, feces throwing and spitting by a chimpanzee, and unsafe trailer entry by horses) in ways that benefited the animals and the people in charge of them, and 1 described the use of trained rats that performed a service to humans (land-mine detection). We suggest that each of these general research areas merits further attention and that the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is an appropriate outlet for some of these publications.     

Healthcare Policy in the United States: A Primer for Medical Family Therapists

As family therapists increasingly practice in healthcare settings, they need to be aware of forthcoming changes in healthcare policy and the impact of these changes on their clinical work and the lives of their clients. In this paper, we provide a primer on healthcare policy for family therapists, which describes current and proposed changes in healthcare that will potentially revolutionize healthcare delivery for families. We describe three key initiatives: (1) Triple Aim; (2) the Accountable Care Organization; and (3) the Patient Centered Medical Home. We conclude with a discussion about future directions and healthcare policies that include families.     

The Representation of Immigrants in Federal,State, and Local Government Work Forces

Public sector employment of immigrants can increase their economic assimilation and potentially improve their treatment by government. Yet, as we show using Census data from 1990, 2000, and 2009–2011, immigrants are substantially underrepresented in federal, state, and local governments. To understand why, we use logit analysis for federal and for state and local government employment in each time period to test whether immigrants’ weaker educational attainment and English proficiency, lower probabilities of being citizens and military veterans, and different age, gender, and race/ethnicity distributions can explain that underrepresentation. Disparities in education and preferential government treatment of veterans are factors, but citizenship requirements appear to be the major obstacle to immigrant employment in the public sector.     

Family Structure: Its Effects on Adolescent Attachment and Identity Formation

This quantitative study examines the association between family structure, attachment, and identity formation. Results partially support the hypotheses and indicate that unresolved spouse conflict is associated with low levels of attachment in adolescents and attachment to father is linked to identity achieved and the diffused identity status. Lastly, parental coalition was inversely related to the moratorium and diffused identity statuses. These findings support a link between parent/adolescent relationships and the identity formation process. Directions for future research and clinical implications are also discussed.     

Michael Dummett

Book Information Michael Dummett. By Bernhard Weiss. Acumen. Chesham. 2002. Pp. ix + 197. Paperback, £13.95.     

Studies in Substance Learning and Retention: XI. The Effect of Maturity Level on Verbatim and Summary Retention

(Abt, L. E., &; Bellak, L. Projective Psychology: Clinical Approaches to the Total Personality. New York: Knopf, 1950. Pp. 485.) Reviewed by Dorothy Tilden Spoerl.     

The Transnational Alliance for Genetic Counseling: Promoting International Communication and Collaboration

The Transnational Alliance for Genetic Counseling seeks to promote communication and collaboration among genetic counselor educators, internationally. Connecting and building global relationships among colleagues also promotes the development of the genetic counseling profession. Genetic counselors everywhere can achieve deeper understanding of their work by seeking international perspectives.