Intersubjectivity and interaction in the analytic relationship: a mainstream view

The authors conceptualize intersubjectivity as a meta-theory that reflects the inherent nature of human relatedness and is conceptually independent of any particular theory of mind or school of psychoanalysis. Their view of intersubjectivity joins the emotional life of the analyst to that of the patient and places the analytic relationship at the center of the analytic process. They contrast intersubjectivity with traditional classical conflict theory so as to clarify the relevance of intersubjectivity for psychoanalytic clinical theory and therapeutic practice. In so doing, they hope to direct analysts more firmly toward the study of the unconscious dyadic contributions to the affective, inactive, and interactive dimensions of the analytic situation and their impact upon the patient's actions within and experience of the analytic relationship. To illustrate their thesis, two hours from an analysis are presented in detail.     

Experiences of being homeless or at risk of being homeless among Canadian youths

A qualitative study was undertaken with four groups--immigrants, youths, Aboriginal people, and landlords--in order to explore, compare, and contrast diversity issues among the homeless population and those at risk of homelessness in a larger Canadian city (Calgary, Alberta) with a smaller city (Lethbridge, Alberta), to better understand their and to needs make recommendations for improvement in service delivery and policy formation. This paper focuses on the findings from our sample of youths who shared information on a range of factors that contributed to their being homeless or at risk of being homeless. The youths in this study also shared their positive as well as negative experiences with educators, peers, family members, and social service providers. Canada's homeless include growing numbers of young people, families, women, and members of various ethnic communities, including Aboriginal people and immigrants. Today it is no longer possible to articulate a single silhouette of the homeless, but rather a diversity of profiles is needed. It was in the light of this reality that a study, "Diversity Among the Homeless and Those At Risk," was carried out. It was undertaken with four groups--immigrants, youths, Aboriginal people, and landlords.     

Acceptance, avoidance, and ambiguity: conflicting social values about childhood disability

Advances in medical technology now permit children who need ventilator assistance to live at home rather than in hospitals or institutions. What does this ventilator-dependent life mean to children and their families? The impetus for this essay comes from a study of the moral experience of 12 Canadian families--parents, ventilator-dependent child, and well siblings. These families express great love for their children, take on enormous responsibilities for care, live with uncertainty, and attempt to create "normal" home environments. Nevertheless, they experience social isolation, sometimes even from their extended families and health care providers. Their lives are constrained in many ways. The challenges faced by parents of technology-dependent children raise questions of justice within society and within families.     

Adolescents at risk for violence: an initial validation of the life challenges questionnaire and risk assessment index

Initial validation was sought for the Life-Challenges Questionnaire-Teen Form, a 120-item youth-risk assessment tool. The questionnaire was administered to 99 students enrolled in an adolescent detention facility and a comparison group of 305 students attending high school. The survey items included correlates of youth violence and categorized risk level in a Risk Assessment Index (RAI) based on 53 critical items most strongly correlated with youth violence. Higher RAI scores were expected for the detention sample, males, minorities, and 15- to 18-year-olds. Differences between adolescents in detention and high school in terms of risk for violence were assessed by means of analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relative effect of detention status, race/ethnicity, gender, and other factors on risk behavior as measured by the RAI. Findings revealed that the detention group endorsed correlates of youth violence more often than the non-detention group and received significantly higher RAI scores. In addition, being in detention, male, and a racial/ethnic minority were significant predictors of risk behavior. The authors conclude that The Life-Challenges Questionnaire (and Risk Assessment Index) effectively differentiated between the detention and student samples, thus, providing initial support for its validity as a risk-assessment measure.     

Factor structure and measurement invariance of the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale

As part of the Women's Health Initiative Study, the 5-item Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS) was developed. This article summarizes the development of the scale through the use of responses from 66,269 postmenopausal women (mean age = 62.07 years, SD = 7.41 years). All women completed a 10-item questionnaire concerning sleep. A novel resampling technique was introduced as part of the data analysis. Principal-axes factor analysis without iteration and rotation to a varimax solution was conducted for 120,000 random samples of 1,000 women each. Use of this strategy led to the development of a scale with a highly stable factor structure. Structural equation modeling revealed no major differences in factor structure across age and race-ethnic groups. WHIIRS norms for race-ethnicity and age subgroups are detailed.