Parents and Adolescents in Stepfamilies: Longitudinal Links to Physical Health,Psychological Distress,and Stress

Journal of Child and Family Studies - Little research has explored the physical and mental health of adults and children living in stepfamilies in New Zealand. Internationally there exists mixed...     

The Association of Multiple Identities with Self‐Directed Violence and Depression among Transgender Individuals

Transgender individuals have a high prevalence of self‐directed violence; however, there is scant literature focusing on their unique experiences. The differences in self‐harm, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and depression based on racial/ethnic identity and sexual orientation were examined among transgender individuals. Data were gathered from the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 National College Health Assessment. Across racial/ethnic identities, greater proportions of transgender students endorsed self‐directed violence than their cisgender peers. Among transgender individuals, sexual minorities were more likely to report suicidal ideation than their heterosexual peers, and racial/ethnic minorities had higher odds of attempting suicide than non‐Hispanic White individuals.     

Physiological stress responses to inequality across income groups in a virtual society

A growing body of research suggests that inequality can be stressful for all within a society. We consider this assertion by exploring whether there is evidence of physiological stress responses to different income and inequality conditions in a hypothetical society. The combined effect of inequality for different income groups on cardiovascular reactivity was assessed while participants engaged in purchasing decisions. The study included 102 participants, 84 of which had full data for analyses (42 male, 41 female, 1 unspecified). The average age was 23 years. A 3 × 2 design manipulated both inequality (stable, increasing, and decreasing) and income (high and low). Cardiovascular reactivity was operationalized as change in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP; diastolic and systolic) responses at the end of the purchasing task compared with baseline. Although there was no direct association between income, inequality, and BP, results indicated that low-income participants had the higher HR reactivity to stable inequality compared with increasing inequality. These findings indicate that inequality has the hallmarks of a stressor; this is contingent on the type of inequality. This suggests that inequality itself may be detrimental to future health via the stress pathway. These findings highlight that the nature of inequality, increasing, decreasing, or stable is relevant to its impact and that these impacts of inequality may extend to the biological.     

MEASURING PERCEPTIONS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN IN CORPORATE SETTINGS

This study developed a scale to measure individual perceptions of dimensions of the work organization that contribute to a supportive or hostile environment for women. Based on analysis of survey data from 398 respondents working in corporate settings, a scale was developed to measure five dimensions: Dual Standards & Opportunities; Sexist Attitudes & Comments; Informal Socializing; Balancing Work & Personal Obligations; and Remediation Policies & Practices. Women perceived their work environments as significantly more hostile on all five dimensions than did men. Scores on the scale were related to intent to stay with the organization: For both men and women, the friendlier they perceived the work environment for women to be, the longer individuals intended to stay at the company.     

Land as a Global Commons?

Land is becoming increasingly scarce relative to the demands of the global economy; a problem significantly exacerbated by climate change. In response, some have suggested that land should be conceptualised as a global commons. This framing might seem like an appealing way to promote sustainable and equitable land use. However, it is a poor fit for the worldʼs land because global commons are generally understood as resources located beyond state borders. I argue that land can be seen to fit the definition of a global commons, if viewed in a particular way; namely, as a biogeochemical resource system that sequesters carbon emissions. The question then arises whether land should be conceptualised as a global commons. I consider this question by reference to three contemporary problems of land justice (land grabbing, forced displacement, and unfairness in land-based climate mitigation); arguing that the global-commons framing will not be conducive to understanding or responding to these problems. I leave the question of how the global community should conceptualise land in the context of climate change open, claiming that any answer must include the voices and perspectives of those whose livelihoods and identities are closely connected to the land.     

The Influence of Intersecting Identities on Self‐Harm,Suicidal Behaviors,and Depression among Lesbian,Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

Individuals with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) identities have higher prevalence of self‐directed violence, but very little is known about racial/ethnic differences between LGB populations. This study aimed to examine racial/ethnic differences in self‐harm, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and depression among LGB and heterosexual emerging adults. Data are compiled from the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 National College Health Assessment and limited to respondents within emerging adulthood (ages 18–24) who indicated their sexual orientation and racial/ethnic identities (n = 89,199). Within each racial/ethnic group, LGB individuals were significantly more likely to report self‐harm, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and depression than non‐LGB individuals.     

Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury Is Predictive of Suicide Attempts Among Individuals with Mood Disorders

Nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) prior to age 18 was evaluated as a risk factor for adulthood suicide attempt (SA). Archival data from 222 mood‐disordered participants were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis. Participants with a youth SA were excluded. The hazards of SA among adult participants with a history of youth NSSI were twice than those of mood‐disordered participants without youth NSSI (hazard ratio = 2.00, 95% confidence interval = 1.16–3.44, p = .01). Moreover, participants who had both youth and adult NSSI attempted suicide significantly earlier than participants who began NSSI as an adult. Youth NSSI is associated with persistent, elevated SA risk in adulthood.