The impact of religious behaviours on the health and well-being of emerging adults

Emerging adulthood is a life stage in which the frequency of religious behaviours often wanes while the risk of mental illness, substance abuse, and risky sexual behaviour increases. The current study explores the role that religious behaviours might play in mitigating these risks among college-attending emerging adults. Survey data were collected on religious service attendance, prayer and meditation, substance use, sexual activity, and life satisfaction. Results revealed a significant effect for religious service attendance on substance use and sexual behaviour and for the frequency of prayer/meditation on life satisfaction, marijuana use, and sexual intercourse. Group comparisons revealed that emerging adults who participated in religious activities reported lower rates of substance use, less sexual behaviour, and greater satisfaction with life. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Sexual orientation and HIV risk among youth in South Africa: a brief report

This study investigated the prevalence of homosexual orientation and HIV risk in a population-based survey among youth in South Africa. A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach. The total sample included 1859 sexually experienced youth, aged 18–24, from four provinces (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga). Results indicate that 128 (4.9%) had had a homosexual experience. In a multivariate analysis, peer pressure and, for men, having been circumcised as an adult were associated with having had a homosexual experience. Having had a homosexual experience increased, but not significantly, HIV risk and HIV positive status.     

HIV risk after release from prison: a pilot case-control study in Canada,France, Ivory Coast and South Africa

This study aimed to assess HIV knowledge, risk perception and risk behaviour of ex-offenders at risk of new infection and to compare them with the general population. A case-control interview study was conducted with conveniently sampled ex-offenders and persons with no history of incarceration in four countries (Canada, France, Ivory Coast, South Africa). The total sample included 232 participants with a mean age of 33.9 years (SD=9.8 years). Results indicate various high HIV risk behaviours including multiple sexual partners, irregular sexual partner, and commercial sexual partner. Other risk factors were unprotected sex at last intercourse with a regular partner, with an irregular partner and with a commercial sexual partner. A history of incarceration did not differentiate risk for infection. Younger age, coming from the Ivory Coast, and higher HIV risk perception were found to be associated with HIV risk behaviour. Prevention efforts should focus on education, promotion of safe sex and substance abuse treatment.     

An Evaluation of the Reliability and Validity of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) in South African Context

The Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ: Loza, 2005) is a self-report questionnaire designed to assist with the prediction of violent and nonviolent recidivism among correctional populations. Use of scale could help in the assessment of risk and the identification of factors that could be addressed by programming or other intervention to reduce recidivism risk. Evidence for use of the SAQ in South African settings is needed. The SAQ was administered at two separate occasions and a week apart to a total of 125 male offenders in South Africa to evaluate its psychometric properties. Scores from the SAQ were reliable with South African inmates.     

Stability of Medical Students' Attitudes Toward Aging and Death

A representative sample from a nonclinical population was drawn to compare bingers and nonbingers across weight categories. Subjects were 112 women drawn from a cross-section of undergraduate classes at a large state university. Four groups were formed: obese bingers, obese nonbingers, normal-weight bingers (bulimics), and normal-weight nonbingers. Bingers, regardless of weight category, suffered higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem than nonbingers, regardless of weight category. Obese nonbingers were indistinguishable on these variables from normal-weight nonbingers, with both groups of nonbingers experiencing less emotional distress. Results support the position that the obese population should be conceptualized and treated as a diverse group with different psychological characteristics and needs.     

Case Studies and Genetic Records of Two Gifted Negroes

The purpose of the present study was to test fifth graders' (N = 210) reaction to pressure under peer, adult, and control conditions. Four measures of moral judgment were taken: resistance to temptation, severity of punishment, tendency to confess, and level of guilt feelings. The results show that in the peer-pressure condition, Israeli children tended to give less socially approved responses and to associate more severe punishment and guilt feelings with transgression than in either adult-pressure or control situtations. This was found to apply almost equally for boys and girls. The results are discussed in the context of moral socialization in the Israeli society.     

Factors Affecting Censorship by Canadian Librarians

This study investigated the risk propensity and self-actualization of public librarians with regard to censorship behavior. A sample of 169 librarians from the province of Ontario responded to a 124-item mail questionnaire that incorporated a number of previously validated instruments, including the Adorno F Scale (Adorno, Frenkel-Brunswick, Levinson, & Sanford, 1950), the Short Index of Self-Actualization (Jones & Crandall, 1986), and the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire (Kogan & Wallach, 1964). Analyses indicated that the librarians were generally liberal in attitude but conservative in behavior with respect to censorship and book selection. Moreover, they appear to have been averse to taking risks and not selfactualized. These results are discussed in terms of cognitive dissonance theory and risk propensity theory.     

How to Make Decisions in An Uncertain World: Heuristics,Biases, and Risk Perception

From the seventies onward a large quantity of theoretical and empirical studies have investigated the heuristic principles and cognitive strategies that individuals use to deal with risky and uncertain situations. This research has shown how the explicative and predictive shortcomings of normative risk analysis depend in many respects on undervaluing the continuous interaction between the individual and the environment. There are factors that, day by day, represent significant obstacles to decision making.     

Relationship of Acculturation and Family Functioning to Smoking Attitudes and Behaviors Among Asian-American Adolescents

The primary objective of this study was to examine the combination of acculturation, family functioning, and parental smoking as predictors of smoking attitudes and behaviors among Asian-American adolescents. The participants were 106 Asian-American high school students whose ages ranged from 15 to 19 (51 male and 55 female, mean age = 16.30 years). Of the sample, 49% reported having tried smoking, and 27% identified themselves as regular smokers. The results indicated that smoking attitudes were significantly associated with smoking behaviors. Compared to nonsmokers, adolescent regular smokers had more positive smoking attitudes, lower acculturation, poorer family functioning and were more likely to have a father who smoked.     

Changes at work and employee reactions: organizational elements, job insecurity, and short-term stress as predictors for employee health and safety

The objective was to identify focus areas for possible reduction of job insecurity and its outcomes. A model was specified and tested as a prediction model for health and safety. First, a parsimonious model was specified. The model consisted of perceived job insecurity (as a stressor), organizational factors (information quality, leadership style, work task administration), and short-term stress reactions (job dissatisfaction, reduced work motivation). Second, the model was tested as a prediction model in three separate path analyses, in order to examine the model's contribution in explaining (1) physical health complaints, (2) mental health complaints, and (3) risk taking behavior. A quota sample of Norwegian employees ( N = 1,002) was obtained by means of a self-completion questionnaire survey. The results of the structural equation modeling (path analyses) supported the hypothesized model. Mental health complaints and employee risk taking behavior were significantly predicted (not physical health complaints).