<p> In the United States, an estimated 24.6 million people aged 12 or older use illicit drugs. In 2013, 4.1 million people were treated for alcohol and other substance use disorders yet there continues to be gaps in the research on the factors that sustain recovery from chronic substance use disorders. This research aimed to explore the characteristics of individuals who sustained their recovery from mind or mood altering substances and understand the common experiences and events that initiated and facilitated their recovery process. An online survey was completed by 80 participants who self-reported a minimum of 24 months in recovery. Findings from this mixed method design suggested that spirituality,12-Step fellowships and accepting help were the main factors which caused them to get in to recovery. The most common factor for maintaining long-term recovery was found to be fellowship and being connected with others. Implications for practice and further research are discussed. </p>

The overall objective of this study was to examine burnout and job satisfaction from the perspective of the social workers at Grady Memorial Hospital. To obtain this objective, the following areas on burnout and job satisfaction were addressed by the researcher: (a) characteristics of burnout and job satisfaction, (b) how burnout occurs, and (c) strategies for reduction of burnout and improving job satisfaction. This study was an attempt to provide a clear understanding of what burnout is, how it affects the social workers, and suggest ways to reduce burnout and increase job satisfaction among the social workers. The results showed that burnout was not prevalent among the social workers and they were satisfied with their jobs.

This exploratory study seeks to inform the social work profession about contributing factors influencing retention of public child welfare staff, and relates the research to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need. The dependent variable, retention of child welfare staff, will be correlated to the independent variable, employee turnover rate. This study examines whether or not salary and caseload plays a significant role in a high turnover rate of social service staff who are an important part of the agency. This study did not seek to examine public child welfare staff who are employed in other states. This study was conducted with Georgia public child welfare staff. The setting for data collection was any public child welfare agency that was willing to participate in the research. The participants were self-selected. The identified site is selected due to the large number and variety of public child welfare staff. In addition, several surveys will be given out during case staffing, consultations and team meetings. These sites were selected by the willingness of the participants. The data collection took place November 1-30, 2006.

Intraracial discrimination (the color complex), is a process by which members of a race discriminate against one another. This study examined whether perceived views about skin tone impacted body image satisfaction among African-American college students. A descriptive research design was used in the study. Forty African-American students, from a historically Black university in the southeast United States completed self administered questionnaires to assess various perceptual dimensions of skin color- their own as well as opposite sex preferences, and body image self relations. The results of the study indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between skin color and body image of the sample population as it related to their overall body image; r.=.04, p.<.05. There were also significant relationships found among skin color in reference to specific body areas, and dieting habits. Finally, females tended to prefer mates who are lighter than they, while males preferred mates who are their same complexion or darker.

The effectiveness of an integrated treatment program utilizing group-administered cognitive-behavioral therapies for panic disorder was examined. Treatment was based upon the cognitive model of panic disorder. Subjects meeting the DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder received six 1.5 hour sessions of outpatient group therapy over an 8-week period. Subjects were given an extensive rationale of the deve1opment and maintenance of panic disorder, breathing retraining, progressive relaxation training, cognitive therapy to identify and modify maladaptive beliefs and dysfunctional cognitive schemas, as well as training in imagery desensitization. An assessment battery which included measures of panic, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and self-efficacy was given at pre-and post-treatment and at 1-and 2-month follow-up. All subjects were free of spontaneous panic attacks at post-treatment, and 50 percent of subjects showed improvement in the areas of anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy.

This study examines the influence of parenting practices on the behavior of African-American adolescents. The study was based on the belief that an increased level of parental involvement enhances the positive behavior of African-American adolescents. Availability and purposive sampling was used to identify fifty African-American high school students to respond to a twenty-five item questionnaire regarding parent-child interaction. The fifty students consisted of thirty-two females and eighteen males. They ranged from fourteen to seventeen years of age. Survey research was used to examine the influence of parental involvement on their behavior. The participants were questioned about three categories; 1.) the limits set for them by their parents, 2.) how their parents monitored their behavior and activities, and 3.) peer influence. The research found that the aforementioned parenting practices did not have as much influence on the behavior of the respondents as hypothesized. The findings of this study did not prove a strong nor weak relationship between the behavior of African-American adolescents and the influence of parental involvement. Therefore, the hypothesis was null.

The overall objective of this study is to present the factors that influence the Black female adolescent's utilization of birth control methods. To attain this objective, the following factors were addressed by this researcher: (a) peer influence, (b) knowledge of reproduction, birth control, and sexuality, (c) family relationships and characteristics, (d) sex education programs, and (e) relationships with partners. A descriptive research design was used in this study. A self-administered questionnaire that was developed by the researcher was given to Black female adolescents at the Westlake Medical Group Clinic and at Holmes Hall Dormitory at Clark Atlanta University. A population of 40 teenagers ranging in age from 16 to 19 was obtained from these facilities. The Westlake Medical Group provides various medical services, including prenatal, postpartum, family planning and regular gynecological services. Holmes Hall is the freshman dormitory for Clark Atlanta University and houses primarily freshmen and sophomore students. The results of the data indicate that peer influence, level of knowledge, family characteristics, sex education programs, and relationships with partners all influence adolescents' decision-making process concerning the use or nonuse of birth control. The study attempted to provide a clear understanding of adolescent contraceptive utilization and sexuality.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>The current study has expanded the scientific understanding of physical activity motivation through the use of smartphone mobile technology. With the emergent popularity of social media, software developers have begun incorporating components of social media into mobile fitness apps, which allow users to easily engage with peer support networks to obtain motivation for continued participation. Grounded in Banduras (1977) social cognitive theory, the study has also extended the physical activity knowledge base related to self-efficacy and peer and family support systems.</p> <p>Four hundred sixty-seven adults (mean age: 35.8 years) completed an online survey, the results of which were used to conduct one logistic regression and three ordinary least squares regression models. The logistic regression was employed to determine predictors for compliance to the nationally recommended levels for physical activity (150 weekly minutes of physical activity at moderate levels of intensity or 75 weekly minutes at a vigorous intensity, and two days of muscle strength training). The OLS regression models were conducted to provide deeper insight into the variables making up the national recommendations (moderate intensity, vigorous intensity, and muscle strength training activities).</p> <p>Self-efficacy was found to be significant in all four models, with gender, peer support, mobile fitness app support, and a participants significant others physical activity behaviors also being significant in the national recommendations, vigorous intensity, and muscle strength training models. Age and education were significant in the national recommendations and muscle strength-training models. Race was also significant in the moderate activity and muscle strength training models. Practical implications and suggestions for future research have been provided based on the findings of the study.</p>