acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

Profiling the wife batterer has progressed from anecdotal case history reporting to systematic multivariate analytic techniques. Cluster analysis provides a technique to divide a large population of wife batterers into smaller natural groupings and to refine empirical classification of batterers. Based upon a literature review, 130 reported wife batterers were clustered across 68 variables previously correlated with wife battery Five disparate wife batterer groups were identified. The data suggested that differing batterer types may require differing treatment strategies. Data for 93 wife batterers and their cohabitating mates were further analyzed to establish violence report incidence and concordance levels. The data showed that underreporting of wife batterer violence increases with violence severity and chronicity The Results were compared to previous empirical research findings. The Discussion raised questions regarding current and future treatment, stressed the need for safety of the victim and suggested further research / acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

Much research has been conducted in social gerontology over the past two decades. This research has challenged many prevalent myths and sterotypic notions about aging, and has also led to the implementation of local services and programs to meet the needs of aging adults Yet, systematic knowledge of ethnic differences and similarities in the aging process is lacking in social gerontological research (Bengtson, 1979; Cantor, 1976; Jackson, 1971). It is not known, for instance if structural and psychological determinants of life satisfaction among aging blacks differ significantly from those of the dominant population group. Nor it is known what effects lifelong poverty has on successful aging. Does poverty deprive its victims of successful aging, or does lifelong poverty serve to equip its victims with those necessary coping skills with which to age successfully? Several major morale indices and their modifications have been used to measure successful aging among older people. However little research has been undertaken with inner-city elderly minorities; consequently, no scale has been constructed or adapted that shows sensitivity to unique historical experiences or cultural differences among these population groups. The primary aims of this research are to (1) examine the appropriateness of the Life Satisfaction Index-A (LSI-A) for measuring successful aging among black inner-city older people, and to (2) construct a morale index, drawing from Kutner Moral Scale, the Life Satisfaction Index-A (LSI-A), and others to measure successful aging among black inner-city older people. Also, an instrument to measure religiosity, and a second one to measure specific value orientations will be constructed. These instruments will be suitable for social science research among this population group In addition, the research will develop suggestions for policy modification and formulation based on the needs and experiences of the aged inner-city black population / acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

The purpose of this study is to examine the process of sexual decision-making among undergraduate women. Two specific decisions are scrutinized: (a) whether the woman chooses to engage in premarital intercourse, and (b) if coitally active, whether to use contraceptives and how effectively Three major variables are examined as to their relative impact on the decision-making process: sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, and affective orientation to sexual stimuli A survey was conducted among 344 undergraduate women utilizing a questionnaire and supplemented by eighteen follow-up interviews. It was hypothesized that coitally active women would be more sexually knowledgeable, have more permissive attitudes, and more positive affective orientations to sexuality. It was also proposed that women who are effective contraceptors would be more knowledgeable, more permissive in their attitudes, and have a more positive orientation to sexuality Multiple regression analysis reveals that all hypotheses with respect to coitally active vs. nonactive respondents are supported, but only a more positive affective orientation distinguishes effective from ineffective contraceptors / acase@tulane.edu

This study is based on two data sets: (1) descriptive information concerning 202 randomly selected children from sibling groups in Louisiana state custody on July 15, 1982; and (2) a survey of 108 state child welfare staff assigned to the children. A foster care data schedule and an attitudinal survey were developed for this study, which addresses five questions: the incidence of separation of siblings in foster care; the characteristics of the children and their placements that are associated with separation; the attitudes of foster care staff toward sibling relationships; their perceptions of barriers to placing siblings together; and, finally, background characteristics that are associated with specific attitudes or perceptions Of the children, 66.8% were placed with at least one sibling, and 38.1% shared placement with all siblings in care. Several characteristics of the children, their sibling groups, and their situations were found to be associated with placement with siblings The attitudes of staff, reflected by scores on four constructed scales, show high valuation of family and sibling ties. Their perceptions of agency placement practice indicate pessimism about siblings being placed together, despite the perception that the agency encourages joint placements for siblings. Associations are also reported between workers' background characteristics and particular attitudes and perceptions / acase@tulane.edu

Research that examines parental behaviors as the first response to an extreme traumatic stressor experienced by school-aged children residing in areas impacted by natural disasters is limited. Following a natural disaster in which the community infrastructure is damaged or destroyed and community service delivery is disrupted, parental response is the first protective response that may buffer the impact of trauma in school aged children. Research that focuses on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in school-aged children is critically important following the recent aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of this research pursuit was to provide a conceptual framework for the term sheltering; six parental practices that serve as the first protective response to school-aged children exposed to an extreme traumatic stressor. The term sheltering has not been used in previous research pursuits, and was chosen for usage due to its descriptive value. Sheltering is considered protective, because it may buffer the negative effects of psychological stress in school-aged children, and externalizing behaviors associated with Post Traumatic Disorder resulting from exposure to a traumatic stressor. Within this study, sheltering strictly accounts for parental behaviors as influencing factors in the reduction of PTSD symptoms in school-aged children. However, sheltering may serve as a pathway to resilience, because sheltering practices may lead to improved adjustment in school-aged children following exposure to a traumatic stressor. Sheltering may also have implications as a tool for parenting skills training, but does not account for a wide range of issues relevant to parent child interactions that are addressed over a predetermined period of time. Sheltering is comprised of the following six parental behaviors: daily parental monitoring or supervision, family rituals, open communication, active facilitation of extracurricular activities at school, joint leisure activities, and parental involvement with the child's school In this study, the relationships between sheltering and both, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder reaction scores and distress were examined in 42 school-aged children impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Results suggested that sheltering was not associated with PTSD reaction scores and distress in children. Resilience in the child population may have been a significant factor in the findings of this study / acase@tulane.edu

This descriptive study investigated the attitudes of 260 social workers in private practice in Louisiana toward erotic contact with clients by examining differences among social worker/psychotherapists on the following variables: sex, relationship status, previous psychotherapy, practice experience, sexual orientation, area of specialization, and theoretical orientation. A 40-item questionnaire requested information about social workers' attitudes and practices involving erotic contact with clients. Responses were received from 147 social workers (56.5%), 102 females and 45 males Findings indicated no differences between male and female respondents in either attitude or practices involving erotic contact with clients in therapy. All respondents were opposed to erotic contact with clients and none reported having had sexual contact with a client. It was concluded that none of the factors identified in previous research from the other mental health professions influenced the choices a social worker makes about sexual involvement with a client / acase@tulane.edu