bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spousal Characteristics as Predictors of Well-Being in Older Couples
Authors: Quirouette Cécile , Gold Dolores Pushkar
Published: May 2005

This study examined the relations between spousal variables and the psychological well-being of husbands and wives in older couples to determine if spousal characteristics were more important determinants of well-being for wives than for husbands. One hundred-twenty older married men and women completed standardized self-report measures and a short interview. The variables investigated included education, verbal intelligence, personality, physical health, marital adjustment, psychological well-being, as well as response bias to marital defensiveness. Spousal variables significantly predicted wives' well-being ( R2 = 29%) with the three most influential predictor variables being the husbands' perception of the marriage, positive dimension of well-being and physical health. In contrast, spousal variables did not significantly predict husbands' well-being. The study supported the hypothesis of differential responsiveness of men and women to spousal variables and highlighted the importance of marital adjustment for the psychological well-being of older wives.
Orange Juice-Induced Hyperkalemia in Schizophrenia
Authors: Berk David R. , Conti Paul M. , Sommer Barbara R.
Published: May 2005

Some fruit juices have very high potassium content. However, only several cases of juice-induced hyperkalemia have been reported that involved non-psychiatric, diabetic outpatients with renal compromise. We present a highly unusual case of a 66-year-old non-diabetic, schizophrenic woman with psychogenic polydipsia and normal renal function who developed hyperkalemia secondary to excessive orange juice consumption while an inpatient. In addition to demonstrating this previously undescribed medical comorbidity of schizophrenia, this case highlights the need for careful attention when communicating with both nursing and patients when managing psychogenic polydipsia.
Irrational Beliefs and Depressive Symptoms among Younger and Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Comparison
Authors: Hayslip Bert , Galt Cynthia P. , Lopez Frederick G. , Nation Paul C.
Published: May 2005

The present study explored age differences in the expression of depression. Such differences were quite apparent. Among 118 young adults and 107 community-residing elderly individuals, it was found that in the young adult groups, cognitive belief factors labeled “externality/control” and “dependency/emotionality” were associated with both affective and cognitive aspects of depression, but not somatic depressive symptoms over and above the influence of sociodemographic factors. In contrast, among older adults, a cognitive belief factor labeled “cognitive-emotional rigidity/dependency” was uniquely associated with both affective and somatic depressive symptoms. Additionally, a second cognitive factor, labeled “adaptation/internal control” defined in terms of the absence of irrational thinking about adaptation and control, was negatively related to somatic depressive symptoms. For each sample, poorer health was associated with greater depressive symptomatology. While these findings generally tend to support a cognitive view of depression in adulthood, they also underscore the importance of cognitions that may be adaptive which mitigate distress among older persons.
Personality, Drinking Patterns, and Problem Drinking among Young Adult Offenders
Authors: Laudeman Kent A.
Published: May 2005

Three matched groups (n = 27) of young adult alcohol offenders, non-alcohol offenders and controls were compared on mental health, use of alcohol, and problem drinking. Ss of the non-alcohol and control groups were matched with alcohol offenders on race, sex, age, education, social status, and religion. All Ss received the MMPI, the Barron Ego Strength Scale (Es), an alcohol frequency/quantity questionnaire and the Park Problem Drinking Scale. Alcohol offenders showed less mental health, lower Es, excessive drinking, and greater problem drinking behavior than controls. Alcohol and non-alcohol offenders were similar in mental health and Es, but the former group drank significantly more alcohol and showed more problem drinking behavior. Implications suggest that excessive drinking may be learned and maintained by psychological, physiological, and/or sociological reinforcement(s).
The Relationship between Assertiveness, Conformity, and Drug Use
Authors: Williams John M. , Scott Albert J. , Stout John K. , Hertzel Robert
Published: May 2005

This study examined the relationship between the assertiveness, conformity, and drug use of sixteen (n = 16) university students. Subjects were exposed to a series of ten conformity tasks based on Asch's classic paradigm. The College Self-Expression Scale and the Tentative Drug Use Scale were administered. Assertiveness and conformity scores were blocked on alcohol-marijuana and “hard” drug-use. One-way analyses of variance revealed that alcohol-marijuana users were less assertive and more compliant than “hard” drug users.
The Dual Participants: A High Risk Drinking Driver Target Group
Authors: Kline Michael V. , Bacon John D. , Greenless Robert
Published: May 2005

Multiple offender drinking driver program (MODDP) participants who are admitted to non-drinking driver alcohol treatment programs may constitute a high risk group of problem drinkers. There are little data that describe this “dual participant.” This paper presents findings from a study which identified 2,525 dual participants utilizing public sector alcohol treatment programs. The dual participant study population was highly representative of the 30,801 MODDP-only participants with regard to demographic characteristics. Over one-half of the dual participants had their initial admission into residential treatment programs which serve individuals who generally have serious and chronic alcohol-related problems. There is some evidence that dual participants are less successful in these programs than non-dual participants. Study findings strongly support the need for drinking driver programs to be aware of the high risk group of dual participants and for alcohol-related treatment programs to provide drinking and driving education to all dual participants who drive.
Educational Planning for Older Adults: A Survey of “Expressive” vs. “Instrumental” Preferences
Authors: Hiemstra Roger P.
Published: May 2005

The right kinds of educational opportunities, if properly planned and administered, will contribute to the welfare of older adults. To provide some planning information and to determine the educational opportunities preferred, a questionnaire survey was carried out with 75 retired persons. They were asked to select those adult education courses in which they would like to participate. The courses were either instrumental (basic or skill mastery) or expressive (enjoyment or new experiences) in nature. It was found that a greater interest than could be expected by chance was reported toward instrumental courses.
Risk Behaviors and Perceptions of AIDS among Street Injection Drug Users
Authors: Rhodes Fen , Corby Nancy H. , Wolitski Richard J. , Tashima Nathaniel , Crain Cathleen , Yankovich Donna R. , Smith Patrick K.
Published: May 2005

Standardized survey interviews ( n = 325) and guided in-depth interviews ( n = 22) were conducted with injection drug users (IDUs) in Long Beach, California, to document drug usage and injection patterns, sexual practices, perceived risk of HIV infection, sources of health information, and knowledge and attitudes about AIDS. Most IDUs reported sharing needles (87.9%), and a large minority reported regular sterilization of needles/syringes (40.3%). Lower rates of needle sharing were reported among cocaine users than among heroin and speedball users. HIV seroprevalence was 5.7 percent (11/194). Sexually active female (60.7%) and male (20.5%) IDUs reported exchanging sex for money or drugs. Overall, 48.3 percent of IDUs reported having made changes in their injection practices and one-third reported modifying their sexual behavior in order to avoid HIV infection. Differences in drug use, sexual practices, and drug treatment history were found with regard to gender, ethnicity, age, and type of drug injected. Implications of findings for the development of AIDS risk-reduction programs are presented.
Diversity as a Determinant of Attitudes: A Possible Explanation of the Apparent Advantage of Single-Sex Settings
Authors: Jones Trudi , Clarke Valerie A.
Published: May 2005

The effects of a single-sex educational setting on girls' computing experience and attitudes were investigated. Questionnaire data were collected from a sample of 231 high school girls (aged approximately 15 years) from three single-sex and two co-educational schools in Victoria, Australia. Girls from single-sex settings were found to have more experience with computers, and more positive attitudes toward computers than girls from co-educational settings. However, once the effects of experience with computers were partialed out, there was no effect of educational setting on computing attitudes. Diversity of computing experience was the strongest predictor of high school girls' attitudes toward computers. The findings indicate the importance of designing computing curricula for girls which emphasize a broad range of computing activities in preference to focusing on skill development in a single area.
Game-Analyzable Dilemmas in a Retirement Village: A Case Study
Authors: Marshall Victor W.
Published: May 2005

Contracting for retirement village residence is viewed as a conflict game. The administration amortizes its mortgage through substantial entrance fees and meets operating expenses through monthly maintenance charges. Administration “bets” on a stable death rate producing adequate turnover. Residents bet on living long enough to realize a good investment, but short enough to allow funds for monthly charges. Both parties require estimates of life-expectancy; and parties are seen in conflict. Departures from strict rationality are assessed from documents, observational, and interview data. The conflict stemming from “bad bets” is assessed historically in terms of “moves” by administration and residents. Applicability of the game framework for the understanding of broader theoretical issues in gerontology is explored, giving particular emphasis to social-psychological causes of non-rationality.
Web-Based Instruction: Who is Inclined to Resist it and Why?
Authors: Thompson Lori Foster , Lynch Brian J.
Published: May 2005

Despite the potential benefits of Web-based Instruction (WBI), not everyone welcomes online learning opportunities. This study examined the psychological processes underlying opposition to WBI by collecting survey data from 257 learners enrolled in a large southeastern university. Results supported the hypothesis that those with weak Internet self-efficacy beliefs would be inclined to resist WBI ( r = −.29, p > .001). As expected, those who lacked quality tools/equipment were also apt to oppose WBI ( r = −.13, p = .044), and Internet self-efficacy mediated this relationship, indicating that people with limited access to sufficient equipment were relatively unlikely to develop strong Internet self-efficacy beliefs and therefore tended to dislike WBI. Exploratory analyses revealed an association between gender and Internet self-efficacy, indicating that compared to women ( M = 26.16, SD = 6.43) the men who were surveyed ( M = 28.57, SD = 6.59) were significantly more likely to express confidence in their ability to organize and execute courses of Internet actions ( t(255) = −2.77, p = .006). This article concludes with implications for online instructors and ideas for future research.
Alienation of Elderly Korean American Immigrants as Related to Place of Residence, Gender, Age, Years of Education, Time in the U.S., Living with or without Children, and Living with or without a Spouse
Authors: Moon Jeong-Hwa , Pearl Joseph H.
Published: May 2005

Dean's Alienation Scale (DAS) was administered to 137 Korean immigrants, aged sixty years or older, who had resided in the United States for at least one year but not more than fifteen years. The study was made in order to determine the relationship of alienation to the independent variables of place of residence (an ethnically homogeneous Korean community in Los Angeles vs. ethnically heterogeneous communities in Oklahoma), gender, age, years of education, time in the United States, living with or without children, and living with or without a spouse. Significant relationships ( p < .01) were found between one or more of the subscales of the DAS (powerlessness, normlessness, social isolation, and total alienation) and place of residence, age, time in the United States, and whether living with or without a spouse. Simultaneous regression analyses were performed to determine the relative contribution of the independent variables to each of the subscales.
The Depiction of Drug Use in Television Programming
Authors: McEwen William J. , Hanneman Gerhard J.
Published: May 2005

Complete evaluation of anti-drug abuse campaigns should examine not only the messages created, but the programming content which makes up the information environment for those receiving these messages. A content analysis of one major information source (prime time TV) indicates that drug-relevant information is being disseminated and should be taken into account in planning information strategies. Commercial appeals promoting chemical agent use and programming which largely neglects abuse potentials suggest cautions for the strategy planner and questions for media programmers.
The Computer Attitude Scale: Assessing Changes in Teachers' Attitudes toward Computers
Authors: Kluever Raymond C. , Lam Tony C. M. , Hoffman Eleanor R. , Green Kathy E. , Swearingen Dorothy L.
Published: May 2005

Teachers' attitudes toward computers affect their instructional use of computers and likelihood of profiting from training. The reliability, factorial validity, and fit to a unidimensional model of the Computer Attitude Scale (CAS) was investigated. Pretest and posttest results were collected from 265 teachers who participated in training on classroom applications of computer hardware and software. Four factors were identified: computer anxiety, efficiency, liking, and instructional usefulness. Scale reliability was .94 with post-test subscale reliabilities ranging from .70 to .90. Five items did not fit the multidimensional model. The scale is useful as a computer attitude measure but some item revisions might be considered.
Parents' Perceptions of a School-Based Prevention Education Program
Authors: Donnermeyer Joseph F.
Published: May 2005

There are few studies of parents' views about prevention education in general, or about specific prevention education activities. Yet, their perceptions are important because families are a primary socialization source, and because parents' opinions can either reinforce or countermand the message of prevention education programs. This article is an analysis of parents' views of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program based on a statewide survey of adults from rural, suburban, and urban communities who had a child participate in the program within the past year. Parent involvement and knowledge of D.A.R.E. was high. Generally, parents were very positive about D.A.R.E., especially when they viewed the D.A.R.E. officer as an effective educator. This article suggests that much more research on parents' views and support of prevention education program needs to be conducted, especially within the context of how their perceptions may mediate the influence of the prevention effort on young people's attitudes and behaviors about substance use.
Effects of Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy and Degree Utility on Student Persistence: A Path Analytic Study
Authors: Peterson Shari L. , Delmas Robert C.
Published: May 2005

A path model was constructed mapping the effect of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) and degree utility on persistence of underprepared college students. The path model accounted for 21 percent of the variance in intent to persist and 27 percent of the variance in student persistence. The final structural model adds to the literature on student persistence in several ways. First, it suggests the importance of Degree Utility for this population: Students who believed college would provide employment opportunities and better careers were more likely to persist. Second, it confirms that CDMSE has a direct effect on social and academic integration and an indirect effect on persistence. Implications for research include developing and testing interventions to enhance CDMSE. Implications for practice include providing career counseling and advising that identifies the connection between employment opportunities and academic course, program, or degree completion and engaging in practices that increase CDMSE.
Wounding the Messenger: The New Economy Makes Occupational Health Indicators Too Good to Be True
Authors: Azaroff Lenore S. , Lax Michael B. , Levenstein Charles , Wegman David H.
Published: May 2005

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and workers' compensation insurers reported dramatic drops in rates of occupational injuries and illnesses during the 1990s. The authors argue that far-reaching changes in the 1980s and 1990s, including the rise of precarious employment, falling wages and opportunities, and the creation of a super-vulnerable population of immigrant workers, probably helped create this apparent trend by preventing employees from reporting some injuries and illnesses. Changes in the health care system, including loss of access to health care for growing numbers of workers and increased obstacles to the use of workers' compensation, compounded these effects by preventing the diagnosis and documentation of some occupational injuries and illnesses. Researchers should examine these forces more closely to better understand trends in occupational health.
Student Consumer Health Knowledge and Behavior in the Marketplace
Authors: Toohey Jack V.
Published: May 2005

A questionnaire designed to reflect salient consumer health issues reported in the F.D.A. Consumer was used to measure the consumer health knowledge and behavior of 200 randomly selected university students and 200 randomly selected high school students. The data from this study demonstrated the consumer is hard pressed to stay informed and protected in the marketplace and needs guidance.
Consequences of Gender Differentials in Life Expectancy for Black and Hispanic Americans
Authors: Markides Kyriakos S.
Published: May 2005

Increased survival by blacks and Hispanics is causing a widening of the sex imbalance of the elderly population much like we have observed in the general population. These demographic trends point toward greater widowhood among minority women and continuing high rates of poverty. In addition, we can expect increased rates of disability in minority elderly women, increased dependency, worsening intergenerational relationships, and higher rates of institutionalization.
Evaluating Students on Probation and Determining Intervention Strategies: A Comparison of Probation and Good Standing Students
Authors: Trombley Cherine M.
Published: May 2005

During the 1998 academic year, this study surveyed probation and good standing students at Los Angeles Southwest College and analyzed their responses with respect to a variety of different variables. Differences between the two groups were found in the number of hours worked, high school GPA, and family characteristics. A greater number of probation students reported that they worked compared to students in good standing. A greater number of students on probation also work full-time compared to students in good academic standing. Students on probation reported a lower high school GPA than students in good standing at Los Angeles Southwest College, which is consistent with other research indicating that high school grade point average (GPA) is a predictor of college success. This study also found that a greater number of probation students had children present in their household compared to the students in good standing.
Personal Drug Use and Attitudes toward Prevention among Youth Living in a High Risk Environment
Authors: Blount William R. , Dembo Richard
Published: May 2005

Non-users, users of alcohol, and users of both alcohol and marijuana were identified coexisting in the same neighborhoods. (Sample selection also included a procedure which guaranteed that at least part of each group saw themselves “at risk.”) Separate subcultures for each of the three populations were strongly indicated. Differences were found in terms of behavior, attitudes, peer groups (including a distinct rejection of hard drug users), and significant adults in the environment; especially those felt to possess accurate information about drugs and to whom they would go for help with a drug problem. Almost any activity was seen as appropriate for a drug abuse prevention program, although there were strong differences in terms of desirability. How users can be differentiated from non-users in the same population is discussed along with additional implications for prevention programming.
Methods to Determine the Impact of SI Programs on Colleges and Universities
Authors: Congos Dennis H. , Schoeps Nancy
Published: May 2005

Many institutions with Supplemental Instruction (SI) programs require that SI measure its various impacts and outcomes. Staffing and budget decisions are frequently made based on this information. For efficiency in general, the impact and outcome of every college and university department, program, and service should provide this kind of information. In reality, only a few departments, programs, and services in higher education are actually required to measure their impact. SI is one program where this expectation is high. Therefore, it is useful for SI Supervisors to understand a variety of methods which may be employed to assess the impacts of SI. Some of the ways to measure SI's impact are quantifiable while others are determined through anecdotal and descriptive means. This article presents three categories of approaches to assess the impact of SI on an institution: anecdotal information, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics. For SI programs required to justify existence, the methods in this article will make that job easier as it presents a range of assessment devices from simple testimony to rigorous inferential statistical data.
Hypertext Learning Environments, Cognitive Flexibility, and the Transfer of Complex Knowledge: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Jacobson Michael J. , Spiro Rand J.
Published: May 2005

Although the use of hypertext systems for learning complex knowledge has been attracting recent attention, we currently have poor theoretical and research perspectives from which to understand special characteristics associated with learning in nonlinear and multidimensional hypertext instructional systems. A study was conducted to investigate a theory-based hypertext learning environment that provided instruction in a complex and ill-structured domain. The experimental treatment incorporated several features derived from recent cognitive learning theory, in particular a hypertext procedure that presented the instructional material in multiple contexts to highlight different facets of the knowledge. The main results of the study revealed that although the control treatment led to higher performance on the measures of memory for factual knowledge, the more hypertext-like treatment promoted superior knowledge transfer. Overall, these findings suggest hypertext learning environments that present the instructed knowledge by explicitly demonstrating critical interrelationships between abstract and case-specific knowledge components in multiple contexts will help prepare students to use knowledge in new ways and in new situations.
Caregiver Response to Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Novak Mark , Guest Carol
Published: May 2005

Research on Alzheimer's Disease caregivers has tried to find a link between 1) the length of time a caregiver has been giving care; or 2) the physical condition of the patient and the experiences and needs of the caregiver. This study found no significant correlation between length of time a caregiver had given care to a particular patient and the caregiver's subjective feelings of caregiver burden. It found a significant, moderate correlation between caregiver burden and the patient's functional ability. It found that caregivers' subjective feelings and needs best predict their feelings of burden. This report concludes with suggestions on how to improve support for caregivers in light of these findings.
An Adult Communication Skills Program to Prevent Adolescent Smoking
Authors: Worden John K. , Flynn Brian S. , Brisson Susan F. , Secker-Walker Roger H. , McAuliffe Timothy L. , Jones Robert P.
Published: May 2005

To prevent cigarette smoking among adolescents, communication skills workshops were developed to teach adults how to help young people make responsible decisions and resist peer influences. Workshops were conducted with 125 parents, teachers, and other adults. They were evaluated through a one-year follow-up survey of participants to assess knowledge and use of skills and a behavioral comparison of adolescent smoking initiation between an area receiving a high intensity of workshops and an area of lower intensity. Results indicated participants were mostly mothers, 66 percent of those surveyed one year after the workshop reported use of skills five or more times in the past month, and significantly fewer adolescents in the high intensity area initiated cigarette smoking than in the other area ( p = .0031). While the study had design limitations, it suggested that adult communication skills training may have an impact on adolescent smoking and other problem behaviors.
A Comparison of Three Community Drug Abuse Programs Including Clientele, Cost, and Effectiveness
Authors: Dickinson Louis , Polemis Bernice , Bermosk Loretta , Weiner Betsy
Published: May 2005

Three drug programs in one community are described by the demographic characteristics of persons enrolled. Important differences are found, for example relatively young and unemployed residents in the therapeutic community, and older, more often jailed members of the methadone program. These differences are attributable both to policy of the program and preference of the addicts themselves. Both methadone program and therapeutic community were successful in releasing persons who remained abstinent from drugs for a time, and when program costs were taken into account, a substantial monetary benefit to the community remained.
Media Manipulation of Adolescents' Personal Level Judgments regarding Consequences of Smokeless Tobacco Use
Authors: Sussman Steve , Dent Clyde W. , Flay Brian R. , Burton Dee , Craig Sande , Mestel-Rauch Jill , Holden Sandra
Published: May 2005

Videotapes were developed to try to impact on personal level judgments of concern and risk in the context of smokeless tobacco use, a growing substance use problem in adolescents. In a within-and-between-subjects design, convincingness (i.e., dramatic portrayal) of the videotaped message (high and low) and perceived probability of consequences portrayed in the message (high and low) were manipulated. Both manipulations were done by varying presentation style of the same, accurate information. The manipulation of convincingness did not alter the impact of the message on most judgments, whereas the manipulation of probability of consequences did. Two individual difference predictors, prior use of smokeless tobacco and male sex role orientation, were also found to enhance the amount of change in personal level judgments, but these variables did not interact with the message manipulations. These results suggest that a media manipulation of probability of consequences would be more effective than a manipulation of convincingness of message on impacting adolescent judgments of concern and risk regarding the use of smokeless tobacco.
Can Schools Become a Viable Treatment Modality for Drug Abusers?
Authors: Fernandez Les
Published: May 2005

This article is based on the informal research findings at the Educage program in White Plains, New York. Since 1967 this experimental educational program has provided “unique educational options” for students unable or unwilling to cope with the demands of conventional school systems. The student population is comprised of former dropouts, expellees (for a variety of reasons including drug abuse), potential dropouts, and students seeking a learning environment that is more compatible to their style and basic temperament.

There is every reason to believe that the dramatic changes we have observed in student behavior is closely related to the supportive, friendly, happy, relaxed and accepting environment of Educage. We believe our obligations to the student transcend the mere imparting of fundamental skills and information; that, in fact, we are concerned with preparation for life and not only for college.
Effects of Counselor Smoking Status, Experience Level, and Treatment Modality on the Credibility of Smoking Cessation Programs
Authors: Lichtenstein Edward , Ransom Charles C. , Brown Richard A.
Published: May 2005

One hundred and seventeen smokers were presented with descriptions of a smoking control program and a smoking counselor and were then asked to rate program and counselor effectiveness and counselor empathy. The descriptions varied along three dimensions constituting a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design: counselor smoking status—ex-smoker, current smoker, never smoker; experience level; and group or individual treatment. Counselor smoking status yielded highly significant main effects on all three dependent measures. There were no other significant main effects. Experience level tended to moderate the effects of smoking status though the interaction was significant only for program effectiveness. Responses to direct preference questions confirmed the counselor smoking status findings and indicated a preference for group over individual treatment.
Drug Use and Delinquent Behavior of Small Town and Rural Youth
Authors: Forslund Morris A.
Published: May 2005

Little is known about the relationship between drug use and involvement in other types of delinquent activities among small town and rural youth. The findings presented here are based on responses to a self-report type questionnaire concerning delinquent acts administered to ninth through twelfth grade students at two high schools in Fremont County, Wyoming. The data indicate that there is a significant relationship between drug use and the commission of numerous other forms of delinquent behavior for both male and female students studied. In addition, the data lead to the conclusion that drug users tend to have poorer relationships with both their parents and the school than is the case with non-users.
The Relationship between Death Anxiety and the Subjective Experience of Time in the Elderly
Authors: Quinn Patrick Kaye , Reznikoff Marvin
Published: May 2005

The present study explored the relationship between participants' level of anxiety about death and both their sense of purposefulness in life and their personal experience of time controlling for the effects of participants' general anxiety and social desirability set. Participants were 145 women aged sixty to eighty-five, members of senior citizens clubs in suburban New Jersey, who agreed to complete a booklet of questionnaires at home and return them anonymously. As hypothesized, respondents high in measured death anxiety were found to be more likely to express less sense of purposefulness to their lives, a sense that time is moving forward, a feeling of being harassed and pressured by the passage of time, an experienced discontinuity and lack of direction in their lives, an inclination to procrastinate and be inefficient in their use of time, and a reported disposition towards being inconsistent. For the most part, the relationship between death anxiety and the other variables was found to hold even when the effects of general anxiety and social desirability were partialed out.
Films and Drug Education
Authors: Sheppard Margaret A. , Goodstadt Michael S.
Published: May 2005

A great many films have been made that deal with all aspects of drugs, their use and abuse. Some of these films are directed at young people within the school setting and are intended as part of drug education programs. Some insights as to what is happening in this specific area are discussed.
An Evaluation of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Stress Related Symptoms in a Geriatric Population
Authors: De Berry Stephen
Published: May 2005

Ten highly anxious women, between the ages of sixty-nine and eighty-four, participated in a five month study designed to test the hypothesis that progressive muscle relaxation would reduce psychosocial stress in a group of high risk senior citizens. The women, who had lost their husbands within the last five years, responded to an offer extended to nervous senior citizens to participate in a relaxation study. Five women were assigned to the treatment group and five to a control group. The treatment group received two weeks of baseline evaluation, ten weeks of one hour in vivo relaxation training, and ten weeks of home practice using taped instructions. The control group had an identical schedule except instead of progressive relaxation training they received a pseudorelaxation procedure and had no home practice. All participants were evaluated prior to training, at the end of training, and ten weeks after training. Participants were also measured on the following factors: 1) state and trait anxiety, 2) self-report muscle tension, 3) hours to fall asleep, 4) number of nocturnal awakenings, and 5) headaches. Results indicate significant differences on all five measures between the experimental and control group. With the exception of trait anxiety, the experimental group manifested significant improvements on the remaining five measures from baseline to end of training. For state anxiety, a significant improvement continued during the ten weeks of home practice following the end of training.
Trends from 1987 to 1991 in Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drug (Atod) Use among Adolescents Exposed to a School District-Wide Prevention Intervention
Authors: Younoszai Tina M. , Lohrmann David K. , Seefeldt Carol A. , Greene Robert
Published: May 2005

This study involved a school-based prevention program initiated to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use among adolescents in the Troy School District in the Detroit area. One purpose was to describe the current ATOD situation by investigating changes in reported ATOD use from 1987 to 1991. Another purpose was to explore and identify the most salient risk and protective factors present. In 1987, 1,490 students (comprising grades 8 and 11) and in 1991, 3,171 students (comprising grades 8 to 12) completed questionnaires. Significant decreases were found for use of most drugs with the exception of alcohol. Involvement in problem behaviors was identified as the most salient risk factor, while having a member of a non-using peer group was the most salient protective factor. Implications for the design of subsequent intervention programs are discussed.
A Covariance Structure Model Test of Antecedents of Adolescent Alcohol Misuse and a Prevention Effort
Authors: Dielman T. E. , Shope Jean T. , Butchart Amy T. , Campanelli Pamela C. , Caspar Rachel A.
Published: May 2005

As part of an alcohol misuse prevention evaluation, questionnaires were administered to 4,157 junior high school students to determine levels of alcohol misuse, exposure to peer use and misuse of alcohol, susceptibility to peer pressure, internal health locus of control, and self-esteem. A conceptual model of the antecedents of adolescent alcohol misuse and the effectiveness of a prevention effort was tested using covariance structure modeling techniques. The factor loadings for the model were all moderate to high, indicating that the observed variables served well as measurement instruments for the latent variables. The hypothesized structural relationships among the latent variables of alcohol misuse, exposure to peer use and misuse of alcohol, susceptibility to peer pressure, internal health locus of control, and self-esteem were supported by the data. The full model explained 45 percent of the variance in alcohol misuse in the analysis based on the total sample. The direct effect of the intervention on alcohol misuse was small but significant in the hypothesized direction. The direct effects of the intervention on susceptibility to peer pressure and internal health locus of control were not significant. The model was tested separately for groups of students who had high versus low scores on susceptibility to peer pressure in order to test the interaction between susceptibility to peer pressure and exposure to peer use and misuse of alcohol. The percentage of variance accounted for in alcohol misuse did not increase upon testing the model separately for students who had high versus low scores on susceptibility to peer pressure. Observed differences in the significance of the parameter estimates between the high and low susceptibility to peer pressure groups suggest that different approaches to the design and evaluation of substance abuse prevention programs may be necessary for different subgroups of students.
Drug Use: Demography and Attitudes in a Junior and Senior High School Population
Authors: Frenkel Sinai I. , Robinson James A. , Fiman Byron G.
Published: May 2005

This study was designed to provide descriptive information and correlational data related to drug use in junior and senior high school populations and to generate data for use in the planning and evaluation of a local drug education and prevention program. Further, it attempts to compare drug use among adolescents from military and civilian communities. The responses of 2,004 students to a multiple-choice drug attitude survey were analyzed. The myriad of adjustment problems associated with drug use suggests that treatment and research might concentrate efforts on individual psychological problems, rather than on drug use only and that further studies are indicated in the direction of causality of drug use and related psychological problems.
Cohort Variation in Happiness: Some Hypotheses and Exploratory Analyses
Authors: Felton Barbara J.
Published: May 2005

Research on historical and age differences in well-being suggests that cohort factors explain at least part of the variation in adults' reports of well-being. Theoretical arguments suggest that it is the bases of people's evaluations of their well-being that reflect the characteristic socializing influences of their cohort. Portraits of two cohorts of older adults are drawn from historical and sociological sources and hypotheses about cohort-specific values are tested with data collected by Veroff and his colleagues in 1957 and 1976. Findings do not support the idea that happiness among the adults who produced the post-World War II baby boom is uniquely linked to concerns with marriage and children. Results do provide partial support for the view that adults born before 1900 are distinctive from other cohorts in that their happiness levels are more closely linked with survival needs and more firmly wedded to Protestant ethic values.
The Non-Neutrality of Technology: A Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Study of Computer Mediated Communication Technologies
Authors: Zhao Yong , Alvarez-Torres María José , Smith Bryan , Tan Hueyshan Sophia
Published: May 2005

Arguing against the common perception of technology as passive, neutral, and universal, this article presents a theoretical analysis of a commonly used and frequently studied technology—Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)—to illustrate how a technology that is often undistinguished in practice and research is indeed active, biased, and specific. We then report two exploratory studies that attempt to test the proposed framework with empirical evidence. The findings suggest that differences in the features of two CMC sub-technologies result in different effects on student-student interactions and vocabulary learning. We are able to both theoretically and empirically demonstrate that CMC technology can be realized in multiple forms and shapes, each of which has its own individual characteristics. These different characteristics are distributed across four different dimensions: temporality, spatiality, identity, and modality. Depending on their relative location on these dimensions, these characteristics have significant impact on student online behaviors in terms of social, linguistic, and psychological expressions. Although the two empirical studies were preliminary due to their sample size and quasi-experimental nature, they did positively confirm the view that each technology has unique features that actively shapes potential uses and users.
Correlates of War-Induced Stress Responses among Late Middle-Aged and Elderly Israelis
Authors: Prager Edward , Solomon Zahava
Published: May 2005

Over a period of six weeks in the winter of 1991, Israel was exposed to hostile enemy actions unlike any others in its history. In the Gulf War, civilians were front-line targets for Scud missiles which fell in the heart of the country's most heavily populated areas. One hundred and sixty-four late middle-aged and elderly Israelis were interviewed with respect to their emotional and behavioral reactions. Subjective health, gender, and attribution of meaning were the most significant variables, explaining most of the variance in the two measures of response. Satisfaction with informal network effectiveness was a relatively strong predictor of change in the affective distress variable. Degree of religious commitment and chronological age were weak but significant predictors of affective distress and social interaction distress respectively. Location of residence in relation to the missile impact zone was of no significance in explaining variance in the dependent measures. The findings are discussed in light of the uniquely subjective, interpretive context of stress phenomena, and the need to identify those variables that explain individual differences among older adults in their responses to stress.
Drug Abuse and the Schools
Authors: Greenberg Jerrold S.
Published: May 2005

In reviewing some of the background information regarding the extent of drug abuse and the types of measures presently being used, this article describes in more detail the role of the school in drug abuse.

It is the contention of this writer that the school cannot be effective in this area unless its role is clearly defined. Such factors as the teacher, the school, decision-making, law-enforcing and motivation are, among others, briefly discussed.

Emphasis is placed on drug education from the viewpoint of youth, whereby the objectives should relate to students' use or abuse of drugs and not in programming students to behave in a predetermined manner (determined by those, other than students).

In addition, the school's relationship and the responsibilities of other institutions within the society are identified and reviewed.
Social Class and Political Involvement in Age Graded and Non-Age Graded Associations
Authors: Trela James E.
Published: May 2005

This paper examines the relationship between social class and political involvement after retirement and seeks to determine whether this relationship is differentially mediated by participation in non-age graded and age graded associational contexts. Controlling for the age structure of association memberships, the relationships between social class and political activity and several measures of political interest are examined for 304 retired people. Strong and moderate relationships were found for individuals without memberships and those with non-age graded memberships exclusively. No relationships were found for members of age graded associations only. The absence of a relationship between social class and political involvement for those individuals who confine their formal associational activity to age peers is explained by positing the existence of a generational community which insulates lower class older people from class related cross-pressures and invidious distinctions which depress political involvement in other contexts.
Glue Sniffing in Children—A Position Paper
Authors: Silberberg Norman E. , Silberberg Margaret C.
Published: May 2005

The question of whether the preventative measures and cures for glue sniffing are more dangerous than the glue sniffing itself is examined. Research is reviewed which indicates that glue sniffing does not seem to occur in isolation but accompanies environmental stress. Clearly, much of the stress is a result of school failure. It is recommended that more of our energy be devoted to developing alternatives within the school curriculum to reduce the stress, rather than aimed at dealing with the sniffing itself.
The Narcotics Institute for Teachers—A Cooperative Effort
Authors: Pollack Bernard
Published: May 2005

This article describes the cooperative efforts of the Addiction Services Agency of New York City and The City University of New York in formulating the Narcotics Institute for Teachers. The article discusses the problems involved in organizing the Institute and the goals of the Institute. The content material for the Institute is discussed and various types of evaluative experiences are outlined. The value of feedback from the participants is emphasized in revising content and in insuring that the Institute made a meaningful contribution to the efforts of the schools to combat drug abuse problems in New York City.
Contributions of the School Health Nurse to the School Drug Program
Authors: Merki Donald J.
Published: May 2005

The school health nurse has played a variety of roles in school drug programs. For some of these tasks, she has been well suited, while, for others, she has been less prepared. The school health nurse, because of her basic role as the health authority in the school and her special preparation in the knowledge and use of drugs, is a valuable potential resource for any school drug program.
A Survey of Caffeine Use and Associated Side Effects in a College Population
Authors: Johnson-Greene Douglas , Fatis Michael , Sonnek Donna , Shawchuck Carita
Published: May 2005

While caffeine ingestion is commonplace, there is a relative lack of research on normative standards of caffeine consumption. The present investigation surveyed two hundred and seventy students at a midwestern state university concerning their consumption of various caffeine products. The results of the investigation suggest that there is an identifiable group of individuals who use excessive amounts of caffeine. The survey has also identified several deleterious effects that may be related to caffeine use. The most important finding of the study was that roughly 75 percent of the individuals who use caffeinated products rarely sought information concerning the caffeine content of the products they were using nor did they attempt to avoid substances containing caffeine. Suggestions for education and prevention are offered.