bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Student Participation, Interaction, and Regulation in a Computer-Mediated Communication Environment: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Ruberg Lorena F. , Moore David M. , Taylor C. David
Published: May 2005

This case study provides a description of student interaction and participation within a computer-mediated environment in an experimental offering of a plant science lab course. Based on structured classroom observation, interviews, and surveys with students and teachers this study examines 1) how a CMC pattern of discourse differs from a face-to-face pattern of discussion in a class setting; 2) whether students participating in a CMC activity produce a discourse that reflects the level of thinking and sharing of ideas desired by the instructor; and 3) how the computer-based interface facilitates and/or inhibits communication between students. This study shows that the CMC-based activities offers an alternative pattern of interaction which differs from the face-to-face pattern in some, but not all ways. The CMC discourse encourages experimentation, sharing of early ideas, increased and more distributed participation, and collaborative thinking. However, for some students the CMC activities are confusing and inhibiting because of the lack of social cues and multiple threads of simultaneous topics—the same features that appeal to other students. Successful use of CMC activities requires a classroom social environment that encourages peer interaction. Equally important is the selection of engaging tasks that are structured enough to diminish confusion but still allow spontaneity and experimentation. Teachers also need to find ways to directly link the CMC discussions to prior and upcoming learning activities so that students will see the value in creating a discourse that they will want to refer to and use in other class activities.
Empowering the Aged—A Postmodern Approach
Authors: Schindler Ruben
Published: May 2005

With the growth of the elderly population, the theme of empowerment and its actual negotiation will emerge as an issue of great importance. The aged are vulnerable in many ways and occupy still relatively limited social roles with restricted access to social goods. They are often undermined in their desire for self-determination. It is suggested that by introducing a postmodern approach in helping this group, the basic principles of social work can be enriched. Empowerment that includes opportunities for growth, mastery, significance, and meaning can be substantially increased. This article outlines the rationale for this approach and discusses the process of collaboration, the therapeutic relationship, and intervention strategies. While this article is limited to the elderly, the appreciation of the postmodern approach has implications for people in need for other populations as well.
Ordinary Retirement: Commonalities and Continuity
Authors: Kelly John R. , Westcott Glyn
Published: May 2005

Case studies of twenty-five recent retirees from a Midwest plant are the basis for a profile of ordinary retirement. The commonalities of preparation, satisfaction, activity patterns, and relationships are found to far outweigh differences. Exceptions are the widowed, divorced, and those with health disabilities.
Applications of Family Systems Theory to the Study of Adulthood
Authors: Fingerman Karen L. , Bermann Eric
Published: May 2005

Psychologists who study children have emphasized family processes that influence children's psychological well-being and subsequent development, but gerontologists have rarely considered the impact of the family as system in adulthood. Drawing on family systems theories, we show how between-family, within-family, and within-individual differences emerge from family interactions in adulthood. Specifically, we consider how adult behavior might be understood in terms of norms sustained by the larger family system. We present three case studies of adult families to illustrate the ways in which their shared beliefs shape emotional experiences, behavior, and conceptions of self and family in adulthood. The family, as a milieu, continues to exert influence over the day-to-day life of individual members after they are grown.
Coping with the Stress of Immigration among New Immigrants to Israel from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Who Were Exposed to Chernobyl: The Effect of Age
Authors: Cwikel J. , Rozovski U.
Published: May 2005

This study examined the differential effect of age on coping and psychological measures among immigrants from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to Israel. Some of these immigrants originated in the Republics adjacent to the Chernobyl Power Plant, site of the 1986 accident. The sample consisted of 708 immigrants who were interviewed between the years 1993–1995 with an average age of 47.5 ( sd 11.8). This sample was reinterviewed approximately a year and three months later ( n = 520). The sample included two exposure groups—high exposed and low exposed based on the estimated levels of ground cesium contamination from the IAEA maps and a comparison group matched by age, gender, and year of immigration. Those over the age of sixty-five were disadvantaged, compared to those aged fifty to sixty-four, and younger, when it came to the tasks of immigrant absorption; learning the language, working and acquiring an income, and establishing alternative social networks which could offer support in times of illness. The psychological variables showed that over time, somatization, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to Chernobyl improved, however at a much slower pace for older immigrants (aged 55 and over) compared to younger ones.
Rational Use of Licit Drugs
Authors: Hammarlund E. Roy
Published: May 2005

Since most consumers have insufficient knowledge about licit medications they ingest, this article proposes ways consumers can become better informed by utilizing pharmacists and physicians as drug consultants. Through increased inquiry and assertiveness while discussing their medical regimen with health professionals patients can learn how and when to use their prescribed medication and over-the-counter drugs. Education by and cooperation with health professionals can help patients avoid compliance errors; thereby desired results of patients' medical regimens will more likely be achieved. Numerous suggestions and procedures are listed which if practiced will lead to a more rational use of licit drugs by consumers.
Revision Strategies Employed by Middle Level Students Using Computers
Authors: Steelman Jane D.
Published: May 2005

This article discusses an intervention study designed to implement and evaluate an instructional program for middle level students in writing with computers over approximately one school year.

The study employed a pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design with two experimental groups and one control group. Sixty-nine sixth grade students were randomly assigned by race and gender to the three groups.

A researcher-designed protocol was used during posttest to determine differences in revision strategies. The types of revision strategies reported by the students in the experimental groups differed significantly from those in the control group. The present study indicates that it may be possible to expand the complexity of revision strategies applied by students through explicit teaching and the use of the computer.
Lifestyle Differences between Young Adult Cocaine Users and Their Nonuser Peers
Authors: Castro Felipe G. , Newcomb Michael D. , Cadish Karen
Published: May 2005

Health-related behaviors were examined in a group of twenty-five young adults who regularly used cocaine and in a matched sample of twenty-five nonusing young adults. We hypothesized that cocaine users would have a less healthy lifestyle as indicated by behavioral scales or items on three health domains: Nonillicit Drugs, Health Orientation, and Health Behaviors. Cocaine users consumed more cups of coffee per day, more alcoholic beverages per week, and ate fewer complete/balanced meals per day than non-users. Cocaine users also reported fewer relaxing or stress-reducing activities and less daily planning and organization. A within-groups analysis of the cocaine users revealed that the heavier users perceived themselves as less healthy relative to their peers and ate fewer complete/balanced meals. These results suggest that cocaine use is a behavior embedded within a complex of interrelated unhealthy behaviors that constitute an unhealthy lifestyle. By implication, cocaine use is associated with a greater lifestyle imbalance involving polydrug use at the expense of nutrition and effective self-management. These results suggest that clinical interventions for prevention and treatment of cocaine use should promote specific healthy lifestyle changes in addition to the current practice of promoting a cessation of drug use.
Training Needs and Services for Elderly Care in Developing Countries: Models from Romania, Barbados and Kuwait
Authors: Banoob Samir N.
Published: May 2005

Developing countries are facing multiple problems in establishing and funding sociomedical services for the elderly. This study outlines the need for such services especially in the transitional stage of urbanization, changes in the structure and role of families, and the inadequate resources for establishing community-based elderly care programs. The study focuses on the analysis of human resource needs for training of the different categories of health workers, both educational degree and non-degree training for elderly care programs. It proposes an integrated approach for short-term training of physicians, nurses, and social workers. This concept was accepted and adopted by the Expert Group Meeting of the International Institute on Aging in Malta, 1989. The study also presents applications of this model in Romania, Barbados, and Kuwait.
Evaluating Community Drug Abuse Agencies
Authors: Kern Joseph C.
Published: May 2005

Evaluation of the effectiveness of community based storefront drug treatment prevention agencies is generally lacking in the literature. A five step procedure is outlined as a model for evaluation of such agencies. Expectation of staff activities for a given period of time was projected by Program Directors. Daily log sheets of activities were collected for staff and they were compared to the projections. A six category code was developed to describe staff activities. The method has been useful in evaluating the ability of a community drug abuse agency to organize it's activities to meet its programmatic goals.
Environmental Satisfaction, Sociability, and Well-Being among Urban Elderly
Authors: Barresi Charles M. , Ferraro Kenneth F. , Hobey Linda L.
Published: May 2005

A review of the literature indicates that until recently little attention has been paid to the effects of the environment on well-being among the aged. This study analyzes data relevant to both the individual and his or her environment from a large ( N = 2265) national sample of low- and middle-income elderly. A recursive causal model is presented; the results indicate that perceived health and housing satisfaction contribute the most to well-being among the elderly. In addition, for men and women home ownership was not found to affect well-being positively. For men who owned their own homes lower scores on well-being were reported. The findings also indicate that while the quantity of neighbor interaction benefits the well-being of men, women benefit more from the positive sentiments of sociability in the neighborhood. This study emphasizes the importance of environmental satisfaction and neighborhood sociability as key determinants of well-being in later life.
Grandchildren and Grandparents: Roles, Influences, and Relationships
Authors: Roberto Karen A. , Stroes Johanna
Published: May 2005

This study explored the significance of grandparents in the lives of young adult grandchildren. A convenience sample of 142 college students completed a questionnaire that examined four areas: frequency of activities, value development, relationship solidarity, and role conception. While current interactions with grandparents were infrequent, grandchildren did perceive their grandparents, and grandmothers in particular, as influential in their value development. Grandchildren reported stronger relationships with grandmothers than with grandfathers. Differences in participation, value development, and relationships were also found according to the role in which grandchildren conceptualized grandparents. Discussion centers on the factors that may have influenced grandchildren's perceptions and interactions with grandparents.
Factors Affecting Quality of Life of the Korean Aged Stroke Patients
Authors: Yoon Hyunsook
Published: May 2005

Among the most prevalent disabling diseases of old age, stroke is the leading chronic condition in Korea. The physical and psychosocial complications of a stroke can result in serious limitations on all aspects of one's life that affect overall quality of life. This study examines the relative importance of and interactions among factors which affect the quality of life of 119 stroke patients aged sixty-five and older in Korea. The model uses family support, personality (specifically hardiness), economic status, and physical functioning as independent variables, and quality of life as a dependent variable. The results of this study suggest that physical functioning and physical care by the family are important factors influencing quality of life of the aged stroke patients. Hardy personality is negatively associated with financial support and physical care by the family. These findings have several implications for policy development, clinical practice, and future research in this area.
Interactions with Grandparents and Great-Grandparents: A Comparison of Activities, Influences, and Relationships
Authors: Roberto Karen A. , Skoglund Renee Robbe
Published: May 2005

This study explored the relationships between young adults and their grandparents and great-grandparents. A convenience sample of fifty-two college students, who had at least one living grandparent and great-grandparent, completed a questionnaire that assessed their interactions with their grandparents and great-grandparents. The respondents engaged in more frequent contact and activities with their grandparents than with their great-grandparents. They also perceived their grandparents as having a more defined role and being more influential in their lives than great-grandparents. Discussion centers on potential personal and demographic factors that may have influenced the respondents' perceptions of and interactions with their great-grandparents.
The Effect of a Threaded Discussion Component on Student Satisfaction and Performance
Authors: Sain Ryan , Brigham Thomas Armin
Published: May 2005

This study examined the use of a threaded discussion component in conjunction with a peer taught psychology course. Six of the 12 sections of Psychology 106 were randomly assigned to use an online component in which students read and responded to a weekly question. The remaining classes completed the assignment on paper. Students evaluated their section of the class on a 5-point scale with questions regarding course satisfaction and involvement. The time students reported spending on the weekly assignment and the number of sentences that each group wrote were assessed and analyzed. Results from the questionnaire indicate that the traditional class sections reported levels of satisfaction that were significantly higher than those reported by the experimental group. Students in the traditional classes also spent more time on the weekly assignment and wrote significantly more sentences when completing the weekly task than did the classes using the online procedure.
The Effects of a Smoking Education Program on the Behavior, Knowledge and Attitudes of Children in Grades 4 and 6
Authors: Pederson Linda L. , Stennett Richard G. , Lefcoe Neville M.
Published: May 2005

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the short-term impact of a smoking curriculum for children in grades 4 and 6, the age just prior to which many children begin to smoke. Students in four grade 4 and four grade 6 classrooms were pre-tested concerning their knowledge about the relationship between cigarette smoking and health, their attitudes toward smoking and their current smoking behavior. Half of the classrooms from each grade were subsequently exposed to a smoking awareness program by the teacher. The remaining students were not systematically exposed to smoking education material. All children were then post-tested, using the same questionnaire that had been used in the pre-test. Grade 4 children were less likely to have tried cigarettes than grade 6 children. Although all children had negative attitudes toward smoking, grade 4 children were significantly more negative than grade 6 children. The attitudes of the experimental group tended to become less negative while the control group's attitude remained constant. The experimental group improved more in knowledge than the control group with grade 6 children making a greater gain from pre- to post-test than did the grade 4 children. The absolute gains in knowledge scores were, however, relatively small, indicating the need for further modifications in the curriculum material.
The Georgia Centenarian Study
Authors: Poon Leonard W. , Clayton Gloria M. , Martin Peter , Johnson Mary Ann , Courtenay Bradley C. , Sweaney Anne L. , Merriam Sharan B. , Pless Betsy S. , Thielman Samuel B.
Published: May 2005

This paper presents the theoretical rationale, hypotheses, models, and methods and procedure of the Georgia Centenarian Study, an interdisciplinary study of the oldest-old.
Effects of Gender Role Identity and Experience on Computer Attitude Components
Authors: Colley Ann M. , Gale Matthew T. , Harris Teri A.
Published: May 2005

The effects of prior experience and gender stereotyping upon the computer anxiety, confidence and liking of 144 male and female students who had just commenced their studies at university were examined. Males were found to have lower computer anxiety, higher confidence and greater liking than females. When the effects of prior experience and gender stereotyping were removed however, no significant sex difference on these measures remained. The pattern of associations between experience, gender stereotyping variables and computer attitude measures differed for males and females. Greater experience at home was associated with lower anxiety for both sexes, with higher confidence for males and with greater liking for females. The influence of other family members also differed for the two sexes. The attitudes of both males and females were more positive if they had a brother who used computers, but the influence of father's use was positive for males only, while the influence of mother's use was positive for females only. For females but not males, higher scores on the Masculinity scale of the Bern Sex Role Inventory were associated with more positive computer attitudes. The results demonstrate the importance of experience, particularly in a home context, and of gender stereotyping in determining how males and females perceive computers.
Age and Anomia in Middle and Later Life: A Multivariate Analysis of a National Sample of White Men
Authors: Pope Hallowell , Ferguson Miller Dwayne
Published: May 2005

Some social gerontologists have argued that the aged status in America results in distrust of and despair with the social order (anomia) independent of other determinants: lack of access to the means of achievement of life goals and social isolation. This argument was tested with a multivariate regression analysis utilizing data on 354 white men aged forty and older from the 1974 General Social Survey. The Srole anomia scale was used as the dependent variable. Multiple indicators of life chances and social participation were used; health and verbal intelligence were employed as controls. The results showed no relationship between age or other indicators of life chances and anomia, net of education and/or verbal intelligence. Prior studies reporting that age and anomia are causally related probably have done so due to lack of adequate control variables and/or due to cohort effects from the lesser education of the older population in the United States. Compared when employing appropriate controls, aged American males are not more anomic than middle-aged males.
The Effects of School-Based Substance Abuse Education — A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bangert-Drowns Robert L.
Published: May 2005

Since the late 1960s, evaluators have examined the use of school-based alcohol and drug education programs as a means of substance abuse prevention. Narrative reviews of these evaluations agree on two points. The evaluations are generally of poor quality and they do not provide evidence that substance abuse education reduces drug use. This study used meta-analysis to review a carefully selected sample of evaluations in this area. Outcomes of thirty-three evaluations were statistically integrated. The meta-analysis showed that typical substance abuse education had its most positive effects on knowledge and attitudes, but was unsuccessful in changing the drug-using behaviors of students. Attitudinal effects were significantly higher when peers were used as instructional leaders and when group discussion was part of the instructional method. Furthermore, students who volunteered for substance abuse education reported lower drug use after treatment than did students who were required to participate in such programs.
Adjusting Educational Practice to Increase Female Persistence in the Sciences
Authors: Hyde Michelle S. , Gess-Newsome Julie
Published: May 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of university programs designed to support, encourage, and retain female undergraduates enrolled in math, science, and engineering (MSE) majors. Interviews and roundtable discussions with thirty-two junior and senior female MSE majors revealed numerous factors within the university setting that contributed to female MSE retention and graduation. Four factors are discussed within the scope of this article: support networks and university acclimation, faculty associations, financial assistance, and university support programs that created a more personalized educational experience.
A Profile of the Newly-Admitted Nursing Home Resident
Authors: Erber Joan T. , Dye Carol J.
Published: May 2005

Sixty-eight recently admitted nursing home residents received a battery of psychological tests and were rated on a number of behavioral indices by a tester and by a nursing home staff member. A principle components analysis was performed on the tests and rating scales to determine their interrelationship. A varimax rotation was performed, and simple structure was approximated with four orthogonal factors, which accounted for a total of 71.4 per cent of the variance: Factor I, “Intrapsychic State”; Factor II, “Cognitive Competency”; Factor III, “Self-Image”; and Factor IV, “Environmental Competence.” These results revealed that: 1) the morale/anxiety dimension was independent of cognitive competency; 2) newly admitted nursing home residents who perceived themselves as internally controlled (felt that their behavior could affect change) were rated high by others in behavioral competency; 3) self-rating scales apparently measure something independent of the other tests and the ratings by others.
Caregiving and Institutionization: Perceptions of Family Conflict and Socioemotional Support
Authors: Gaugler Joseph E. , Zarit Steven H. , Pearlin Leonard I.
Published: May 2005

This study examines the impact of family conflict and socioemotional support among caregivers who institutionize their relatives. Fifty-two wives, forty-three husbands, and sixty-seven daughters were interviewed before and after the placement of a cognitively impaired relative. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to examine differences in reports of family conflict and socioemotional support among caregivers. Husbands reported greater increases in family conflict than wives or daughters during the institutionization process. Conversely, wives and daughters indicated higher levels of socioemotional support than husbands. Hierarchical regression equations were then calculated to assess the independent contributions of family conflict and socioemotional support to postplacement adaptation. Decreases in socioemotional support during institutionalization significantly predicted postplacement anger among husbands and increases in family conflict significantly predicted postplacement depression among wives. Overall, family conflict and socioemotional support have important implications among caregivers who institutionalize their relatives.
Grandparents as Interactive and Social Support Agents for Families with Young Infants
Authors: Tinsley Barbara J. , Parke Ross D.
Published: May 2005

The role of grandparents in infancy was examined in a comparative analysis of grandparent-infant grandchild and parent-infant interaction patterns. A second focus of the study was an exploration of the extent to which grandparents function as social support agents for their adult children and infant grandchildren. Grandparents (30 grandmothers and 21 grandfathers) and parents (30 mothers and 30 fathers) of seven-month-old infants were observed in individual five-minute dyadic play sessions with the infant in the parents' homes, yielding twenty minutes of agent-infant interaction. The observations were scored using both time-sampling and global coding schemes. Information on grandparental support to the young parents and infants, relative to other social support sources, were also obtained from grandparents and parents. Results indicated that both grandmothers and grandfathers are active interactive and support agents, with a pattern of similarities and differences in interactive style across generation and gender. Although there was a high degree of overlap in parent and grandparent interaction styles, parents were rated as more competent. Gender consistencies were found between female agents (mothers and grandmothers) and male agents (fathers and grandfathers). High levels of intergenerational contact were reported, with both parents and grandparents highly satisfied with the contact. The results of this study support an expanded view of the effects of various agents in young children's social environment.
Motivation, Capacity, Learning and Age
Authors: Welford A. T.
Published: May 2005

Performance and ability to learn in old age seem to depend not only upon physical and mental capacities, but upon willingness to use these capacities fully. This paper outlines a possible model of such a process, in terms of two known principles of motivation: first, that willingness to undertake action is a function of some difference or ratio between expected result and the effort, whether physical or mental, required to attain it; and second that what is achieved is valued more highly if the effort required has been relatively great. These principles seem capable of tying together many seemingly disparate facts about age changes in learning and in adaptation to developments at work, and also in everyday interests and pursuits and in the acceptance of rehabilitative procedures. They also have implications for human relationships in old age. These are discussed with reference to loneliness, which is regarded as arising when personality characteristics make communications from and to other people unrewarding.
Trends in Anthropological Gerontology: From Simmons to the Seventies
Authors: Holmes Lowell D.
Published: May 2005

An analysis of the major trends and findings of socio-cultural studies of the aged in various cultures, as carried out by anthropologists or by other social scientists using anthropological methodology. The paper discusses the present state of our knowledge concerning comparative gerontological phenomena and gives suggestions for further research.
Prediction to Successful Treatment Outcome by Client Characteristics and Retention in Treatment in Adolescent Drug Treatment Programs: A Large-Scale Cross Validation Study
Authors: Friedman Alfred S. , Glickman Nita W. , Morrissey Margaret R.
Published: May 2005

NIDA–CODAP file data on adolescent clients admitted to thirty selected outpatient programs were available for calendar years 1979 ( N = 2509) and 1980 ( N = 3094). Two outcome criterion variables were utilized: 1) CODAP's “Reasons for Discharge” classification, and 2) a formula for “Reduction of Drug Use.” School grade, controlled for age, was the only client predictor variable found to account for more than 1 percent of the variance in the “Reasons for Discharge” outcome variable. Marijuana as the primary drug of abuse was the only client variable to account for more than 1 percent (4.4 percent) of the variance in the Reduction in Drug Use. The primary marijuana users showed less reduction in amount of drug use, and were less often considered to have completed the course of treatment. Time in treatment accounted for 1.6 percent in 1979 and 1.3 percent in 1980 of the variance in the “Reduction in Drug Use” criterion.
Epidemiology Abuse: Epidemiological and Psychosocial Models of Drug Abuse
Authors: Jacobs Phillip E.
Published: May 2005

Epidemiological and psychosocial approaches to drug abuse are discussed, with specific reference to the limits of the narrow epidemiological model when applied to the dynamics of heroin addiction, especially the elimination of heroin supply. During the early sixties there was much controversy between medical and psychosocial models of drug abuse with respect to methadone maintenance treatment programs versus drug free treatment programs. Frequently drug abuse treatment facilities would refuse to have both types of programs available, but after some time the differences which were thought to be irreconcilable were in fact reconciled and the field moved towards a synthesis of drug free and methadone maintenance approaches. The same thing needs to occur with respect to epidemiological and psychosocial approaches to drug abuse. The current narrow epidemiological approaches to drug abuse focus on heroin itself and ways of eliminating heroin supply. Psychosocial models are concerned with alienation, societal inadequacies, and psychological deficiencies of addicts. Psychosocial approaches define heroin addiction as a symptom of a more widespread social and psychological malaise, while narrow epidemiological approaches consider the heroin addiction itself the sole problem. Epidemiological and psychosocial approaches to drug abuse should be integrated so that much valuable information produced by epidemiologists such as the dynamics of the spread of heroin addiction, the period of time that addicts remain infectious, and the natural life-history of epidemics can be combined with knowledge produced by psychosocial approaches to fashion a more comprehensive approach to drug abuse. An epidemiologically based approach calling for stringent control of heroin distribution to non-addict populations coupled with easy access to low cost heroin for addicted persons would reflect an appreciation of the psychological/social/political realities involved in addiction as well as a grounding in epidemiological principles and data.
Loneliness among the Oldest Old, a Comparison between Residents Living in Nursing Homes and Residents Living in the Community
Authors: Bondevik Margareth , Skogstad Anders
Published: May 2005

Two groups of individuals, eighty years of age or older, were compared with respect to the experience of loneliness and the influence of social relationships. One group was living in nursing homes. The other group was living alone in their own homes in the community. There were no significant differences in experienced loneliness between residents with close contacts with members of family and friends compared to residents without such contacts in either of the two groups, with one exception: institutional residents with existing contacts with former neighbors reported significantly lower levels of loneliness compared to institutional residents without such contacts. Frequency of contacts with family and neighbors did not influence significantly the degree of loneliness for residents in institutions. For residents in the community there were significant differences in experienced loneliness between those who had frequent contacts with family members and neighbors and those with infrequent contacts. Institutional residents, like residents in the community who desired more frequent contacts with family members and friends, reported higher levels of loneliness, compared to those who reported sufficient contacts.
Stressful Life Events and Depressive Symptoms: Social Support and Sense of Control as Mediators or Moderators?
Authors: Chou Kee-Lee , Chi Iris
Published: May 2005

Depression is quite common among the elderly members of the Hong Kong Chinese society. This study examined the impact of a series of common stressful life events (SLEs) on change in depressive symptoms among the older people. The respondents were 411 people aged sixty years or older from a survey of a representative community sample of the elderly population in Hong Kong. Using multiple regression models, the authors found that sense of control acted as a mediator in the linkage between the number of SLEs and depressive symptoms, even after controlling sociodemographic, and physical health status were applied. In addition, the social support measured by Lubben Social Network Scale moderated the influence of the exposure to SLEs on depression. Findings suggest that sense of control and social support play distinguished and important roles in the stress-outcome relationship. Service implications were discussed based on these findings.
Social Support, Perceived Control, and Well-Being: A Study of an Environmentally Stressed Population
Authors: Levitt Mary J. , Clark M. Cherie , Rotton James , Finley Gordon E.
Published: May 2005

Interviews were conducted with elderly residents of an area targeted for massive redevelopment. Social support was considered simultaneously with health and personal control beliefs in relation to well-being, and the unresolved issue of the sufficiency of one support figure was explored. Health, control, and support each emerged as independent predictors of affect and life satisfaction, and affect was significantly lower for those with no close support figure than for those with one close relationship. The results suggest that one close support figure may be sufficient to promote well-being, but alternative interpretations are possible.
An Experimental Lesson in Drug Education
Authors: Margolis Joseph A.
Published: May 2005

This article focuses upon a method of making drug education more relevant for today's high school and college student through the use of an experimental lesson on drug taking. The lesson examines the reasons and motivations for drug taking in a setting that is close to reality. It describes a methodology for stimulating student interest in an area where young people may feel they have exhausted much of the drug education information available to them. The lesson actively involves all members of the class.
Generativity in Midlife and Young Adults: Links to Agency, Communion, and Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Ackerman Sarah , Zuroff David C. , Moskowitz D. S.
Published: May 2005

Three questions stimulated by Erik Erikson's theory of generativity were addressed: 1) Is generativity associated with greater subjective well-being? 2) Are agency and communion additive or interactive predictors of generativity? 3) Does generativity play a distinct role during the midlife period? Among ninety-eight midlife adults, generativity was positively related to positive affectivity, satisfaction with life, and work satisfaction. Generativity was independently predicted by agentic (masculine) and communal (feminine) traits. Among fifty-eight young adults, generativity predicted positive affect at home. Generativity was independently predicted by agentic (power) and communal (love) interpersonal orientations. Using event-contingent recording of agentic and communal behavior at work, agency was a stronger predictor of generativity for young adult men, and communion was a stronger predictor for young adult women. The studies demonstrate that generativity has similar relations to agency and communion in young and midlife adults; however, generativity may be a stronger predictor of subjective well-being in midlife adults.
Multimodal Information Exploration
Authors: Stock Oliviero , Strapparava Carlo , Zancanaro Massimo
Published: May 2005

Exploration is a fundamental aspect of learning. In computer-based systems, advanced interfaces to a rich information space can become a key element in this connection. Tools adaptable to different modes of exploring information and to the characteristics of different users are needed. In this article, the integration of hypermedia and natural language dialogue are discussed and reference is made to ALFRESCO, a natural language-centered multimodal system developed at IRST. The discussion is mainly focused on the role and the structure of the communicative context.
Social Differentials in the Decline of Infant Mortality in Sweden in the Twentieth Century: The Impact of Politics and Policy
Authors: Burström Bo
Published: May 2005

This article describes some of the policies behind the decline of infant mortality in Sweden during the 20th century, from very high levels and large social differentials at the turn of the 19th century to one of the lowest levels in the world by 1950. Political commitment to reducing infant mortality and disparities between groups, a more equitable distribution of economic resources, and a successful combination of universal social and health policies most benefiting the least advantaged families and their children contributed to this favorable development.
A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Feedback in Computer-Based Instruction
Authors: Azevedo Roger , Bernard Robert M.
Published: May 2005

A quantitative research synthesis (meta-analysis) was conducted on the literature concerning the effects of feedback on learning from computer-based instruction (CBI). Despite the widespread acceptance of feedback in computerized instruction, empirical support for particular types of feedback information has been inconsistent and contradictory. Effect size calculations from twenty-two studies involving the administration of immediate achievement posttests resulted in a weighted mean effect size of .80. Also, a mean weighted effect size of .35 was obtained from nine studies involving delayed posttest administration. Feedback effects on learning and retention were found to vary with CBI typology, format of unit content and access to supplemental materials. Results indicate that the diagnostic and prescriptive management strategies of computer-based adaptive instructional systems provide the most effective feedback. The implementation of effective feedback in computerized instruction involves the computer's ability to verify the correctness of the learner's answer and the underlying causes of error.
Summary and Conclusions of the Study
Authors: Navarro Vicente , Whitehead Margaret , Doran Tim , Burström Bo , Helmert Uwe , Costa Giuseppe , Borrell Carme
Published: May 2005

This article summarizes the findings of the research projects presented in the Special Report on the Political and Social Contexts of Health, Parts I and Part II, which show how societies' socioeconomic, political, and cultural variables are the most important factors in explaining their populations' levels of health. The main findings are: (1) Countries and regions with better distributed economic resources (such as income and employment) and social resources (such as health care, education, and family supportive services) have better health indicators, and (2) this is the source of the superior health performance of European countries over the United States. (3) Pro-redistribution policies improve the health of populations not only through their impact on reducing poverty: they improve the health of the most impoverished and of the entire population. (4) Universal pro-redistribution policies are more effective in improving populations' level of health than are programs specifically targeted at reducing poverty. (5) Politics matters: the length of time in government of pro-redistribution parties is, in general, positively related to levels of health in the OECD countries.
Social Skill, Psychological Disorder, and Aging
Authors: Twining T. C.
Published: May 2005

There have been several therapeutic advances based on the application of Social Skills approaches to psychological disorders. However, only a few studies report work specifically with elderly clients. It is suggested that a simple extension of social skill and assertion training programs to elderly clients is, in most cases, not appropriate. Instead the theoretical model should be reapplied and the relevant problems identified. In contrast to younger groups, difficulties in social relations between elderly people and their caregivers seem likely to be the most potentially fruitful area.
Derivation and Pilot Assessment of a Health Promotion Program for Mandarin-Speaking Chinese Older Adults
Authors: Jackson J. , Kennedy B. L. , Mandel D. , Carlson M. , Cherry B. J. , Fanchiang S-P. , Ding L. , Zemke R. , Azen S. P. , Labree L. , Clark F.
Published: May 2005

As the percentage of older adults of diverse ethnicities increases in the United States, the call for culturally sensitive health care service strategies that target the special needs of older people grows. The present report describes methods used to adapt a health care program so that it would better meet the needs of a group of well, older Mandarin-speaking Chinese residents of Los Angeles. The specific qualitative research procedures that we used to adapt the treatment program are described, along with the particular adaptations that emerged. Additionally, outcomes from a randomized pilot experiment are presented that are consistent with the notion that the adapted program was effective in reducing health-related declines among older Mandarin-speaking men and women. The overall outcome of this project is in agreement with other reports in the health care literature that address the importance of providing culturally sensitive health care service for elders.
Interrelations between Subjective Health and Episodic Memory Change in Swedish and Canadian Samples of Older Adults
Authors: Wahlin Å , Maitland Scott B. , Bäckman Lars , Dixon Roger A.
Published: May 2005

Recent research has documented associations between subjective health ratings and objective indicators of disease and death. Less is known about relations between subjective health ratings and level of cognitive performance in older adults. In this study, we explored whether subjective health ratings are related to episodic memory performance, both concurrently and across a three-year longitudinal interval. Persons aged 75–84 years, and participating in the Swedish Kungsholmen Project ( n = 105) or the Canadian Victoria Longitudinal Study ( n = 71), were examined. Results showed that in both samples, while the cross-sectional relationship was non-significant, longitudinal change in perceptions of subjective health were related to change in episodic memory performance. Next, the two samples were combined in additional analyses. Here, results further revealed that the associations between longitudinal change in subjective health and memory performance generalized across samples independently of demographic, changing physical health status, and subjective memory decline differences. Thus, the present findings suggest that subjective health may be added to the growing number of individual-difference variables that are predictive of episodic memory change in very old age.
Subjective Evaluation of Health in Old Age: The Role of Immigration Status and Social Environment
Authors: Carmel Sara
Published: May 2005

The study investigated the role of immigration status on self-rated health, general health, and well-being among elderly persons by comparing two groups of elderly persons who immigrated from Eastern European countries to Israel—veterans and new immigrants. It also examined the factors that explain self-rated health in both groups. Data for this study ( n = 784) were taken from a study based on structured home interviews of a random sample of Israeli Jewish elderly (70+) conducted in 1994. The results show that the new immigrants are younger and have higher education than the veterans, but their economic status is lower and they have a lower percentage of men and married persons. The new immigrants also rank themselves lower than the veterans on a variety of measures of health and psycho-social well-being. It is suggested that the stress caused by immigration and factors related to the standard of living and health services in the countries of origin outweigh the relative advantage that the new immigrants have, in terms of age and education, in influencing their health and well-being. Self-rated health among the new immigrants is explained mainly by objective measures of health, economic status and a feeling of control over life, while among the veterans it is explained by these variables as well as by other psycho-social variables such as self-esteem and social support. These findings suggest careful analyses of subjective evaluations of health in different socio-cultural subgroups in society for theoretical reasons and for purposes of planning interventions directed to promote health and psycho-social well-being of elderly persons on the community level.
Causal Attribution of Mood in the Climacterium
Authors: Lyon Bernadette M.
Published: May 2005

This study looked at the sources of attribution used by pre- and post-menopausal women to explain mood. A booklet was administered to two groups of forty women each, one group aged forty to forty-five and the other group aged fifty-two to fifty-seven. The booklet contained a diary written by a middle-aged woman, and three independent variables (menopausal status, family situation, and mood) were varied in eight different versions of the story. The participants were required to rate the degree to which menopausal symptoms, environment, and age were likely causes of the woman's mood. The results suggest that the older group of women place more importance on the environment as a source of attribution; both groups give weight to age, but the younger group uses age continually, whereas the older group uses it when family behavior does not explain mood. Both groups rated menopausal symptoms as a salient source of attribution when the woman's mood was negative.
The Social Security Program and the Private Sector Alternative: Lessons from History
Authors: Quadagno Jill
Published: May 2005

As the Social Security program in the United States emerged from the crisis of the 1970s with a solid set of reforms intended to guarantee the program's financial solvency into the twenty-first century, a new attack on the system arose in the form of debates centering around the relationship of the Social Security fund to the federal deficit. Conservative economists used concerns about the national economy as fuel for their own arguments that Social Security has negatively affected the economy and that heavier reliance should be placed on private sector benefits. This paper uses historical evidence to analyze how adequately private sector benefits functioned in the past. Among the conclusions reached are that the private sector failed to provide adequate protection for older citizens, and that benefits were inequitably distributed on the basis of gender and social class. Any tendency toward heavier reliance on the private sector for provisions for old age security would only exacerbate existing inequalities.