bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Training Programs Work? An Assessment of Pharmacists Activities in the Field of Chemical Dependency
Authors: Brooks Valerie G. , Brock Tina Penick , Ahn Jungeun
Published: May 2005

Objectives:

The primary objective of this study was to determine if a selected sample of pharmacists who had attended a chemical dependency training program were performing more chemical dependency related activities than a group of American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) members who had not had this training. Additionally, an assessment of the perceived barriers to performing chemical dependency-related activities was performed.

Design:

A confidential mail questionnaire was sent to 305 Utah School participants and 305 APhA members who had not participated in the program (See Appendix).

Results:

Respondents who had received educational training in chemical dependency were more likely to perform the following activities: lecture to community groups and health care professionals about chemical dependency, participate in a pharmacists' recovery program, provide patients with information about treatment centers, and counsel patients about the alcohol in over-the-counter products. Respondents who had not received chemical dependency training indicated that the following barriers prevented them from taking amore active role in the chemical dependency field: lack of knowledge of chemical dependency resources in the community, unaware of how to get involved with the state recovery program, belief that involvement in the state recovery program would hurt their professional reputation, belief that chemically dependent individuals cannot be rehabilitated, and uncomfortable working with chemically dependent patients.

Conclusions:

Pharmacists who have attended substance abuse training programs are performing more chemical dependency activities than pharmacists who have not received training in chemical dependency. In addition, different barriers to performing chemical dependency related activities exist between pharmacists with and without training in this field.
Is Uncle Sen Insane? Pride, Humor, and Clique Formation in a Northern Thai Home for the Elderly
Authors: Delaney Bill
Published: May 2005

Called a flirt, rascal, buffoon, and disgrace, Uncle Sen created considerable confusion among staff and patients at Chiangmai city's only home for the elderly. Whether to label him insane or not loomed as an issue that divided his aged peers into two cliques. Behind these reactions are isolated two adaptive styles of the Northern Thai elderly to a rapidly changing traditional social system.
Changing the Way We Talk with Elders: Promoting Health Using the Communication Enhancement Model
Authors: Ryan Ellen Bouchard , Meredith Sheree D. , MacLean Michael J. , Orange J. B.
Published: May 2005

Good communication is an essential component of optimal delivery of health care and health promotion efforts. In this article, we address the communication predicament faced by older adults when their opportunities for optimal care are limited by inappropriate communication with formal care providers. We then introduce the Communication Enhancement Model which promotes health in old age by stressing recognition of individualized cues, modification of communication to suit individual needs and situations, appropriate assessment of the health/social problems, and empowerment of both elders and providers. Applications of the Communication Enhancement Model are discussed for two high-risk groups (elders from ethnocultural communities and elders with dementia) to show how it can function as a guide for the development and evaluation of educational interventions with health and social professionals working with elders.
Examining the Effects of Scholarships on Retention in a Fine Arts College
Authors: Schuh John H.
Published: May 2005

One of the challenges facing enrollment managers is developing strategies to use merit financial aid awards to maximize student retention. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between high school grade point average, ACT scores, Stafford loan eligibility, total scholarship award, and persistence. Merit scholarship awards were found to affect retention positively.
Fighting Attrition: One Freshman Year Program That Targets Academic Progress and Retention for At-Risk Students
Authors: Colton George M. , Connor Ulysses J. , Shultz Eileen L. , Easter Linda M.
Published: May 2005

After studying national literature and local needs, Kutztown University created the Student Support Services Freshman Year Program to help at risk freshmen acclimate to the campus environment and succeed in college. This article presents the five-component program that has improved retention at the university and includes evaluative data.
A Comparison of Three Alcohol Instruction Programs on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Drinking Behaviors of College Students
Authors: Robinson James
Published: May 2005

In this study, the effects of three educational methodologies (implicit instruction, explicit instruction, and values clarification instruction) were investigated. Each treatment was administered over four 50-minute class sessions to students attending general college-level health classes. Pretest, posttest, and followup data were collected via a self-reported questionnaire designed to assess the subjects' knowledge levels regarding beverage alcohol, attitudes toward alcohol, drinking behaviors, and intended drinking behaviors.

Analysis of the data revealed that all treatment groups reported significantly higher knowledge scores than did the control group, but only the explicit instruction treatment was able to produce any changes in attitudes or behavior. The only significant change reported for drinking intentions was a deterioration in reported intentions within the control group.
Age and Gender Differences in Body Attitudes: A Comparison of Young and Elderly Adults
Authors: Franzoi Stephen L. , Koehler Virginia
Published: May 2005

One hundred and thirty-two young adults (Mean = 19 years) and 142 elderly adults (Mean = 74 years) evaluated thirty-five different aspects of their own bodies. As hypothesized, elderly adults expressed less positive attitudes than young adults toward body items associated with body functioning (physical coordination, agility, sex drive, health). These differences are consistent with research indicating a progressive decline in bodily function efficiency with advancing age (Christofalo, 1988; Lakatta, 1990). Also as expected, the elderly held less positive attitudes toward body aspects associated with facial attractiveness (lips, appearance of eyes, cheek/cheekbones). These differences are in line with the structural changes that occur in the face as people age, moving them further from cultural beauty standards. One area where these age differences were reversed was in women's attitudes toward weight-related body items: elderly women expressed greater satisfaction than young women toward their appetite, thighs, and weight. The cause of this age difference in women may be due to thinness being a more defining standard of attractiveness for young women, or it could be due to the fact that people typically lose weight after the age of fifty, thus making weight gain less of a concern for older women. Results further indicated that, although men have more positive body attitudes than women, this gender difference is not nearly as pronounced among the elderly.
A Post-Mortem Study of Student Attrition at the College of Business Administration
Authors: Tom Gail
Published: May 2005

The increase in competition for the college-age population and the decline in fiscal support for land-grant institutions have forced universities to consider attrition/retention issues. The College of Business Administration at a metropolitan, commuter university was interested in learning why students in good standing drop out. The findings of a survey study indicated that no single factor appeared to be the critical causal factor and that a number of variables may contribute incrementally to the decision to leave. Important to this study was the finding that a substantial number of the respondents have dropped out previously, suggesting that it may be more accurate to describe these students as stopping out rather than dropping out. Proactive strategies that may be undertaken by the college are discussed.
The Estimation of Short Time Intervals as a Function of Age and Metronome Pacing
Authors: Kline Donald W. , Holleran Linda , Orme-Rogers Charles
Published: May 2005

The accuracy of estimation of short time intervals was studied in old institutionalized and young college male and female participants as a function of three levels of audible background metronome rate (0, 40 and 90 beats/min). The main effects of metronome and interval length, as well as the age by metronome rate interaction, were significant. Unlike the young participants, the time judgments of the older participants were significantly and systematically determined by metronome rate. These results are consistent with the notion of increased field-dependence among older persons and suggest that their greater social conformity and their inability to ignore irrelevant stimuli might also be explicable in the same theoretical terms.
Respect for the Elderly in Asia: Stability and Change
Authors: Ingersoll-Dayton Berit , Saengtienchai Chanpen
Published: May 2005

This study analyzes data from seventy-nine focus groups conducted in the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The research examined ways in which respect for the elderly is experienced in these four countries, the extent to which respect has changed over time, and the reasons for changes in respect for the elderly. Using qualitative analysis, five distinct dimensions of respect were identified: gestures and manners, tokens, customs and rituals, asking for advice, and obedience. Focus group discussions indicated that changes have occurred on most of these dimensions of respect. The changes were attributed to variations in family structure and function, education, income, and modernization. These findings are discussed in relation to changing definitions of respect and variations in the way in which respect for the elderly is expressed in Asia.
Equity Issues in the Star Schools Distance Learning Program
Authors: Tushnet Naida C. , Fleming-McCormick Treseen
Published: May 2005

The Star Schools distance learning program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, is charged with serving “underserved” students. A recently concluded national evaluation of the program assessed the extent to which the program addressed the equity issue as defined in the legislation, that is, whether students in remote, rural areas and economically disadvantaged students were served by Star Schools. The study found that two distinct types of distance learning experiences are offered to students with equally distinct characteristics. A declining number of Star Schools courses are full courses, mainly in advanced mathematics and science or foreign languages, offered primarily to students in remote rural areas. At the same time, students in urban areas are receiving supplemental courses, mainly in elementary schools, in mathematics and science. These differences hinge on different definitions of “underserved.”
M.D.A.: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach for Teacher Effectiveness Training in Drug Education
Authors: Eiseman Seymour , Robinson James , Zapata Vicente
Published: May 2005

Teachers are generally not prepared to teach about substance abuse in an effective manner. Yet the need for such educational programming has never been needed more. Oftentimes school administrators and teachers alike are reticent to admit their lack of basic preparation. An in-service program is proposed in order to integrate the variety of disciplines involved with such training. Hence, among others, a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended which includes the principles of psychology, sociology, health science, and communications. Additionally it is recommended that all persons involved in public education be familiar with the legal aspects of substance abuse. Education for the prevention, control and reduction of substance abuse is a shared responsibility between home, school and community.
The Effects of a Drug Education Curriculum based on a Causal Approach to Human Behavior
Authors: Myers Eddie E.
Published: May 2005

An experimental-control pretest and post-test research design was implemented to measure the effects of “Human-Persons and the Use of Psychoactive Agents,” a senior high school drug education curriculum. Content and activities are directed toward education in human behavior and potential, in general, as well as specifically applied to drug use and abuse. Results of treatment (N = 1031) demonstrated positive effects upon student drug knowledge, behavior knowledge, and developmental attitudes when compared to control groups (N = 624).
Hypermedia in Science and Mathematics: Applications in Teacher Education, Problem Solving and Student Testing
Authors: Kumar David , Sherwood Robert
Published: May 2005

A review of selected hypermedia applications in teacher education, problem solving, and student testing is presented. In science teacher education, hypermedia provides opportunities for preservice teachers to gain an indepth view of classroom episodes, analyze models of instruction such as discovery learning, and contrast effective and ineffective instructional strategies. Reported outcomes include significant differences in student-centered instruction, mostly in favor of the video groups among student teachers, and in favor of the baseline groups among practicum students. Also, significant improvements were reported for student teachers over practicum students in most paired observation ratings. In mathematics problem solving, hypermedia provides an environment for anchoring instruction in video-based macrocontexts for students to gain control over the problem situation, and helps to improve student ability to solve complex problems. In student testing, the role of the hypermedia is only emerging. The hypermedia seems to provide a convenient tool for developing and administering science tests with outcomes such as increased achievement levels, correctness, number of attempts, and time-on-task. More research is needed before establishing hypermedia as a viable tool for testing in science.
A Comparison of Three Learning Strategies in Intelligent Tutoring Systems
Authors: Frasson Claude , Aimeur Esma
Published: May 2005

New approaches in Intelligent Tutoring Systems imply a more active participation of the learner in the learning process. The motivation of the learner can be increased by interaction with a companion who strengthens the knowledge acquisition in a cooperation climate. In this article we introduce a new learning strategy called learning by disturbing intended to improve student self-confidence. We compare it to directive learning and peer learning, discussing the advantage and the inconvenience of each one. We present some experiments realized to show in which condition a strategy can be useful or not. We analyze and discuss results obtained.
Empirically-Derived Hierarchy of Use for Psychotropics: A Cost Benefit Index
Authors: Khavari Khalil A. , Douglass Frazier M.
Published: May 2005

Data on having ever tried and current frequency of use for fifteen psychoactives were obtained from 1121 male and female adults. Treatment of the data reveals a usage hierarchy for these drugs and the deviancy associated with a specific usage level, for a given drug. It is proposed that drug use is determined by cost-benefit analyses, performed by the individual, and that each of the fifteen psychotropics has its own index which is based on actual usage parameters.
Effects of Learners' Language Backgrounds and Computer Graphics Display Strategies in a Hypermedia Learning Environment
Authors: Chen Li-Ling
Published: May 2005

Today, multicultural classrooms are prevalent in American schools. One of the prominent characteristics for multicultural classrooms is that more and more English as a second language speakers are participating in classrooms in which English is the main language for delivering instruction. Furthermore, with the rapid development of computer hardware and software, instructional system developers are able to employ different graphics display strategies in developing hypermedia instruction. Thus, a research study has been conducted to investigate the relationship of learners' language backgrounds and different computer graphics display strategies. Four versions of hypertext instruction were developed with identical text in each instructional program but with different levels of computer graphics displays in each. Data were collected from 100 graduate students at a large southwest state university. After analyzing the data, a significant result that learners' language backgrounds did make a difference in their academic performance was found. Conclusion and implications for future studies were provided.
Drug Abuse among Elementary School Students in a Suburban School Setting
Authors: Hays J. Ray , Winburn G. Michael
Published: May 2005

Review of a study concerning drug abuse, conducted at the elementary school level. Study investigated the extent and nature of drug abuse among children of this age. Paper describes sample, instrument, and procedure of methods used, and results. Discussion provides summary of findings.
Latino Students and Anglo-Mainstream Instructors: A Study of Classroom Communication
Authors: Ybarra Raul
Published: May 2005

A study using ethnographic techniques was carried out to observe and analyze communication patterns of two Latina students. The reason for conducting this study is that Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. With the increasing Latino population, one would assume that we would see a corresponding increase of Latino students entering and completing college. Yet this is not true. Latino students drop out of high school at an alarming rate and this trend continues into college. A factor that may be contributing to this high dropout rate is that little is known about how differences in language use affect Latino students in the classroom. This analysis provides a basis for evaluating communication patterns and communication breakdowns in a classroom setting. And it provides an assessment of whether these communication breakdowns have any bearing on the poor performance of Latino students and other minority students in composition classes at the college level.
“Alcohol and Drunkenness”—A Newly Developed Curricular Unit as a Model for Drug-Education, Science Oriented Curricular Programs
Authors: Moore Michael , Weiss Shoshana
Published: May 2005

Alcohol and Drunkenness is a newly developed science-oriented curriculum which constitutes an innovative attempt at coping with the problem of excessive drinking among high school students. It is a field-tested, practical and manageable model of a program aimed at influencing attitudes of Israeli teenagers toward excessive drinking and to affect their behavior accordingly. This preventive program in drug-education was developed at the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, with the need for an appropriate preventive educational program in mind to be implemented and disseminated within the upper level of the Israeli school system. The preventive model of the curriculum is the so-called “social science model.” The program deals with primary prevention, is related to direct prevention, integrates the cognitive and the affective domains, fosters the decision-making component, emphasizes Jewish values and norms concerning alcohol consumption, and is interdisciplinary in approach. The program, which constitutes the first attempt of its kind in Israel to cope within the Israeli school system with excessive drinking, and the first attempt to battle excessive drinking in the framework of science education, can represent a curriculum model for future preventive programs within the realm of science education, as well as a curriculum model for interdisciplinary studies. Based on the results of a field test it is safe to conclude that the curriculum may be considered as a viable procedure in the prevention of excessive drinking among youngsters.
Historical Essay: Kraepelin's Description of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Schorer C. E.
Published: May 2005

A translation is offered for the first time of Kraepelin's description of Alzheimer's Disease. It is discussed with regard to its context, and the importance that his elaboration gave to the discovery.
The Age Grading of Physical Activity among Children
Authors: Ostrow Andrew C. , Keener Roger E. , Perry Susan A.
Published: May 2005

To test the hypothesis that children view participation in physical activity as less appropriate among adults of increasing chronological age, pre-school children ( N = 51 males; N = 51 females) were shown six facial pictures of two adults who had been aged fictitiously through make-up, and were asked to rate the competence of these adults on six physical activities. The most significant finding of the study was that these children's assessments of the competence of adult participation in physical activity was, to a large extent, dictated by their perceptions of the age of the adult. Adults perceived as more advanced in chronological age were viewed as less proficient at each physical activity. The children's chronological age, gender, or motor skill level did not interact with their responses to the pictures.
The Need for Global Environmental Health Policy
Authors: Carpenter David O.
Published: May 2005

The world economy has been growing by an average of 3.5% a year. Continued global development is sustainable if overall social assets remain constant or rise over time, including manufactured, human, and environmental capital. Sustainable development requires that society not decrease its overall assets. But unregulated global trade may result in long-term loss of environmental capital. Multilateral governance is needed. Classical business models tend to view environmental damage as an externality—an impact on a third party's welfare that is neither compensated nor appropriated. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development clearly states that economic development must err on the side of environmental integrity. Whereas UN Environmental Program policy requires precaution in the face of scientific uncertainty, World Trade Organization policy requires scientific certainty before precaution can be used. The conflict is obvious. In fact, there is gross lack of policy coordination across institutions. This article looks at some environmental strains and concludes that trade policy must address all aspects of human welfare, not merely the economic.
Spatial Context of Residential Moves by Elderly Persons
Authors: Golant Stephen M.
Published: May 2005

This is a descriptive analysis of the spatial context of residential moves by the over age forty-five population in the United States. It utilizes residential mobility and state of birth statistics calculated from a 15 per cent sample of the United States population drawn for the U. S. Census. It specifically focuses on the likelihood that the age sixty-five and over white and black mover will relocate within his same county or state of residence. The paper reveals that the preponderance of residential moves by the elderly (whether black or white) are within the same county. Only a relatively small percentage make interstate moves. The majority of elderly live in the state of their birth. However, there is no evidence that as a consequence of aging moves become more spatially restricted until after age seventy-five. It is argued that greater emphasis be placed on not why elderly persons move, but why when they do, their residential relocations occur within varying spatial contexts.
A Comparative Acoustic Analysis of the Laugh Responses of 20- and 70-Year-Old Males
Authors: La Pointe Leonard L. , Mowrer Donald M. , Case James L.
Published: May 2005

Several studies have documented age-related changes in speech or voice characteristics, but no study has reported differences across age groups in human laughter. The purpose of this investigation was to identify, describe, and compare the measurements of five acoustic correlates of elicited, spontaneous laughter in twenty- and seventy-year-old males. Five acoustic characteristics of laugh responses including Initial Laugh Fundamental Frequency (ILF0), Mean Laugh Fundamental Frequency (MLF0), Peak Laugh Fundamental Frequency (PLF0), Duration Laugh Response (DLR), and Laugh Bursts (LB) as well as Speech Fundamental Frequency (SFF) were analyzed across groups. Statistically significant differences were found between twenty- and seventy-year-old males in ILF0, MLF0, PLF0, and in the number of laughs per minute. Older respondents produced a relatively compressed fundamental frequency range of laugh behavior and fewer laugh responses per minute. These differences are congruent with age-related changes in speech and voice but also might be explained by other physiological or sociological variables.
Expectations for Communication with Positive and Negative Subtypes of Older Adults
Authors: Harwood Jake , Williams Angie
Published: May 2005

The study uses a recently-developed scale for eliciting perceptions, expectations, and evaluations of intergenerational communication. As predicted, it is found that younger adults expect to experience more anxiety, receive more complaining, and receive lower levels of attunement from an older adult who is portrayed as “despondent” than one who is portrayed as a “perfect grandparent.” In addition, younger adults with more negative attitudes toward older adults expect to experience more negative affect, anxiety, and communication apprehension, to feel more compassion for the older adult, and to receive lower levels of attunement and more complaining from the older adult than those with more positive attitudes. Surprisingly, younger adults with higher levels of young age identification expect to experience lower levels of apprehension, more attunement from the older adult, and to feel more compassion for the older adult than those with lower levels of age identity. These findings are discussed in terms of theoretical models of intergenerational communication, in particular the communication predicament model. In addition, younger people's feelings of having “helped” an older person are discussed in the context of intergroup theory.
Pcs for Families: A Study of Early Intervention Using Networked Computing in Education
Authors: Reaux Ray A. , Ehrich Roger W. , McCreary Faith , Rowland Keith , Hood Susan
Published: May 2005

With the PCs for Families project, we wish to determine whether, under the best of circumstances, ubiquitous access to networked computing by both students and their families has measurable effect on long-term student achievement. We are interested in how networked computing effects students' educational achievements, the attitude and professional development of the teacher and support instructor, and how families support their students and react to the new technologies in their homes. In this article, we discuss the design of the PCs for Families experiment, a longitudinal quantitative and ethnographic study of networked computing in the fifth-grade classroom. We cover our experimental methodology and provide an overview of what we have learned.
The Student Activities Interest Questionnaire: Relating Holland's Vocational Theory to Student Involvement
Authors: Murray Joseph L. , Hall Page M.
Published: May 2005

Both campus involvement and person-environment fit have been identified as factors predicting students' persistence in college. The Student Activities Interest Questionnaire (SAIQ) was developed in order to assist students in identifying campus involvement opportunities that match their personal interests, based on a classification system corresponding to Holland's hexagonal model of occupational preference. In this article, the authors describe the construction and validation of the instrument, and discuss its potential uses in promoting student retention.
The Retention of Black Male Students in Texas Public Community Colleges
Authors: Glenn Frank S.
Published: May 2005

The purposes of this study were to ascertain which Texas public community colleges have been able to graduate the highest percentages of black males and to analyze the factors contributing to that achievement. An institutional questionnaire was developed, designed to elicit information regarding policies and/or practices directly related to the retention of black male students and mailed to each college in the top and bottom quartiles. On-site case studies were conducted at one institution each from the top and bottom quartiles. The focus of the case studies was to examine the setting, policies, procedures, programs, and culture of each campus for clues concerning their black male retention rate. Data collection was from interviews, observations, and collection of institutional artifacts. This study identified several retention strategies that differentiate institutions in the top quartile of black, male student graduation rate from institutions in the bottom quartile.
Old Men Created by Young Artists: Time-Transcendence in Tennyson and Picasso
Authors: Kastenbaum Robert
Published: May 2005

In their youth both Tennyson and Picasso created masterpieces that envisioned old men. Both the poet and the artist would live to become old men themselves. This paper explores the context within which these early masterpieces were created, the style and substance of the works themselves, and the possible relationships between their young and old selves as mediated by their own artistic creations. “Ulysses” was written and “The Old Guitarist” was painted soon after the young artists had suffered the sudden death of a close friend. Numerous other similarities between Tennyson and Picasso are noted, although their lives and personalities also differed in many obvious ways. Both remained creative in old age and both found a way to express their attitudes toward life and death in their last works. Although Tennyson and Picasso are obviously “exceptional cases,” there is reason to believe that many other people also transcend their momentary position on the lifespan and, by acts of empathic imagination, “commune” with past and future selves. Developmental theory might enrich itself considerably by considering these processes and their functions and consequences.
Public Interest Report No. 10: A Memorial in Action to Dr. George Wiley: SSI Alert
Authors: Butler Robert N.
Published: May 2005

The late Dr. George Wiley led major registration drives that effectively implemented laws and entitlements on behalf of welfare recipients. It would be fitting to honor this uncommon leader by creation of an Operation SSI Alert to register the old, disabled, and blind for assured income benefits effective January 1, 1974. The government and the organizations for the elderly have dragged their feet too long.
The Long-Term Marriage: Perceptions of Stability and Satisfaction
Authors: Lauer Robert H. , Lauer Jeanette C. , Kerr Sarah T.
Published: May 2005

Marriage has been shown to be conducive to the well-being of both men and women. An increasing proportion of older people, however, are likely to live alone because of the high divorce rate. This research raises the question of what factors might be involved in a stable and satisfying marriage. Data were gathered from 100 couples who have been married forty-five years or more. The variables identified by couples as important to their marriages were: being married to someone they liked as a person and enjoyed being with; commitment to the spouse and to marriage; a sense of humor; and consensus on various matters such as aims and goals in life, friends, and decision making. Husbands and wives were strikingly similar in their responses; thus, men and women perceive the same variables to be critical in the success of long-term marriages.
Meaning in Life as an Important Component of Functioning in Old Age
Authors: Takkinen Sanna , Ruoppila Isto
Published: May 2005

The purpose was to locate different measures of meaning in life in a multidimensional space of functioning in old age. Fifty-five persons born in 1910 and 1914 participated in laboratory tests, a medical examination, and interviews over a three-year period from 1994 to 1997. Measures of meaning in life included a sense of meaning in life, a sense of coherence, and four indices derived from a life-line drawing (linearity, trend, mean level in the past, and mean level in the future). The other measures of functioning were the number of chronic diseases, functional disability, walking speed, self-rated health, cognitive capacity, provision of social relationships, loneliness, depressive mood, number of activities, life satisfaction, and wisdom. Using a multidimensional scaling method, a two-dimensional model of functioning was arrived at. In the first dimension, “subjective vs. objective,” all the measures of meaning in life were located in the subjective half. The location of the measures along the second dimension, “psychosocial vs. physical,” varied considerably. Some of the measures of meaning in life (a sense of coherence, life-line trend, and linearity) were located in the physical half, while others (sense of meaning in life, life-line mean level in the past) were in the psychosocial half. The life-line mean level in the future was located in the center of the dimension. The space of functioning provided a novel and illustrative approach to functioning as a multifaceted behavioral competence with meaning in life as an integral part of it.
Psychiatry and the Elderly in the Middle East: A Report from Iran
Authors: Siassi Iradj , Fozouni Bahman
Published: May 2005

One of the more firmly established generalizations in mental health concerns the positive correlation found between aging on the one hand and levels of psychiatric distress and utilization of mental health services on the other. It is also generally believed that the young, being more resilient and healthier, possess a greater capacity to cope with psychiatric stress than the elderly. The causal inferences are often unavoidable. Since cross-cultural studies can examine naturally occuring differences in exogenous factors, they may help clarify some of the causal connections. This paper presents utilization rates as well as the results of psychiatric tests on older and younger populations of psychiatric patients and addicts in Iran. The psychiatric population includes both inpatients and outpatients from hospitals and clinics in Tehran, and the provinces. The addicts' population includes a nationwide sample of registered addicts as well as illicit addicts from Tehran and other provinces. Psychiatric profiles are constructed from Symptom-Checklist-90 (SCL-90) questionnaire translated and adapted for use in Iran. For each individual, nine primary symptom distress levels together with three global indices are obtained. Primary comparison is made across age variable with fifty-five years and over age group versus those below fifty-five years of age. Secondary comparisons include psychiatric versus addicts, inpatients versus outpatients, male versus female, as well as comparisons across other socio-economic variables. Findings are discussed in the light of prevalent socio-cultural factors.
Management Variables as Predictors of Service Utilization by the Elderly in Mental Health
Authors: Knight Bob
Published: May 2005

The problem of underservice to the elderly in mental health settings has been conceptionalized in terms of client variables, therapist variables, and systems variables. This investigation of management variables as a type of system level variable reveals that number of staff assigned to work with the elderly is strongly related to outpatient service use and that number of elders on the advisory board is an inverse predictor of inpatient use. It is recommended that future work on the underservice problem focus on system level analysis and intervention.
Significance of Premorbid Adjustment and Psychotherapy in Selected Case Studies
Authors: Moore James T. , Christenson Randall M.
Published: May 2005

Although psychiatric symptoms are common among elderly individuals, these symptoms are seldom treated by psychotherapy. This article proposes a model to help explain genesis of psychiatric symptoms in late life. The model, which is illustrated by case examples, suggests psychotherapeutic strategies and helps define methods of assessing therapeutic outcomes. The model emphasizes the importance of losses, premorbid adjustment, and mediating factors in determining whether stresses result in adaptation or symptom formation.
Personality Interactions and Scaffolding in On-Line Discussions
Authors: Nussbaum E. Michael , Hartley Kendall , Sinatra Gale M. , Reynolds Ralph E. , Bendixen Lisa D.
Published: May 2005

The potential of on-line discussions to prompt greater reflection of course material is often stymied by a tendency of students to agree with one another rather than to formulate counter-arguments. This article describes an experiment using note starters and elaborated cases to encourage counter-argumentation and examines interactions with personality characteristics. Participants were 48 undergraduates who wrote on-line discussion notes in response to two issues in educational psychology. Participants also completed a personality survey, based on McCrae and Costa's (1997) five-factor personality model. There was a significant positive main effect of note starters on the frequency of disagreement, as well as personality-treatment interactions between note starters and several personality characteristics, The results suggest that note starters are most useful for students with low degrees of curiosity (“openness to ideas”) or assertiveness, and who are not overly anxious. Note starters appear to encourage students to consider other points of view during on-line discussions.
Gender and Perceptions of Grandparenthood
Authors: Thomas Jeanne L.
Published: May 2005

Grandparents ( N = 301) were interviewed concerning their relationship with one grandchild; topics included the meaning of the relationship, responsibility toward the grandchild, and satisfaction with the relationship. Grandparent gender by grandchild gender by maternal/paternal grandparent MANOVA's revealed no differences in the relationships associated with grandchild gender or with maternal/paternal grandparent status; nor were there significant interaction effects. Grandmothers expressed greater satisfaction than did grandfathers; grandfathers stressed family extension through grandchildren and the pleasures of indulging grandchildren to a greater extent than did grandmothers. These gender differences may reflect personality development in adulthood and the cultural context of the research.
The Self-Concept of the Elderly: A Cross-Cultural Comparison
Authors: Katzko Michael W. , Steverink Nardi , Dittmann-Kohli Freya , Herrera Ramona Rubio
Published: May 2005

This study examines the self-concept of the elderly in a cross-cultural perspective. An open-ended sentence completion methodology was employed. A sample of elderly Spanish and elderly Dutch were compared to gain an idea of the cross-cultural generality of the content of the self-concept. Analysis focuses on responses to sentences which probed the respondents' motivations and future plans and goals. Differences could be interpreted as reflecting an individualistic (Dutch) vs. collectivistic (Spanish) distinction between the two cultures. Furthermore, the findings had implications for how to interpret dimensions of meaningful aging. For example, a dimension such as “purpose in life” was more generalizable across the two samples than a dimension such as “autonomy.”
Identity Loss and Psychological Crisis in Widowhood: A Re-Evaluation
Authors: Thomas L. Eugene , Digiulio Robert C. , Sheehan Nancy W.
Published: May 2005

This study seeks to clarify the effect of widowhood on ego identity and psychological functioning. The sample consisted of eighty-three widows, ranging in age from twenty-two to seventy-four, who had been widowed an average of 4.9 years. A majority were found to be Identity Achievers on the Marcia instrument, and the group scored significantly higher on a structured measure of self-esteem (TSCS) in comparison to national norms. A quarter of the sample reported positive change after widowhood, 39 percent reported mixed effects, and only 30 percent reported only negative change. The results are discussed in terms of Erikson's developmental theory, suggesting that intimacy may be a more central issue of widowhood than ego identity. Further, little support is given the pathological sheen often attributed to widowhood. Rather, the data better fit a developmental or growth model of crisis resolution.
Beyond Money and Survival: The Meaning of Paid Work among Older Women
Authors: Altschuler Joanne
Published: May 2005

This article explores the meaning and experiences of paid work for older women. Taped, in-person interviews were conducted with 53 ethnically and economically diverse women, 55 to 84 years old. The interview guide contained open-ended questions regarding the meaning of work, reasons for working, and the centrality of work to personal identity. Participants discussed the following topics: independence from men; lost dreams and regrets related to paid work and educational opportunities; being responded to as mother by co-workers and supervisors; and working above and beyond the call of duty.
Applications of a Theory of Drug Use to Prevention Programs
Authors: Huba George J. , Wingard Joseph A. , Bentler Peter M.
Published: May 2005

An interactive theory of drug use is outlined which provides the framework for integrating current knowledge and initiating new research. The theory has as its major characteristics: 1) attempted comprehensiveness; 2) explicit design for empirical test using causal models; 3) differentiation of direct and indirect causes of drug use and the consequences of drug-taking; 4) the delineation of mechanisms associated with different stages of drug use. The theory is applied to major issues implicit in the design and implementation of primary and secondary prevention programs, as well as to issues in professional training and the evaluation of programs. The model is presented as an evolutionary one which will grow as new data and clinical experiences are collected.
Eaton Longhouses: Considering the Development of a Standardized Architecture
Authors: O'Donnell Neil P.
Published: May 2005

Three longhouses were discovered at the Eaton site in western New York between 1975-2000. From the postmold evidence obtained, these structures resemble most Iroquoian longhouses constructed throughout Iroquoia. Yet, particular dimensions of the Eaton longhouses are collectively distinct. When compared to other western New York sites and the whole of Iroquoia, the longhouses suggest that some Iroquoian peoples utilized a standard longhouse design. The question is why would Iroquoian builders use a standard.
Personal Goals and Subjective Well-Being in Later Life
Authors: Lapierre Sylvie , Bouffard Léandre , Bastin Etienne
Published: May 2005

With a sentence completion technique, 708 elderly participants (65 to 90 years of age) expressed 15,027 personal aspirations. These goals were classified according to their motivational content in ten major categories and their relationships with various aspects of subjective well-being were studied. Two goal profiles emerged from this analysis. Aspirations centered on self-preservation were associated with poor self-rated physical health, being burden by difficulties, lack of meaning to life, dissatisfaction with life, and negative expectations for the future. Aspirations of self-development and interest in the well-being of others were associated with feelings of well-being in later life. Development of meaningful personal goals was discussed as a new intervention approach with the elders.
Physicians' Reported Use of Mental Images and Language in Clinical Reasoning
Authors: Edwards Janine C. , Sadoski Mark , Burdenski Thomas K.
Published: May 2005

This study compares the reported results of family physicians' and surgeons' uses of nonverbal images, as well as language, in examining and treating (operating) patients. Similar, but slightly different, questionnaires were mailed to random samples of 300 academic family physicians and surgeons. The response rate from family physicians was 54% and from surgeons 56%. Different types of mental imagery, as well as language, were reported as common and useful. Surgeons reported significantly higher ratings for frequency and use of 7 of the 12 items. Overall, gender and years of practice did not make significant differences. Physicians of two widely differing specialties report using mental images of various modalities to examine, treat, or operate on patients. These self-reports point up the importance of studying nonverbal mental representations. Much basic research is needed to describe the precise nature of mental images and their uses in clinical reasoning.
Is the Canadian Health Care System Fiscally Sustainable?
Authors: Sepehri Ardeshir , Chernomas Robert
Published: May 2005

Current concerns over escalating health care costs and the sustainability of the Canadian health care system are based on analytical concepts and models that have their own limitations and deficiencies. Measuring health care costs across subsectors over the long-term period, the authors argue that Canada's health care costs, especially those under the direct control of provincial governments, are relatively stable. Using appropriate measures of sustainability, there is no indication that Canada's public health care expenditure is unsustainable. Nor is there any indication that Canada's public health care expenditures are out of line with those of its main trading competitors, including the United States.
A Comparison between the Veteran Administration's Long-Term Nursing Home Care Program and Three Examples of Similar Care Outside of the V.A.
Authors: Epstein William M.
Published: May 2005

In a study mandated by Congress, the National Academy of Sciences reviewed the quality of medical care in the Veteran's Administrations health care system. The study reported here summarizes the findings of the long-term care portion of the NAS' work as it relates to nursing home care. The quality of the long-term care in the VA's nursing home care units was compared to three quality standards of long-term nursing care outside of the VA. Staffing pattern, quality of services, quality of the environment, and patient needs were measured and compared; overall assessments of nursing home quality were made by site visitors. Generally, the results show VA care to be superior to the care provided in the benchmark institutions, suggesting perhaps that the public sector's direct provision of long-term nursing care may be an acceptable alternative to the support of private sector care.
Public Interest Report No. 7: Rx: A Healthy National Organization for American Physicians
Authors: Butler Robert N.
Published: May 2005

The American Medical Association, like all organizations, is not guaranteed a permanent life. The AMA has shown serious signs of obsolescence after years of poorly representing both doctors and their patients. AMA membership has fallen below 50 per cent of American physicians. It is possible that the AMA might be revamped and become a major force for constructive change. It is also possible that a new professional organization will emerge along with unionization. Specialty groups have evolved. An Institute of Medicine has gained considerable status. Various socially-conscious groups like the Medical Committee on Human Rights and the American Public Health Association have made important contributions toward the ultimate goal of providing quality health care in the United States.