Search

Search Results

• 71. [Article] Toward a theory of child abuse: a review of the literature

  Currently, there exists no conclusive etiology of child abuse although there are two major and contrasting theories which attempt to impart a systematic interpretation to the data. The purpose of this ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Toward a theory of child abuse: a review of the literature Author: Maden, Marc F. Year: 1975 Currently, there exists no conclusive etiology of child abuse although there are two major and contrasting theories which attempt to impart a systematic interpretation to the data. The purpose of this study was to determine what are the significant factors in child abuse and to what extent the respective theories render a coherent and comprehensive explanation of these factors. This study aggregated the data on the demographic, social, economic, and psychological features of the child abuse victim and perpetrator. Each study was analyzed according to a methodology of review which considered the problems involved in eliciting meaningful data from a group of studies grounded on different assumptions and conducted according to disparate research designs. The studies were compared and contrasted to determine what factors were significantly related to child abuse. Thereafter, both major theories of child abuse were tested against the findings of the literature review to determine to what extent the respective theories successfully predicted and related significant factors in child abuse. The review of the literature clearly established a demographic profile of the child abuse victim and his family. The abused child is usually very young, typically below the age of three. Neither race nor gender are specifically related to the age of the victim. Abusing families tend to have more than the average number of children, but usually select only one child - frequently, the eldest or the youngest - as the target for abuse. The child is likely to have been born prematurely and to have had more than the usual number of serious physical illnesses or disabilities throughout his life. In addition, a significant number of abused children display intellectual, social, and psychological dysfunction which may have resulted from injuries sustained from previous abuse. Most injuries stemming from child abuse fall into the general category of superficial bruises and welts although compared with accidental childhood injuries, there is a higher frequency of fractures and head injuries. The pattern that emerges from the somewhat limited data is that abused children are unusually impaired in intellectual, social, and psychological functioning. Nearly all child abuse is committed by parental figures most of whom are the natural mothers and fathers of abused children. Most abusing parents are around twenty-five years old reflecting the fact that the majority of abuse victims are infants and younger children. Mothers are the most frequent child abusers. Although only one parent actually attacks the abuse victim, generally speaking, the other parent is overtly, or at least covertly involved in abusing the child. Abusing parents are characterized by a history of anti-social behavior and psychological problems. A general atmosphere of instability and disruption surrounds the child abusing family indicated by frequent discord among married parents, as well as separations and divorces. On all measures of socioeconomic status, child abusing families have low achievement and face the stresses of poverty and its associated conditions. However, neither race nor socioeconomic status distinguish the abusing family when compared with the social, racial, and economic groups to which they belong. Abusing families are distinguished by their transience and inability to maintain social contact with the community or affiliation with social organizations. Neither a sociocultural or a psychodynamic theory of child abuse effectively relates and explains all the significant findings of the literature review. While the former predicts the several environmental factors significantly related to child abuse and the latter explains the significant findings associated with the perpetrator, neither theory provides an explanation of the role of the child abuse victim. This review suggests that an alternative theoretical framework which incorporates environmental factors and relates significant factors about the child abuse victim and perpetrator will produce the most comprehensive explanation of child abuse. Title: Toward a theory of child abuse: a review of the literature Author: Maden, Marc F. Year: 1975 Currently, there exists no conclusive etiology of child abuse although there are two major and contrasting theories which attempt to impart a systematic interpretation to the data. The purpose of this study was to determine what are the significant factors in child abuse and to what extent the respective theories render a coherent and comprehensive explanation of these factors. This study aggregated the data on the demographic, social, economic, and psychological features of the child abuse victim and perpetrator. Each study was analyzed according to a methodology of review which considered the problems involved in eliciting meaningful data from a group of studies grounded on different assumptions and conducted according to disparate research designs. The studies were compared and contrasted to determine what factors were significantly related to child abuse. Thereafter, both major theories of child abuse were tested against the findings of the literature review to determine to what extent the respective theories successfully predicted and related significant factors in child abuse. The review of the literature clearly established a demographic profile of the child abuse victim and his family. The abused child is usually very young, typically below the age of three. Neither race nor gender are specifically related to the age of the victim. Abusing families tend to have more than the average number of children, but usually select only one child - frequently, the eldest or the youngest - as the target for abuse. The child is likely to have been born prematurely and to have had more than the usual number of serious physical illnesses or disabilities throughout his life. In addition, a significant number of abused children display intellectual, social, and psychological dysfunction which may have resulted from injuries sustained from previous abuse. Most injuries stemming from child abuse fall into the general category of superficial bruises and welts although compared with accidental childhood injuries, there is a higher frequency of fractures and head injuries. The pattern that emerges from the somewhat limited data is that abused children are unusually impaired in intellectual, social, and psychological functioning. Nearly all child abuse is committed by parental figures most of whom are the natural mothers and fathers of abused children. Most abusing parents are around twenty-five years old reflecting the fact that the majority of abuse victims are infants and younger children. Mothers are the most frequent child abusers. Although only one parent actually attacks the abuse victim, generally speaking, the other parent is overtly, or at least covertly involved in abusing the child. Abusing parents are characterized by a history of anti-social behavior and psychological problems. A general atmosphere of instability and disruption surrounds the child abusing family indicated by frequent discord among married parents, as well as separations and divorces. On all measures of socioeconomic status, child abusing families have low achievement and face the stresses of poverty and its associated conditions. However, neither race nor socioeconomic status distinguish the abusing family when compared with the social, racial, and economic groups to which they belong. Abusing families are distinguished by their transience and inability to maintain social contact with the community or affiliation with social organizations. Neither a sociocultural or a psychodynamic theory of child abuse effectively relates and explains all the significant findings of the literature review. While the former predicts the several environmental factors significantly related to child abuse and the latter explains the significant findings associated with the perpetrator, neither theory provides an explanation of the role of the child abuse victim. This review suggests that an alternative theoretical framework which incorporates environmental factors and relates significant factors about the child abuse victim and perpetrator will produce the most comprehensive explanation of child abuse. Close

• 72. [Article] Continuance vs. discontinuance in family counseling

  The study was designed to examine the social workers' and clients’ perceptions of change in the treatment process; specifically to examine the question of why clients discontinue service prior to planful ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Continuance vs. discontinuance in family counseling Author: Anderson, Katherine, Dudley, Alice, Rocks, Mayetta Year: 1971 The study was designed to examine the social workers' and clients’ perceptions of change in the treatment process; specifically to examine the question of why clients discontinue service prior to planful termination. Also, the authors attempted to assess the client's perception of gain and the worker's assessment of gain. Significant Findings Seventy-two per cent of the clients who responded to the questionnaire felt they had been helped. In those cases where the client indicated he had received no help or that his situation became worse, the authors found that the client often indicated that his spouse was unable or unwilling to participate in treatment. These clients also often indicated that they had divorced. The client tended to rate the gains he made from treatment slightly higher than the worker rated them. The inability or unwillingness of the spouse to participate in the treatment process was seen as an important reason for discontinuance before six interviews were completed. The client seemed more likely to indicate fee as a reason for termination of service after six interviews. Clients who paid no fee were more likely to terminate in an unplanned manner before six interviews. If the client paid any fee, his termination was more likely to be planful. Recommendations and Suggestions for Further Research The authors recommend, as in the study done by Dr. Dan Jennings, that any questionnaire mailed out by the agency in the future be a more immediate follow-up to treatment, that is, there is a need for further exploration of the optimum time for follow-up study. A future questionnaire might be returned to the individual practitioner so that he could evaluate the service. Also a planned follow-up of this sort might result in the practitioner reaching out to the client to re-involve him in the treatment process if the client so indicated the need on the returned questionnaire. Recommendations and Suggestions for Further Research The authors recommend that workers indicate clearly on the statistical cards which members of the family were seen in order to facilitate and expedite data gathering. The statistical cards give assessment of service in terms of gain only. The authors recommend that because service is not always gainful, that there be a place on the statistical card to so indicate this. The situation may be so deteriorated that in the worker's assessment there is no ability on the part of the client for motivation, capacity and opportunity for change. On the basis of the data derived from the questionnaire, the authors recommend that further exploratory study be done in the following areas: (a) In the cases where the spouse is unable or unwilling to participate in the treatment process. (b) In the cases where the clients who paid no fee were more likely to terminate unplanned and before six interviews. The authors recommend, as in the study done by Dr. Dan Jennings, that any questionnaire mailed out by the agency in the future be a more immediate follow-up to treatment, that is, there is a need for further exploration of the optimum time for follow-up study. A future questionnaire might be returned to the individual practitioner so that he could evaluate the service. Also a planned follow-up of this sort might result in the practitioner reaching out to the client to re-involve him in the treatment process if the client so indicated the need on the returned questionnaire. Findings in this study showed that the critical period for clients continuance seems to be within the first five interviews. The author recommend that further exploratory study be done on this critical period of treatment. Title: Continuance vs. discontinuance in family counseling Author: Anderson, Katherine, Dudley, Alice, Rocks, Mayetta Year: 1971 The study was designed to examine the social workers' and clients’ perceptions of change in the treatment process; specifically to examine the question of why clients discontinue service prior to planful termination. Also, the authors attempted to assess the client's perception of gain and the worker's assessment of gain. Significant Findings Seventy-two per cent of the clients who responded to the questionnaire felt they had been helped. In those cases where the client indicated he had received no help or that his situation became worse, the authors found that the client often indicated that his spouse was unable or unwilling to participate in treatment. These clients also often indicated that they had divorced. The client tended to rate the gains he made from treatment slightly higher than the worker rated them. The inability or unwillingness of the spouse to participate in the treatment process was seen as an important reason for discontinuance before six interviews were completed. The client seemed more likely to indicate fee as a reason for termination of service after six interviews. Clients who paid no fee were more likely to terminate in an unplanned manner before six interviews. If the client paid any fee, his termination was more likely to be planful. Recommendations and Suggestions for Further Research The authors recommend, as in the study done by Dr. Dan Jennings, that any questionnaire mailed out by the agency in the future be a more immediate follow-up to treatment, that is, there is a need for further exploration of the optimum time for follow-up study. A future questionnaire might be returned to the individual practitioner so that he could evaluate the service. Also a planned follow-up of this sort might result in the practitioner reaching out to the client to re-involve him in the treatment process if the client so indicated the need on the returned questionnaire. Recommendations and Suggestions for Further Research The authors recommend that workers indicate clearly on the statistical cards which members of the family were seen in order to facilitate and expedite data gathering. The statistical cards give assessment of service in terms of gain only. The authors recommend that because service is not always gainful, that there be a place on the statistical card to so indicate this. The situation may be so deteriorated that in the worker's assessment there is no ability on the part of the client for motivation, capacity and opportunity for change. On the basis of the data derived from the questionnaire, the authors recommend that further exploratory study be done in the following areas: (a) In the cases where the spouse is unable or unwilling to participate in the treatment process. (b) In the cases where the clients who paid no fee were more likely to terminate unplanned and before six interviews. The authors recommend, as in the study done by Dr. Dan Jennings, that any questionnaire mailed out by the agency in the future be a more immediate follow-up to treatment, that is, there is a need for further exploration of the optimum time for follow-up study. A future questionnaire might be returned to the individual practitioner so that he could evaluate the service. Also a planned follow-up of this sort might result in the practitioner reaching out to the client to re-involve him in the treatment process if the client so indicated the need on the returned questionnaire. Findings in this study showed that the critical period for clients continuance seems to be within the first five interviews. The author recommend that further exploratory study be done on this critical period of treatment. Close

• 73. [Article] The relationship between self-concept and responses of others during a marital crisis

  Symbolic interaction theory indicates that an individual's self-concept is related to the way in which the individual perceives others as responding to him/her. Although this theory is widely accepted ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The relationship between self-concept and responses of others during a marital crisis Author: Farr, Kathryn Ann Year: 1975 Symbolic interaction theory indicates that an individual's self-concept is related to the way in which the individual perceives others as responding to him/her. Although this theory is widely accepted in social psychology, it has been given little empirical attention. In this study a typological model was developed in an empirical examination of the relationship between self-concept and responses of others during marital crisis. Self-concept was defined as the organization of qualities (roles, social-psychological feelings) that an individual assigns to himself/herself. Kind of qualities were described, and social-psychological feelings about self were examined on a positive to negative continuum. Responses of others were defined as the kind and amount of support perceived by respondents as being given to them by others (relatives, friends, dates, husband, children) during marital separation. Kinds of support were described, and amount of support was examined on a positive to negative continuum. The typological model was developed from interviews with fifteen white, middle and upper middle class women between the ages of 25 and 35 who were separated but not legally divorced from their husbands. The interviews consisted of two parts: 1) an in-depth, open-ended interview between respondent and researcher aided by a guide; 2) a standardized questionnaire in which respondents rated their perceptions of self and responses of others on a positive to negative scale. Five types of self-concept/responses of others relationships were found and described. These types were labeled: 1) New Lifers; 2) Revisors; 3) Adaptors; 4) Endurers; 5) Mourners. In all types a positive relationship was found between self-concept and responses of others. This" positive relationship was most clearly indicated in the extreme types, i.e., the New Lifers were characterized by a high positive self-concept and high, positive responses from others, whereas the Mourners were characterized by a high negative self-concept and lack of or negative responses from others. In addition to the quality and quantity of support, five other factors were found to be related to self-concept during marital separation. These factors, incorporated into the model as properties of the types, were: 1) who initiated the separation; 2) the presence or absence of an understanding of what led to the marital dissolution; 3) how the separation was defined by the respondent; 4) self-concept and situation prior to separation; 5) commitment to marriage. Also, certain common reactions to dissolution were reported by the women in all types: 1) loneliness; 2) fear or anxiety; 3) growing awareness of capabilities; 4) changing emotions; 5) feelings of social isolation; 6) the desire for close intimate opposite-sex relationships. These commonalities were discussed, and their implications for further research were set forth. Title: The relationship between self-concept and responses of others during a marital crisis Author: Farr, Kathryn Ann Year: 1975 Symbolic interaction theory indicates that an individual's self-concept is related to the way in which the individual perceives others as responding to him/her. Although this theory is widely accepted in social psychology, it has been given little empirical attention. In this study a typological model was developed in an empirical examination of the relationship between self-concept and responses of others during marital crisis. Self-concept was defined as the organization of qualities (roles, social-psychological feelings) that an individual assigns to himself/herself. Kind of qualities were described, and social-psychological feelings about self were examined on a positive to negative continuum. Responses of others were defined as the kind and amount of support perceived by respondents as being given to them by others (relatives, friends, dates, husband, children) during marital separation. Kinds of support were described, and amount of support was examined on a positive to negative continuum. The typological model was developed from interviews with fifteen white, middle and upper middle class women between the ages of 25 and 35 who were separated but not legally divorced from their husbands. The interviews consisted of two parts: 1) an in-depth, open-ended interview between respondent and researcher aided by a guide; 2) a standardized questionnaire in which respondents rated their perceptions of self and responses of others on a positive to negative scale. Five types of self-concept/responses of others relationships were found and described. These types were labeled: 1) New Lifers; 2) Revisors; 3) Adaptors; 4) Endurers; 5) Mourners. In all types a positive relationship was found between self-concept and responses of others. This" positive relationship was most clearly indicated in the extreme types, i.e., the New Lifers were characterized by a high positive self-concept and high, positive responses from others, whereas the Mourners were characterized by a high negative self-concept and lack of or negative responses from others. In addition to the quality and quantity of support, five other factors were found to be related to self-concept during marital separation. These factors, incorporated into the model as properties of the types, were: 1) who initiated the separation; 2) the presence or absence of an understanding of what led to the marital dissolution; 3) how the separation was defined by the respondent; 4) self-concept and situation prior to separation; 5) commitment to marriage. Also, certain common reactions to dissolution were reported by the women in all types: 1) loneliness; 2) fear or anxiety; 3) growing awareness of capabilities; 4) changing emotions; 5) feelings of social isolation; 6) the desire for close intimate opposite-sex relationships. These commonalities were discussed, and their implications for further research were set forth. Close

• 74. [Article] A Bioecological Model of Grief Recovery : Theory and Test of the Model

  A primary aim of bereavement research is to alleviate suffering and promote well-being at the junction of life and death for the survivor in an attachment relationship. Bereavement research in the last ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Bioecological Model of Grief Recovery : Theory and Test of the Model Author: Romo, Daniel L. A primary aim of bereavement research is to alleviate suffering and promote well-being at the junction of life and death for the survivor in an attachment relationship. Bereavement research in the last decade has focused primarily on examining grief recovery within the context of intrapersonal processes. This emphasis has often ignored peer, family, and cultural influences on adjustment to loss. As a result, targeted grief interventions have largely been limited to adaptive and maladaptive factors within the individual. Evidence from recent research suggests the importance of taking into account contextual factors within the social environment that have bidirectional influences on the individual, and function as potential deficits or resources for grief recovery over time. Thus, a comprehensive framework for the simultaneous consideration of person-environment transactions, rather than just a strict emphasis on intrapersonal processes, is essential to advancing the current understanding of grief recovery. To address this gap, this study presents a bioecological model of grief recovery with the addition of a 'loss system' level of influence--capturing characteristics of the deceased, circumstances of the death, and the relationship between the bereaved and the deceased prior to the death--to simultaneously account for the person- and environment-level systems of influence. The implications of this theoretical model are described for two different types of loss: death of spouse in older adults and death of a child. To move this model from theory to real-world application, the viability of the model was tested by empirically contrasting it with an individual-level (intrapersonal) model of grief recovery as applied to spousal bereavement in later life. An archived longitudinal data set (the Changing Lives of Older Couples data) was the basis for growth curve models examining the trajectory of grief several years after death of spouse. The individual-level model focused on the intrapersonal predictors known to influence grief recovery, while the bioecological model included the same intrapersonal predictors as well as loss system predictors. In sum, the analyses provided evidence that having relatively high levels of death acceptance and religiosity prior to the death of a spouse is associated with improved psychological health in the early stages of widowhood. Although the bioecological growth curve model did not evidence a better fit than the individual model in this study, it remains a useful framework accounting for a broader range of influences, with the loss system as a key to advancing bereavement research. Moreover, psychological adjustment to the death of a loved one is merely one type of life event that can be understood using this model of grief recovery. Although the theoretical and empirical models presented here represent only a limited approximation of the more complex phenomena of a human reaction when a spouse dies, it provides a new, more comprehensive framework for understanding grief and how it changes over time. Perhaps its greatest utility lies in its theoretical conceptualization of a loss system, and how that loss system can be tested using growth curve statistical models as described in Manuscript 2. This novel approach holds great promise for bereavement researchers. In addition, Manuscript 1 showed how researchers can adapt this framework to model different types of loss experiences, particularly those with strong parallels to the death of a loved one, such as relationship dissolution and divorce. Similarly, this model could be applied empirically to loss experiences such as progressive illness, disability, infertility, and disaster. Variables included in the bioecological systems should be modified accordingly to reflect and allow measurement of the type of loss, life circumstances, culture, and context of the population under study. Title: A Bioecological Model of Grief Recovery : Theory and Test of the Model Author: Romo, Daniel L. A primary aim of bereavement research is to alleviate suffering and promote well-being at the junction of life and death for the survivor in an attachment relationship. Bereavement research in the last decade has focused primarily on examining grief recovery within the context of intrapersonal processes. This emphasis has often ignored peer, family, and cultural influences on adjustment to loss. As a result, targeted grief interventions have largely been limited to adaptive and maladaptive factors within the individual. Evidence from recent research suggests the importance of taking into account contextual factors within the social environment that have bidirectional influences on the individual, and function as potential deficits or resources for grief recovery over time. Thus, a comprehensive framework for the simultaneous consideration of person-environment transactions, rather than just a strict emphasis on intrapersonal processes, is essential to advancing the current understanding of grief recovery. To address this gap, this study presents a bioecological model of grief recovery with the addition of a 'loss system' level of influence--capturing characteristics of the deceased, circumstances of the death, and the relationship between the bereaved and the deceased prior to the death--to simultaneously account for the person- and environment-level systems of influence. The implications of this theoretical model are described for two different types of loss: death of spouse in older adults and death of a child. To move this model from theory to real-world application, the viability of the model was tested by empirically contrasting it with an individual-level (intrapersonal) model of grief recovery as applied to spousal bereavement in later life. An archived longitudinal data set (the Changing Lives of Older Couples data) was the basis for growth curve models examining the trajectory of grief several years after death of spouse. The individual-level model focused on the intrapersonal predictors known to influence grief recovery, while the bioecological model included the same intrapersonal predictors as well as loss system predictors. In sum, the analyses provided evidence that having relatively high levels of death acceptance and religiosity prior to the death of a spouse is associated with improved psychological health in the early stages of widowhood. Although the bioecological growth curve model did not evidence a better fit than the individual model in this study, it remains a useful framework accounting for a broader range of influences, with the loss system as a key to advancing bereavement research. Moreover, psychological adjustment to the death of a loved one is merely one type of life event that can be understood using this model of grief recovery. Although the theoretical and empirical models presented here represent only a limited approximation of the more complex phenomena of a human reaction when a spouse dies, it provides a new, more comprehensive framework for understanding grief and how it changes over time. Perhaps its greatest utility lies in its theoretical conceptualization of a loss system, and how that loss system can be tested using growth curve statistical models as described in Manuscript 2. This novel approach holds great promise for bereavement researchers. In addition, Manuscript 1 showed how researchers can adapt this framework to model different types of loss experiences, particularly those with strong parallels to the death of a loved one, such as relationship dissolution and divorce. Similarly, this model could be applied empirically to loss experiences such as progressive illness, disability, infertility, and disaster. Variables included in the bioecological systems should be modified accordingly to reflect and allow measurement of the type of loss, life circumstances, culture, and context of the population under study. Close

• 75. [Article] The transition of single mothers on public assistance to economic self-sufficiency : an analysis of human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors

  The study explored a model that integrates human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors to explain variation in economic self-sufficiency (ESS) among single mothers. A sample of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The transition of single mothers on public assistance to economic self-sufficiency : an analysis of human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors Author: Parker, Louise Anne The study explored a model that integrates human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors to explain variation in economic self-sufficiency (ESS) among single mothers. A sample of 851 single mothers on Aid to Families with Dependent Children was selected from the Washington State Family Income Study data base. Data from a three-year period (6/88-5/91) were utilized to describe and analyze single mothers in transition from welfare. When compared to a sample of non-poor single mothers, mothers on public assistance differed significantly in several ways: They were younger, had more children and were more likely to have parents who received public assistance. Educational levels were significantly lower, as was employment activity. Economic self-sufficiency was measured as the ratio of welfare benefits to household income. Degree of ESS improved over the three-year period: While 60 percent of single mothers relied on welfare for more than half their income in the first year, only 45 percent did by the third year. In analyzing differences in degrees of economic self-sufficiency among single mothers, the following groups of mothers had significantly higher degrees of welfare reliance: never-married and divorced mothers; mothers with a child under age two; mothers with three or more children; non-white mothers; and mothers living in public housing. A path analysis was conducted to determine the relative influence of human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors on later economic self-sufficiency. Number of children and receipt of subsidies positively affected welfare reliance. Education, number of adults in the household and number of months employed negatively affected degree of welfare reliance. A key finding was that, after controlling for differences in human capital, family resources and employment activity, workplace support retained a highly significant, inverse relationship with degree of welfare reliance. Sense of personal control and social support had both direct and indirect effects on degree of welfare reliance, establishing that psychosocial factors mediate impacts of human capital, family and employment factors on economic self-sufficiency. The results support the viability of utilizing stress models to examine objective economic outcomes in future research. Title: The transition of single mothers on public assistance to economic self-sufficiency : an analysis of human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors Author: Parker, Louise Anne The study explored a model that integrates human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors to explain variation in economic self-sufficiency (ESS) among single mothers. A sample of 851 single mothers on Aid to Families with Dependent Children was selected from the Washington State Family Income Study data base. Data from a three-year period (6/88-5/91) were utilized to describe and analyze single mothers in transition from welfare. When compared to a sample of non-poor single mothers, mothers on public assistance differed significantly in several ways: They were younger, had more children and were more likely to have parents who received public assistance. Educational levels were significantly lower, as was employment activity. Economic self-sufficiency was measured as the ratio of welfare benefits to household income. Degree of ESS improved over the three-year period: While 60 percent of single mothers relied on welfare for more than half their income in the first year, only 45 percent did by the third year. In analyzing differences in degrees of economic self-sufficiency among single mothers, the following groups of mothers had significantly higher degrees of welfare reliance: never-married and divorced mothers; mothers with a child under age two; mothers with three or more children; non-white mothers; and mothers living in public housing. A path analysis was conducted to determine the relative influence of human capital, family resource, employment and psychosocial factors on later economic self-sufficiency. Number of children and receipt of subsidies positively affected welfare reliance. Education, number of adults in the household and number of months employed negatively affected degree of welfare reliance. A key finding was that, after controlling for differences in human capital, family resources and employment activity, workplace support retained a highly significant, inverse relationship with degree of welfare reliance. Sense of personal control and social support had both direct and indirect effects on degree of welfare reliance, establishing that psychosocial factors mediate impacts of human capital, family and employment factors on economic self-sufficiency. The results support the viability of utilizing stress models to examine objective economic outcomes in future research. Close

• 76. [Article] Some factors associated with reconciliation decisions among couples with marital problems

  The purpose of the study was to investigate the nature of marital interaction that occurs at the point at which couples with problems seek assistance from an agency specifically designed to deal with marital ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Some factors associated with reconciliation decisions among couples with marital problems Author: Kelley, Roselene Jensen The purpose of the study was to investigate the nature of marital interaction that occurs at the point at which couples with problems seek assistance from an agency specifically designed to deal with marital problems. Efforts were made to learn more about the nature of the marital relationship in general, and conditions under which individuals who seek counseling arrive at a decision to reconcile or not to reconcile. Specifically, the marital interaction, as measured by an affection-companionship index (ACI), and a hostility index (HOS), of couples who were referred for, or who voluntarily requested the services of the Marriage Counselor's Office of the Domestic Relations Division of The Superior Court, County of Sacramento, was investigated. The sample consisted of 83 couples, drawn on the basis of their willingness to cooperate. The Marriage Questionnaire, developed by James L. Hawkins, PhD was used to assess marital interaction, and yielded a single score for a married couple on both affection-companionship and hostility, as reflected in the reported overt behaviors of the couple. The study focused on the ACI and HOS variables in relationship to the decision of the couple concerning their immediate future marital relationship, or their reconciliation decision. Couples were classified on the basis of these decisions and were categorized as follows: 1) decision to reconcile (R), 2) decision to refuse reconciliation (RR), and 3) reconciliation decision unknown to the Marriage Counselor's Office, which consisted of the subgroups off-calendar (OC) and petition-dismissed (PD). The possibility that other factors relating to marital status might be associated with reconciliation decisions of these couples was also investigated. The specific hypotheses tested were: 1. There is no difference among the three reconciliation decision groups, R, RR, and RU, with regard to ACI scores or to HOS scores. 2. There is a significant negative correlation between HOS and ACI within the entire sample and within each of the reconciliation decision groups. 3. There is no difference in HOS scores of court-referred couples and non-court-referred couples regardless of reconciliation decision. 4. Among couples receiving counseling there is no difference in the number who do reconcile and the number who do not reconcile within this particular sample. 5. Reconciliation decision is independent of: present ages of marriage partners, duration of marriage, incidence of children younger than ten years, incidence of separation, and duration of separation. Results indicated differences, significant at the five per cent level, in both HOS and ACI between the R group and PD group, in HOS only between the RR and PD group, and in ACI only between the R and RR groups. No differences resulted in either ACI or HOS between OC and PD, R and OC, and RR and OC. No significant relationship was found between the number of couples who reconcile and the number of couples who refuse reconciliation following counseling. A significant negative correlation (-.575) between ACI and HOS was found within the R group, and no relationship was found within any one of the RR, OC, or PD groups. The reconciliation decision of couples was found to be independent of age of the marriage partners, the duration of marriage, the incidence of children younger than ten years of age, or the duration of separation. However, reconciliation decision was found to be significantly related to incidence of separation at the .001 level of confidence. It was concluded from the results of the study that differences do exist in affection-companionship and hostility between certain reconciliation decision groups, and that for reconciled couples, at least, a significant negative relationship exists between ACI and HOS. The affection-companionship index, as measured by the Marriage Questionnaire, discriminates between reconciled couples and couples who refuse to reconcile. Marital separation is associated with the reconciliation decision of these couples. The study points up the need for further research. Title: Some factors associated with reconciliation decisions among couples with marital problems Author: Kelley, Roselene Jensen The purpose of the study was to investigate the nature of marital interaction that occurs at the point at which couples with problems seek assistance from an agency specifically designed to deal with marital problems. Efforts were made to learn more about the nature of the marital relationship in general, and conditions under which individuals who seek counseling arrive at a decision to reconcile or not to reconcile. Specifically, the marital interaction, as measured by an affection-companionship index (ACI), and a hostility index (HOS), of couples who were referred for, or who voluntarily requested the services of the Marriage Counselor's Office of the Domestic Relations Division of The Superior Court, County of Sacramento, was investigated. The sample consisted of 83 couples, drawn on the basis of their willingness to cooperate. The Marriage Questionnaire, developed by James L. Hawkins, PhD was used to assess marital interaction, and yielded a single score for a married couple on both affection-companionship and hostility, as reflected in the reported overt behaviors of the couple. The study focused on the ACI and HOS variables in relationship to the decision of the couple concerning their immediate future marital relationship, or their reconciliation decision. Couples were classified on the basis of these decisions and were categorized as follows: 1) decision to reconcile (R), 2) decision to refuse reconciliation (RR), and 3) reconciliation decision unknown to the Marriage Counselor's Office, which consisted of the subgroups off-calendar (OC) and petition-dismissed (PD). The possibility that other factors relating to marital status might be associated with reconciliation decisions of these couples was also investigated. The specific hypotheses tested were: 1. There is no difference among the three reconciliation decision groups, R, RR, and RU, with regard to ACI scores or to HOS scores. 2. There is a significant negative correlation between HOS and ACI within the entire sample and within each of the reconciliation decision groups. 3. There is no difference in HOS scores of court-referred couples and non-court-referred couples regardless of reconciliation decision. 4. Among couples receiving counseling there is no difference in the number who do reconcile and the number who do not reconcile within this particular sample. 5. Reconciliation decision is independent of: present ages of marriage partners, duration of marriage, incidence of children younger than ten years, incidence of separation, and duration of separation. Results indicated differences, significant at the five per cent level, in both HOS and ACI between the R group and PD group, in HOS only between the RR and PD group, and in ACI only between the R and RR groups. No differences resulted in either ACI or HOS between OC and PD, R and OC, and RR and OC. No significant relationship was found between the number of couples who reconcile and the number of couples who refuse reconciliation following counseling. A significant negative correlation (-.575) between ACI and HOS was found within the R group, and no relationship was found within any one of the RR, OC, or PD groups. The reconciliation decision of couples was found to be independent of age of the marriage partners, the duration of marriage, the incidence of children younger than ten years of age, or the duration of separation. However, reconciliation decision was found to be significantly related to incidence of separation at the .001 level of confidence. It was concluded from the results of the study that differences do exist in affection-companionship and hostility between certain reconciliation decision groups, and that for reconciled couples, at least, a significant negative relationship exists between ACI and HOS. The affection-companionship index, as measured by the Marriage Questionnaire, discriminates between reconciled couples and couples who refuse to reconcile. Marital separation is associated with the reconciliation decision of these couples. The study points up the need for further research. Close

• 77. [Article] Preservice counselors' initial perceptions of client grief style : an analogue study

  Grief--the reaction to a significant loss--is a near-universal human experience, from which a subset of grievers (10%-15%) have difficulty recovering, placing them at high risk for negative health and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Preservice counselors' initial perceptions of client grief style : an analogue study Author: Beckett, L. Catherine Grief--the reaction to a significant loss--is a near-universal human experience, from which a subset of grievers (10%-15%) have difficulty recovering, placing them at high risk for negative health and mental health outcomes (Marks, Jun, & Song, 2007). For those showing substantial distress, counseling has been shown to be an effective intervention (Boerner, Wortman, & Bonnano, 2005; Parkes, 1971). In 2000, Martin and Doka introduced a continuum of adaptive grieving styles, from intuitive (affectively focused) grief to instrumental (cognitively or behaviorally focused) grief. We know that counseling outcomes can be affected by perceptions and biases that counselors have toward clients (Luborsky, Auerbach, Chandler, Cohen, & Bachrach, 1971); however, we do not know whether a counselor’s perception of a client at the start of treatment is impacted by the client’s grief style. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of client grief style on initial counselor perceptions of the client. Utilizing an analogue design, this study explored how client grief style impacted counselors’ clinically related judgments following the viewing of an analogue of an initial counseling interview. Three professional actors were used to create videotapes of three different grief scenarios (bereavement, divorce, and pregnancy loss), with each actor portraying both an intuitive and an instrumental version of each scenario. The client’s grief style was manipulated by alterations in language and affective presentation in a three-by-two design that held the facts of the clinical scenarios, as well as all other aspects of the videotapes, constant. One version of each of the three scenarios (three video clips in all) was shown to a total of 99 preservice counselors in six CACREP-accredited master’s in counseling programs. There were three directional hypotheses developed based upon the extant research literature: (a) counselors would rate the global functioning of intuitive grievers higher than the global functioning of instrumental grievers; (b) counselors will rate their expectations of the therapeutic bond with intuitive grievers higher than their expectations of the therapeutic bond with instrumental grievers; and (c) counselors would be more likely to encourage emotional catharsis among instrumental grievers. Results supported the second hypothesis but not the first and third. Indeed, for the first and third hypotheses, there were significant differences found in the opposite direction. Counselors rated instrumental grievers as higher functioning than intuitive grievers (the opposite of Hypothesis 1), and the likelihood that counselors would encourage emotional catharsis was higher for intuitive grievers (the opposite of Hypothesis 3). Of particular clinical and educational importance was the finding that 66% of participants reported they would encourage emotional catharsis “often,” “very often,” or “always” in treatment with instrumental grievers, an approach that may be contraindicated for this group. Title: Preservice counselors' initial perceptions of client grief style : an analogue study Author: Beckett, L. Catherine Grief--the reaction to a significant loss--is a near-universal human experience, from which a subset of grievers (10%-15%) have difficulty recovering, placing them at high risk for negative health and mental health outcomes (Marks, Jun, & Song, 2007). For those showing substantial distress, counseling has been shown to be an effective intervention (Boerner, Wortman, & Bonnano, 2005; Parkes, 1971). In 2000, Martin and Doka introduced a continuum of adaptive grieving styles, from intuitive (affectively focused) grief to instrumental (cognitively or behaviorally focused) grief. We know that counseling outcomes can be affected by perceptions and biases that counselors have toward clients (Luborsky, Auerbach, Chandler, Cohen, & Bachrach, 1971); however, we do not know whether a counselor’s perception of a client at the start of treatment is impacted by the client’s grief style. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of client grief style on initial counselor perceptions of the client. Utilizing an analogue design, this study explored how client grief style impacted counselors’ clinically related judgments following the viewing of an analogue of an initial counseling interview. Three professional actors were used to create videotapes of three different grief scenarios (bereavement, divorce, and pregnancy loss), with each actor portraying both an intuitive and an instrumental version of each scenario. The client’s grief style was manipulated by alterations in language and affective presentation in a three-by-two design that held the facts of the clinical scenarios, as well as all other aspects of the videotapes, constant. One version of each of the three scenarios (three video clips in all) was shown to a total of 99 preservice counselors in six CACREP-accredited master’s in counseling programs. There were three directional hypotheses developed based upon the extant research literature: (a) counselors would rate the global functioning of intuitive grievers higher than the global functioning of instrumental grievers; (b) counselors will rate their expectations of the therapeutic bond with intuitive grievers higher than their expectations of the therapeutic bond with instrumental grievers; and (c) counselors would be more likely to encourage emotional catharsis among instrumental grievers. Results supported the second hypothesis but not the first and third. Indeed, for the first and third hypotheses, there were significant differences found in the opposite direction. Counselors rated instrumental grievers as higher functioning than intuitive grievers (the opposite of Hypothesis 1), and the likelihood that counselors would encourage emotional catharsis was higher for intuitive grievers (the opposite of Hypothesis 3). Of particular clinical and educational importance was the finding that 66% of participants reported they would encourage emotional catharsis “often,” “very often,” or “always” in treatment with instrumental grievers, an approach that may be contraindicated for this group. Close

• 78. [Article] Selected characteristics of personal bankruptcy petitioners in Portland, Oregon

  Concern regarding the large numbers of personal bankruptcies in Oregon prompted this study. Although information was available from a few studies in other parts of the United States, none was available ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Selected characteristics of personal bankruptcy petitioners in Portland, Oregon Author: Matsen, Shirley Suzanne Concern regarding the large numbers of personal bankruptcies in Oregon prompted this study. Although information was available from a few studies in other parts of the United States, none was available for Oregon. Very little data has been collected on personal and family characteristics of people filing bankruptcy and less has been collected through personal interviews with the petitioners. The two major objectives of this study were (1) to obtain data about certain personal and family characteristics of a sample of Oregon personal bankruptcy petitioners through the use of an interview questionnaire and to attempt to determine if they were related to financial characteristics obtained from official bankruptcy petitions and (2) to compare selected socioeconomic characteristics of the sample with Oregon and United States general population characteristics. An interview questionnaire was administered to 50 personal bankruptcy petitioners immediately following the first creditor hearing for each case in the bankruptcy court in Portland, Oregon in February 1966. Other data were secured from the bankruptcy petitions. The study required cooperation of the Federal Referees in Bankruptcy, attorneys handling each case and the petitioners themselves. Personal and family information obtained from the petitioner questionnaire included: sex; age class; occupation classification; employment status; marital status; length of time married; length of time divorced or separated; number of times petitioner had married; age class of spouse; family size; number of children; stage in family life cycle; employment status of spouse; bankruptcy history; petitioner and spouse education; social class; incidence of threatened and/or actual garnishment; number and type of solutions to financial problems sought before petitioning for bankruptcy; period of highest debt level; reason for highest debt level; number and type of primary reasons for filing bankruptcy petition; type of area in which petitioner lived during first 14 years of life; degree of expressed marital happiness; degree of influence of financial problems on marital happiness; responsibility for bill payment; and degree of expressed husband-wife agreement regarding expenditures. Financial information obtained from bankruptcy petitions filed with the court included income for last available year, total amount of debt, amount and percentage of secured, unsecured and assigned debt and number and percentage of secured, unsecured and assigned creditors. Debts were classified into 23 creditor classifications according to purpose of the debt. Statistical description included frequency distributions, ranges, means and medians. A t-test of significance was run for petitioner characteristics with mean debt and mean income. A multiple correlation using age class, family size, stage in family life cycle, mean income and mean debt was calculated. Results of the study indicated a significant correlation (P = .01) between mean debt and mean income. Among other findings are the following median personal, family and financial characteristics of the petitioners: male, 28 years old, married, two children, child bearing stage of family life cycle, twelfth grade education, semiskilled employee, income for last available year of $4,950 and total debt of $4,831 owed 16.5 creditors. Over 75 percent of the petitioners owed medical and automobile expenses. Findings regarding degree of expressed marital happiness, degree of influence of financial problems on marital happiness and degree of expressed husband-wife agreement regarding expenditures, although not conclusive, suggest trends which indicate the need for further research. Care must be taken not to generalize from the results since reliability and validity have not been established. Suggestions for further research regarding bankruptcy include expansion of interview technique and total sample size, study of financial management practices of bankrupts following bankruptcy release, study of creditor orientation to bankruptcy, a longitudinal study of family structure and personal traits as they relate to financial management. Title: Selected characteristics of personal bankruptcy petitioners in Portland, Oregon Author: Matsen, Shirley Suzanne Concern regarding the large numbers of personal bankruptcies in Oregon prompted this study. Although information was available from a few studies in other parts of the United States, none was available for Oregon. Very little data has been collected on personal and family characteristics of people filing bankruptcy and less has been collected through personal interviews with the petitioners. The two major objectives of this study were (1) to obtain data about certain personal and family characteristics of a sample of Oregon personal bankruptcy petitioners through the use of an interview questionnaire and to attempt to determine if they were related to financial characteristics obtained from official bankruptcy petitions and (2) to compare selected socioeconomic characteristics of the sample with Oregon and United States general population characteristics. An interview questionnaire was administered to 50 personal bankruptcy petitioners immediately following the first creditor hearing for each case in the bankruptcy court in Portland, Oregon in February 1966. Other data were secured from the bankruptcy petitions. The study required cooperation of the Federal Referees in Bankruptcy, attorneys handling each case and the petitioners themselves. Personal and family information obtained from the petitioner questionnaire included: sex; age class; occupation classification; employment status; marital status; length of time married; length of time divorced or separated; number of times petitioner had married; age class of spouse; family size; number of children; stage in family life cycle; employment status of spouse; bankruptcy history; petitioner and spouse education; social class; incidence of threatened and/or actual garnishment; number and type of solutions to financial problems sought before petitioning for bankruptcy; period of highest debt level; reason for highest debt level; number and type of primary reasons for filing bankruptcy petition; type of area in which petitioner lived during first 14 years of life; degree of expressed marital happiness; degree of influence of financial problems on marital happiness; responsibility for bill payment; and degree of expressed husband-wife agreement regarding expenditures. Financial information obtained from bankruptcy petitions filed with the court included income for last available year, total amount of debt, amount and percentage of secured, unsecured and assigned debt and number and percentage of secured, unsecured and assigned creditors. Debts were classified into 23 creditor classifications according to purpose of the debt. Statistical description included frequency distributions, ranges, means and medians. A t-test of significance was run for petitioner characteristics with mean debt and mean income. A multiple correlation using age class, family size, stage in family life cycle, mean income and mean debt was calculated. Results of the study indicated a significant correlation (P = .01) between mean debt and mean income. Among other findings are the following median personal, family and financial characteristics of the petitioners: male, 28 years old, married, two children, child bearing stage of family life cycle, twelfth grade education, semiskilled employee, income for last available year of $4,950 and total debt of $4,831 owed 16.5 creditors. Over 75 percent of the petitioners owed medical and automobile expenses. Findings regarding degree of expressed marital happiness, degree of influence of financial problems on marital happiness and degree of expressed husband-wife agreement regarding expenditures, although not conclusive, suggest trends which indicate the need for further research. Care must be taken not to generalize from the results since reliability and validity have not been established. Suggestions for further research regarding bankruptcy include expansion of interview technique and total sample size, study of financial management practices of bankrupts following bankruptcy release, study of creditor orientation to bankruptcy, a longitudinal study of family structure and personal traits as they relate to financial management. Close

• 79. [Article] The influence of community service volunteer work on perceptions of job satisfaction and organizational commitment among Oregon employees of Pacific Northwest Bell

  Corporate employee volunteer programs are redefining "corporate social responsibility." Community benefits derived from these programs are well documented. However, there is limited research on what internal ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The influence of community service volunteer work on perceptions of job satisfaction and organizational commitment among Oregon employees of Pacific Northwest Bell Author: Stebbins, Sarah J. Corporate employee volunteer programs are redefining "corporate social responsibility." Community benefits derived from these programs are well documented. However, there is limited research on what internal impact such programs have on the sponsoring corporations. Kast and Rosenzwieg (1978) define "organizational performance" as "effectiveness," "efficiency" and "participant satisfaction." The study focused on the latter of these components. "Job satisfaction" and "organizational commitment" were the dependent variables because of their relationship to "participant satisfaction." The study's purpose was to determine if a relationship existed between community service volunteer work and perceptions of job satisfaction and organizational commitment among Oregon employees of Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB). A random sample of 1,000 Oregon PNB employees received a mail survey with 64.6% of the surveys returned. Respondents were placed into groups according to their volunteer activity: PNB sponsored/non- PNB sponsored, PNB only, non-PNB only and none. A statistically significant relationship was found to exist between community service activity and the two dependent variables. The two groups highest in the dependent variables were involved in PNB sponsored activity. Both null hypotheses failed to be retained. There were significant main effects for both dependent variables by marital status, sex, years with PNB and age. Selected conclusions from the study were: 1. Employees involved in volunteer activity and in particular, corporate sponsored activity, appear to interact positively with the dependent variables. 2. It appears there is a relationship between community service involvement and employee perceptions that the employer encourages participation. 3. Single PNB employees, as a group, are subject to higher rates of turnover than married, divorced or widowed employees. Selected recommendations for further research included: 1. Determine if a causal relationship exists between community service volunteer work and the dependent variables. 2. Examine more closely employee perceptions of employer attitudes towards volunteer work. 3. Replicate this study in a manufacturing corporation. Compare PNB employee community service involvement with employees of a corporation that produces goods rather than providing service. Title: The influence of community service volunteer work on perceptions of job satisfaction and organizational commitment among Oregon employees of Pacific Northwest Bell Author: Stebbins, Sarah J. Corporate employee volunteer programs are redefining "corporate social responsibility." Community benefits derived from these programs are well documented. However, there is limited research on what internal impact such programs have on the sponsoring corporations. Kast and Rosenzwieg (1978) define "organizational performance" as "effectiveness," "efficiency" and "participant satisfaction." The study focused on the latter of these components. "Job satisfaction" and "organizational commitment" were the dependent variables because of their relationship to "participant satisfaction." The study's purpose was to determine if a relationship existed between community service volunteer work and perceptions of job satisfaction and organizational commitment among Oregon employees of Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB). A random sample of 1,000 Oregon PNB employees received a mail survey with 64.6% of the surveys returned. Respondents were placed into groups according to their volunteer activity: PNB sponsored/non- PNB sponsored, PNB only, non-PNB only and none. A statistically significant relationship was found to exist between community service activity and the two dependent variables. The two groups highest in the dependent variables were involved in PNB sponsored activity. Both null hypotheses failed to be retained. There were significant main effects for both dependent variables by marital status, sex, years with PNB and age. Selected conclusions from the study were: 1. Employees involved in volunteer activity and in particular, corporate sponsored activity, appear to interact positively with the dependent variables. 2. It appears there is a relationship between community service involvement and employee perceptions that the employer encourages participation. 3. Single PNB employees, as a group, are subject to higher rates of turnover than married, divorced or widowed employees. Selected recommendations for further research included: 1. Determine if a causal relationship exists between community service volunteer work and the dependent variables. 2. Examine more closely employee perceptions of employer attitudes towards volunteer work. 3. Replicate this study in a manufacturing corporation. Compare PNB employee community service involvement with employees of a corporation that produces goods rather than providing service. Close

• 80. [Article] Coping resources mediating the relationship between stressful life events and delinquent behavior among adolescents

  Stressful events of both major and minor magnitude in the lives of children and adolescents are significantly related to emotional and behavioral problems (Compas, 1987a; Johnson, 1986). It is also apparent, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Coping resources mediating the relationship between stressful life events and delinquent behavior among adolescents Author: Sim, Hee-og Stressful events of both major and minor magnitude in the lives of children and adolescents are significantly related to emotional and behavioral problems (Compas, 1987a; Johnson, 1986). It is also apparent, however, that this relationship is complicated and that individuals vary greatly in their responses to stress. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that mediate the relationship between negative life events and behavioral problems during adolescence. In this study, it was hypothesized that negative life events would lower personal resources which, in turn, would lower social resources. Adolescents with lower levels of personal and social resources were predicted to have higher levels of delinquent behavior. Data were collected from 217 of the 9th graders in a high school in a coastal community of Oregon. One hundred sixty-one returned completed surveys. The following scales were used; the Divorce Events Schedule for Children (Sandler, Wolchik, Braver, & Fogas, 1986), a shortened form of the Adolescent Perceived Events Scale (Compas, Davis, Forsythe, & Wagner, 1987),; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965); Desirable and Undesirable Event Locus of Control Scale (Rothbaum, Wolfer, & Visintainer, 1979); Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (Rosenthal, Gurney, & Moore, 1981); Social Support Scale for Children (Harter, 1986); Delinquency Lifestyle Scale (Ageton & Elliott, 1978). For data analysis, a series of path analyses using regression techniques was used. Results indicated that coping resources mediated the relationship between negative life events and delinquent behavior. A high level of stress was related to lower levels of personal resources. These personal resources were not directly related to more delinquent behavior, however. Rather, they were associated with lower social support and then more delinquent behavior. The findings related to specific personal resources were both consistent and contrary to predictions. Negative life events lowered self-esteem, identity, and autonomy development significantly. Consistent with previous research, adolescents with external locus of control orientation had more delinquent behavior and perceived less social support. Social support was a mediator between negative life events and delinquent behavior, implying the importance of social support from family, school, and peer in preventing delinquent behavior among adolescents. Title: Coping resources mediating the relationship between stressful life events and delinquent behavior among adolescents Author: Sim, Hee-og Stressful events of both major and minor magnitude in the lives of children and adolescents are significantly related to emotional and behavioral problems (Compas, 1987a; Johnson, 1986). It is also apparent, however, that this relationship is complicated and that individuals vary greatly in their responses to stress. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that mediate the relationship between negative life events and behavioral problems during adolescence. In this study, it was hypothesized that negative life events would lower personal resources which, in turn, would lower social resources. Adolescents with lower levels of personal and social resources were predicted to have higher levels of delinquent behavior. Data were collected from 217 of the 9th graders in a high school in a coastal community of Oregon. One hundred sixty-one returned completed surveys. The following scales were used; the Divorce Events Schedule for Children (Sandler, Wolchik, Braver, & Fogas, 1986), a shortened form of the Adolescent Perceived Events Scale (Compas, Davis, Forsythe, & Wagner, 1987),; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965); Desirable and Undesirable Event Locus of Control Scale (Rothbaum, Wolfer, & Visintainer, 1979); Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (Rosenthal, Gurney, & Moore, 1981); Social Support Scale for Children (Harter, 1986); Delinquency Lifestyle Scale (Ageton & Elliott, 1978). For data analysis, a series of path analyses using regression techniques was used. Results indicated that coping resources mediated the relationship between negative life events and delinquent behavior. A high level of stress was related to lower levels of personal resources. These personal resources were not directly related to more delinquent behavior, however. Rather, they were associated with lower social support and then more delinquent behavior. The findings related to specific personal resources were both consistent and contrary to predictions. Negative life events lowered self-esteem, identity, and autonomy development significantly. Consistent with previous research, adolescents with external locus of control orientation had more delinquent behavior and perceived less social support. Social support was a mediator between negative life events and delinquent behavior, implying the importance of social support from family, school, and peer in preventing delinquent behavior among adolescents. Close