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• 431. [Article] A market oriented approach to energy conservation identifying disadvantaged families as target groups for energy assistance programs

  Energy expenditures, perceived family well being, and energy conservation actions were analyzed by family composition and level of income. Data were from a three state subsample (Arizona, Colorado, and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A market oriented approach to energy conservation identifying disadvantaged families as target groups for energy assistance programs Author: Marganus, Martin Energy expenditures, perceived family well being, and energy conservation actions were analyzed by family composition and level of income. Data were from a three state subsample (Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon; N = 2,633) of a larger stratified random sample of households in the Western United States. Data were collected in the spring of 1981 by mail survey. Self-reported total annual energy expenditures were correlated with scores on an Index of Well Being, a measure of the perceived level of cut-backs in areas of consumption other than energy, due to rising fuel prices. No significant (p ≤ .05) correlation was found between energy expenditures and scores on the Index of Well Being. The proportion of income spent on residential energy (energy budget share), however, was significantly (p = .001) correlated with the Index of Well Being (r = <.247). Families were classified according to the age and marital status of the head of household, and the number of dependents in the family. One-way analysis of variance was used to test differences in energy expenditures, the energy budget share, and scores on the Index of Well Being between family types and families at different income levels. All variables differed significantly (p ≤ .001) between groups. Families past retirement age had an average energy budget share of almost twice the amount of other families. The form of relationship was tested by fitting linear, quadratic, and cubic contrasts to the group means. Energy expenditures varied across stages in the family-life-cycle in the form of an inverted U. Interactions between the two grouping factors, family composition and income, were tested in a two-way analysis of variance. Only in the case of the energy budget share a significant (p ≤ .05) interaction was found. There was no significant effect of climate on energy expenditures. Log-linear analysis was used to find differences in the probability with which families at different stages in the family-life-cycle and at different income levels had taken various energy conservation actions. Models were fitted to five-way frequency tables of energy conservation actions by age and marital status of the head of household, family size, and income. Conservation actions were classified as energy efficiency improvements or curtailments. The probability of efficiency improvements generally increased with age and income, while no clear trend existed for curtailments. A stepwise logistic regression procedure was employed to find socioeconomic and housing factors associated with the differences in conservation actions between family types and income groups. Interfamily differences in energy conservation actions were largely determined by differences in the built environment. The probability for having taken conservation actions was lowest in rented multi-family dwellings, built before 1975. Weatherization programs should, therefore, be targeted to these dwellings. Since loans were equally used by all income groups, but tax credits more often by high income families, a loan program would be a more equitable way to encourage energy conservation than tax credits. Title: A market oriented approach to energy conservation identifying disadvantaged families as target groups for energy assistance programs Author: Marganus, Martin Energy expenditures, perceived family well being, and energy conservation actions were analyzed by family composition and level of income. Data were from a three state subsample (Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon; N = 2,633) of a larger stratified random sample of households in the Western United States. Data were collected in the spring of 1981 by mail survey. Self-reported total annual energy expenditures were correlated with scores on an Index of Well Being, a measure of the perceived level of cut-backs in areas of consumption other than energy, due to rising fuel prices. No significant (p ≤ .05) correlation was found between energy expenditures and scores on the Index of Well Being. The proportion of income spent on residential energy (energy budget share), however, was significantly (p = .001) correlated with the Index of Well Being (r = <.247). Families were classified according to the age and marital status of the head of household, and the number of dependents in the family. One-way analysis of variance was used to test differences in energy expenditures, the energy budget share, and scores on the Index of Well Being between family types and families at different income levels. All variables differed significantly (p ≤ .001) between groups. Families past retirement age had an average energy budget share of almost twice the amount of other families. The form of relationship was tested by fitting linear, quadratic, and cubic contrasts to the group means. Energy expenditures varied across stages in the family-life-cycle in the form of an inverted U. Interactions between the two grouping factors, family composition and income, were tested in a two-way analysis of variance. Only in the case of the energy budget share a significant (p ≤ .05) interaction was found. There was no significant effect of climate on energy expenditures. Log-linear analysis was used to find differences in the probability with which families at different stages in the family-life-cycle and at different income levels had taken various energy conservation actions. Models were fitted to five-way frequency tables of energy conservation actions by age and marital status of the head of household, family size, and income. Conservation actions were classified as energy efficiency improvements or curtailments. The probability of efficiency improvements generally increased with age and income, while no clear trend existed for curtailments. A stepwise logistic regression procedure was employed to find socioeconomic and housing factors associated with the differences in conservation actions between family types and income groups. Interfamily differences in energy conservation actions were largely determined by differences in the built environment. The probability for having taken conservation actions was lowest in rented multi-family dwellings, built before 1975. Weatherization programs should, therefore, be targeted to these dwellings. Since loans were equally used by all income groups, but tax credits more often by high income families, a loan program would be a more equitable way to encourage energy conservation than tax credits. Close

• 432. [Article] Expenditure differentials of selected urban families receiving AFDC assistance

  Expenditure data of 13 households receiving. Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) were collected through use of specially designed record booklets for one month and by a brief interview. Welfare ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Expenditure differentials of selected urban families receiving AFDC assistance Author: Lowry, Helen Joanne Speckhart Expenditure data of 13 households receiving. Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) were collected through use of specially designed record booklets for one month and by a brief interview. Welfare workers in southeast Portland discussed the study with families meeting the criteria of 1) a one-parent family with one or more children, 2) AFDC recipient, and 3) one-family household. Families who volunteered and completed the procedures included four families with one child, four families with two children, four families with three youngsters and one family with four children. All adults were female and had a mean age of 31. 5 years and had completed a mean of 11.9 years of school. The record booklets coded for each week of the month in eye-catching psychedelic colors were important in obtaining desired information. Included were specific directions for recording income and expenditures and unprofessionally drawn illustrations along with written listings of items to be reported on each page. All families received income from their AFDC grant and 12 families supplemented this income with food stamps. Six families had additional income from non-assistance sources and one family used free services of a child guidance clinic. The mean AFDC grant was $200, mean food stamp bonus was $54. 46 and mean nonassistance income was $16 for total mean financial resources of $270.77 per case. Resources from government programs, food stamps and AFDC, provided a mean of 94 percent of the families' income and non-assistance sources added six percent of the income. As family size increased, the percentage of total income allocated to food increased and the percentage of income used for housing decreased. Shelter and food demanded a mean of 82.6 percent of total income. Payments to AFDC recipients in Oregon are 80 percent of the financial needs for basic maintenance according to standards set by legislative action. Supplements to income provided by food stamps and the net from non-assistance sources increased the adequacy of the family's income in relation to the standards. The average income of families met a mean of 96.3 percent of need as defined by welfare standards. In comparing the actual expenditures in various consumption groups with the allowance figured by welfare, it was found that both housing and food expenditures were over 100 percent of the allowance while clothing, personal incidentals and household supply expenditures were far under the allowance. It was found that families were aware of the importance of planning the use of money as a means of meeting financial wants. However, the families were realistic with respect to what was possible in light of their limited resource situations. Families indicated a month by month coping when financial resources did not meet demands. The participants lacked an awareness of community resources that may be of assistance with financial problems and consumer buying decisions. Title: Expenditure differentials of selected urban families receiving AFDC assistance Author: Lowry, Helen Joanne Speckhart Expenditure data of 13 households receiving. Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) were collected through use of specially designed record booklets for one month and by a brief interview. Welfare workers in southeast Portland discussed the study with families meeting the criteria of 1) a one-parent family with one or more children, 2) AFDC recipient, and 3) one-family household. Families who volunteered and completed the procedures included four families with one child, four families with two children, four families with three youngsters and one family with four children. All adults were female and had a mean age of 31. 5 years and had completed a mean of 11.9 years of school. The record booklets coded for each week of the month in eye-catching psychedelic colors were important in obtaining desired information. Included were specific directions for recording income and expenditures and unprofessionally drawn illustrations along with written listings of items to be reported on each page. All families received income from their AFDC grant and 12 families supplemented this income with food stamps. Six families had additional income from non-assistance sources and one family used free services of a child guidance clinic. The mean AFDC grant was $200, mean food stamp bonus was $54. 46 and mean nonassistance income was $16 for total mean financial resources of $270.77 per case. Resources from government programs, food stamps and AFDC, provided a mean of 94 percent of the families' income and non-assistance sources added six percent of the income. As family size increased, the percentage of total income allocated to food increased and the percentage of income used for housing decreased. Shelter and food demanded a mean of 82.6 percent of total income. Payments to AFDC recipients in Oregon are 80 percent of the financial needs for basic maintenance according to standards set by legislative action. Supplements to income provided by food stamps and the net from non-assistance sources increased the adequacy of the family's income in relation to the standards. The average income of families met a mean of 96.3 percent of need as defined by welfare standards. In comparing the actual expenditures in various consumption groups with the allowance figured by welfare, it was found that both housing and food expenditures were over 100 percent of the allowance while clothing, personal incidentals and household supply expenditures were far under the allowance. It was found that families were aware of the importance of planning the use of money as a means of meeting financial wants. However, the families were realistic with respect to what was possible in light of their limited resource situations. Families indicated a month by month coping when financial resources did not meet demands. The participants lacked an awareness of community resources that may be of assistance with financial problems and consumer buying decisions. Close

• 433. [Article] Job-related expenditures of married clerical workes at Oregon State University

  The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the jobrelated expenditures of married clerical workers. Also examined were the economic contribution married clerical workers made to the total ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Job-related expenditures of married clerical workes at Oregon State University Author: Satterlee, Helen Grosso The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the jobrelated expenditures of married clerical workers. Also examined were the economic contribution married clerical workers made to the total family income and their reasons for working. The sample was taken from the 1973-74 Staff Directory at Oregon State University. Only those employed in a clerical position who indicated they were married were included in the sample. Of the 425 who were mailed a questionnaire, 212 or 50 percent of them were received and were usable in the study. The number of hours the married clerical workers were employed per week ranged from 20 hours to 45 hours with 84 percent of the sample working 35 or more hours weekly. The mean monthly and yearly income for those in the sample were $471 and $5, 652 respectively. The mean percentage of gross family income contributed by the married clerical workers ranged from 10 percent to 94 percent with a mean of 47 percent. Of the 212 in the sample, 206 married clerical workers gave sufficient information to compute their job-related expenditures. Married clerical workers in the study reported 42.1 percent of their gross monthly income was used for job-related expenditures. The mean expenditures were $198.66 monthly and $2, 383.92 yearly. Payroll deductions took 27.2 percent of the married clerical workers' gross monthly income and other directly related expenses took 2.2 percent. Expenses indirectly related to employment, such as clothing, personal care, child care, meals eaten away from home, and transportation, used 12.7 percent of their gross monthly income. Expenses directly related to employment represented 70 percent of all job-related expenditures. The mean job-related expenditures of 124 of the 206 married clerical workers who reported no chiLdren in the household were 38 percent of their gross monthly and yearly income. Their mean gross monthly income was $478 and mean yearly income was $5, 736. Expenses directly related to employment took 29.4 percent of their gross monthly and yearly income while indirectly related expenses used 8.6 percent of their gross income. The mean percentage of job-related expenditures of the 42 married clerical workers who reported children in the household but no child care expense was 40.7 percent with a mean monthly income of $459 and a mean yearly income of $5, 508. Payroll deductions represented 28.3 percent of the job-related expenditures while other directly related expenses took two percent of their gross monthly and yearly income. Expenses indirectly related to employment used 10.4 percent of their income. For the 40 married clerical workers who reported children in the household and child care expenses, their job-related expenses used 52 percent of their gross monthly and yearly income. Their mean monthly income was $498 and mean yearly income was $5, 976. Payroll deductions took 25. 9 percent of gross monthly income and other directly related expenses took 2. 9 percent. Expenses indirectly related to employment used 23.2 percent of the married clerical workers' income. Reasons for working were also examined. Using a chi square test, there was a significantly greater amount (at the . 01 level) of full-time married clerical workers who indicated they worked to pay for current living expenses and to help pay debts than those working part time. There was also a significantly greater amount (at the . 05 level) of those who worked part time than those who worked full time indicating they worked because they liked working better than fulltime homemaking. Title: Job-related expenditures of married clerical workes at Oregon State University Author: Satterlee, Helen Grosso The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the jobrelated expenditures of married clerical workers. Also examined were the economic contribution married clerical workers made to the total family income and their reasons for working. The sample was taken from the 1973-74 Staff Directory at Oregon State University. Only those employed in a clerical position who indicated they were married were included in the sample. Of the 425 who were mailed a questionnaire, 212 or 50 percent of them were received and were usable in the study. The number of hours the married clerical workers were employed per week ranged from 20 hours to 45 hours with 84 percent of the sample working 35 or more hours weekly. The mean monthly and yearly income for those in the sample were $471 and $5, 652 respectively. The mean percentage of gross family income contributed by the married clerical workers ranged from 10 percent to 94 percent with a mean of 47 percent. Of the 212 in the sample, 206 married clerical workers gave sufficient information to compute their job-related expenditures. Married clerical workers in the study reported 42.1 percent of their gross monthly income was used for job-related expenditures. The mean expenditures were $198.66 monthly and $2, 383.92 yearly. Payroll deductions took 27.2 percent of the married clerical workers' gross monthly income and other directly related expenses took 2.2 percent. Expenses indirectly related to employment, such as clothing, personal care, child care, meals eaten away from home, and transportation, used 12.7 percent of their gross monthly income. Expenses directly related to employment represented 70 percent of all job-related expenditures. The mean job-related expenditures of 124 of the 206 married clerical workers who reported no chiLdren in the household were 38 percent of their gross monthly and yearly income. Their mean gross monthly income was $478 and mean yearly income was $5, 736. Expenses directly related to employment took 29.4 percent of their gross monthly and yearly income while indirectly related expenses used 8.6 percent of their gross income. The mean percentage of job-related expenditures of the 42 married clerical workers who reported children in the household but no child care expense was 40.7 percent with a mean monthly income of $459 and a mean yearly income of $5, 508. Payroll deductions represented 28.3 percent of the job-related expenditures while other directly related expenses took two percent of their gross monthly and yearly income. Expenses indirectly related to employment used 10.4 percent of their income. For the 40 married clerical workers who reported children in the household and child care expenses, their job-related expenses used 52 percent of their gross monthly and yearly income. Their mean monthly income was $498 and mean yearly income was $5, 976. Payroll deductions took 25. 9 percent of gross monthly income and other directly related expenses took 2. 9 percent. Expenses indirectly related to employment used 23.2 percent of the married clerical workers' income. Reasons for working were also examined. Using a chi square test, there was a significantly greater amount (at the . 01 level) of full-time married clerical workers who indicated they worked to pay for current living expenses and to help pay debts than those working part time. There was also a significantly greater amount (at the . 05 level) of those who worked part time than those who worked full time indicating they worked because they liked working better than fulltime homemaking. Close

• 434. [Article] The household economy : examining the mediating roles of income diversification and home production on economic and subjective well-being of women in Malawi

  An integrated framework of Family Resource Management and Household Economic theory was utilized to develop a model of relationships between human capital, family characteristics and resources, number ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The household economy : examining the mediating roles of income diversification and home production on economic and subjective well-being of women in Malawi Author: Chande-Binauli, Lucy S. An integrated framework of Family Resource Management and Household Economic theory was utilized to develop a model of relationships between human capital, family characteristics and resources, number of income sources, hours spent in home production, total income and subjective well-being. This study utilized a sample of 129 women systematically selected from Machinga and Zomba Districts in Malawi. Results of Path analysis showed that place of residence, primary education and secondary education or above had positive direct relationships to number of income sources. Variables which had significant negative relationships with hours spent in home production were place of residence and age. Access to farm technologies had a positive relationship. The positive predictors of total income were: primary education, secondary education or above, number of income sources, place of residence, land holding size and access to farm technologies. Home production time and health status were negatively related to total income. Total income and hours spent in home production were significant and positively related to a well-being score, derived from four measures of well-being. Health status was negatively related to this score. Five variables: place of residence, age, primary education, secondary education or above and access to farm technologies had indirect effects on total income through number of income sources and home production. All independent variables entered had indirect effects on the well-being score through total income and hours spent in home production. Number of income sources only mediated the effects on the well-being score jointly with total income. On the whole, both intervening variables did a fair job of mediating the effects of independent variables on total income and subjective well-being (well-being score). Finally, household size, health status and subjective well-being significantly affected overall satisfaction with life. This study has implications for policy, education/training and research in order to enhance women's well-being. Title: The household economy : examining the mediating roles of income diversification and home production on economic and subjective well-being of women in Malawi Author: Chande-Binauli, Lucy S. An integrated framework of Family Resource Management and Household Economic theory was utilized to develop a model of relationships between human capital, family characteristics and resources, number of income sources, hours spent in home production, total income and subjective well-being. This study utilized a sample of 129 women systematically selected from Machinga and Zomba Districts in Malawi. Results of Path analysis showed that place of residence, primary education and secondary education or above had positive direct relationships to number of income sources. Variables which had significant negative relationships with hours spent in home production were place of residence and age. Access to farm technologies had a positive relationship. The positive predictors of total income were: primary education, secondary education or above, number of income sources, place of residence, land holding size and access to farm technologies. Home production time and health status were negatively related to total income. Total income and hours spent in home production were significant and positively related to a well-being score, derived from four measures of well-being. Health status was negatively related to this score. Five variables: place of residence, age, primary education, secondary education or above and access to farm technologies had indirect effects on total income through number of income sources and home production. All independent variables entered had indirect effects on the well-being score through total income and hours spent in home production. Number of income sources only mediated the effects on the well-being score jointly with total income. On the whole, both intervening variables did a fair job of mediating the effects of independent variables on total income and subjective well-being (well-being score). Finally, household size, health status and subjective well-being significantly affected overall satisfaction with life. This study has implications for policy, education/training and research in order to enhance women's well-being. Close

• 435. [Article] The effects of the family context and parent involvement on perceptions of children's school achievement

  The study examined dimensions of the family context associated with variations in parent involvement and parent perceptions of children's school achievement using data from 1,085 male and 2,239 female respondents ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The effects of the family context and parent involvement on perceptions of children's school achievement Author: Katzev, Aphra R. The study examined dimensions of the family context associated with variations in parent involvement and parent perceptions of children's school achievement using data from 1,085 male and 2,239 female respondents with a child between the ages of 5 and 18 years collected in the 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Households. Small but significant differences in parent perceptions of school achievement were found in favor of children being raised in a first-married two-parent home. Negative effects on school outcomes were centered on children who experienced family disruption. Living in a one-parent household with a parent who was previous married was associated with parent reports of poorer performance for elementary school children and lower grades for adolescents. Neither living in a one-parent household with a continuously single parent nor living in a stepfamily was significantly related to achievement. Parent employment status was not directly related to children's achievement but did have indirect effects through parent involvement both at home and school. Parent involvement at school and in child-centered home activities was associated with perceptions of improved school performance for elementary school children and higher grades for adolescents. Mothers were more likely to be involved in children's schooling than fathers. Single and cohabiting mothers were less involved at school than first-married mothers, but single fathers tended to be more likely to participate than their first-married counterparts. There were no significant differences between the home involvement of single mothers and their first-married counterparts but single fathers were more involved at home than first-married fathers. For both mothers and fathers, receiving tangible aid from a wide network of relatives and friends was associated with higher levels of school and home involvement. Findings suggest that educators who have negative beliefs about single parents' engagement in school-family partnerships may be influenced by these parents' low presence at school. Recognizing that single parents are as involved with their children at home as parents in traditional families can lead to educational practices that support home involvement and result in positive effects on children's academic progress. Title: The effects of the family context and parent involvement on perceptions of children's school achievement Author: Katzev, Aphra R. The study examined dimensions of the family context associated with variations in parent involvement and parent perceptions of children's school achievement using data from 1,085 male and 2,239 female respondents with a child between the ages of 5 and 18 years collected in the 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Households. Small but significant differences in parent perceptions of school achievement were found in favor of children being raised in a first-married two-parent home. Negative effects on school outcomes were centered on children who experienced family disruption. Living in a one-parent household with a parent who was previous married was associated with parent reports of poorer performance for elementary school children and lower grades for adolescents. Neither living in a one-parent household with a continuously single parent nor living in a stepfamily was significantly related to achievement. Parent employment status was not directly related to children's achievement but did have indirect effects through parent involvement both at home and school. Parent involvement at school and in child-centered home activities was associated with perceptions of improved school performance for elementary school children and higher grades for adolescents. Mothers were more likely to be involved in children's schooling than fathers. Single and cohabiting mothers were less involved at school than first-married mothers, but single fathers tended to be more likely to participate than their first-married counterparts. There were no significant differences between the home involvement of single mothers and their first-married counterparts but single fathers were more involved at home than first-married fathers. For both mothers and fathers, receiving tangible aid from a wide network of relatives and friends was associated with higher levels of school and home involvement. Findings suggest that educators who have negative beliefs about single parents' engagement in school-family partnerships may be influenced by these parents' low presence at school. Recognizing that single parents are as involved with their children at home as parents in traditional families can lead to educational practices that support home involvement and result in positive effects on children's academic progress. Close

• 436. [Article] Material possessions and selected activity patterns of women living in retirement housing

  The study was undertaken to determine 1) The types, numbers and status (previously owned or newly purchased) of the household furnishings 2) The types and amounts of selected personal belongings 3) Adequacy ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Material possessions and selected activity patterns of women living in retirement housing Author: Kitchens, Helen Martin The study was undertaken to determine 1) The types, numbers and status (previously owned or newly purchased) of the household furnishings 2) The types and amounts of selected personal belongings 3) Adequacy of storage space provided 4) Selected activity patterns of a specific group of retired women living in one retirement home. The retirement home selected for the study was Terwilliger Plaza, a 342-unit complex located in Portland, Oregon. The aforementioned information was obtained through personal interviews with a random sample of 45 residents of the retirement home--25 living in studio apartments and 20 living in one-bedroom apartments. Comparisons were made between residents of the two types of apartments in each of the areas studied. The interviews revealed that there was no significant difference between residents of the two types of apartments studied relative to length of time at Terwilliger Plaza, previous residence, age and annual income. Approximately three-fourths of the total group had lived in the home the entire four years it had been in operation. The largest group lived in apartments or their own home for an average of ten years before entering the retirement home. The mean age of the occupants was 72.4. Most of the women had an annual income of less than $5,000. When household furnishings were considered, it was concluded that favored items included in the living-dining area by both groups of women studied were easy chairs, small tables, dining tables and chairs, television sets and table and/or floor lamps. The one-bedroom apartment occupants favored a sofa in this area. In the sleeping area, studio apartment occupants were about equally divided in their choice of single bed or convertible sofa-bed. The business centers of studio apartments often featured a secretary. Some of the one-bedroom apartments also had a secretary but more of this group had desks and chairs. Relative to status of furnishings, it can be concluded that the majority of the residents in this retirement home found it most satisfactory to include furnishings from their previous home along with a lesser number of newly purchased items. If they did buy new items, the items purchased most often were television sets, easy chairs, sofas, sofa-beds and bedroom sets. Personal belongings inventoried included outer garments, bedding, household linens, dinnerware, silverware, small electrical appliances and cooking utensils. In every category, with the exception of frequently used cooking utensils, the one-bedroom apartment occupants owned and kept in their apartments a slightly greater number of items than did the studio apartment occupants. The differences were not great enough to be significant. The occupants in both types of apartments tended to keep hobby and business supplies, coats and other clothes, chests, extra food, extra bedding, dishes, cooking utensils: and ironing boards in the storage closet in their apartments. They stored luggage, Christmas deccorations, extra boxes, out-of-season clothes, chests, photographs, personal and family papers, extra bedding, canned foods and cooking utensils in the storage space provided outside their apartments. Nearly all those interviewed were satisfied with the storage space provided. Selected activities participated in by retirement home occupants were meal preparation, meals for guests, light housekeeping chores, entertaining, hobbies, and volunteer work for the retirement home and other organizations. The findings of the study can be useful to 1) Educators concerned with the aging 2) Prospective "retirees" 3) The building trades constructing retirement housing 4) Interior decorators working with the aged 5) Furniture manufacturers and retailers who design, produce and sell furniture for the aged. Title: Material possessions and selected activity patterns of women living in retirement housing Author: Kitchens, Helen Martin The study was undertaken to determine 1) The types, numbers and status (previously owned or newly purchased) of the household furnishings 2) The types and amounts of selected personal belongings 3) Adequacy of storage space provided 4) Selected activity patterns of a specific group of retired women living in one retirement home. The retirement home selected for the study was Terwilliger Plaza, a 342-unit complex located in Portland, Oregon. The aforementioned information was obtained through personal interviews with a random sample of 45 residents of the retirement home--25 living in studio apartments and 20 living in one-bedroom apartments. Comparisons were made between residents of the two types of apartments in each of the areas studied. The interviews revealed that there was no significant difference between residents of the two types of apartments studied relative to length of time at Terwilliger Plaza, previous residence, age and annual income. Approximately three-fourths of the total group had lived in the home the entire four years it had been in operation. The largest group lived in apartments or their own home for an average of ten years before entering the retirement home. The mean age of the occupants was 72.4. Most of the women had an annual income of less than $5,000. When household furnishings were considered, it was concluded that favored items included in the living-dining area by both groups of women studied were easy chairs, small tables, dining tables and chairs, television sets and table and/or floor lamps. The one-bedroom apartment occupants favored a sofa in this area. In the sleeping area, studio apartment occupants were about equally divided in their choice of single bed or convertible sofa-bed. The business centers of studio apartments often featured a secretary. Some of the one-bedroom apartments also had a secretary but more of this group had desks and chairs. Relative to status of furnishings, it can be concluded that the majority of the residents in this retirement home found it most satisfactory to include furnishings from their previous home along with a lesser number of newly purchased items. If they did buy new items, the items purchased most often were television sets, easy chairs, sofas, sofa-beds and bedroom sets. Personal belongings inventoried included outer garments, bedding, household linens, dinnerware, silverware, small electrical appliances and cooking utensils. In every category, with the exception of frequently used cooking utensils, the one-bedroom apartment occupants owned and kept in their apartments a slightly greater number of items than did the studio apartment occupants. The differences were not great enough to be significant. The occupants in both types of apartments tended to keep hobby and business supplies, coats and other clothes, chests, extra food, extra bedding, dishes, cooking utensils: and ironing boards in the storage closet in their apartments. They stored luggage, Christmas deccorations, extra boxes, out-of-season clothes, chests, photographs, personal and family papers, extra bedding, canned foods and cooking utensils in the storage space provided outside their apartments. Nearly all those interviewed were satisfied with the storage space provided. Selected activities participated in by retirement home occupants were meal preparation, meals for guests, light housekeeping chores, entertaining, hobbies, and volunteer work for the retirement home and other organizations. The findings of the study can be useful to 1) Educators concerned with the aging 2) Prospective "retirees" 3) The building trades constructing retirement housing 4) Interior decorators working with the aged 5) Furniture manufacturers and retailers who design, produce and sell furniture for the aged. Close

• 437. [Article] Shared family time : an analysis in two-parent, two-child Oregon households

  In this study patterns of shared family time in 210 two-parent, two-child Oregon households were described. The relationship between amounts of shared time and a number of family and environmental characteristics ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Shared family time : an analysis in two-parent, two-child Oregon households Author: Parker, Louise Anne In this study patterns of shared family time in 210 two-parent, two-child Oregon households were described. The relationship between amounts of shared time and a number of family and environmental characteristics was also researched. The study used the Oregon data from a contributing project of the Northeast Regional Research Project NE 113, an Interstate Urban/Rural Comparison of Families' Time Use. A sample of 210 families divided into five groups by age of the youngest child was drawn. Half the families were classified as urban and half as rural. The mean age of the homemakers and their spouses was approximately 32 years. About 72 percent of the homemakers were not employed outside the home. However, about 80 percent of the spouses reported working 40 or more weekly hours. Families recorded the time use of members over the age of six for two charted 24-hour periods. The second recording day was used to analyze the incidence of shared time. The number of shared time episodes recorded by the families for one day ranged from zero to 15, with a mean of 3.5 daily episodes. The amounts of daily shared time ranged from zero to 1,140 minutes (19 hours). About 19 percent of the families reported no shared time. The most common group of family members participating in shared activity was both parents. The whole family was reported as participants in 13 percent of the shared episodes. For shared time episodes not involving both parents, participation between the homemaker and children was more evident than that between the spouse and children. Nonwork activities accounted for the greater proportion of shared family time episodes. One-third of the episodes were spent in eating together and over one-fourth in social and recreational pursuits. About 18 percent of shared episodes were reported as household work activities, with shopping the task area most commonly shared. Care of family members accounted for 15 percent of the shared episodes reported. The home was the common site for shared activity with threefourths of the shared time episodes occurring in that setting. About 22 percent of the episodes were shared away from the home, work or school environments. More time was shared by family members on weekend days than on weekdays. While the mean amount of shared time for weekend days rose nearly 80 minutes above a daily average of 180 minutes, the mean time shared on weekdays fell 25 minutes below the average. In a regression model with twelve variables, day of the week and age of the homemaker showed significant positive relationships to amounts of shared time at the .05 level. Amounts of shared time tended to increase with the occurrence of weekend days. Shared time also tended to increase in this model as homemakers became older. In a model specifying the .05 significance level for the inclusion of variables, day of the week had a positive effect on amounts of shared time. It appeared that the larger blocks of weekend time facilitated the scheduling of shared activities. In consideration of this finding, the scheduling of hours at work may have been one factor in the degree to which employment acted as a constraint to shared family time. When using the significance level of .10, residence had a significant negative effect on shared time. Families living in rural environments tended to have reduced amounts of shared time compared to urban families. Given the findings regarding the day of week, it was suggested that demands on weekend time use which were absent in an urban setting could be operating in rural families. The independent variables in the regression models accounted for between five and 13 percent of the variation in amounts of shared family time. Title: Shared family time : an analysis in two-parent, two-child Oregon households Author: Parker, Louise Anne In this study patterns of shared family time in 210 two-parent, two-child Oregon households were described. The relationship between amounts of shared time and a number of family and environmental characteristics was also researched. The study used the Oregon data from a contributing project of the Northeast Regional Research Project NE 113, an Interstate Urban/Rural Comparison of Families' Time Use. A sample of 210 families divided into five groups by age of the youngest child was drawn. Half the families were classified as urban and half as rural. The mean age of the homemakers and their spouses was approximately 32 years. About 72 percent of the homemakers were not employed outside the home. However, about 80 percent of the spouses reported working 40 or more weekly hours. Families recorded the time use of members over the age of six for two charted 24-hour periods. The second recording day was used to analyze the incidence of shared time. The number of shared time episodes recorded by the families for one day ranged from zero to 15, with a mean of 3.5 daily episodes. The amounts of daily shared time ranged from zero to 1,140 minutes (19 hours). About 19 percent of the families reported no shared time. The most common group of family members participating in shared activity was both parents. The whole family was reported as participants in 13 percent of the shared episodes. For shared time episodes not involving both parents, participation between the homemaker and children was more evident than that between the spouse and children. Nonwork activities accounted for the greater proportion of shared family time episodes. One-third of the episodes were spent in eating together and over one-fourth in social and recreational pursuits. About 18 percent of shared episodes were reported as household work activities, with shopping the task area most commonly shared. Care of family members accounted for 15 percent of the shared episodes reported. The home was the common site for shared activity with threefourths of the shared time episodes occurring in that setting. About 22 percent of the episodes were shared away from the home, work or school environments. More time was shared by family members on weekend days than on weekdays. While the mean amount of shared time for weekend days rose nearly 80 minutes above a daily average of 180 minutes, the mean time shared on weekdays fell 25 minutes below the average. In a regression model with twelve variables, day of the week and age of the homemaker showed significant positive relationships to amounts of shared time at the .05 level. Amounts of shared time tended to increase with the occurrence of weekend days. Shared time also tended to increase in this model as homemakers became older. In a model specifying the .05 significance level for the inclusion of variables, day of the week had a positive effect on amounts of shared time. It appeared that the larger blocks of weekend time facilitated the scheduling of shared activities. In consideration of this finding, the scheduling of hours at work may have been one factor in the degree to which employment acted as a constraint to shared family time. When using the significance level of .10, residence had a significant negative effect on shared time. Families living in rural environments tended to have reduced amounts of shared time compared to urban families. Given the findings regarding the day of week, it was suggested that demands on weekend time use which were absent in an urban setting could be operating in rural families. The independent variables in the regression models accounted for between five and 13 percent of the variation in amounts of shared family time. Close

• 438. [Article] Essays on Economic Development and Climate Change

  The first essay considers the relative effectiveness of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as channels to allocate resources. I use a catastrophic climate-related shock--Hurricane Mitch--to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Essays on Economic Development and Climate Change Author: Fitch-Fleischmann, Benjamin Year: 2015 The first essay considers the relative effectiveness of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as channels to allocate resources. I use a catastrophic climate-related shock--Hurricane Mitch--to examine the political economy of these channels of aid distribution at the micro level. I combine extensive data on aid received by Nicaraguan households with data on municipal election outcomes and an exogenous, precipitation-based measure of hurricane impact. I find that the hurricane had long-lasting effects on the aid received by households from both NGOs and the government. In the short term, however, the government did not provide aid according to the objective measure of hurricane damage but instead provided aid along political lines. The second essay presents estimates of a relationship between extreme hot temperatures during gestation and a child's subsequent physical well-being in a sample of children in Peru, thus extending existing evidence constructed from U.S. data. Estimates are constructed using high-resolution gridded climate data and geo-coded household surveys. The results suggest that a period of extreme heat (a month whose average temperature is more than 2 standard deviations above the local average) in the period 1 to 3 months before birth is associated with lower weight at birth and a reduction in height (measured 1 to 59 months after birth) that cannot be fully explained by birth weight. There is no evidence of differential maternal investment, as measured by duration of breastfeeding, according to a child's exposure to extreme heat during gestation. The third essay asks whether improved treatment of HIV/AIDS in Africa can be achieved simply by paying health workers to do more. I present estimates of the impact of financial incentives paid to individual workers at public health facilities in Mozambique. The results suggest that piece-rate incentives increased the delivery of five out of fourteen health services for which treatment effects can be identified, with estimated increases ranging from 34 to 157 percent, depending on the particular service. I find no evidence of a corresponding decrease in the delivery of services that are not financially incentivized, suggesting that there is no "crowding out" of intrinsic motivation. Title: Essays on Economic Development and Climate Change Author: Fitch-Fleischmann, Benjamin Year: 2015 The first essay considers the relative effectiveness of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as channels to allocate resources. I use a catastrophic climate-related shock--Hurricane Mitch--to examine the political economy of these channels of aid distribution at the micro level. I combine extensive data on aid received by Nicaraguan households with data on municipal election outcomes and an exogenous, precipitation-based measure of hurricane impact. I find that the hurricane had long-lasting effects on the aid received by households from both NGOs and the government. In the short term, however, the government did not provide aid according to the objective measure of hurricane damage but instead provided aid along political lines. The second essay presents estimates of a relationship between extreme hot temperatures during gestation and a child's subsequent physical well-being in a sample of children in Peru, thus extending existing evidence constructed from U.S. data. Estimates are constructed using high-resolution gridded climate data and geo-coded household surveys. The results suggest that a period of extreme heat (a month whose average temperature is more than 2 standard deviations above the local average) in the period 1 to 3 months before birth is associated with lower weight at birth and a reduction in height (measured 1 to 59 months after birth) that cannot be fully explained by birth weight. There is no evidence of differential maternal investment, as measured by duration of breastfeeding, according to a child's exposure to extreme heat during gestation. The third essay asks whether improved treatment of HIV/AIDS in Africa can be achieved simply by paying health workers to do more. I present estimates of the impact of financial incentives paid to individual workers at public health facilities in Mozambique. The results suggest that piece-rate incentives increased the delivery of five out of fourteen health services for which treatment effects can be identified, with estimated increases ranging from 34 to 157 percent, depending on the particular service. I find no evidence of a corresponding decrease in the delivery of services that are not financially incentivized, suggesting that there is no "crowding out" of intrinsic motivation. Close

• 439. [Article] Home managerial tasks, perceived competence, and related social, psychological, and economic consequences for retired couples

  This study was designed to identify and describe home management tasks, perceived managerial competency, and related social, psychological, and economic consequences for a sample of retired couples. Managerial ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Home managerial tasks, perceived competence, and related social, psychological, and economic consequences for retired couples Author: Hansen, Gary David This study was designed to identify and describe home management tasks, perceived managerial competency, and related social, psychological, and economic consequences for a sample of retired couples. Managerial tasks were defined as essential, periodic activities which (1) sustain the living patterns of a person or family in a common household, and (2) adaptive responses to problems and opportunities produced by changing human or material resources, environmental situations, or health conditions. Management tasks were studied in eight functional areas: food, clothing, secondary living space, household maintenance, marital and family relations, financial resources, social-community relations, and health. Managerial tasks were also classified into four types on the basis of complexity, content, social units involved, and management processes required. The classification included routine managerial, complex managerial, transactional, and interpersonal tasks. Managerial competence was defined as the ability to identify, obtain, and utilize human and material resources to accomplish tasks and achieve goals. Twenty-five items were prepared to measure perceived managerial competence. Items were prepared on the following components of management: underlying factors; collecting and analyzing information; planning and decision making; assessing human resources and interpersonal skills; implementing and coordinating; and evaluating, adapting, and redirecting. The 102 urban couples interviewed had lived an average of 70 years, had completed high school, had an annual median income of $5,200 a year, and a median net worth of $36,400. Nine out of ten lived in their own homes. The husbands had been retired an average of five years. Home managerial and related activities were important to eight of ten men and women after retirement since the potential loss of these activities was viewed very negatively. Women did significantly more of the managerial tasks in the areas of food, clothing, house cleaning, and marital-family relations. (Significance statements refer to the .05 level). Men did more of the tasks in secondary living areas and in finances. Husbands and wives shared equally in the managerial tasks of health maintenance and social-community relations. Retirement of husbands from their major occupations resulted in significantly greater involvement in 17 of the 63 managerial tasks studied, and a complementary decrease by their wives. However, the basic pattern in the distribution of tasks before and after retirement was one of stability. There was a relatively equal sharing of tasks between husbands and wives and a similar assumption of leadership in household and family affairs, 54 percent of the tasks and leadership being attributed to wives. Ninety-five percent of the respondents said they had reached a workable division of responsibilities and sharing of activities. The post retirement patterns required fewer than six months to establish and were considered to be stable and satisfactory by nine of ten respondents. Husbands and wives did not increase their involvement in tasks related to maintaining the marital relationship, nor did wives increase interpersonal activities to help their husbands adjust to retirement. One of ten wives reported her husband's retirement as a major adjustment problem. Increased involvement of men in home managerial tasks was associated negatively with ratings on quality of task performance. There were no significant differences between men and women on their managerial competence scores. Respondents who perceived themselves as competent home managers reinforced this judgment with high ratings on the performance of tasks in the eight functional areas. Those with the highest managerial competence scores had made the most extensive preparations for retirement. Other social, psychological, and economic factors positively related to perceived managerial competence included self image, satisfaction, income, and net worth. Fifteen couples were also interviewed from a rural village for comparison with the urban sample. Title: Home managerial tasks, perceived competence, and related social, psychological, and economic consequences for retired couples Author: Hansen, Gary David This study was designed to identify and describe home management tasks, perceived managerial competency, and related social, psychological, and economic consequences for a sample of retired couples. Managerial tasks were defined as essential, periodic activities which (1) sustain the living patterns of a person or family in a common household, and (2) adaptive responses to problems and opportunities produced by changing human or material resources, environmental situations, or health conditions. Management tasks were studied in eight functional areas: food, clothing, secondary living space, household maintenance, marital and family relations, financial resources, social-community relations, and health. Managerial tasks were also classified into four types on the basis of complexity, content, social units involved, and management processes required. The classification included routine managerial, complex managerial, transactional, and interpersonal tasks. Managerial competence was defined as the ability to identify, obtain, and utilize human and material resources to accomplish tasks and achieve goals. Twenty-five items were prepared to measure perceived managerial competence. Items were prepared on the following components of management: underlying factors; collecting and analyzing information; planning and decision making; assessing human resources and interpersonal skills; implementing and coordinating; and evaluating, adapting, and redirecting. The 102 urban couples interviewed had lived an average of 70 years, had completed high school, had an annual median income of $5,200 a year, and a median net worth of $36,400. Nine out of ten lived in their own homes. The husbands had been retired an average of five years. Home managerial and related activities were important to eight of ten men and women after retirement since the potential loss of these activities was viewed very negatively. Women did significantly more of the managerial tasks in the areas of food, clothing, house cleaning, and marital-family relations. (Significance statements refer to the .05 level). Men did more of the tasks in secondary living areas and in finances. Husbands and wives shared equally in the managerial tasks of health maintenance and social-community relations. Retirement of husbands from their major occupations resulted in significantly greater involvement in 17 of the 63 managerial tasks studied, and a complementary decrease by their wives. However, the basic pattern in the distribution of tasks before and after retirement was one of stability. There was a relatively equal sharing of tasks between husbands and wives and a similar assumption of leadership in household and family affairs, 54 percent of the tasks and leadership being attributed to wives. Ninety-five percent of the respondents said they had reached a workable division of responsibilities and sharing of activities. The post retirement patterns required fewer than six months to establish and were considered to be stable and satisfactory by nine of ten respondents. Husbands and wives did not increase their involvement in tasks related to maintaining the marital relationship, nor did wives increase interpersonal activities to help their husbands adjust to retirement. One of ten wives reported her husband's retirement as a major adjustment problem. Increased involvement of men in home managerial tasks was associated negatively with ratings on quality of task performance. There were no significant differences between men and women on their managerial competence scores. Respondents who perceived themselves as competent home managers reinforced this judgment with high ratings on the performance of tasks in the eight functional areas. Those with the highest managerial competence scores had made the most extensive preparations for retirement. Other social, psychological, and economic factors positively related to perceived managerial competence included self image, satisfaction, income, and net worth. Fifteen couples were also interviewed from a rural village for comparison with the urban sample. Close

• 440. [Article] Financial management planning styles among selected households of retirement age women living alone : is rehearsal an influence?

  Financial management planning styles were investigated with original data collected from 180 unmarried, elderly women with a home economics college background and living alone. Deacon and Firebaugh's (1975, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Financial management planning styles among selected households of retirement age women living alone : is rehearsal an influence? Author: Rodgers, Ruth-Anne Financial management planning styles were investigated with original data collected from 180 unmarried, elderly women with a home economics college background and living alone. Deacon and Firebaugh's (1975, 1988) household management systems theory, continuity theory from gerontology, and the construct of anticipatory socialization from sociology framed the study. Three planning styles named by Buehler and Hogan (1986) as Resource-centered (morphogenic), Goal-centered (morphostatic), and Constrained (random) were identified in the pre- and post-age 60 households. Measures of planning styles were adapted from an original instrument developed by Beard and Firebaugh (1978). Resource-centered planning was characterized as creating, increasing, or substituting resources while maintaining goals; Goal-centered as deleting, modifying, or prioritizing goals while accepting current resources; and Constrained planning as getting by day-by-day. Goal-centered measures were the most descriptive and Constrained measures the least descriptive. Planning style adopted in middle age was significantly related to style in retirement. Resource-centered planning was subject to collapse into Constrained planning. Resource-centered planning was correlated with age (inversely) and pension income; Goal-centered planning with handling finances pre-age 60 and satisfaction with financial management in retirement. Constrained planning was related to lower pre- and post-age 60 income, low level or no participation in planning retirement income and greater likelihood of dissatisfaction with financial practices in retirement. A rehearsal was related to financial management tasks rather than simulation of living alone. Among Constrained planners, the formerly-married were negatively affected by financial experience before age 60 and positively by preparedness and participation in planning retirement income compared to never-married. Many (43 percent) lived alone less than a year before retirement. More had money left over after expenses in retirement (61 percent) than pre-retirement (30 percent). Retirement income had been planned alone or with advice (43 percent), with husband (41 percent), by husband alone (4.5 percent) or not at all (8.5 percent). Eighty percent had anticipated living alone in their later years. Financial planning styles in retirement appear to reflect a pre-retirement rehearsal of family paradigms, financial practices, and planning style. Title: Financial management planning styles among selected households of retirement age women living alone : is rehearsal an influence? Author: Rodgers, Ruth-Anne Financial management planning styles were investigated with original data collected from 180 unmarried, elderly women with a home economics college background and living alone. Deacon and Firebaugh's (1975, 1988) household management systems theory, continuity theory from gerontology, and the construct of anticipatory socialization from sociology framed the study. Three planning styles named by Buehler and Hogan (1986) as Resource-centered (morphogenic), Goal-centered (morphostatic), and Constrained (random) were identified in the pre- and post-age 60 households. Measures of planning styles were adapted from an original instrument developed by Beard and Firebaugh (1978). Resource-centered planning was characterized as creating, increasing, or substituting resources while maintaining goals; Goal-centered as deleting, modifying, or prioritizing goals while accepting current resources; and Constrained planning as getting by day-by-day. Goal-centered measures were the most descriptive and Constrained measures the least descriptive. Planning style adopted in middle age was significantly related to style in retirement. Resource-centered planning was subject to collapse into Constrained planning. Resource-centered planning was correlated with age (inversely) and pension income; Goal-centered planning with handling finances pre-age 60 and satisfaction with financial management in retirement. Constrained planning was related to lower pre- and post-age 60 income, low level or no participation in planning retirement income and greater likelihood of dissatisfaction with financial practices in retirement. A rehearsal was related to financial management tasks rather than simulation of living alone. Among Constrained planners, the formerly-married were negatively affected by financial experience before age 60 and positively by preparedness and participation in planning retirement income compared to never-married. Many (43 percent) lived alone less than a year before retirement. More had money left over after expenses in retirement (61 percent) than pre-retirement (30 percent). Retirement income had been planned alone or with advice (43 percent), with husband (41 percent), by husband alone (4.5 percent) or not at all (8.5 percent). Eighty percent had anticipated living alone in their later years. Financial planning styles in retirement appear to reflect a pre-retirement rehearsal of family paradigms, financial practices, and planning style. Close