Predicting Non‐African American Lesbian and Heterosexual Preadoptive Couples' Openness to Adopting an African American Child

Despite increases in transracial adoption, African American children remain the least likely to be adopted. No research has examined the factors that predict prospective adopters' willingness to adopt an African American child. This study used multilevel modeling to examine predictors of willingness to adopt an African American child in a sample of 48 lesbian couples and 65 heterosexual couples. Individuals pursuing public adoption were more willing than those pursuing private domestic adoption, and heterosexuals pursuing international adoption were more willing than heterosexuals pursuing private domestic adoption. In addition, younger persons, White persons (rather than non‐African American racial minorities), lesbians, and individuals who perceived their neighborhoods as more diverse were more likely to be willing to adopt an African American child.     

Complexities of Informal Social Support Arrangements for Black Lesbian Couples

This qualitative study examined how Black lesbian couples receive informal social support from their social networks. Guided by an integrated framework of symbolic interactionism and Black feminist theory, interviews were conducted with 11 Black lesbian couples (22 individuals) in committed relationships. Using grounded theory methodology, it was found that Black lesbian couples received informal social support from different sources, but that this support was provided to individuals as a means of sustaining individuals' roles as daughters and mothers. Although extended families actively fulfilled perceived family obligations, they negated the existence of lesbian individuals' sexual identity, intimate relationships, and families built with lesbian partners. Friends, church communities, and gay and lesbian communities did not validate Black lesbian couplehood or families headed by Black lesbian couples, but served as supportive sites for individuals. Black lesbian couples responded to social invisibility by engaging in self‐validating processes and limiting access to their families.     

Work Separation Demands and Spouse Psychological Well‐Being

Using family resilience and ecological theories, we examine the relationship between partner work‐required travel separations and spouse psychological well‐being. The study examines the role of work‐organization‐provided supports for families and of informal support networks, including marital satisfaction, as factors that can reduce the risks for indicators of poor well‐being. The data come from a probability sample survey of 8,056 female spouses of U.S. Army personnel, with considerable variation in the amount of travel‐related separations. Findings indicate risks for poor psychological well‐being are greater for spouses who experience more frequent work‐related separations. Findings also indicate that both work organization support and informal support network connections are significant protective factors for spouses experiencing these separations.     

Change in Social Support and Psychological Well‐Being: A Longitudinal Study of Aging Mothers of Adults with Mental Retardation*

We studied 251 older women who had an adult child with mental retardation to examine the psychological consequences of change in social support during the later years of the life course. We examined how maternal age and future orientation (legal guardianship) with respect to caregiving condition the effects of social support. For women over age 65, an increase in the amount of emotional support from network members was predictive of an increase in psychological well‐being, but change in the number of network members was not related to change in well‐being. For women age 65 or younger, an increase in both the size of their social support network and the amount of emotional support received predicted enhanced well‐being only for those who were not legal guardians for their adult child.     

Supervision of Lesbian,Gay, and Bisexual Social Work Students by Heterosexual Field Instructors

Abstract

This paper describes findings from a qualitative study of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) student-heterosexual field instructor dyads. Each dyad was assessed for its level of agreement in characterizing the student's experience in field placement. Disagreements were common, with more than half of the dyads having 2–5 areas of disagreement. The following factors seemed to impact the level of student-field instructor agreement: the field instructor supervisory style, the quality of the student-field instructor relationship, field instructor comfort with addressing LGB development and practice issues, the student's perception of the agency climate as gay-friendly, and the student's level of disclosure and stage in coming out.     

A Culturally Informed Model of Academic Well‐Being for Latino Youth: The Importance of Discriminatory Experiences and Social Support*

Abstract: This study tested a culturally informed model of academic well‐being for 278 Latino youth. We examined detrimental effects of discriminatory experiences and protective effects of social support on self‐reported academic outcomes. Models specified main and buffering effects of social support and compared contributions of support provided by parents, school, and peers. Data indicated that discrimination was associated with lower academic well‐being, social support buffered effects of discrimination on academic well‐being, and parental support was most predictive of greater academic well‐being. Combined sources of social support were more important than any one source alone. Implications for culturally specified research, preventive interventions, and practitioners are discussed.     

Marital Happiness and Psychological Well‐Being Across the Life Course*

Abstract: Using data from six waves of the Study of Marital Instability over the Life Course (N = 1,998), we conducted a latent class analysis to test for distinct marital happiness trajectories. We found three distinct marital happiness trajectories: low, middle, and high happiness. Initial levels of life happiness were strongly associated with membership in the marital happiness trajectories and with various demographic and attitude‐related control variables. Using fixed effects regression with time‐varying covariates, we also found that marital happiness trajectory membership was associated with subsequent changes in both life happiness and depressive symptoms. All respondents experienced a decrease in life happiness between Wave 1 and the end of their observed time in their marriage, but respondents in the high marital happiness trajectory experienced the smallest decline. Respondents in both the high and middle marital happiness trajectories also experienced a decline in depressive symptoms across time. Intervention and policy implications are discussed.     

The Characteristics and Well‐Being of Adopted Stepchildren

This study draws upon 22,680 children from the 2002 National Survey of America's Families to investigate the demographic and family characteristics and well‐being of stepchildren who have been adopted by a stepparent (n = 140) relative to children with 2 biological parents, children with 2 adoptive parents, and children with 1 biological parent and 1 nonadoptive stepparent. Five percent of all stepchildren and one quarter of all adopted children have been adopted by a stepparent. How the characteristics of adopted stepchildren compare to those of other children depends on the child's age—whereas younger adopted stepchildren are most similar to children with 2 biological parents, older adopted stepchildren are most similar to nonadopted stepchildren. Adopted stepchildren of all ages have significantly more behavior and emotional problems than children with 2 biological parents, but have similar levels of school engagement. There were no significant differences between children with 2 adoptive parents, nonadopted stepchildren, and adopted stepchildren on any measure of well‐being regardless of the child's age. Implications for practice and policy include increasing awareness of adopted stepchildren and paying greater attention to the legal context under which stepchildren are adopted.     

产后抑郁者的心理特征及社会支持情况分析

目的研究产后抑郁者的人格特征、社会支持情况及其与产后抑郁的关系。方法对237例产妇评定爱丁堡产后抑郁量表(EPDS)、艾森克人格问卷(EPQ)、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)以及自编一般情况调查表。结果产后抑郁组与正常组在人格特征各维度和社会支持评分上存在着显著差异;两组在产前焦虑、经济条件、夫妻关系、睡眠不足、负性生活事件等方面有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论内倾型、神经质女性易发生产后抑郁;产后抑郁的女性社会支持情况较正常女性差,其中以缺乏客观支持为主;产前焦虑等因子通过人格特征和社会支持情况来影响EPDS总分。     

Social Support,Marital Adjustment,and Psychological Distress Among Women With Primary Infertility in Pakistan

This study aimed to identify prevalence rates of psychological distress among Pakistani women seeking help for primary infertility. The associations of social support, marital adjustment, and sociodemographic factors with psychological distress were also examined. A total of 177 women with primary infertility were interviewed from one hospital in Islamabad using a Self-Reporting Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. The data were collected between November 2012 and March 2013. The prevalence of psychological distress was 37.3 percent. The results of the logistic regression suggested that marital adjustment and social support were significantly negatively associated with psychological distress in this sample. These associations were not confounded by any of the demographic variables controlled in the multivariable regression models. The role of perceived social support and adjustment in marriage among women experiencing primary infertility are important factors in understanding their psychological distress. The results of this small-scale effort highlight the need for social and familial awareness to help tackle the psychological distress related to infertility. Future research needs to focus on the way the experience of infertility is conditioned by social structural realities. New ways need to be developed to better take into account the process and nature of the infertility experience.     

乙肝表面抗原阳性孕妇社会支持与焦虑、抑郁的相关性分析

目的了解简阳市乙肝表面抗原阳性孕妇的社会支持、焦虑及抑郁现状并探讨三者的相关性,为医疗护理工作提供科学依据。方法应用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)和社会支持评定量表(SSRS)对在简阳市妇幼保健计划生育服务中心就诊的乙肝表面抗原阳性孕妇80例和对照孕妇320例进行调查。统计分析采用t检验、二分类Logistic回归和Pearson相关分析。结果乙肝表面抗原阳性孕妇的社会支持总分为(46.42±4.44)分,家庭人均月收入较低者、夫妻感情很好者、非初产者及居住地为城镇者的社会支持度更高(t=2.454,2.017,-2.988,2.025,P<0.05),焦虑和抑郁的发生率分别为5.0%和3.8%;社会支持总分高于对照组(t=2.214,P=0.027),抑郁评分低于对照组(t=-2.004,P=0.046);乙肝表面抗原阳性孕妇的社会支持总分与焦虑、抑郁评分均呈负相关关系(r=-0.367,-0.390,P<0.01)。结论简阳市乙肝表面抗原阳性孕妇的社会支持度较高,总体处于无焦虑和抑郁状态,提高该人群的社会支持有助于缓解焦虑和抑郁情绪,促进身心健康。     

Support and Conflict in the Foster Family and Children’s Well‐Being: A Comparison Between Foster and Birth Children

Abstract: Data on 96 foster families with a foster child and a birth child between the ages of 10 and 21 years were used to analyze the association between support and conflict processes within the foster family and youths’ reports on four indexes of well‐being: self‐esteem, self‐efficacy, emotional problems, and behavioral problems. The self‐esteem of foster children was more strongly affected by support and conflict processes in the foster family than was the self‐esteem of birth children in the same family. For birth children as well as for foster children, parental support significantly related to emotional problems. For foster children, but not for birth children, more conflicts with the foster parents related to more behavioral problems. The results are compared with other studies, and implications for practice are suggested.     

宁夏城市不同人群心理及社会支持现况调查

目的了解宁夏回族自治区城市不同人群的心理及社会支持状况。方法对宁夏回族自治区银川市、石嘴山市、吴忠市和固原市采用多阶段分层抽样方法,抽取体力劳动者、公务员、企事业管理人员、教师、医生和科研人员6类不同人群,采用状态焦虑量表(S-AI)、自评抑郁量表(SDS)和社会支持评定量表(SSRS)进行问卷调查。结果收回有效问卷4 026份,不同性别人群状态焦虑和抑郁状态得分比较,差异均有统计学意义(t=2.841、2.012,P<0.05);不同年龄人群状态焦虑、抑郁状态和社会支持得分比较,差异均有统计学意义(F=16.350、8.120、17.271,P<0.05);体力劳动者、公务员、企事业管理人员、教师、医生和科研人员6类不同人群的状态焦虑、抑郁状态和社会支持得分比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);90.2%(3 631/4 026)的人群处于无抑郁状态, 9.7%(390/4 026)的人群处于轻度抑郁状态;调查对象的状态焦虑、自评抑郁得分均与社会支持得分呈负相关(r=-0.134、-0.120,P=0.000) 。结论良好的社会支持有助于改善不同人群的心理健康状况。     

Adult Adoptees and Their Friends: Current Functioning and Psychosocial Well‐Being*

Adoptees (n= 100 ) and a matched group of their friends completed measures of psychosocial well‐being thought particularly salient for adult adoptees. Results indicated more similarities (life satisfaction, life regrets, purpose in life, intimacy, substance abuse) than differences (connectedness, depression, self‐esteem) between the two groups. Adoptees expressed stronger regrets about 75 general than adopted‐related issues. Follow‐up analyses suggested greater variability within the adoptee than the friend group on several variables; search status helped explain this greater variability.     

Poor Social Support and Unemployment Are Associated With Negative Affect in Home Parenteral Nutrition–Dependent Patients With Chronic Intestinal Failure

Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) provides life‐sustaining treatment for people with chronic intestinal failure (CIF). Poor quality of life is reported in association with the burden of HPN and the underlying condition leading to intestinal failure (IF). However, levels of negative affect (NA), incorporating anxiety and depression, have not been reported in CIF. This study examined the occurrence and risk factors for NA in a large CIF population using the validated Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaires. Methods: A survey pack including HADS and MSPSS were distributed to patients managed by a specialist IF center. Data from these measures were analyzed against factors including underlying disease, length of time receiving HPN, employment status, and demographics. Results: Of 85 patients who completed this study, 56% had clinical levels of anxiety and/or depression. Linear regression analysis confirmed significant correlations between social support and HADS scores, with poorer perceived social support associated with higher levels of NA (?0.26 MSPSS + 33.24; R² = 0.29; P < .0001). There were also significant associations between unemployment and higher anxiety (P = .004), depression (P = .008), and NA scores (P = .003). By contrast, there were no significant associations between patient age, duration of time receiving parenteral nutrition, pathophysiological mechanisms of CIF, and NA levels. Conclusions: Clinical anxiety and depression are common, affecting more than half of patients with CIF. Patients with poor social networks and those of working age who have ceased employment are particularly vulnerable and should be prioritized for psychological support because of their elevated risk.     

高职学生抑郁倾向与社会支持类型

目的探讨高职学生社会支持的类型特点。方法采用抑郁量表和社会支持评定量表,对255名高职学生进行调查。结果社会支持的三个维度以及支持总分在年级上无显著差异,而在性别上却差异显著;抑郁总分与社会支持的三个维度存在显著的负相关;高低抑郁倾向者的社会支持类型存在显著差异。结论高职学生的抑郁倾向与社会支持呈显著的负相关。     

Supporting Well‐Being in Retirement through Meaningful Social Roles: Systematic Review of Intervention Studies

Context

The marked demographic change toward greater proportions of older people in developed nations poses significant challenges for health and social care. Several studies have demonstrated an association between social roles in later life and positive health and well-being outcomes. After retiring from work, people may lose roles that provide purpose and social contacts. The outcomes of interventions to promote social roles in retirement have not been systematically reviewed.

Methods

We examined three research questions: (1) What kinds of intervention have been developed to promote social roles in retirement? (2) How much have they improved perceived roles? (3) Have these roles improved health or well-being? We included those studies that evaluated the provision of social roles; used a control or comparison group; targeted healthy retirement-transition adults who were living in the community; provided an abstract written in English; took place in a highly developed nation; and reported social role, health, or well-being outcomes. We searched eight electronic databases and combined the results with hand searches.

Findings

Through our searches, we identified 9,062 unique publications and eleven evaluative studies of acceptable quality, which reported seven interventions that met our inclusion criteria. These interventions varied in year of inception and scope, but only two were based outside North America. The studies rarely reported the quality or meaning of roles. Only three studies used random allocation, thus limiting inferences of causality from these studies. Interventions providing explicit roles and using supportive group structures were somewhat effective in improving one or more of the following: life satisfaction, social support and activity, physical health and activity, functional health, and cognition.

Conclusions

Social role interventions may improve health and well-being for people in retirement transition. Future research should improve the quality of intervention and assessment and look at which interventions are most effective and acceptable in facilitating social roles for diverse older populations.     

产前抑郁水平与社会支持及生活事件相互关系研究

目的了解产前抑郁现状及其与社会支持、生活事件的关系,为做好孕期心理保健工作提供基础资料。方法采用自评抑郁量表（SDS）、社会支持量表（SSRS）和生活事件量表（LES）,选取在越秀区孕妇学校学习的619名孕妇进行问卷调查。结果抑郁发生率为30．7％,其中轻度为22．9％,中度为7．o％,重度为0．8％。孕前抑郁水平与社会支持总和、客观支持和支持利用显著负相关（r=-0．174,-0．290,-0．129,P〈0．05）,与生活事件总刺激、家庭有关问题和负性事件显著正相关（r=0．126,0．104,0．125,P〈0．05）;多元回归分析表明：客观支持是产前抑郁的保护因素。负性生活事件则是其危险因素。结论提供良好的社会支持,减少生活事件的刺激,将有助于减少产前抑郁的发生。