Sociosexual behavior in male and female homosexuals: A study in sex differences

The results of a post hoc comparison of two West German studies on male and female homosexuals are reported. The lesbian sample consisted of 151 subjects, 18–35 years of age. The male homosexual sample included 581 males of the same age range. The data of both studies are compared with regard to coming out, heterosexual experiences, homosexual activity, partner mobility, and partner relations. The results indicate that being a woman tends to influence the sexual behavior of lesbians more than being a homosexual.Revised version of a paper read at the Annual Meeting, International Academy of Sex Research, August 2–4, 1976, in Hamburg.     

Winners and Losers in Health Insurance: Access and Type of Coverage for Women in Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Partnerships

Using data from the American Community Survey, 2009 (N = 580,754), we compared rates of health insurance coverage and types of coverage used between women in same-sex and opposite-sex partnerships. This large, national dataset also allowed us to investigate regional variation in insurance coverage for women in same-sex partnerships by comparing “gay-tolerant” states versus other states. Multivariate analyses revealed that women in same-sex partnerships consistently had lower rates of health insurance coverage than married women in opposite-sex partnerships, but always more than unmarried women in opposite-sex partnerships. We also found that state-level variation in gay tolerance did not contribute to the access or type of coverage used by women in same-sex partnerships.     

Gender in relation to work motivation,satisfaction and use of day center services among people with psychiatric disabilities

Background: Day centres can prepare for open-market employment, and attendees’ work motivation is key in this.

Aims: Adopting a gender perspective, this study investigated (1) motivation for day centre attendance, satisfaction with the day centre services, number of hours spent there, and number and type of occupations performed; and (2) whether those factors were related with motivation for open-market employment.

Methods: Women (n?=?164) and men (n?=?160) with psychiatric disabilities completed self-report questionnaires.

Results: There were no gender differences regarding satisfaction with the day centre services or number of hours spent there, but women engaged in more occupations. More women than men performed externally-oriented services and textile work, while men were in the majority in workshops. Externally oriented services, working in workshops, and low satisfaction with the day centre services were associated with higher motivation for employment. Women and men were equally motivated for employment. Women scored higher on motivation for attending the day centre, something that may deter transition into open-market employment. For men, less motivation for attending day centres may reduce their possibilities of gaining skills that can facilitate transitioning to open-market employment.

Conclusion: Thus, the possibility for transitioning from day centre activities to open-market employment may be gendered.     

大学生社交焦虑与压力和心理健康的关系

目的探讨大学生社交焦虑对压力源和心理健康关系的影响。方法选用经修订后的青少年生活事件量表(ASLEC)、社交焦虑量表和一般心理健康问卷(GHQ12),对1430名大学生进行调查。结果(1)社交焦虑对大学生压力源与心理健康之间的关系起部分中介作用。(2)女大学生更容易受丧失压力和人际关系压力的影响。(3)非独生子女比独生子女大学生的社交焦虑感更高,心理健康水平更差。结论对大学生的社交焦虑进行测查和干预有助于缓解大学生面对的生活事件压力,提高心理健康水平。     

Gay and Bisexual Adolescent Boys' Sexual Experiences With Men: An Empirical Examination of Psychological Correlates in a Nonclinical Sample

Over the last quarter century the incest model, with its image of helpless victims exploited and traumatized by powerful perpetrators, has come to dominate perceptions of virtually all forms of adult–minor sex. Thus, even willing sexual relations between gay or bisexual adolescent boys and adult men, which differ from father–daughter incest in many important ways, are generally seen by the lay public and professionals as traumatizing and psychologically injurious. This study assessed this common perception by examining a nonclinical, mostly college sample of gay and bisexual men. Of the 129 men in the study, 26 were identified as having had age-discrepant sexual relations (ADSRs) as adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age with adult males. Men with ADSR experiences were as well adjusted as controls in terms of self-esteem and having achieved a positive sexual identity. Reactions to the ADSRs were predominantly positive, and most ADSRs were willingly engaged in. Younger adolescents were just as willing and reacted at least as positively as older adolescents. Data on sexual identity development indicated that ADSRs played no role in creating same-sex sexual interests, contrary to the seduction hypothesis. Findings were inconsistent with the incest model. The incest model has come to act as a procrustean bed, narrowly dictating how adult–minor sexual relations quite different from incest are perceived.     

Experiences and implications of smartphone apps for depression and anxiety

Apps on smartphones are increasingly used for self-care for depression and anxiety, yet how and why they are accessed, and their social effects, remain under-investigated. Sociologists have begun to theorise how these technologies affect and relate; crucial questions for a contemporary sociology of health. This study seeks to contribute to our conceptualisation of how digital health technologies are implicated in health by investigating the motivations, experiences and relations of people using mobile apps for depression or anxiety. We interviewed 14 individuals living in England with a diagnosis of depression or an anxiety disorder, who used smartphone apps as part of self-care. Analysis followed a thematic approach. Three themes were identified. Apps exist within relational contexts – alongside smartphones, beliefs about mental health and other support – which shape app use and lead to an imprecise, casual approach. People engage with apps in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner, leading to immediate symptomatic alleviation, but to limited longer term benefit. The contradiction between the apps’ promise as tools of individual empowerment, with their ability to promote responsibilising frameworks that restrain users’ reflexivity, is central to their implications. Apps can thus contribute to isolation from interpersonal support and promote reductionist biomedical conceptualisations of mental ill health.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎确诊患者及隔离留观者心理状况的影响因素研究

  目的  了解湖北省居民在新冠肺炎疫情期间的心理健康状况,为进行居民心理指导提供科学依据。  方法  于2020年2月10 — 12日采用滚雪球抽样方法在湖北省抽取1 157名居民进行心理健康问卷调查。  结果  湖北省1 157名居民中,有16.51 %的居民有焦虑症状,且不同年龄、文化程度、婚姻状况和职业居民焦虑状况不同（均P < 0.05）;有51.51 %和13.74 %的居民有中度和高度恐惧,且不同性别和年龄居民恐惧状况不同（均P < 0.05）;有20.22 %和73.38 %的居民对战胜疫情有中度和高度信心,且不同性别、年龄和文化程度居民战胜疫情的信心状况不同（均P < 0.05）;有35.87 %和25.24 %的居民中度和重度担忧因此次疫情而遭受歧视,且不同性别、年龄、文化程度、婚姻状况、职业和居住地居民担心受歧视状况不同（均P < 0.05）。  结论  湖北省居民的心理健康状况因此次新冠肺炎疫情受到不同程度的影响,且不同性别、年龄、文化程度、婚姻状况、职业和居住地也会影响其心理健康状况,因此对湖北省居民应给予早期的有针对性的心理干预措施。     

An emotive subject: insights from social, voluntary and healthcare professionals into the feelings of family carers for people with mental health problems

Caring for people with mental health problems can generate a whole range of positive and negative emotions, including fear, disbelief, guilt and chaos as well as a sense of purpose, pride and achievement. This paper explores the emotions of family carers from the perspectives of social, voluntary and healthcare professionals. Sixty-five participants were interviewed, the sample included directors, managers and senior staff from social, voluntary and healthcare organisations. Participants were encouraged to talk in detail about their understanding of the emotions of family carers. Findings highlight a rich understanding of the broad spectrum of carer emotions and the huge emotional adjustments that are often involved. Diagnosis was seen to be imbued with negative emotions, such as fear, anger and denial. However, feelings of hopelessness and desolation were often counterbalanced by feelings of hope, satisfaction and the emotional rewards of caring for a loved one. Participants noted a clear lack of emotional support for family carers, with accompanying feelings of marginalisation, particularly during transitions and especially involving young carers as well as ethnic minorities. By way of contrast, carer support groups were suggested by professionals to be a holistic, effective and economical way of meeting carers' emotional needs. This paper explores the challenge of family carer emotions from the perspective of managers and practitioners and draws out implications for research, policy and practice.     

Meeting the social and behavioral health needs of students: rethinking the relationship between teachers and school social workers

BACKGROUND: While school‐based mental health professionals obviously must provide mental health services to students directly, the literature is increasingly identifying an empowerment role for these professionals, whereby they support teachers as primary service providers. The purpose of this study was to identify subtypes of school social workers within the context of collaborative practice, and to identify individual and contextual factors associated with these classifications as well as overall levels of collaboration. METHODS: Latent class analysis, conducted using data collected as part of the National School Social Work Survey 2008 (N = 1639), was employed to examine underlying subtypes of school social work practitioners in relation to collaborative practices and to examine predictors of collaborative practice. RESULTS: Four broad categories of school social workers were identified, including (1) noncollaborators, (2) system‐level specialists, (3) consultants, and (4) well‐balanced collaborators. These classes were associated with the number of schools served, grade level, education, and clinical licensure status; level of administrative responsibility was not associated with class membership. CONCLUSION: While school social workers varied in collaborative practices, opportunities exist to enhance their role in educating and supporting teachers to serve as primary providers to students with social, mental health, and behavioral needs. The implications for school‐based mental health providers, teachers, administrators, policymakers, and researchers are discussed.     

Utilization of social workers in home care: An analysis of service use

ABSTRACT

Social workers are well positioned to address mental health complications impacting home care populations, yet social work has one of the lowest utilization rates of offered home care supports in Ontario. This study analyzed care plan data of frontline in-home social work services. Results identified adjustment to illness as the most common category and that seniors required significantly fewer visits and days on service than non-seniors. Most patients were able to accomplish their social work-based goals. Results highlight a need for further research and for capitalizing on the untapped potential value of social work home care services for patients.     

Natural disasters, climate change and mental health considerations for rural Australia

This paper addresses a very salient feature of rural life and landscapes in Australia, natural disasters, and offers a psychological perspective on individual and community perceptions, responses, preparedness and planning. The convergent perspective offered reflects research and practice findings and insights from social and environmental psychology, as well as clinical, health and community psychology. The objective is to briefly characterise how these psychological approaches frame the psychological and social reality of these threats and events, and to canvas what insights and evidence-based best practice psychology have to offer allied professionals and paraprofessionals, and rural communities, as they experience and come to terms with the vagaries and extremes of the Australian environment.     

Harnessing the social capital of rural communities for youth mental health: an asset-based community development framework

In Australia, we are facing a period of mental health reform with the establishment of federally funded community youth services in rural areas of the country. These new services have great potential to improve the mental health of rural adolescents. In the context of this new initiative, we have four main objectives with this article. First, we consider the notion of social capital in relation to mental health and reflect on the collective characteristics of rural communities. Second, we review lessons learned from two large community development projects targeting youth mental health. Third, we suggest ways in which the social capital of rural communities might be harnessed for the benefit of youth mental health by using asset-based community development strategies and fourth, we consider the role that rural clinicians might play in this process.     

Demand and supply for psychological help in general practice in different European countries: access to primary mental health care in six European countries

BACKGROUND: The general practitioner is usually the first health care contact for mental problems. The position of a general practitioner may vary between health care systems, depending on the referral system (gatekeepers versus directly accessible specialists), presence of fixed lists and the payment system. This may influence patients' expectations and requests for help and GPs' performance. In this paper the effects of working in different health care systems on demand and supply for psychological help were examined. METHODS: Data were collected in six European countries with different health care system characteristics (Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK). For 15 consecutive contacts with 190 GPs in the six countries, each patient completed questionnaires concerning reason for visit and expectations (before) and evaluation (after consultation). General practitioners completed registration forms on each consultation, indicating familiarity with the patient and diagnosis. General practitioners completed a general questionnaire about their personal and professional characteristics as well. RESULTS: Practices in different countries differed considerably in the proportion of psychological reasons for the visit by the patient and psychological diagnoses by the GP. Agreement between patients' self-rated problems and GPs' diagnoses also varied. Patients in different countries evaluated their GPs' psychological performance differently as well, but evaluation was not correlated with agreement between request for help and diagosis. In gatekeeping countries, patients had more psycho-social requests, GPs made more psychological diagnoses and agreement between both was relatively high. Evaluation, however, was more positive in non-gatekeeping countries. Individual characteristics of doctors and patients explained only a relatively small part of variance. CONCLUSIONS: Health care system characteristics do affect GPs' performance in psycho-social care.     

Training lay counsellors in public health: Considerations for social workers,professional counsellors and psychologists

ABSTRACT

Many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in resource-constrained communities who provide psychosocial services employ lay and paraprofessional counsellors to dispense these services to clients. Yet, selection criteria for such lay persons are highly variable. In the context of low levels of formal education in many communities, education-based criteria are not easily applied. The eligibility of individuals for counsellor training is a matter of considerable importance even though NGO staff may not differentiate between those volunteers or employees who are and are not eligible for training. Also, no screening instruments have been developed to reliably discriminate between individuals who do and do not become effective counsellors. Indeed, decisions about which applicants are and are not trainable are of considerable consequence in sustaining high quality work. A research programme is needed to identify attitudinal and personality markers that may predict success as lay counsellors. In this article specific suggestions are made, including suggestions for practice so that the administrative and human resource needs of NGO’s can be balanced with the professional and ethical imperative of recruiting lay counsellors who are trainable and capable of performing counselling tasks with the highest level of professionalism possible despite their lay status.     

The development of scales to measure social support for diet and exercise behaviors

The purpose of this study was to develop measures of perceived social support specific to health-related eating and exercise behaviors. In Study I, specific supportive and nonsupportive behaviors were identified through interviews with 40 individuals making health-behavior changes. In Study II, items derived from the interviews were administered to 171 subjects. Support from family and friends was assessed separately for both diet and exercise habits. Meaningful factors were identified for each of the four scales, and some factors were similar for family and friend scales. Both test-retest and internal consistency reliabilities were acceptable, and six factors can be used as subscales. Social support scales were correlated with respective self-reported dietary and exercise habits, providing evidence of concurrent criterion-related validity. A measure of general social support was not related to the specific social support scales or to reported health habits. These scales are among the first measures of social support behaviors specific to dietary- and exercise-habit change.     

县级公立医院急诊护士遭受医院暴力的现状与分析

目的了解急诊科医护人员遭受心理暴力后的心理健康状况,为进行心理干预提供依据。方法采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)、症状自评量表(SCL-90)对某县级市3所综合性医院1年内遭受过心理暴力的111名急诊科医护人员进行问卷调查,并对结果进行分析。结果遭受工作场所心理暴力者占急诊科全体医护人员的45.5%。遭受工作场所心理暴力后急诊科医护人员的SAS、SDS评分均高于中国常模, 差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01);SCL-90各因子中,躯体化、强迫症状、抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐怖、偏执、精神病性等因子评分、阳性项目数均高于中国常模,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01或P＜0.05)。结论工作场所心理暴力对急诊科医护人员的心理健康产生严重危害,医院管理者应重视急诊科医护人员的心理问题,加强心理疏导和咨询,并采取措施预防和控制工作场所暴力的发生。     

父母产后抑郁对婴幼儿社会情绪能力发展的影响及机制

社会情绪能力是婴幼儿心理健康发展的基础, 受到家庭因素和自身因素的影响。父母产后抑郁是婴幼儿发展社会情绪能力发展不良的重要风险因素。本文综述父母产后抑郁对婴幼儿社会情绪能力的影响, 同时探讨其影响机制, 从父母养育方式、婚姻关系、婴幼儿个体因素三方面展开论述。