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The objectives of this article were to examine the differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between children with and without special health care needs, and identify the risk factors associated with HRQOL in children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Data from the National Survey of Children's Health 2003 were used (N = 66,416). Results showed that the HRQOL summary scores were lower among CSHCN than children without special health care needs. Regression analyses revealed that having multiple (3 or more) special health care needs was the strongest predictor of lower HRQOL. In addition, younger age, lower socioeconomic status, health care access barriers, and poor maternal health were all factors associated with lower HRQOL. Implications for practice and policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by the social ecological perspective, this investigation explored relationships among work environment stressors, individual social vulnerabilities, and their interactions in the prediction of employee problem drinking. This cross-sectional survey of administrative support and blue-collar maintenance employees was conducted at a public, urban university in the United States. Data were gathered from self-report mail surveys. Data analyzed were from a weighted sample of 409 employees classified into 1 of 3 drinking groups: abstainers, nonproblem drinkers, and problem drinkers. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the interactions of decreased work alienation and having met most friends at work as well as decreased work alienation and participation in nonwork-related social groups both predicted problem drinking. These results indicate the usefulness of examining interactions between work environment stressors and individual social vulnerabilities in studies of employee alcohol problems. Implications for social work practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]