Search

Eleven self-identified gay/lesbian individuals were interviewed about the age at which they became aware of their gender and sexual identity and whether they recalled specific life events associated with that awareness. Thematic analyses focused on individuals who recalled a specific age and event in early childhood in which they became aware of their gender and sexual identity versus individuals who did not recall a specific age tied to their awareness of their sexual and gender identities. Results showed that five participants gave non-specific ages (e.g., "always" and "at an early age") when their gender identity became particularly salient, the remaining 6 participants reported a specific age and typically a specific event when their gender identity became particularly salient. Findings are discussed in the context of intersectionality, gender and sexual identity development, and the coming out process. Findings suggest that experiences related to gender identity and expression and sexual orientation are non-linear processes that vary widely, and that there is no one "master narrative". Implications for mental health and the need for ongoing support services are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous study, for a sample of 187 female and 107 male straight U.S. college undergraduates randomly assigned to complete measures of homophobia and transphobia with either born-female or born-male targets, the authors reported on the similarities and differences between the correlates for homophobia versus those for transphobia, dependent on participant and/or target gender. Participants in this study also completed a widely used measure of biphobia. In the present brief report, the authors show not only that straight participants' homophobia scores were highly correlated with their biphobia ones but that the correlations of homophobia with other predictors were highly similar to the corresponding ones for biphobia. In contrast to the previously demonstrated functional bases for differences in determinants of straight individuals' attitudes about gay/lesbian versus transgender individuals, these new findings indicate that, for straight individuals, determinants of biphobia largely overlap with those for homophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because subsequent pregnancy in teen parents often worsens the impact of adolescent parenting; therefore, a common goal of teenage parent programs has been to reduce repeat pregnancy. To examine the impact of this goal, a meta-analysis was conducted on 16 control-comparison group studies that evaluated the effect of teenage pregnancy and parenting programs on pregnancy rates. At the first follow-up period at which programs assessed outcome (average 19.13 months), interventions produced a 50% reduction in the odds of pregnancy compared to comparison-control conditions, but by second follow-up (average 31 mos.), the effect had dissipated. Moderator analyses were also performed. Implications are that secondary pregnancy prevention programs are effective in reducing teenage pregnancy--at least at 19 months following the intervention--although there is little to recommend "comprehensive" approaches to programming over others. (Contains 8 tables and 2 figures.)

The number of Americans over 65 will more than double, from 34.8 million in 2000 to 70.3 million in 2030. The coming decades will bring about unprecedented demand for social services for the elderly. In this paper we assess the response of the social-work profession to the demand for trained social workers with course work in the broad field of aging. Nearly 30% of master-level programs in social work were selected. Content analysis of the curricula offered through these programs was performed. The objective was to evaluate the share of the gerontologically oriented courses in social-work curricula. Findings suggest that the emphasis in social-work curricula content dealing with one of the fastest growing sectors of our population is limited in currently accredited programs. We found an overall average of 3 courses, mostly offered as electives.

Proposes a model of sexual activity among secondary school-going Zambian girls. Identifies the role of dating as an intervening variable in explaining the variation in sexual activity among teenagers. Schools are an important setting for the young to meet and initiate sexual relationships. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed. (Author/MKA)

Analysis of data from seven secondary schools indicates that the inability to say no was associated with coital and noncoital sexual activity. Findings suggest that family planning programs need to consider the role of interpersonal skills in controlling adolescent fertility. Efforts are needed to increase the capacity of adolescents to assert themselves in situations involving sexual activity and contraception. (Author/JDM)

Women's access to abortion has been facing challenges by the conservative sociopolitical agencies across the states for decades affecting women's right to health, particularly of reproductive health. Anti-abortion groups across the states in the United States supported by conservative legislators of the state assemblies have been proposing, passing, and enacting laws designed to restrict access to abortion care threatening women's empowerment, gender equality, health, and women's rights. Objectives of this study are to identify major indicators of social development and evaluate their effects on variations in abortion policies across the states in United States. Utilizing the social development perspective, this study measures the cumulative effect of sociopolitical and economic variables on abortion policy scores of the states using discriminant analysis and One-way ANOVA. Independent variables of this study are the state's 2020 presidential election outcome, teen (15-19) birth rate, prevalence of women (15-44) without health insurance, prevalence of female poverty, availability of abortion in the state, and enrollment of women in higher education. As hypothesized, the state's endorsement in the presidential election was identified as a predictor of the state's abortion policy attribute and the extent of abortion law being neutral, supportive, or restrictive. The study found all six independent variables statistically significant and influencing the dependent variable, abortion policy score of states placing them either in the restrictive, neutral, or supportive group. It is evident from the findings that without the support of liberal voters, change in the abortion policies through state legislatives would be difficult. Our result suggests continuing advocacy for reproductive rights particularly during the electoral campaigns to make abortion laws supportive across the states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifies the factors associated with elderly caregiving burden among Asian Indians. Generally, elderly parents experience a high level of social isolation. Caregivers express concerns over lack of informal and formal resources, and a large portion of caregivers feel a heavy burden of catering to the needs of two generations of dependents, their children and their parents. (GR)

Evaluation of the work experience and job training (WEJT) program of Kenosha County (Wisconsin) suggests that it has no effect on length of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), a preventive impact on AFDC cases headed by never-married African-American teenagers, and a negative impact on unemployed parent cases. (SLD)

The study presented here explores the influences of selected social and social psychological factors that are associated with perceived caregiver burden in a sample of 263 primary caregivers of the elderly in Allahabad City in northern India. The results indicate that although male caregivers' perceived burden depends only on the size of the role overload, female caregivers' perceived burden depends on the interrelationship between the size of the role overload and adherence to Asian cultural norms. Implications of the findings for social work are discussed. Keywords: Asian Indians; cultural norms; elderly persons; feminist perspective; role overload

A meta-analysis that was carried out on 16 control-comparison group studies to find out the effect of teenage pregnancy and parenting programs on pregnancy rates is discussed. It was found that secondary pregnancy prevention programs are effective in reducing teenage pregnancy at least at 19 months after the intervention.

An effective method to develop students' awareness of the importance of global interdependence and increase multicultural knowledge is to internationalize the US social work curriculum with programs of study abroad. Results from the Multicultural Awareness/Knowledge/Skill Survey and pre-post focus groups indicate the merits of a US-Australian social work program of study abroad for master's-level social work students.

A model of reproductive health at the cross-national level is proposed and examined. The results show that as the level of democracy increases resulting in improvements in gender equality, the extent of personal rights increase, and the advance in personal rights increase the level of reproductive health.

The analysis of Africans to change over from the traditional family planning practices to the western contraceptive practice and its effect on men and women of Africa is presented. The modern contraceptive programme has increased the wish to regularize the child bearing, approval of family planning and the use of contraceptives and decrease family size.

The incidence of AIDS continues to be higher in the African continent than elsewhere in the world. In Zambia, given the current pace of infection, projections suggest that approximately two million Zambians are likely to die toward the end of this decade. In this paper, we argue that current AIDS educational programs can be substantially reinforced by incorporating the services of family planning agencies in Zambia. Data used for the study come from the Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS), 1996. We suggest that the social work profession has crucial responsibility for designing AIDS prevention programs. A number of roles that social workers can play based on the values and philosophy of the profession is outlined. Limitations of the study are also discussed. Key words--Africa, Zambia, family planning, reproductive health, AIDS

Analysts and program evaluators have rightly focused on the impact policies have on participants achieving programs' goals and objectives. Yet a potentially neglected aspect of these analyses is the impact policies themselves have on who is initially eligible to participate in the programs and the impact policy parameters have on the length of time people participate in the program. This article reports the findings of a study on the length of time families receive AFDC (now TANF) benefits in two counties in a high benefit state, Wisconsin, between 1987 and 1989 and a low benefit state, Texas, from mid- 1989 through 1992 and the influence the states' maximum benefits have on who is eligible to receive benefits and how families lose eligibility. Results of a life table analysis indicate that families in Texas receive benefits over significantly less time. However, results of a multivariate analysis indicate that when selected personal and familial attributes are held constant, the difference disappears., In July 1997, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Public Law 104-193) replaced the 61-year-old Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with Temporary Assistance for Needy [...]

The authors examine caregiver problems within South Asian families. Topics include caregiver burden, social and familial problems, and behavioral problem management.

odel is tested for two age categories of adolescents using Covariance Structure Analysis. A sample of teenage girls was selected randomly from seven secondary schools that were selected randomly from schools located in the urban provinces of Copperbelt and Lusaka-Central in Zambia. The article identifies the role of dating as an intervening variable in explaining the variation in sexual activity among teenagers. In Zambia, courtship activities between young men and women traditionally took place under the supervision of parents and community elders. Presently, schools are an important setting for the young to meet and initiate sexual relationships. The theoretical and policy implications of this are discussed.