This study examined the relationship between the employment status of visually impaired college graduates (28 employed, 23 unemployed) in Great Britain and their social networks, both formal and informal. Unemployed graduates had fewer extensive support networks to help them find jobs; used contacts in less directive ways; and socialized in more…

Data was collected from ombudsmen (N=607) in nursing facilities about the factors that make their jobs difficult. Hypotheses about support, relationships with peers, and efficacy were tested. Support from facility administrators and residents contributed to efficacy, whereas help from other volunteers had a negative effect. Results point to the…

Explores social constructionism as an alternative to cognitive therapy, which assigns causative primacy for psychological problems to the cognitive process of the individual knower. Social constructionism underscores the inextricable connection between the personal and the social, challenging the merit of decontextualized accounts of psychological…

A rural Mississippi Delta study found that participation in subsistence activities was greater among whites, persons with higher income and education, and those from larger families, suggesting an element of lifestyle choice (rather than economic strategy). However, a subsistence lifestyle may deter youth from leaving to pursue higher education,…

Examines the contradictions of inclusion and exclusion of group members, the state and market, growing wealth and impoverishment, networks and the self, global and local levels, economy and environment, modernity and postmodernity, citizen as a national and global citizen, and globalization from above and below. Illustrates each contradiction by…

Discusses how local churches may be able to work with local agencies to help integrate adults with developmental disabilities into the community. The benefits of church participation and recommendations for accessing the possibility of church involvement are provided. Research needs in this area are also emphasized. (CR)

This study acknowledged that parents maintain social networks that may affect the role they play in their children's education. Survey responses of 195 mothers indicated that size of social network predicted degree of involvement and that type of network predicted type of involvement. Findings suggest that parents' social networks can function as…

Examines the relationship of social and cultural resources and teachers' perception of ability to the educational aspirations of African American eighth graders. Results indicate that discussions with parents about school or careers, participation in activities outside of school, parental involvement, and parents' expectations were positively…

Investigates the extent to which four theoretically relevant variables moderate the perceived racism-mental health relationship. Findings reveal that greater experience with racism socialization messages attenuated the link between reports of racist events and poorer mental health. Overall, results indicate that individual differences shape the…

Relationship of social support, role satisfaction, and self-efficacy to measures of role strain was explored in married, employed women with preschool aged children. Self efficacy in work and parental role proved to be a significant predictor of work-family conflict and role overload. Organizational support on role conflict was mediated by job…

Information was collected on 63 adults with mental retardation in supported living residences, 55 in small group homes, and 152 in large group homes. Compared to small group homes, those in supported living residences had greater choice, participated in more community-based activities, and were considered at greater risk of exploitation. (Contains…

This paper tests assumptions often made by policy makers and practitioners that networks of family, friends, and neighbours are able to provide sustained care to frail elderly Canadians. Using national survey data, we examined characteristics of the care networks of 1,104 seniors living with a long-term health problem. Care networks were found to…

The purpose of this study was to examine whether older age is associated with increasing loneliness in people aged 60 and over. Data came from TamELSA, a population-based prospective longitudinal study in Tampere, Finland. The followup time was 20 years. Loneliness was measured by a single question--"Do you feel lonely?"--with the…

Differences occur in the demographic, health, and social network contexts of men and women, all of which are associated with successful aging. The objectives of this study were to determine whether differences exist in satisfaction in specific domains, in general life satisfaction and in the paths for life satisfaction for men and women. A…

This study proposed and tested a model of informal church support networks among African Americans. Consistent with research in family relations, age and gender were significantly associated with the frequency of interaction with church members. In addition, the degree of subjective closeness and the frequency of interaction were both…