This document is the second volume of a two-volume Senate report describing actions taken during 1986 by the Congress, the administration, and the Senate Special Committee on Aging which are significant to older Americans. While volume 1 summarizes and analyzes federal policies and programs that are of continuing importance for older persons and…

Research on loneliness and research on social support offer complementary perspectives on how social relationships affect health and well being. However, despite considerable overlap, loneliness and lack of social support reflect deficits of different kinds of social exchanges and these deficits have distinct consequences for well being. Social…

The active duty Army has approximately 400,000 families who on a daily basis interact with the largest military system in the world. An all-pervasive culture unto itself, the Army affects the lives of each one of these people. This research was begun in order to look at the effects which this lifestyle has and how individuals and families…

There is growing evidence that the stress of caring for a relative with Alzheimer's disease may have adverse effects on the caregivers. This study was conducted to explore the mental health consequences of caregiving. Psychological data and mental health status information were obtained from 50 Alzheimer's disease spousal caregivers and from 50…

Life goals and commitment are integral to developmental processes and satisfactions in adulthood and aging. Yet the maintenance and pursuit of appropriate goals and commitments during the aging years may pose particular challenges for the individual within the social context of normal aging. This study examined goals, activity participation, and…

A conceptual framework for studying the role of social support in explaining family caregivers' psychological well-being is developed in this paper. In particular, the framework presented emphasizes the importance of conceptualizing caregiving as a social status, and drawing upon the broader literature on status acquisitions, social support, and…

The basic tenet of the Person-Environment (P*E) Congruence model posits that well-being, as one index of adjustment, is dependent on the degree of fit between the perceived environment and the preferred environment. While the literature is clear regarding the relationship of P*E Congruence and well-being, one theoretical issue that needs to be…

The experiences of pregnancy and the early months of motherhood in two samples of post baby-boom cohorts: American and Swedish women born between 1947-1952 were contrasted. Specific aims were to: (1) contrast the experience of pregnancy and the early months of motherhood; (2) explore the idea that the radicalization of both cultures in the late…

Both the increased frequency of divorce and the resultant increase in single-parent households have experienced dramatic increases since World War II. In many instances, divorce is a major disruptive experience that imposes primary impact upon all family members. Characteristically, various levels of adjustment are required of family members amid…

Life review is frequently reported as a therapeutic modality providing a healthy means of adaptation for the elderly. This study was conducted to clarify the therapeutic role of the life review as a holistic nursing intervention in a sample of 60 homebound elderly persons. A structured life review process was designed, implemented, and evaluated…

This guide presents strategies used in Pain Management and Stress Reduction workshops for helping the elderly cope with stress and chronic pain. Client evaluations of the workshops are given along with an analysis of the clients' presenting problems. Coping strategies described include: the relaxation response, imagery, daily logs, journal…

This walking primer is intended for teachers and parents who are interested in early childhood wellness. The manual contains 40 photographs and 60 fitness walking exercises, walking games and fun workshops in nutrition and children's weight control, walking field trips, and guidance for the walking teacher. Attention is given to winning parental…

Provides a comprehensive model of individual choice that has particular relevance to drug abuse and addiction. The model utilizes psychological cost and benefit concepts embodied in hedonic calculus. Examines implications for chemical abuse therapy, emphasizing the focus on assisting the recovering abuser to achieve a sustainable and predictable…

Examined the relationship of sex-role identity to occupational attainment, self-esteem, and work satisfaction for 161 employed Asian American women. Androgynous Asian American women and those with a high level of occupational attainment had a higher level of self-esteem and a greater degree of work satisfaction than those with other types of…

Summarizes Blumberg's theory of gender stratification, which emphasizes relative male/female control of economic resources as a main predictor of multiple gender stratification consequences. Reviews evidence from Third World countries that men and women spend income differently, such that, when women lose control of income, family well-being and…