Data from a statewide sample of Wisconsin residents are used to test the hypothesis that ruralism is more strongly associated with environmental concern than is agrarianism. Only weak support for this hypothesis is obtained among the total sample; however, the results for the upper-middle class are more in accord with it. (Author/NQ)

Stating that man is trapped by his own technology, the author questions whether advancing technology, with its social and psychological consequences, has really improved man's existence. He relates this concept to industrial arts education, which should include the negative as well as the positive aspects of technology. (MF)

Relatives (N=62) of matched pairs of patients in geriatric foster homes and nursing homes rated care provided to their relatives. Significantly more foster family patients had positive pre-placement attitudes than did nursing home patients. Upon follow-up, relatives of foster patients reported seeing more patient improvement, satisfaction,…

The computer's social effects have long been debated under the influence of unrealistic perceptions and value judgments. Experience has disproved early prophecies about the computer's impact on privacy, education, and employment. Today, a new set of criteria for determining the role of computers in social contexts is needed. (KH)

Discusses strategies to improve individuals' use of time and personal satisfaction through time management. The 126-item bibliography includes citations for time management in general and special sections for career development, family and parenting, women, and home management. (CLB)

A study assessing how 54 middle-aged adults perceived leisure time indicated that they saw themselves and the meaning of major life spheres to have changed since young adulthood. Leisure was integrally related with other realms of life such as work, family, homelife, community participation, and friendship. (CB)

The authors examined the relationship between the number and meaningfulness of roles performed and life satisfaction in a sample of 112 noninstitutionalized elderly persons. Results suggest a positive, significant relationship between life satisfaction and the number of roles performed and the level of involvement in meaningful roles. (Author/CH)

The current plethora of descriptive, exploratory research holds little potential for answering questions related to the achievement of environmental quality in family living. If the research enterprise is to be involved, it will have to engage research designs that hold the potential to answer questions related to behavioral outcomes. (Author/CH)

Follow-up study one year after an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program of 83 male cardiac patients found reported life satisfaction generally lower with increased physical complaints and emotional lability. Of patients originally identified as having high life satisfaction, 90 percent were back at work compared to 66 percent of patients with…

Classified the social scientific literature on family decay and decline, finding change emphasized more than continuity, and the authors more concerned than sanguine, with a particular stress on concern for children. Reported happiness has declined among married women and men, and increased among never-married men. Cites potential difficulties for…

Discusses need for systems-based approach to quality assurance in mental health services, which can provide useful information to administrators and practitioners as they work to maintain or improve quality of care provided to patients. Introduces generic model for monitoring and evaluating quality of care and discusses potential barriers to its…

A questionnaire to 96 spouses of vocational agriculture teachers in West Virginia identified the major benefits and problems experienced by the spouses. The 60 respondents named job security and spouse's range of skills as benefits, work overload without additional compensation as a major problem. (JOW)

Examines problem of marital quality not being defined or readily distinguishable from other relevant constructs such as communication. Explores implications of treating marital quality as the global evaluation of one's marriage, for the association between empirical and conceptual dependence, the interpretation of responses to self-report…

Legal rights of the fetus and selective abortion are the major focus of a review of legal cases and educational literature concerning fetuses that may be handicapped or have the potential to be handicapped at birth. Related issues include parental immunity, protection of an unborn child, and quality of life. (Author/JW)

Developed in the Netherlands, the General Handicapped Scale is a 36-item instrument which measures four aspects of level of acceptance: (1) acceptance of the handicapping condition itself; (2) degree of frustration concerning dependence on others; (3) perception of how the public views handicapped persons; (4) psychic substratum (emotional…