This study of the choice behavior of 14 adults with severe disabilities in residential programs found that 24 staff members correctly predicted the individuals' choices 78% of the time, when compared to choices made by the individuals themselves. (Author/DB)

Examined role of gender in responsibility for children in 60 2-income couples, testing effect of spouses' employment hours, wife's relative income, and couple's employment profile. Found women carried more responsibility for child than did men. Only one characteristic of women's employment, number of hours worked, affected their level of…

Using nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized impaired elderly people (n=813), found that husbands (when compared to wives) and daughters (when compared to sons) reported spending more time and performing greater number of caregiving tasks. Results suggest that family position may confound interpretations regarding association…

Infants were observed three times in the strange situation with their professional caregivers, mothers, and fathers to examine relationships between infant-parent attachment, day care characteristics, and the quality of infants' attachments to professional caregivers. (PCB)

Interviews with 14 middle-class women aged 59-85 uncovered contradictions between their need for support and security and desire to be independent and self-sufficient. Low expectations of public services and a sense of marginality in their families exacerbated the conflict. Ways to help elderly women shape supportive environments were proposed.…

Evaluation of data on the sexual knowledge, needs, and experience of people with mental retardation found an unmet need for sexual knowledge, caused partly by the largely negative attitudes of caregivers and parents about the sexuality of these individuals. Available sex education programs were found to be generally inadequate and unproven. (DB)

Examined effects of factors on support group attendance among family caregivers to frail elderly relatives. Found that attendance by primary caregivers was greater for those who were older, who had secondary informal caregiver involved in providing care, or who had significant health problems. Attendance was greater for those caring for…

Describes project helping frail elders to live independently. Describes community forums through which elders engaged in problem solving with health care professionals and policymakers. Notes that, when asked about remaining independent, 102 elders' responses fit into themes: safety; problems communicating with health care providers;…

Pilot study of 23 caretakers of African American and Hispanic school-aged children with asthma explored effects of asthma on families and coping strategies of caretakers. Found large and significant correlations between perceived impact in areas of financial burden, social and familial isolation, and personal strain. Caretakers reported using…

Examined ways cultural values and norms influence experiences of Hispanic American caregivers (n=86) for relatives with Alzheimer's disease. Found depression being related to stronger adherence to norms of filial support. Factors associated with increased burden included lack of time for oneself, dependency needs of patient, and belief that one…

Examined kinkeeping and its relationship to distress. Findings from household interviews with 179 married women and 94 of their husbands revealed that breadth (but not depth) of kinkeeping was associated with depression for both sexes. Less normative kinkeeping increased distress while more normative obligations, such as caring for parents, may…

An Australian study interviewed 20 family caregivers for individuals with intellectual disabilities who were offenders in the criminal justice system. Caregivers expressed concern for the lack of sentencing options and the inadequate level of services for this population. It is argued that these offenders require legal representation from the…

Discussion of cognitive behavioral interventions with abused children and adolescents covers use of cognitive therapy with adults, therapeutic processes in cognitive therapy, involvement of parents and carers in cognitive behavioral therapy, and cognitive schema and maltreatment. Application is made to types of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)…

Presents the Child Abuse Storm Scale as a method for assessing the potential for false reports of child abuse resulting in prosecutions. Focuses on the prosecutorial techniques that contribute to false-report errors. Maintains that safeguarding the separation of the responsibilities of protective service workers and therapists from…

Describes the collaboration between two large multi-site child care and education facilities in Hawaii that belong to the six-member Childcare Business Coalition. Includes suggestions from the coalition to contribute to discussion on policy and child-care business issues, to advocate for families, and to obtain grants for staff training. (KB)