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In this paper, we discuss a number of key methodological and data issues presented to researchers in determining base funding requirements for Australian schools. In particular, we outline the commonly used 'reference school'‐ based approach to determining a benchmark level of school effectiveness and efficiency, and discuss some of its limitations. In contrast to this method, we present a new approach to estimating base funding requirements that, aided by the use of more granular data, provides a more robust approach to understanding and measuring school effectiveness and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although violent offending and victimization share many features, they can affect adolescent social relationships in distinct ways. To understand these differences, we take a network approach to examine the mechanisms responsible for similarities (i.e., homophily) in violent offending and violent victimization among friends. Our goal is to determine whether the social network mechanisms that produce homophily for violent offending are similar to or different from those that produce homophily for violent victimization. By using stochastic actor-oriented modeling and two waves of friendship network data for 1,948 respondents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we examine homophily mechanisms of preference for similarity, avoidance, and influence with respect to youth violence and victimization. The results demonstrate that homophily observed for violent offending primarily reflects selection of similar others, whereas homophily observed for victimization reflects the tendency among alters to avoid victimized youth. These findings have important implications for future research and suggest that, among adolescents, violent offending and victimization homophily are the result of unique social processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Relatively few studies have examined prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) or major depressive episode ( MDE) in disaster-affected adolescents. Fewer still have administered diagnostic measures or studied samples exposed to tornadoes, a common type of disaster. Further, methodologic problems limit the generalizability of previous findings. This study addressed prevalence estimates and risk factors for PTSD and MDE among adolescents exposed to the Spring 2011 tornado outbreak in Alabama and Joplin, Missouri. Methods A large ( N = 2000), population-based sample of adolescents and caregivers, recruited randomly from tornado-affected communities, participated in structured telephone interviews. PTSD and MDE prevalence were estimated for the overall sample, by gender, and by age. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for PTSD and MDE. Results Overall, 6.7% of adolescents met diagnostic criteria for PTSD and 7.5% of adolescents met diagnostic criteria for MDE since the tornado. Girls were significantly more likely than boys to meet diagnostic criteria for MDE, and older adolescents were more likely than younger adolescents to report MDE since the tornado. Female gender, prior trauma exposure, and an injured family member were associated with greater risk for PTSD and MDE. Specific incident characteristics (loss of services, concern about others' safety) were associated with greater PTSD risk; prior disaster exposure was associated with lower MDE risk. Conclusions However, most adolescents were resilient following tornado exposure, roughly 1 in 15 developed PTSD, 1 in 13 developed MDE, and many more endorsed subclinical mental health problems. Information regarding specific risk factors can guide early screening, prevention, and intervention efforts in disaster-affected communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is well known that under-referral of colon cancer patients to cancer genetics clinics is a chronic problem, no study has yet examined why physicians may be ordering testing independently rather than referring patients to cancer genetics clinics. The current study explored variables which may impact a physician's preference for ordering testing independently or referring patients to outside cancer genetics experts. An online questionnaire, distributed to the membership of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Society of Colorectal Surgeons, yielded responses from 298 physicians. Motivations to refer to cancer genetics clinics rather than order testing independently included fear of genetic discrimination and a belief that patients benefit from genetic counseling about the risks, benefits and consequences of testing. These results suggest that in order to increase referrals, genetic counselors must educate physicians about the unique benefits patients receive from participating in genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sample ( N=114) of adolescent female binge-pursers were among the respondents to a nationwide survey on body-image. Relative to female controls ( N=114) who were matched on age, height and weight, binge-purgers evaluated their physical appearance, fitness and health much less favourably. However, they reported being man? appearance-oriented and fitness-oriented than controls. Regardless of actual weight, binge-purgers more often distorted their body size as heavier than did controls, displayed more anxious preoccupation about their weight and weight gain and reported much more frequent eating restraint to lose weight, Binge-purgers also considered themselves to be more poorly psychosocially adjusted, with a reported childhood history of appearance-related conflicts. Discriminant function analysis indicated that the above variables were very accurate in classifying the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]