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Among the groupings of Social Work Grand Challenges is Individual and Family Well-Being. One threat to individual and family well-being is suicide. Between 2011 and 2022 over half a million Americans committed suicide. Suicide has profound effects on family members. Recent research has found violent political rhetoric (VPR) as an aspect of the social environment is associated with violence, including mass shootings and police shootings of civilians, both threats to individual and family well-being. No studies have investigated the possible relationship between VPR and suicide rates. This study, a secondary analysis of publicly available data, addresses this absence. The dependent variable was suicide rates in the U.S. Census regions. Independent variables included census region populations, VPR, gun ownership, and temperature. Panel analysis methods with Driscoll-Kraay robust standard errors were used. Statistically significant relationships between suicide rates and VPR, changes in gun ownership, and temperature were found, with between-region differences. Violent political rhetoric appears to be associated with increasing suicide rates, and these relationships may differ between regions. Implications of these findings for future research and for social work efforts to combat the effects of VPR and potentially reduce suicide rates, especially for populations targeted by VPR, are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetry considerations are important in science, and Group Theory is a theory of symmetry. Classical Measurement Theory is the most used measurement theory in the social and behavioral sciences. In this article, the author uses Matrix Lie (Lee) group theory to formulate a measurement model. Symmetry is defined and illustrated using symmetries of the square. Then it is shown how a matrix group can represent the symmetries of the square. A brief introduction to Group Theory follows. Then four assumptions on which the Lie matrix group model of measurement is based are articulated. Formulation of the model follows. The notion of approximate symmetry is introduced, and a measure of approximate symmetry is proposed. It is shown CMT is a special case of the Lie matrix group model. A simulation is used to test invariances predicted from the Lie matrix group model. Finally, implications of this model are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analysis is a significant methodological advance that is increasingly important in research synthesis. Fundamental to meta-analysis is the presumption that effect sizes, such as the standardized mean difference (SMD), based on scores from different measures are comparable. It has been argued that population observed score SMDs based on scores from different measures A and B will be equal only if the conjunction of three conditions are met: construct equivalence (CE), equal reliabilities (ER), and the absence of differential test functioning (DTF) in all subpopulations of the combined populations of interest. It has also been speculated the results of a meta-analysis of SMDs might differ between circumstances in which the SMDs included in a meta-analysis are based on measures which all met the conjunction of these conditions and that in which the conjunction of these conditions is violated. No previous studies have tested this conjecture. This Monte Carlo study investigated this hypothesis. A population of studies comparing one of five hypothetical treatments with a placebo condition was simulated. The SMDs in these simulated studies were based on true scores from six hypothetical measures. The scores from some of these measures met the conjunction of CE, ER, and, the absence of DTF, while others failed to meet CE. Three meta-analyses were conducted using both fixed effects and random effects methods. The results suggested that the results of meta-analyses can vary to a practically significant degree when the SMDs were based on scores from measures failing to meet the CE condition. Implications for future research are considered.

Police kill around 1,000 persons annually in the United States. This is a significant issue for social work because of the effects these killings have on individuals and communities. Recent research has shown a positive relationship between violent political rhetoric (VPR) and mass shootings. This study aimed to investigate if a relationship exists between VPR and police violence that results in the death of civilians. This was a secondary analysis of publicly available data on police killings of civilians. The dependent variable was a measure of the number of police violence killings of civilians. Three control variables were included in analyses: monthly gun ownership, monthly average temperature in the U.S., and the annual murder rate in the U.S. An auto-regressive distributed lag error correction time series analysis was used in data analyses, and as a sensitivity check a Poisson time series regression with robust standard errors was also employed. The results showed a positive relationship between VPR and police violence killings of civilians. The principal implication of these findings for social work is that social workers collaborate with professionals in other disciplines to find ways to reduce the use of VPR by politicians and others in the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nationwide, the percentage of faculty who are tenured (or in tenure-earning positions) is declining, with proportionate increases in the amount of instruction provided by adjunct and other part-time instructors, including doctoral students. These trends are mirrored within academic social work and have given rise to some concerns about the potentially adverse effects this could have on the quality of instruction provided to MSW and BSW students. A review of the social work literature, however, failed to locate any systematic investigations published on the topic of evaluating the quality of teaching provided by adjuncts or doctoral students. The authors undertook a comprehensive analysis of the course evaluations obtained from a large urban school of social work in the Southeast over a 3-year period, covering 294 courses (61% BSW, 39% MSW). Of these, 181 classes were taught by regular faculty, 63 classes were taught by community-based adjuncts, and 50 classes by social work PhD students. Inferential tests found no statistically significant differences in the global course evaluations earned by regular faculty or adjuncts. However, there were statistically significant differences in the course evaluations earned by regular faculty and doctoral students, favoring the former, but the effect size was small and of little practical import. In general, the authors found no strong evidence that adjuncts or doctoral students provided less positively evaluated teaching than did regular faculty. The authors' results are limited to one university setting but their research design can be readily adopted by other programs, given the widespread use of quantified student-completed course evaluations generally maintained on university databases. More serious attention needs to be given to determining whether the course evaluations commonly used by universities are truly valid. (Contains 1 figure, 1 table and 2 notes.)

Critical to meta-analysis is the presumption that effect sizes based on different measures are directly comparable. Recent theoretical work has shown that an invariance condition--universe score, or construct, validity invariance--must hold for either observed score or reliability-corrected effect sizes based on different measures to be directly comparable. To date, however, no research has been done investigating how crucial violations of this invariance condition are for either effect size discrepancy across different measures or the outcomes of a meta-analysis. This article reports the results of a simulation study of the possible effects that violations of construct validity invariance have on (a) the differences in population construct level standardized mean difference effect sizes based on different measurement procedures; (b) the variability in population construct level correlation effect sizes based on different measurement procedures; and (c) the results of a meta-analysis. Results suggest that considerable variability in effect sizes can exist across measurement procedures that fail to meet universe score validity invariance and that this variability has the potential to negatively affect meta-analytic results. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)

One of the most important effect sizes used in meta-analysis is the standardized mean difference (SMD). In this article, the conditions under which SMD effect sizes based on different measures of the same construct are directly comparable are investigated. The results show that SMD effect sizes from different measures of the same construct are directly comparable if and only if (Condition 1) there is a linear relationship between the true scores, and (Condition 2) there is a special linear relationship between the magnitude of the error variances of the involved measures. If only Condition 1 is met, then the reliability-corrected SMD effect sizes from the different measures are directly comparable. However, if Condition 1 is not met, then there will be nonlinear relationships between the true score metrics of two or more of the measures and systematic variability between SMD effect sizes that reflects these nonlinear relationships.

This paper focuses on whether running away from adolescent residential care facilities is related to having off grounds passes with an adult resource. It was hypothesized that as off grounds passes increased in frequency and duration, runaway behavior would decrease in frequency and duration. Data were collected from two hundred closed client files. Spearman's rho correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results show a weak negative relationship exists between number of passes and both number of runaway occurrences and hours spent on the run. The data were collected from a single agency, suggesting that caution be used when attempting to generalize to the entire population. The results, however, are very useful to inform future research and guide the development of future hypotheses. (Contains 2 tables and 1 note.)

The reproductive autonomy of persons who can give birth can be impeded through forms of interpersonal violence and coercion. Moreover, macro-level factors (e.g., poverty, discrimination, community violence, legislative policies) may impede the reproductive autonomy of entire communities. This study investigates a form of violence we term perceived contraceptive pressure in Appalachia, an understudied region of the Eastern U.S., regarding reproductive health and decision-making. Through targeted Meta advertising, participants (N = 632) residing in Appalachian zip codes completed an online survey on reproductive health. The focus of this study was to investigate the prevalence of perceived contraceptive pressure, who was at increased risk of experiencing pressure, and the source(s) of perceived pressure. Binomial regressions were conducted on three different dependent variables: perceived pressure to be sterilized, perceived pressure to use birth control, and perceived pressure not to use birth control. Approximately half of all respondents (49.5%) reported experiencing at least one type of pressure targeting contraceptive decision-making. The most prevalent source of perceived pressure to use birth control was from the healthcare provider (67.4%), and the most prevalent source of perceived pressure not to use birth control was the respondent's partner (51.1%). Recommendations for providers serving clients in the Appalachian region include pursuing education regarding contraceptive pressure at the individual level and macro-level. In addition, Appalachian residents may benefit from educational programming on reproductive autonomy, healthy relationships, and how to navigate pressure in relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant percentage of US households have at least one pet. A recent poll found that over 90% of pet owners feel their pet is a family member, suggesting the definition of "family" should include pets. Some studies have found that pet ownership has physical, mental, and social health benefits for the owner, although other research has not found this. It is thought this variability is due to methodological issues. A significant issue identified is measurement problems, including a lack of validity and reliability evidence. Measurement equivalence is an important type of this evidence, and Black/African Americans should be included in research on this as they are an understudied, historically marginalized population. The Family Bondedness Scale (FBS) is a recently developed measure of the degree to which a pet owner feels emotionally bonded to their pet in a manner comparable to their emotional bonding with a human member of their family. This paper describes a measurement equivalence study of the FBS between Black/African American (n = 496) and White (n = 405) pet-owning populations. Results of multi-group confirmatory factor analyses with covariates were consistent with configural, metric, and threshold equivalence between Black/African American and White pet owners. The use of this measure in research and professional practice for numerous professions, including veterinary medicine, social work, veterinary social work, psychology, and other professions is considered. Implications for future measurement equivalence and validity research on scores from the FBS are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that scores from a self-anchored scale for depression function as unidimensional indicators of depression and that scores from a self-anchored scale for self-esteem function as unidimensional indicators of self-esteem. A total of 228 responses were obtained from a purposive sample of clinical and nonclinical respondents. The research hypothesis implied a measurement model that was tested using structural equation modeling methods. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that scores from the self-anchored scale for depression serve as indicators of the construct depression but not with the scores from the self-anchored scale for self-esteem functioning as indicators of the construct self-esteem. The results suggested that self-anchored scales may be used to measure depression but not self-esteem. A number of practice applications of these results are discussed, including the possible use of multi-item self-anchored scales. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.)

A study was conducted to assess the equivalence of validity and reliability of two forms of the Self-Esteem Rating Scale. A total of 228 responses were obtained from a purposive sample. Several data analysis methods were used to test specific hypotheses, and two methods of equating observed scores on the two forms were used. The results were consistent with the general hypothesis of equivalence of validity and reliability. Equipercentile and linear equating methods produced nearly the same results in terms of equivalent scores between the two forms. The results suggested that the two forms of the Self-Esteem Rating Scale produce scores with a practical level of equal validity and reliability, that the two forms may be used interchangeably in social work practice, and that the equating formula may be used to convert a score from one form to an equivalent score on the other form. (Contains 5 figures and 1 table.)

Objective: This article reports the results of a meta-analytic study of the relationship between participation in victim-offender mediation (VOM) and the prevalence of subsequent delinquent behavior. Method: Analyses were conducted with the results of 15 studies, conducted at 19 different sites, with a sample of 9,307 juveniles. Results: The results suggested that methodological factors explained all the significant variation across sites and studies in the magnitude of the difference between non-VOM and VOM groups in their reoffense prevalence. The odds of VOM participants were only about 0.70 as great as the odds of nonparticipants reoffending. Conclusion: The results support the efforts of social workers to advocate for, develop, and participate in VOM programs. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

The purpose of the research reported in this article was to replicate findings reported by Nugent and Williams-Hayes that suggested that there is a relationship between missing information on demographic items found on client intake forms and severity of suicidal ideation. Replication of these results would have important implications for social work practitioners. A secondary analysis of 153 sets of responses to measures from a previous study was conducted to test 3 hypotheses concerning the relationship between suicidal potential and failure to report income on a demographic questionnaire. The results partially replicated those of Nugent and Williams-Hayes and provided further evidence of a relationship between missing information on an intake-like form and suicidal thinking. These findings support the use of omitted information on client intake forms as predictors of suicidal ideation by social work practitioners and other professionals in a variety of practice settings. (Contains 2 tables.)

Explains virtual reality as a computer-synthesized three-dimensional environment (cyberspace) in which human participants, appropriately interfaced, appear to be enveloped. Cyberspace in science fiction is discussed; contributions of aerospace and military simulation trainers, digital imaging, and motion picture special effects are described; and future possibilities in libraries are suggested. (55 references) (LRW)

The relationship between dating violence and 13 psychosocial problems, conceptually organized into three symptom clusters--depressive, family problem, and posttraumatic stress--was investigated in a sample of adolescent pregnancy termination patients, ages 14 to 21. Results of a multivariate multiple-regression analysis indicated that, after controlling for age, ethnicity, general aggression problems, and problems with peers, dating violence was significantly related with the symptoms clusters. At the univariate level, the results suggested that dating violence was significantly related with self-esteem problems, guilt, and suicidal thinking from the depressive symptoms cluster and with guilt and stress from the posttraumatic stress cluster. The implications of these findings are discussed. Keywords: dating violence; adolescents; psychosocial problems; abortion patients DOI: 10.1891/0886-6708.24.5.577

Mass shootings are a public health crisis and have numerous negative effects on health, mental health, and economic variables. Identification of correlates and causes of mass shootings is an important research priority, as findings may inform efforts to reduce these events and their sequelae. A relationship has been speculated between violent political rhetoric (VPR) and mass shootings. The current study was an investigation of this relationship that addressed gaps and limitations in the limited research on this relationship. Analyses of a set of publically available 69-month time series were conducted. Results showed a 12-month periodicity in mass shootings and a positive relationship between VPR and mass shootings, controlling for changes in gross domestic product, generalized imitation, and gun ownership. Implications of findings for actions social service agencies may take to help reduce VPR and mass shootings are discussed, including anticipatory preparations for such events and their post traumatic sequelae, and collaborations with local media organizations and national groups that focus on reducing hate. Implications for future research on the relationship between VPR and mass shootings are discussed, with emphases on improved measurement of VPR and inclusion of variables not included in analyses in the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victim-offender mediation has been shown to reduce the rate of reoffense on the part of juvenile offenders. Four studies examining the results of victim-offender mediation showed the difference in reoffense rates to be more than three times larger than average.

Research is presented on reducing antisocial behavior, using adolescents living in a runaway shelter as subjects. Findings suggest that aggression replacement training helps lower antisocial behavior in males and females.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact on suicidal ideation (SI) of having experienced spousal physical abuse and the possible effects of protective factors on the relationship between depressive symptoms and SI among community-dwelling older adults. Using Wisconsin Longitudinal Study data (N = 6,125), a path analysis was conducted to examine the impact of spousal physical abuse on SI and test the possible effects of protective factors. First, the experience of spousal physical abuse had a significant impact on both depressive symptoms and SI. Second, problem-focused coping, social support, and having a family confidant reduced depressive symptoms directly and mitigated SI indirectly. Third, emotional-focused coping had both direct and indirect effects on depressive symptoms and SI, leading to increases in both. Fourth, although the practical significance may be small, emotional-focused coping worked as a moderator between depressive symptoms and SI. Interventions are necessary to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors of depressive symptoms and SI among older adults. In addition, regular screening tests of Intimate Partner Violence, depressive symptoms and SI are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes and assesses the integration of single-case design and group-comparison methods to address limitations inherent in each methodology. First, the use of Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM) for analyzing aggregated single-case design data is described. Next, two examples of research that combines single-case and group-comparison methods are presented, with reanalyses of data from these studies conducted using HLM procedures. One reanalysis produces results contradicting those obtained by the original researchers. The advantages and disadvantages of using such integrated approaches are then discussed. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Mass shootings represent a major public health crisis. There are economic, health, and mental health consequences of these events. A number of causes of mass shootings have been investigated. One cause that has been hypothesized but not yet investigated is violent political rhetoric (VPR). The current study used publicly available data to test for an association between VPR and mass shootings. Independent variables included income inequality, gun ownership, changes in gross domestic product, and a measure of VPR. Lagged values of the dependent variable tested for generalized imitation effects. Results of an analysis of a 54-year time series of mass shootings showed positive associations between mass shootings and VPR and income inequality. Results also showed a negative association between changes in gross domestic product and mass shootings. There was no evidence of a relationship between mass shootings and either gun ownership or generalized imitation. Implications of these results for future research, as well as for social workers and social services in health and mental health settings, are considered, including the creation and implementation of social services and programs designed to create empathy for targets of VPR and to reduce the use of VPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: The current research investigated the impact of protective factors – problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, having as a confidant either family or friends, and social support from friends – on suicidal ideation among older adults using Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) data. This study also investigated the indirect effects of protective factors on suicidal ideation (hereafter SI) as mediated by depressive symptoms among older adults who have experienced physical abuse from a spouse or romantic partner. Method: Data from The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) were used. The sampled respondents were 475 men and women ages 64 to 65 who reported a history of being physically abused by a spouse or romantic partner. A path analysis using Mplus was employed to identify protective factors against SI. Results: Problem-focused coping and social support had negative indirect effects on SI as mediated by depressive symptoms. Emotion-focused coping had positive direct and indirect effects on SI. Conclusion: Tailored services to boost protective factors and regular screening tests are imperative to reduce depressive symptoms and SI among older adults who have experienced spousal or romantic partner physical abuse [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted with client background questionnaire and multi problem screening inventory, to investigate the indicator for suicidal thinking. The result from the study revealed that missing information on education and income were valid indicators of suicidal thinking.

A study was conducted to access the measurement characteristics of the Multi-Problem Screening Inventory (MPSI) depression subscale. The result from this study reveals that the MPSI depression subscale can be used by social workers to both assess and monitor their clients' problems with depression.

Objective: Findings from meta-analytic studies that use standardized mean differences (SMDs) may be overly dependent on the original measures that were used to generate SMDs. This may be particularly true when measures have arbitrary metrics or when measures fail to meet measurement equivalence. We test the hypothesis that in such cases, meta-analytic results may vary significantly—statistically and practically—as a function of the measures used to derive SMDs. Methods: We conducted 5 secondary random-effects meta-analyses of SMDs—each under a different measurement scenario—from a published meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of cognitive–behavioral therapy with that of reminiscence therapy for depression in older adults. In each scenario, SMDs were based on scores from measures with arbitrary metrics, some of which failed to meet measurement equivalence. Results: Consistent with the hypothesis, meta-analysis results differed significantly—statistically and practically—between the measurement scenarios under conditions of measurement nonequivalence. Conclusions: Results of meta-analyses involving measures with arbitrary metrics may depend on the measures that the SMDs are based on when measurement equivalence fails to hold. Inferences concerning the relative efficacy of different treatments can be measurement dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uses of Rapid Assessment Instruments (RAI), which is used to measure a clientEs level of functioning, are presented. The conceptualization and creation of RAI and planning and implementation of design testing are discussed.

This study examines the relationship between female adolescents’ perceptions of their fathers’ level of communication and care, and the influence of these variables on their adolescent daughters’ sexual behaviors. Data was extracted from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health from 1994-2008, which consisted of a sample (N=629) of adolescent girls in grades 7-12 in the United States during the 1994-1995 school year. Study results show fathers’ caring as statistically significant at the.05 level. As fathers’ caring increased, the number of sex partners decreased among adolescent girls. Fathers’ communication was not statistically significant at the.055 level. However, as the daughters’ perception of their fathers’ communication improved, the number of daughters’ sex partners decreased. The high rates of unintended pregnancy, unprotected sex, and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) among U.S. adolescent females show the need for a greater understanding of how fathers contribute to their daughters sexual risk-taking behaviors. Implications for practice and future research is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to examine the relationship between children’s understanding of their genital anatomy and their use of the word “inside” in response to questions about genital touch during a forensic medical examination. This study involved a secondary data analysis of 674 records of children at a sexual abuse clinic in a large city in a southern state. Data were analyzed using contingency table, binary logistic, and multinomial logistic regression analysis methods. An association between children’s understanding of genital anatomy and their use of the word “inside” to describe genital touch was found. Children’s age and development contributes to their overall understanding of genital anatomy, and their knowledge of genital anatomy appears to influence how they answer questions regarding genital touch. This finding could play an important role in sexual abuse cases in states where the definition of rape includes penetration of any bodily opening, including labial penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This literature review examines five empirical studies that researchers conducted to investigate children’s reports about their experience of undergoing a genital examination. Findings show older children tend to provide more extensive and accurate accounts of their experiences than younger children, who are particularly vulnerable when questioned about genital touch. Results further reveal that the use of anatomical dolls with young children contributes to errors and that children commit errors of omission as well as errors of commission. Factors associated with accurate and inaccurate recall are highlighted, and areas in need of further exploration are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mindfulness has been operationalized into five facets that can be measured: Observe, Describe, Act with Awareness, Nonjudgment, and Nonreactivity. The purpose of this literature review is to determine if any single facet of mindfulness is more robustly associated with a change in anxiety. Five studies measuring changes in mindfulness facets following a mindfulness-based intervention and their effects on anxiety symptoms were examined. The results of this review are inconclusive. No clear connection emerged based on the literature reviewed, though the facet of Nonjudgment may have a stronger relationship with a change in anxiety based on these studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article reviewed the available studies of treatments for individuals suffering from sexual addiction. Sexual addiction may affect as many as 3–5% of all Americans and can result in dire consequences for those affected. Because the existence of sexual addiction remains controversial, this problem has been understudied. A search of five databases for peer-reviewed studies revealed a dearth of empirical studies on targeted treatments for sexual addiction. The treatment modalities that have been studied are primarily modified cognitive behavioral techniques, as well as expressive and exposure techniques. Seven studies were selected for this review. The studies had several methodological weaknesses, with two showing promising outcomes. More research is needed in the area of sexual addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This literature review focuses on the use of Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, and Brief Motivational Interventions (BMI) during individual evidence-based therapeutic interventions with college students engaging in high-risk drinking. A review of family history, drinking motives, and the collegiate environment is also examined for empirical and theoretical etiology of college student alcohol abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Veterinary social work (VSW) is the provision of services at the intersection of veterinary medicine and social work practice. Based on scholarly literature and practice experience, four competency areas are identified for social workers attending to the human side of the human-animal bond: grief at the loss of an animal companion, compassion fatigue in the animal services fields, the connection between animal and human violence, and animal-assisted interventions. This review explores how the four competency areas of VSW have evolved, to what extent these services are being provided, and in what realms these services exist. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]