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Objectives Despite health risks for themselves and their children, urban underserved women smoke at high rates postpartum. The postpartum period is a stressful transition time that presents unique barriers to sustained cessation. There is limited extant evidence of efficacious psychosocial programs to maintain postpartum smoking cessation. Methods Guided by the Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing model, we explored the feasibility of TxT2Commit, a text-messaging intervention designed to prevent postpartum smoking relapse. Participants (n = 43) received supportive cessation-focused text messages for one month postpartum. Using a convergent mixed method design, surveys and interviews assessed changes in psychosocial factors and smoking status through a three month follow-up. Results Participants reported satisfaction with TxT2Commit, rating text messages as helpful, understandable, supportive, and not bothersome. However, a majority of women (n = 28, 65.1%) relapsed by three months. Participants who stayed smoke free (i.e., non-relapsers) reported significantly less temptation to smoke at one and three months postpartum compared to relapsers (ps < .01). While relapsers had significantly less temptation at one month compared to baseline, temptation increased by three months (p < .01). Consistent with the quantitative results, qualitative interviews identified informational and coping needs, with continued temptation throughout the three months. Non-relapsers were able to manage temptation and reported greater support. Conclusions for Practice TxT2Commit demonstrates preliminary feasibility and acceptability among urban, underserved postpartum women. However, most participants relapsed by three months postpartum. Additional research is needed to identify targeted messaging to best help women avoid temptation and bolster support to stay smoke free in this uniquely stressful period., Author(s): E. K. Tagai [sup.1] , S. M. Miller [sup.1] , A. Belfiglio [sup.1] , J. Xu [sup.1] , K. Y. Wen [sup.1] [sup.2] , E. Hernandez [sup.3] Author Affiliations: [...]

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine factors that predict life satisfaction in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Two groups of variables were studied: life skills (interpersonal, instrumental and leisure) and higher-order predictors (social support, self-determination and productivity). Method: Fifty-six participants with ID were recruited from two community agencies in Wisconsin. Data were collected using both a self-report inventory, which was administered to each individual in an interview format, and a behaviour rating scale, which was completed by a knowledgeable staff member. Hierarchical regression was used to analyse the data. Results: Both sets of variables were found to explain a significant amount of the variance in life satisfaction. Within the sets, social support and interpersonal skills were individually significantly associated with life satisfaction. Conclusion: It is hoped that the results of this study will help support providers organise services in such a way that maximises the life satisfaction of the consumers that they serve.

This article examined factors influencing rehabilitation counseling students' attitudes toward people with disabilities in three social contexts, using a conjoint analysis design. A total of 98 graduate students participated in this study. A conjoint measurement of 38 cards (representing people with varying disability type, gender, ethnicity, age, education, and employment status) was used. The authors found that (a) disability-related factors were heavily involved in the preference-making process, (b) attitude or preference formation was also significantly affected by other client characteristics unrelated to disability, and (c) factors influencing attitude/preference formation were similar across the three social contexts. Conjoint analysis could increase our ability to understand factors contributing to the formation of attitudes/preferences in multiple social contexts.

Unions' current intensive organizing efforts are crucial, but they will be inadequate if they do not also transform their functions and operations. New jobs, new kinds of workers, new situations require an organizational revolution among unions. (JOW)