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Background and aims: Elevated impulsivity traits, particularly negative and positive urgency, have been identified as robust predictors of problem gambling. However, the mechanisms that link urgency to problem gambling remain unknown. The present research examined whether self-reported gambling motives (social, coping, enhancement, financial) mediated the association between urgency and problem gambling severity. Methods: The sample consisted of 564 community gamblers (52.1% female; M age =36.10, SD = 11.25) including 156 (27.7%) who were classified as moderate risk gamblers and 141 (25%) as problem gamblers. Results: The mediation analyzes revealed that both negative and positive urgency were associated with problem gambling severity. Coping was the only motive that mediated these associations. The pattern of results remained the same when the analyzes were restricted to problem gamblers and when controlling for days gambled and money spent in the past 30 days. Conclusions: The desire to alleviate strong emotional states (negative or positive) maybe an important determinant of problem gambling. Furthermore, results indicate that treatment initiatives for problem gambling may benefit from including training for clients in alternative and more adaptive coping strategies for the effective management of intense affective states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been claimed that "maltreatment begets maltreatment," that is, a parent's history of maltreatment increases the risk that his or her child will also suffer maltreatment. However, significant methodological concerns have been raised regarding evidence supporting this assertion, with some arguing that the association weakens in samples with higher methodological rigor. In the current study, the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment hypothesis is examined in 142 studies (149 samples; 227,918 dyads) that underwent a methodological quality review, as well as data extraction on a number of potential moderator variables. Results reveal a modest association of intergenerational maltreatment (k = 80; d = 0.45, 95% confidence interval; CI [0.37, 0.54]). Support for the intergenerational transmission of specific maltreatment types was also observed (neglect: k = 13, d = 0.24, 95% CI [0.11, 0.37]; physical abuse: k = 61, d = 0.41, 95% CI [0.33, 0.49]; emotional abuse: k = 18, d = 0.57, 95% CI [0.43, 0.71]; sexual abuse: k = 18, d = 0.39, 95% CI [0.24, 0.55]). Methodological quality only emerged as a significant moderator of the intergenerational transmission of physical abuse, with a weakening of effect sizes as methodological rigor increased. Evidence from this meta-analysis confirms the cycle of maltreatment hypothesis, although effect sizes were modest. Future research should focus on deepening understanding of mechanisms of transmission, as well as identifying protective factors that can effectively break the cycle of maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DAVID GAIMSTER et al. 430 pages, 40 colour plates, 425 b&w plates & figures. 1997. London: British Museum Press; 0-71410571-6 hardback £45. It is no exaggeration to describe this as [...]

Management of agitation is an increasingly common duty in the nursing care of older patients. Agitation describes a range of behavioural symptoms including aggressiveness and hyperactivity, and can be a sign of severe illness. In a series of focus groups in a large teaching hospital, nurses’ feelings and actions in regard to nursing agitated older people were recorded and analysed. The results demonstrated that agitation is not well understood and is often not well-managed. Despite recent efforts to provide more supportive staffing structures, nurses felt particularly stressed and unsupported in relation to this phenomenon. Recommendations are made for the instigation of enhanced education programmes as well as ongoing attention to improved workload initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]