scholarly journals Harman & Lorandos (2020). Preprint of Allegations of Family Violence in Court: How Parental Alienation Affects Judicial Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Jill Harman ◽  
Demosthenes Lorandos

We tested a set of findings reported by Meier (2019) related to the use of parental alienation (PA) as a legal defense in cases in which there are allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. A total of 967 appellate reports in which PA was found or alleged were sequentially selected from a legal database search. Nineteen research assistants blind to the study’s hypotheses coded the reports for the variables used to test six pre-registered hypotheses using a series of logistic and linear regression models. We failed to find any support for the conclusions made by Meier (2019). Parents found (versus alleged) to alienate their children, regardless of their gender, had greater odds of losing parenting time, losing custody of their children, and losing their case. These findings held even when the accusing parent had been found to have been abusive. Losses or decreases in custody were not found when the (alleged) alienated parent was found to have been abusive. Results indicate that the majority of courts carefully weigh allegations of all forms of family violence in their determinations about the best interests of children. These findings, along with several others, raise concerns that the methodological, analytical, and statistical problems we detail about Meier’s report (2019) make her conclusions untrustworthy. Discussion focuses on the importance of using open science practices for transparent and rigorous empirical testing of hypotheses and the dangers of misusing scientific findings to mislead influential professionals who affect the well-being of millions of families.

2020 ◽  
pp. 019394592095205
Author(s):  
Donald E. Bailey ◽  
Jia Yao ◽  
Qing Yang

Illness uncertainty is prevalent in patients awaiting liver transplant. We described high levels of illness uncertainty in these patients and examined relationships between uncertainty and person factors and the antecedents of uncertainty. Mishel uncertainty in illness scale was used to measure illness uncertainty. We used modes and interquartile range (IQR) to describe illness uncertainty levels in 115 patients. Multiple logistic and linear regression models estimated the associations of uncertainty with hypothesized antecedents. High total illness uncertainty score was reported by 15.6% of the patients. After adjusting for all variables, illness uncertainty was associated with two antecedents of uncertainty, low social well-being (OR = 0.816; p = .025) and low self-efficacy (OR = 0.931; p = .013). Complexity was negatively associated with social well-being; ambiguity and inconsistency were negatively associated with self-efficacy. One in seven patients experienced high illness uncertainty. Social well-being and self-efficacy were negatively related to illness uncertainty.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 721-721
Author(s):  
Lindsay Wilkinson ◽  
Julie Masters ◽  
Julie Blaskewicz Boron

Abstract Prior research has demonstrated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on feelings of loneliness, but relatively little is known about loneliness in the context of senior living communities (SLCs). Indeed, the pandemic has led SLCs to enact new safety precautions, including visitor restrictions, intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19, which may have serious consequences for the psychosocial well-being of residents. Drawing on a sample of 733 adults ages 54 to 100 living in one of nine SLCs in December 2020 (response rate = 60%), linear regression models were used to examine whether perceived communication between SLCs and residents during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced feelings of loneliness. Analyses also considered whether this association varied as a function of education. Our findings reveal that 53% of respondents were very lonely during the pandemic. However, older adults who perceived that their SLC had been helpful to their understanding of the pandemic were significantly less lonely (p < 0.01), adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Moreover, we found that less educated older adults derived the greatest benefit from effective communication about the pandemic (p < 0.05). Those with less education reported feeling lonelier if they did not perceive that their SLC communicated in a way that helped them better understand the pandemic; there was no such association for those with higher education. The findings from this study provide support for the resource substitution hypothesis and demonstrate the importance of communication in alleviating feelings of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S814-S814
Author(s):  
Stephanie T Judge ◽  
Jodi L Clasey ◽  
Leslie J Crofford ◽  
Suzanne C Segerstrom

Abstract Pain limits individuals’ ability to engage in activities that promote well-being. This longitudinal-burst daily diary study tested reciprocal relationships among pain, optimism, pain interference, and activity in older women. Multilevel models tested between- and within-person relationships among these variables. Pain best predicted interference (person: γ001 = .227, SE = .022, p < .0001; wave: γ010 = .267, SE = .014, p < .0001; day: γ100 = .246, SE = .010, p < .0001); optimism best predicted activity (γ002 = .684, SE = .101, p < .0001). In linear regression models, baseline optimism (sr2 = 0.560, p < .0001), less interference (sr2 = 0.064, p < .0001), and more activity (sr2 = 0.015, p = .013) predicted higher end-of-study optimism. Ultimately, more optimistic women were significantly more active than less optimistic women, and less interference and more activity promoted increased optimism, creating a virtuous cycle that enhances well-being among older women.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary-Beth Coty ◽  
Elizabeth G Salt ◽  
John A Myers ◽  
Said K Abusalem

This article examines role stress, key psychosocial variables, and well-being in adults recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis must often learn to balance disease and role-related responsibilities. This was cross-sectional, descriptive study ( N = 80). Data were analyzed using correlation coefficients and linear regression models. Participants were predominantly female (78%), married, and employed. Mean age and disease duration were 54.2 years and 24.2 months, respectively. The findings suggest that well-being is influenced by feelings of being self-efficacious and having balance in their roles and less to do with social support received from others.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1311-1311
Author(s):  
Lathi A Nina ◽  
Pierre Isogai ◽  
Nicole Mittmann ◽  
Carlo DeAngelis ◽  
Matthew Cheung ◽  
...  

Abstract Neutropenia is a serious hematologic consequence of cancer chemotherapy that can lead to further complications such as febrile neutropenia (FN). FN is potentially life threatening and often requires hospitalization. Few studies have evaluated the impact of neutropenia on quality of life (QoL). This study quantified QoL using two nonneutropenia-specific instruments, the EQ-5D questionnaire, a generic tool used to measure health-related QoL, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) questionnaire, and a neutropenia-specific instrument, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Neutropenia (FACT-N) questionnaire. The FACT-G is a 27-item questionnaire that examines QoL in patients with cancer using four subscales. A neutropenia-specific subscale (NSS) has been developed for use with the FACT-G; this combined questionnaire is the FACT-N. Data were collected from patients, who provided informed consent, and who were admitted to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced FN. Linear regression models were fitted to examine the relationship of scores from the neutropenia-specific instrument with those obtained from the other instruments. Two models were fitted using the NSS as the response variable. Predictors for the regression models were the FACT-G scores for each of the subscales (physical, emotional, social and functional wellbeing) and the five domains of the EQ-5D (mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression) along with the visual analog scale (VAS) component of this tool. The physical and emotional wellbeing subscales of the FACT-G had a strong relationship to the NSS (p < 0.05); the social and functional well-being subscales had a much weaker relationship (p > 0.5). For the EQ-5D, the pain/discomfort domain had the strongest relationship to the NSS (p=0.18); the remaining domains, with or without the VAS, all demonstrated a weaker relationship (p > 0.5). Model fit was assessed by the adjusted R2 statistic; it was 0.54 when FACT-G subscales were used as the predictors compared to −0.04 for the EQ-5D domains indicating that the FACT-G was a better predictor of neutropenia-related concerns. Neutropenia concerns appear to be more closely related to cancer specific QoL compared to general quality of life as demonstrated by the stronger relationship of the NSS to the FACT-G than to the EQ-5D. This may be due to the comprehensiveness of the FACT-G questionnaire where a possible score anywhere from 0 to 24 or 28 can be obtained in each of the subscales, compared to three-point descriptive system for each of the domains of the EQ-5D.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Brian Fisher ◽  
Erin McAdams

Purpose – This paper aims to examine how both the amount and type of coursework impact students’ conceptualizations of sustainability. Previous research demonstrates that academic coursework influences students’ environmental attitudes, yet few studies have examined the impact of coursework on how students conceptualize “sustainability”. Design/methodology/approach – Data are examined from the 2011 Sustainability Survey, which yielded a sample of 552 students at a medium-sized university in the southeastern USA. A series of four linear regression models estimate the impact of academic coursework on students’ conceptualizations of sustainability (ecosystems/nature, eco-efficiency, community/well-being and systemic change/innovation). Findings – The results indicate that the type of course that students take significantly impacts the way in which students conceptualize this term; the number of courses taken has no statistically significant impact. This suggests that mere exposure to a particular theme in a class, rather than continued exposure to courses related to sustainability, is more important in shaping students’ perceptions. Originality/value – This study expands on previous research by examining the influence of the number and type of academic coursework on students’ conceptions of sustainability and provides a framework for understanding the varied ways in which sustainability is defined. This has important implications for how students approach ways to achieve a sustainable future. The results suggest that students may be exposed to particular messages within an academic division that encourage students to emphasize particular elements of sustainability. While not problematic on its face, the data demonstrate that students lack an integrated or holistic understanding of sustainability. They usually view sustainability through the same prism as the academic division where their coursework was located, and this has implications for students’ continued perceptions of sustainability, academic programming of sustainability and the practice of it.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Grant ◽  
Kathleen Wendt ◽  
Bonnie J. Leadbeater ◽  
Lauren H. Supplee ◽  
Evan Mayo-Wilson ◽  
...  

The field of prevention science aims to understand societal problems, identify effective interventions, and translate scientific evidence into policy and practice. There is growing interest among prevention scientists in transparency, openness, and reproducibility. Open science provides opportunities to align scientific practice with scientific ideals, accelerate scientific discovery, and broaden access to scientific knowledge. Open science also addresses key challenges to the credibility of prevention science, such as irreproducibility of results, selective non-reporting (publication bias, outcome reporting bias), and other detrimental research practices. The overarching goal of this paper is to provide an overview of open science practices for prevention science researchers, and to identify key stakeholders and resources to support implementation of these practices. We consider various aspects of applying open science practices in prevention science, such as identifying evidence-based interventions. In addition, we call for the adoption of prevention science practices in the open science movement, such as the use of program planning principles to develop, implement, and evaluate open science efforts. We also identify some challenges that need to be considered in the transition to a transparent, open, and reproducible prevention science. Throughout, we identify activities that will strengthen the reliability and efficiency of prevention science, facilitate access to its products and outputs, and promote collaborative and inclusive participation in research activities. We conclude with the notion that prevention scientists are well-positioned to engage with the open science movement, especially given their expertise in examining and addressing complex social and behavioral issues. By embracing transparency, openness, and reproducibility, prevention science can better achieve its mission to advance evidence-based solutions to promote well-being.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Kumar Upadhyay ◽  
Swati Srivastava ◽  
Chhavi Paul

Unlike its short-term impact on consumption and income, forced migration is expected to deliver a permanent shock to the overall well-being of households, specifically children in the stage of infancy. Studies on the effect of forced migration on child cognitive well-being are few in number. Therefore, the present study is intended to examine the consequences of forced migration during infancy on child cognition at later age. We hypothesized that the effect of forced migration on child cognitive well-being can be mitigated by social support. The study used longitudinal data from three waves of the Young Lives Study (YLS) conducted in 2002, 2006–2007, and 2009 in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. We used bivariate and multivariate regression models to analyze the consequences of forced migration in early childhood on the cognitive well-being in later childhood. The information on forced migration was collected in Wave 1 (at age 1), whereas the information on the cognitive well-being of the children was collected in Wave 3 (at age 8). Child cognitive well-being was measured using scores obtained by the children on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), math, Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA), and memory tests. The results of the bivariate analysis show that the mean PPVT, math, EGRA, and memory scores obtained by children from the migrated households were lower than those obtained by children from the non-migrated households. Results of the multivariate linear regression models also show that children from the migrated households were statistically less likely to achieve higher scores on math (coefficient: -2.008, 95% C.I.-3.108, -0.908), EGRA (coefficient: -0.746, 95% C.I.-1.366, -0.126), and memory (coefficient: -0.503, 95% C.I. -0.834, -0.173) as compared to children from the non-migrated households. Our findings also indicate that the effect of forced migration on child cognitive well-being was not mitigated by social support. Findings of this study conclude that forced migration during infancy has a significant effect on child cognitive well-being at later age. Therefore, interventions should be made, paying attention to the most vulnerable children who were displaced during critical development ages.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1244-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Domènech-Abella ◽  
Jaime Perales ◽  
Elvira Lara ◽  
Maria Victoria Moneta ◽  
Ana Izquierdo ◽  
...  

Objective:Successful aging (SA) refers to maintaining well-being in old age. Several definitions or models of SA exist (biomedical, psychosocial, and mixed). We examined the longitudinal association between various SA models and sociodemographic factors, and analyzed the patterns of change within these models. Method: This was a nationally representative follow-up in Spain including 3,625 individuals aged ≥50 years. Some 1,970 individuals were interviewed after 3 years. Linear regression models were used to analyze the survey data. Results: Age, sex, and occupation predicted SA in the biomedical model, while marital status, educational level, and urbanicity predicted SA in the psychosocial model. The remaining models included different sets of these predictors as significant. In the psychosocial model, individuals tended to improve over time but this was not the case in the biomedical model. Conclusion: The biomedical and psychosocial components of SA need to be addressed specifically to achieve the best aging trajectories.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document