Alicia Skinner Cook

The Experience of Participating in Bereavement Research: Stressful or Therapeutic?.

Abstract A follow-up study of bereaved individuals who had participated in an interview study of funeral rituals revealed that the participants viewed the overall experience as positive and as an opportunity to express their feelings regarding their loss. They also believed their participation in the research project was beneficial to themselves and to others in a variety of specific ways. These preliminary findings raise questions about the relationship between stress and emotional intensity an a research context. The need for bereaved individuals to have a voice an discussions of ethics in bereavement research is emphasized.

Ethical issues in bereavement research: An overview

Abstract Guidelines for the conduct of ethical research are reviewed and applied to the field of than atology. Unique aspects of bereavement studies are identified and discussed in the context of socially sensitive research. Questions are raised in an attapt to stimulate dialogue and debate among thanatologists on the topic of ethics in bereavement research.

A comparison of observed and reported adult-infant interactions: Effects of perceived sex

Interactions of 16 adults (eight married couples whose youngest child was less than 2 1/2 years old) with a single actor infant, dressed as either a male or a female, were recorded and analyzed in four categories: direction of gaze, facial expression, physical contact with the infant, and toy used. After the interaction period, a 45-minute interview on child rearing was conducted with each member of the couple. Observed interactions were then compared with interview data. The results support previous studies which show that both male and female parents behave differently toward unfamiliar infants on the basis of perceived sex. However, parents, especially mothers, appeared unaware of their differential treatment of male and female infants. These results suggest subtle sex-typing of infants by adults.

Early gender differences in the functional usage of language

Early male and female differences in the functional use of language were investigated by coding the verbal interactions of 32 preschool children during a 10-minute play session with same-sex peer. The speech of each child was classified into functional-motivational categories using the FIS-P scoring instrument. The findings were consistent with the literature on adult conversational styles, showing that males talk more and are more assertive in their social interactions than are females. The results of this study demonstrate the existence of early gender differences in the functional use of language and emphasize the importance of a developmental approach to the study of communication styles.

Work‐Family Conflict and the Quality of Family Life: Specifying Linking Mechanisms

This study evaluated a conceptual model that specified relationships between work and family demands, work-family conflict, stress, and the quality offamily life. Usinga sample of 328female and 187 male working parents, path analysis indicated that the intersect of structural and psychological characteristics of work andfamily was related to work-family conflict, influenced stress, and eventually predicted the quality offamily life. Also, as expected, the linkages between work andfamily variedfor mothers and fathers.

The relation of economic factors to perceived stress in mobile families

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between objective and subjective measures of economic well-being, amount of and satisfaction with control, and perceived stress level of subjects, who have relocated with their families within the past year. Both males and females indicate more stress if their financial condition is worse following the move than before, if their employment status is not satisfying, and when they have little control over their lives and are not satisfied with their level of control. Stress is negatively related to satisfaction with the specific aspects of economic situation studied for both males and females with limited exception.

Family/work roles' relation to perceived stress: Do gender and ethnicity matter?

This exploratory research examines whether gender and ethnic differences exist in family- and work-related variables that best predict perceived stress. The Anglo male (N=115) and female (N=199) and Mexican-American male (N=35) and female (N=85) respondents each had the roles of employee, spouse, and parent. Data were collected by mail questionnaire from state-classified employees at the three land-grant universities in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming as part of Cooperative Regional Research Project W-167. Regression analysis indicates that role overload is a significant predictor of stress for Anglo males and females and Mexican-American females, thus providing some support for the role strain theory, which suggests that increasing the number of roles drains personal resources and may increase stress. Satisfaction with family roles enters regression equations as significant predictors for two sample groups. Other variables enter only one of the four regression equations; thus ethnicity and gender differences are found in the variables predicting perceived stress and should be considered in future research in this area.

The Association Between Emotion Work Balance and Relationship Satisfaction of Couples Seeking Therapy

Emotion work refers to the efforts that are made to enhance emotional well-being and provide emotional support in a relationship. Data were collected from 63 couples who were seeking therapy to determine the relation between emotion work balance and relationship satisfaction. On the basis of comparative scores on emotion work, each dyad was categorized as either: (a) balanced; (b) participant performs more emotion work; or (c) partner performs more emotion work. Results indicate that both men and women are most satisfied with their relationship when levels of emotion work are approximately equal. Thus, clinical interventions that aim to establish balance in emotion work may benefit both partners in a relationship.

Women's perceived stress and well-being following voluntary and involuntary relocation

This study investigated the relationship between voluntary and involuntary relocation and womens perceptions of stress and amount of control, as well as their satisfaction with personal well-being. Results indicated that involuntary movers felt significantly less control and had lower levels of satisfaction with the relationship with their spouses than did voluntary movers. Educational level and employment status were also explored in relation to the dependent variables. Women with high school/trade school education had significantly higher levels of perceived stress, feelings of less control, and lower levels of satisfaction with family life than women with more education.

Relocation and Crisis: Perceived Sources of Support.

Two hundred and ninety-eight recently relocated individuals responded to eight hypothetical crisis situations by identifying the primary source from which they would seek assistance. The majority of respondents were able to identify sources of available help in the event of these crises; very few individuals reported having no social supports. Extended kin relations were viewed as an important source of family aid despite geographical separation, indicating that modern communication techniques have minimized the socially disruptive effects of geographical mobility. Implications for programs aimed at supporting mobile families are discussed.