Dina J. Wilke

A Study of the Relationship Between Protective Behaviors and Drinking Consequences Among Undergraduate College Students

The authors identified the number, type, and frequency of protective behaviors that undergraduate college students who consume alcohol use to prevent alcohol-related consequences. Their hypothesis was that students who engage in more types of protective behaviors with greater frequency would be less likely to experience alcohol-related consequences. Participants consisted of a randomly selected sample of 1,355 undergraduates aged 18 years and older at a large public university. Students completed a mailed questionnaire on alcohol and health behaviors in spring 2002. The findings (after adjustment for covariates) indicated that self-protective behaviors are inversely associated with alcohol-related problems for women but not for men. The influences of gender and racial and ethnic differences are considered in relation to prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing alcohol-related consequences on college campuses.

An Ecological Model of Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Neglect: Issues, Analyses, and Recommendations

This study examined an ecological model of maternal substance abuse and child neglect. Data are presented that identified an interplay among family history, interpersonal risk factors, current family functioning, and community networks in examinations of child neglect in a sample of substance-abusing women entering treatment.

The Nature and Impact of Domestic Violence Across Age Cohorts

This study examined the nature and extent of domestic violence and its impact on psychosocial functioning among women of different age groups. No differences were found across age groups in the severity of violence, nature of injuries, use of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident, attribution of blame, likelihood to report violence, or rates of childhood physical abuse and depression. However, the older women were more likely to have experienced violence for a longer time, to be in current violent relationships, and to have health and mental health problems than were the younger women. These similarities and differences are discussed in terms of interventions.

EVALUATION OF THE FIRST WEB-BASED ADVANCED STANDING MSW PROGRAM

The first completely Web-based advanced standing master of social work program began in 2002, and 32 students had graduated by 2005. This article presents a preliminary evaluation comparing the first two online cohorts with a face-to-face (F2F) cohort of advanced-standing students. Results showed several demographic differences between groups (e.g., online students were older and had more work experience than F2F students). There were few differences on a variety of educational and satisfaction outcomes with the exception of field, where instructors rated online students lower on several sections of the field evaluation measure. The implications for social work education are discussed.

Gender Differences in the Nature of the Intimate Partner Violence and Effects of Perpetrator Arrest on Revictimization

The majority of research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has addressed male-to-female violence, although a small but growing body of literature has developed that explores males victimized by female partners. This study used data from the National Crime Victimization Survey from 1987 to 2003 to examine male victimization by comparing the nature of violence to female victimization and by exploring the effect of perpetrator arrest on preventing revictimization. The sample was comprised of 2,462 female and 298 male victims. Study variables included gender, arrest, revictimization, type of violence, injury, and use of a weapon. Results showed that men were victimized by IPV less frequently than women and received fewer injuries, although they were more likely to experience more severe violence. Police arrested female perpetrators, but generally only if injury was involved; however, arrest did not reduce male victims’ chance of revictimization.

Domestic Violence and Aging: Teaching about Their Intersection.

Women of all ages experience domestic violence, and the population of middle-aged and older women is growing rapidly. This article discusses how women’s issues, domestic violence, aging, and elder abuse all relate to social work education and then suggests how they can be integrated together into the social work curriculum through teaching about elder domestic violence.

Predicting Suicide Ideation for Substance Users: The Role of Self-Esteem, Abstinence, and Attendance at 12-Step Meetings

This study tested if a three-way interaction between gender, abstinence, and self-esteem could predict the occurrence of suicidal thoughts in a sample of drug users who are one year post-treatment. It was expected that those who resolved their drug and alcohol problems and had higher self-esteem would have a lower risk of suicide ideation than those who had resolved their drug and alcohol problems (e.g. were abstinent) and had lower self-esteem, and that this effect would be stronger for women than men. Using a 3-step hierarchical logistic regression, results indicated a significant 2-way interaction between self-esteem and abstinence in the predicted direction, and no effect for gender. However, it was also found that those who had lower levels of self-esteem, regardless of abstinence or continued use, had virtually identical odds of suicidal ideation. Further, increased frequency of attendance at AA/NA meetings also predicted a higher risk of suicide ideation. This suggests that careful assessment of depression symptoms or suicidal ideation for drug users seeking assistance be completed before automatically urging attendance at 12-step meetings. Implications for clinical work with clients are presented.

A Peer-Facilitated Intervention to Reduce Risky Drinking Among Fraternity and Sorority Members

Results from a pilot study of a peer-facilitated brief motivational interview using personalized normative feedback with members of fraternities and sororities are presented. Eight fraternity and sorority houses were randomly selected and then randomized into treatment or control conditions. Quantitative data testing intervention efficacy indicated no differences between treatment and control group 30 days postintervention on measures of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Qualitative information from follow-up focus groups of intervention participants identified themes related to intervention dosage, and credibility of the normative data and peer educator. Recommendations are made for future research and intervention strategies with this population.

Enhancing Web‐based Courses through a Mutual Aid Framework

Students taking a class together belong to a group where members typically develop a sense of connection to each other by engaging in mutual support and assistance through shared experiences and knowledge. Some have argued that the lack of face‐to‐face interaction precludes such processes and prevents the effective teaching of social work in an online environment. When online students were asked what they liked most and least about their classes, one‐third of the responses referred to ideas that reflected interactions among students and with faculty. These comments were evaluated in the context of Shulmans (1999) processes of mutual aid. This exploratory study suggests that despite a lack of face‐to‐face contact, mutual aid is relevant to online students and could be used to strategically enhance the delivery of course content in an online environment and facilitate a sense of connection among students.

High-risk drinking among young adults: the influence of race and college enrollment.

This secondary data analysis of the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse examines the influence of individual, interpersonal, and contextual social risk and protective factors on high risk drinking, focusing on the influence of minority status and college enrollment among 5,895 young adults. Hierarchical regression predicted 39.4% of the variance in high-risk drinking. Being male, increased risk-taking behavior, being older, and higher numbers of friends getting drunk all positively influenced high-risk drinking, and disapproval of daily drinking reduced high-risk drinking. Interaction effects showed all significant variables to be more influential for Whites than Blacks, including college attendance.