Henry J. D'Souza

Spirituality and religion in training, practice and personal development

In the midst of a revitalized interest in spirituality and religion in Western societies, there has been reported a resurgence of activity regarding spirituality and religion in the mental health professions, including marriage and family therapy (MFT). Little is known, however, about the beliefs, behaviours, and training experiences of MET graduate students. Therefore it is important to examine the training (education and supervision) needs in this area. For this initial study, a sample of US MET graduate students were surveyed regarding their spiritual and religious attitudes and practices in their personal and professional lives. In most areas, graduate students were found to be similar to the previously published reports of practising professionals. In other areas, they report even more investment in spirituality and religion. The results of the survey suggest a need to include systematic attention to these areas in graduate training curricula and in the professional supervision process.

Adolescent Non-Coital Sexual Activity: Comparisons of Virgins and Non-Virgins

This study examined non-coital sexual activity among youth who did and did not experience adolescent sexual intercourse. A sample of 148 female and 57 male participants (ages 18 to 21) from 4 Midwestern public and private colleges and a metropolitan Planned Parenthood agency completed an anonymous questionnaire about their sexual activity during adolescence. Items included sexual behaviors, risk taking, psychosocial motivations and reactions, influences, and demographic factors. Findings revealed that non-coital sex was common among both virgins and non-virgins, and the rates (including those for oral sex) were similar for males and females. Among virgins, total abstainers (from all interactional sexual intimacy) came from a lower socioeconomic status, had fewer social/dating opportunities, lacked a viable relationship, and had lower grades. Two subgroups of virgins, those who came close to intercourse and those who did not, differed only on social/dating opportunities; of those who came close but did not have intercourse, nearly half continued with non-coital sexual activity. Compared to the came close group, the intercourse group reported greater use of alcohol, less religious involvement, fewer moral influences, and more humanistic and fewer traditional messages about sex received from parents. They also noted poorer outcomes and a lower evaluation of their first intercourse decision, and females had a less positive emotional reaction to the experience, poorer outcomes, and lower evaluation of the decision than males. Parents, sex educators, and health care workers need to be involved in the sex education and guidance of youth. Their efforts should include exploration of the full range of options regarding sexual decisions, dialogue about the meanings of intimate sexual activity, and strategies to promote thoughtful sexual decisions.

The sexual interaction system scale: A new inventory for assessing sexual dysfunction and sexual distress

This paper reports on the development, reliability, and validity of a new self-report instrument: the Sexual Interaction System Scale (SISS). Initial research on 143 couples supports reliability as measured by the internal consistency of the five factors. Validity is supported by several tests: the SISS differentiated between a nonclinical group and couples in therapy for sex dysfunction and also between two clinical groups--couples with sex dysfunction and couples with other problems. It also correlated strongly with a measure of sexual satisfaction and with the Affection subscale and overall score of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Discussion focuses on interpretation of results via case examples and on the utility of the SISS in research and clinical practice.

Mothers' Efforts toward Their Children's Sex Education: An Exploratory Study

The study examined two types of effort toward their children’s sex education made by a sample of 62 mothers with children aged 3 to 17, in relation to several parental characteristics as independent variables. Greater indirect preparation effort (getting informed about sex education materials and opportunities) was predicted by the presence of an adolescent and by mothers’ higher score on molestation history. Greater direct guidance effort (recent face-to- face interaction with one’s child) was explained by a model that included having an adolescent in the family and mothers’ higher comfort with sexual topics; however, only the comfort score remained significant. The discussion explores the limitations of the sample, the importance of further research on parental characteristics, and the implications for designing programs to help parents play a greater role in their children’s sex education.

Sexual Interaction in Nonclinical Couples

This article reports on the sexualfunctioning and interaction of 58 nonclinical heterosexual couples as measured by the Sexual Interaction System Scale (SISS). The extent of sexual dysfunction in normal females was considerably lower than two estimates from previous studies, whereas the percentage of male dysfunctions fell between the earlier estimates. On allfive SISSfactors, the nonclinical sample scored significantly better than persons in therapy for sexual dysfunction. The partners also reported satisfactory relationship adjustment as measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and a high level of sexual satisfaction, both of which strongly correlated with sexual interaction. Demographic and lifestyle variables, except female health, were not associated with the quality of sexual interaction. Females had lower scores on sexualfunctioning, nonsexual interaction, interaction coordination, and total SISS than their male partners, but no gender differences were found in sexual satisfaction and relationship adjustment. Discussion focuses on implications forfuture research and clinical practice.

Mentoring At-Risk Chicano Children and Their Parents

ABSTRACT This article discusses a mentoring project aimed at preventing youth violence and attributes initial success to principles of community practice. The program was unique in being housed in the community, targeting young Chicano children for long term mentoring, and providing support for the non-English speaking parents. Focus is on three theoretical elements-mentoring, empowerment, and multicultural consciousness-all of which implicitly embody concepts of community. Discussion centers on how these concepts played a role in the day-to-day challenges of implementation and in meeting initial program goals. This article offers insights to those wishing to duplicate this mentoring effort with Chicano or other multicultural clients.

Preventing war: Need for an internationalist perspective on social work values

Abstract Studies and discussions on social work values and ethics have focused on professional relationships, biomedical ethics, confidentiality, self-determination, and clients rights. Rarely have ethical discussions given attention to war and the resulting annihilation of human life and destruction of the environment. This paper argues that social workers must examine war as an ethical issue and prevent it rather than take an ameliorative position. An internationalist perspective on social work values is necessary to achieve this. Suggestions for reformulation of the Social Work Code of Ethics and curriculum ideas for this purpose are suggested.