Joseph J. Shields

The Health and Social Consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Across the Lifespan: An Introduction to Prevention and Intervention in the Community

This introduction to the themed issue overviews the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study and discusses prevention and intervention with ACE and their consequences in communities. A commentary by Dr. Robert Anda, an ACE Study Co-Principal Investigator, is incorporated within this introduction. Implications of articles within the issue are addressed, and next steps are explored.

The Impact of Changes in Employment Status on Psychosocial Well-Being: A Study of Breast Cancer Survivors

ABSTRACT Recent developments in the treatment of cancer have resulted in an increase in the number of cancer survivors. With this increase in the survival rate comes an increase in questions as to how a diagnosis of cancer and its treatment affects survivors and their well-being. Research has emphasized the impact that medical factors related to cancer have on the well-being of cancer survivors. However, the literature also suggests that socioeconomic factors may affect cancer survivors; well-being. This study focuses on the role that employment status plays in relationship to the levels of psychosocial well-being of women diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. This study was a cross-sectional design utilizing secondary data analysis. The sample consisted of 369 breast cancer survivors from four cancer treatment facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region. The independent variable was employment status during and after treatment and the dependent variables were psychological distress, physical and mental functioning and quality of life. Utilizing analysis of covariance, controlling for age at diagnosis and stage of cancer it was found that there was a statistically significant difference in the dependent variables by employment status. These findings are discussed in terms of clinical and policy implications.

Sources of stress experienced by catholic priests

Using a nationwide sample of 515 diocesan priests we assessed their level of stress and 28 organizational and personal factors affecting stress. The priests scored slightly lower in stress than the average of other occupational groups. Younger priests and priests serving as assistant pastors reported the most; pastors reported the least. Organizational problems within the diocese were stressors only for non-pastors. Priests reported more stress if diocesan communications were not open and if the Ordinary was perceived as not taking an interest in them

Role Commitment Processes Revisited: American Catholic Priests 1970 and 1985

To investigate possible changes in the factors influencing the decision to continue in the priesthood, a partial replication of Schoenherr and Greeleys 1970 study of American Catholic priests was conducted on a national probability sample of 729 diocesan priests. Overall, the results of the analysis are similar to the earlier research. The role commitment model based on social exchange theory is effective for explaining both data sets. The cost of celibacy as measured by desire to marry, although weaker than in 1970, remains the principal consideration in determining whether a priest will withdraw or continue in the active ministerial priesthood.

Mobilizing Resilience and Recovery in Response to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE): A Restorative Integral Support (RIS) Case Study

The Restorative Integral Support (RIS) model is a comprehensive, whole person approach to addressing adversity and trauma. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente reveals a relationship between childhood trauma and adult health and social problems. The current empirical case study presents the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS), in Petaluma, CA, as an example of one social service agency employing RIS to break cycles of homelessness. By applying RIS, research-based programming is offered within a culture of recovery that mobilizes resilience through social affiliations. The authors recommend RIS model implementation and research in programs serving populations with ACE backgrounds.

Changing Age Distribution and Theological Attitudes of Catholic Priests, 1970–1985

A 1985 survey of American Catholic priests replicated a 1970 survey and permitted tests of earlier projections made by Schoenherr and Sorensen regarding the fiuture of the Catholic priesthood. We found that the age distribution shifted toward older ages, as projected, but not quite as drastically as expected. Contrary to the projection, theological attitudes did not shift in the conservative direction; they became more modern, especially regarding faith and authority. The erroneous assumption in the Schoenherr-Sorensen projection was apparently that priests would turn conservative as they got older; this has not happened to any important degree. Also the youngest priests in 1985 were more conservative than their age-counterparts in 1970, and the overall level of morale rose from 1970 to 1985.

Patient and program factors in obtaining supportive services in DATOS.

This study examined patient and program factors that influenced the receipt of scheduled supportive services in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies (DATOS). Patients (N = 2,932) in 21 long-term residential (LTR) programs, 27 outpatient methadone treatment (OMT), and 25 outpatient drug-free programs were interviewed at admission and at 3 months during treatment. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between patient-level and program-level factors associated with receiving supportive services in seven categories (medical, psychological, family, legal, educational, vocational, and financial). LTR patients received more services on average than outpatients (especially OMT), but patients overall received few services in the first 3 months of treatment. The patient-level likelihood of receiving services was related to being female and to having higher problem severity at intake. At the program level, outpatient clientele with higher problem severity received more services if they entered a program whose other enrolled patients were less troubled on average.

The impact of a sex offender treatment programme on the attachment styles of incarcerated male sexual offenders

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test whether attachment styles change over the course of a sex offender-specific treatment programme for incarcerated adult male sex offenders. To measure attachment styles, 44 male sex offenders (treatment n = 26, waitlist n = 18) completed the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) and the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS). The results indicated that treatment participants showed significant decreases in levels of anxious attachment measures from pre- to post-test. Furthermore, the results from the RSQ 2-factor showed that participants in the treatment group demonstrated a significant decrease in avoidant attachment levels at post-test compared to the waitlist group. The results from the AAS showed that participants in the treatment group demonstrated a significant decrease in dependent attachment levels at post-test compared to the waitlist group. Implications of results are discussed.

The power of siblings and caregivers: under-explored types of social support among children affected by HIV and AIDS

ABSTRACT Children affected by HIV and AIDS have significantly higher rates of mental health problems than unaffected children. There is a need for research to examine how social support functions as a source of resiliency for children in high HIV-prevalence settings such as South Africa. The purpose of this research was to explore how family social support relates to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress (PTS). Using the ecological model as a frame, data were drawn from a 2011 cross-sectional study of 1380 children classified as either orphaned by AIDS and/or living with an AIDS sick family member. The children were from high-poverty, high HIV-prevalent rural and urban communities in South Africa. Social support was analyzed in depth by examining the source (e.g. caregiver, sibling) and the type (e.g. emotional, instrumental, quality). These variables were entered into multiple regression analyses to estimate the most parsimonious regression models to show the relationships between social support and depression, anxiety, and PTS symptoms among the children. Siblings emerged as the most consistent source of social support on mental health. Overall caregiver and sibling support explained 13% variance in depression, 12% in anxiety, and 11% in PTS. Emotional support was the most frequent type of social support associated with mental health in all regression models, with higher levels of quality and instrumental support having the strongest relation to positive mental health outcomes. Although instrumental and quality support from siblings were related to positive mental health, unexpectedly, the higher the level of emotional support received from a sibling resulted in the child reporting more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTS. The opposite was true for emotional support provided via caregivers, higher levels of this support was related to lower levels of all mental health symptoms. Sex was significant in all regressions, indicating the presence of moderation.

The Association Between Foster Care and Substance Abuse Risk Factors and Treatment Outcomes: An Exploratory Secondary Analysis

The child welfare and substance abuse systems are integrally linked through the children and families they both serve. There is a dearth of knowledge, however, on how children who have experienced foster care fare when they are treated for substance abuse issues as adults. This article presents an exploratory study using the Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS) data set. To pursue a set of exploratory questions, adults in substance abuse treatment who were formerly in foster care were matched with a group who had not experienced substitute care. Their experiences before and after treatment were compared. This article presents the methodological and substantive findings.