Kris Bulcroft

The Nature and Functions of Dating in Later Life

Using the National Survey of Families and Households, logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors that are significant predictors of dating for persons aged 60 years and older. Stepwise regressions were also conducted to determine the effects of dating on the psychological well-being of older daters. The strongest predictor of the propensity to date in later life is gender, with men significantly more likely to engage in dating. A number of gender differences were noted as they relate to the likelihood of dating. In particular, age and social role involvement tend to influence older mens likelihood of dating, while health and mobility were significantly associated with dating among older women.

The Timing of Divorce: Effects on Parent-Child Relationships in Later Life

The National Survey of Families and Households was used to assess the effects of marital status on contact with adult children (N = 1,929). Respondents were 55 years of age or older, had been married at least once, and had a biological child aged 19 years or older from the first marriage, who was not residing in the home. As hypothesized, divorce had a negative effect on interaction with adult children, and this effect is much greater for men than for women. In particular, those men who divorced when their children were younger had the lowest rates of interaction. These data suggest that the long-term effects of divorce for men are particularly deleterious in terms of interaction with their children.

Does Long-Term Marriage Bring Less Frequent Disagreements? Five Explanatory Frameworks

Studies of marital conflict have concluded that the frequency of disagreements between spouses declines over time in a marital relationship. Using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the National Survey of Families and Households, the authors examine the frequency of marital disagreements concerning household tasks, money, sex, and spending time together reported by married women and men age 20 to 79. The study results refute a developmental explanation for marital disagreement, which posits that disagreements decline as marital partners accommodate themselves to one another over time. The results indicate, however, that increased marital duration may bring increased marital disagreements, depending on family life course stage (particularly, the presence of children in the home), and potentially also depending on spouses’ages and birth cohorts. The results also suggest a limited role of selective attrition in explaining the frequency of marital disagreements, in that couples who disagree more frequently are more likely to divorce or separate, particularly respondents of younger ages/birth cohorts, who have been married for relatively briefer periods of time.

Family Structure and Patterns of Independence Giving to Adolescents Variations by Age, Race, and Gender of Child

This article explores the relationship between family structure and control attempts of parents with regard to their adolescent children. Differences in control attempts for lifelong intact families, single-parent households, cohabiting households, and stepparent households were analyzed using the National Survey of Families and Households. The nature of the control attempts focused on parental behaviors such as leaving the child home alone, variations in curfew, and application of household rules. The relationship between childs age, gender, and family structure was of particular interest. The findings reveal little difference between parental control attempts in lifelong intact families versus single-parent and stepparent families. Cohabiting parents demonstrated the greatest variation in adolescent control attempts for both sons and daughters. In general, the research suggests that parents in nontraditional families attempt to exercise control at about the same levels as parents in long-term two-parent families

The management and production of risk in romantic relationships: a postmodern paradox

Expanding on the work of Ulrich Beck and other social theorists, the central thesis of this article is that individuals in contemporary North American society are increasingly motivated by the need to alleviate expanding levels of perceived risks associated with interpersonal love relationships and mate selection. In response to these perceived risks, men and women today are altering their relationship patterns in such a way that the process of relationship formation and assessment has become increasingly rationalized. As a result, a paradox has been created between the rational management of interpersonal risk associated with romance and the production of risk. This article is primarily a theoretical treatment of the issues, augmented with data on the social history of adolescence, courtship, and marriage and a review of the literature on mate selection processes in contemporary society.

Health Promotion Over the Life Course Strategies for Effective Action I. The Historical and Social Context

For health promotion policy to be effective, it must take into account the historical and social context. The increase in life expectancy and health improvements in this century are impressive, and most persons can now anticipate relatively long lives and good health. Health promotion generally is advanced within a context of competing values, and the consequences of health promotion activities are generally stated in higher probabilities of avoidance of health problems in the future. This probability, rather than direct future consequences, may not be persuasive enough to the population to affect change in activities that provide more immediate and direct gratification, and, thus, attempts at health promotion may not be effective. The dissemination of information on health issues has increased dramatically, and societal values concerning health are changing. Fostering health promotion is associated with costs, both monetary and social, and since these costs rise, the investments in health promotion may be expected to increase. At least two approaches to health promotion exist: one through general information and the shifting of values and a second through intervention programs. For the latter to be effective, they will need to be placed in a systematic program. The basis for a model for such a program is developed here. An outline of the model will be presented in Part II of this article, to be published in a subsequent issue of Research on Aging.

Book Reviews : Pat M. Keith and Robbyn R. Wacker. Older Wards and Their Guardians. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994. 248 pp.,

oriented approaches, or organizational structure that may facilitate or sabotage interdisciplinary efforts. Chapter 8 provides both a definition and description of case management process, placing it within a social work context that is characterized by joining with and enabling clients, as well as by providing support, information, training, and referral to informal caregivers whose assistance often prevents institutionalization. The final chapter describes major components of the aging services network in terms of (a) its core service delivery components, (b) a variety of constituencies who influence the service environment through control of resources, and (c) the consumer base that demands accessible, affordable, and appropriate services. The authors review the proactive roles of managers and direct service providers in balancing the competing values of cost containment versus quality of care and shrinking resources versus burgeoning demand. Overall, the book provides good information about the contexts in which social work practice with the elderly may occur. The book is highly readable, addresses many topical issues, and contains appropriate examples drawn from actual human services. However, the book is not a how-to guide. In general, the examples are selected to highlight specific issues or interventions rather than to open a discussion of which indicators of a specific problem are most significant, which intervention approaches were considered, and why various interventions were eliminated or pursued. Chapter 6 is a significant exception to this general rule. The case material in this chapter is particularly well chosen, and the dilemmas, choices, and likely