Shawn A. Lawrence

Protective Strategies and Alcohol Use Among College Students: Ethnic and Gender Differences

This study investigated differences in alcohol consumption and the use of protective strategies (i.e., eating and designated drivers) between European American, African American, and Hispanic American college students. Gender differences were also examined. The study sample was drawn from a large southeastern university (n = 567). Data analysis employed regression, factor analysis, and analysis of variance. Results indicate that European Americans students reported a higher incidence of “drunk” episodes per week than other racial/ethnic groups and greater use of specific pre-drinking behaviors such as protective strategies than their non-European American peers. No statistically significant differences were found between the drinking patterns between genders.

Divorcing Abused Latina Immigrant Women's Experiences With Domestic Violence Support Groups

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of Latina immigrants who are divorcing and in domestic violence support groups (DVSGs). To gain an understanding of the client perspective, an ex-post facto research design was utilized with the data collection taking place after the members had terminated with the DVSG services. The convenience sample consisted of 15 Latina women. A questionnaire was used to determine the womens satisfaction with the group services. Results indicated that overall the group experience was positive, with 80% of the women reporting an overall “excellent” experience and 20% reporting an overall “good” experience.

Obesity Related Stigma as a Form of Oppression: Implications for Social Work Education

Obesity is a growing health problem in the US. In addition to the health problems associated with being grossly overweight, obese individuals also must confront stigma and social exclusion. Weight bias and negative attitudes towards the obese have been widely confirmed in numerous professions. The purpose of this article is two-fold: (1) to discuss the implications of weight-related stigma on obese clients; and (2) to offer pedagogical approaches for reducing discriminatory attitudes against overweight individuals, among MSW students, so that they may provide more effective clinical services to clients struggling with obesity.

The Relationship among Alcohol Consumption, Tailgating, and Negative Consequences.

Tailgating has been associated with both problem drinking and high-risk behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine if student participation in game day on-campus tailgating activities is associated with increased alcohol consumption. Employing a convenience sample of 567 university students, the authors compared the alcohol use patterns of students who participated in tailgating activities with students who did not. Survey results indicate that tailgating is positively associated (p < .05) with increased drinking and greater high-risk behaviors for college students. Implications for practice and future research are highlighted.

Behavioral Health: Treatment and Prevention of Chronic Disease and the Implications for Social Work Practice

Abstract The public health problems in the new millennium are largely related to lifestyle. The illness industry has seen a large growth in the United States with health care expenditure accounting for 14% of the gross national product. The field of behavioral medicine seeks to include individual responsibility in the prevention of chronic disease. There are great possibilities for lifestyle change through behavioral interventions. This manuscript outlines various applications of behavioral techniques and interventions utilized for smoking and obesity. Prevention paradigms and implications for social workers are also outlined.

Osteoporosis: prevention and implications for social work practice and policy.

Osteoporosis is one of the major disorders of our time and is increasing at an alarming rate. It affects over 10 million women in the United States and is expected to affect 14 million by the year 2020. There are a number of risk factors for osteoporosis that are of a modifiable nature; however, many women do not take the necessary precautions to prevent the disease. The reasons that women do not actively engage in preventative and remedial strategies to deal with the potential for osteoporosis are complex. It is clear that women must have adequate knowledge to make informed decisions regarding osteoprotective behaviors. Social workers are in a unique position to provide interventions not only on a micro level (educating individual clients) but also on a macro level in terms of large-scale education campaigns focusing on nutrition and exercise both in children and in adults. This article examines the reasons for the failure of women to engage in osteoprotective behaviors by exploring barriers to prevention and their impact on social work policy, practice, and research.

Factors Affecting Older Women's Adherence to Medication and Treatment

Over the past 25 years, there has been a growing interest in why many patients do not take prescribed medications or fail to follow medical advice. As many as 50% of all patients fail to adhere adequately to therapeutic advice or engage in inappropriate use of prescribed medications. Additionally, there has been a struggle over how best to describe this variance between what medical practitioners recommend and what patients actually do. This article examines factors thought to affect womens adherence to medication and treatment regimens. Literature on age, comorbid conditions, socioeconomic factors, environmental factors, and perceived susceptibility for an illness is reviewed as are individual psychological idiosyncratic dynamics that may influence health care behaviors.

Social work students’ perceptions of obesity

ABSTRACT Research indicates that mental health and medical professionals often hold negative views of overweight or obese people. Little is known about weight prejudice among social work students. In order to address this gap in the literature, this study examines the attitudes of Bachelor of social work and Master of social work students (n = 250) toward persons who are overweight and/or obese. Consistent with the literature, findings indicate generally those with higher body mass index scores are more likely to believe that obesity is beyond their control. Further, although age was correlated with Beliefs About Obese People scores, it was not a significant predictor. Implications for social work social justice and cultural competency curriculum are discussed.

The Relationship of Personality and Spirituality to Empathy

This empirical study sought to explore the relationship of personality, spirituality and empathy. Specifically, the possible additional predictive ability of spirituality for empathy when also including personality was examined. Multidimensional measures of spirituality (Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale) and personality (Big Five Inventory) were utilized with a sample of both undergraduate, graduate students and practitioners from two disciplines. Data was collected from several sites, including three universities. Results demonstrated that most spiritual dimensions were not significantly correlated with empathy. One spirituality dimension (Spiritual Perspective) however added significantly to a regression model that also included personality dimensions.