Siyon Rhee

Keeping Public Child Welfare Workers on the Job

Abstract The retention of public child welfare workers is of increasing concern in todays social work job market. This article presents results of a longitudinal study developing predictors of turnover among newly hired public child welfare workers. Comparisons are made between predictors of intention to leave and predictors of actually leaving the job as alternative outcomes. Attitudes of workers in response-to-job conditions are more likely to predict intention to leave than actually leaving. Time to receiving a full caseload, which is under the control of administrators, is an important predictor of leaving the job. Other lessons for administration are discussed.

Psychiatric disorders among elderly Koreans in the United States

This study examines the lifetime prevalence of various psychiatric disorders among 100 Korean elderly in Los Angeles. The instrument used in this study is the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version III (DIS III, 1–10). The main finding is of relatively low prevalence of most DSM-III disorders with the exception of alcohol abuse and dependence. The rate of alcoholism is astonishingly high among elderly Korean males in Los Angeles. The findings are compared with the U.S. Epidemiological Catchment Area studies, and with other much larger community studies conducted in Korea. A comparison shows that there are no significant differences in the prevalence of mental disorders between elderly Koreans in Los Angeles and elderly Americans in St. Louis (N=576) except for the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence. The lifetime prevalence of DSM-III disorders among Koreans in Korea (N=5100) is generally higher than among elderly Koreans in Los Angeles.

Child Maltreatment Among Immigrant Chinese Families: Characteristics and Patterns of Placement

This study examined the characteristics of child abuse among immigrant Chinese families in Los Angeles. The study also identified some of the critical variables contributing to the selection of one of two types of placement (in home or out of home) by the child protective services system. Data were obtained from 221 active Chinese case files maintained by the Asian Pacific Unit of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The extracted data were presented with logistic regression analysis to examine the odds of children being removed from the home. The most prevalent type of maltreatment experienced by the Chinese victims was physical abuse, and the rate of physical abuse was higher than in the general child welfare population. Chinese children are less likely to be removed from their homes than are non-Chinese children. Implications for practice include the need for focusing services on Chinese parent education and family preservation.

Relationship Power, Sexual Decision Making, and HIV Risk Among Midlife and Older Women

The number of midlife and older women with HIV/AIDS is high and increasing, especially among women of color. This article addresses these demographic realities by reporting on findings about self-esteem, relationship power, and HIV risk from a pilot study of midlife and older women. A purposive sample (N = 110) of ethnically, economically, and educationally diverse women 40 years and older from the Greater Los Angeles Area was surveyed to determine their levels of self-esteem, general relationship power, sexual decision-making power, safer sex behaviors, and HIV knowledge. Women with higher levels of self-esteem exercised greater power in their relationships with their partner. Women with higher levels of general relationship power and self-esteem tend to exercise greater power in sexual decision making, such as having sex and choosing sexual acts. Income and sexual decision-making power were statistically significant in predicting the use of condoms. Implications and recommendations for future HIV/AIDS research and intervention targeting midlife and older women are presented.