Surjit Singh Dhooper

Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

Based on an extensive review of the literature, this paper describes the major changes in the patients behavior at the various stages of Alzheimers disease and looks at the problems generally involved in caring from different perspectives. It also discusses factors that may explain the uniqueness of each caregiving situation and highlights the approaches to helping the caregiving families effectively.

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ADULT LIFE SATISFACTION IN A RANDOM ADULT SAMPLE

640 randomly selected adults were surveyed about childhood traumatic events and their current life satisfaction. Respondents who had experienced traumatic childhood events rated themselves significantly less satisfied with life and were less likely to be home owners and more likely to live in families with lower incomes than respondents who had not experienced traumatic events (ns ranged from 44 to 232, depending on the items).

Poverty, Chronic Stress, Ethnicity and Psychological Distress Among Elderly Hispanics

Abstract This study examined the relationship between chronic stress and psychological distress among poor and nonpoor elderly Hispanics belonging to three major ethnic groups: Cubans, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans. The study used data from a nationwide probability sample of 1,239 Hispanics age 65 and older. The results show that poverty status and ethnicity influence the relationships between chronic stress and psychological distress. For example, financial stress had a significant relationship with psychological distress for the nonpoor Cubans, but not for the other two ethnic groups. Social stress was associated with psychological distress in all the three ethnic groups, but the association was strongest among poor Puerto Ricans. Family/personal stress was associated with more psychological distress among poor and nonpoor Cuban, poor Mexicans and nonpoor Puerto Ricans. Poverty and ethnicity also influenced the relationships between gender, marital status and health status and psychological distress. Impl...

Ethnic and Gender Differences in Perceived Needs for Social Services Among Three Elderly Hispanic Groups

The study used data from a nationwide probability sample of 1,855 Hispanics age 65 and older, representing three major ethnic groups, Cubans (n = 714), Mexicans (n = 773), and Puerto Ricans (n = 368), to examine ethnic and gender differences in ten selected perceived needs for social services. The findings revealed variations in social service needs between and within ethnic and gender groups. Generally, the Cuban elderly reported a lower rate of needs than both Mexican and Puerto Rican elderly. More similarities in needs were found between Mexican and Puerto Rican elderly. Men and women in these three samples of the Hispanic elderly also had different patterns of social service needs. When education was controlled for, the results revealed that ethnic differences were more likely to appear among less educated respondents. Implications of these findings for social work practice and research are discussed.

Social Work Response to the Needs of Biracial Americans

Abstract The number of interracial marriages is rising. The offspring of these marriages are a special group that is experiencing the complexities and frustrations of multiracial existence. Over six million Americans identified themselves as biracial in the 2000 census. These people are different from biracial Americans of the past. They do not want to disown any part of their ancestry and are resisting the societal practice of forcing them to identify with only the racial community of one parent. This paper examines the social realities and worldviews of these Americans and identifies their major needs. It discusses these and suggests a social work response at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice.

Importance of models for recovery from alcoholism: another view

Models of alcoholism abound providing unicausal explanations of this complex problem and leading to narrow perspectives on treatment of alcoholics. All models contain elements of truth and there is a trend toward considering the role of various factors in alcoholism. Some effort has been made to incorporate more than one model into a treatment approach. This paper is another effort at synthesis and integration of various models into a comprehensive treatment plan. It recommends the addition of the sociological and familial interaction models to medical, psychogenic and moral ones, and suggests that focus of treatment should be shifted from an individual alcoholic to the alcoholic-in-his-social-situation.