Suzanne Bartholomae

Adolescent sexuality and parent-adolescent processes: promoting healthy teen choices

Trends in adolescent sexual health, the relation between parenting and adolescent sexual outcomes, and adolescent sexuality interventions with a parent component are reviewed. American adolescents have higher rates of unprotected sex and sexually transmitted infections contraction than adults and nine times the teen pregnancy rate of their European counterparts. Parenting efforts are related to adolescent sexual behavior. The review of 19 relevant programs supports the incorporation of theory and the ecological model in program design and evaluation.

The Recruitment of Normal Healthy Volunteers: A Review of The Literature on the Use of Financial Incentives

Unresolved issues of ethical, methodological, and legal concerns in the use of normal healthy volunteers persist. Financial incentives in their recruitment offer a unique ethical dilemma because of questions surrounding payment. A review of literature was conducted to obtain research systematically examining volunteer motivation and the role of financial incentives. The primary selection criterion was motivation and payment to volunteers; seven studies met the criterion for re view. Studies that have systematically investigated volunteer motivation have found financial rewards to be an important motivator among normal healthy volunteers in their decision to participate in clinical trials. Also evident is that differences based on demographic characteristics exist in the motivation and rates of volunteerism. Ethical issues surrounding the use of normal healthy volunteers are discussed, with attention to the issue of financial incentives (e.g., economically vulnerable volunteers, undue inducements). Regulations, guidelines, and recommendations are discussed with regard to volunteers and financial incentives.

Repeat Participation Among Normal Healthy Research Volunteers: Professional Guinea Pigs in Clinical Trials?

The recent death of a normal healthy volunteer, as well as the increased use of normal volunteers as research subjects, has heightened the attention given to the participation of normal volunteers in clinical research. An overlooked sub-population of normal healthy volunteers are repeat, veteran volunteers. This essay discusses ethical and methodological issues associated with the use of repeat volunteers in research, along with existing guidelines regarding the use of repeat healthy volunteers, and concludes with recommendations for safeguarding repeat volunteers and ideas supporting centralized recruiting.

Is Domestic Violence Relevant? An Exploratory Analysis of Couples Referred for Mediation in Family Court

Mediation is an essential component of custody evaluation and reconciliation services in domestic courts. Data from 306 couples with and without a reported history of domestic violence (DV) who were ordered to attend an assessment for mediation were analyzed to determine differences in the mediation process. More than one third reported a history of DV. Chi-square analysis showed that differences in the mediation process exist between couples reporting DV and couples reporting no DV. A greater proportion of couples with reported DV (a) actually attended the court-mandated assessment session, (b) were deemed unsuitable to participate in the mediation process, (c) were in default of child-support payments, and (d) reported drug and alcohol abuse. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the measured mediation outcomes. Implications for the use of mediation with couples who reported DV and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Financial Education and Program Evaluation

This chapter provides an overview of the wide range of financial education programs aimed at improving Americans’ financial literacy as well as a review of the current program evaluation evidence demonstrating the impact of financial education programs. We advocate for the adoption of a comprehensive framework for evaluation to assist those currently delivering, and planning to deliver, financial education while highlighting some of the key challenges. Jacobs’s (Evaluating family programs, pp. 37–68, 1988) five-tier approach to program evaluation is described and outlined to provide a general framework to guide financial education evaluation.

Student learning style and educational outcomes: evidence from a family financial management course

Abstract The academic performance of 419 undergraduate students in an individual financial management class was evaluated in light of their learning style, demographic background, academic history and time allocation. Academic history and time use variables proved to be the only significant predictors of grades in the course. Student learning style, as measured by Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory, was not a strong predictor of success in this financial management class, and it appears that no single type of learner best grasps financial management concepts. The implications of these finding lead to a discussion of instructional methods.

The Legacy of Welfare Economic Endowments or Cultural Characteristics

The current study explores the impact of parental welfare history on individuals’ current use of welfare by decomposing intergenerational differences using techniques traditionally employed in the race and sex wage discrimination literature. This research extends Rank and Cheng’s examination of welfare across generations by including various attitudinal, cultural, and community factors. Empirical testing of the the oretical explanations of welfare use— cultural and structural models—found mixed support. Utilizing data from the National Survey of Households and Families, logistic regression and decomposition analysis shows that family endowments and resources, but not family culture, determine welfare use. Differences in education, socioeconomic status, attitudes, and community resources appear to sufficiently explain the influence of intergenerational welfare use. The article concludes with implications of welfare reform in light of the theoretical models and the current study findings.

Mothers of Children With Physical Disabilities: Influence of Family Processes on Mothers' Depressive Symptomatology

This study examines how family processes, or specific behaviors and relationships within the family, influence the risk of depression in mothers of children with disabilities. Specifically, the collective influence of childrens maladaptive behavior problems, father involvement, and coparental conflict on the risk of depression among 60 married mothers of children with physical disabilities is examined. Based on data from the National Survey of Families and Households, findings showed that these mothers perceived the childs behavioral problems as less influential when they were more satisfied with the fathers parenting. Furthermore, coparental conflict appeared to mediate the influence of the childs behavior and her satisfaction with the fathers involvement on the mothers risk of depression.

Mediation and Child Support

Abstract As an alternative to litigation, mediation has been used to resolve conflicts in a cooperative manner to reflect the best interest of parties. Utilizing an archival research method, three sources of public statistical records from Central Ohio provided complete information about sociodemographic characteristics, marital and divorce history, spousal cooperation factors, mediation outcomes, and child support for 106 couples. A logistic regression found socioeconomic status, mediation, and suitability for mediation to be associated with child support compliance.

Advancing Financial Literacy Education Using a Framework for Evaluation

This chapter provides an overview of a wide range of financial evaluation initiatives aimed at improving Americans’ financial literacy. The chapter reviews the current program evaluation evidence and highlights challenges faced by providers of financial education programs as they evaluate program effectiveness. The chapter describes and outlines Jacobs’ five-tiered approach to program evaluation, a comprehensive framework for evaluation that can provide guidance for those currently or planning to deliver a financial education program.