Suzanne Brown

The Experiences of Gay Men and Lesbians in Becoming and Being Adoptive Parents

The purpose of this study was to explore the adoption and parenting experiences of lesbian and gay (LG) adoptive parents. Data for the present study are from a larger national cross-sectional survey of LG adoptive parents. Participants were recruited through advertisements placed in metropolitan LG newspapers, Web sites, and organizations across the country that serve LG individuals. This paper presents an analysis of the qualitative data gathered from 182 participants who responded to the following statement and two questions: 1. Write three short statements describing the biggest barriers or challenges that you faced in your efforts to become an LG adoptive parent. 2. What are the three biggest challenges you now face as an LG adoptive parent? 3. What are the three biggest joys you have experienced as an LG adoptive parent? The sample in this study was 54.9% female and 90% White. Thematic analysis was utilized to summarize the nature of the adoption experience from the LG parent perspective. Parents identified LG-specific barriers to becoming adoptive parents including perceived discrimination at all levels of the adoption process. Further, parents report a lack of role models to guide and mentor them. LG challenges included legal fears and struggles as they attempted to finalize both the initial and second-parent adoption. LG joys included being a role model to other parents, unanticipated increased extended family involvement, and unanticipated community support and acceptance.

Prospective Patterns and Correlates of Quality of Life among Women in Substance Abuse Treatment

BACKGROUND Quality of life (QOL) is increasingly recognized as central to the broad construct of recovery in substance abuse services. QOL measures can supplement more objective symptom measures, identify specific service needs and document changes in functioning that are associated with substance use patterns. To date however, QOL remains an under investigated area in the addictions field, especially in the United States. METHODS This study examines patterns and predictors of QOL at 1 and 6 months post treatment intake among 240 women enrolled in substance abuse treatment in Cleveland, Ohio. The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) measure was used to assess physical, psychological, social and environmental domains. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to identify correlates of QOL at 6 months post treatment intake. RESULTS All QOL domains across the follow up time points improved significantly. However, QOL scores across domains remained below those of healthy population norms. Trauma symptoms significantly predicted Physical and Psychological QOL. Among treatment process variables, alcohol use was the sole significant factor associated with QOL and only for Environmental QOL. Recovery support and friends support for abstinence were consistently associated with QOL across all four domains. IMPLICATIONS This study suggests the usefulness of the WHOQOL measure as an indicator of functioning in substance abusing populations. Findings underline the importance of helping women deal with trauma symptoms and develop support for recovery. Further research is needed on the longitudinal relationship between QOL and substance use patterns.

Dynamic functional connectivity of neurocognitive networks in children

The human brain is highly dynamic, supporting a remarkable range of cognitive abilities that emerge over the course of development. While flexible and dynamic coordination between neural systems is firmly established for children, our understanding of brain functional organization in early life has been built largely on the implicit assumption that functional connectivity (FC) is static. Understanding the nature of dynamic neural interactions during development is a critical issue for cognitive neuroscience, with implications for neurodevelopmental pathologies that involve anomalies in brain connectivity. In this work, FC dynamics of neurocognitive networks in a sample of 146 youth from varied sociodemographic backgrounds were delineated. Independent component analysis, sliding time window correlation, and k‐means clustering were applied to resting‐state fMRI data. Results revealed six dynamic FC states that re‐occur over time and that complement, but significantly extend, measures of static FC. Moreover, the occurrence and amount of time spent in specific FC states are related to the content of self‐generated thought during the scan. Additionally, some connections are more variable over time than are others, including those between inferior parietal lobe and precuneus. These regions contribute to multiple networks and likely play a role in adaptive processes in childhood. Age‐related increases in temporal variability of FC among neurocognitive networks were also found. Taken together, these findings lay the groundwork for understanding how variation in the developing chronnectome is related to risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding how brain systems reconfigure with development should provide insight into the ontogeny of complex, flexible cognitive processes. Hum Brain Mapp 38:97–108, 2017.

Personal Network Recovery Enablers and Relapse Risks for Women With Substance Dependence

We examined the experiences of women in treatment for substance dependence and their treatment providers about personal networks and recovery. We conducted six focus groups at three women’s intensive substance abuse treatment programs. Four coders used thematic analysis to guide the data coding and an iterative process to identify major themes. Coders identified social network characteristics that enabled and impeded recovery and a reciprocal relationship between internal states, relationship management, and recovery. Although women described adding individuals to their networks, they also described managing existing relationships through distancing from or isolating some members to diminish their negative impact on recovery. Treatment providers identified similar themes but focused more on contextual barriers than the women. The focus of interventions with this population should be on both internal barriers to personal network change such as mistrust and fear, and helping women develop skills for managing enduring network relationships.

Impact of Dual Disorders, Trauma, and Social Support on Quality of Life Among Women in Treatment for Substance Dependence

Objective: Women with dual disorders report lower levels of social support than women with substance dependence alone, and lower levels of social support have been associated with lower quality of life among individuals with substance use disorders. However, little is known about the impact of trauma symptoms and violence exposure on quality of life for women with dual disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of dual disorders, trauma, and social support related to recovery on various domains of quality of life among women in substance abuse treatment. Methods: This study utilized multiple standardized measures and hierarchical ordinary least squares regression to examine quality of life, trauma, and social support in women with dual disorders. Four domains of quality of life were measured (physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains). Participants (N = 369) were recruited from three inner-city women-only addiction treatment programs. Institutional review board approval was obtained prior to sample recruitment. Results: Presence of dual disorders was significantly associated with lower quality of life in the physical and psychological domains. However, this difference was no longer significant when trauma symptoms were added to the model. Trauma symptoms and support for recovery significantly predicted quality of life across all four domains and friends’ support for abstinence across three domains. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the presence of dual disorders in women may indicate a history of trauma. They also support the importance of both friends’ support for abstinence and recovery support as predictors of quality of life in women with dual disorders. Interventions that focus on social support and quality of life in treatment with women with substance use disorders may potentially enhance treatment outcomes.

Substance Abuse Treatment Stage and Personal Networks of Women in Substance Abuse Treatment

This study examines the relationship among 4 treatment stages (i.e., engagement, persuasion, active treatment, relapse prevention) and the composition, social support, and structural characteristics of personal networks. The study sample includes 242 women diagnosed with substance dependence who were interviewed within their first month of intensive outpatient treatment. Using EgoNet software, the women reported on their 25 alter personal networks and the characteristics of each alter. With one exception, few differences were found in the network compositions at different stages of substance abuse treatment. The exception was the network composition of women in the active treatment stage, which included more network members from treatment programs or 12-Step meetings. Although neither the type nor amount of social support differed across treatment stages, reciprocity differed between women in active treatment and those in the engagement stage. Networks of women in active treatment were less connected, as indicated by a higher number of components, whereas networks of women in the persuasion stage had a higher degree of centralization, as indicated by networks dominated by people with the most ties. Overall, we find social network structural variables to relate to the stage of treatment, whereas network composition, type of social support, and sociodemographic variables (with a few exceptions) do not relate to treatment stage. Results suggest that social context, particularly how social contacts are arranged around clients, should be incorporated into treatment programs, regardless of demographic background.

Teaching Direct Practice Skills Using Web-Based Simulations: Home Visiting in the Virtual World

Social work programs increasingly are engaged in deploying distance education models, yet questions remain about how to teach direct practice skills within this context. As field agency changes have limited practice opportunities for social work students, methods for helping interns develop direct practice skills in diverse field practicum settings also are needed. This paper describes a direct practice course initiative in which a virtual simulation of a home visit was developed in Second Life. Descriptions of the steps that were involved in developing and implementing this initiative, feedback from the students and instructors, and resources necessary to launch such an initiative are discussed.

Changes in personal networks of women in residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment

Changes in personal network composition, support and structure over 12 months were examined in 377 women from residential (n=119) and intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment (n=258) through face-to-face interviews utilizing computer based data collection. Personal networks of women who entered residential treatment had more substance users, more people with whom they had used alcohol and/or drugs, and fewer people from treatment programs or self- help groups than personal networks of women who entered intensive outpatient treatment. By 12 months post treatment intake, network composition improved for women in residential treatment; however, concrete support was still lower and substance users are still more prevalent in their networks. Network composition of women in outpatient treatment remained largely the same over time. Both groups increased cohesiveness within the network over 12 months. Targeting interventions that support positive changes in personal networks may heighten positive long term outcomes for women entering treatment.

Supportive Relationships Among Former System Youth With Mental Health Challenges

This study explored the supportive relationships that former system youth (FSY; e.g., foster care) with mental health challenges identified as “key” in making the transition to adulthood. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 59 FSY, ages 18 to 25, with mental health challenges. Participants were asked to reflect on their relationships with a key helper or what the literature defines as a natural mentor, “an adult that has been particularly helpful, or supportive,” in this case with their mental health. Seventy-six percent (N = 45) of the participants identified a key helper. Relationship qualities that emerged as salient to successful transition included consistency, mutuality, and empathy. The nature of support received included emotional, informational, and tangible support. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Is neutral really neutral? Converging evidence from behavior and corticolimbic connectivity in children and adolescents

Abstract Individuals differ in their tendency to perceive negativity in ambiguous situations or facial expressions. Prior research demonstrates that this so-called “negativity bias” is exaggerated in children; for instance, when they rate the emotional content of neutral facial expressions. However, neutral faces are frequently used as a baseline condition in pediatric emotion processing studies, as they are thought to be emotionally neutral. Here, we present data that challenge that notion. We demonstrate that children and adolescents rate neutral faces, particularly of adults, as negative, similar to ratings elicited by angry faces. In addition, we found a lack of age-related decrease in reaction time for neutral adult faces, suggesting that these stimuli remain salient across development. Demonstrating the relevance of individual differences, higher negativity bias was associated with lower self-reported reward sensitivity and increased functional connectivity of the amygdala. Together, these findings indicate that neutral faces are not perceived as emotionally neutral in children, thus discouraging their use as baseline condition in pediatric research. These data also offer a potential neurobiological substrate of the negativity bias in children. The link to corticolimbic emotion-processing circuitry and affective experience implies that exaggerations in these biases may be relevant for the development of emotional psychopathology.