Sexual and physical abuse history and adult sexual risk behaviors: relationships among women and potential mediators

OBJECTIVE: While research has supported associations between experiencing abuse and engaging in risky sexual behaviors during adolescence, research regarding these associations among adult women is much more equivocal. In addition, few studies have attempted to identify potential pathways from abuse experiences to sexual risk behaviors. The current study examined the associations between a history of physical or sexual abuse and recent sexual risk behaviors among adult women. Additionally, this study evaluated binge drinking and depressive symptomatology as potential mediators of any relationships between abuse history and sexual risk behaviors. METHODS: A total of 1,428 women between 18 and 40 years of age attending family planning clinic appointments completed a self-report survey regarding their recent sexual behaviors and sexual and physical abuse history. Logistic regressions using backward elimination were conducted to identify factors associated with sexual risk behavior. RESULTS: A history of physical abuse by a romantic partner was associated with several sexual risk behaviors. Few significant associations between intrafamilial physical or sexual abuse and recent sexual risk behaviors were found. Additionally, there was no evidence that these relationships were mediated by binge drinking or depressive symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: Familial abuse experiences are not necessarily associated with recent sexual risk behaviors among adults. In contrast, physical abuse experiences, particularly those perpetrated by a romantic partner, are associated with engaging in adult sexual risk behaviors among women. However, these associations are not mediated by alcohol use or depressive symptomatology.     

Parental self-confidence, parenting styles, and corporal punishment in families of ADHD children in Iran

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the relationship between parental self-confidence, warmth, and involvement, and corporal punishment in families of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: The diagnosis of ADHD was established through clinical interviews with the parents, children, and teachers, according the criteria in DSM-IV-TR. This diagnosis was also established by having the parents complete the Conners' Parent Rating Scale, and the teachers complete the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. Two groups of Iranian parents, one group with children who have ADHD (N=130) and a control group (N=120), completed questionnaires measuring parental self-confidence and parenting styles. RESULTS: Parents of children with ADHD were found to have lower self-confidence and less warmth and involvement with their children, and used corporal punishment significantly more than the parents of control children. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides strong evidence that children with ADHD are at considerable risk of abuse by their parents. Rather than focusing only on the child's ADHD, treatment may also need to address the parents' functioning.     

Childhood neglect and adulthood involvement in HIV-related risk behaviors

OBJECTIVE: Much research has been done to examine the long-term effects of being victimized by sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse in childhood, but much less research has focused on the impact of childhood neglect experiences. This study examines the role that childhood neglect has on adult women's involvement in HIV-related risky behaviors. METHODS: The data come from a study of 250 "at risk" women living in the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area, most of whom were African American. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews between 1997 and 2000. Multiple regression was used to explore the relationship between childhood neglect experiences, self-esteem, attitudes toward condom use, and involvement in HIV-related risky behaviors. RESULTS: Overall, the model tested received strong support by the study data. Childhood neglect led to reduced self-esteem. Neglect was associated with worsened attitudes toward condom use and women who experienced childhood neglect also reported more involvement in HIV risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: HIV intervention programs ought to target women who have experienced childhood neglect, as neglect experiences have adverse impacts upon their self-esteem, condom-related attitudes, and HIV risk behavior practices in adulthood.     

Bullying, violence, and risk behavior in South African school students

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of bullying behavior in adolescents from Cape Town and Durban, South Africa, and the association of these behaviors with levels of violence and risk behavior. METHOD: Five thousand and seventy-four adolescent schoolchildren in grade 8 (mean age 14.2 years) and grade 11 (mean age 17.4 years) at 72 Government schools in Cape Town and Durban, South Africa completed self-report questionnaires on participation in bullying, violent, anti-social and risk behaviors. RESULTS: Over a third (36.3%) of students were involved in bullying behavior, 8.2% as bullies, 19.3% as victims and 8.7% as bully-victims (those that are both bullied and bully others). Male students were most at risk of both perpetration and victimization, with younger boys more vulnerable to victimization. Violent and anti-social behaviors were increased in bullies, victims and bully-victims compared to controls not involved in any bullying behavior (p<.01 in all cases). Risk taking behavior was elevated for bullies and bully-victims, but for victims was largely comparable to controls. Victims were less likely to smoke than controls (odds ratio .83, p<.05). Bully-victims showed largely comparable violent, anti-social and risk taking behavior profiles to bullies. Bully-victims showed comparable suicidal ideation and smoking profiles to victims. CONCLUSIONS: Results were in keeping with Western findings. Involvement in bullying is a common problem for young South Africans. Bullying behavior can act as an indicator of violent, anti-social and risk-taking behaviors.     

桂林街9号

作为这座城市最陈旧的居民区,承载了林囡囡十九年心事的桂林街终于要拆了。林囡囡踩着一双破了个洞的帆布鞋,一遍遍反复丈量着街道,在每一棵桃树下收集着失落的往事、失落的老林、失落的赵小春．和失落的母亲。     

夏日欢乐派对

夏天到,夏天到,小朋友们哈哈笑。吃西瓜,吃玉米,去郊游,去戏水。快快乐乐多热闹！     

美国优质网络课程的案例介绍

近十年来,我国高校网络课程建设成果显著,但其中暴露出的理论与实践相脱离的现象也比较严重。通过介绍美国德克萨斯A&M大学Dooley教授开设的网络课程《远程教育的高级方法》,尝试剖析其作为优质网络课程在管理平台、教学设计、交互安排、评价方法以及支持服务等方面所具有的特征,以期与国内远程教育的研究者和实践者分享经验。     

引导基金参股方式对创投机构后续募资的影响

本文通过私募通数据库搜集数据构造匹配样本,使用logit模型、Cox模型和多元线性回归模型,从后续募资的可能性、时间间隔、募资规模三个方面,实证分析引导基金单独参股和联合参股这两种参股方式对创投机构后续募资的影响。研究发现:(1)引导基金联合参股可以促进创投机构后续募资,而单独参股则不能。(2)引导基金无论联合参股高声誉创投机构还是低声誉创投机构,都会促进其后续募资。(3)引导基金联合参股非国有背景创投机构可以促进其后续募资,但联合参股国有背景创投机构则不能促进其后续募资。     

跨文化研究在线学习教育学——反思和比较中英高校在线学习合作项目的经验

本文旨在研究如何实现有效的跨文化协作,比较中英两国如何理解和组织在线学习。研究者依据现象解释学设计研究方法,对比和反思了参加跨文化合作开发在线学习课程的经历和体验,讨论了这一基于项目的协作交流如何促进了对在线学习的理解。最后,本文总结了一些可供开展后续相关探索活动的尝试性结论。     

Nutrition for the young athlete

Athletics is a popular sport among young people. To maintain health and optimize growth and athletic performance, young athletes need to consume an appropriate diet. Unfortunately, the dietary intake of many young athletes follows population trends rather than public health or sports nutrition recommendations. To optimize performance in some disciplines, young athletes may strive to achieve a lower body weight or body fat content and this may increase their risk for delayed growth and maturation, amenorrhoea, reduced bone density, and eating disorders. Although many of the sports nutrition principles identified for adults are similar to those for young athletes, there are some important differences. These include a higher metabolic cost of locomotion and preferential fat oxidation in young athletes during exercise. Young athletes, particularity children, are at a thermoregulatory disadvantage due to a higher surface area to weight ratio, a slower acclimatization, and lower sweating rate. An appropriate dietary intake rather than use of supplements (except when clinically indicated) is recommended to ensure young athletes participate fully and safely in athletics.