Suchergebnisse

The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which differences in risky sexual behavior (RSB) between males and females is mediated by their personality traits and coping styles. Participants were 180 first-year undergraduate students who were evaluated with the Tridimensional
Personality Questionnaire (TPQ; Cloninger, 1987); the Multidimensional Coping Inventory (COPE; Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989); and a Risky Sexual Behavior Questionnaire (RSBQ). Findings showed that while the majority of the males had engaged in RSB at least once during the previous
year (80%), the majority of the females had not engaged in such behavior (62%). In addition, the males scored significantly higher than did the females on the novelty-seeking personality dimension (i.e., the tendency to respond with intense excitement to novel stimuli), as well
as on the problem-focused and the avoidance coping styles. Path analysis revealed two mediators in the relationship between RSB and gender: novelty seeking and the avoidance coping style.

published_or_final_version ; Urban Planning ; Master ; Master of Science in Urban Planning

This study explores the association between coping strategies (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance), internal resources (dispositional optimism and mastery), demographic and work characteristics, and secondary trauma symptoms among 160 social workers in public agencies treating clients who were victims of trauma. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that emotion-focused and avoidance coping strategies, previous history of exposure to a traumatic event, and high exposure to traumatic material through clients were associated with increased levels of secondary trauma, while dispositional optimism, mastery, and steady supervision on a weekly basis were associated with a reduction of those symptoms. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

• Summary: The present study explores the relationship between perceived social support and well-being among students in the two main populations living in Israel: Jews and Arabs. More specifically, it compares the well-being of Israeli Jewish students and Palestinian students and examines the role of social support in their well-being. The sample comprised 207 undergraduate students in the schools of social work and nursing at one of the major universities in Israel, where more than half of the Palestinian students are enrolled. Three instruments were used: Psychological distress was measured by both the Brief Symptoms Inventory Scale( BSI;Derogatis, 1979) and the Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI; Beck and Steer, 1987); perceived social support was assessed by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support( MSPSS;Zimet et al., 1988). • Findings: Findings show that the Palestinian students are significantly more distressed than their Jewish counterparts, according to all measures of well-being. At the same time, their perceived social support is significantly higher than that of the Jewish students. • Applications: The significance of the findings is discussed within the frameworks of stress and social support theories, as well as the modernization process and the prevailing norms and values of Arab culture.

The study evaluates the MSW program in the School of Social Work at the University of Haifa in comparison with the BSW program in terms of values, knowledge and skills, whose usefulness at work was also assessed. The two samples were MSW degree-holders and current MSW students. The results showed that the BSW program was rated as emphasizing values and knowledge more than the MSW program. No difference was found in relation to skills. The MSW program was rated higher for speci.c knowledge bases and skills. For work, skills were considered more useful than knowledge. The results suggest that in a MSW curriculum greater emphasis should be placed on skills than on general knowledge and values.