Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Integrating Neuroscience Knowledge Into Social Work Education: A Case-Based Approach, Marcia Egan, Terri Combs-Orme, Susan L. Neely-Barnes

Terri Combs-Orme

New knowledge from the rapidly growing field of neuroscience has important implications for our understanding of human behavior in the social environment, yet little of this knowledge has made its way into social work education. This article presents a model for integrating neuroscience into instruction on human development, the bio psychosocial model, psychopathology, and social work theory. Key concepts such as critical periods of brain development, neural plasticity, memory, cognition, and the impact of stress and trauma are discussed. Case studies and discussion questions are used to demonstrate the integration of neuroscience knowledge into social work education. We argue that …

Integrating Neuroscience Knowledge Into Social Work Education: A Case-Based Approach, Marcia Egan, Terri Combs-Orme, Susan L. Neely-Barnes

Social Work Publications and Other Works

New knowledge from the rapidly growing field of neuroscience has important implications for our understanding of human behavior in the social environment, yet little of this knowledge has made its way into social work education. This article presents a model for integrating neuroscience into instruction on human development, the bio psychosocial model, psychopathology, and social work theory. Key concepts such as critical periods of brain development, neural plasticity, memory, cognition, and the impact of stress and trauma are discussed. Case studies and discussion questions are used to demonstrate the integration of neuroscience knowledge into social work education. We argue that …

Resilient Parenting: Overcoming Poor Parental Bonding, W. Travis, Terri Combs-Orme

Terri Combs-Orme

This study identified groups of mothers with varying patterns of adaptive functioning and bonds with their own parents. These patterns were related to mothers' parenting of their own children to understand how some mothers avoid repeating the cycle of poor parenting. Data from 210 new mothers were analyzed before hospital discharge about bonding with their caregivers during childhood and six to 12 months later about adaptive functioning, life circumstances, and parenting. Latent cluster analysis identified four distinct groups of mothers with regard to parental bonds and adaptive functioning: positive-adaptive mothers (good bonding and good adaptive functioning), positive-maladaptive mothers (good bonding …

New Mothers’ Psychological Experience And Behavioral Interactions With Their Infants In The First 12 Months, Timothy Page, Terri Combs-Orme, Daphne S. Cain

Terri Combs-Orme

We examined the psychological dimensions of parents’ perceptions of their infant children and their own abilities as parents at two observation points in a racially and socio-economically diverse sample of 174 mothers. Parenting perceptions and life circumstances were hypothesized to predict interactive behavior observed in the home. Baseline assessments were conducted in hospital, within 36 hr of delivery. Follow-up assessments were conducted in their homes when the children were 6 to 12 months old. Of five major psychological constructs studied, only parents’ perceptions of children, represented particularly by empathic responsiveness and absence of role-reversal, predicted the quality of behavioral interactions …

New Mothers’ Psychological Experience And Behavioral Interactions With Their Infants In The First 12 Months, Timothy Page, Terri Combs-Orme, Daphne S. Cain

Social Work Publications and Other Works

We examined the psychological dimensions of parents’ perceptions of their infant children and their own abilities as parents at two observation points in a racially and socio-economically diverse sample of 174 mothers. Parenting perceptions and life circumstances were hypothesized to predict interactive behavior observed in the home. Baseline assessments were conducted in hospital, within 36 hr of delivery. Follow-up assessments were conducted in their homes when the children were 6 to 12 months old. Of five major psychological constructs studied, only parents’ perceptions of children, represented particularly by empathic responsiveness and absence of role-reversal, predicted the quality of behavioral interactions …

Resilient Parenting: Overcoming Poor Parental Bonding, W. Travis, Terri Combs-Orme

Social Work Publications and Other Works

This study identified groups of mothers with varying patterns of adaptive functioning and bonds with their own parents. These patterns were related to mothers' parenting of their own children to understand how some mothers avoid repeating the cycle of poor parenting. Data from 210 new mothers were analyzed before hospital discharge about bonding with their caregivers during childhood and six to 12 months later about adaptive functioning, life circumstances, and parenting. Latent cluster analysis identified four distinct groups of mothers with regard to parental bonds and adaptive functioning: positive-adaptive mothers (good bonding and good adaptive functioning), positive-maladaptive mothers (good bonding …

Poverty And The Daily Lives Of Infants, Terri Combs-Orme, Daphne S. Cain

Social Work Publications and Other Works

It has been amply demonstrated that poor children suffer disadvantages as compared to their more advantaged peers. This paper examines important aspects of infants’ daily experiences in a southeastern city in the United States in order to illustrate differences between poor and non-poor infants. ‘‘Poor’’ infants were compared to their ‘‘non-poor’’ counterparts on the quality of parenting they received; quality of their home environments; relative health and safety; stability, structure, and predictability of their daily lives; and exposure to diverse experiences in the community. Findings reveal that poor infants are at a consistent disadvantage across all domains when compared to …

Poverty And The Daily Lives Of Infants, Terri Combs-Orme, Daphne S. Cain

Terri Combs-Orme

It has been amply demonstrated that poor children suffer disadvantages as compared to their more advantaged peers. This paper examines important aspects of infants’ daily experiences in a southeastern city in the United States in order to illustrate differences between poor and non-poor infants. ‘‘Poor’’ infants were compared to their ‘‘non-poor’’ counterparts on the quality of parenting they received; quality of their home environments; relative health and safety; stability, structure, and predictability of their daily lives; and exposure to diverse experiences in the community. Findings reveal that poor infants are at a consistent disadvantage across all domains when compared to …

Civil-Military Relations In A Civilized State: Panama, Ronald D. Sylvia, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Faculty Publications

This article traces and analyzes civil-military relations in Panama. After a brief overview of the role of the National Guard in the country politics, the article concentrates on political developments since the 1989 U.S. invasion to overthrow the Noriega regime and the subsequent elimination of the Panamanian military. The study seeks to shed light on political life in an armyless and politically and socially fractionalized country occupying a sensitive strategic location. The concluding part of the study speculates on the possibility that terrorism, domestic security concerns, and regional considerations may prompt Washington and Panamanian leaders to reverse the decision to …

Civil-Military Relations In A Civilized State: Panama, Ronald D. Sylvia, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Constantine P. Danopoulos

This article traces and analyzes civil-military relations in Panama. After a brief overview of the role of the National Guard in the country politics, the article concentrates on political developments since the 1989 U.S. invasion to overthrow the Noriega regime and the subsequent elimination of the Panamanian military. The study seeks to shed light on political life in an armyless and politically and socially fractionalized country occupying a sensitive strategic location. The concluding part of the study speculates on the possibility that terrorism, domestic security concerns, and regional considerations may prompt Washington and Panamanian leaders to reverse the decision to …

Racial And Ethnic Attitudes And Individual Relatedness Among Greek-Americans, Constantine P. Danopoulos, Anna Karpathakis

Constantine P. Danopoulos

The article looks at the self-identity of Greek immigrants in the U.S. and incorporation of American racial ideologies into their racial repertoires. It recognizes Greek Americans for creating a national and racial framework that blends elements of both home and host society institutions and ideologies. It recalls the arrival of thousands of Greek immigrants in the U.S. in the 20th century. The increasing inter-marriage rates between Greek immigrants and Greek Americans are also noted.

Racial And Ethnic Attitudes And Individual Relatedness Among Greek-Americans, Constantine P. Danopoulos, Anna Karpathakis

Faculty Publications

The article looks at the self-identity of Greek immigrants in the U.S. and incorporation of American racial ideologies into their racial repertoires. It recognizes Greek Americans for creating a national and racial framework that blends elements of both home and host society institutions and ideologies. It recalls the arrival of thousands of Greek immigrants in the U.S. in the 20th century. The increasing inter-marriage rates between Greek immigrants and Greek Americans are also noted.

Do Maternal Concerns At Delivery Predict Parenting Stress During Infancy?, Terri Combs-Orme, Daphne S. Cain, Elizabeth E. Wilson

Social Work Publications and Other Works

Objective: In a previous study,we found that newmothers could andwould express concerns about their parenting, including concerns about maltreatment and poor care. In this study,we examine the utility of early maternal concerns for predicting parenting stress in the first year. Parenting stress is important because it has been shown to be related to maltreatment and poor parent-child relationships.

Method: A sample of 246 mothers were interviewed shortly after delivery in a publicly funded hospital about their parenting concerns, and 93% were reinterviewed in their homes about their parenting when the infants were 6 to 12 months old. Standardized measures with …

Do Maternal Concerns At Delivery Predict Parenting Stress During Infancy?, Terri Combs-Orme, Daphne S. Cain, Elizabeth E. Wilson

Terri Combs-Orme

Objective: In a previous study,we found that newmothers could andwould express concerns about their parenting, including concerns about maltreatment and poor care. In this study,we examine the utility of early maternal concerns for predicting parenting stress in the first year. Parenting stress is important because it has been shown to be related to maltreatment and poor parent-child relationships.

Method: A sample of 246 mothers were interviewed shortly after delivery in a publicly funded hospital about their parenting concerns, and 93% were reinterviewed in their homes about their parenting when the infants were 6 to 12 months old. Standardized measures with …

Economic Measurements And Quality Of Life In Mexico, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Constantine P. Danopoulos

Using the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), the article seeks to evaluate the quality of life in modern Mexico. The GPI employs the same indicators used to arrive at per capita GDP, but adds positive and negative monetary and non-monetary actors that affect people's lives. Monetary factors include income distribution, increased health care cost due to air and water pollution, and loss of wetlands. Non-monetary factors involve parenting, time spent in highways, loss of leisure time, the cost of volunteer work, and other social costs. If one takes these into account, the purchasing power and quality of life of Mexican citizens …

Microfinance And Third World Development: A Critical Analysis, Elahi Khandakar, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Constantine P. Danopoulos

Microfinance is emerging as an integral part of the new development paradigm, described by the phrase "participation and development. "Although the idea has become quite popular among donor agencies, development practitioners, and academicians, theoretical premises on which this idea is founded seem entirely unexamined. Accordingly, this article investigates the academic merits, as well as potential consequences, of this popular poverty alleviating model from the supply-side perspective and asks a provocative question: Do the microfinance ventures have features which suggest that the establishment of this new finance industry in the Third World countries might further complicate their pervasive poverty problems? The …

Economic Measurements And Quality Of Life In Mexico, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Faculty Publications

Using the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), the article seeks to evaluate the quality of life in modern Mexico. The GPI employs the same indicators used to arrive at per capita GDP, but adds positive and negative monetary and non-monetary actors that affect people's lives. Monetary factors include income distribution, increased health care cost due to air and water pollution, and loss of wetlands. Non-monetary factors involve parenting, time spent in highways, loss of leisure time, the cost of volunteer work, and other social costs. If one takes these into account, the purchasing power and quality of life of Mexican citizens …

Microfinance And Third World Development: A Critical Analysis, Elahi Khandakar, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Faculty Publications

Microfinance is emerging as an integral part of the new development paradigm, described by the phrase "participation and development. "Although the idea has become quite popular among donor agencies, development practitioners, and academicians, theoretical premises on which this idea is founded seem entirely unexamined. Accordingly, this article investigates the academic merits, as well as potential consequences, of this popular poverty alleviating model from the supply-side perspective and asks a provocative question: Do the microfinance ventures have features which suggest that the establishment of this new finance industry in the Third World countries might further complicate their pervasive poverty problems? The …

Predicting Birth Weight: Relative Importance Of Sociodemographic, Medical, And Prenatal Care Variables, Terri Combs-Orme, Christina Rtisley-Curtiss, Ronald Taylor

Social Work Publications and Other Works

This study uses the 1980 National Natality Study to examine the relative importance of sociodemographic factors, medical-risk factors, and prenatal care in predicting birth weight. Findings indicate that both sociodemographic and medical-risk factors are important in predicting birth weight, with medical risks accounting for slightly more variance (after accounting for social variables) in birth weight. Although prenatal care accounts for only 1 percent of the variance, a statistical interaction between prenatal care and labor complications accounts for an additional 1 percent.

Predicting Birth Weight: Relative Importance Of Sociodemographic, Medical, And Prenatal Care Variables, Terri Combs-Orme, Christina Rtisley-Curtiss, Ronald Taylor

Terri Combs-Orme

This study uses the 1980 National Natality Study to examine the relative importance of sociodemographic factors, medical-risk factors, and prenatal care in predicting birth weight. Findings indicate that both sociodemographic and medical-risk factors are important in predicting birth weight, with medical risks accounting for slightly more variance (after accounting for social variables) in birth weight. Although prenatal care accounts for only 1 percent of the variance, a statistical interaction between prenatal care and labor complications accounts for an additional 1 percent.

Health Effects Of Adolescent Pregnancy: Implications For Social Workers, Terri Combs-Orme

Social Work Publications and Other Works

Adolescent pregnancy carries significant risks to the health of the pregnant adolescent and her child. These risks, which include pregnancy complications, low birth weight, and infant mortality, are due in large part to the behavior of the adolescent and her socioeconomic circumstances. Early and consistent use of health care can minimize risks by permitting the detection and management of serious problems. Human service professionals should use every opportunity to encourage good prenatal care, while keeping in mind the developmental and personal needs of the pregnant adolescent.

Health Effects Of Adolescent Pregnancy: Implications For Social Workers, Terri Combs-Orme

Terri Combs-Orme

Adolescent pregnancy carries significant risks to the health of the pregnant adolescent and her child. These risks, which include pregnancy complications, low birth weight, and infant mortality, are due in large part to the behavior of the adolescent and her socioeconomic circumstances. Early and consistent use of health care can minimize risks by permitting the detection and management of serious problems. Human service professionals should use every opportunity to encourage good prenatal care, while keeping in mind the developmental and personal needs of the pregnant adolescent.

Regional Security Organizations And National Interests: Analyzing The Nato-Greek Relationship, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Faculty Publications

This article analyzes the reasons which account for Greece's continuing membership in the Atlantic Alliance, even though NATO has not lived up to expectations and has failed to protect the nation's security against threats from Turkey. Following a brief examination of Greek attitudes toward NATO and the nature of dissatisfaction, the article argues that strategic concerns are, at best, of secondary importance. Instead, Greece's continuing membership in the Alliance is a result of the nation's economic ties to the West and the dependency of its military on NATO and Washington for advanced training, arms, war materiel, and other professional considerations. …

Infant Mortality And Social Work: Legacy Of Success, Terri Combs-Orme

Social Work Publications and Other Works

Although it is not widely known, social workers have had a substantial part in the impressive reduction in infant mortality achieved in the United States during this century. This article reviews that contribution, noting a decline in interest in infant mortality in the profession beginning in the 1950s. Recent trends are noted that seem to suggest a renewal in the profession's interest in this important subject.

Infant Mortality And Social Work: Legacy Of Success, Terri Combs-Orme

Terri Combs-Orme

Although it is not widely known, social workers have had a substantial part in the impressive reduction in infant mortality achieved in the United States during this century. This article reviews that contribution, noting a decline in interest in infant mortality in the profession beginning in the 1950s. Recent trends are noted that seem to suggest a renewal in the profession's interest in this important subject.

Regional Security Organizations And National Interests: Analyzing The Nato-Greek Relationship, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Constantine P. Danopoulos

This article analyzes the reasons which account for Greece's continuing membership in the Atlantic Alliance, even though NATO has not lived up to expectations and has failed to protect the nation's security against threats from Turkey. Following a brief examination of Greek attitudes toward NATO and the nature of dissatisfaction, the article argues that strategic concerns are, at best, of secondary importance. Instead, Greece's continuing membership in the Alliance is a result of the nation's economic ties to the West and the dependency of its military on NATO and Washington for advanced training, arms, war materiel, and other professional considerations. …

From Balconies To Tanks: Post Junta Civil-Military Relations In Greece, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Faculty Publications

This article analyzes the reasons why praetorianism in Greece has not been followed by more of the same, as appears to be the case in most states that have experienced military rule. After a careful examination of the available data, it was concluded that having learned their lesson, both the civilian and military elites have played a role in keeping the armed forces away from the levers of political authority, the civilians by following carrot and stick policies designed not to encroach on the military's corporate interests, and the armed forces by accepting the view that they can best protect …

From Balconies To Tanks: Post Junta Civil-Military Relations In Greece, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Constantine P. Danopoulos

This article analyzes the reasons why praetorianism in Greece has not been followed by more of the same, as appears to be the case in most states that have experienced military rule. After a careful examination of the available data, it was concluded that having learned their lesson, both the civilian and military elites have played a role in keeping the armed forces away from the levers of political authority, the civilians by following carrot and stick policies designed not to encroach on the military's corporate interests, and the armed forces by accepting the view that they can best protect …

The Greek Military Regime (1967-1974) And The Cyprus Question — Origins And Goals, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Faculty Publications

This article employs the concept of military professionalism and its attributes to explain the Greek praetorian regime's handling of the Cyrprus problem. Upon examining the relevant data it was found that for strategic considerations the U.S. and NATO sought to achieve a negotiated solution to the cyprus problem which would have amounted to double Enosis. It was also found that professional needs created a dependency of the Greek. military on NA TO for arms, sophisticated training, and support which let them view participation in NATO as indespensable. As a result, the Greek military confused the interests of their nation with …

The Greek Military Regime (1967-1974) And The Cyprus Question — Origins And Goals, Constantine P. Danopoulos

Constantine P. Danopoulos

This article employs the concept of military professionalism and its attributes to explain the Greek praetorian regime's handling of the Cyrprus problem. Upon examining the relevant data it was found that for strategic considerations the U.S. and NATO sought to achieve a negotiated solution to the cyprus problem which would have amounted to double Enosis. It was also found that professional needs created a dependency of the Greek. military on NA TO for arms, sophisticated training, and support which let them view participation in NATO as indespensable. As a result, the Greek military confused the interests of their nation with …