84
Promoting science to the benefit of practice: A professional biography
of Walter Hellinckx
Maes, B.; Grietens, H. and Ghesquiere, P.
93
Occupational burnout among child welfare workers: A work-setting
comparison
Romi, S.; Savicki, V.; Grupper, E. and Caspi, R.
Abstract
Burnout in three groups of child welfare workers was studied: child and
youth care workers in community settings (n = 139), residential workers
(n = 190), and teachers (n = 51). The research hypotheses are: (1) the
groups differ in their personal characteristics, perception of work
environment, attitudes toward coping, and burnout. (2) different
patterns of relationships exist between the main variables of the study
for each group.(3) Different patterns of contributors to burnout will
appear in the community, residential, and teacher settings. Results
supported the hypotheses showing significant differences between the
three groups in the characteristics of the workers, work environment,
levels of burnout and in the patterns of contributors to burnout, with
community workers showing that an environmental climate related to
empowerment was linked to a greater sense of accomplishment at work.
Implications for educators, researchers, policy makers, and
practitioners are discussed.
110
Child abuse in Cyprus: Reality or fiction?
Georgiades, S.D.
Abstract
Objectives: No previous empirical study concerned itself with the nature
and magnitude of child abuse and neglect in Cyprus. Methods: To answer
these questions, a telephone interview is conducted with 120
Greek-Cypriot adults, randomly selected from the Nicosia telephone
directory (a .81 response rate). Results: Child abuse is far greater
than what is investigated by the Cyprus Department of Social Welfare.
About one fifth of respondents report physical and emotional abuse as
children, three percent report sex" abuse, and no one reports child
neglect. Boys are at higher risk for physical and emotional abuse, and
equally at risk as girls for sexual abuse. Moreover, over three fourths
of the sample feels that there is large to very large deficiency of
public education about child abuse issues in Cyprus. Conclusions: The
findings are situated within an international context, and study
limitations, and numerous practice and research implications are
concluded.
125
Incidence, prevalence and trauma associated with exposure to violence in
Romanian institutionalized children
Gavrilovici, O. and Groza, V.
Abstract
While violence against children is a world wide problem, much less is
known about it in the former communist countries of Eastern and Central
Europe. This study examines violence among a group of the most at-risk
children, children institutionalized in Romania. Survey data were
collected on 448 children from 6 institutions located in rural, urban
and semi-urban settings. Results suggest that many children are exposed
to violence in the institutions and report trauma. Sexual abuse is
highly reported by both males and females. While the study cannot
determine cause and effect, it outlines policy and practice implications
for improving the life of the most at risk children.
139
Use and views of physical restraint in select residential treatment
programs
Lee, B.R.; McMillen, J.C. and Fedoravicius, N.
Abstract
The safe and appropriate application of restraint in residential
programs is a challenge in countries throughout the world. Efforts to
minimize or regulate restraint use are often emphasized. However, little
is known about restraint practice or prevention across youth residential
programs. This study examined variation in restraint rate and type,
stakeholders' views, and restraint reduction efforts in these programs.
Using incident report records and qualitative stakeholder interviews
from nine agencies, we found substantial variation on every dimension of
restraint use. While stakeholders valued restraints for maintaining
safety, strategies to minimize this tool were recommended.
150
Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure the
behavior and emotional health of children in schools in the United
Kingdom
Hobbs, T.; Little, M. and Kaoukji, D.
Abstract
This article describes the application of the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire (SDQ) as a tool for understanding the nature and
prevalence of mental health disorders in schools within a local
authority in the UK. Teachers from 24 primary schools completed the SDQ
on behalf of 1,204 children. Illustrative data are presented to
highlight its relevance to policy-makers and schools. The article
discusses the ways in which the data may be used to improve mental
health and school performance by considering where resources are best
allocated, by challenging expected patterns of mental health and by
using data to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of
strategies and services to improve mental health.