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Biomedical subjects

J B Tavormina

Publications and source records attributed to J B Tavormina.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1980

Social class and race differences in family interaction: pathological, normative, or confounding methodological factors?

The interaction patterns of 64 well-adjusted family triads, divided into eight equal groups by race, social class, and sex of adolescent, were assessed across observational and self-report measures of family affect, conflict, and dominance. Any social class or race differences similar to those of prior research could not be described as deficits since all families met extensive criteria to assure favorable psychosocial adjustment. However, in contrast to much extant literature, statistical analyses revealed few social class or race effects. In light of the present strict methodological controls, it is suggested that previous findings of race and social class differences might have resulted from uncontrolled sampling, procedural, or measurement factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The children of Mexican-American migrant workers: a population at risk?

The present study assessed intellectual, academic, and emotional strengths and weaknesses for a group of Mexican-American children of migrant farm workers. In order to test the vulnerability hypothesis, the test profiles of these children were contrasted with those of two groups of black children with similar demographic makeup. The children of one group (Clinical Black) had been referred previously for a psychological consultation while the children of the other (Nonreferred Black) had not. Across dependent measures, between-groups contrasts tended to describe the scores of the Migrant children as similar to those of the Clinical Black children and significantly below those of the Nonreferred Black children. The findings suggested specific intellectual, academic, and emotional vulnerabilities of the Migrant children and demonstrated the need to develop ameliorative programs for these children.

Achievement↗
PubMed1978

Power relationships in families: a social-exchange perspective.

Although researchers have investigated power relationships in families for twenty-five years, conclusions about normative family power patterns have been inconsistent and contradictory. Comparisons across studies have been difficult owing to different definitions of the construct, multiple methodologies, and inconsistent goals. With such confusion, a new, more integrated theoretical approach to the power issue seems warranted, as is suggested by the present paper. The current individual focus on power as a personal attribute can be replaced by a more dynamic, reciprocal, interactive process. Instead of specific or stable power patterns, power interactions should be fluid and time- or situation- specific. No one member would dominate, since power involves a mutual relationship system that changes its content, though not its rules of operation, across decision-making areas. Furthermore, family adjustment would relate to those rules and the family members' reactions to their particular exchange system but not to specific types of power structures. With these considerations, future research should analyze the process, not the content, of power operations in order to maximize the clinical and theoretical utility of its construct.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Examining foster care: a viable solution for placement of handicapped children?

Foster care for handicapped children has become a frequently used and even more frequently criticized procedure. Traditional methods of foster placement have resulted in a number of negative outcomes, especially for the placed children. Based on a review of some recent innovative foster care programs, this paper has isolated a number of options for the restructuring of the entire foster care delivery system. These options include: rigorous client evaluation, use of selection and training criteria for foster parents, matching of client needs to caregiver abilities in making placement decisions, and ongoing professional support and supervision after placement. Systematic consideration of these issues may help make foster care a more viable solution to the growing problem of home placement for handicapped children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Chronically ill children. A psychologically and emotionally deviant population?

The study evaluated the psychosocial functioning levels of a group of chronically ill (diabetic, asthmatic, cystic fibrotic, and hearing-impaired) children across a battery of standardized personality instruments. The assessments were performed to provide a rigorous test of the popular hypothesis that chronically ill children are especially vulnerable to psychopatholgy. In contrast to this sterotype, results across measures demonstrated the normalcy rather than the deviance of these children. Although exceptions were noted, the children's functional strengths and coping abilities noticeably outweighed their weaknesses.

Achievement↗