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Biomedical subjects

J Demick

Publications and source records attributed to J Demick.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Toward an organizational-relational model of open adoption.

Clinicians and social scientists have attempted to demonstrate the advisability of open versus closed adoption (communication and/or contact vs. no communication and/or contact between biological and adoptive parents) from a variety of theoretical perspectives. In our article, we seek a conceptual framework that will (a) elaborate how such divergent conclusions about openness versus confidentiality have heretofore been drawn, and (b) provide a comprehensive analysis of the behavior and experiences of all members of the adoption triad (birthparents, adoptive parents, adoptees). Employing structural aspects of organismic-developmental theory (Werner, 1957) and dynamic aspects of self-in-relation theory (Miller, 1976), we propose an organizational-relational approach to open adoption. Preliminary research findings are also provided.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Correlations among field dependence-independence, sex, sex-role stereotype, and age of preschoolers.

Preschoolers (27 boys, mean age = 4.7 yr.; 24 girls, mean age = 4.6 yr.) were assessed for field dependence-independence (Preschool Embedded Figures Test), sex-role stereotyping (Sex-role Learning Inventory), and receptive verbal intelligence (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test--Revised). Relative to the girls, the boys were significantly less field-independent and significantly more sex-role stereotyped. After age and Peabody IQs were partialled out by multiple regression, same-sex typing in boys and cross-sex typing in girls were significant predictors of field independence. The regression analysis also suggested that, by 5.3 yr. of age, the boys as a group surpassed the girls on field independence. Limitations of the present research and educational implications of the over-all findings are discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Cherished possessions and adaptation of older people to nursing homes.

One hundred older people (75 females, 25 males), in nursing homes rated as above or below a combined criterion (based on Lieberman and Tobin's scales of physical attractiveness, affiliation fostering, and tolerance for deviancy), responded to questionnaires on cherished possessions and on adaptation to the nursing home. The main findings indicated: 1) relative to those residents without possessions, those with possessions were better adapted to the nursing home; 2) possessions served the major functions of historical continuity, comforter, and sense of belongingness; 3) relative to men, significantly more women had cherished possessions and were more likely to associate them with self-other relationships; and 4) relative to residents in nursing homes below the mean of the combined criterion, those in homes above the mean felt more in control, less helpless, more supported by staff, and were judged as more realistic in response to conflict. Interpretations regarding the role of possessions in adaptation and suggestions for institutional policies concerning possessions are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Open and closed adoption: a developmental conceptualization.

Given the annual increase in the multiple forms of adoptive practices within contemporary American society, research aimed at assessing the effects on the adoptees, their families, and the community of "open" versus "closed" adoption (communication versus no communication between biologic and adoptive parents) of healthy infants is sorely needed. Before this can be done, researchers and mental health professionals need to make sense of the myriad of findings in the adoption literature. With the goal of stimulating such research, the present article is comprised of: (a) a review of the contemporary, social scientific literature on adoption, which has focused for the most part on traditional, closed adoption; and (b) a description of a program of research on adoption that is generated from a theoretical orientation, which has already proven valuable in the examination of other developmental life transitions. Based on a holistic, developmental, systems orientation to person-in-environment functioning, this approach provides a developmental conceptualization of both open and closed adoption. Hopefully, the literature review and the research program described here will stimulate other investigators to conduct research on this important problem from their own perspective or from variations of research described in this article.

Adoption↗
PubMed1980

Case oriented group discussions for family physicians.

Curriculum in family medicine and primary care includes various areas of concern for educators in the behavioral sciences. Most of this concerns the physician-patient relationship as the focus for teaching and learning. This paper outlines the work of a longitudinal, case oriented group of family physicians as it reflects the correlation between the actualities of practice and the curriculum in behavioral science for family practice residents. Also discussed is the issue of potential "typologies" as elaborated in the family physicians' reasons for case presentations. Such groups assist faculty and practitioners in their own awareness of educational and patient care issues in the physician-patient relationship as well as serve as a foundation for building a relevant behavioral science curriculum for residents and students.

Behavioral Sciences↗