This study examined lived experiences of coping with physically violent common-law or marital relationships for women 19 to 24 years old. Information was collected from five women through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Moustakas' transcendental phenomenological approach. Findings revealed that young women reduced stress, engaged in a variety of cognitive strategies, used communication with partners, managed violence, escaped, disclosed or hid evidence of abuse and violence from other people, were supported and hindered from family and friends, and relied on strangers and acquaintances. Findings indicate young women's coping was not about healthy or unhealthy strategies. Whether she remained in the relationship, tried to change dynamics, or left her partner, coping was an attempt to retain personal power and control. Findings highlight the importance of studying both how young women cope and their motivations for coping with abuse and violence. Implications for counsellor education, professional practice, and future research are discussed. --P.ii.
The purpose of this paper is to review the research on issues related to adolescent school transition. The definition of school transition in this paper includes the adjustment experienced when leaving one's elementary school and moving to a middle, junior, or secondary school. The specific transition issues reviewed are students' perceptions of the transition, and defining the challenges and contexts of adolescence. This paper looks at the characteristics that hinder success during school transition: perceptions of competence and motivation, culture and socioeconomic status and gender differences. Conversely, the characteristics fostering success during transition are discussed: risk and resilience, attachments and friends ' influence on adolescence during transition. The implications of these issues are important in planning and implementing counseling and transitional programs. The effects of full, partial or no program are also discussed. Suggestions are made to those working with adolescence at the school level during transition to utilize a team approach.
This research describes the experiences of young adults who were displaced during the process of coming into care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Participants were interviewed and asked about how these experiences impacted their lives and future connection to places. Applying a qualitative, exploratory inquiry, personal lived experiences including childhood memories and current situational circumstances were highlighted to underline the importance of place attachment, place making, and identity. Fundamental aspects associated with the concept of place were explored within the reported experiences that participants ascribed to their time spent displaced. Data analysis was completed using thematic analysis which revealed four emergent themes, explored within a framework of place. The results are important considerations for social work education on how the concept of place may be acknowledged, understood and integrated in political structure and the broader social context of neighbourhood and community.
This research investigated the association of current human-companion animal attachment with adult levels of empathy and resilient coping. Various research findings have reported benefits from people interacting with companion animals. A better understanding is needed of the human-companion animal relationship, and the associations which that relationship has with human prosocial and protective factors. Pet-owning adults (n = 352) completed an online survey measuring attachment with a current pet, interpersonal empathy, resilient coping, and current attachment with another adult as a possible covariate. Current human-animal attachment does not appear to be related to current human attachment. There are not significant associations between current human-animal attachment and overall empathy or any of the measured dimensions of empathy, or with resilient coping. Institutions, therapists, and other practitioners of animal-assisted therapies may not need to rely on the formation of a strong human-companion animal bond in order for some benefits to occur. --P. ii.
