The life styles and life chances of the unmarried include elements of choices. Singles may be grouped and characterized according to whether their status may be considered stable or temporary. A life cycle, or continuum model of singlehood is reviewed, including its different factors, or phases. A new model for singles is proposed--a life spiral…

This paper examines the role that comparative analysis and global policy studies can play in explaining the human condition in the contemporary world. It investigates economic well-being, one dimension of the human condition, and examines some of the attributes that represent it and some of the forces that affect it in villages, social groupings,…

The concept of quality of life (QOL) has become an important public policy and service delivery issue within the mental retardation/developmental disabilities field. QOL measurement focuses on a number of personal and environmental factors, including independence, productivity, living/residential environment, interpersonal and community…

This paper outlines several properties of internal representational models (IRMs) and offers terminology that may help to differentiate the models. Properties of IRMs include focus, memory systems, content, cognitive function, "metastructure," quality of attachment, behavioral strategies, and attitude toward attachment. An IRM focuses on…

This paper discusses a model that guides women in practicing key attitudes and behaviors that will help them to succeed in our new economy. It focuses on today's critical workplace competencies while encouraging a rich and textured personal life. It responds to four challenges that women need to pay attention to: acknowledging and capitalizing on…

The utility of a theoretical model of quality of life for graduate students was investigated. Variables that relate to the person-environment fit of graduate students were also examined. The data were collected via a biographical data form and seven psychometric instruments. The 142 subjects from two graduate departments at Peabody College were a…

The human potential movement the encourages growth beyond the conventional definitions of a normal or successful life. This movement is entering into a new phase characterized by carefully integrated sequences of the best human potential exercises, put together in a program that enables individuals to take a deep, personal look at their lives.…

This paper suggests that current paradigms and world views guiding research for social action are inadequate for directing rural community change in a high-tech, global community. For several generations, the agrarian and industrial paradigms have been accepted as appropriate for guiding social change and development. However, there are problems…

The D. Lerner and W. Schramm model of the role of mass media in national development has influenced most media oriented studies of development for almost two decades. Briefly, the model suggests that the evolution from traditional to modern societies follows a causal path that leads to increased mass media use. The path ends with increased…

A cross-national analysis reveals that women's status in contemporary society must be considered as a multidimensional phenomenon and that no one isolated factor best explains women's overall position. Using data from "The Handbook of International Data on Women" (Boulding and others, 1976), and from United Nations documents, a model to reflect…

This paper argues that just as imagination has been important for the inception and promotion of invitational education, it is also necessary for the development of inviting research strategies. Applying the educative process to the study of inviting, recommendations are made for relating the constituent parts of the inviting stance (optimism,…

This study surveyed 111 women faculty in four-year nursing education programs who were also enrolled in doctoral study to determine the stresses involved in balancing the two roles of teacher and student. The theoretical framework was an extension of Cutrona and Russell's social support model which proposes that stressful life events impact…

A study of 398 young adults (ages 21-26) with severe disabilities who had been out of school for 1.75 to 5 years was conducted to validate a four-factor model of quality of life for youth with severe disabilities in transition from school to community and from youth to adulthood. Information was gathered on life satisfaction, employment-economic…

Data obtained from interviews with 1,039 non-institutionalized Hispanic elderly (55 and older) who identified themselves as having one or more psychological difficulties were analyzed to determine what factors best predicted subjective well-being. The study was a secondary analysis of data collected in 1979-80 using a national sample stratified by…

An assessment model was developed to produce change in adult basic education (ABE) programs and thereby improve learning for adult students. During the development of the model, 89 ABE programs were analyzed. To determine the effect that ABE has on the quality of life of its students, researchers observed 77 of the 89 programs included in the…