Life satisfaction, trust, optimism, and political conservatism differentiated remarried, married, divorced and never-married groups. Divorced people were less satisfied with life, more liberal, and less optimistic. Background factors that were related to divorce included parental divorce, hometown, family income, and church attendance. (Author)

Investigates the association between quality of life and attitudes toward, and experience of, sexual activities during adolescence. Findings demonstrate the importance of relationships and sexual experience to satisfaction with life. Discusses results in terms of the significance of sexuality for adolescents' general well-being. (Author/GCP)

We reviewed the Spanish translation of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument-Research Version (YQOL-R) and culturally adapted the measure with Puerto Rican and Mexican American children and adolescents. The YQOL-R is a self-reported measure that includes four domains: Sense of Self, Social Relationships, Environment, and General Quality of Life. A…

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 Australian adults with intellectual disabilities to assess their values, views, and preferences regarding home, work, leisure, and relationships. Results found discrepancies between their lifestyle conditions and preferences and the principles and values of some programming philosophies adopted by…

Explored burdens experienced by 42 adults living with a depressed patient and related these burdens to their degree of psychological distress. Respondents were distressed themselves, over 40 percent meeting a standardized criterion for referral for therapeutic intervention. Patients' lack of interest in social life, fatigue, feelings of…

Investigated age preferences of older adults (61-89 years) for individuals with whom a relationship may potentially affect life satisfaction. Photographs of young, middle-aged, and old adults were rated by 33 older persons. Found older adults showed preferences for old and middle-aged individuals. (Author)

In this 10-year study of older male workers in nonmetropolitan areas, employment status, income, health, life outlook, and social ties were investigated. In most cases, adverse conditions were related to occupational class rather than age or other factors. (SK)

Explores the nature and uses of human understanding by focusing on three points of emphasis: characterizing the meaning of human understanding as a function of being human, reviewing the consequences of inhumanity, and proposing a process for human understanding through multicultural consciousness. (CM)

Results of this study of 96 sibling dyads demonstrated necessity of going beyond the examination of between-group differences in the study of divorce effects to look at the processes by which developmental outcomes for children are enhanced or undermined. Findings draw attention to the heightened vulnerability of dyads containing older boys in…

This article examines the interpersonal relationships, community participation, and employment of 5 individuals with severe handicaps (ages 23 to 27) based on observations and interviews with key informants. Results indicated that subjects' lives were over simplified by rigidly controlled routines and schedules that fostered passivity and…

Advice is given for young women who desire independence and self-respect. Establishing and maintaining satisfactory relationships with men is discussed. (JD)

Measured residents' perceptions of quality care and satisfaction with how well their needs are being met. Found that residents' perceptions of quality care (attitude of staff, food, and social activities) and satisfaction with roommates are significant predictors of perceived needs being met. Stressed that self-selected roommates are more…

Choice Awareness is a cognitive-affective-behavioral system that goes beyond both communication training and behavioral bartering approaches to marriage enrichment. Couples explore thoughts, feelings, and actions in their relationships and develop personal power in making choices and in taking responsibility for their own lives. (Author)

In this article, Mary Kellett, of the Children's Research Centre at the Open University, draws on case study evidence to illustrate how an 11-year-old girl's quality of life was transformed in the last few months before she died when an Intensive Interaction intervention approach was adopted. The study raises issues about the way we respond to…

Over the last decade, there has been an explosion of interest in issues related to quality of life (QoL). While QoL for persons with mental retardation has long been an interest, and there is a foundation for the assessment of QoL for this population, there is still much to be done. This article describes QoL assessment for persons with mental…