Patterns of risk and protective factors in the intergenerational cycle of maltreatment

his study investigates the continuation and discontinuation of the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment within the first 13 months of the child’s life. Differences in risk factors and parenting styles between families who initiate (Initiators), maintain (Maintainers) or break (Cycle Breakers) the intergenerational cycle of child maltreatment are explored in comparison to control families (Controls). One hundred and three Health Visitors were trained to assess risk factors and parenting styles of 4,351 families, at both 4–6 weeks and 3–5 months after birth. Maintainers, Initiators and Cycle Breakers had a significantly higher prevalence for the majority of risk factors and poor parenting styles than Controls. Protective factors of financial solvency and social support distinguished Cycle Breakers from Maintainers and Initiators. Therefore, it is the presence of protective factors that distinguish Cycle Breakers from families who were referred to Child Protection professionals in the first year after birth. A conceptual, hierarchical model that considers history of abuse, risk and protective factors, in turn, is proposed to assess families for the potential of child maltreatment

Effects of cognitive-behavioral programs for criminal offenders

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the more promising rehabilitative treatments for criminal offenders. Reviews of the comparative effectiveness of different treatment approaches have generally ranked it in the top tier with regard to effects on recidivism (e.g., Andrews et al., 1990; Lipsey & Wilson, 1998). It has a well-developed theoretical basis that explicitly targets “criminal thinking” as a contributing factor to deviant behavior (Beck, 1999; Walters, 1990; Yochelson & Samenow, 1976). And, it can be adapted to a range of juvenile and adult offenders, delivered in institutional or community settings by mental health specialists or paraprofessionals, and administered as part of a multifaceted program or as a stand-alone intervention. Meta-analysis has consistently indicated that CBT, on average, has significant positive effects on recidivism. However, there is also significant variation across studies in the size of those treatment effects. Identification of the moderator variables that describe the study characteristics associated with larger and smaller effects can further develop our understanding of the effectiveness of CBT with offenders. Of particular importance is the role such moderator analysis can play in ascertaining which variants of CBT are most effective. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the relationships of selected moderator variables to the effects of CBT on the recidivism of general offender populations

Gold standard or fool's gold: the pursuit of certainty in experimental criminology

This article assesses some of the claims made for experimental research in the field of rehabilitation of offenders. It suggests that both policy officials and evaluators have tended to over-invest financially and intellectually in a technocratic model of reducing reoffending that emphasizes programmes for offenders, and to under-invest in models that see the process as a complex ‘people changing’ skill. It argues that the complexity of this process renders it hard to evaluate using experimental methods of evaluation such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RCTs provide strong internal validity, but in complex settings offer weak external validity, making it hard to generalize from the experimental setting to other settings. The article suggests that the proper role for evaluative research in this field should be seen as building and testing middle-level theories about how best to change offenders’ behaviour

Cycloadducts of nitrones with isocyanates; 1,2,4- or 1,3,4-oxadiazolidinones?

The adducts formed between various aryl-substituted nitrones and aryl isocyanates have been shown, using 15N n.m.r. spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, to be substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazolidinones and not the previously reported 1,3,4-oxadiazolidinones

Formal marketing planning and performance - the case of transitional economy

This paper was inspired from the necessity to identify the weaknesses in the marketing planning process in companies in a transitional economy and it analyses the connection between continuous formal marketing planning and business performance (profitability and market orientation). The data was obtained with primary and secondary research executed in the companies from the food, i.e. confectionery industry (38% of the registered companies). The research was based on the techniques of survey and interview. The descriptive statistics presents multiple weaknesses in the marketing planning process: rare use of continuous formal marketing planning; lack of knowledge about the planning process; tendency of misuse of analytical tools. The deductive statistics shows a direct link and dependence of profitability and market orientation degree from implementation of continuous formal marketing planning. Some limitations rise from the sample size and the (one) chosen industry sector. This paper offers some practical and social implications. It explains how a correction of current practices and views about the marketing planning process can lead to better business results. On a national level, this is one of a few papers that analyses this subject through primary data and offers results from existing companies, operating in a transitional economy