Longitudinal associations between keeping a secret and psychosocial adjustment in adolescence

Increasing bodies of evidence suggest that keeping secrets may be detrimental to well-being and adjustment, whereas confiding secrets may alleviate the detriments of secrecy and benefit well-being and adjustment. However, few studies have addressed the consequences of keeping and confiding secrets simultaneously, and even fewer have done so longitudinally. This article reports on a two-wave longitudinal survey study among 278 adolescents (aged 13-18 years) that examined the associations of keeping and confiding a specific secret with psychosocial adjustment. Results confirmed a hypothesized longitudinal contribution of keeping a secret all to oneself to psychosocial problems, including depressive mood, low self-concept clarity, low self-control, loneliness, and poor relationship quality. Furthermore, confiding versus continuing to keep a secret all to oneself was associated with decreased psychosocial problems after six months, whereas starting to keep a secret versus not doing so was associated with increased psychosocial problems. These results suggest that the keeping or confiding of secrets may affect adolescents' psychosocial well-being and adjustment. © 2008 The International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development

Ephemeral Masculinities? Tracking Men, Partners and Fathers in the Geography of Family Holidays

The discussion presented in the following pages is anchored in data derived from a broader sociological study into contemporary family rituals. The core argument is that in heterosexual couples, the family–centred holidays presents an opportunity for the everyday gendered division of domestic labour and children care work to be negotiated and temporarily restructured. Through its focus on the role men play in family holidays, this chapter makes an important contribution to debates about masculinity, travel and familial relationships within heterosexual couples. While one needs to be attentive to the complex realities of the modern family life and intra-family relations towards travel and tourism, studying the traditional nuclear family remains an exciting and fruitful work to the extent that one cannot neglect the fact that this model is (still) behind many experiences and representations of families on holidays

A time to mourn: Reflections on Jewish bereavement practices

Jewish people in many western countries are often well integrated into their host societies. There is, therefore, considerable variation in the observance of Jewish rituals and experiences of grief and mourning within Jewish communities. This article explains some aspects of traditional ritual and practice in relation to mourning among Jewish people living in the UK. However, care should be taken not to make assumptions about the customs and practices of people from particular faith communities. Bereavement supporters should offer clients opportunity and encouragement to explain the meanings they attribute to their loss in the context of their particular needs and circumstances