No abstract

This study looks at parents who have adopted children from the U.S. foster care system and identifies relationships between postadoptive services and outcomes for both parents and children alike. Data for the study came from the 2012 U.S. National Adoptive Families Study, an online survey of adoptive parents (N D 437) who have adopted at least 1 child from the U.S. foster care system. The study focused on child outcomes such as social integration and the child's overall improvement and adoptive parent outcomes such as emotional states, changes in close relationships, and satisfaction with the adoption. The study also assessed whether or not these outcomes are associated with adoption dissolution. Results show that parents' need for and access to postadoption services is associated with many types of parent and child outcomes, but not always in the direction practitioners might assume. Furthermore, these parent and child outcomes are statistically related to adoption dissolution. Future research will delve into whether or not these associations between postadoptive services and outcomes differ among adoptive families based on family structure and social support networks.

This is the first study to explore whether mandated reporters who work with adolescent females, ages 10 to 17, recognize domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and associated risk factors. Because mandated reporters are required by law to report child abuse, neglect, and child exploitation, lack of specific DMST training or not believing DMST exists in communities continues to place young females at risk for revictimization. Results indicate that 60% of mandated reporters in the sample (N = 577) had no specific training on DMST. Furthermore, almost 25% of respondents did not believe DMST existed in their communities. Implications for practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

The extant literature concerning the existence and experience of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States sometimes overshadows that of people with intersex variations (Jones, 2018). While many people with intersex variations identify within the binary, these variations directly challenge belief systems conforming to the existence of only two sexes, and thus, only two relative genders. This research attempts to gain a greater understanding of American awareness, acceptance, and attitudes concerning intersex variations, and how these beliefs fit into or challenge conservative views of gender. More specifically, we focus on the relationship between religiosity and views of homosexuality, and how these variables may influence and/or be influenced by intersex variation awareness and acceptance. Using a survey of 146 American college students, we find that overall intersex variation is viewed with more acceptances and comfort than homosexuality, and that Christians (in particular, those leaning toward biblical literalism) are more likely to express views that those with intersex variations should adhere to sex and gender binaries.

Telephone products such as answering machines, caller-ID services, and cell phones simplify modern-day life yet present an increasing challenge for survey researchers. In particular, contact and response rates have suffered due to changes in telephone usage patterns. To understand the effect that these technologies have on our research center, we examine cell phones, whose growing presence stands to greatly impact survey research. Through an RDD telephone survey, we examined cell phone usage, screening behavior of unknown numbers, reactions to survey research, and incentives, as well as potential cell phone behavior. Our study revealed a high prevalence of cell phone usage even among those who also own a landline telephone. We found that overall data quality is not impacted, as simple weighting techniques ensure that our collected data are representative. However, this dual telephone usage and the increasing future use of cell phones are still potential challenges to our research institution.