Enriching Research on Marital Enrichment Programs

The existing empirical literature on the outcomes of marital and pre-marital enrichment programs is critically reviewed. While the majority of studies have used untreated control groups and appear to offer very striking evidence of meaningful change as a result of these enrichment experiences, several important methodological deficiencies are common to these investigations and, therefore, require a cautious optimism about the efficacy of these programs. Six specific issues are addressed in an effort to improve the quality and utility of further research and practice in this area.     

Casino gambling in private school and adjudicated youngsters: A survey of practices and related variables

This study provides additional information about casino gambling practices in two adolescent samples. Specifically, 109 adolescents from a religious high school and 84 adolescents from a juvenile detention facility in Las Vegas, Nevada were surveyed. Of these, 71 (36.8%) were found to gamble regularly (58 males, 13 females, mean age 15.9 years). Results indicated many similarities among the two groups. The overall sample appeared to have a strong affinity for casino gambling, were diverse in their practices and reasons for gambling, reported a variety of emotional and physiological behaviors when gambling, occasionally experienced problems from casino gambling, and had parents who generally approved and were aware of their children's gambling behavior. The accessibility and family-oriented nature of many new casinos may be responsible for these effects.The authors thank Nicole Giangregorio and Ned C. Silver for their assistance. Portions of this paper were presented at the meeting of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Boulder, CO.     

Reclassifying causes of death to study the epidemiological transition in The Netherlands, 1875–1992

This article describes a method for reclassifying causes of death in the Netherlands for the period 1875–1992. Two criteria should be met to obtain a useful classification to study the epidemiological transition. First, the categories should be nosologically continuous over the period under study and second, there should be enough detail in causes which are important in the context of the epidemiological transition viz. communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases and external causes of death. A method developed by Vallin and Meslé (1988), which involves ‘dual correspondence tables’ and ‘fundamental associations’, was used to create nosologically continuous categories. These categories were tested for statistical continuity during the transition years of one ICD-revision to the next, using ordinary least squares regression analysis. The reclassification procedure resulted in a nested classification consisting of three levels of refinement of causes of death: 27 causes, 1875–1992; 65 causes, 1901–1992; and 92 causes, 1931–1992. On the basis of this classification, 43% of all deaths in 1875–79 and 98% of all deaths in 1992 could be allocated to either communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases or external causes.     

Industrial policy: The case for national strategies for world markets

This article considers the objectives of an industrial policy that would develop national strategies for world markets. It describes the tools used to implement such strategies and how the strategies would be organized. The author also considers some of the advantages and disadvantages of developing national strategies for world markets.