Family business research: Reviewing the past, contemplating the future.

This paper reviews articles published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues (JFEI) from 2010 to 2019 and considers future research opportunities. The JFEI articles utilize theories and conceptual frameworks from several social science fields, to help readers understand the importance of including both the family and business in any discussion of family businesses. The literature review addresses four family business topical areas: (1) household and business economics, (2) business continuity and succession, (3) managerial and adoption strategies, and (4) values and goals. These JFEI articles have focused on differentiating family businesses from other types of businesses; explaining the unique interface between the family and the business; and identifying the characteristics (i.e., demographics, adjustment strategies, continuity, capitals, and values and goals) for family business survival and success. In the future, family business researchers have the opportunity to better understand the impact of community resources and climate; more carefully assess the challenges of women, minorities, and immigrants; understand the role of cultural capital; and explore the impact of innovation during rapidly changing times, such as those created by the pandemic.

Efficacy of the health belief model for predicting intention to pursue genetic testing for colorectal cancer.

This study examined the Health Belief Model's efficacy to predict intention to undergo genetic testing for the Colorectal Carcinoma (CRC) gene within a rural/frontier setting. Survey data were collected on 558 Southwest Montanan residents. Regression analysis revealed that perceived benefits, including affordability and satisfying curiosity, were the strongest indicators of intention to undergo genetic testing for CRC. Select consumer barriers and cues to action variables were also found to be significant predictors. Collectively the model explained approximately 36% of the variance. These preliminary findings have implications for genetic counselors, health practitioners and health care providers concerned with genetic counseling and addressing the public health issue of CRC.

Determining client need in a multi-state fetal alcohol syndrome consortium: from training to practice.

BACKGROUND: A multi-state consortium was developed in the US to conduct baseline data collection and intervention research on fetal alcohol syndrome. Each state employed support specialists whose job it was to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption in women who were at high risk for drinking alcohol during their pregnancy. The purpose of this paper is to report how support specialists in three primarily rural/frontier states were trained to assess client need and how client need was actually assessed in the field. METHODS: A qualitative process evaluation was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Interviews were conducted with state staff involved in support specialist training and consortium activities and the support specialists themselves. Inductive analyses were conducted with interview data. RESULTS: Need determination varied by state and for one state within the state. How support specialists were trained to assess need and how need was assessed in the field was mostly congruent. CONCLUSION: Process evaluation is an effective method for providing practical and useful answers to questions that cannot be answered by outcome evaluation alone.

Moderate physical activity and its relationship to select measures of a healthy diet.

CONTEXT: In rural communities, physical activity may influence and predict nutritional behaviors. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine if an individual's stage of participation in moderate physical activity was related to select measures of a healthy diet. METHODS: Data were collected using a mail-in survey from a random sample conducted in the rural/frontier communities of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. A total of 6 communities, 2 from each state, were surveyed with approximately 575 surveys sent to each community. The response rate was 51.5%. FINDINGS: Regression analysis revealed that there was a significant difference (P < 05) in select measures of a healthy diet between those in the maintenance stage of moderate levels of physical activity (physically active for 6 months or more) and those in precontemplation (not currently active and with no intention of starting), contemplation (not currently active but considering starting within the next 6 months), and preparation (not currently active but taking steps to become active within the next 30 days). Those in maintenance had a healthier diet. Additionally, women, older people, those with at least some college education, and those who were employed had healthier diets. CONCLUSIONS: These results lend preliminary support to the idea that moderate physical activity could act as a gateway behavior, a behavior that, if adopted, could lead to the adoption of other healthy behaviors. However, additional research is needed to confirm the nature, if any, of this relationship.

Determinants of alcohol use in pregnant women at risk for alcohol consumption.

The purpose of this investigation was to identify determinants of alcohol consumption based on a number of demographic and psychosocial variables in a group of pregnant women at risk for alcohol consumption. Data were collected on a sample of 232 pregnant females who agreed to participant in a multistate alcohol prevention intervention. The variables of interest included demographic measures of race, age, education, marital status, health status, employment status and if they had been involved in physical abuse during the past year. Additionally, psychosocial variables were collected on social support, family functioning, mental health and illicit drug use. The dependent variables of interest were any alcohol use during the pregnancy and an abuse measure that was based on a composite score generated from questions related to problems associated with alcohol behavior. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to see if the independent variables (demographic and psychosocial variables) were predictive of any alcohol use. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to ascertain if the independent measures were predictive of alcohol abuse. The results showed that race, age, physical abuse and to a lesser extent health were associated to any alcohol use and alcohol abuse. The findings with the psychosocial variables were not as robust. Nevertheless, problematic psychiatric and drug use composite scores were associated with alcohol abuse.

Formative evaluation of a multisite alcohol consumption intervention in pregnant women.

The purpose of this preliminary study was to conduct an analysis of the time spent in intervention activities designed to decrease alcohol consumption in high-risk pregnant women across three States. Based on the program's logic model an intervention dosage form was developed specifically for the process evaluation. The form enabled the researchers to generate six client measures of intervention dosage. Descriptive statistics of time spent in various intervention domains were generated for the three states. Also, logistic regression and Tobit estimations were used to see if at risk clients received more intervention dosage than their no risk counterparts. The data were collected on 109 pregnant women who had been involved with the intervention for 6 months or less. The results revealed dramatic differences in the amount of dosage given to clients across the three states in categories such as average time spent with each client and the distribution of time across the logic model domains. The detailed information generated through the analysis allowed the consortium members to identify how much and what type of intervention was being given to clients in the multisite FAS intervention. A number of important questions were generated that will be used to promote dialogue and discussion among the consortium members. Through this interaction it is hoped that the consortium members will be able to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the program's intervention.

Developing theoretical and environmental policy for underage drinking.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate concern/support for policy for underage drinkers and formulate policy-specific communication strategies. METHODS: An environmentally based approach to policy formulation used concepts from the transtheoretical, decision-balance, and social-norms models. Interviews were conducted with community stakeholders, and surveys were collected on community residents as part of the evaluation effort. RESULTS: The triangulated evaluation revealed specific policies for underage drinking and techniques for facilitating policy implementation. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate techniques for using multiple models and evaluation techniques for formulating public policy in the promotion of community health.

Comparing changes in health risk factors and medical costs over time.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the association between health status/behaviors and changes in these measures over time with health costs. DESIGN: This study employed a 6-year (1993-1998) retrospective cohort design to examine the relationship between health indicator variables, health insurance costs, and utilization. The outcome variables of interest were measures of health insurance costs and utilization of health care services. SETTING: Public employer located in the northeastern United States. SUBJECTS: In all, 1940 employees were included in the study on the basis of their membership in the worksite health plan and their having complete health indicator data collected during each of the two time periods (1993-1995 and 1996-1998). MEASURES: The health insurance data were obtained directly from the organization's Third Party Administrator. The health indicator variables included blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and smoking status. RESULTS: At-risk employees had a greater probability of submitting health insurance claims than did no-risk employees in approximately 70% of the 18 Major Diagnostic Codes that were examined. Higher costs were associated with the at-risk classification (mean = $3237 and median = $433) over time, and lower costs (mean = $1626 and median = $49) were associated with maintaining a no-risk status over time. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the notions that lower health risk and maintaining a no-risk status over time are associated with lower health insurance costs.