The effect of Tomm's therapeutic questioning styles on therapeutic alliance: a clinical analog study.

Tomm (1988) suggests that circular and reflexive questions tend to elicit feelings of freedom/acceptance whereas lineal and strategic questions usually trigger feelings of judgment/constraint. Employing an analog methodology, each of Tomm's four questioning styles was portrayed in the form of a 5-minute videotaped intake scenario. Forty family triads with a mother, father, and adolescent son were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions with ten families each. Each condition involved viewing one of four questioning style scenarios. All participants (N = 120 individuals--40 mothers, 40 fathers, and 40 adolescent sons) completed the Family Therapy Alliance Scale (FTAS; Pinsof & Catherall, 1986) and a validity-check instrument. The results indicated that circular and reflexive questioning styles elicited significantly higher (p < 0.001) alliance scores on the FTAS than did either lineal or strategic questions. Implications for the use of different types of questions in family therapy are discussed.

Beyond the Circumplex model: I. A moratorium on curvilinearity.

The developmental history of Olson's Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems, and companion measure, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES), are reviewed with respect to structure, definition, and theory. Cohesion and adaptability are analyzed as multivariate constructs consisting of linear variables that interact in a confounding, systemic fashion. The theory of curvilinearity--the idea that the model's two key dimensions of cohesion and adaptability form a curvilinear rather than linear relationship with effective family functioning--is rejected.

Toward an empirical confirmation of the Wegscheider role theory.

This study explored the validity of the Wegscheider role typology through the development of a measure to assess the extent to which adolescents manifest the characteristics of the respective roles explicated in the theory. Subjects were 224 students enrolled in Grades 9 through 12 of a university developmental research school. A principal components analysis yielded five orthogonal and independent constructs. Four of the five factors were interpreted as consistent with the Wegscheider typology. Sixteen items loaded on the achievement factor (hero role), 11 items the entertainment factor (mascot role), 9 items on the nonconformity factor (scapegoat role), 7 items on the emotional sensitivity factor (lost child role), and 3 items on the domesticity factor (enabler role). Alpha reliabilities ranged from .74 to .85. The factor structure was replicated on two independent data sets. The domesticity factor did not appear to be a valid measure of Wegscheider's description of the enabler role. The inference is that adolescents tend not to play the enabler role in their families.

'Spin, cool, and filter' red cells prepared in a regional blood center.

Red cells depleted of leukocytes by the "spin, cool, and filter" (SCF) method are effective in preventing most febrile, nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR). To determine whether red cell concentrates may be centrifuged in a blood center and filtered subsequently at an outlying facility, the authors examined how leukocyte removal was affected by the transport and storage of centrifuged red cells before microaggregate filtration (MAF). One hundred fourteen red cell units were each divided into two aliquots. After centrifugation, one aliquot from each unit was retained in the blood center, and the other was transported on a truck for 2 to 12 hours. Aliquots were stored for variable periods, after which the residual leukocytes were counted. Neither transportation nor storage significantly affected leukocyte removal by MAF. However, an unacceptable proportion of all SCF units failed to meet American Red Cross standards for leukocyte-poor blood and studies of factors influencing leukocyte depletion were undertaken. A relative centrifugal force of 6700 X g was needed to produce consistently acceptable units when blood was 8 to 15 days old. These results show that making SCF red cells is a practical, inexpensive way for blood centers to provide hospitals with products that prevent most FNHTR; however, each facility that prepares these products must perform quality control carefully.

Recycling parental sexual messages.

The purpose of this study was to explore parent-child sexual communication by investigating the impact of direct and indirect parental messages on the sexual attitudes and sexual satisfaction of young adults. A survey research design was used to obtain data from undergraduate students attending a large Southern university. The findings indicate that both direct and indirect parental sexual messages are negative and restrictive and have a differential impact on sexual satisfaction and sexual attitudes. While sexual satisfaction was positive, sexual attitudes were found to be problematic, especially among females. Suggestions are given for approaches that family life educators and parents may use in order to recycle previous sexual messages.

Parental influence on adolescent sexuality: implications for parents as educators.

PIP: While parents may not be recognized as disseminators of sexual information, positive and negative sexual messages are communicated by parents to their children, both verbally and nonverbally. The results of this study indicate that the impact of parental messages upon the sexuality of youth appears relatively straightforward for males, but quite complex for females. This article suggests educational approaches that can be used to recycle early parental sexual messages. Data were collected at a large midwestern university as a part of a study designed to determine the factors that influence the sexual behavior and contraceptive use of never-married college students. Personal interviews of a random sample of 421 male and 402 female undergraduate students were used. Teaching adolescents to use transactional analysis is recommended as a way to help them to adjust to a sexually active life.^ieng