Multiple Roles, Role Satisfaction, and Sense of Meaning in Life

Based on a sample of 611 employed parents in Israel, the study aimed to examine how occupying multiple roles on the one hand and satisfying roles on other hand are related to a sense of meaning in life (MIL). In addition, the contribution of two types of role conflict—interference of work with family (WIF) and interference of family with work (FIW) —to explaining MIL was examined. The findings revealed that the number of roles as well as the proportion of satisfying roles was directly related to a sense of MIL. Moreover, the number of roles and the proportion of satisfying roles occupied by the participants were indirectly related to their sense of MIL: The relation between the number of roles and sense of MIL was mediated by FIW conflict, whereas the relation between the proportion of satisfying roles and the sense of MIL was mediated by both types of role conflict (FIW and WIF). Men showed a greater tendency than women to experience WIF conflict, whereas no gender differences were found with regard to FIW conflict. Long hours of work outside of the home were positively related to WIF conflict and negatively related to FIW conflict.

Work–Family Conflict, Resources, and Role Set Density

We explored the relationships between the experience of work–family conflict and levels of distress in the family and at work among a sample of 227 Israeli working mothers. We also examined how role set density (RSD, the number of roles they perform) and personal and environmental resources are related to the women's experience of distress. Work–family conflict resulting from interference of work with family roles (WIF) and from interference of family with work roles (FIW) correlated positively with distress in the family and at work. RSD correlated negatively with distress at work but did not correlate with distress in the family. Perceived social support and personal resources correlated negatively with the women's experience of distress. WIF mediated the relationship between social support and women's experience of distress as well as the relationship between RSD and distress.

Yttrium-90 radioembolization using TheraSphere in the management of primary and secondary liver tumors

Locoregional therapies, such as transarterial chemoembolization, radioembolization and thermal ablation (e.g., radiofrequency ablation) are establishing their roles in the management of liver malignancies. With yYttrium-90 radioembolization therapy (90Y) radionuclide labeled microspheres are injected into the tumor feeding artery. This allows the delivery of a high radioactive dose to the tumor with minimal toxicity to normal tissues. 90Y has demonstrated to be safe and effective in the management of liver tumors. Authors present a review of the literature available for the use of TheraSphere for radioembolization in the management of liver tumors.

Treatment with Cl-amidine, a peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) inhibitor, significantly reduces collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) (50.6)

Antibodies to citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA) are specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Post-translational citrullination of epitopes to which ACPA are directed is catalyzed by PADs. We have previously shown that ACPA develop in CIA and contribute to joint damage. In this study we used Cl-amidine, a small molecule that specifically inhibits all PAD enzymes, to determine whether limiting PAD activity can modify CIA. CIA and collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA, a model of the antibody-mediated effector pathway of CIA) were induced in DBA/1j mice using standard methods. Mice received either no treatment, vehicle alone (PBS), or 1, 10 or 50 mg/kg/day Cl-amidine by daily IP injection. Cl-amidine reduced CIA disease activity scores by 42%, 53% and 55% in the respective treatment groups (1, 10, 50 mg/kg/day) as well as C3 deposition, IgG1 and IgG2a anti-mouse CII Abs and epitope spreading to citrullinated epitopes. Conversely, Cl-amidine treatment had no effect on the development of CAIA. These results suggest that PADs are essential components in the development of inflammatory arthritis. This work was funded by an ACR REF WOR Grant.

Equality in the division of household labor: a comparative study of Jewish women and Arab Muslim women in Israel

In this study, the author compared perceptions of gender-based equality in the division of household labor among Jewish women (n = 60) and Arab Muslim women (n = 62) from dual-earner families in Israel. Guided by theories regarding the division of household labor, the author also explored the impact of 3 sets of variables--resources, gender-role attitudes, and job flexibility (flextime)--on perceived equality in the division of household labor. The findings revealed that the Jewish women tended to perceive the division of household labor as more egalitarian than did their Arab Muslim counterparts. Furthermore, the Jewish women had more egalitarian gender-role attitudes and more job flexibility than did the Arab Muslim women. However, all 3 sets of variables predicted perceived equality in the division of household labor to the same extent for both groups of women. Moreover, for both groups, education level correlated with attitudes toward household labor and with extent of job flexibility. Overall, the findings suggest that education may contribute to improving women's quality of life in both traditional and modem sociocultural contexts.

The Impact of Family Status on Gender Identity and on Sex-Typing of Household Tasks in Israel

The author examined differences in sex-typing of household tasks (adult gender roles and children's chores) and differences in gender identity among adult Israelis. The author compared 2 groups of participants: single people without children (single-family participants; n = 62) and married people with children (full-family participants; n = 62). Regarding sex-typing of household tasks and direct assessments of masculine and feminine identity, there were no differences between single-family participants and full-family participants. However, family status affected self-assessments of gender identity that were based on cultural definitions of masculine and feminine attributes. Furthermore, correlations between direct assessments of gender identity and sex-typing of household tasks differed according to family status.

Adjustment to breast cancer: the contribution of resources and causal attributions regarding the illness

The study examined personal resources (sense of coherence and social support) and attributions concerning the causes of illness, and their relationship to adjustment to breast cancer. The research sample included 60 Israeli women with breast cancer, who responded to questionnaires at two stages of their illness: the stage of initial discovery (after first learning of the illness) and approximately six months later (the stage of mitigation and accommodation). The overall level of adjustment to the illness was moderate. While the patients adjusted relatively well in the family and domestic environments, their adjustment in the dimensions of health care, psychological distress, and sexual relations was relatively low. The most frequent causal attributions were psychological factors and family history of illness. The patients' subjective state of health, sense of coherence, and levels of social support were related to most of the adjustment dimensions examined, although both internal and external causal attributions correlated negatively with adjustment in every dimension.