Sex Stereotypes and Child Physical Abuse: Mediating Effects of Attitudes on Beliefs about Consequences for Abusive Parents

We hypothesized that (a) sex stereotypes would influence individuals' attitudes toward and beliefs about physically abusive parents and (b) these attitudes would mediate the connection between sex stereotypes and beliefs. Participants read one of four scenarios in which (a) sex of parents and sex of children were systematically varied while (b) holding constant the actions of parents and children as well as surrounding circumstances. Participants then expressed their attitudes about those parents and their beliefs about appropriate consequences for these parents. As expected, participants held more unfavorable attitudes about fathers than mothers and believed lenient consequences were more appropriate for mothers than fathers. Moreover, the linkage between parents' sex and participants' beliefs was mediated by participants' attitudes such that the effects of sex stereotypes on beliefs were all indirect rather than direct. Limitations (e.g., cross-sectional design, sample representativeness) and future directions (e.g., alternative parental and child behaviors, individual differences as moderators) are discussed.

Full and Short Versions of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised: Examining Their Factor Structure in a Dutch Outpatient Sex Offender Sample

Inadequate problem solving is associated with recidivism in sex offenders. However, the psychometric properties of two of the most widely used coping self-report questionnaires, the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, have not been established for outpatient sex offenders. Using structural equation modeling, the present study aims to contribute to an empirically based decision as to which version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations or Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised is best suited to use with forensic outpatient sex offenders. The sample consisted of 530 Dutch sex offenders treated in an outpatient forensic facility. Results support the use of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations-Short Form 20 for identifying problem-solving deficits among outpatient sex offenders, consequently facilitating the assessment of treatment needs.

Religious Fundamentalism, Humor, and Treatment Outcomes in Individuals in Court-Mandated Substance Abuse Outpatient Treatment

The relationship between religious fundamentalism, humor, and psychological well-being was examined with a sample of individuals ( n = 109) being treated for drug abuse in a court-mandated AA outpatient program. Three separate factors of religious fundamentalism were found through exploratory factor analysis of the Revised Religious Fundamentalism Scale, and these were named Righteous-Evil Worldview, True Religion, and Scriptural Literalism. Psychological well-being of individuals in court-mandated outpatient substance abuse treatment was found to be correlated with high levels of humor but not religious fundamentalism. Psychological well-being and humor were found to be related to satisfaction with services; no relationship was found between religious fundamentalism and satisfaction with services. One factor of religious fundamentalism, Scriptural Literalism, was found to be associated with high levels of depression and paranoia/hostility. Implications of these relationships for treatment and understanding of religious fundamentalism and psychological well-being are discussed.