Ignorance about Hepatitis-C (HCV) among drug users, treatment staff, and policy makers thwarts treatment uptake and facilitates virus transmission. We assessed knowledge about HCV among methadone patients in Israel, where effective HCV-treatment is provided at low-cost within the national health insurance framework, yet few infected methadone patients are treated. In 2006, 512 patients in two methadone clinics in Israel were interviewed, of whom 53%% were HCV-positive. The clinics were purposively selected from the 11 methadone clinics in the country. Respondents exhibited poor knowledge about HCV, particularly about diagnosis and treatment. Lesser-educated respondents were three times more likely to score low on HCV-knowledge compared to those with 12++ years of schooling (AOR == 2.97, 95%% CI == 1.5?5.7. HCV-negative patients were also three-times more likely than HCV-positive patients to score low on the HCV-knowledge scale (Adjusted Odds Ratio == 3.0, 95%% Confidence Interval == 1.9?4.7). Enhancing HCV-knowledge may help patients avoid becoming infected and infecting others, allay exaggerated fears about hepatitis, and facilitate HCV-treatment initiation among those infected.

This study investigated the role that social support plays in posttraumatic stress (PTS) and depressive symptoms among Israeli adolescents with high or low exposure to terrorist acts. Participants were 585 Jewish students (221 girls and 364 boys) in grades 7 to 12 from areas extensively versus slightly exposed to terrorist attacks. Results found that PTS levels and depressive symptoms were higher among adolescents residing in areas highly exposed to terrorism. Adolescents in high exposure areas reported lower perceived levels of support than adolescents in low exposure areas when gender, age, and religiosity were controlled. Social support was found to be a significant predictor for PTS and depressive symptoms, but no evidence for a buffering role of social support was obtained. We conclude that social support has a positive effect on a person’s mental health regardless of the type and level of the stressor the individual is exposed to.

{Objectives: This study examines potential predictors (e.g., attachment style, frequency of therapeutic treatment sessions) of client-rated therapeutic alliance between the social worker and client. The relationship between therapeutic alliance and client?s psychological outcomes (hope and posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTS?s]) was also assessed. Methods: The study sample included 95 of 193 female clients (average age = 39.35

The focus of this study is on how Israeli adolescents in their last years of stay in foster care view their readiness for independent living in multiple areas, such as work, education and money management. The study tests a series of hypotheses regarding factors associated with readiness: Background of family of origin, placement history, Relationships with foster family, relationships with biological family while in care and current functioning. A sample of 66 (32 females) adolescents in foster care in Israel ages 16–18 were interviewed face to face. In addition, their social workers completed a structured questionnaire to report on the adolescents' background and current functioning. Overall, adolescents presented a positive view of their readiness in most areas. They felt less ready mainly in their abilities to secure financial resources for school and housing. Background variables and workers' reports did not predict readiness. Youth's perceptions of relationships with foster family, social support, educational achievements and the avoidance of substance abuse were correlated positively with perceived readiness. The discussion examines the potential positive and negative implications of an optimistic view of readiness and presents implications for practice. Policy implications are suggested for preparing youth while in care and after they leave care.

This study monitors group supervision for students? field training in a Bachelor?s Degree in Social Work (BSW) program and compares it with the experience of the students receiving the traditional individual supervision. The experimental group supervision model is implemented in two consecutive years. Students? experiences are compared at three points in time: before pilot study began; at the end of the 1st year of the pilot study; and at the end of the 2nd year. Findings indicate that in most areas, and at all points in time, students receiving group supervision do not differ from their colleagues in the traditional individual supervision group. However, students receiving group supervision are less satisfied at all points in time with various aspects of the supervision they receive. These findings generally broaden our understanding of group supervision in social work field training and provide evidence to support future decisions on the nature of supervision in fieldwork training in BSW programs.

Although numerous cross-national studies have assessed life satisfaction among adults, similar studies using adolescent samples have been rare. To address this shortage of research, a total of 1338 youth adolescents from two individualistic nations (Ireland, USA) and two collectivistic nations (China, South Korea) were administered the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS: Huebner, 1994) to assesses general life satisfaction and satisfaction with family, friends, school, self, and living environment. Responses were analyzed to assess potential cross-national differences in (a) mean levels of life satisfaction, and (b) response styles, specifically acquiescence and extreme responding. Mean scores revealed positive ratings by adolescents from all four nations across all domains, with the exceptions of satisfaction with school experiences (Ireland, South Korean, USA), living environment (China, South Korea), self (South Korea), and general life satisfaction (South Korea). Results also revealed significant response style differences across all MSLSS domains. Significant gender and gender-by-nation effects were observed for both mean score and response style differences, although the effect sizes were small. The implications of these findings were discussed, particularly with respect to “individualistic” vs. “collectivistic” cultural differences.

The article focuses on definitions of and beliefs about wife abuse among undergraduate social work students in Israel. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. The vast majority of students in Study 1 acknowledged acts thought to constitute wife assault and disapproved of a husband's use of force against his wife. The majority of students in Study 2 did not justify wife abuse nor tend to believe that battered women benefit from beating, although they tended to blame the violent husband for his behavior. Significant amounts of the variance in dependent variables were explained by the students' marital role expectations (Study 1) and their attitudes toward women and sex role stereotypes (Study 2). The students' year of study and participation in family violence or wife abuse courses did not contribute toward explaining the variance in their beliefs. Results are discussed in light of the students' patriarchal ideology, and implications for future research are presented.

Objectives. We investigated the consequences of exposure to acts of terrorism among Israeli adolescents. We examined whether exposure to terrorism predicted adolescents? use of cigarettes, alcohol (including binge drinking), and cannabis after we controlled for posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms and background variables.Methods. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were given to a random sample of 960 10th and 11th grade students (51.6% boys, 48.4% girls) in a large city in northern Israel.Results. Close physical exposure to acts of terrorism predicted higher levels of alcohol consumption (including binge drinking among drinkers) and cannabis use. These relationships remained even after we controlled for posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms.Conclusions. In addition to posttraumatic stress symptoms, negative consequences of terrorism exposure among adolescents included substance abuse. The similarity between our findings among Israeli adolescents and previous findings among US adults suggests cross-cultural generalizability. Given the risks for later problems from early-onset substance abuse, the consequences of terrorism exposure among adolescents merit greater research and clinical attention.

Students' evaluations of their satisfaction with their field instruction including their field instructors, agency, and learning opportunities have been the focus of earlier and more recent studies. However much less is known about students' satisfaction in non?English speaking countries. Even rarer are studies on how satisfaction differs among diverse ethnic groups and phase of training. This study focuses on the impact of ethnicity (Jewish and Israeli Arabs), and phase of training (second or third years) on the satisfaction of Israeli social work students with their field instruction. Some 742 second and third year students reported their satisfaction on a self?administered questionnaire. Third year students who had already completed two academic years of training were more satisfied with their field instruction than second year students. Arab students were significantly less satisfied with their field placement agencies. Second year Arab students were also less satisfied with their field instructors and their field instruction in general than second year Jewish students. The lower satisfaction might be true for other minority groups in Western countries and should be further investigated. We recommend increasing cultural sensitivity in the curriculum of social work education as well as preparatory workshops before the beginning of field practice.

Objectives To examine gender differences or similarities regarding the retention rate in the course of a 13-month treatment and in long-term retention up to 14 years among 2683 patients treated in eight (of 10) methadone maintenance clinics located in communities in Israel. Methods The study is based on a computerized set of data on 2683 (331 female and 2352 male) patients older than 18 years of age (mean age=43.30 SD=8.53) who underwent treatment in one of eight methadone maintenance programs in Israel sometimes (or all the time) between January 1, 1991 and October 30, 2005. Results 79.6% of the patients had a 100% retention rate in the 13-month time slot examined. The survival curves for the long-term retention show that retention in treatment was similar for both female and male patients. However, long-term retention is higher among female patients aged 31–40. Conclusion It is premature to conclude that there are no gender differences in retention since there seem to be different profiles of female patients, characterized by different retention rates, as implied by the great variability in the females' retention behavior found in the regression analysis.

Objective: This study is the first in a comprehensive examination of therapeutic components and outcome of interventions in a public, nonresidential service for drug addicts in Jerusalem (SHALEM). Method: Data were gathered from 153 clients (35 women, 128 men; 35 Arabs, 118 Jews; median age = 39) using clinical data mining. Results: Men who had been child victims of physical abuse (60%) showed less progress in treatment than men reporting no abuse. Arabs showed greater improvement in reducing violent acts. Only four therapeutic components were significant predictors of a client?s treatment outcomes. Conclusion: Processing of trauma history must become a major therapeutic component, and differential treatment plans for women and men and different ethnic groups should be developed.

This study examined the associations between physical and psychological proximity to terrorist attacks and post-traumatic symptoms (PTS), depressive symptoms, and alcohol use among Israeli youth. Self-administered questionnaires were completed under anonymous conditions by 1,150 high and junior high school students (51.3% boys and 48.7% girls) in a town in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Standardized, validated scales were used to measure psychological symptoms and alcohol use. High levels of exposure to terrorism were reported. Physical and psychological proximity to terrorist attacks were associated with more PTS symptoms and alcohol consumption. Physical proximity was also associated with symptoms of depression. The implications of terror-associated early drinking for later alcohol problems should be explored.

This follow-up study examined the current functioning of young adult alumni of a large network of group-homes in Israel. Our aim was to identify factors explaining their current functioning and explore gender differences. Background and in-care experiences were gathered on 143 alumni (64 men and 79 women). One hundred nine of those alumni (51 men and 58 women) agreed to be interviewed. Despite their disadvantaged background prior to entering care, alumni functioned adequately and were in good health. Girls seem to have more positive in-care experiences than boys. A child's academic functioning while in care was a positive predictor for alumni current functioning status. Our study identifies areas of concern such as alumni relative low educational level, and suggests directions for future interventions and longitudinal studies.

This study examines the retrospective reports of alumni of Israeli group homes on their experiences of leaving care, taking into account possible gender differences as well as associations with their experiences while in care. The reports of 94 alumni (38 men and 56 women) interviewed by phone revealed major difficulties associated with the transition from the group home. About half perceived their transition from care as “quite hard” or “very hard.” A fifth reported having no one to talk to during the first period of leaving care. Generally, the transition was more difficult for girls than boys. The longer the alumni (especially boys) stayed in care, the more difficult they found the transition to independent living. Better relationships between the child and the group-home parents while in care were associated with a more difficult transition to independent living. This study highlights the need for longer and more extensive preparation for leaving out-of-home care.

This study is a preliminary examination of life satisfaction among 103 children in one residential treatment care (RTC) setting in Israel. Life satisfaction was examined using the Multidimensional Students Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS). Gender differences in life satisfaction and correlations with background and in-care variables were examined. The study revealed that girls were more satisfied with RTC-specific domains than boys and that the residential child-care worker–child relationship plays a major role in the child’s life satisfaction. Findings provided some support for the utility of the MSLSS to describe RTC children and youth’s life satisfaction across a number of important life domains. Ongoing administration of such scales has the potential to monitor RTC children’s life satisfaction and its correlates throughout their stay in care.

This study examines the effects of prolonged exposure to terrorism in 600 religious and non-religious Jewish adolescents living in Jerusalem, particularly post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, depressive symptoms, alcohol use, coping strategies and social support. The youth in Jerusalem reported high exposure to terrorist acts. This exposure was associated with high PTS, depressive symptoms and alcohol use. Despite an apparently greater exposure to terrorism, religious adolescents reported lower levels of PTS and alcohol consumption, but similar levels of depressive symptoms to non-religious adolescents. Problem-solving coping predicted higher depressive symptoms for religious adolescents exposed to terrorism but not for similarly exposed non-religious adolescents. In contrast, emotion-focused coping predicted more alcohol consumption among highly exposed non-religious adolescents, while emotion-focused coping predicted more alcohol consumption among religious adolescents with low exposure. The overall findings suggest that religiosity may buffer the negative consequences of exposure in other ways than through coping or support.

Purpose To examine the association between ongoing terrorism and Israeli adolescents’ routine activities. Methods A total of 1336 junior high and high school students from Jerusalem (46.9% boys and 53.1% girls) self-reported on measures of maintaining or reducing their level of routine activities, perceived parental monitoring, posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) and functional impairment. We used linear regressions to explore possible associations between decreasing (or maintaining) level of routine activities, parental monitoring, and PTS and functional impairment. Results A majority of the adolescents reported that under the recurrent threat of terrorism they maintained their routine (i.e., 65.8% continued using public transportation). Similarly, more than half the students perceived their parents as encouraging them to maintain their routine activities. Furthermore, greater exposure to terrorism was associated with more PTS symptoms and functional impairment. Nonetheless, a reduced level of routine activities was a significant predictor for higher PTS and functional impairment, even after controlling for level of exposure to terrorism, gender and age. Similarly, perceived parental limiting of routine activities was a significant predictor for higher PTS and functional impairment, even after controlling for gender, age and the level of exposure to terrorism. Conclusions Our results support practitioners’ recommendations to encourage continuity in daily routine. Disruption of routine activities may result in the development of avoidance reactions that can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder.

This study examines the positive aspects of intimate relationships perceived by drug-involved women victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). The article examines the association of psychological distress, childhood abuse, and severity of IPV with the different positive aspects the women indicated. Most analyses were conducted on a subsample of 149 women in methadone maintenance treatment who intended to continue their relationship with their abusive partner. The women most frequently valued fulfillment of the role of an intimate partner such as ?he takes care of me, loves me, makes me laugh? (29.7%). Fewer than one tenth of the women valued their partners? role as economic provider; however, these women reported more physical IPV. Women intending to continue the relationship (more than two thirds of the participants) reported less physical or sexual IPV and experienced less psychological distress. Policy and practice implications are discussed.

Objective This exploratory study examines the reported dating violence and its association with sexual risk behavior among Israeli adolescents, who are at risk for dropping out of school. Methodology A convenience sample of 105 at-risk youth (51 boys and 54 girls) completed self-administered anonymous, questionnaires in small same-gender groups. The questionnaire included a Hebrew version of the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory, a valid scale developed in the US especially for adolescents, the Hebrew version of the Conflict Tactics Scale and the Self-Efficacy to Refuse Sexual Behavior Scale. Results We found high rates of perpetration of verbal-emotional abuse for both girls and boys. Rates of reported victimization by physical abuse were higher among boys but that by sexual abuse were higher among girls. We found a moderate inverse association between victimization by dating violence and practicing safe sex among girls. There was a similar but much stronger association for boys who were victims of dating violence. Conclusions The high rates of various types of dating violence in Israel, at least among at-risk adolescents, should raise concern and motivate designing and implementing specific prevention interventions. The high reported rates of victimization from dating violence among boys are somewhat surprising and call for special attention and more indepth studies. Résumé French-language abstract not available at time of publication. Resumen Spanish-language abstract not available at time of publication.

The present study addresses the association between immigration from the former Soviet Union (FSU) and gender and alcohol consumption among a representative sample of young adults in Israel 2000. Previous studies that were conducted on FSU immigrants to Israel indicate higher consumption than that of resident Israelis and immigrants of earlier periods. The current study aims to assess alcohol consumption among FSU and resident Israelis five years later to determine whether the discrepancy in alcohol consumption stays consistent or reduces. In addition, gender differences in alcohol consumption among the Israeli society were examined as well, as a special case of socio-culture differences. The data came from the 2000 national survey of drinking in Israel. Of 5,004 Jewish Israelis, 532 were immigrants from the FSU who arrived since 1989, and 4,472 were resident Israelis. The FSU group was compared with resident Israelis, and males were compared to females on several drinking variables. Logistic regression was the principal method of analysis. Demographics and cultural variables as main effects or in interaction with FSU and gender were controlled. The FSU group was significantly more likely to report drinking in the last twelve months plus drinking in the last thirty days than resident Israelis. Women's reported drinking in the last twelve months was one fourth of men's and during the past thirty days was one fifth of men's. Further investigation on the associations between the success of FSU acculturation in the Israeli society and drinking patterns as well as attitudes toward women and gender differences in alcohol consumption may provide explanations for gender and immigration gaps in alcohol consumption.