This article explores how living with parents affects the ways emerging adults construct their self-identity. Data are from in-depth interviews with 30 young adults who returned to live with their origin family after a period of residential autonomy. Respondents perceive adulthood as a psychological state, attained through a process of assuming responsibility for one's actions and learning how to interact with other adults (particularly parents) from a position of equality. Nonetheless, an economic component remains important, mentioned by respondents who contributed to the family economy and those who sought to avoid doing so. Successfully viewing oneself as an adult is gendered, with daughters less likely to perceive themselves as equals in interactions with parents.

Using data from a sample of married men and women undergoing treatment for cancer, we tested two potential hypotheses for the unequal representation of husbands and wives as spousal caregivers, including societal gender role norms and emotional closeness in the marital relationship. Multivariate analyses support both hypotheses; wives are only one third as likely as husbands to select their spouses as caregivers, and spouses who name their mates as confidants are three times more likely than those who do not to also name them as caregivers. We conclude that although gender role norms are key to caregiver selection, the intimacy inherent in the caregiving role renders an emotionally close marriage an important criterion to the selection of spouse as caregiver.

BACKGROUND Previous research indicates that younger women (i.e., ≤ 50) with breast carcinoma experience greater emotional distress than older women (i.e., > 50) and that coping style is significantly related to the psychosocial adjustment of women with this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate through a randomized controlled trial the effectiveness of a problem‐solving training intervention designed to empower women with breast carcinoma to cope with a range of difficulties when diagnosed in mid‐life. METHODS The study population consisted of women aged 50 years or younger who had no prior history of breast carcinoma, were diagnosed with Stage I‐IIIA tumors, and for whom a first course of chemotherapy had been initiated recently. The intervention consisted of two in‐person and four telephone sessions with an oncology nurse who provided problem‐solving skills training and informational materials to the women over a 12‐week period. All subjects were assessed for physical and psychosocial adjustment through telephone and mailed surveys at baseline, at 4 –months, and at 8 months. RESULTS Of 183 eligible women, 164 participated (a 90% participation rate), 149 of whom completed the study (a 91% completion rate). The subjects had significantly lower unmet needs and better mental health at the 4‐month assessment. The intervention significantly decreased the number and severity of difficulties experienced by women with average or good problem‐solving skills at 8 months, but was not effective in alleviating or resolving the problems encountered by women with poor problem‐solving skills, relative to the control group. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that this problem‐solving therapy‐based home care training intervention is an effective method of helping the majority of women with breast carcinoma to reduce the stresses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in mid‐life. Cancer 2002;94:3089–100. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10586

Both instrumental and emotional support are key in mediating depressed mood among this population. We conclude that all types of social support are not equally effective in mediating mood among people with disability.

Women are the fastest growing segment of the adult population acquiring HIV, and most women infected with HIV are in their reproductive years. The success of HAART is highly dependent upon the ability and willingness of the individual to adhere to complex antiretroviral regimens. Improved adherence among HIV-infected pregnant women will delay disease progression in the mother and should also reduce HIV transmission to the baby. Modified directly observed therapy (MDOT), may benefit this population. MDOT has been shown to be an acceptable and feasible intervention among HIV substance users; however, no-one has yet evaluated the use of MDOT in pregnant and postpartum women. Based on semi-structured interviews with 17 Latina women with HIV infection, we explored women's adherence patterns and barriers to adherence and their perceptions of a hypothetical MDOT program. The vast majority of women positively appraised the MDOT program as an effective means to increase and reinforce adherence to demanding drug regimens. Respondents cited the face-to-face contact, the supportive nature of the relationship, and the practical approach of the program as the primary reasons for the effectiveness of MDOT. Results indicate that MDOT could be an acceptable intervention for pregnant and postpartum Latina women to improve adherence to HAART.