"I Was There With Her": Experiences of Mothers of Women With Breast Cancer.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of mothers of breast cancer patients. The theory of health-related family quality of life informed data collection and data analysis. Thirty women were interviewed about their perceptions of family quality of life following their daughters' diagnoses.

African American Women and Obesity Through the Prism of Race.

Background: There are minimal studies focusing on African American women and obesity, and there are even fewer studies examining obesity through a critical race theoretical framework. African American obesity research has largely focused on individual and community interventions, which have not been sufficient to reverse the obesity epidemic.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between race and body mass index (BMI) for African American women.

Functional Status and Adaptation: Measuring Activities of Daily Living and Device Use in the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the functional status and adaptation of older Americans and discover the factors that contribute to device use.

Method: Using the community participants' portion of the first round of National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), we demonstrate the prevalence of device use and reduction in activities, creating a multilevel measure of activities of daily living (ADL) functionality as compared with Katz's dichotomous measure. In determining whether adaptation is universal irrespective of age, sex, race, living arrangement, and income, or dependent on these variables, we create a measure of device use, performing a path analysis of the device use measure and sociodemographic variables, with disability score as an intervening measure.

"Calm . . . Satisfied . . . Comforting": The Experience and Meaning of Rabbit-Assisted Activities for Older Adults.

Animal-assisted activity programs are commonly used in long-term care facilities to enhance the well-being of older residents. Although research suggests that older adults benefit from these programs, little is known about the experience from the perspective of older adults themselves. In this qualitative study, we used direct observation and in-depth interviews to gain an understanding of the experience of participating in a unique rabbit-assisted activity program delivered in a Midwestern residential facility.

Romeo, Juliet, and Statutory Rape.

Statutory rape is an important yet understudied topic. There is broad public support for the prosecution of older adults who engage in sexual relationships with minors regardless of perceptions of consent by either party. However, some scholars worry that expansive definitions within these laws have led to the widespread involvement of the justice system in the lives of similarly aged teenagers engaging in relatively normal sexual behavior, so called "Romeo and Juliet" liaisons.