Limited research examines the impact of attachment on variables reflecting relationship functioning (i.e., relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and relationship commitment), especially among sexual-minority women (SMW). Given that such research utilizes a heterocentric lens, it is difficult to discern whether prior findings would also extend to SMW. Additional research is, therefore, warranted to identify if the theoretical foundation of attachment is relevant in understanding the relationship functioning of SMW. This study, therefore, sought to examine attachment dimensions (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) as predictors of relationship functioning variables and to assess for what, if any, differences exist between two groups: (a) heterosexual women and (b) SMW. An online survey was distributed to 166 women currently within relationships. There were no significant differences in relationship functioning variables nor in attachment dimensions between groups. Attachment anxiety explained over 31% of the variance in relationship satisfaction, over 39% of the variance in sexual satisfaction, and over 33% of the variance in relationship commitment between both groups. Conversely, attachment avoidance explained almost 18% of the variance in sexual satisfaction, but not did predict relationship satisfaction nor relationship commitment. These findings are further discussed in the context of limitations and clinical implications for practice.

Sexual-minority women (SMW) are more likely to be overweight, have a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and have more positive attitudes toward obesity compared to their heterosexual counterparts. In this exploratory study, the author sought to identify any associations between CSA, obesity, and attitudes toward obesity amongSMW. Eighty-five SMWcompleted a survey assessing their weight, history of CSA, and attitudes toward obesity. An ordered logistic regression (OLS) and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed CSA to be negatively correlated with BMI, as well as no association between SMW's attitudes toward obesity and CSA nor BMI. Lastly, SMW did not report significantly different attitudes toward BMI based on their own BMI and history of CSA. This study provides evidence that SMW, particularly those residing within the Deep South, are at high risk for both CSA and for obesity, and highlights the importance of developing future culturally tailored weight loss programs designed specifically for SMW with histories of trauma.

Louisiana, a Southern coastal state in the United States flanked by Texas and Mississippi, has seen its share of disasters in the past several decades. From epic Hurricane Camille in 1969 to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with pervasive aftermath and local, national and global media coverage. The article describes the thousand year flood meaning the extent of this magnitude only happens once in a thousand years. Experiences seem to be fading from the collective memory, despite massive loss of property, businesses, life and landscape. The article shares two flood stories, one single male who is a painter and lost everything in a remote and rural place in French Settlement, and is still homeless, and one doctoral student who was in a more populated suburb of Baton Rouge and has since rebuilt her home with her partner. Both people continue to be productive against the devastating loss of being physically displaced from their homes for months. The article’s intent is not to establish hypotheses or theory, but to share narratives nested in a time where humanity in coverage and science seems left to what the political flavor of the day is. The people persist. Even when others don’t pay much mind.

Objective: The objective was to examine reference errors in research articles published in Research on Social Work Practice. High rates of reference errors in other top social work journals have been noted in previous studies. Methods: Via a sampling frame of 22,177 total references among 464 research articles published in the previous decade, a sample of 500 references were randomly selected and verified against the original work for accuracy in the following fields: author name(s), publication year, article title, journal title, volume, and page number(s). Results: Almost 27% of references contained at least 1 error (0.35 errors per reference); 173 errors in total. The plurality of errors occurred in article titles (13.2%). Two factors significantly related to the likelihood of error: reference age and number of authors. Conclusion: Comparison to reference error rates in other social work journals is discussed, as are suggestions to authors, editors, and educators regarding error reduction.

The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes of older versus younger lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals regarding marriage equality. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires from 350 LGBT adults in a mid-size city in the southern United States. Older and younger LGBT cohorts did not differ significantly in voter registration, political party affiliation, awareness of LGBT political issues, or voting on social issues. Older LGBT adults were less likely to find same-sex marriage important. Yet, age cohorts did not differ significantly on legalizing same-sex marriage. Social work implications are discussed regarding this policy area.

In many professional practice settings, it is very likely that social workers will work with female clients who identify as lesbian or bisexual. These sexual minority females are more likely to be overweight or obese, have a history of childhood sexual abuse, and have more positive attitudes toward overweight and obesity than heterosexual women. In this study, the author sought to identify the relationship between childhood sexual abuse, obesity, (specifically, body mass index [BMI]), and attitudes toward obesity among lesbian and bisexual women. Eighty-five sexual minority females completed a survey. Childhood sexual abuse was found to be positively correlated with BMI. However, lesbians' attitudes toward obesity were not associated with childhood sexual abuse nor were they found to be associated with BMI. Additionally, lesbians did not report significantly different attitudes toward BMI based on their own BMI and history of childhood sexual abuse. These findings are further discussed in the context of previous research, limitations, and implications for direct practice.

Previous research examining overall relationship satisfaction, relationship commitment, and sexual satisfaction among heterosexual women is well-documented. The theoretical foundation of attachment has also been well-established within relationship research among heterosexual women. However, little to no published reports examine such variables among women currently in same-sex relationships. Furthermore, virtually no reports assess for any differences in attachment identity based on the gender of women’s romantic partners. This study therefore sought to identify any interrelationships between relationship satisfaction, relationship commitment, sexual satisfaction, and attachment identity (measured using the dimensions of avoidance and anxiety) among two groups of women based on their partner’s gender: (1) women partnered with women and (2) women partnered with men. This study also examined partner gender as a predictor of the aforementioned variables. One-hundred-sixty-six women currently in romantic partnerships completed an online survey. Partner gender was found to be independent of attachment dimensions. Significant, positive correlations emerged between relationship satisfaction, relationship commitment, and sexual satisfaction between both groups of women. Attachment-related anxiety was found to be a successful predictor of overall lower levels of relationship satisfaction, relationship commitment, and sexual satisfaction between both groups of women, whereas attachment-related avoidance was found to successfully predict lower levels of sexual satisfaction between both groups. These findings are further discussed in the context of previous research, limitations, and clinical implications for direct practice.