The negative impact of macroeconomics and conventional economic practices on the well being of Canadian rural communities is reviewed and critically analyzed. Community-based economic development (CBED) is proposed as an alternative economic development strategy. CBED is also proposed as a strategy for sustainable development and for primary prevention. A successful case study is examined and useful principles of implementation based on first-hand experience and knowledge of the literature are presented.

This paper investigates the importance of the work role for elderly people and how it contributes to life satisfaction. Data from the kibbutz population, where gradual retirement is practiced, show that elderly people in the kibbutz clearly wish to continue work as long as possible. Results also indicate that the wish to continue working is coupled with the work domain having a primary importance in their lives. The societal arrangements of the kibbutzim with regard to the work of the elderly seem to facilitate utilization of the work role for the elderly population.

The paper first explains why industrial societies will shortly need to increase their labour force by including persons of post current retirement age. It then presents two contrasted hypotheses to explain older workers' satisfaction with, and motivation in their work roles: Hypothesis (a), a “focus on compensation” which suggests that older workers seek compensation for deterioration in their sensory-motor potentials; Hypothesis (b), a “focus on relative advantage” which suggests that older workers seek to exploit their relative advantages, namely, their cognitive-emotional abilities and potentials. Reactions would be affected more by opportunities for satisfaction of psychological, higher order needs rather than opportunities for satisfying bodily needs. Validity of Hypothesis (b) is tested by a study of kibbutz workers (235) distributed about equally between the two genders and among three age groups (45-57; 58-67; 68 and over). Results of the analyses support Hypothesis (b) and its derivations. Older workers desire job characteristics that offer opportunities for satisfaction of higher order psychological needs more than they desire characteristics that offer better physical conditions and convenience at work. The former characteristics explain more than the latter characteristics, variance in “satisfaction with work” and variance in “motivation to contribute to job.” The discussion ends with suggestions for further study to answer questions such as: how and when to train workers to prepare them for jobs appropriate at very advanced ages beyond the currently normative retirement age; what should be the structure of jobs fit for older workers; how should they be integrated in work organizations with younger workers; where should the locus of decision regarding these questions be?

In recent years the field of vocational programming for people with serious mental health problems has been undergoing major changes. This paper examines one of the new approaches which has emerged: consumer/survivor-run businesses. These models typically feature as key players people who have used the mental health system themselves. Cooperative businesses are set up in which those involved are employees rather than clients. There is little or no input from professional staff. Consumer/survivor-run businesses represent a challenge to the idea that vocational programs should be based on professional rehabilitation service models. Early results indicate that involvement in these programs substantially reduces the use of mental health services such as inpatient hospitalization.

As traditional vocational rehabilitation programs for the psychiatrically disabled have failed to improve participation of this most marginalized group in the labour force, alternatives are needed to deal with extremely high unemployment of psychiatric survivors. The following article describes a grassroots initiative that has considerably changed life and employment prospects of 50 consumers-survivors in Toronto.

An individual supported employment program for people with psychiatric disabilities is described. Specific program components are outlined as well as issues related to implementation of job placement and job training processes. Preliminary outcome data indicated a 50% competitive employment rate following the first year of the program. The importance of collaboration between mental health and vocational rehabilitation specialists was highlighted. Emphasis on maintaining a client-centred approach was also discussed along with the need for a comprehensive employer education program.

This paper concerns the main results of an empirical study addressing 129 practitioners involved in Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) in Quebec. The author defines this type of program on the basis of the linkage between work structure and mental health issues. The linkage between health and work can be appraised through four different traditions: the struggle against alcoholism, work counselling, health and safety at work, and the quality of working life. The present EAP orientations, their organizational setting, and their dominant type of intervention can be related to a work counselling model. A union alternative approach, based on “union counselling” practice indicates a more community-based type of intervention. The conclusion is that both types of interventions are still quite far from a more organizational perspective, in which work structure would represent a salient factor influencing workers' mental health.

Research in North American regarding work and mental health has been most concentrated, until now, on stress issues. Another approach has been developed in France, called “work psychopathology” (psychopathologie du travail) which is based mainly on theories stemming from sociology of work and psychoanalysis. This approach is concerned with prevention, before work pathologies develop. It addresses the issue of the worker's mental health and work organization. It studies work organization, social relationships, and collective behaviour at work, trying to discover which factors are negative and which are positive for mental health. Pleasure and suffering are inseparable elements in work situations. It is important to know the sources and conditions of their development so we can avoid negative consequences like depression, burn out, and somatic disorders. Two studies done in Quebec show results revealing the heuristic richness of this approach, and the appropriateness of two main factors related to mental health: the quality of work communities and community-based collective defense strategies.

What are the psychosocial factors that cause work outside the home to benefit physically or mentally mothers living with a spouse and children (average of 1.6 children)? A wide survey conducted with 652 working mothers (located at two levels of hierarchy, managers and clerical workers of private and public organizations) shows women under excessive strain at work and at home have poorer physical health. Their psychological wellness is also lower. Those who are very satisfied with their family and professional life are healthier, as are those who receive more support from their spouses, their supervisors, their colleagues, their parents, or friends.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (1987) identified the double workday as a major source of stress for women. Drawing on a socialist-feminist analysis, we examined the inequalities in the workloads of men and women in different stages of family life. The data from 223 service sector workers in the Canadian airlines industry were analyzed through multivariate analysis of variance techniques. Results indicated gender inequalities in total workloads as well as types of work. Men and women did equal amounts of child care but women did significantly more housework.

Although the role of women in society has changed greatly in recent years, family benefit provisions may still be reflective of traditional notions of women's role as mother and homemaker. I examine this possibility through a case study of 120 collective agreements in a major Canadian union. In addition, the role of bargaining unit size, percentage of females in the bargaining unit, percentage of females on the negotiating committee and sector in the provision of family benefits are examined. It was found that the content and provision of family benefits were reflective of traditional notions of women. Through a step-wise multiple regression, it was also found that the percentage of females in a bargaining unit had the strongest predictive power of the four independent variables. Practical implications of the findings are discussed in light of current legislation governing the provision of family benefits and past research.

Employed women are taking on multiple roles in the family and at work. The multiple role expectations are sources of stress and strain on working women. The attitude of working women toward their employment in socialist and capitalist societies may differ owing to the different ideological culture of the societies. This paper reports the results of a comparative study of 1,500 female respondents in the socialist cities of Beijing and Guangzhou as well as that of capitalist Hong Kong. Most respondents felt strongly about sex discrimination in the workplace. Respondents in China are more positive toward work, while respondents in Hong Kong place higher priority on the family.