Digital Commons Network^™

Remembering Time, Jonathan Carey

Capstones

My parents were dressed in their Sunday best, heading to a church revival. I was 12 and still the baby of the family, so staying home alone was out of the question. My grandmother Lillian, who preferred to be called Nana, came to babysit me. She relished a little time away from the doldrums and senior citizen gossip that engulfed the high-rise building where she lived,five minutes from my house in Petersburg, Virginia. That evening, as the sounds of “The Young and the Restless” echoed through the house, I tiptoed downstairs to give Nana a playful scare.

Bullying Experiences And Resilience In Lgbtq Youth, Melinda Mccormick

Dissertations

Many young LGBTQ people are experiencing bullying which can lead to increased risk of suicide, drug abuse, and depression, as well as an increased risk of out-of-home placements in either foster care or homeless shelters. As a result of this, LGBTQ young adults are often framed as being at risk. Although this has been helpful in the past in order to raise awareness of the challenges experienced by LGBTQ young people, there is also evidence that they show resilience in response to those challenges. In order to advance the social work value of being strengths-based, this research looked for examples …

Sex Differences In Stress, Burnout And Coping In Emergency Medical Service Providers, Celia R. Sporer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The physical and psychological wellbeing of emergency medical service (EMS) providers is important for sustaining the overall model of emergency responding as well as providing consistent quality patient care. Despite the importance of the role, very little research has been undertaken for this occupational group. In particular, very little research on stress, burnout and coping have been undertaken. The failure to examine these areas fully has resulted not only in gaps in the literature but also practical failure for providers and the populations they serve. The assumption that EMS providers work under stressful circumstances which can result in burnout and …

Associations Among Sexual Victimization Experiences, Coping Strategies, And Psychopathology In Heterosexual And Sexual Minority Women, Gabriela Lopez

Psychology ETDs

This study examined the associations among sexual minority status, adult sexual victimization, childhood experiences of abuse and neglect, coping strategies, and psychopathology in womens sexual assault experiences. One hundred and seventy-seven women (n = 177) were recruited via the Internet to complete an online study asking them about their most distressing/severe sexual victimization experience. Non-parametric tests were used to examine associations among the variables. There were significant associations between sexual minority status and both victimization severity and sexual revictimization, with sexual minority status being associated with higher levels of victimization severity and a higher likelihood of being revictimized. There were …

Ethnic Discrimination And Psychological Distress Among Middle Eastern/Arab Americans: The Roles Of Religiosity, Coping, Ethnic Identity, And Family Connectedness, Ayse Selin Ikizler

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite increased public attention in the past decade towards the Middle East and Arab world, only a small but growing body of research literature investigating the mental health of individuals with ethnic background originating in these countries exists. Given the major stigma associated with being Middle Eastern/Arab (MEA) in the United States, the mental health-related implications for MEA Americans is of particular interest in the present study. Specifically, we investigated (1) the moderating role of religiosity in the link between religious affiliation and ethnic discrimination and (2) potential mediators (coping via internalization, detachment, and drugs/alcohol) and moderators (ethnic identity and …

“Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?” The Use Of Popular Music After Hurricane Katrina, Jennifer Billinson

Dissertations - ALL

This single-case study explores the use of popular music in response to the destruction of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005. Using research in sociology of disaster and uses and gratifications theory in mass communication, data collected included original music written in response to the hurricane, major benefit concerts that aired in the wake, and re-appropriated music that developed new meaning when used in conjunction to the case. Analysis yielded that popular music was used to raise awareness, raise funds, and express emotion following the disaster. Common themes throughout include the impact of genre on how this was …

Using Social Media For Parental Support In Raising A Child With A Disability: A Critical Analysis Of Facebook Postings, Lynn Margaret Fostervold Wells

Culminating Projects in Child and Family Studies

Using Social Media for Parental Support in Raising a Child with a Disability: A Critical Analysis of Facebook Postings

Spirituality As A Predictor Of Guilt And Shame Among Lesbian And Gay Adults, Jonie Yvette Snipes Oliver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship among constructs related to spirituality (religious/spiritual practice, religious/spiritual belief, sense of purpose/connection, and sense of hope/control) and reported degree of likelihood to feel guilt and shame among individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer. If clear relationships can be identified between the components of spirituality that predict lower levels of proneness to feel guilt and shame, counselors can use this information to provide interventions to clients who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer. Furthermore, the current study attempted to identify relationships that counselor educators can use when training students …

Ptsd, Academic Achievement, And College Persistence: The Moderating Effects Of Coping Mechanisms And Social Support, Rebecca Granda

Doctoral Dissertations

Prevalence rates of lifetime exposure to trauma for college students range from 50 to 90% indicating that most college students begin the first year of college with a history of trauma. Previous studies suggest a significant negative relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and college retention; however, these studies have mainly focused on the negative effects of trauma exposure and PTSD on college students' persistence. As a result, it was unknown whether the effects of PTSD on academic achievement and college persistence can be moderated by protective factors, such as coping skills and social support. The purpose of this study …

Life After An Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: A Comparison Of Stress And Coping Profiles Of African American And Caucasian Caregivers, Takeshia Williams

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Though the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder continues to rise, limited research to date has studied the impact of culture on stress and coping for families after they are diagnosed. This study explored the relationship between caregiver’s ethnic culture and caregiver reports of stress and coping behaviors when caring for a child with autism. Specifically, this study used discriminate function analysis to contrast the stress and coping profiles of Caucasian caregivers to African American caregivers that are more acculturated with the majority culture and African American caregivers that ascribe to more traditional values. A sample of 103 participants was recruited, …

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Offender Coping Self-Efficacy Scale In The Context Of Incarceration And Upon Re-Entry, Minhdan Thuy Ta

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Incarceration presents unique stressors that affect psychological well-being. Identifying self-efficacy for different types of coping strategies to manage stressors may help treatment teams develop appropriate interventions aimed at reducing recidivism. Consequently, I developed and evaluated the preliminary psychometric properties of the Offender Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (OCSS). An initial pool of 47 items was used to assess inmates’ confidence in their ability to cope with stressors related to incarceration and re-entry. The scale was completed by a sample of inmates (N = 144) who were 18 years or older and serving time at one of two county jails. The majority …

Surviving Or Thriving: Educator Change Following School-Based Trauma, Mona M. Johnson

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Situated in the Pacific Northwest, this qualitative study explored coping, change, and systemic support experienced by thirteen K-12 educators following a school-based trauma. It is based on a theoretical framework of posttraumatic growth, the systematic study of how individuals are changed by traumatic encounters in positive ways. Study participants witnessed school shootings, physical assaults, or accidents resulting in injury or death and were responsible to care for the life and death needs of others.

Research questions guiding this study: (1) How do educators cope following school-based trauma? (2) How do educators change following school-based trauma? (3) What systemic supports are …

Comparison Of Two Body Weight Screenings Of Self-Conscious Emotions And Coping, Rachel N. Nanez Ms.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Novel technologies are currently being utilized in fitness and clinical settings. However, there is not much research to examine the emotional responses to such screenings.

PURPOSE: To examine the group differences between the FIT3D and DXA protocol on emotional responses and the differences between weight classifications.

METHODS: The Body and Appearance-related Self-conscious Emotions Scale and WEIGHTCOPE were used to assess self-conscious emotions and intention to utilize 10 different weight-related coping strategies following the scans. Motivation was measured by a 10-point Likert scale measuring motivation pre and post scans.

RESULTS: There were no differences in motivation, affective response, or intention to …

Adolescent Grief: The Nurse's Role In Promoting Healthy Coping Mechanisms And Preventing Future Hospitalizations, Erica C. Reighard

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Age and developmental stage directly influence the grieving individual's ability to understand and process death. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to developing negative coping skills such as substance abuse, self-destructive behaviors, and eating disorders. After a loss occurs, nurses can use their role as a caregiver who is neither a parent nor a peer to provide adolescents with an opportunity to express their grief. Nurses can educate grieving adolescents on the differences between positive and negative coping skills and can therefore reduce the number of future hospitalizations related to ineffective coping mechanisms.

Stress Appraisal, Coping Resources, And Psychological Functioning In Parents Of Infants And Toddlers Diagnosed With Congenital Heart Disease, Meredith Bishop

Psychology Theses

Congenital heart disease (CHD) includes a variety of disorders that are characterized by structural defects to the heart or the coronary blood vessels that occur in fetal development. CHD occurs in 8 of every 1,000 live births. CHD often requires surgical repair and increases caregiving burden for families. The purpose of this study was to better understand the relations between illness-related parenting stress, coping resources, and psychological functioning in primary caregivers of young children with CHD. 69 parents provided demographic information and completed measures of parenting stress, self-efficacy, mindfulness, social support, and adjustment. Results revealed that psychological functioning in this …

Stress, Coping, And Well Being Of African American College Women: A Grounded Theory Study, Christine R. Hannon

Doctoral Dissertations

African American women are a rapidly growing population on college campuses. Though enrollment trends suggest an increase in African American women’s pursuit of educational attainment, they face unique challenges and obstacles (National Center for Education Statistics, 2011). Researchers have noted that stressful life events have detrimental effects on the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of college students (Greer & Brown, 2011; Reynolds, Sneva, & Beehler, 2010; Hall et al., 2006; Larson, 2006; Andrews & Wilding, 2004; Nonis et al., 1998; Shapiro et al., 1998; Cohen & Herbert, 1996; Van Eck et al., 1996). Research focused on the unique challenges of …

Preventing Burnout: An Exploration Of Social Workers’ Challenges And Coping Strategies, Lawren Rohling

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

In this systematic review, the researcher synthesized literature regarding the stressors and de-stressors that social workers endure in their careers. Using SocINDEX, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstracts, 13 studies meeting criteria for the review were then analyzed. Themes identified included: stressors coming from the work place, coping strategies that social workers use to deal with their stress, symptoms from stress, social workers working with children having more stress than those working with adults, and reasons why social workers do not quit their jobs. The studies included in this review found several main reasons for stress and ways to cope with …

Is There Justice For Sexual Trauma? A Structural Model To Examine Factors Influencing Posttraumatic Growth And Distress, Danielle Grace Fetty

Dissertations

The current study employed an exploratory approach to examine how specific sets of variables map onto a theoretical framework of posttraumatic growth (Schaefer & Moos, 1998). Specifically, the predictive capacity of belief in ultimate justice, optimism, and supportive relationships on outcomes of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and distress were examined, as mediated by supportive spirituality, meaning making, and problem solving. Secondarily, the factor structure and internal consistency of the English translation of the Belief in Immanent and Ultimate Justice Scale (BIUJS; Maes, 1998a, 1998b) was tested, which had yet to be used in the United States or with sexual assault survivors …

Lived Experience Of Young Widowed Individuals, Eunicia Jones

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Young widowhood is a unique experience that has received little in-depth attention in research and clinical settings. Their experiences may differ from other types of losses, particularly from losses that are typically expected to happen later in life. The present study treated the lived experiences of young men and women who have experiences the loss of a spouse. Eleven men and women between the ages of 18 and 49 were interviewed about their experiences post-loss using phenomenological methods. After coding for similarities and differences between the experiences, five themes emerged in all eleven interviews: (1) relationship, (2) first reactions, (3) …

Examining The Effects Of Caregiver Coping Strategies On Care Recipient Outcomes, Joseph S. Wanzek

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dementia is a progressive syndrome with declines in cognitive and functional abilities. As the world’s population becomes increasingly older, prevalence rates are expected to increase exponentially to over 80 million affected by the year 2040. Individuals with dementia and their caregivers experience various difficulties associated with progression that increases stress for both parties. Caregiving can be burdensome and caregivers may employ a number of strategies to manage problems as they arise. Renewed interest has been focused on the care environment as one way to modify dementia progression as caregivers can be an influential person in the care recipient’s life. Two …

Psychometric Performance Of The Arabic Versions Of The Cancer Behavior Inventory‐Brief And The Functional Assessment Of Cancer Therapy‐Breast In Saudi Arabia, Maaidah M. Algamdi Msn

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background: Arabic is the mother tongue of 26 countries, including Saudi Arabia where cancer is the fourth leading cause of death. Cancer is a sensitive issue in the Arabic population and a clear understanding of patients’ perceptions of self-efficacy for coping with cancer and quality of life helps assess interventions designed to facilitate optimal patient outcomes. In preliminary studies, the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief (CBI-B) was translated and back translated between English and Arabic, and reviewed for translational validity by an expert panel. The Arabic version of the CBI-B (CBI-BA) had acceptable evidence of translational validity with an overall translational validity …

Lung Cancer-Related Emotional Growth : The Role Of Coping Styles And Prior Trauma., Moriah Horn

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship of prior traumatic history, coping styles, and post-traumatic emotional growth in participants diagnosed with lung cancer. Participants (n = 40) completed baseline questionnaire packets as part of their initial entry into the ongoing study “Understanding the Prognostic Significance of Circadian Disruption in Lung Cancer.” Linear hierarchal regressions adjusted age at diagnosis, stage, and household income. Analyses revealed no relationship between traumatic history and post-traumatic emotional growth. However, lung cancer patients who endorsed active coping styles were significantly more likely to report post-traumatic emotional growth. Secondary analyses revealed this relationship appeared …

Learning Through Uncertainty: A Phenomenological Study Of Older, Professional Men Coping With Involuntary Job Loss, Brian Hentz

Doctoral Dissertations

Since the 2007-08 global financial crisis, older, professional men have suffered their fair share of job losses (i.e., “mancession”). Involuntary job loss presents a challenging life transition that requires coping skills, and learning through the uncertainties of later-life job loss is a major part of the coping process. The challenge for facilitators of adult learning is to understand how these men learn from and through this life transition, and what types of learning experiences relate to adaptive coping.

The conceptual framework for this phenomenological study was developed by synthesizing research literature on coping and job loss. This framework informed the …

The Influence Of Group Development On Stress Appraisal And Coping Responses Of Expedition Trip Leaders, Julie Swantek, John Peden

Honors College Theses

Group development has the potential to contribute to our understanding of stress appraisal and coping among expedition trip leaders. Despite extensive research on the stress-coping process in daily life, there has been little effort to determine how expedition leaders appraise and cope with stress in environments characterized by risk and uncertainty. Group development stages and the stress-coping process have been researched independently, but what remains to be explored is their potential inter-relationship. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between Tuckman's stages of group development, stress appraisal, and coping responses among trip leaders of multi-day wilderness expeditions. …

Female Student Veterans' Resiliency In Their Role Transitions, Michael Dennis Parise

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined female student veterans as they pertain to Schlossberg's Theory of Transition (1981), which asserts that many life events influence one’s ability to adapt when transitioning from one role to another in a linear fashion. The results of this study reveal that the participants viewed change not as a transition, but that they faced conflict from competing roles and stressors. Their attainment of their goals resulted from their ability to be resilient.

Perfectionism, Acculturative Stress, Coping Styles, And Depression Among International Students., Yi-Shi Hsiao

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

The present study examined whether adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, acculturative stress, and three coping strategies (reflective, suppressive, and reactive) have interaction effects in predicting depression. Data were collected from 789 international students at seventeen different college campuses across the United States using an online survey. Results from hierarchical regression analyses indicated that there were significant main effects for adaptive perfectionism, maladaptive perfectionism, acculturative stress, and three coping strategies. Results also indicated that there were four significant two-way interactions among the variables in the prediction of depression. Ineffective coping (suppressive and reactive) moderated the relationship between acculturative stress and depression. Maladaptive …

Men As Caregivers: Latino Fathering Of Children With Cancer, Noe Mojica

Dissertations

Although women are often viewed as primary caregivers of children, the twenty-first century social conditions are challenging men in the Latino community to assume an increasingly active role in raising children. This study explored the relationships between Latino fathers' masculine identity, caregiving and coping when faced with the demands generated by having a child diagnosed with cancer. The study pursued to inquire the relationship between Latino fathers’ masculinity, their caregiving activities, and how they cope with pediatric illness. Results indicated no significant relationship between masculinity and caregiving or coping. However, there was a significant relationship with conflict between work and …

Examining The Effects Of Coping Strategies Specific To Community Violence Exposure Among African American Adolescents, Suzanna So

Master's Theses

Variability in exposure to community violence (ECV) and aggressive behaviors in African American youth from urban communities can be attributed to general coping, but these studies have been inconclusive. Recent qualitative research identified four types of coping that are specific to ECV; however, quantitative research is needed to understand the adaptiveness of these strategies. The current study examined the factor structure of a measure for ECV-specific coping strategies. The current study also assessed how ECV-specific coping was associated with ECV and externalizing behaviors. Data from the current study were derived from an archival dataset comprised of 594 African American adolescents. …

Coping With Trauma: Reflections From Angolan Refugee Returnees, Michael Robert Milco

Dissertations

Millions of refugee families experience multiple migrations resulting in various degrees of trauma and stress. Each reacts to these challenges and hardships in unique ways. This dissertation research was designed to investigate the various coping strategies Angolan refugee returnees used in dealing with the traumas they experienced as a result of their various migrations. Through the lens of an ecosystem theory, the author developed research questions designed to learn “How Angolan Refugee Returnees Cope with Trauma?” Sixteen Angolan refugee returnees were interviewed in this qualitative phenomenological study. The results of the study narrowed down the most specific themes refugees used …

Cognitive And Neural Correlates Of Coping And Resilience In Depression, Catherine Lee

Dissertations

Depression is one of the most prevalent and devastating psychological disorders, often with a chronic or remitting/reoccurring course. The inability to effectively cope with stress and negative life events has been strongly linked to the development and maintenance of depression symptoms; yet, the cognitive and biological processes underlying the complex and multidimensional behavioral construct of coping are not well understood. Using a combination of self-report measures, computerized cognitive tasks, and scalp electroencephalography (EEG) methodologies, the present study investigated associations between specific executive function abilities (i.e., inhibition and set-shifting), underlying neural activity, coping strategy and flexibility, and depression symptoms. Results did …