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Articles 31 - 60 of 73
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Disentangling Individual And Community Effects On Environmentally Sensitive Behaviors, Mary P. Harmon
Disentangling Individual And Community Effects On Environmentally Sensitive Behaviors, Mary P. Harmon
Sociology Dissertations
A major criticism of the environmental behavior literature is the nearly exclusive focus on the role of attitudes and individual-level characteristics. Despite this concentration on individual-level causes, variation in environmental behavior remains. As individual behavior becomes an increasingly significant source of pollution, a better understanding of the influences individual behavior is critical to addressing environmental degradation. This research re-directs the focus on individual-level influences on environmental behaviors by building models examining the varying dimensions of environmental behaviors as influenced by community characteristics. This is accomplished by testing a series of hypotheses under the auspices of two theoretical frameworks: the neoclassical …
Postpartum Depression And Self-Help Books: Medicalizing Misery And Motherhood, Kirstin Michelle Mcmillen
Postpartum Depression And Self-Help Books: Medicalizing Misery And Motherhood, Kirstin Michelle Mcmillen
Sociology Theses
Motherhood is an ideal that is ostensibly valued and rewarded in American culture. It is no wonder, then, that a disease which threatens a woman’s ability to adequately fulfill her motherly duties receives a great deal of attention. My study aims to explore how ideas about postpartum depression (PPD) are presented in popular media through an examination of the messages and advice in PPD self-help books. Findings reveal that self-help authors make two significant assumptions: motherhood is a woman’s job that should bring happiness, and when mothers are not happy medical intervention in necessary. Through their gendered assumptions about parents’ …
Administrators In Assisted Living: Who They Are And What They Do, Ailie M. Glover
Administrators In Assisted Living: Who They Are And What They Do, Ailie M. Glover
Gerontology Theses
The assisted living industry is predicted to experience considerable growth due to the simultaneous aging of the baby boom generation and their subsequent need for long-term care. This study investigates individuals’ pathways to administration in assisted living and the ways in which assisted living administrators define and carry out their roles. The study contributes to the understanding of the knowledge, skills, and personal traits needed by those who assume these vital leadership roles in an industry poised to care for the bourgeoning population of older adults. The sample for this study is 44 administrators who work in a random sample …
Survival Feminists: Identifying War’S Impact On The Roles Of Vietnamese Refugee Women, W. Cory Albertson
Survival Feminists: Identifying War’S Impact On The Roles Of Vietnamese Refugee Women, W. Cory Albertson
Sociology Theses
Although the Vietnam War has long passed, it still defines the lives of many Vietnamese refugee women who endured its aftermath. This thesis examines how war and the refugee process has shaped the memories and changed the roles of Vietnamese refugee women age 55 and older. Based on 10 life history interviews with Vietnamese women living in Atlanta, this study finds they structured their narratives by awarding the period after the Vietnam War with the most prominence. Also, the research shows the greatest amount of role change and role strain occurred during this time. With the absence of their husbands …
Nipple Matters: A Black Feminist Analysis Of The Politics Of Infant Feeding Among African American Mothers, Nicole Elaine Banton
Nipple Matters: A Black Feminist Analysis Of The Politics Of Infant Feeding Among African American Mothers, Nicole Elaine Banton
Sociology Dissertations
During this unique moment of feminist inquiry wherein breastfeeding has been a focal point of interdisciplinary research, little sociological scholarship has been presented which has centered on the various meanings that African American mothers, as a diverse group, attach to their experiences with breastfeeding and/or infant formula use. While patterns of behavior have been explored in a cross-racial context, most social science studies have not focused on how the choice between breastfeeding, using infant formula, or using a combination of the two has impacted (or has been shaped by) African American mothers’ constructs of self, motherhood/mothering, their birth experiences, and …
Age Differences In Substance Use And Social Support Among Recently Incarcerated Adult Females, Tiffany Lenell Young
Age Differences In Substance Use And Social Support Among Recently Incarcerated Adult Females, Tiffany Lenell Young
Gerontology Theses
While men retain the highest rates of incarcerations, the female prison population has tripled in the last decade (Covington, 2007; Henderson, 1998). The goal of this study was to examine micro-level forces, such as social support, substance use, and childhood trauma, in a sample of 188 recently incarcerated women, aged 18-58. Using an ANOVA with ages grouped 18-29, 30-39, and 40-58, age differences in substance use were identified, with the 30-39 year old group reporting more alcohol and drug use than the 18-29 year old group. There were no age differences on social support or childhood trauma. Multiple regression analyses …
Client And Caregiver Perceptions Of Adult Day Services: A Program Evaluation, Dianne Maureen O'Donnell
Client And Caregiver Perceptions Of Adult Day Services: A Program Evaluation, Dianne Maureen O'Donnell
Gerontology Theses
The MJCCA Weinstein Center for Adult Days Services provides social activities and medical services to older adults, including individuals with memory loss. Center administrators requested a program evaluation to explore attraction and retention of clients, beneficial effects of Center activities, and the current case management program. Regular members of the Center’s Traditional Group (n=14) and family caregivers of Memory Loss program attendees (n=10) participated in open-ended interviews in focus groups. Content analysis revealed that clients consider Center activities, staff, and social environment superior to the few other day care alternatives. The activities benefit clients primarily physically and emotionally. Potential areas …
Abortion And Capital Punishment: Changing Attitudes And Demographical Influences, Ashley Hope Popham
Abortion And Capital Punishment: Changing Attitudes And Demographical Influences, Ashley Hope Popham
Sociology Theses
This project analyzes the changing views on abortion and capital punishment and how opinions have changed over the past 35 years. This is an analysis of how different backgrounds and demographic factors affect people’s standpoints toward these two practices.
Splitting Sexuality And Disability: A Content Analysis And Case Study Of Internet Pornography Featuring A Female Wheelchair User, Laura Carter Overstreet
Splitting Sexuality And Disability: A Content Analysis And Case Study Of Internet Pornography Featuring A Female Wheelchair User, Laura Carter Overstreet
Sociology Theses
General social stereotypes characterize people with disabilities as asexual, invisible, and stigmatized. Therefore, sexualizing people with disabilities becomes taboo. The goal of this study is to explore how Internet pornography depicts a female wheelchair user. Using qualitative, inductive content analysis and a case study approach, I analyze 24 images from a specific, relevant website for a theme that appears most prevalent in sexuality and disability literature, the sexuality/disability split, wherein individuals’ sexualities are not pictured, felt, or acknowledged in concomitance with their disabilities. My results indicate that a sexuality/disability split does occur to some degree, but that the subject also …
Linking Social Support And Sexual Interest Among Older Adults In Intimate Romantic Relationships, Jennifer Leigh Griffith
Linking Social Support And Sexual Interest Among Older Adults In Intimate Romantic Relationships, Jennifer Leigh Griffith
Gerontology Theses
This study examines social support and sexual interest among coupled persons aged 57 to 85 in North America. Using quantitative data from the 2006 National, Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (n = 3,005), the dependent variable is sexual interest and the independent variable is social support received from an intimate partner. Using survey and quantitative interview data, I analyze social support older couples receive from their partner, sexual interest, health status, marital status, and gender. In my analysis, I predict that higher levels of social support will positively affect levels of sexual interest, with health, relationship status, and gender …
African American Longevity Advantage: Myth Or Reality? A Racial Comparison Of Supercentenarian Data, Robert Douglas Young
African American Longevity Advantage: Myth Or Reality? A Racial Comparison Of Supercentenarian Data, Robert Douglas Young
Gerontology Theses
Demographic researchers have identified a crossover pattern between the mortality rates of the Caucasian-American and African-American oldest-old (80+) populations for over a century. Debate has centered on whether the crossover effect is due to age misreporting or the heterogeneity hypothesis or if it continues beyond age 99. This thesis addresses these issues by using new data from the SSA’s study of supercentenarians. The study identified 355 persons aged 110 or older whose ages could be verified, creating the first reliable American dataset for this population group. Analysis of the data has indicated that mortality rates at ages 110-115 were significantly …
The Exercise Attitudes, Perceptions, And Perceived Outcomes Of Older Minority Women Participating In A Fall Prevention Program, Porsha Hall
Gerontology Theses
Fall prevention is a serious issue in the health and aging fields, and much attention and research is now being focused on examining why older adults fall and ways to prevent them from falling. Although it has been well-documented that older adults benefit from programs designed to decrease falling by promoting exercise participation, balance training, and fall education; little research has focused on specifically examining how older minority women view preventive exercise programs. This qualitative study explores the experiences of older minority women participating in a fall prevention program. The specific aims of the study are to: 1) gain an …
Atlanta's Quinceañeras, Daniela Ruz Hernandez
Atlanta's Quinceañeras, Daniela Ruz Hernandez
Sociology Theses
Young women in Mexico and parts of Central America celebrate their fifteenth birthdays by following a complex rite of initiation, called Quinceañeras, a special ritual developed as a mixed heritage of the native people and their contact with European conquerors. The emerging Latino population in Atlanta celebrates this rite, facing the reality of being a minority racial group, although they maintain the same essence and goal than the celebration than in their country. This research explores this growing population group in Atlanta, in a special and significant cultural occasion, using an ethnographic approach methodology through participant observation and personal journals …
So, Who Feels Pretty: Negotiating The Meaning Of Femininity In A Nonheterosexual Community, Amy Palder
So, Who Feels Pretty: Negotiating The Meaning Of Femininity In A Nonheterosexual Community, Amy Palder
Sociology Dissertations
In a heteronormative society where hegemonic masculinity prevails, beauty is often synonymous with, and presented as, feminine. For example, pictures of tall, thin women with perfect teeth and perfect skin gloss the covers of magazines and other forms of media as representative of some beauty ideal. This “ideal” is the barometer by which, on many levels, all women are judged. While some women may choose to ignore these messages, few women can always escape comparison. Our society constantly informs us that appearance matters. More specifically for women, a feminine physical appearance is often considered “ideal.” But what exactly does this …
Operation Help: Counteracting Sex Trafficking Of Women From Russia And Ukraine, Nadezda Shapkina
Operation Help: Counteracting Sex Trafficking Of Women From Russia And Ukraine, Nadezda Shapkina
Sociology Dissertations
Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in today’s world and a violation of human rights. Sex trafficking of women from Russia and Ukraine was enabled by the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the incorporation of the new countries into the global economy. At the same time, this social problem generated a series of anti-trafficking campaigns in Russia, Ukraine, and internationally. This research analyzes social responses to the risks of sex trafficking of women from Russia and Ukraine. The analysis is based on sixteen-month multi-sited field research in Russia and Ukraine. I collected data through …
Care Workers' Motivations For Employment In Long-Term Care, Assisted Living, And Particular Facilities: Reconciling Inconsistent Values, Michael James Lepore
Care Workers' Motivations For Employment In Long-Term Care, Assisted Living, And Particular Facilities: Reconciling Inconsistent Values, Michael James Lepore
Sociology Dissertations
Direct care worker turnover and shortages plague long-term care, weakening its quality, heightening costs for governments and employers, and cyclically breeding further turnover and shortages of workers. To address these issues, I investigate why direct care workers chose employment in long-term care (LTC), assisted living (AL) and specific AL facilities. Data come from a mixed-methods study of 45 AL facilities in Georgia, including interviews with 400 direct care workers. Findings include qualitative data analyzed using a grounded theory approach and descriptive quantitative data. Care workers’ motivations for employment in LTC, AL, and specific AL facilities reflect a split between moral …
The Interaction Between Ethnic Relations And State Power: A Structural Impediment To The Industrialization Of China, 1850-1911, Wei Li
Sociology Dissertations
The case of late Qing China is of great importance to theories of economic development. This study examines the question of why China¡¯s industrialization was slow between 1865 and 1895 as compared to contemporary Japan¡¯s. Industrialization is measured on four dimensions: sea transport, railway, communications, and the cotton textile industry. I trace the difference between China¡¯s and Japan¡¯s industrialization to government leadership, which includes three aspects: direct governmental investment, government policies at the macro-level, and specific measures and actions to assist selected companies and industries. Compared to the Meiji government, the Chinese government¡¯s role in all of the three aspects …
The Sticking Out Parts: A Content Analysis Of Print And Website Advertisements On Breast And Penis Augmentation, Thomas Christopher Robinson
The Sticking Out Parts: A Content Analysis Of Print And Website Advertisements On Breast And Penis Augmentation, Thomas Christopher Robinson
Sociology Theses
Breast and penis augmentations are century old processes of body modification continuing in development and practice today. This Masters thesis is a content analysis of breast and penis augmentation print and internet advertisements to explore one facet of augmentation discourse presented in public space. Relevant theoretical literature includes fetish discourse and medical discourse as existing frameworks that conceptualize augmentation predominantly as a process of body fragmentation. After reviewing this literature, I expand to blend together perspectives from three body theorists, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Michel Foucault and Judith Butler, as an alternate framework for embodiment. I then use content analysis to examine …
Constructing Definitions Of Sexual Orientation In Research And Theory, Daleana Phillips
Constructing Definitions Of Sexual Orientation In Research And Theory, Daleana Phillips
Sociology Theses
Definitions of sexual orientation are reflections of theoretical positions within the essentialist versus social constructionist debate. A cognitive sociological approach to analyzing the positions within this debate allows theorists and researchers to be aware of three distinct theoretical positions or thought communities: natural kinds thought community, social kinds thought community, and empty kinds thought community. Standard content analysis and grounded theory methods are used to analyze the principles, strategies, and practices each thought community uses to mark group membership into various sexual categories. The analysis reveals that each theoretical perspective is marking group membership differently.
"Just Say No": A Process Evaluation Of A Johns' School, Amanda May Jungels
"Just Say No": A Process Evaluation Of A Johns' School, Amanda May Jungels
Sociology Theses
This research evaluates a prostitution offender program (commonly called a "johns'" school") located in a large Midwestern city. I evaluate the components of the program, its philosophy, the short- and long-term effectiveness of the program, and its implementation to determine whether it is effective in deterring men from hiring prostitutes. By comparing pre- and post-test attitudinal forms and participants' assessment of the effectiveness of the program, I have determined that this program is effective in changing the attitudes of men that attend the program, but there are several improvements that the program organizers could implement to increase its effectiveness.
Factors Contributing To Job Retention Of Direct Care Staff In Urban Assisted Living Facilities, Zhiqing Li
Factors Contributing To Job Retention Of Direct Care Staff In Urban Assisted Living Facilities, Zhiqing Li
Gerontology Theses
This study examined the influence of personal and workplace factors on direct care workers¡¯ retention in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). The sample includes 11 ALFs in urban areas in Atlanta, Georgia and 13 participants from the sample facilities. The findings show that personal and workplace factors interact with each other to influence retention in the long-term care field and retention in a particular facility. The findings of this study may have implications for facility policy and practice to retain workers.
Is Smart Growth Fair Growth: Do Urban Growth Boundaries Keep Out Racial Minorities?, Elizabeth P. Ruddiman
Is Smart Growth Fair Growth: Do Urban Growth Boundaries Keep Out Racial Minorities?, Elizabeth P. Ruddiman
Sociology Dissertations
As many American metropolitan areas spread outward, urban sociologists are interested in the effects of sprawl and in efforts to limit suburban expansion. To rein in urban sprawl, land use measures known as “smart growth initiatives” are gaining popularity. Urban growth boundaries are the particular type of initiative examined in this research. An urban growth boundary delineates where development is encouraged and where it is discouraged or prohibited. My first research question is whether urban growth boundaries contribute to the exclusion of racial minorities. I also explore whether urban growth boundaries affect residential segregation. I study 86 places throughout the …
The Emerging Medicalization Of Postpartum Depression: Tightening The Boundaries Of Motherhood, Pam Regus
The Emerging Medicalization Of Postpartum Depression: Tightening The Boundaries Of Motherhood, Pam Regus
Sociology Theses
In this study, I conduct a multiple method content analysis of literature on postpartum depression (PPD) from two on-line sources, Medline and LexisNexis. The purpose of the study is to determine how the medical profession defines and frames PPD, and to consider the implications of its movement into the medical model. I use the theories of Foucault, Gramsci, critical constructionism, and postmodern feminism to examine the effect of the medicalization of PPD on women’s lives. Using both simple descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis, I show the expansion of medical control over women’s bodies in the childbearing years beyond the physical …
College Students' Prejudiced Attitudes Toward Homosexuals: A Comparative Analysis In Japan And The United States, Daisuke Ito
College Students' Prejudiced Attitudes Toward Homosexuals: A Comparative Analysis In Japan And The United States, Daisuke Ito
Sociology Theses
This thesis examined the prejudiced attitudes toward homosexuals among university students in Japan, and the relationships of these attitudes with the students' demographic information, contact experiences with homosexuals, attitudes toward men's and women's roles, and living experience in foreign countries. In addition, this thesis compared Japanese and American university students' prejudice toward homosexuals. Survey data were collected from 166 university students in Japan, which is then compared to data on 956 university students in the United States (Baunach and Burgess 2002). The regression results demonstrated that Japanese respondents who had contact with homosexuals and who had relatively egalitarian gender role …
Job Satisfaction Among Case Managers For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Ying Tang
Job Satisfaction Among Case Managers For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Ying Tang
Gerontology Theses
The significant role of case managers in improving the health status of clients and in achieving cost-containment has been increasingly recognized. However, very few studies have touched on the emerging group of case managers who work exclusively with frail older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of overall job satisfaction and some of its determinants among case managers of the Visiting Nurse Health System, Atlanta, Georgia, working primarily with older adults in two community-based programs. The objectives were to learn: (1) the level of overall job satisfaction among these case managers; (2) how these case …
Adding Life To Years: Predicting Subjective Quality Of Life Among Chinese Oldest-Old, Huali Qin
Adding Life To Years: Predicting Subjective Quality Of Life Among Chinese Oldest-Old, Huali Qin
Gerontology Theses
This study is proposed to examine the relationship between individual and socio-economic factors and subjective quality of life (SQOL) among the Chinese oldest-old. Data was collected from the latest wave of Chinese healthy longevity survey in 2002. The sample of this survey consisted of 11,175 oldest-old who were aged 80 and above at the time of the survey. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine age, gender, and living arrangements differences in SQOL among Chinese oldest-old. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to understand the influences of individual and socio-economic factors as four groups of predictor variables in …
Against The Odds: Resiliency And The Fostering Of Future Academic Success Among At-Risk Children In Georgia, Bentley D. Ponder
Against The Odds: Resiliency And The Fostering Of Future Academic Success Among At-Risk Children In Georgia, Bentley D. Ponder
Sociology Dissertations
Research continues to substantiate the influence of social, economic and family characteristics on students’ scholastic achievements. For example, children who are born in economically disadvantaged circumstances are more likely to score lower on tests that measure academic abilities than their same age economically advantaged peers (Brooks-Gunn and Markman, 2005; Rothstein, 2004). This dissertation examines the relationship between parenting interactions and young children's school readiness and initial academic success for a low-income, at-risk population in Georgia. The inter-disciplinary concept resiliency, defined as a process that encompasses positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity, frames the research (Arnold and Doctoroff, 2003; …
Older Adults' Satisfaction With Physical Therapists' Communication And Physical Therapy Treatment, Neela M. Lakatoo
Older Adults' Satisfaction With Physical Therapists' Communication And Physical Therapy Treatment, Neela M. Lakatoo
Gerontology Theses
Little research documents the impact of communication on the relationship between the physical therapist and the older patient. As key health professionals, physical therapists need to know the degree to which a therapeutic relationship is occurring with the older adults they treat, and what aspects of the communication process can be improved to effectively meet the needs of this unique patient population. This exploratory study examines the relationships between older adults’ perceptions of physical therapists’ patient-centered communication (PCC), and their satisfaction with communication and physical therapy treatment (SPT). The sample consisted of 40 participants from 4 different physical therapy sites, …
Getting By Gatekeepers: Transmen's Dialectical Negotiations Within Psychomedical Institutions, Elroi Waszkiewicz
Getting By Gatekeepers: Transmen's Dialectical Negotiations Within Psychomedical Institutions, Elroi Waszkiewicz
Sociology Theses
Transsexuality remains grounded in pathologizing discourses. Mental health professionals largely classify transgender experiences as disorders, and transgender people seeking to alter their bodies typically must obtain authenticating letters from therapists verifying such diagnoses. Physicians usually require these letters to perform transition-related services, and sometimes require additional legitimization. In these ways, psychomedical professionals impose gatekeeping measures that withhold and confer services to transsexuals who desire medical transition. Using qualitative interview data and grounded theory methods with 20 female-to-male transsexuals, this study demonstrates that transmen typically represent informed consumers whom carefully research psychomedical protocol and anticipate providers’ adherence to professional standards. When …
Stand By Your Man, Redneck Woman: Towards A Historical View Of Country Music Gender Roles, Cenate Pruitt
Stand By Your Man, Redneck Woman: Towards A Historical View Of Country Music Gender Roles, Cenate Pruitt
Sociology Theses
Country music, considered a uniquely American musical genre, has been relatively under-researched compared to rock and rap music. This thesis proposes research into the topic of country music, specifically the ways which country music songs portray gender. The thesis uses Billboard chart data to determine commercially successful songs, and performs a content analysis on the lyrics of these songs. I will select songs from a fifty year period ranging from 1955 to 2005, so as to allow for a longitudinal study of potential changes in presentation. Attention will be focused on the lyrical descriptions of men and women and how …