Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Regional Economic Effects Of Wilderness Designations In Six Western States, Marca L. Hagenstad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study investigated the existence of impacts on per capita incomes from the designations of wilderness areas. It developed one model to explain county-level per capita incomes in the six western states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, and Wyoming. This model examined effects of various factors believed to affect incomes, such as the industry mix of an economy, population densities, unemployment rates, government expenditures, and the existence of colleges, Indian reservations, and wilderness areas.

The analysis indicated that per capita incomes in these states did not fall by an increase in wilderness lands. In fact, counties in Utah, …

Fathers And Sons: An Examination Of Distancing Patterns During Adolescence, Mark Ogletree

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Although there has been a new wave of research on fathering, little has focused specifically on the father and son relationship during adolescence. Previous research has documented that fathers and their daughters tend to distance themselves and disengage at the onset of menarche; however, the study and analysis of what happens to fathers and sons during the onset of puberty has been practically neglected. Several studies through the mid 80s and early 90s documented that parents and children tend to separate during adolescence, but only scant research has been conducted since that time. The goal of this study was to …

Dimensions Of Parent-Child Affinity In The Nation Of Thailand, Kristine R. Thorson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In this study, 96 children from Thailand were interviewed using the 30-item Parent-Affinity Perception Scale. Children from four age groups (preschool, first graders, third graders, and sixth graders) were asked to choose either "Mother" or " Father" as a response for this questionnaire.

Children's perceptions of affinity in relationship with their parents and their parental preference were studied. The children were to select which parent they would prefer in three categories: (1) as a companion in activities that were physical or social, (2) who they would go to for help in personal or moral needs, and (3) for various activity …

Using Maslow's Needs Model To Assess Individuals' Attitudes Toward Money, Mark D. Oleson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Few things occupy as central a place in our lives as money. Although the study of money has a long history in the behavioral sciences, others have only recently begun examining this important topic. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between basic human need levels and money attitudes in a university-age cohort utilizing a theory of hierarchical needs. Needs theory, introduced by Abraham Maslow, suggests that as we interact with the environment we accumulate specific needs that motivate us to respond to life experiences.

Three hundred thirty-eight college students attending Utah State University satellite campuses responded …

Marital Quality In Deaf-Deaf And Deaf-Hearing Marriages, Anthony G. Mosier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess similarities and differences in marital adjustment between Deaf-Deaf and Deaf-hearing married couples. In examining marital adjustment, Spanier's Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) was translated from English to American Sign Language (ASL) and administered to 30 Deaf-Deaf and 22 Deaf-hearing couple respondents.

Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Deaf-Deaf couples tended to have higher marital adjustment mean scores than Deaf-hearing couples. Deaf-hearing females reported the lowest levels of marital adjustment.

A qualitative component of the study yielded information concerning what Deaf-Deaf and Deaf-hearing couples consider the most important …

The Identification And Measurement Of Conditional And Unconditional Self-Liking, Alan Splendlove

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The concept of unconditional self-love is fundamental to many theoretical perspectives in social science and is referred to periodically in the literature. This study addressed the problem that scientific literature refers to unconditional self-love, but does not clearly define it, differentiate it from other types of feelings that comprise self-esteem, measure it, or even attempt to substantiate its existence. The purpose of this study was to define, describe, and measure unconditional self-love so that it may be used in the treatment of problems caused by low self-esteem.

To achieve this purpose, the concept of self-love was defined in relation to …

Theory Of Change Projects Used In Marriage And Family Therapy Programs, David J. Prior

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Theory of change papers and projects are used by various marriage and family therapy (MFT) training programs throughout the United States and Canada. Little is known about how these projects differ and are similar from program to program. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better knowledge and understanding about these projects.

Questionnaires regarding the use of theory of change projects were sent to all accredited and candidacy MFT programs throughout the United States and Canada. An exploratory, descriptive design was used to guide the research, and content analysis was used to analyze the data. The research was …

Preparation For Caregiving By Parents Of Children With Disabilities: An Exploratory Study, Mcarthur Hafen Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Older adults who provide care for an adult child with a disability have rarely been considered in the planning and preparation literature. As they grow older, these adults face the challenge of arranging care for their dependent children and for themselves. This study investigated influences on planning for one's own future care.

Results indicated that parents who prepared for their adult child's future care were more likely to prepare for their own care. When compared to adults without a dependent child, parents caring for an adult child with a disability were equally likely to plan for their own future care.

Promoting Life Management Skills To Enhance Employment Among Women Receiving Services From The Division Of Workforce Services, Cheryl Cheek

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Erikson's theory of identity development and Marcia's model of identity statuses serve as a framework for this examination of the relationship between women's identity status and employment. The hypotheses of the study were that women with an achieved identity status would be more likely to obtain and retain employment and that interventions would increase their scores on identity-related subscales.

Phase I of this study examined the relationship between identity development and employment among 203 women receiving public assistance. Subjects provided employment and public assistance histories and were categorized into three preferred cognitive styles according to responses to the Berzonsky Cognitive …

Factors Predictive Of Commitment To Invest In Marriage, Randy A. Gilchrist

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research for this thesis investigated factors predictive of how committed married couples are to make positive efforts for their marriage. Respondents consisted of 72 husbands and wives from a semi-urban area. For each gender, correlations were conducted between marital commitment to invest and egalitarian ism, decision-making power, and conflict communication style. Finally, regress ions were conducted with these measures and nine demographic variables.

As projected, commitment to invest in marriage correlated negatively with husband demand-withdrawal communication and positively with husband and wife mutually constructive communication. The stepwise regression predicting husband commitment to invest included demand-withdrawal communication and total months knowing …

Navajo Adolescent Pregnancy: Identifying Ecocultural Factors Among Adolescent Mothers And Their Infants, Jessiline Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Understanding the adaptational responses and ecocultural niche of the Navajo adolescent mother from her perspective provides a richness of information about a little-studied population. The overall purpose of this study was to explore the ecocultural factors determined to be significant in the decision of a Navajo adolescent mother to remain in high school or drop out of high school. Thirty Navajo adolescent mothers recruited from two small reservation towns in eastern Arizona participated in the study. Navajo adolescent mothers in the study participated in a one and one half hour semistructured accommodations interview, and completed a Family Resource Scale and …

Interactions And Play Behavior Of Mothers Of Typically Developing Infants And Infants With Disabilities: A Vygotskian Approach, Lisa K. Boyce

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study follows a Vygotskian approach to investigate the influence and relatedness of several "scaffolding" behaviors for mother-infant dyads of both typically developing infants and infants with disabilities and how early intervention may influence the dyads through the home visiting process. For this primarily low-income sample, maternal participation during play did not enhance the infants' play. The relation of infant level of play with maternal education, income, and the maternal involvement variables of level of play and use of scaffolding varied with the disability status of the infant. Home visitor support of mother-infant interaction did not appear to influence maternal …

Parent And Teacher Expectations For Early Childhood Education In Oman, Fatma Anwar Khamis Al-Lawati

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine parent and teacher expectations for early childhood educational programs in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. Questionnaires were distributed in three private schools in Muscat; these schools differed from one another in terms of their socioeconomic (SES) levels. Parent and teacher expectations were assessed, as reflected in their educational levels and socioeconomic status, in jobs and income level, and by the child's level in kindergarten. Participants were 95 mothers, 52 fathers, and 13 teachers of children age 3.5 to 5.5.

Results indicated that teachers were more developmentally appropriate than mothers and fathers. …

Student Stress: An Analysis Of Stress Levels Associated With Higher Education In The Social Sciences, Darcy A. Keady

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A university sample of 238 undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 19 and 58 completed the Student Stress Measure. Specifically, upper-division undergraduate students and clinical/nonclinical graduate students in social science programs (FHD, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology) were measured for stress level differences due to their particular academic requirements.

Results indicate that, overall, graduate students are more stressed than undergraduate students. Of the graduate students, Sociology students were most stressed in terms of Lifestyle stress scores. The comparison of clinical and non-clinical graduate students shows that there is no difference in stress levels. The Psychology and MFT graduate student …

Adolescent Protective Factor Attainment: An Exploratory Study Of Two Select Populations, Victor W. Harris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Eighty-four adolescents responded to the survey administered for this study. Thirty-eight members were from the nonadjudicated community sample (e.g., from a semirural Utah community); 46 members of a juvenile court adjudicated group (e.g., juveniles from Cache County, Utah, who were currently on probation) also responded to a paper-pencil survey asking about protective/deficit factors and involvement in problematic behaviors.

Results illustrate the differences in levels of protective/deficit factors and problem behaviors attained between these two convenience samples for a number of variables. The findings showed that the nonadjudicated group consistently reported higher levels of protective factors and lower levels of problem …

Parenting Stress And Social Support Among Married And Divorced At-Risk Mothers, Sondra Moe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The stress parents feel affects how they fulfill their roles as parents and their own psychological well-being. Social support has been shown to help parents deal with the demands of their parenting roles while maintaining psychological health. Compared to married parents, divorced mothers are most at risk for parenting stress and negative feelings of well-being. Low-income can add further to the levels of stress in parenting and increase the need for sources of social support.

This study compared low-income divorced mothers to low-income married mothers. It explored mothers' perceptions of the stresses of parenting and feelings of wellbeing in relation …

4-H Contest Winners In Utah: Risk And Protective Factors, Ann E. Henderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study describes levels of asset development and involvement in at-risk behaviors among 4-H youth. To collect the data, 202 4-H teens participating in the 1996 Utah State 4-H Contests completed surveys. Results reveal numerous differences between males and females. Females scored significantly higher on 18 of 29 assets. Males reported significantly higher levels of involvement on 8 of 10 at-risk behaviors. Significant differences existed between types of 4-H clubs on 4 of 29 assets and 1 of 10 at-risk behaviors. No significant differences were found based on grade in school, years in 4-H, number of 4-H project areas, and …

The Emergence And Function Of Family Rituals In The American Family, John M. Kirkman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In 1950 Bossard and Boll published their pioneering work on family rituals entitled Ritual in Family Living. Since then, numerous researchers have examined family rituals using various research designs. This study was done in the tradition of Bossard and Boll by closely examining the personal written accounts of 493 college-age students from a western university. Comparisons were made between the current sample and the sample of Bossard and Boll. Numerous changes in family rituals were identified. Christmas was found to be the most discussed ritual, but Christmas Eve rituals were more often discussed than Christmas Day rituals. The importance …

Latin American Immigrants' Perceptions Of Discrimination And Acquisition Of English As A Second Language As A Result Of Using A Community Social Support Center, Holly Mcfarland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The associations between Latin American immigrants' use of a community social support center and perceived discrimination and language acquisition were investigated. All variables were measured by respondents' self-reports on a questionnaire designed to obtain demographic data as well as describe the needs of the Latin American community in rural Northern Utah. Chi-square analyses indicated a statistically significant association between use of the center and acquisition of English as a second language. No relationship was found between use of the center and perceived discrimination. The results of this study provide valuable demographic data as well as describe some of the experiences …

The Efficacy Of Treatments For Childhood Depression: An Integrative Review, Kurt David Michael

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Prevalence estimates of child depression are substantial and morbidity leads to an increased risk of recurrence during adolescence and adulthood. Further, early-onset depression is associated with a number of negative outcomes including: poor physical health, social and interpersonal impairments, academic problems, substance abuse, future maladjustment, and suicidal behavior. In light of the prevalence, persistence, and negative outcomes associated with depression in children and adolescents, several treatments ranging from psychosocial to pharmacological interventions have been developed and evaluated. However, the overall efficacy of treatments remains equivocal because the majority of existing reviews of the child and adolescent depression treatment literature are …

The Impact Of The Ideal Thin Body Image On Women, Nicole Hawkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Researchers and clinicians have postulated that the thin-ideal image portrayed in the media leads to body dissatisfaction and negative self-appraisals among women; however, there is little research that has directly examined the effects of these images on women. The purpose of this research investigation was to experimentally examine the effects of exposure to the thin-ideal on women's affect, self-esteem, body satisfaction, and level of internalization of the thin body image. This study also assessed how the thin-ideal image differentially impacted women with a diagnosed eating disorder. College women (N = 145) were randomly exposed to photographs from popular magazines …

A Model Of Freshman Use Of Microcomputers Related To Intellectual And Social Development, Daniel R. Judd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between freshmen's use of microcomputers and their social and intellectual development in a university environment. A review of related literature describes the theoretical foundation of this research and identifies questionnaire items for measuring the critical variables of microcomputer use and student development. To conduct the study, data obtained from 400 freshman students prior to entering Utah State University (USU) in the fall of 1996 were compared to data collected from the same students during Spring Quarter of 1997. Correlational analysis was used to study changes in freshman students' use of …

Effects Of Perceived Sugar Or Chocolate Intake On Self-Reported Food Cravings, Mood States, And Food Intake: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study, Lara J. Schultz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many dieters and compulsive overeaters report that sugar and chocolate are the most commonly craved foods. Further, many individuals have proclaimed themselves to be "addicted" to sugar or chocolate. It remains unclear, however, what factors lead to report of specific food addictions. A number of researchers have suggested that highly repetitive consumption of sugar and chocolate may result from various physiological processes (e.g., neurochemical imbalances, glucose/insulin malfunctioning). However, there is also considerable evidence that psychosocial factors (i.e., expectancies, classical, and operant conditioning) play the major role in the development and maintenance of excessive sugar/chocolate intake. Empirical studies examining factors that …

The Perception And Analysis Of Authentic Graphical Elements : An Empirical Study Of Perceptual Skills And Analytical Tasks That Affect Graphicacy, Derek G. Borman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In this study, the idea that authenticity should be integral to graphicacy research was advanced. That is, graphicacy researchers should use graphical stimuli that most closely approximate graphs as they might be encountered in the real world (i.e., in text books, newspapers, journals, etc.). It was contended that because of the lack of task authenticity and experimental control inherent in past studies of the analytical tasks and perceptual skills underlying graph reading, there was a need for further study of these issues. To this end, a 24-item graphicacy test was devised, such that key graphical elements and specifiers were more …

The Effects Of Gender And Behavior On Elementary Teachers' Attributional Assumptions About Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Lisa Rollins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Questionnaires compromised of (a) a description of a child (either male or female) exhibiting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviors (either predominately hyperactive/impulsive or predominately inattentive) and (b) 13 questions about the description were completed by 562 regular elementary education teachers in the state of Utah. The questions, which offered teachers a range of responses on a 5 point Likert scale, were designed to assess the extent to which the gender and behaviors of the child described affected the extent to which teachers were able to identify the child as being representative of a child with ADHD, teachers' attributional assumptions …

Relating Children's Social Competence To Maternal Beliefs And Management Strategies Of Peer Relationships, Eryn D. Hamel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study explored the links between maternal beliefs about the importance of children's social skills, modes of obtaining social skills, management strategies, and children's social competence. Subjects were 67 mothers whose 3- and 4-year-old children attended one of five preschools in Cache Valley, Utah. Mothers completed questionnaires assessing their beliefs about the importance of social skills, their beliefs about how children acquire social skills, and the ways they are involved in their children 's peer relationships. Demographic measures were also completed by the mothers. Classroom teachers completed the Child Behavior Scale on every child in their class, regardless of maternal …

Temperament, Attachment, And Parenting Stress In Infancy: Relations To Social Competence Of Second Graders, Gina A. Cook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The importance of social competence in children's development has been recognized, and evidence has been found that children who are socially incompetent are at risk for academic problems. Yet the influences that may be involved from infancy, such as temperament and attachment, have not been explored longitudinally. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of infant temperament characteristics on later social development and to explore the idea that this influence may be affected by the infant's attachment security mediated by parenting stress.

Eighteen-month-old infants, from a previous study, were studied as second graders to examine whether their …

Four Levels Of Sexual Involvement, And Their Association With Dating Patterns, Family Relationships, And Other Related Factors, Bruce H. Monson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined four levels of sexual involvement among adolescents. Levels of sexual involvement were (1) adolescents who had experienced sexual intercourse; (2) adolescents who had been involved in petting but had never had intercourse; (3) adolescents who had made out but had never petted or had sexual intercourse; and (4) adolescents who had never made out, petted, or had sexual intercourse. The sample consisted of 308 eleventh graders from a semi-rural area of the state of Utah.

Dating patterns, particularly early age at first date, were found to be significantly associated with most levels of sexual involvement. Early age …

The Influence Of Video And Peer Tutoring On Attitudes Of High School Students Towards Peers With Disabilities, Marilyn Hammond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study measured the effectiveness of watching a motivational videotape and completing one semester of peer tutoring on changing high school students' attitudes towards their peers with disabilities. Attitudes were measured with the Scale of Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons (SADP), administered to classrooms in two randomly selected high schools before and after viewing the video. The SADP was administered to a different sample of students before and after completing one semester of tutoring peers with disabilities. Peer tutors also completed one-page weekly journals. Responses from all participating students were compared between the pre- and postassessments using paired t tests.

Seven …

The Relationship Between Mandatory Divorce Education In Utah And The Level Of Postdivorce Parental Conflict, Monte N. Criddle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between current level of conflict between divorced parents and their attendance or nonattendance at the divorce education pilot program. A telephone interview was used to examine current level of postdivorce conflict. The first portion of the telephone interview used questions that were taken from the Family of Origin Scale (FOS). Questions were selected as they related to various stages of divorce. The second portion of the questionnaire obtained sociodemographic data. as well as information regarding relitigation. The telephone interview was administered to 160 individuals who participated in …