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Full-Text Articles in Social Work

Social Presence And Therapeutic Demands: The Role Of Technology In The Therapeutic Alliance, Amy Lopez Aug 2013

Social Presence And Therapeutic Demands: The Role Of Technology In The Therapeutic Alliance, Amy Lopez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explores whether access to technology mediated resources that expand social presence opportunities during mental health treatment play a role in what therapists report as difficult therapeutic alliance demands. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious mental health problem, characterized by unstable relationships, anger outbursts and impulsive behaviors. People with BPD tend to be high service users and have difficulty remaining in the treatment setting long enough to benefit from treatment services. Treatment studies have found that the therapeutic alliance is a significant contributing factor to successful outcomes; however, the relational and behavioral difficulties inherent among those diagnosed with …


Needs Assessment For Animal-Assisted Interventions: Factors Influencing Implementation Of Dogs As Judiciary Aids In Criminal Justice Processes In Cps Cases, Maureen Macnamara Aug 2013

Needs Assessment For Animal-Assisted Interventions: Factors Influencing Implementation Of Dogs As Judiciary Aids In Criminal Justice Processes In Cps Cases, Maureen Macnamara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study presents findings from a needs assessment exploring the critical features or core elements that bear on professionals regarding the inclusion of dogs as judiciary aides in the investigation and prosecution of child maltreatment cases. Specifically, the objectives of the current needs assessment were examined through the following questions: (1) What are the perceived benefits of implementing programs with dogs as judiciary aids throughout criminal justice? (2) What specific roles do professionals identify for dogs within criminal justice, (3) What are potential barriers to the implementation of dogs as judiciary aids programs, and (4) How are the needs and …


Individual And Family Factors Related To The Reduction Of Risk Behavior In Asian Youth, Jennifer Ann Boeckel Aug 2013

Individual And Family Factors Related To The Reduction Of Risk Behavior In Asian Youth, Jennifer Ann Boeckel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation study examined the risk and promotive factors that can hinder or help adolescents as they transition into adulthood. Chinese, Japanese and Korean adolescents were surveyed in order to examine the individual and family factors influencing risk behavior in adolescents. Correlation and regression were used to examine the relationship among variables. Findings from the analysis revealed that promotive factors including: autonomy, easy temperament, emotional intelligence, humor, moral development, optimism and physical beauty, and risk factors including: history of physical abuse, history of sexual abuse, domestic violence, favoritism of siblings, parental depression and parent not aware, were found to be …


The Predictors Of Success Of Palestinian Tawjihi Students In East Jerusalem : A Multilevel Analysis., Rhonda G. Amer Aug 2013

The Predictors Of Success Of Palestinian Tawjihi Students In East Jerusalem : A Multilevel Analysis., Rhonda G. Amer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-method research study was to identify the predictors of success of Palestinian Arab Tawjihi students in East Jerusalem schools. Three theories guided this research study and assisted in developing the conceptual framework; social disorganization theory, ecological theory, and achievement motivation theory. Methods: The sample consisted of 20 schools and 522 students from 19 different neighborhoods. This study was based on existing data and observational data as well as some qualitative data to provide context for the model results. The existing data were gathered from the different schools, the Ministry of Education, local organizations, neighborhood representatives, and …


Aging And Technology Perspectives Of Web-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management, Jennifer Marie Dickman Portz Jun 2013

Aging And Technology Perspectives Of Web-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management, Jennifer Marie Dickman Portz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many people suffer from chronic disease; however, older adults are at greatest risk of chronic conditions. Although social workers regularly engage with chronically ill older adults, they are not noticeably involved with the research and development of chronic disease management. As such, with recent movements toward health information technology, the efficacy of technology-based chronic disease management is not well established for older adults. Informed by theories of self-management, human development, and technology design, this research investigated lifespan differences of web-based chronic disease self-management. Using a sequential mixed methods design, a secondary data analysis of a diabetes specific web-based self-management intervention …


Disrupting Privilege: A High School Curriculum, Cassidy M. Higgins Jun 2013

Disrupting Privilege: A High School Curriculum, Cassidy M. Higgins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current privilege pedagogy scholarship demonstrates the importance of understanding privilege as an entryway into critical studies and everyday community engagement. Thus, this dissertation argues that privilege must be introduced into education earlier, such as high school. In order to demonstrate ethical possibilities of meeting the need for care, this project integrates social work and critical pedagogy scholarship that explores teaching privilege in the classroom, with culture and communication scholarship. This dissertation connects culture and communication, critical pedagogy, and performance to demonstrate an applied use of communication scholarship in two classroom settings to explore dialogues of privilege through a curriculum titled …


Contextual Effects On Student Academic Achievement : A Multilevel Analysis., Shawnise Martin Miller May 2013

Contextual Effects On Student Academic Achievement : A Multilevel Analysis., Shawnise Martin Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 1 million young people annually who should do not graduate from high school, positioning them on a downward trajectory of a lifetime of lower income and limited opportunities. The effects of low education ranges from micro-level consequences, such as unemployment and health, to mezzo-level consequences, such as neighborhood crime and poverty rates, to macro-level consequences, such as increased costs in government assistance and policy implications. Data from the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimate dataset and from the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) Division of Data Management, Planning, and Program Evaluation were used to examine environmental factors that …


Childhood Predictors In The Severity Of Combat Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans With Combat Related Exposure, Michael Bermes Jan 2013

Childhood Predictors In The Severity Of Combat Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans With Combat Related Exposure, Michael Bermes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emerging research suggests that childhood adversities may increase both the risk and symptomology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in our veteran population. Over 40% of our reintegrating military veterans return with significant mental health issues led by combatrelated PTSD. PTSD impacts veterans in numerous areas including unemployment, increased criminal justice involvement, increased treatment costs, divorce, co-morbid mental illness, greater levels of domestic violence, homelessness, high college dropout rates, suicide, and long term health problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of childhood adversities (abuse, neglect, and poverty) upon the severity of combat-related PTSD in veteran populations. …


A Mixed Methods Examination Of Structural Bigenderism And The Consequences For Transgender And Gender Variant People, Kristie Lynn Seelman Jan 2013

A Mixed Methods Examination Of Structural Bigenderism And The Consequences For Transgender And Gender Variant People, Kristie Lynn Seelman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For years, transgender activists and their allies have spoken out about the oppression that transgender and gender non-conforming people experience in relation to societal systems and institutions, due to policies and practices that do not acknowledge non-binary experiences of gender, that do not recognize that one's gender may change over time or may not match cultural expectations for gender expression, and that punish and discriminate against trans people (Gilbert, 2009; Lombardi & Davis, 2006; Markman, 2011; Spade, 2006; WWRC, 2010). Scholars have called for human services professionals and researchers to critique the failures of institutions in society (and the people …


Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment: Does Family Systems Therapy Improve Family Functioning And Decrease Drug Use?, Darin J. Wallis Jan 2013

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment: Does Family Systems Therapy Improve Family Functioning And Decrease Drug Use?, Darin J. Wallis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Family systems therapy is a way of working with individuals, couples, families, or a group of people that emphasizes relationships and a person's/family's greater "system" as important factors in establishing change and health (Haley, 1976; Minuchin, 1974). Treating adolescent substance abuse with family systems therapy has been demonstrated in the literature as being an effective method of intervention (Coatsworth, Santisteban, McBride, & Szapocznik, 2001; Kumfer & Alvarado, 2003; Leichtling, Gabriel, Lewis & Vander Ley, 2006; Liddle, 2002; Liddle et al., 2001; Rowe & Liddle, 2003), as the various ecological and epidemiological factors associated with adolescent substance abuse can be addressed …


Applying A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding And Evaluating The Effects Of Family Treatment Among Sexually Abusive Youth, Jamie R. Yoder Jan 2013

Applying A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding And Evaluating The Effects Of Family Treatment Among Sexually Abusive Youth, Jamie R. Yoder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Families are frequently identified as a risk for supporting and perpetuating sexually abusive behavior among youth. Traditionally, the field has focused on deficits of families rather than considering them as a resource to promote change. Although emerging literature strongly argues the need to target families in the healing process, treatment initiatives rarely follow suite, and research has failed to comprehensively document the effectiveness of family-inclusive treatment. Knowing there are several gaps in literature, the current study was conducted to investigate the process of engagement in treatment, understand the nuances of family treatment, and to uncover positive outcomes associated with family …


The Role Of The Social Environment In Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Lgbtq Youth: A Mixed Methods Study, Sarah J. Nickels Jan 2013

The Role Of The Social Environment In Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Lgbtq Youth: A Mixed Methods Study, Sarah J. Nickels

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), such as cutting and burning, is a widespread social problem among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Extant research indicates that this population is more than twice as likely to engage in NSSI than heterosexual and cisgender (non-transgender) youth. Despite the scope of this social problem, it remains relatively unexamined in the literature. Research on other risk behaviors among LGBTQ youth indicates that experiencing homophobia and transphobia in key social contexts such as families, schools, and peer relationships contributes to health disparities among this group. Consequently, the aims of this study were to examine: …