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2007

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Language And The Making Of Meaning For Individuals Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder, Kathleen Anne Freeman Aug 2007

Language And The Making Of Meaning For Individuals Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder, Kathleen Anne Freeman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological research study examines language, specifically the language of diagnosis, and the making of meaning for individuals who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The study sample consists of six participants who had received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder three or more years ago. Data were collected through hour-long, semi-structured interviews with each participant at a single point in time. Findings revealed three broad themes: (a) The participants' experience of language, (b) The participants' making of meaning, or where strength was found, and (c) The function of language.

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An Exploratory Study Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Veterans Of Recent U.S. Conflicts, Kimberly J. Garland Aug 2007

An Exploratory Study Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Veterans Of Recent U.S. Conflicts, Kimberly J. Garland

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory study was undertaken for the purpose of expanding the understanding of the experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender veterans who have served under the policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue. Twenty Lesbian, Gay and Transgender veterans completed an anonymous, online survey. Diversity within the sample was particularly pronounced in terms of sexual orientation, gender identity, and the roles that these veterans served in the military. The findings of this study indicate that LGBT service members and veterans face much adversity both within and out of the military and that Transgender service members and veterans face …

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Three Independent Investigations On Disclosure Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And Psychological Functioning, Family And Community Violence, And Trauma And Non-Sexual Crime, Hillary Blythe Despres Aug 2007

Three Independent Investigations On Disclosure Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And Psychological Functioning, Family And Community Violence, And Trauma And Non-Sexual Crime, Hillary Blythe Despres

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This thesis project contains three separate articles that are new areas of investigation in the juvenile sex-offending field. The data comes from 332 adjudicated juvenile sex offenders and 179 non-sex offending delinquents in six residential facilities in a Midwestern state who participated in an anonymous cross-sectional study. The first article is an exploratory study that investigates family reaction to disclosure of childhood sexual abuse among juvenile sex offenders and their subsequent psychological functioning. The findings suggest that negative reaction to disclosure of CSA impacts sex offending behavior, family environment and psychological functioning. The second article is a descriptive study that …

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Progressive Care : An Examination Of Male To Female Transgender Sex Workers' Experiences Within The Health Care And Social Service Systems In San Francisco, California, Laura Maria Escobar Aug 2007

Progressive Care : An Examination Of Male To Female Transgender Sex Workers' Experiences Within The Health Care And Social Service Systems In San Francisco, California, Laura Maria Escobar

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores male to female transgender sex workers' experiences within the social service and health care systems in San Francisco, California. Twenty one male to female transgender sex worker participants were asked to rate services provided to them by the social service and health care systems. Ten of these participants were then asked a series of questions about their experiences within the social service and health care systems in San Francisco. Participants' racial identities and ages were not diverse. Most participants identified as African American and their ages fell between the ranges of 41 and 50 within this …

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How Has Legal Marriage Affected The Experience Of Social Supports For Same-Sex Individuals Who Were Married In Massachusetts, Dawn N. Geller Aug 2007

How Has Legal Marriage Affected The Experience Of Social Supports For Same-Sex Individuals Who Were Married In Massachusetts, Dawn N. Geller

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the experiences of the new population of individuals who married a same-sex partner since it was legal in Massachusetts. The study focused on the effect legal marriage had on their experiences of social supports. Seventy-three individuals responded to the on-line survey, 54 of which answered the essay question that contributed to the findings of this study. The findings of this study reflect that the experiences of individuals who have married a same-sex partner vary in part due to the social supports and levels of acceptance of their marriage from family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and other institutions. The …

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Minor Prepares Graduates For Work With Aging Population, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations Aug 2007

Minor Prepares Graduates For Work With Aging Population, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

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Cutting And Self Psychology : An Exploratory Analysis, Andrea Lynne Galeucia Aug 2007

Cutting And Self Psychology : An Exploratory Analysis, Andrea Lynne Galeucia

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the relationship between cutting and the theory of self psychology, examining deficits within the tripartite self and its relation to cutting. Specifically, the study explored a possible link between the twinship pole or idealized parent imago pole and cutting. This researcher set out to identify whether deficits in twinship or idealized parent imago may lead to cutting. Eight qualitative interviews were conducted with clinicians having at least one year of experience working with individuals who engage in self-injury by cutting. Clinicians were asked to identify a case example of an individual they worked with who cut. Semi-structured …

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Transparency Of Purpose And Methods In A Grass-Roots Agency :A Program Evaluation Of The Unitas Therapeutic Community Inc., John Gill Aug 2007

Transparency Of Purpose And Methods In A Grass-Roots Agency :A Program Evaluation Of The Unitas Therapeutic Community Inc., John Gill

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores the transparency of purpose and methods in a grass roots agency in the South Bronx. This agency Unitas Therapeutic Community Inc. was studied to distinguish if the agencies methods, mission statement and purpose are clear and congruent between its board of directors, current staff members and consumers. There was limited diversity between the twelve participants who included twelve participants (4 board members, 4 staff members and 4 former consumers). These participants were separated into cohorts and were asked nine open ended qualitative open ended questions. The major findings of this study were that the board and …

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Meaning Making After Homicide : An Exploratory Study Of Experiences Of People Of Color, Anna Sergeyevna Eliseeva Aug 2007

Meaning Making After Homicide : An Exploratory Study Of Experiences Of People Of Color, Anna Sergeyevna Eliseeva

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examined the ways survivors of homicide victims make meaning in the aftermath of homicide as a part of the post loss coping process. The particular focus of the study were survivors of Color because communities of Color experience higher numbers of homicides than Whites. Meaning making was conceptualized through the theory of assumptive structure and the conceptualization of meaning proposed by Janoff-Bulman and Frantz (1997) by distinguishing between meaning as significance and meaning as comprehensibility. Twelve survivors of homicide victims from Massachusetts, ten of them people of Color, were recruited through the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, Dorchester, …

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Manifestation Of Grief And Loss In Crisis-Oriented Psychotherapy : Graduate Preparation And Lessons Learned, Francis M. Cwiertniewicz Aug 2007

Manifestation Of Grief And Loss In Crisis-Oriented Psychotherapy : Graduate Preparation And Lessons Learned, Francis M. Cwiertniewicz

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores insights clinicians have gained about grief and loss through their work with clients in crisis, and their perceptions about the adequacy of their training to confront these clinical issues. Semi-structured interview questions focused on how participants work with someone in crisis, and how issues of grief and loss manifest and are facilitated in the clinical setting. Fourteen experienced mental health practitioners in Western Massachusetts were interviewed. Their narratives revealed a strong belief that grief and loss are often part of what prompts a client to seek counseling. Participants noted that many clients are not aware of …

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Bi The Way : A Quantitative, Exploratory Study Of Social Workers' Attitudes Regarding Bisexuality, Tova Emma Feldmanstern Aug 2007

Bi The Way : A Quantitative, Exploratory Study Of Social Workers' Attitudes Regarding Bisexuality, Tova Emma Feldmanstern

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Attitudes towards bisexuality among mental health professionals in the United States have been vastly understudied. The existing research has been done primarily on and by psychologists and suggests that there is considerable bias against bisexuality found in the psychology field, and in the general population of the United States. There has been no systematic inquiry into social work attitudes towards bisexuality. This quantitative study was designed to make its contribution to filling this gap by surveying social workers' attitudes towards bisexuality, using an existing scale, the Attitudes Regarding Bisexuality Scale (Mohr, 1999), combined with a demographic questionnaire. The complete instrument …

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Uhc Patient Safety Net® Progress To Date : An “A+” Report Card For Jdh Staff! Aug 2007

Uhc Patient Safety Net® Progress To Date : An “A+” Report Card For Jdh Staff!

Articles - Patient Care

Safety in Numbers It’s been eight months since we implemented UHC Patient Safety Net® (“PSN”) at John Dempsey Hospital, and we are delighted with its success. As you know, PSN is a web-based reporting tool for reporting patient safety-related events. Frontline staff are doing a great job entering data on patient care events. Here’s how PSN works:

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Finding Common Ground Amidst Difference : Discussions And Perceptions Of Race And Ethnicity In Interracial And Interethnic Friendships, Melissa. Rocklen Aug 2007

Finding Common Ground Amidst Difference : Discussions And Perceptions Of Race And Ethnicity In Interracial And Interethnic Friendships, Melissa. Rocklen

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored how friends talked about and developed their perceptions of one another's race and ethnicity in interracial and interethnic friendships. Members of seven friendship dyads were interviewed separately, resulting in fourteen individual interviews. Participants ranged in age from 25 through 37; they were diverse in gender, length of friendship, and how they identified racially and ethnically. Members of all friendships dyads reported that they identified differently, racially and ethnically, from one another. During their interviews, participants discussed their own ethnic and racial identities, their friend's ethnic and racial identities, communication about race and ethnicity within the friendship, …

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And They Lived Happily Ever After : The Effects Of Cultural Myths And Romantic Idealizations On Committed Relationships, Jordana Lauren Metz Aug 2007

And They Lived Happily Ever After : The Effects Of Cultural Myths And Romantic Idealizations On Committed Relationships, Jordana Lauren Metz

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the impact of idealized relationships, present in our media and culture, on committed relationships. The purpose of this study was to explore the ways that relationships are impacted by real and idealized relationship discrepancies. In addition, this research provided an initial assessment of the coping mechanisms utilized by partners as problem solving responses to the discrepancies. Twelve participants, self-identified as in a committed relationship with a partner and living together for over one year, participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with questions focusing on how the participants' relationships fit and do not fit into idealized …

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Nowhere To Nap : How Service Providers And Homeless Adult Males View The Influence Criminalizing Survival Activities Has On Support Service Use, An Exploratory Study, Brion Inness. Phipps Aug 2007

Nowhere To Nap : How Service Providers And Homeless Adult Males View The Influence Criminalizing Survival Activities Has On Support Service Use, An Exploratory Study, Brion Inness. Phipps

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores how service providers and homeless adult males view the influence criminalizing survival activities has on support service use. Six homeless adult males and five service providers were interviewed for the study. Participant narratives revealed the complexity and uniqueness of homeless experiences. The major findings revealed that homeless individuals do not directly acknowledge the impact criminalizing homeless survival activities has on support service use. On the other hand, service providers were not in agreement about the impact of criminalizing survival activities. While some providers felt the impact was severe, others felt it had no affect on homeless …

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How White Non-Latino/A Therapists Perceive And Address Racial And Cultural Differences When Working With Latino/A Clients, Lisa C. Amato Aug 2007

How White Non-Latino/A Therapists Perceive And Address Racial And Cultural Differences When Working With Latino/A Clients, Lisa C. Amato

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study is intended to deepen and expand upon existing literature on cultural competence by offering a look at the views of White clinicians in the field who are working with communities of color, but who might not otherwise have thought about how they were engaging their clients and accounting for racial and cultural differences in their work. The project poses challenging questions and invites White clinicians to think honestly about salient issues around race, racism, culture, and ethnicity. One of its objectives is for the participants themselves, other clinicians, and readers of the thesis to think about how these …

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"I'M Not Afraid Of Storms For I'M Learning To Sail My Ship", Claire Marie Arbour Aug 2007

"I'M Not Afraid Of Storms For I'M Learning To Sail My Ship", Claire Marie Arbour

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This mixed methods study explores psychological resiliency, social support and community development in adolescent girls who completed an adventure program at sea (Tall Ship Semester for Girls or TSSG). Individuals from two graduating classes, 2005 and 2006, responded to an online Resiliency Scale survey and participated in an in-person interview. Thirteen individuals responded to the survey (2005 n=7, 2006 n=6). Thirteen individuals participated in an interview (2005 n=7, 2006 n=6). Eight participants completed both survey and interview. Five participants completed only the survey and five completed only the interview. Participants in the study are female adolescents, ages 17 years to …

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How Non-Disabled Children Respond To A Sibling With Disability? : The Challenges They May Or May Not Haved Faced, Dawn Leona. King Aug 2007

How Non-Disabled Children Respond To A Sibling With Disability? : The Challenges They May Or May Not Haved Faced, Dawn Leona. King

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore how non-disabled siblings respond to their siblings with disabilities. My focus was the ways in which growing up with a sibling with a disability impacts the life of the non-disabled person. This study illuminated this perspective by an examination of the experiences, needs, pressures, advantages, and coping mechanisms of non-disabled siblings in families with disabled children. In my qualitative study I used (flexible method), open ended questions, to interview adult non-disabled individuals who grew up with a disabled sibling. The study explored the dynamics between the siblings and between the parents and …

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Drawing The Line : An Exploration Of Otto Kernberg And Marsha Linehan's Understanding Of Borderline Personality Disorder, Lili. Schwan-Rosenwald Aug 2007

Drawing The Line : An Exploration Of Otto Kernberg And Marsha Linehan's Understanding Of Borderline Personality Disorder, Lili. Schwan-Rosenwald

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken in order to examine the insight and treatment of borderline personality disorder by cognitive-behavioral therapist Marsha Linehan, and psychoanalyst Otto Kernberg. The report considers the two theorists' beliefs on the importance of individual temperament and invalidating environment towards the development of borderline personality. It then focuses on the modified treatments that the two theorists have developed to work with this population, specifically Linehan's Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Kernberg's Transference Focused Psychotherapy. The study looks at the difficulties encountered by Linehan and Kernberg in working with this population, and then concentrates on the strengths and weaknesses that …

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Fibromyalgia : A Legacy Of Chronic Pain, Lisa Pauline. Smith Aug 2007

Fibromyalgia : A Legacy Of Chronic Pain, Lisa Pauline. Smith

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study explored the syndrome known as fibromyalgia (FMS), a chronic pain condition which is rife with controversy about its very origins and nature. This study examined FMS from a biopsychosocial perspective, taking up the question of the relationship between the body and mind and their respective roles in pain. FMS is elucidated using an eclectic approach, including concepts from drive theory, object relations, contemporary case studies, and trauma theory (including the role of the brain in pain with no known etiology). A biopsychosocial assessment of a hypothetical client is offered in an attempt to ground the various ideas …

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Gender Variance And Mental Health : A National Survey Of Transgender Trauma History, Posttraumatic Stress, And Disclosure In Therapy, Virginia Wyatt Wharton Aug 2007

Gender Variance And Mental Health : A National Survey Of Transgender Trauma History, Posttraumatic Stress, And Disclosure In Therapy, Virginia Wyatt Wharton

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory study aimed to investigate rates of trauma and posttraumatic stress in the lives of transgender individuals and to gather data on this population's accessing of mental health services and willingness to disclose trauma history in therapy. It was hypothesized that as a marginalized population, transgender individuals are at increased risk for victimization and posttraumatic stress. It was also hypothesized that while a high number of transgender individuals access mental health services, many choose not to disclose trauma history to a therapist. A web-based anonymous survey of trauma history, posttraumatic stress, and disclosure of trauma history in therapy was …

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Substance Use And Related Criminality Among Male Juvenile Sexual And Nonsexual Offenders : An Investigation Of The Patterns And Prevalence, Deborah Ann Caserta Aug 2007

Substance Use And Related Criminality Among Male Juvenile Sexual And Nonsexual Offenders : An Investigation Of The Patterns And Prevalence, Deborah Ann Caserta

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether juvenile sexual offenders use substances and engage in substance related criminality or if other forms of criminality (e.g. sexual or nonsexual crime) are associated with substance use. Three related quantitative articles were written to execute this project. The first article explored the prevalence of substance use and related crime among sexual offenders. The findings of this study suggested that juvenile sexual offenders have high rates of substance use, including, but not limited to cigarette use, alcohol, and high percentages of drug selling among this population. The second article investigated the prevalence …

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The Undercover Wounded Healer : The Role Of Personal Therapy In Being A Clinical Social Worker, Leanne Marie. Lemire Aug 2007

The Undercover Wounded Healer : The Role Of Personal Therapy In Being A Clinical Social Worker, Leanne Marie. Lemire

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored therapists' perceptions of how their experiences in their own personal therapy related to their practice as a clinician. Utilizing interviews with 10 therapists who have prior experienced or who are currently engaged in their own personal therapy, this exploratory study examined clinicians' experiences ways in which their personal therapy affected their clinical practice. Specifically, the study also explored clinicians' reflections, while practicing, of their abilities to identify with their clients, their personal therapists, and their overall understanding of the therapeutic process between therapist and client, due to their participation in their own personal therapy. The study found …

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Suicide Postvention : How Can We Improve Existing Models?, Seana Carmean Aug 2007

Suicide Postvention : How Can We Improve Existing Models?, Seana Carmean

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of suicide postvention approaches used with suicide survivors, who are defined as the families, partners and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. The goal was to determine the experience of postvention support for survivors through their own voice, and then to use the findings to develop a proposal for a National Suicide Postvention Plan to better meet the stated needs of this disenfranchised population. Twelve male and female survivors from around Massachusetts were interviewed using an open-ended question format to encourage the description of their own postvention experience. The …

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Predictors And Prevention Strategies For Homelessness Among Women Veterans, Angela Sue Casper Aug 2007

Predictors And Prevention Strategies For Homelessness Among Women Veterans, Angela Sue Casper

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study was undertaken to explore the experience of women in the military and to gain an understanding of military women's vulnerability to homelessness and their service needs. A study conducted by Gamache, et al. (2003) established that women veterans did show a higher instance of homelessness than non-veteran women. This study includes an exploration of trauma theory and approaches for treatment of homelessness to develop a better understanding of an effective model to treat homelessness within women veterans. Knowledge about effective treatment of combat trauma and homelessness in male veterans and trauma and homelessness among women is used …

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The Dilemmas And Challenges Of Teenage Motherhood : Exploring The Barriers In The Discovery Of The Self, Rebecca Colvin Aug 2007

The Dilemmas And Challenges Of Teenage Motherhood : Exploring The Barriers In The Discovery Of The Self, Rebecca Colvin

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the barriers that may prevent adolescent mothers from accessing social support. For the purpose of this study, the barriers examined were depression and self-esteem. The sample consisted of 50 adolescent mothers who were participants in several social service agencies located in western Massachusetts. The participants completed the Rosenberg Self Esteem scale, the Brief Symptom inventory scale, and a brief form used to gather basic demographic information. Case workers indicated what kinds of social support services the adolescents were engaged in at their programs. Adolescent mothers who were involved in one formal support …

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Art And The Clinical Social Worker, Lucy Goldstein Aug 2007

Art And The Clinical Social Worker, Lucy Goldstein

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The current social work literature implores clinicians to create self-care practices to help reduce their levels of occupational stress. Literature from a variety of fields points to the healing capabilities of the art making process, yet there is a dearth of empirical evidence linking the two. This study examines whether self-directed art making can reduce stress for the clinical social worker. Ten clinical social workers who make art either as a hobby or as a dual career were interviewed to determine how their art making practice impacts their clinical work and whether or not art making reduces their occupational stress …

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Uncovering Oppression Within The Anti-Rape Movement : The Role Of Race In The Reporting Experiences Of Adult Black Female Rape Survivors, Amy Rebecca Hochberg Aug 2007

Uncovering Oppression Within The Anti-Rape Movement : The Role Of Race In The Reporting Experiences Of Adult Black Female Rape Survivors, Amy Rebecca Hochberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study sought to explore how the oppressions of race and gender intersect within the experiences of Black female survivors in the anti-rape movement, specifically in the experience of reporting rape. The experiences of twelve helping professionals, who work with Black female survivors, were collected to determine the prevalence of discrimination within the anti-rape movement and to examine how anti-oppression training could improve services for survivors of sexual violence. The first-hand experience of one survivor further enhanced an understanding of how discrimination affects the reporting experiences of rape survivors. Thirteen individual interviews were conducted with one survivor, seven helping professionals …

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Using The Principles Of Existential Psychotherapeutic Theory To Enrich Understanding Of Eating Disorder Etiology, Sabrina Johnston Aug 2007

Using The Principles Of Existential Psychotherapeutic Theory To Enrich Understanding Of Eating Disorder Etiology, Sabrina Johnston

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study was conducted make connections between existential psychotherapeutic theory and existing theories of eating disorder etiology. The dearth of literature connecting these two suggests room for further study. An in-depth exploration of existential theory as it applies to psychotherapy, showing the pervasiveness of existential concerns in human psychological functioning was conducted. A review of each of the major categories of eating disorder etiology; sociocultural/feminist, psychological (including psychodynamic, familial and cognitive-behavioral perspectives), biological, and spiritual, was undertaken. Eating disorder treatment approaches and epidemiology were also explored. Finally a synthesis of existential psychotherapeutic theory with existing eating disorder etiology was …

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An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Personal Ideal(S) Of Female Beauty, Self Perception(S) Of Female Beauty, And Self Esteem In Women, Megan S. Lynch Aug 2007

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Personal Ideal(S) Of Female Beauty, Self Perception(S) Of Female Beauty, And Self Esteem In Women, Megan S. Lynch

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored the relationship between personal ideals of female beauty, the self perceptions of female beauty, and self esteem in adult women. Most studies that have been conducted on this topic have been quantitative and used college age samples that are still in the process of transitioning into adulthood. The sample for this study consisted of twelve adult women between the ages of 24 and 39. Participants were asked a series of structured demographic background questions followed by more semi-structured and open-ended questions that explored their ideals of female beauty. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (a standardized self-esteem inventory) …

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