Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Does Movie Viewing Cultivate Unrealistic Expectations About Love And Marriage?, Lauren Galloway

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

The present study investigated the connection between romantic movie viewing frequency and endorsement of dysfunctional beliefs for romantic relationships in a university-based sample of 228 participants. Respondents completed a questionnaire in which they reported demographic information as well as responses to the several scales that measure endorsement of romantic ideals. I base this investigation of Segrin and Nabi’s (2002) examination of television viewing habits and proclivity for unrealistic expectations of sex, love, and marriage. Both the current study and the investigation conducted by Segrin and Nabi (2002) support the supposition that media play a part in reinforcing beliefs about coupleships. …

Police Responses To Domestic Violence And Public Perception, Kelly Stout, Alexis Kennedy

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

Domestic violence, also known as, intimate partner violence (IPV), has become an epidemic in the United States. This research is intended to explain the types of IPV, describe the effects of severe IPV, look at the change in public perceptions of IPV situations, and explore the police responses to such situations. Students at UNLV participated in the “Police Responses to Calls for Service” survey, that was created to determine the public’s level of awareness of IPV situations and whether that awareness increases support for police policies in responding to intimate partner violence calls.

Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse:What Heals And What Hurts In A Couple Relationship, Laura Smedley, Kathy Disney-Fairchild, Stephen Fife, Colleen Peterson

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant trauma that affects a person’s self-concept and ability to form healthy intimate relationships later in adulthood. Approximately 20% of adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse go on to evidence serious psychopathology in adulthood (Harway & Faulk, 2005). Knowledge of how relationship partners affect the healing of the survivor may be very beneficial to couples’ therapists, to survivors themselves, and to their intimate partners. The purpose of this qualitative study is to increase understanding of the survivor’s experience of what is helpful and what is counterproductive in their healing process within the construct of …

We Can Do It! (But Should We?), Lindsey Odom

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

First dates represent an important early event in the development of dating relationships. Commonly, date initiation is a behavior in which men take control. In the past few decades, however, more women attempted this task. Women initiating dates is a deviation from cultural norms or what society views as appropriate behavior. The deviation in behavior could have negative repercussions for women. For this study, perceptions of women who initiate dates are investigated. By examining the expectedness and violation valence of the behavior through Expectancy Violations Theory, insight is provided into the perceptions of this dating trend.

Cyber-Systemic Themes In Mft Literature, Justin M. Smith, Katherine M. Hertlein, Markie L.C. Blumer, Harrison Allen

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

Abstract: In the fifteen years since the explosion of the Internet, using cyber technology for work & social functions has exponentially increased. Yet the questions around how to manage such changes remain elusive in family therapy literature. In this investigation, we conducted a content analysis to determine to what extent marriage & family therapy (MFT) journals have responded to the integration of the Internet in couple & family life. We found 79 of 13,274 articles across seventeen journals focused on the Internet in some capacity supporting the contention that cyber issues are largely ignored within the MFT field.

“Counseling The Unemployed”: Reflections On A Pilot Clinical Program, Rebecca Nemecek, Markie L.C. Blumer, Colleen Peterson, Stephen Fife, Katherine M. Hertlein, Gerald Weeks

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

•Unemployment and economic hardships are issues in the lives of clients serviced by marriage and family therapists (MFTs).

• “Counseling the Unemployed” program was created within a university-based clinical setting to help meet such needs.

•Student MFTs were educated on effects of unemployment, coping strategies, and then shared what was helpful in addressing such issues via an online qualitative survey.

•Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relational problems were reported to be common symptoms of clients who presented with unemployment issues.

•A degree of hopelessness and helplessness in the clients when compared to clients who did not present with issues related …

Exploring The In-Race Adoption Of Asian Children, Kathleen J. Bergquist, Salina Offergeld

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

A growing body of literature exists which explores the transracial adoption of Asian children into White/Caucasian families while there are no studies to date which capture the experiences of Asian/Asian American families who adopt Asian children. It is the researchers' intent to build knowledge in the area as well as illuminate the need for further research.

An Assessment Of Child Welfare: The Value Of Training And Family Engagement, Kelly L. Scherado

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

Child maltreatment in the United States continues to be one of the nation’s most serious social problems. Child welfare practice is intended to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. One of the ways child welfare systems can achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable children is to utilize the most current best practices in training, focused on family engagement and strengths-based empowerment. To this end, child welfare training programs that are family centered, culturally competent, and focused on preventing out of home placements, should be implemented nationwide to better prepare child welfare agencies to meet the needs of …