Social and Behavioral Sciences | Open Access Articles

Executive Council Meeting Minutes, Wku Student Government Association

Student Government Association

Meeting regarding campus safety walk, fall retreat, homecoming, organizational aid packets, Walk-Out of Class event and meal plan.

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Ddasaccident773, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 25 August 2007 at 0905 hrs while [the Victim] a deminer of Party-01, Section-1 of the mentioned team was working in his clearance lane on a detected signal his bayonet stroke on top of an anti personnel PMN-2 mine; as a result the mine exploded and since helmet was not on his head, the victim deminer lost one eye, sustained serious injuries to other eye and some injuries to his face and hand with active bleeding.

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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

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

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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Child Poverty High In Rural America, William P. O'Hare, Sarah Savage

Carsey Publications

On August 28, 2007, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey show that 22 percent of rural children are living in poverty, up from 19 percent in 2000. On average, rates are highest in the nonmetropolitan South (27 percent) and have climbed the most in the nonmetropolitan Midwest (by 3.9 percentage points).

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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

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

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

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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Grand Valley Forum, Volume 032, Number 05, August 28, 2007, Grand Valley State University

2007-2008, Volume 32

Grand Valley Forum is Grand Valley State's faculty and staff newsletter, published from 1976 to the present.

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Beyond Sibling Rivalry : An Exploratory Study Of Social Work Assessment Of School-Age Sibling Abuse, Hillary Faye. Parks

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how clinical social workers approach assessment of siblings for physical, sexual, or emotional abuse with particular focus on assessment techniques. Thirteen clinical social workers participated in individual interviews that asked them to talk about their approach to the assessment process and to the content of that assessment. Participants were selected through a non-random sample of convenience from a child and family social service agency in New England. The findings of this study show that for this sample there is not a uniform method of assessing sibling abuse, although the content of …

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Pregnant Queer Clinicians : An Exploratory Study Of The Countertransference Experiences Of Queer Clinicians During Their First Pregnancies, Rhyannon Leah. O'Heron

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explores countertransference experiences of queer clinicians in work with adult female clients in a myriad of settings during their first pregnancies. Twelve clinicians with Master's degrees or higher in the fields of social work, counseling, and psychology participated. In addition, all participants self-identified as queer, lesbian, and/or bisexual women in same-sex relationships. Participants, diverse in age, religion, geographical locations, work settings, and number of years in the field, were fairly homogeneous in ethnic identity, theoretical orientation, and methods used to become pregnant. The qualitative study design, using a flexible, semi-structured interview guide, allowed for an in-depth exploration into …

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Christianity, Familial Acceptance, And Current Spirituality Among Lgb Individuals : Blessed Be The Tie That Binds?, Megan Elaine Browning

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explores LGB individuals' perceptions about how acceptance by their Christian families of origin has impacted their current religiosity and/or spirituality. A qualitative semi structured interview with a demographic survey was conducted with fifteen self-identified LGB individuals who were raised in a variety of Christian households in the Southern United States. The participants were selected through a snowball sampling method and were representative of the surrounding metropolitan area. The methodology allowed for the study to be flexible and inclusive of people from diverse religious, spiritual, sexual, and cultural backgrounds. The participants discussed receiving messages as children from their church …

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Are We Dating? : An Exploratory Study Of Nonsexual, Passionate Friendships Between Women, Linda Christine Chupkowski

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was designed to explore nonsexual, passionate friendships between women. Particular areas of interest were challenging the binary between "just friends" and "lovers," as well as exploring the meaning of the lack of a term for identifying these friendships in women's lives. This study attempted to answer the following research question: How do women conceptualize, define, and make sense of their nonsexual, passionate friendships? This qualitative study involved interviewing 14 women selected from a sample of convenience. The interview questions were open-ended, allowing the women to share narrative accounts of their friendships in their own words. The findings indicate …

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Let's Talk About Sex : Sexual Education And Adolescent Sexual Behavior, Stephanie Grace Agnew

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The study was undertaken to look at adolescents' experiences in school sexual education programs, to examine how abstinence only and comprehensive sexual education programs impact adolescent sexual behavior, and to explore whether there is a correlation between adolescents' sexual behavior and their satisfaction with their sexual health education. This study also set out to examine where adolescents turn for more comprehensive sexual health information when they are not satisfied with what they are receiving in school. This study surveyed 56 college freshmen about their middle school and high school sexual education experiences and their attitudes toward sexual health. Participants provided …

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A Homicide In The Family : The Dual Perspective Of Mothers' Experience Parenting And Use Of Community Resources And Community Providers' Report On Services Utilized By Mothers And Their Children, Leah Elizabeth Berkowitz

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research study was conducted to clarify the impact of the experienced homicide of a family member on mothering, post-homicide. Data was gathered regarding mothers' use and perception of community support services and providers' perception of the efficacy of those services currently available to surviving family members. Potential alternatives to already-existing services and modes of delivering these services to families impacted by violence were explored. In this dual-perspective flexible methods study, seven mother-participants and four community providers – comprised of three victim/witness advocates, who currently work in Massachusetts Court-based District Attorney's offices and one licensed independent clinical social worker, who …

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Nonresidential Fathers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Their Acrimonious Divorces On Their Relationships With Their Children, Rachel Hava Green

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative, exploratory study looked at nonresidential fathers' perceptions of the influence of their acrimonious divorces on their relationships with their children. For the purpose of this study, the term nonresidential fathers referred to fathers of biological or adopted children who were no longer living in their children's homes due to divorce. Twelve nonresidential fathers were interviewed in February and March of 2007. All of the men were recruited from the email listserv of the Pennsylvania chapter of Fathers' and Children's Equality, Inc. In an hour and a half interview, they answered 11 guiding questions which were all recorded on …

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Space Exploration : Mapping Students' Perception Of The Smith College Campus, Stephanie Alexandra Keep

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

In keeping with the values of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), this longitudinal exploratory study was developed with the belief in the importance of assessing the individual perception of the client when planning, creating, and implementing a change effort for which the client has been named beneficiary. The study was undertaken to measure spatially how people perceive their environments as a means to support community planning, specifically focusing on whether an environmental change effort, the new Campus Center, can affect students' perception of community support, satisfaction, safety, and formal and informal socialization. A mapping questionnaire was sent out …

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Executive Council Meeting Minutes, Wku Student Government Association

Student Government Association

Ddasaccident773, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Child Poverty High In Rural America, William P. O'Hare, Sarah Savage

Carsey Publications

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

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Grand Valley Forum, Volume 032, Number 05, August 28, 2007, Grand Valley State University

2007-2008, Volume 32

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Art And The Clinical Social Worker, Lucy Goldstein

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

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

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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

Beyond Sibling Rivalry : An Exploratory Study Of Social Work Assessment Of School-Age Sibling Abuse, Hillary Faye. Parks

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Pregnant Queer Clinicians : An Exploratory Study Of The Countertransference Experiences Of Queer Clinicians During Their First Pregnancies, Rhyannon Leah. O'Heron

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Christianity, Familial Acceptance, And Current Spirituality Among Lgb Individuals : Blessed Be The Tie That Binds?, Megan Elaine Browning

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Are We Dating? : An Exploratory Study Of Nonsexual, Passionate Friendships Between Women, Linda Christine Chupkowski

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Let's Talk About Sex : Sexual Education And Adolescent Sexual Behavior, Stephanie Grace Agnew

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

A Homicide In The Family : The Dual Perspective Of Mothers' Experience Parenting And Use Of Community Resources And Community Providers' Report On Services Utilized By Mothers And Their Children, Leah Elizabeth Berkowitz

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Nonresidential Fathers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Their Acrimonious Divorces On Their Relationships With Their Children, Rachel Hava Green

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Space Exploration : Mapping Students' Perception Of The Smith College Campus, Stephanie Alexandra Keep

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects