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2015

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Articles 16801 - 16830 of 19696

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Substance Abuse And Music Use : Exploring Relationships Through Recovery, Andrew Culler Jan 2015

Substance Abuse And Music Use : Exploring Relationships Through Recovery, Andrew Culler

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory study considered the questions 'what is the relationship between music and substance abuse?', and 2) 'what is the role of music in treatment for/recovery from substance abuse?', through analysis of spoken interviews with 11 people in recovery from substance abuse—how they describe music's functioning in their lives and how they experience substance use/abuse, and recovery, as connected to music. The findings of this non-generalizable study suggest people seek out music as an outside object to alter, augment, or otherwise regulate self-states within changing environmental contexts, and that such a relationship becomes a continuity across descriptions of relationships between …

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Exploration Into Pre-Clinicians' Views Of The Use Of Role-Play Games In Group Therapy With Adolescents, Sarah H. Flashman Jan 2015

Exploration Into Pre-Clinicians' Views Of The Use Of Role-Play Games In Group Therapy With Adolescents, Sarah H. Flashman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study examines pre-clinicians' beliefs and experiences with adolescent group therapy and role-play games (RPGs) as therapeutic group treatment. Twelve pre-clinicians in a community mental health agency were asked about their thoughts and experiences of group therapy and the use of RPGs in adolescent group therapy. The larger themes found in this study were participants' experiences with group therapy, use of group therapy, and RPGs in adolescent group therapy. These results indicate that pre-clinicians rely heavily on experience, rather than research, when making clinical decisions. Furthermore, this study shows that pre-clinicians have little knowledge about RPGs, but view them …

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Voices Of Family- And Partner-Violent Adults In Treatment : Participants' Experience Of Therapy, Justin Butler Jan 2015

Voices Of Family- And Partner-Violent Adults In Treatment : Participants' Experience Of Therapy, Justin Butler

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examines the preferences and opinions of partner- or family-violent adults in rehabilitative therapy and counseling. With the goal of informing and improving treatment approaches for this population, the study seeks to augment the current field of research, based primarily on external measures, with the voices and opinions of participants themselves. A convenience sample of 80 male and female participants at an urban social service agency in the U.S. was selected to complete the mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) survey. The survey consists of 5 demographic elements, and 38 questions (33 rating-scale and 5 shortanswer). The survey explored participants' opinions …

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Millennials' Perceptions Of How Their Capacity For Romantic Love Developed And Manifests, Kate Mcguire Jan 2015

Millennials' Perceptions Of How Their Capacity For Romantic Love Developed And Manifests, Kate Mcguire

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores how the Millennial Generation understands how they learned to love, how they define and experience romantic love in the present, and what their hopes and fears are for romantic love in the future. The investigation is based on the perspectives of 25 participants from the Millennial Generation who answered 11 interview questions, in addition to completing the Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised Questionnaire (ECRR). Findings from my study suggests that the Millennial generation is forging a distinctively different pathway from older generations in areas related to social media, marriage and commitment, children, religious fidelity, social …

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Cultivating Presence : Effects Of Therapist's Mindfulness Meditation On Therapeutic Presence, Marianne Galus Jan 2015

Cultivating Presence : Effects Of Therapist's Mindfulness Meditation On Therapeutic Presence, Marianne Galus

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain a deeper understanding of how clinicians' daily mindfulness meditation practice influences the cultivation of therapeutic presence within the relational space of the therapeutic encounter. The study used semistructured, in-person, and Skype video interviews with 11 clinical social workers with a daily mindfulness meditation practice to gather qualitative data and their reflections on the dynamic interplay between mindfulness meditation and preparing the ground for presence, the process of presence and the experience of in-session therapeutic presence. The findings indicate that all of the clinicians experienced a positive direction of association between daily …

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The Work Of André Green : An Introduction, Louis Scuderi Jan 2015

The Work Of André Green : An Introduction, Louis Scuderi

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

André Green was a French psychoanalyst whose work represents a unique contribution to the fields of theoretical, clinical, and applied psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic social work. Little has been written about him in English, however. In this study, Green's overarching theoretical project is reviewed, in addition to some of his major concepts and their clinical implications. Green's relationship to French psychoanalysis is outlined, as well as his relationship to his major influences: Winnicott, Bion, Lacan, and most importantly, Freud. Green's conceptions of the drives, narcissism, and the work of the negative are discussed in detail, and his work is situated in …

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Social Work And Human Sexuality : An Examination Of The Country's Top 25-Cwse Ranked Msw Curricula, Hannah R. Wineburg Jan 2015

Social Work And Human Sexuality : An Examination Of The Country's Top 25-Cwse Ranked Msw Curricula, Hannah R. Wineburg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Graduate students of social work seek education and training to increase their competency to practice in dynamic, multicultural environments that allow them to help diverse clients with a multitude of mental health and sociological related issues. Moreover, social work programs have long been known for teaching students to be agents of change, in particular preparing social workers to effectively and ethically enhance the wellbeing and productivity of an increasingly diverse client base. This often translates into confronting oppressive systems that uphold traditional policies and practices in areas such as race, class, gender identity, and human sexuality. How are social work …

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Trans* Individuals' Experiences With Employment Discrimination : Supporting Self-Efficacy In The Job-Seeking Process, Matthew S. Meurer-Lynn Jan 2015

Trans* Individuals' Experiences With Employment Discrimination : Supporting Self-Efficacy In The Job-Seeking Process, Matthew S. Meurer-Lynn

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are often the subject of blatant and covert discrimination when seeking employment and studies demonstrate the negative effects on mental health. The research question for this study was: How can social workers best support trans* clients who are in the process of searching for employment, build self-efficacy and overcome psychological barriers that have developed as a result of oppression and discrimination? This qualitative study of seven trans* individuals provides examples of discrimination as experienced by the participants, examines the effects discrimination has on mental health and self-efficacy, and provides social workers with recommendations for supporting …

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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder : Experiences Of Diagnosis, Treatment, And Management By African American Caregivers, Lydie H. Gnacadja Jan 2015

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder : Experiences Of Diagnosis, Treatment, And Management By African American Caregivers, Lydie H. Gnacadja

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

According to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5th edition, attention-deficit disorder is a childhood disorder in which symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and/or impulsivity are present for at least six months and must be present prior to a child turning12 years old (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Gapin and Etnier (2013) stated the following, ADHD "is one of the leading childhood psychiatric disorders in America and is a costly major public health problem" (p. 1). There is limited research on African American caregiver experiences (Miller, Nigg and Miller, 2009) and social workers would benefit by being familiar with African …

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Exploring Clinicians' Experience Of Countertransference In Play Therapy, Asya Tsarkova Jan 2015

Exploring Clinicians' Experience Of Countertransference In Play Therapy, Asya Tsarkova

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore clinicians' experience of countertransference in play therapy. Through semi-structured individual interviews with twelve clinicians, narrative data was collected on the ways in which clinicians experience, process, and utilize countertransference in play therapy. Some of the findings of this study support previous research and theoretical literature on countertransference in the field of child psychotherapy. Additionally, this study's findings introduce the possibility that specific aspects of play therapy have a unique effect on the experience and processing of countertransference in play therapy due to the nature of this therapeutic modality. Implications for social …

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The Power Of Play : A Theoretical Study Of Play, The Self, And The Public School, Rebecca G. Medrano Jan 2015

The Power Of Play : A Theoretical Study Of Play, The Self, And The Public School, Rebecca G. Medrano

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The objective of this theoretical study was to examine how the decrease of play in early childhood education is affecting the developmental process of the child. Noted implications for the lack of play in schools included a decrease in creative thinking and imagination in childhood, an increase in ADHD and depression in children, an increase in preschool expulsions, an increase in special education services, and disparities in access to play for children of color and children living in poverty. A theoretical framework was used to examine the intersection between play, the school environment, and the developing child. The analysis utilized …

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Taking It All In : How Do Psychodynamic Social Workers Use Social Justice Values In Clinical Practice?, Danielle S. Frank Jan 2015

Taking It All In : How Do Psychodynamic Social Workers Use Social Justice Values In Clinical Practice?, Danielle S. Frank

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research study explored the ways in which psychodynamic social workers use social justice values in clinical practice. The qualitative study was based on interviews with 12 practicing clinical social workers who self-identify as integrating social justice values into psychodynamic work. Using grounded theory, the study examined this question by exploring individual definitions of and professional commitments to social justice values and ways these are applied to their work. The interviews also explored participants' personal views on the alignment of psychodynamic practice with social work values, how this concern was addressed in clinical training, and how different bodies of psychoanalytic …

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"Who Do I Reach Out To" : A Qualitative Study Of Help Seeking Behaviors, Treatment Preferences And Community Supports Among South Asian Americans, Shivani Seth Jan 2015

"Who Do I Reach Out To" : A Qualitative Study Of Help Seeking Behaviors, Treatment Preferences And Community Supports Among South Asian Americans, Shivani Seth

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the utilization of community resources by South Asian Americans within the context of help-seeking behaviors by members of this broad community and how helping professionals involved with this diverse group can better serve and understand the needs of community members. This thesis includes a discussion of several possible modalities that could be used with this population, current empirical articles showing both the gaps within the current research as well as providing support and structure for the qualitative study this thesis was created for. In my project, I interviewed twelve self identified South …

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It Takes A Village : Exploring African American Women's Experiences With Collective Identity, Racism, And Well-Being, Lyana M. Murrel Jan 2015

It Takes A Village : Exploring African American Women's Experiences With Collective Identity, Racism, And Well-Being, Lyana M. Murrel

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study sought to explore African American women's understandings about collective identity in their lives and, specifically, in their encounters with racism that impacted their well-being. African American women hold rich traditions of healing that encompass their communities and are influenced by their early bonds of sisterhood. In the United States of America, these traditions of connectedness between Black folks have supported Black women, communities, and families against the pressures of racist domination. Ten self-identified African American women between the ages of 34 and 69 shared rich narratives about how they experienced a collective sense of self, racism, and …

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Settled Debate Or Second Wave? : Clinical Social Workers' Roles In Treatment With Youth Who Take Adhd Drugs, Rachel B. Reed Jan 2015

Settled Debate Or Second Wave? : Clinical Social Workers' Roles In Treatment With Youth Who Take Adhd Drugs, Rachel B. Reed

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain a deeper understanding of social workers' roles in treating children who take attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs. The study used semi-structured in-person and telephone interviews with twelve licensed clinical social workers to gather qualitative data about their experiences with children and families of children diagnosed with ADHD and their reflections on their roles in treatment, in particular those regarding medication prescribed to mitigate the child's ADHD symptoms. The findings suggested that social workers experienced difficulty teasing out ADHD from issues known to commonly co-occur as well as from a history of …

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Sharing Our Edges : The Mindfulness Influence On Therapist's Formulation Of Insight, Sonia S. Hsieh Jan 2015

Sharing Our Edges : The Mindfulness Influence On Therapist's Formulation Of Insight, Sonia S. Hsieh

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This inductive qualitative research study explored therapist's experiences of using Mindfulness in session with patients. Through 12 semi-structured interviews with therapists who self-identified as Mindfulness practitioners with a psychodynamic orientation, narrative data was gathered on participant's explicit and implicit uses of Mindfulness within the therapeutic encounter. Major findings revealed that Mindfulness first and foremost attunes the therapist's attention to the body. Therapist's awareness of personal bodily sensations then initiated the therapist's process of understanding disavowed content from the patient. Upon pinpointing the therapist's own bodily sensation, participants then discussed how tenets of Mindfulness informed their therapeutic presence. Qualities of this …

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Clinicians' Experiences With Child Clients' Explicitly Stated Love In The Transference, Alexandra L. Shumway Jan 2015

Clinicians' Experiences With Child Clients' Explicitly Stated Love In The Transference, Alexandra L. Shumway

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the experiences of clinicians in responding to their child clients' statements of "I love you." It is clear that this experience is common amongst child therapists, but the literature on this topic is virtually non-existent. While the literature does touch on countertransference, therapy with children, and love in therapy, never has the literature touched on the space in which these three topics come together. In order to explore this void in the literature, this study was completed using a mixed-method, anonymous online survey. Thirty clinicians participated in this survey, which asked clinicians to reflect on the interaction …

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The Narratives Of Adult Third Culture Kids : Cultural Identity Development And Psychological Support Upon Reentry To One's Home Country, Yoko Hisano Jan 2015

The Narratives Of Adult Third Culture Kids : Cultural Identity Development And Psychological Support Upon Reentry To One's Home Country, Yoko Hisano

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the experiences of adults who grew up outside their parents' home country as minor dependents, as known as Third Culture Kids (TCKs), and how their experiences abroad as well as their reentry experience back home shaped their cultural identity development and their psychological health. The research used semi-structured interview questions and interviewed 12 adult TCKs who were of age 30 and over and lived in the US at the time when the study was conducted. One of the incentives for this study was to inform mental health providers to gain a deeper understanding of adult TCKs experiences. …

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"What Are You?" : Understanding The Contextual Influence On The Racial Categorization Of Multiracial Adults And The Impact On Their Sense Of Belonging, Maya N. Hochberger-Vigsittaboot Jan 2015

"What Are You?" : Understanding The Contextual Influence On The Racial Categorization Of Multiracial Adults And The Impact On Their Sense Of Belonging, Maya N. Hochberger-Vigsittaboot

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Multiracial individuals can be racially misidentified by others based on the environment and the other person's racial point of reference. This qualitative study explores the ways the environmental context impacts how Mixed-race adults are racially perceived by others and the impact it had on their sense of belonging to their racial group(s). A total of 36 Multiracial adults participated in in-person, Skype, and phone interviews about the types of environmental messages they receive and how they navigate these messages. Participants described various common themes about the Multiracial experience such as: family and community racial socialization, feeling 'othered', physical racial ambiguity, …

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Mothers Experiencing Homelessness : An Exploratory Study On Parental Involvement In Children's Education And Perceived Barriers To Involvement :, Marla G. Maccia Jan 2015

Mothers Experiencing Homelessness : An Exploratory Study On Parental Involvement In Children's Education And Perceived Barriers To Involvement :, Marla G. Maccia

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative exploratory study examines the experience of mothers that are homeless with school-age children. The primary research questions were: What is the level of parental involvement of homeless mothers in their children's education? What are the perceived barriers to their involvement? The study was conducted using semi-structured open-ended interviews of eight women that were homeless with at least one school-age child. Study results indicated that level of parental involvement varied depending on the specific temporary living situation of the participant, in addition to her demographics and history of homelessness. Parental involvement was low not due to perceived stigma but …

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College Graduates' Perceptions Of Binge Drinking On College And University Campuses, Molly M. Newton Jan 2015

College Graduates' Perceptions Of Binge Drinking On College And University Campuses, Molly M. Newton

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The present study investigated binge drinking culture on college and university campuses, using a purposive sampling plan to explore graduates' perceptions of social factors and motivations that perpetuate binge drinking on college campuses in spite of interventions. One hundred eighty one participants completed an online, anonymous, survey designed to test hypotheses drawn from the literature. Participants were significantly more likely to attribute collegiate binge drinking to social factors other than social norms, and to social motivations. These findings suggest that positive alcohol expectancies may have a strong influence on collegiate binge drinking, and that students most often use binge drinking …

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Ecotherapists' Perceptions About The Efficacy Of Their Work, Fiona C. Lundy Jan 2015

Ecotherapists' Perceptions About The Efficacy Of Their Work, Fiona C. Lundy

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative, exploratory study sought to answer the question, what do ecotherapists think makes their nature-based therapy (NBT) work effective and for whom? Twelve American mental health clinicians who practice NBT's (including animal-assisted therapy (AAT), horticultural therapy (HT), nature-reconnection practices (NRP's), and wilderness therapy (WT)) regularly in their professional work were recruited using snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews revealed that practitioners explain NBTs' effectiveness by citing the biological, psychological, spiritual, and therapeutic power of the natural world, the different ways that NBT's are structured, and additional factors that are unknown. Participants shared varied views about whom ecotherapies best serve; some stated …

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An Exploratory Study On Mental Health Service Experience And Its Perceived Impact On Young Adults Transitioning Out Of Foster Care, Sonia Lizette Aldape Jan 2015

An Exploratory Study On Mental Health Service Experience And Its Perceived Impact On Young Adults Transitioning Out Of Foster Care, Sonia Lizette Aldape

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores the self-reported perspectives of thirteen transitional aged (18-24 years old) current and former foster youth on their experiences with mental health services. This study fills a gap in mental health research that lacks substantial literature on the experiences of foster youth transitioning out of care, effectiveness of their mental health services and of foster youth's voices as consumers. This study aims to inform practice for clinicians and social workers referring or providing mental health services to current and or former foster youth. Clinicians and social workers can use their positions to provide and advocate for accessible …

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Fostering Positive Identity Development In Adolescents : Beneficial Aspects Of Learning At The Putney School, Leah King Jan 2015

Fostering Positive Identity Development In Adolescents : Beneficial Aspects Of Learning At The Putney School, Leah King

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study investigated the ways in which learning environments foster positive identity development in adolescents. For the purpose of this study, positive identity development was defined by self-esteem, self-control, and resilience. The study utilized a single-system design to extract a data subset from The Putney School's previously administered 7 wave longitudinal study and measured specific data points related to self-esteem, self-control, and resilience. The survey results of 65 four-year seniors who graduated between 2012 and 2014 from The Putney School, a progressive, co-educational boarding school in New England, were analyzed. No significant change was found for self-esteem, self-control, and resilience …

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Exploring Military Social Worker's Dual Professional Identities, Sarah E. Bakst Jan 2015

Exploring Military Social Worker's Dual Professional Identities, Sarah E. Bakst

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative, exploratory study examines how active duty military social workers negotiate their dual roles as military officers and as social workers. This study used a demographic survey and semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions to interview twelve military social workers. The primary research question was "What are the experiences of active duty social workers in negotiating their dual professional identity as both social workers and military officers?" The major findings focus on the differences between military and civilian social work and implications for military social work practice. Recommendations include the need for workload management as well as education for …

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The Role Of A Mother's Childhood Trauma In Parenting Her Child On The Autism Spectrum : A Case Study, Bryannyagara Q. Barboza Jan 2015

The Role Of A Mother's Childhood Trauma In Parenting Her Child On The Autism Spectrum : A Case Study, Bryannyagara Q. Barboza

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This single case study explored the experiences of a white, middle class, lesbian, single mother, with history of childhood trauma, raising her child on the autism spectrum. This was a qualitative exploratory study with semi-structured interviews as a way to collect data. The participant mother was interviewed a total of four times, one hour each interview. The interviews took place at public and private spaces, (e.g., public library, museums, coffee shops etc.). Due to unfinished data collection and the limitations present in the study, the results are inconclusive. Although the current literature on parenting children with a diagnosis other than …

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Relationships That Appear To Contribute To The Development Of An Earned- Secure Attachment, Abby E. Feinberg Jan 2015

Relationships That Appear To Contribute To The Development Of An Earned- Secure Attachment, Abby E. Feinberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore what relationships appear to contribute to the development of an earned- secure attachment with a specific focus on the type and quality of the relationship. Well over 1,000 people received the study through social media requesting participation in a SurveyMonkey survey consisting of 3 screening questions, 14 demographic questions, 6 multiple choice questions, and 4 open ended questions. The screening and demographic questions allowed the 1,035 participants to be categorized by attachment style. The survey items assessed most important current relationship type and quality. The findings of this research corroborated with previous studies that …

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The Challenge Of Moral Difference : A Theoretical Investigation Of Encounters With A Client's Capacity For Violence, Sarah K. Brady Jan 2015

The Challenge Of Moral Difference : A Theoretical Investigation Of Encounters With A Client's Capacity For Violence, Sarah K. Brady

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Clinical social workers face an ethical imperative to work with a range of clients, some of whom will undoubtedly espouse views and confess to violent behavior that will differ, sometimes profoundly, with the worker's own personal moral compass and the values of the social work profession. How are clinical social workers to navigate the potential impasses that arise from such encounters? This theoretical thesis explores the dilemma of engaging with a client whose morality is experienced by the worker as untenable. It draws on two bodies of theory, moral anthropology and relational psychoanalysis—both of which emphasize contingency, circumstance, and the …

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It Takes A Village : A Survey Of Women's Experiences Of Emotional Support During Prenatal Care Visits, Elizabeth M. Du Toit Jan 2015

It Takes A Village : A Survey Of Women's Experiences Of Emotional Support During Prenatal Care Visits, Elizabeth M. Du Toit

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Research has shown that post-partum depression often begins during pregnancy. This study seeks to examine the extent to which prenatal care providers (PNCP's) are sufficiently attending to the emotional concerns of their patients. This study consisted of 117 women. Participants were asked a series of rating questions to determine their overall satisfaction with their PNCP's ability to attend to their emotional concerns. In addition to the rating questions, respondents were asked two open ended questions to better illustrate their experience with their PNCP, as well as to discuss which resources they felt would be helpful to women during pregnancy. While …

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Parent Perceptions Of School Violence : A Replication Study, Maria Segura Kwon Jan 2015

Parent Perceptions Of School Violence : A Replication Study, Maria Segura Kwon

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Although not the epidemic the media leads us to believe, incidents of school violence continue to be alarming in any school environment. The purpose of this study was to explore parents of school-aged children's perceptions' towards causes of, solutions for school violence, changes in parental behavior as a result of concerns of violence and opinions of firearms. This study was a partial replication of a study by Bliss et al., conducted in 1999 and published in 2006. Results of this study indicated that, generally, parents continue to believe that matters regarding causes of school violence are bound to issues in …

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