Social Work Commons^™

Clinical Perspective On Non-Suicidal Self Injury In Adolescents : A Qualitative Study, Rachel E. Weiner

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

There has been an increase in the number of adolescents who engage in non-suicidal selfinjury (NSSI). This qualitative study explored clinical social workers’ perceptions of the causes of NSSI and the processes whereby social workers develop treatment for this behavior. This research was based on 10 in-person interviews conducted with Massachusetts licensed clinical social workers (mean average experience=20 years) who treat adolescent self-harm. Findings suggest adolescents often feel pressure to cut in order to fit in and therefore are more likely to engage in self-harm if their peers are encouraging this behavior. Further findings suggest that many participants seemed less …

Clinicians' Perceptions Of Their Role In Grief Counseling, Dinh Q. Tran

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The experiences and perceptions of grief counselors regarding their work is an often ignored, though highly valuable topic. Previous literature suggests that practicing grief clinicians are largely utilizing outdated grief theories in their practices. This study seeks to elucidate the meaning of these findings, explore what grief clinicians are actually doing in the field, and learn from the insights and clinical innovations of these contemporary clinicians. In this study, 10 clinicians, who have all practiced grief counseling within the last five years, were interviewed using a semi-structure interview model. Their theoretical models, most commonly used interventions, and conceptualizations of grief …

Co-Parenting Children Survey : An Investigation Between Separated And Intact Families, Abigail R. Sushchyk

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study sought to investigate and test the newly designed Co-Parenting Children Survey (CPCS). As a preliminary examination of the CPCS, the study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of reliability and internal consistency of the measure and whether it could distinguish co-parenting differences between diverse family structures (intact and separated). A total of 252 participants completed the online CPCS containing 13 demographic questions, the 56-item co-parenting measure, and two open-ended questions. The findings revealed that initial testing of the CPCS demonstrated good overall internal consistency and reliability between items on the measure and the capacity to differentiate co-parenting between …

Caring For The Caregivers : The Relationship Between Perceived Organizational Support And Teacher-Child Interactions In Head Start Classrooms, Mariel R. Stadick

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose ofthis study was to examine whether there is a correlation between Head Start preschool teachers’ perceived agency support and the quality of their interactions with children in their programs. This study utilized a mixed methods design with both observational and self-report measures to examine the correlation between two measures as administered in Head Start preschools programs: The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS). A national sample of 69 Head Start preschool teachers responded to a modified version of the SPOS that included demographic items and agreed to release their CLASS scores. …

Climate Change On The Therapist's Couch : How Mental Health Clinicians Receive And Respond To Indirect Psychological Impacts Of Climate Change In The Therapeutic Setting, Elizabeth B. Seaman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The scientific community has reached near consensus that climate change (also known as anthropogenic global warming) poses a significant and potentially dire threat to the ecosystems upon which we, as humans and as a society, rest. While climate change is most often discussed in terms of its effect on the natural environmental, its psychological impacts are also expected to be immense and varied and include indirect distress related to the threat that climate change poses. The purpose of this study was to explore how this kind of indirect distress gets talked about in the therapeutic setting. Using a mixed methods …

Coping With Incarcerated-Related Stress : A Study Of Coping Responses By Women Romantically Involved With Incarcerated Men, Jaleesa I. Myers

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Research related to coping responses of women romantically involved with, or married to, incarcerated men has been unexamined in social work literature. This study examined how women romantically involved with, or married to, incarcerated men cope with economic, social and emotional stress associated with their partners ’ incarceration by examining their use of problem-focused, emotion-focused and avoidant-focused coping styles. The study answered to what extent do women romantically involved with, or married to, incarcerated men utilize adaptive coping responses, especially paying close attention to experiences of African American women. Using quantitative methods, the Brief COPE —a 28-item inventory—was administered to …

Incarceration, Identity And Resilience : Understanding The Long-Term Psychological Impacts Of Racial Trauma On Japanese Americans Who Were Imprisoned During World War Ii, Kyla M. J. Lew

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory study was to deepen the understanding around the impacts of racial trauma and civil rights violations on Japanese Americans’ enduring sense of belonging and legitimacy in the United States. The study used semi-structured interviews with 13 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during WWII to gather qualitative data around their experiences, in order to explore the long-term psychological impact of imprisonment and additionally, how the psychological effects are related to the current social environment. The major findings of this study are that formerly incarcerated Japanese Americans experience long term psychological consequences as a result of their …

A Clinical Response To A Community Issue : Exploring Hartford's Youth Exposure To Community Violence In A Community-Based Agency, Alicia M. Mamula

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore what clinicians and managers at a Hartford, Connecticut community-based mental health agency are doing to integrate an effective collaboration between micro, mezzo, and macro level interventions to help youth clients residing in Hartford build competent communities. Fellin, (as cited in Hardcastle, 2011) defined a competent community as “one that has the ability to respond to a wide range of member needs and solve its problems and challenges of daily living” (p.96). Given the increased rate of community violence in Hartford in 2015, this research is especially important because the majority of clients …

The Prevalence Of Problem Gambling In The Chinese Community Of San Francisco With A Focus On Exploring Treatment Access, Vivian Hui, Linfang Zhao

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Problem gambling, as a significant mental health issue, has been sparsely researched, especially in how it affects Chinese immigrants. Since the 1999 study by Selina Toy and Annie Wong, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of problem gambling in the San Francisco Chinese community. New data is greatly needed to demonstrate that problem gambling is still prevalent in the Chinese community. The purpose of this study was to utilize the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) to measure the prevalent rate of problem gambling in San Francisco’s Chinese community in comparison to a similar study conducted 16 years ago …

Does Degree Matter? : An Exploration Into The Stigmatization Of Mental Illness By Social Workers And Other Mental Health Professionals, Alexandria R. Huber

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative descriptive study sought to explore any differences in stigmatization by social workers and other mental health professionals. The second research question explored whether mental health professionals felt their degree program actively challenged them to explore stigma towards those with mental illness. Fifty participants completed an anonymous online survey that included the Community Attitudes Towards Mental Illness scale, measuring stigma of mental illness. There were an additional four Likert scale questions exploring stigma of mental illness, and the participants perspectives of their education about stigma. The findings indicated that social workers had a lower mean score on the subscale …

Levels Of Perceived Stress Among Clinicians Who Work With Client Suicidal Behavior With An Organizational Context, Elyse A.S. Chastain

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative study set out to explore the relationship between clinicians’ levels of stress and perceptions of agency or organizational support when working with clients exhibiting suicidal behaviors, attempts or completed suicide, known throughout this thesis as client suicidal behavior (CSB). It is well documented in the literature that clinicians experience a range of personal and professional reactions when working with CSB that, if left unacknowledged, can have negative implications for clinicians, clients and the agency or organization at large. With the theoretical underpinning of person in the environment, the reciprocity between an individual and their environment can be understood. …

Community Based System Dynamic As An Approach For Understanding And Acting On Messy Problems: A Case Study For Global Mental Health Intervention In Afghanistan, Jean-Francois Trani, Ellis Ballard, Parul Bakhshi, Peter Hovmand

Brown School Faculty Publications

Background: Afghanistan lacks suitable specialized mental healthcare services despite high prevalence of severe mental health disorders which are aggravated by the conflict and numerous daily stressors. Recent studies have shown that Afghans with mental illness are not only deprived of care but are vulnerable in many other ways. Innovative participatory approaches to the design of mental healthcare policies and programs are needed in such challenging context. Methods: We employed community based system dynamics to examine interactions between multiple factors and actors to examine the problem of persistently low service utilization for people with mental illness. Group model building sessions, designed …

Substance Use And Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Peruvian Msm Social Media Users, Sean D. Young, Roch A. Nianogo, Chingche J. Chiu, Lucho Menacho, Jerome T. Galea

Social Work Faculty Publications

Peru is experiencing a concentrated HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). Substance use (alcohol and drug use) has been found to be associated with HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. A recent surge in the number of social media users in Peru has enabled these technologies to be potential tools for reaching HIV at-risk individuals. This study sought to assess the relationship between substance use and sexual risk behaviors among Peruvian MSM who use social media. A total of 556 Peruvian MSM Facebook users (ages 18-59) were recruited to complete a 92-item survey on demographics, sexual risk behaviors, …

High Prevalence Of Chlamydia Trachomatis And Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Infections In Anal And Pharyngeal Sites Among A Community-Based Sample Of Men Who Have Sex With Men And Transgender Women In Lima, Peru, Segundo R. Leon, Eddy R. Segura, Kelika A. Konda, Juan A. Flores, Alfonso Silva-Santisteban, Jerome T. Galea, Thomas J. Coates, Jeffrey D. Klausner, Carlos F. Caceres

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study aimed to characterise the epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Lima, Peru.

Setting: Cross-sectional study in Lima, Peru.

Participants: We recruited a group of 510 MSM and 208 TW for a subsequent community-based randomised controlled trial. The presence of CT and NG were evaluated using Aptima Combo2 in pharyngeal and anal swabs. We also explored correlates of these infections. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Study end points included overall prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae in anal and pharyngeal …

Effect Of A Knowledge-Based And Skills-Based Programme For Physicians On Risk Of Sexually Transmitted Reinfections Among High-Risk Patients In China: A Cluster Randomised Trial, Don Operario, Debin Wang, Nickolas D. Zaller, Mei-Fen Yang, Kathleen Blaney, Jing Cheng, Qian Hong, Hongbo Zhang, Jing Chai, Gregory Szekeres, Jerome T. Galea, Thomas J. Coates

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: China is experiencing growing epidemics of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Programmes to train physicians in China on HIV and STI knowledge, diagnosis, treatment, and risk reduction counselling can potentially reduce HIV and STI risk among high-risk patients. We aimed to assess a knowledge-based and skills-based programme for physicians in China to reduce patients' STI risk.

Methods: In this cluster randomised trial, we block randomised counties in two provinces in eastern China to intervention or control groups. In the intervention group, physicians from county general hospitals participated in a structured HIV and STI training programme and received …

Review Of Feeling Lonesome: The Philosophy And Psychology Of Loneliness. Ben Lazare Mijuskovic. Reviewed By Nancy Goldner., Nancy Goldner

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Ben Lazare Mijuskovic, Feeling Lonesome: The Philosophy and Psychology of Loneliness. Praeger (2015), 203 pages, $60 (hardcover).

Maternal Allostatic Load During Pregnancy: Predicting Length Of Gestation, Molly Malany Sayre

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

Allostatic load, or the “wear and tear” on the body due to stress, is thought to have a negative impact on length of pregnancy and contribute to health disparities in preterm birth. However, the magnitude of the effect on birth outcomes is unknown, in part due to questions of timing of measurement of allostatic load during pregnancy. This study used linear regression analysis of data from 156 pregnant women to test whether allostatic load is a predictor of length of gestation in the study sample, finding that third trimester allostatic load predicted length of gestation among women with full-term births. …

Wo’Kikso’Ye!: Live And Remember. Reflections On Akicita Cik’Ila, Little Soldier, Alex Lunderman (1929-2000), Richard William Voss, Joel R. Ambelang

Social Work (Undergraduate) Faculty Publications

It isn’t often that one gets to meet someone like Alex J. Lunderman, Sr. His Lakota name was Akicita Cik’ala (Little Soldier). The co-authors of this reflection worked closely with Alex over the years in different ways. Richard Voss, who is the speaker in this narrative, met Alex (Little Soldier) in his personal spiritual journey that eventually linked to his research interests in a number of collaborations with Alex (Little Soldier) and other Lakota Elders (Voss, R. W., Douville, V., Little Soldier, A., & White Hat, Sr., 1999a; Voss, Douville, Little Soldier, & Twiss, 1999b). Joel Ambelang followed this research …

Engaging Msw Students In Faculty Research: Students’ Perspectives Of Involvement In A Program Evaluation, Rebecca Thomas, Christina M. Chiarelli-Helminiak, Kyle Barrette, Brunilda Ferraj

Social Work (Graduate) Faculty Publications

Engaging social work students in research is challenging, in part, because of the way research is taught in the classroom and the need for learners to effectively develop connections between the “abstract world” of research concepts with the “real world” of professional experiences. This article describes the experiences of graduate social work students involved in a process and outcome evaluation of a community-based program. Analysis of student learning outcomes and the team-based model used to engage students in the evaluation are provided to put forth a paradigm of teaching social work research through direct, supervised, and collaborative engagement.

Determinants Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease, Shabu Varghese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a serious public health problem in the United States. According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), in 2013, Medicare spending alone accounts for $30.9 billion for the treatment-related expenses for ESRD. The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationship of two important determinants, perceived social support and treatment adherence with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of ESRD patients. Using the health belief model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the study explained the theoretical underpinnings of the causal relationships of the patient's perspectives of perceived social support …

Iv-E Waiver Evaluation – Leveraging Intensive Family Engagement (Life) Program Evaluation, Carrie Jeanne Furrer, Thuan Duong, Amanda Cross-Hemmer, Beth L. Green

Child Welfare

In partnership with Oregon’s Department of Human Services, we are conducting qualitative and quantitative research to document the implementation and outcomes of the LIFE program. LIFE is an innovative approach to reducing time in out of home placement by providing intensive, multi-modal interventions that integrate Family Finding, Family Meetings, Parent Mentors, and a focus on family and youth voice in reducing the time spent in care for youth at high risk for long term foster care placements.

Maternal Allostatic Load During Pregnancy: Predicting Length Of Gestation, Molly E. M. Sayre

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Allostatic load, or the “wear and tear” on the body due to stress, is thought to have a negative impact on length of pregnancy and contribute to health disparities in preterm birth. However, the magnitude of the effect on birth outcomes is unknown, in part due to questions of timing of measurement of allostatic load during pregnancy. This study used linear regression analysis of data from 156 pregnant women to test whether allostatic load is a predictor of length of gestation in the study sample, finding that third trimester allostatic load predicted length of gestation among women with full-term births. …

Identifying The Trauma Recovery Needs Of Maltreated Children: An Examination Of Child Welfare Workers' Effectiveness In Screening For Traumatic Stress, Adrienne Whitt-Woosley

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Children in the child welfare system comprise a group characterized by their exposure to trauma via experiences of maltreatment, under circumstances presenting multiple risk factors for traumatic stress. High rates of posttraumatic stress have been observed in this population. However, there is currently no standard for the universal screening of children in child welfare for trauma exposure and traumatic stress. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trauma experiences of a sample of maltreated children and examine whether child welfare workers are effective screeners of traumatic stress symptoms with children from their caseloads. Method: A sample of children …

Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes For Hispanic Consumers In Traditional Settlement Areas And New Immigrant Destinations: A 17-Year Trend Analysis, Karen E. Waddle Cinnamond

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

At the end of the 20^th century, economic and political forces converged to create an unprecedented migration of Hispanics across and within U.S. borders. Many migrated for work in new destinations like the Southeast instead of traditional regions in the Southwest. In the Southeast many communities struggled to meet the economic and social needs of its newest members of a population that grew seemingly overnight.

The state-federal vocational rehabilitation system is an important service to meet the economic and social needs of people with disabilities that impair their ability to work. Current scholarship suggests Hispanics and other minorities experience …

Educational Experiences Of Foster Children And Communication Patterns Of Key Stakeholders: The Foster Parent Perspective, Teresa Hardin

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This research explored the perspective of foster parents on the educational experiences of foster children and experiences of communication patterns with other key stakeholders (social workers, and teachers). Factors focused on were educational experience of foster children, communication patterns, the impact of communication patterns on the educational experience, and barriers to effective communication. Five individuals who were, at the time of the study, foster parents to at least one child were interviewed. Participants openly shared a variety of positive and negative experiences. This study adopted the theoretical framework of Bronfenbrenner’s cultural-ecological theory. Participant interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductive coding …

College-Educated, African American Women's Marital Choices, Katherine M. Oliver

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This study explores the desire to marry, marriageable mate criteria, and marital choices/options as they pertain to college-educated, African American women within today’s society. A purposive, nationally based sample (N = 95) of never married, college-educated, African American women (i.e., 18 to 40 years of age) was gathered via an online survey accessed by an emailed link. A mixed methods approach was utilized within the survey design, followed by data analyses (i.e., frequencies, two-way analyses) interpreted through a theoretical framework of social exchange. Areas discussed include life goals of marriage, cohabitation, and career; romantic barriers; the perceived availability of …

How Therapists Use And Choose Mindfulness To Treat Trauma, Jessica M. King

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This qualitative study used the phenomenological method to examine how therapists use mindfulness therapies and interventions to address trauma-salient issues with their clients. Specifically, it explored therapists’ use of and choices about mindfulness-based treatments when addressing post-traumatic stress symptoms, and trauma-relevant emotion dysregulation and attachment injury. Informants were associate and fully-licensed local therapists, recruited using convenience sampling and snowball sampling by word-of-mouth referrals. Data was collected by semi-structured interviewing. Interview data was analyzed with Moustakas’ (1994) recommended procedures for analysis of phenomenological data. Results, Discussion, Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research are described at the end.

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Self-Management Program For Hispanics In Lexington Kentucky: A Pilot Study, Miguel A. Gamboa Oropeza

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Hispanics are more affected by diabetes than non-Hispanic whites and they tend to experience more severe complications. Research shows that although self-management is poor among ethnic minorities, it is even more so among Hispanics. The “Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes” (TOYD) program has been shown to be successful in helping individuals manage their diabetes. However, no work has been conducted with Hispanic audiences in Kentucky. TOYD program allows individuals to modify lifestyle risks and solve problems related to diabetes management. The program was translated from English to Spanish. Hispanics males and females between ages 19 to 75 years …

Margaret’S Family Tree: A Story Of Hope And Belonging [Simulizi Ya Familia Ya Margareta: Hadithi Ya Matumaini Na Jumuiya], Susan Halverson

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Margaret’s Family Tree: A Story of Hope and Belonging (2016), is a coloring book designed to help children work through their grief in a constructive way and to help them acknowledge feelings about their lost loved ones. The book is written in both English and Swahili. It is illustrated in black and white by Oregon artist Edna M. Kennel. Halvorson-Westerberg is offering it free for duplication to anyone working with children, especially in African countries.

The Use Of Meditation And Yoga As A Treatment Tool For Juvenile Offenders In Residential Treatment Centers For Relapse Prevention, Danielle K. W. Ballard-Green

Graduate Research Papers

Although crime has continued to decline over the last decade, the incarceration of minority youth happens at higher rates compared to their white counterparts. Incarcerated youth face trauma at high rates. Trauma can impact an individual's behavior and response to stress. Many incarcerated youth have substance use disorders (SUDs) and a relapse of substance use can result in a relapse of criminal behavior. When a youth is heavily immersed within the juvenile justice system, they are often placed within residential treatment centers (RTC). There are minimal treatment approaches that are successful within RTCs; they do not address the difficulty the …