Social Work Commons^™

Reproductive Health In India : An Empowerment Model, Fanghsun Wei

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study examined the effects of social and economic factors on women's reproductive health in India. Primarily, the study analyzed data from the India Human Development Survey I (IHDS-I 2004-2005). Several statistical methods were used to analyze the data, including descriptive analysis, regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and multinomial regression. The regression result suggests that social capital, spousal communication, region, autonomy, and accessibility all have significant positive effects on women's reproductive health in India. The SEM suggests that all independent variables have significant effects on women's reproductive health. Multinomial regression offers similar results as regression. Income has no effect on …

The Struggle And Strength Of Sexual Minorities And Suicidality: A Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis, Albert L. Crump

Social Work Theses - Archive

The researcher conducted a Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) of the intersection of sexual minority status and suicidality. Seven qualitative research studies were identified which included the stories of members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community (n=96). Five overarching themes were discovered: Internal Struggle, External Struggle, Isolation, Internal Strength, and External Strength. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide was used to guide the interpretation of the findings of this QIMS in order to expand the understanding of suicide as it applies to the GLBT community. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Positive Parenting Intervention: As Prevention To Child Maltreatment, Khadra Abdille

Social Work Theses - Archive

One of the biggest social problems in the United States today is child maltreatment. Extensive literature has been written about the problem and many researchers, child welfare workers, and policy makers believe that the astounding numbers of child abuse and neglect is directly associated to poverty and stress among single parents, parental substance abuse, low self-efficacy and ineffective parenting. Studies have proven that there is a strong relationship between child maltreatment (abuse and neglect) and low self-efficacy, substance abuse and poverty. Many studies have suggested that prevention and intervention educational programs can help parents learn positive parenting skills and subsequently …

Emerging Adulthood As A Unique Stage In Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory: Incarnation V. Impudence, Alicia Victoria Patterson

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation adds to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development by adding a stage between adolescence and young adulthood called emerging adulthood. It was theorized that the crisis of emerging adulthood, incarnation versus impudence, is resolved through experimental sexuality, temporal and spatial social and intimate relationships, interdependence and self-sufficiency and dependence and helplessness, and relativist and absolutist ideological experimentation. Research on transitions to adulthood and a sociological phenomenon of emerging adulthood, boomerang children, provide the background for study of Eriksonian emerging adulthood. An online questionnaire was created to collect data to determine if the theorized dimensions of emerging adulthood contribute to …

Using Critical Race Theory To Analyze How Disney Constructs Diversity: A Construct For The Baccalaureate Human Behavior In The Social Environment Curriculum, Amy Cappiccie, Janice Chadha, Muh Bi Lin, Frank Snyder

Faculty Publications - College of Social Work

Utilizing the basic tenets of critical race theory, the authors draw upon the expertise of multicultural scholars to raise consciousness and facilitate BSW classroom dialogue about microagressions perpetrated in Disney animations. Microaggressions pervade our media partly because they typically operate outside the thresh-old of the dominant culture’s conscious awareness. Our main consciousness-raising method is to expose social work students to microagressions depicted in Disney animations and then use the classroom as a counterspace to process the experience. We note that utilizing critical race theory to become conscious of microaggressions within Disney animations is the first step toward eradicating them.

Training Parent Volunteers As Effective Allies In Youth Empowerment Programs, Ria Shroff

Capstone Collection

Empowering adolescent girls is an effective and sustainable way to break the cycle of poverty and initiate a process of worldwide change. It is also extremely challenging, given the traditional perceptions of adolescents as reckless, carefree, incapable of assuming responsibility and unaware of their own needs for success and positive development. While organizations can provide many of the resources that adolescent girls need, the lack of parental support can be detrimental to both the overall development of the adolescent girl, her access to services, her mobility in society and the choices she will have in her future.

In order to …

Editors' Introduction: Revisiting William J. Wilson's The Declining Significance Of Race, Richard K. Caputo, Luisa S. Deprez

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States in November of 2008 prompted the co-editors of this special issue to organize a panel discussion revisiting William Julius Wilson's thesis about race and class in America at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) in 2009. Later that same day at the Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare's (JSSW) editorial board meeting, we recommended that JSSW consider a special issue entitled "The Declining Significance or Race-Revisited" devoted to the thesis Wilson advanced in his now-classic The Declining Significance of Race.

Team Academy Student Attendance Policy, Jenna Lageson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

To create a new student attendance policy for TEAM Academy. To create documentation forms for staff to use to supplement the policy. The goal is to have an attendance policy that will have clearly defined expectations of the parents, students, teachers and other school personnel of TEAM.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Group Curriculum, Julie M. Wood

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The social workers at the MSH are treating many patients who have previous placements in chemical dependency treatment in addition to previous hospitalizations for their mental illness. Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselors (LADC) are employed at the hospital but not on unit 800 which is the crisis and intake unit. The hospital does not have funds available in their budget to add additional LADC staff at the present time.

Having a treatment group focusing on dual diagnosis would enable the patients to receive education and therapy for their addiction issues much earlier in the course of their treatment at MSH. …

Modeling Son Preference In Pakistan, Sadia Saeed

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Gender has become one of the most politicized issues in South Asian countries over the past 100 years. They were expected to cook for the family, clean the house, feed their children, look after all family members, and give birth to a male child. When a woman gave birth to a male child she was considered very respectable in the family. Son preference is one of the oldest issues in most societies, with males given preferential treatment over females. In spite of the rapid advancement in education and communication, the desire for a son continues to remain (NIPS, 1992). Sons …

Women's Disclosure Of Hiv/Aids Status And It's Relationship To Intimate Partner Violence, Yasoda Sharma

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this cross-sectional survey study is to examine the frequency and severity of physical, sexual and emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by women before and after diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. This research also examines the effect of social support on the IPV experienced by these women. During the fall of 2011, women living with HIV/AIDS and receiving services from AIDS Outreach Center located in the southwestern part of the United States were recruited to participate in a study through the purposive sampling method. They were asked to complete surveys about their HIV/AIDS diagnosis, disclosure, level of IPV experienced, …

Exploring Emerging Advocacy Networks Among Ngos Fighting Female Sex Trade Human Trafficking In Japan, Chie Noyori Corbett

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study is an exploratory qualitative research investigating current advocacy networks among NGOs trying to alleviate female sex trade human trafficking (FSTHT) in Japan. The principal objective is to identify the structure, context and process of how advocacy networks are emerging. This study grounds its philosophical belief in constructivism; and constructivist grounded theory inquiry was employed as a research strategy. Data collection was conducted through 9 open-ended telephone or face-to-face interviews, 7 demographic questionnaires through e-mail, direct observation at a conference, and other documentation. The constructivist grounded theory analytical approach guided the analysis stage by observing how participants construct meanings …

Effect Of Urbanization And Level Of Education On Women's Age At Marriage In Yemen, 1997, Nivisha Dinesh Shah

Social Work Theses - Archive

Women's oppression and gender inequality have become predominant concerns of our times with the emergence of concepts such as social justice and human rights. Even after years of intervention, we still find ourselves in the midst of the same struggle. In under developed and developing nations, women are still considered property of the dominant male of the family. This study examined the effects of urbanization and level of education on women's age at marriage. By studying these effects, we try to test the efficiency of developing social culture and its effectiveness.A regression analysis comparing the effects of urbanization and level …

Fear And Hopelessness In Two Types Of Sexually Exploited Women, Ashley Elizabeth Martin

Social Work Theses - Archive

Thirty-four women self-identified as engaging in prostitution and were sampled from two prostitution intervention agencies over a 6 month period. Participants ranged in age from 22 to 55 years old (M = 37.40, SD = 8.43), over half the women had been sexually exploited through pimp-control, and over half the women had been sexually exploited under the age of eighteen. Participants completed a survey related to questions about levels of fear and hopelessness at the time of the sexual exploitation experience.Significant differences were found between women exploited through pimp controlled prostitution versus women exploited through survival sex. Women who had …

Inter-Ministerial Coordination And Collaboration In Social Programs: A Case Study Of The Human Development Program Oportunidades, Guillermina Benavides RincóN

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this research is to use the case study approach to determine how coordination is achieved in the Program for Human Development: Oportunidades (Opportunities). Oportunidades is the largest anti-poverty program in Mexico. The program has its origins in the Program for Education, Health and Nutrition (Programa de Educación, Salud y Alimentación, PROGRESA) implemented in 1997 under the administration of former President Ernesto Zedillo. In 2002 the new elected government change its name to Oportunidades without any substantial changes in its operation. The Program began in 1997 serving 300 thousand families; today 5 million people are enrolled. This means …

Lgbtq Youth: An Exploration Of The Relationship Between The Coming Out Process And Spiritual Intelligence, Kristen Leigh Hohn

Social Work Theses - Archive

This study explored the relationship between coming out and spiritual intelligence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. An online survey that utilized the Gay Identity Questionnaire (GIQ) and the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI) was used to investigate this relationship. Spiritual intelligence is a relatively new concept in the social work field as a method of healing and growing. This can, however, play a potentially important role in empowering LGBTQ youth to overcome negative experiences associated with the coming out process. The results of this study indicate no significant relationship between the GIQ and SISRI. There are, …

Individual, Family, School, And Community Predictors For Depression And Self-Esteem: A Comparative Study Between Asian And Latino Adolescents, Min Ju Kim

Social Work Theses - Archive

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors within the family, school, and community environments of Hispanic and Asian adolescents' that may predict mental health (depression and self-esteem). Another aim was to compare the significant predictors of depression and self-esteem between Hispanic and Asian adolescents. This study used secondary data from Wave II of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS). The target population was 2,114 students (1,008 Hispanics and 1,106 Asians) who were about to graduate from high school and 1,213 parents. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between environmental variables and mental …

Posttraumatic Growth And Positive Macro-Level Outcomes, Patricia Dearman Moser

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Common patterns and themes emerge from the unique experiences of individuals who have managed to turn personal tragedies into positive macro-level outcomes, such as societal change or agency creation. A number of research questions exploring the factors that influence an individual's decision and ability to create positive change from trauma, pain or suffering were explored throughout the study. Interviews and document reviews contributed to the study of why and how some individuals have been able to accomplish such commendable undertakings. A purposeful sample of nine individuals, both males and females, were interviewed. Purposeful and snowball methods of sampling were used …

Lifetime Alcohol Misuse Prevalence Rates Among Sexual Offenders Currently Enrolled In Outpatient Sex Offender Treatment, James P. Foster

Social Work Theses - Archive

Sex offenders' high prevalence of alcohol misuse augments their risk of reoffending. Identifying sexual offenders' alcohol misuse patterns and history is vital to effective treatment that lowers rates of recidivism. The present study seeks to determine the prevalence of lifetime alcohol misuse among individuals participating in court mandated outpatient sex offender treatment. Participants were administered the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). The participants' MAST scores were then separated into categories of, "No Problem (scores 0-5)," "Alcohol Problem (scores 6-8)," and "Alcohol Abuse/Dependence (scores 9+)" to compare with the participants' self-reported alcohol use during their intake assessments. The MAST score ranges …

Reproductive Health Of Tribal Populations In India: A Sustainability Approach, Mashooq Azad Salehin

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

In the context of global climate change, the sustainability approach takes a holistic view of development through preservation of nature during the course of socioeconomic and human development. Reproductive health functions as an integral component of human development, enabling `continuity' of human species through successful `reproductive processes'. Prior studies on reproductive health are restricted to determinants such as fertility, family size, and infant mortality with limited focus on developing a holistic or comprehensive explanation of reproductive health. Although social and economic factors have been identified as reproductive health factor in prior studies, ecological component has been overlooked historically in understanding …

Evaluating Drug Court Effectiveness And Exploring Racial Disparities In Drug Court Outcomes: A Mixed Methods Study, John R. Gallagher

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Mixed methods were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Drug Impact Rehabilitation Enhanced Comprehensive Treatment (D.I.R.E.C.T.) program, and to explore the factors that may contribute to racial disparities in drug court outcomes. The D.I.R.E.C.T. program is an adult drug court located in Fort Worth, Texas. The most predictive variables of graduating the D.I.R.E.C.T. program were being employed or a student at time of admission into the program, having fewer positive drug tests, and being Caucasian. The most predictive variables of not recidivating were not having a violation within the first 30 days of the program and graduating the program. …

Teenage Waist-Land: Social And Environmental Determinants Of Childhood Obesity, Shing Pang

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

In the past three decades, childhood obesity has emerged as a growing concern for authorities in diverse disciplines. Authorities in law, economics, medicine, nursing, psychiatry, education, and social work have dedicated research and resources in an attempt to arrest or reverse this alarming trend. Guided by existing gaps in contemporary research, this study expanded the knowledge base by examining the social and environmental determinants of childhood obesity for youths aged 13 to 17 year-olds. The social and environmental determinants of this research were guided by the Ecological Systems Theory and Social Capital Theory, and those determinants included academic development, medical …

Examining Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Among A Sample Of Individuals In Opioid Treatment Programs, Erin Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

National rates of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) are rising alongside increasing reports of prescription opioid abuse and mortality. Associations between the rise in CNCP and in opioid abuse seem logical, yet research on CNCP among individuals with opioid dependence is currently limited due to the complicated nature of comorbid conditions in research and treatment. This study aims to expand the CNCP knowledge base by responding to the question: Do individuals with CNCP participating in an opiate treatment program have better or worse treatment outcomes than individuals without CNCP?

This study used a secondary dataset including 483 adults from Kentucky’s Opiate …

School Social Workers And Multiple Supervisees, Michelle Krueger

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

There are a limited number of school social workers in District #77, Mankato Area Public Schools. There are two school social workers who provide services in eleven elementary schools and middle/high schools as needed. It was proposed that if there were five or six school social work interns who could primarily provide direct services, the school social workers could perform more of a supervisory role. “Group Supervision lessens dependence on the supervisor and offers a supportive peer environment which lessens anxiety and enhances self-efficacy” (Bogo, Cloberman, & Sussman, 2004).

Research Questions: How effective is group supervision? What are the pros …

Reflections And The Narrative Turn In Social Work, Benjamin C. Shepard

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Physical Health Challenges Impacting Young Individuals With Major Mental Illness, Ryan P. Melton

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

Research has found that individuals who suffer from major mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are dying on average 15-25 years earlier than those who do not suffer from schizophrenia.1 Many causes for this shortened lifespan are suspected. Those causes include: lack of access to health care, suicide, poverty, substance use and side effects from anti-psychotic medications. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has challenged mental health providers treating major mental illness to address this disturbing trend by promoting their “10x10” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to increase the lifespan of individuals who suffer from major …

Identifying Potential Mediators And Moderators Of The Association Be-Tween Child Maltreatment And Bullying Perpetration And Victimization In School, Jun Sung Hong, Dorothy L. Espelage, Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, Paula Allen-Meares

Social Work Faculty Publications

A growing body of literature is demonstrating associations between childhood maltreatment and bullying involvement at school. In this literature review, five potential mediators (explanatory) and three potential moderators (mitigates or exacerbates) of the association between childhood maltreatment and school bullying are proposed. Mediators include emotional dysregulation, depression, anger, and social skills deficits. Moderators reviewed include quality of parent-child relationships, peer relationships, and teacher relationships. Although there might be insurmountable challenges to addressing child maltreatment in primary or universal school-based prevention programs, it is possible to intervene to improve these potentially mediating and moderating factors.

Epilepsy Postings On You Tube: Exercising Individuals’ And Organizations’ Right To Appear, Lawrence A. Kerson, Toba Schwaber Kerson

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Faculty Research and Scholarship

Philosopher Hannah Arendt maintains that everyone has the right to appear in public as an embodied, singular individual. Because of the stigma attached to epilepsy, many with this condition are denied this right. Using grounded theory techniques, the authors analyze uploads of epilepsy on YouTube. The authors argue that personal uploads on YouTube are the only mass media examples in which those with epilepsy can exercise their right to appear without the interpretation of intermediaries. Emerging themes relating to ”the right to appear” allow social workers to deepen understanding of this and other devastating, often invisible and sometimes life-threatening illnesses.

Fathers' Opinions Concerning Parenting Resources And Practices: An Exploration Of Culture And Technology, Valentina Djelaj

Wayne State University Theses

ABSTRACT

FATHERS' OPINIONS CONCERNING PARENTING RESOURCES AND PRACTICES: AN EXPLORATION OF CULTURAL COMPONENTS AND TECHNOLOGY ON PARENTING

by

VALENTINA DJELAJ

May 2012

Advisor: Dr. Shawna J. Lee

Major: Social Work

Degree: Master of Social Work

Fathers' involvement in child rearing is extremely beneficial to children. However, there are currently many barriers that exist, which do not allocate fathers to receive specific parental resources. For decades, fathers admit needing services and resources but are often denied for various reasons.

This study explored fathers' opinions about the parenting information and parenting resources they receive or would like to receive, cultural and spiritual …

Student Perceptions Of Minnesota State University, Mankato's Alcohol And Drug Policy, Renee Lips-Bush

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of students’ perceptions of the current alcohol and other drug use policy at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) now and in the future. The study explores undergraduate students’ perceptions through surveys disseminated in the fall of 2010 and fall of 2011. The study is part of a four year longitudinal study, which began in 2010 after the implementation of a revised alcohol and other drug use policy.