Browsing by Subject "Support"
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Item Acculturation and psychological distress among first generation Asian Americans : the roles of acculturative stress and social-cultural resources(2013-05) Jung, Sooin; Holahan, Carole K.Most acculturation research has been focused on the direct relationship between acculturation and mental health (Yoon, Langrehr, & Ong, 2011; Salanta & Lauderdaleb, 2003; Koneru, Weisman de Mamania, Flynn, & Betancourt, 2007). However, less is known about the mechanisms for this relationship. Social-cultural resources such as friend and neighbor support may have a beneficial impact on mental health, and acculturative stress such as the level of family conflict and perceived racial discrimination would be expected to be risk factors (Kawachi & Berkman, 2001; Wolff & Agree, 2004; Gong et al., 2003; Kerr-Correa, Igami, Hiroce, & Tucchi, 2007). The present study investigated the mediating roles of acculturative stress and social-psychological resources in the relationship between acculturation and psychological distress among first generation Asian Americans. Data were from 1528 Asian Americans who participated in the National Latino and Asian Americans Study (NLAAS), a nationally representative study of the Asian immigrant population in the U.S. Using structural equation modeling with latent variables, direct and indirect influences on Asian immigrant psychological distress were examined. The findings indicate that higher acculturation was not directly associated with psychological distress for Asian immigrants, but there was an indirect pathway from higher acculturation to poorer mental health through acculturative stress. Asian immigrants with higher levels of acculturation experienced more acculturative stress, which contributed to more psychological distress symptoms. However, this finding was moderated by gender, holding only for women. On the other hand, while a higher level of acculturation was also associated with more perceived social resources, the expected protective effect of these resources was not present. The findings show the complex relationship between acculturation and psychological distress during the acculturative process of Asian immigrants.Item Hispanic cancer patients’ attitudes toward Internet cancer support groups(2009-12) Guevara, Enrique; Im, Eun-Ok; Brown, Sharon A., 1943-Previous studies suggest that the reasons that Hispanics do not use support groups might include utilizing the family as an informal support group structure, the use of spiritual support, language barriers, the lack of access to a computer and the Internet, the lack of face-to-face interactions in Internet groups, and the lack of cultural competence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of Hispanics toward Internet cancer support groups (ICSGs) and reasons for the lack of participation in ICSGs. In this feminist qualitative study, 30 Hispanic individuals who were receiving cancer care were contacted for telephone interviews. The participants were interviewed to obtain their responses to questions related to current use and interest in using ICSGs. The researcher used qualitative thematic analysis to analyze the data. Four major themes arose. They were the need for a strong social network, attitudes about information access, concrete barriers to obtaining support, and the need for respect and empowerment. The major theme of “a strong social network” includes five sub-themes: (a) differences in online and face-to-face communication; (b) loneliness, isolation; (c) existence or lack of familial support; (d) spiritual support; and (e) informal support. Participants had mixed attitudes about information access. Positive attitudes were more common and included wanting to learn about their disease and learn how to obtain information and support via computer. Some participants did not want to obtain information, and some had negative attitudes about learning to use the computer. Many participants did not own a computer and had transportation problems that limited their access to a computer. The theme involving the need for respect and empowerment addressed the empowering use of Spanish in support of Hispanic cancer patients and empowerment via the group leader, who was Hispanic. The findings suggest a need to develop culturally competent ICSGs for Hispanics. One goal would be to augment instead of replace support. For example, an ICSG could have a spiritual basis, or there might be several ICSGs—one each for patients, families, and supporters such as friends from church. ICSGs also could target people without these supports. The existing knowledge should be used to provide direction for future research and for the development of cancer support groups that could meet the unique needs of Hispanic cancer patients.Item Living well with aphasia : spousal involvement as an integral component in stroke recovery(2011-05) McCabe, Kathryn Rose; Harris, Joyce L.; Shamapant, ShilpaStroke has the ability to chronically alter both a person’s understanding and or use of language. Aphasia is a term that represents the loss or impairment of language function as a consequence of brain damage caused by a stroke and current data reveal that at least 25% of all strokes result in aphasia. Spouses often play a pivotal role in a stroke patient’s journey towards recovery. For this reason, there is a dire need for increased knowledge regarding spousal psychosocial welfare and increased insight into the experiences of these individual’s altered life situations. This paper considers aphasia, by nature of its deficits, a family disorder. Additionally, the contents of this paper explore the significance of caregiver coping strategies and ongoing caregiver involvement in recovery as a mechanism towards increased well being. Evidence to confirm the effects of stroke on spouses, as well as to support involvement of spouses in speech-language treatment to facilitate living well with aphasia, was obtained through primary and secondary research. Primary research was compiled through a telephone interview with the spouse of a 62-year-old male with aphasia while secondary research was conducted through an extensive literature search from 2000 to 2011.Item Parents learning online : informal education on parenting through online interactions examined from a community of practice perspective(2010-08) Matthews, Megan Renee; Schallert, Diane L.; Robinson, DanielThis study investigated the online interactions of parents using the constructs of Wenger’s (1998) community of practice theory. Parents were surveyed and blogs and comments selections were examined to determine whether a communities of practice perspective would be appropriate as a construct to examine parents’ online interactions, and whether parents could gain similar benefits to those found from face-to-face parent support groups. This study provides evidence to support the utility of parents’ online interactions and the relevance of a community of practice perspective as analyzed with the components of Wenger’s (1998) Communities of Practice Theory.Item Resilience in youth under investigation for maltreatment exposure : perceptions of support, monitoring and school engagement and the effects on self-reported delinquency(2015-08) Lamari-Fisher, Alexandra; Keith, Timothy, 1952-; Carlson, Cindy I; Sander, Janay B; Sherry, Alissa; Thompson, SannaIn national surveys of youth being investigated as potential victims of maltreatment, outcomes suggest that being involved with Child Protective Services (CPS), regardless of the final case determination, can be considered a risk event, changing youth’s life trajectory and increasing the likelihood of negative outcomes as they enter young adulthood. The negative outcomes these youth experience as young adults— increased risk of poverty, higher rates of mental health symptoms, higher rates of domestic violence—have been shown to be risk factors associated with becoming a perpetrator of child maltreatment. Applying a resiliency framework to the issue of maltreatment shifts the focus from psychopathology to positive adaptations despite risk exposure. The building blocks of the resiliency framework are protective mechanisms, variables that can shift a potentially negative life trajectory by promoting positive adaptations in three core areas of competencies: social, academic and conduct. This study was designed to examine the potential protective effects of perceived support by a caregiver, perceived monitoring, and school engagement, using delinquency as a measure of conduct competence. Support by caregiver is defined by qualities such as warmth and security, as well as supporting adolescent autonomy development. Previous research has shown that for most adolescents a positive, supportive relationship with a caregiver serves as a protective mechanism reducing the likelihood of engagement in delinquent acts. Research has shown that adolescents who are actively monitored by adult caregivers are less likely to experience negative outcomes. School engagement has more mixed results depending on the underlying components examined and the population being studied. A latent variable structural equation model (SEM) was developed and tested using a sample of 1054 youth aged 11 to 17 who were involved with Child Protective Services. Participants were drawn from the National Survey for Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW-II). The SEM model tested the direct effects of the latent variables of perceived support, perceived monitoring, and school engagement, as measured at baseline, on overall delinquency and on subtypes of delinquency 18 months later. Results of the study suggested that higher levels of perceived support by a caregiver led to reduced reports of subsequent minor offenses. Youth who reported higher levels of monitoring by caregivers at baseline reported higher levels of offenses against persons and minor offenses 18 months later. Conversely, youth who reported higher levels of school engagement at baseline reported significantly lower levels of offenses against people and property and fewer minor offenses 18 months later. Results of this study highlight the important role schools play as a resource for at-risk youth, supporting positive adaptation. The unexpected outcomes associated with monitoring imply how and when monitoring is measured can affect delinquency.Item Romantic partner communication about weight management: impact of personal and relational characteristics on message interpretation and health attitude outcomes(2009-05) Richards, Andrea Ann; Dailey, René M.Guided by a conceptual framework regarding how supportive messages interpreted as negatively controlling are related to individuals’ relational health and weight management efforts, this research explored participants’ interpretations of their romantic partner’s weight management messages in a two-phase study. In phase one, college students were presented with a sample of supportive weight management messages. Participants were asked to describe the degree to which each message communicated support and negative control as well as respond to items concerning their personal and relational characteristics. In phase two, participants were asked to report a memorable weight management message they received from their current romantic partner. These messages were then assessed for their degree of support and negative control by the participant. Additionally, students responded to measures concerning how perceptions of their health attitude and relational qualities changed after receiving the message. Results from phase one indicated that readiness to change, body esteem, external and internal locus of control, history of received support, and level of relational distress were all significant predictors of interpreting a supportive weight management message as negatively controlling. Phase two results indicated that perceived negative control in a partner’s weight management message is a significant predictor of perceived level of trust in their relationship, weight management commitment, exercise self-efficacy, diet self-efficacy, and perceived negative change in relational quality. The relevance of perceived negative control for relational functioning and health attitudes is discussed.Item Romantic relationship dissolution and health outcomes(2016-05) McDonald, Meagan Ann; Loving, Timothy J.; Gleason, Marci; Neff, LisaThe purpose of this study was to test the prospective association between perceived social support and mental and physical health outcomes following a romantic breakup. Additionally, I tested whether an individual’s dependence on his or her partner prior to their relationships’ termination moderated the degree to which perceived social support buffered individuals from negative health outcomes following romantic relationship dissolution. I drew on an extant dataset that included 97 individuals who experienced a romantic breakup at some point during the study’s 9-month duration. All participants completed baseline measures of mental and physical health as well as perceived social support during the first six months of their romantic relationships. They also completed measures of romantic relationship dependence every two weeks up until reporting their relationship’s termination. Upon breakup, participants completed assessments of mental and physical health. Consistent with the limited research documenting a prospective link between perceived social support and mental health (and study hypothesis), social support and relationship dependence interacted to predict mental health following a breakup (controlling for baseline mental health, sex, and breakup initiator status). Results are discussed in the context of the broader social support literature and a framework for future studies on this topic is provided.Item Sibling group cohesion : a definition, validation, and power in predicting perceived personal achievement(2012-05) Wheeler, Karyn Marie, 1985-; Anderson, Edward Robert; Neff, Lisa; Dix, Theodore; Green, Christine; Kramer, LaurieThe goals of this study are to describe the importance of developing a measure of sibling group cohesion, to define this measure, to test the validity of the measure using similar constructs, and to explore how sibling group cohesion predicts perceived personal achievement. Sibling group cohesion is defined as an individual’s voluntary commitment to one’s group of siblings, which forms an open unit. A 12-item scale of adult sibling group cohesion is developed and validated. Adult siblings from sibling groups of 3 or more were asked to take an online survey and 541 participants from 184 families completed the survey. Three theories are proposed for how sibling group cohesion could impact achievement: support, expectations, and shared identity theories. Results indicate that sibling group cohesion is related to, but still unique from, the average and standard deviation of dyadic sibling relationship positivity quality. Individuals from larger families, who have a high proportion of siblings who inspire them, and who have high and consistently positive dyadic relationships report having high sibling group cohesion. Additionally, results from this study show sibling group cohesion is a strong positive predictor of two measurements of perceived personal achievement. The predictive power of sibling group cohesion is stronger than that of the average of dyadic sibling relationship positivity, and is mediated by a combination of support, average dyadic positivity, and demographic variables. Specifically, receiving active and emotional support, as well as being introduced to activities by a majority of one’s siblings is predictive of better achievement.Item Youth, Art, and Life on the Border: An Examination of Coping and Support among Participants in a Migrant Art Program(2012-07-16) Ramirez-Mann, LauraThis case study examined coping strategies and support systems utilized by 33 children of Hispanic migrant farmworkers from Fabens, Texas. The youth participated in the summer 2011 Creative Kids Incorporated Migrant Program in El Paso, Texas. The study examined how socio-ecological factors, specifically within Creative Kids Inc., help youth to cope with risk factors and aid in the resilience process. This study applied both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative portion consisted of 12 in-depth program participant interviews, ages 9-15, and observations at Creative Kids Inc. The quantitative portion consisted of a survey that utilized the Brief Adolescent Life Event Scale, the Children Coping Strategies Checklist, and the Multi-Dimensional Support Scale. Thirty-four surveys were distributed, and 33 surveys were analyzed from program participants ages 10-15. The study found the youth were affected by various risk factors within their environment, such as poverty, separation from family, and school. When adapting to stress, most youth utilized behavioral-based distraction strategies (i.e., listening to music and playing outside) and cognitive-based avoidance strategies (i.e., not thinking about their problem) to cope. The youth did not use active coping strategies as often as avoidance strategies. However, some support seeking strategies were mentioned. Most often, youth sought support from parents and older siblings. While the youth sought support from their teachers, it was mainly in regard to school work. Similarly, youth sought support from Creative Kids Inc. staff concerning their art projects. Families were beneficial to youth in the coping process, because they provided youth with opportunities for distracting activities as well as some support. Although the youth strongly enjoyed participating in the Migrant Program, they rarely sought support for personal stressors or problems from the staff. Yet, the program provided youth with opportunities to participate in distracting activities, express their feelings, and seek out support. Despite the lack of literature on children of Hispanic migrant farmworkers and the factors that influence their resilience, this study provided an in-depth description of how they cope with daily life events, what support systems are available to assist in overcoming risks, and provided a basis for understanding the role of support systems in facilitating resiliency among this adolescent group.