Thesis (D. Min.)--Harding University Graduate School of Religion, 2008. / Description based on microfiche version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-178).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Sociology, August 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

No description available.

This study forms a subsection of an inter-university research project regarding the resilience of children in late middle childhood, in the South African context. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether any differences exist between the coping of children from intact and divorced families. It appears that resilience and coping are important components of psychological wellbeing, which can promote or inhibit psychological well-being. During recent years the effect that divorce has on children has enjoyed considerable interest. Literature on the main components of this study, namely divorce and coping, maintains that divorce is a traumatic process, causing multiple stressors for parents as well as children. It is also clear that children are usually capable of handling the negative aspects related to divorce, provided that they enjoy a support network consisting of family members, peer groups and teachers. Most of the research continues to indicate a basically negative influence of the divorce experience and process. Secondly a review of stress and coping literature was offered, with reference to the manifestations of such phenomena amongst children from divorced families. The important role played by coping in the lives of children and the manner in which it directly relates to their development, adaptation and psychological well-being. Amongst children, coping serves as a protection factor against stressors, such as divorce, for instance, and it contributes to resilience. During the empirical study the study population consisted of children in their late middle childhood (grades 4-7). The children were selected by means of a random availability test out of various schools in the various South Atiican provinces, after which participants were randomly selected by means of class lists. Despite the scope of the research project, only the data pertaining to 653 children was of use in the current study, following the practical problems experienced during the project and the fact that several researches handled the processing of the data. For the purpose of the study under discussion, data pertaining to 73 children from divorced families and 580 children from intact families was used. The study used the "Stress Response Scale" (SRS) as a measuring instrument, as well as biographical questionnaire, in order to determine the number, gender and ages of the children from intact and divorced families respectively. None of the subscales provided any statistically significant results and no practically significant differences were indicated in respect of coping between children from intact and divorced families. Concluding the study, recommendations are made for further research in this field and practical suggestions are given for the implementation of the findings that were anived at. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the narrative strategies within the family unit in Harriette Arnow's novel, The Dollmaker. The analysis of the narrative strategies reflected in family stories offered insight into how family members are "identified" or bonded to the family unit. A critical construct was proposed using Kenneth Burke's theories of substance, identification and consubstantiality for the analysis of family narratives as a means of familial identification.Four narrative themes were isolated which typified the storytelling activity in the family.The analysis revealed patterns of language, images and related rhetorical dimensions which affected the process and degree of familial identification. The analytical tool developed for this study was demonstrated to be of considerable utility when applied to a literary artifact. Further refinement of this tool would result in a more workable instrument for analyzing the storytelling activity which permeates the family unit.

Clinical observations of families with a member who displays bulimia have suggested that more than one family interaction pattern exist. The purpose of this study was to investigate these clinical observations using three self-report questionnaires: FACES-III, Binge Scale, and a demographic instrument including items regarding three identifiable family types. Data was collected from hospitals who treated persons displaying bulimia and eating disorder treatment centers. A total of 70 women, ages 13 to 39, and both parents of each woman included in the study (Total N = 210).Responses to the FACES-III and certain items on the demographic questionnaire were analyzed using chi-square and one-way ANOVAs with Tukey's follow-up procedure when necessary. Each of the 70 families were identified on the Circumplex Model, but because of methodological concerns only 57 families were used to test most of the hypotheses.Hypothesis One, which stated that more than 50% of the families would be classified as either moderately or extremely dysfunctional, was accepted. Sixty-four percent of the families were labeled moderately or extremely dysfunctional. Hypothesis Two, which claimed that there would be no differences between types of families in terms of the age and birth order of the member displaying bulimia and the number of siblings in the family, was also supported. There were no significant differences found among families with regards to the age and birth order of the daughter or the number of siblings in the family. Hypothesis Three, which asserted that types of families would not differ in terms of the parents' relational status, was accepted as well, but cautiously interpreted. Of the parents, 96.5% were married, while one set was divorced and another separated. Hypothesis Four, which stated that families would differ with respect to their degree of family satisfaction, was also supported. Functional families claimed feeling more satisfied than dysfunctional families. Hypothesis Five, which claimed that types of families would differ in terms of their previous and current level of closeness, was accepted. Dysfunctional, as compared to functional, families reported significantly less family satisfaction previously and currently. Finally, Hypothesis Six, which asserted that types of families would differ with respect to their degree of chaos, perfection, and overprotection, was partially supported. Dysfunctional families claimed to experience greater degrees of chaos and perfection than functional families.Relying on the Circumplex Model of family functioning, results suggest that there are identifiable differences in the family structures of families where one member displays bulimia. Findings from this study may assist therapists when conceptualizing and treating various types of families that are struggling with the interpersonal and emotional effects of bulimia. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This study forms a subsection of an inter-university research project regarding the resilience of children in late middle childhood, in the South African context. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether any differences exist between the coping of children from intact and divorced families. It appears that resilience and coping are important components of psychological wellbeing, which can promote or inhibit psychological well-being. During recent years the effect that divorce has on children has enjoyed considerable interest. Literature on the main components of this study, namely divorce and coping, maintains that divorce is a traumatic process, causing multiple stressors for parents as well as children. It is also clear that children are usually capable of handling the negative aspects related to divorce, provided that they enjoy a support network consisting of family members, peer groups and teachers. Most of the research continues to indicate a basically negative influence of the divorce experience and process. Secondly a review of stress and coping literature was offered, with reference to the manifestations of such phenomena amongst children from divorced families. The important role played by coping in the lives of children and the manner in which it directly relates to their development, adaptation and psychological well-being. Amongst children, coping serves as a protection factor against stressors, such as divorce, for instance, and it contributes to resilience. During the empirical study the study population consisted of children in their late middle childhood (grades 4-7). The children were selected by means of a random availability test out of various schools in the various South Atiican provinces, after which participants were randomly selected by means of class lists. Despite the scope of the research project, only the data pertaining to 653 children was of use in the current study, following the practical problems experienced during the project and the fact that several researches handled the processing of the data. For the purpose of the study under discussion, data pertaining to 73 children from divorced families and 580 children from intact families was used. The study used the "Stress Response Scale" (SRS) as a measuring instrument, as well as biographical questionnaire, in order to determine the number, gender and ages of the children from intact and divorced families respectively. None of the subscales provided any statistically significant results and no practically significant differences were indicated in respect of coping between children from intact and divorced families. Concluding the study, recommendations are made for further research in this field and practical suggestions are given for the implementation of the findings that were anived at. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-118).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 28, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-42).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-118).