Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychological Sciences / Laura A. Brannon / While many different facets of loneliness have been explored, research examining the efficacy of interventions to reduce it has often been overlooked, particularly among college students. Such research is important, as individuals under 25 years of age experience some of the highest rates of loneliness (Victor & Yang, 2012). Furthermore, while the majority of interventions have targeted the lonely individual, few have examined loneliness from the perspective of those around the lonely person. As a result, the objective of the current dissertation was to not only examine the effectiveness of potential interventions in reducing loneliness among college students, but see what types of targeted messages may be successful in increasing helping behavior towards lonely individuals. In Study 1, participants read one of four different types of messages, including mindfulness, changing maladaptive social cognitions, coping behaviors, and control. Although there were no considerable differences in loneliness levels at Time 2 (likely due to participants not being especially lonely), a significant number of individuals reported favoring the mindfulness technique. In Study 2, five different types of targeted messages were utilized, based on Latané and Darley’s (1970) bystander intervention model. These included the "notice" condition, which focused on increasing awareness of lonely others; the "assume responsibility" condition, where responsibility towards helping lonely others was emphasized (as well as awareness); and the "decide (to help)" condition, which offered specific steps to reach out to lonely individuals (in addition to awareness and responsibility); two control conditions were also employed. Results showed that participants in the "decide" condition were significantly more likely to report feeling prepared and inclined to help in the future. In addition, those in the "assume responsibility" and "decide" conditions also reported significantly increased levels of awareness of lonely individuals at the Time 2 follow-up. Together, such results indicate that mindfulness is a technique worth investigating further with regard to reducing loneliness among college students. Furthermore, in order to increase helping behavior, Study 2 suggests that targeting an individual’s specific stage of change may not be necessary; rather, presenting individuals with all relevant information, perhaps at multiple time points, may be particular efficacious.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Additional advisors: Daniel Anderson, Alison Chapman, Christopher Metress. Description based on contents viewed June 5, 2009; title from PDF t.p.

Loneliness is a common experience for many people (Rubenstein et al., 1979) and most lonely individuals experience a variety of comorbid disorders (Heinrich & Gullone, 2006). Adolescent loneliness is particularly problematic, due to the rapid changes that take place in the peer social world (Laursen & Hartl, 2013). Prior evidence ties loneliness to low group status and victimization (Asher & Paquette, 2003), but we do not fully understand the transmission mechanisms. A full longitudinal mediation design (Fritz & MacKinnon, 2012) was used to test the hypotheses that social withdrawal mediates the association from loneliness to changes in peer status and peer difficulties victimization among adolescents. Results indicated that the longitudinal associations between loneliness and peer outcomes were mediated by social withdrawal. Successful engagement with peers is vital to navigating the complex social world of adolescence, thus the results provide an impetus for aiding lonely adolescents in improving their social connections. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1985. / Bibliography: leaves 58-63.

国立情報学研究所で電子化したコンテンツを使用している。

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Calgary, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-169).

No description available.

As sports become more professionalised and international in scope athletes increasingly migrate from one country to another. These individuals are required to adjust and adapt quickly when moving internationally. Literature on sports migration, however, tends to focus on routes and pathways rather than the effects of movement on the athletes themselves. The aim of this study, therefore, was to explore how the frequent workplace circulation inherent in the lives of highly skilled migrants affects their social selves. Using professional golf as a case study, this project includes an analysis of family issues, relationships between players, pay and conditions, and technical approaches to playing golf. Interviews were conducted with 20 male professional golfers and analysed from a figurational standpoint. As golf tournaments are increasingly staged in a myriad of different countries players are required to spend longer periods of time away from home and experience intense feelings of loneliness and isolation. It is argued that golfers are not isolated in terms of people who they have around them while on tour, but rather in terms of lack of contact with people who they have positive meaningful feelings towards, such as their family and friends. To help reduce this loneliness, golfers develop behaviours that foster temporary we-group alliances with other players they perceive to be similar to themselves. People in such groups are friends, characterised by bonds of togetherness, while also enemies showing evidence of conflicts as they are in direct competition for a share of the overall prize money. Indeed the monetary rewards available for top golfers continues to increase, however, such recompense is only available to small numbers and the majority fare poorly. It is argued that the prize money breakdown fosters internalised behaviour constraints whereby many players 'gamble' on pursuing golf as their main source of income despite the odds against them. This habitus is strengthened given the significant financial investments many players have made to fulfil their childhood dreams, which further blurs their ability to see the reality of their lives. The result is many golfers are constrained to develop networks with sponsors for financial reasons which leaves some with conflicting choices between regular income, and adhering to restrictive contractual agreements, or the freedom to choose between different brands. As such, overall the results of this study highlight the importance of considering the cultural and social adaptations required in the life of a transient migrant.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Liberty University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references.

No man is an island. Across cultures and evolutions, human beings desire to be socially accepted by groups and individuals. Having sustainable and positive social connections with others not only promote physical and psychological well-being, but they also provide easy access to important resources, such as food, protection, and information (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Because ostracism is an aversive interpersonal experience that unjustifiably deprives people's access to important benefits and resources (e.g. Williams, 2007, 2009), ostracized people may feel that they are psychologically entitled to more internal and external rewards than others. These increased feelings of psychological entitlement may then increase their propensity to behave dishonestly. Six experiments were conducted to examine the hypotheses that ostracism increased dishonesty through increased feelings of psychological entitlement. The results revealed that compared to included and control participants, ostracized participants indicated higher levels of dishonest intentions (Experiments 1, 2, and 5) and behaved more dishonestly in a performance task to obtain undeserved money (Experiments 3, 4 and 6). Furthermore, increased feelings of psychological entitlement mediated the effect of ostracism on dishonesty (Experiments 4 to 6). Framing ostracism as an experience that may be beneficial to the self weakened the effects of ostracism on psychological entitlement and dishonest behavior (Experiment 6). Taken together, these findings provide the first experimental evidence that ostracism increases dishonesty. They also highlight the importance of psychological entitlement in explaining and understanding when and why ostracism increases dishonesty. The understanding of the mechanism underlying the effect of ostracism on dishonesty is useful in deciding methods to weaken the connection between ostracism, psychological entitlement and dishonest behavior. Further implications are discussed. / published_or_final_version / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy