Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis investigates the functions and roles of victim support groups and their leaders in Northern Ireland. In doing so, this thesis employs social capital theory as a conceptual apparatus for understanding leadership roles and the functions of victim support groups. This thesis is the product of a qualitative case study of victim leaders in Northern Ireland. The data was collected through qualitative semi-structured interviews with victim support group leaders and policymakers. In the findings chapters of this thesis, a typology of leadership emerges from the data, revealing three distinct types of leaders – Shepherds, In Loco Parentis and Social Innovators – that help explain the roles of victim leaders and the reasons why they engage in certain types of group activities over others, specifically, activities which contribute to bonding, constriction or bridging social capital. The findings reveal that one of the main roles of victim leaders centers around the bonding and bridging of social capital in their groups. Consequently, around 80 percent of victim support groups were found to be bonding, whereas only 20 percent of groups were bridging. Moreover, around 20 percent of victim support groups were engaged in dysfunctional bonding, possibly leading to constriction. These findings have negative implications for the social inclusion of victims, as well as the social cohesion of wider society. This thesis argues that the reasons why victim groups bond, bridge or constrict is directly related to two factors: the type of leadership employed in each group and government policies and funding strategies that reinforce exclusivity and fail to encourage bridging. This thesis also makes significant contributions to the scholarly literature on Northern Ireland’s victims, government policy and social capital theory. The conclusion of this thesis argues that social capital theory and constrict theory both fail to fully explain the roles of victim groups and their leaders because the conceptualizations of these theories do not take into account the effects of leadership in groups and social trust that has been traumatized by protracted political violence. Thus, this thesis re-conceptualizes social capital theory and constrict theory by adding traumatized trust and leadership as important variables which help explain the roles of victim support groups and their leaders in divided and transitional settings. Finally, this thesis offers suggestions for policymakers and victim leaders on a social capital strategy that aims to increase positive forms of social capital and discourage constriction.

No description available.

Over the past decade results from a series of research studies have contributed to the development and evaluation of the Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP), a volunteer-led patient education program for persons with arthritis. To date, these studies have primarily focussed on program effectiveness, process, implementation, and dissemination. In these studies self-efficacy was identified as an important construct contributing to the program's effectiveness, however, the exact relationship between self-efficacy and health outcomes has not been determined. In this dissertation research I investigate the evidence of a causal relationship between self-efficacy and three program outcomes (a decrease in depression, less pain, and a higher self-rating of overall health status), and attempt to determine the nature of that relationship. The research methodology involved the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) with two longitudinal samples, one (n=122) of 1991 ASMP participants in British Columbia, the other (n=189) of 1992 ASMP participants in Ontario. In the analysis self-efficacy was paired separately with depression, pain and perceived health status. The results of the SEM failed to confirm a dominant causal relationship from self-efficacy to depression, or to pain. This may indicate that these variables have a reciprocal or "spiral" relationship or that both sets of variables may be caused by factors not considered in the analysis. The results of the SEM between self-efficacy and perceived health status did, however, show that higher self-rated health status leads to higher self-efficacy at a later time. The data did not show statistical significance for other causal patterns among these variables. The findings suggest that self-efficacy may play a moderator role in the complex relationship involving individuals with arthritis, their behaviors, and health outcomes. As well, the findings have implications for health promotion planning and research in that they reinforce the complex interplay of psychological and behavioral variables (probably influenced by social variables) in programs which attempt to give individuals greater control over their health. The efficacy and effectiveness of the ASMP has been established in previous studies. This study in no way calls these into question. It does, however, suggest that the mechanism by which these effective outcomes are achieved warrants further investigation.

This report is the result of a field study conducted in the southern part of Zambia, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how self-help facilitation provided by the organisation Response Network can contribute to the empowerment of people living with disabilities in the context of rural Zambia. We interviewed four people working for the organisation as well as the principal responsible of youth with disabilities in a rural high school. We also conducted two focus group interviews with two disability support groups in a rural village. The results of this study were analysed using empowerment theory and systems theory. Our findings showed that self-determination, education and participation were contributing to the empowerment of people with disabilities. Level of attitudes, understanding and motivation were shown to be important factors which impact the empowerment of people with disabilities.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "August, 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-85). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007. / Prepared for: Dept. of Maternal Child Nursing. Bibliography: leaves 131-143. Also available online via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Sociology)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2004. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-122).