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This study investigated the relationship between social phobia, peer attachment, and identity development, within three different countries: China, India, and the USA. It was hypothesized that social phobia interferes with peer attachment, and that poor peer attachment interferes with identity development among late adolescents and emerging adults, thus peer attachment mediates the relationship between social phobia and identity. It was further hypothesized that this relationship between variables is moderated by culture such that in collectivistic cultures, where identity is more dependent upon group affiliation and identification, the interference of social phobia (through peer attachment) on identity would be much greater than in individualistic cultures where identity may be based more on unique characteristics. Participants were 422 undergraduate students from three locations: China (n = 180), India (n = 96), and the USA (n = 146). Results varied by country. For the combined sample collectivism, social phobia, and peer attachment each independently predicted identity. Collectivism also negatively predicted social phobia and positively predicted peer attachment. None of the variables served as a mediator or moderator between the other variables. In the USA sample, collectivism predicted identity but was mediated by peer attachment. Social phobia negatively predicted peer attachment and identity, but was not related to collectivism. In the Chinese sample, peer attachment predicted identity, but was mediated by social phobia. Collectivism predicted identity, but was not related to the other two variables. Among the Indian sample none of the variables predicted identity. A number of possible reasons for these complex results are explored.

This study investigates the connection between one's adult attachment style and one's evaluation of verifying or enhancing comforting messages. Drawing from research by Swann (2005) and Katz and Joiner (2002), the hypothesis predicted that an individual would prefer verifying messages over enhancing messages regardless of attachment style. A research question was also posed: Will an individual's adult attachment style moderate the degree to which a person perceives the communication of verifying or enhancing messages as helpful or effective? In an effort to find these answers, a questionnaire was completed by 251 individuals. Results indicate a preference for verifying messages among participants regardless of attachment style. This is consistent with the findings of Katz and Joiner (2002) and Swann (2005). However, results did not indicate a significant difference between attachment style and a preference of enhancing or verifying messages.

This project, utilizing small groups that draw on group theory (Marianne Schneider Corey & Gerald Corey) and attachment theory (John Bowlby), will begin to close the gap between the Orthodox model of the Home Church and the experience of many Orthodox-Catholic marriages, often living out a kind of familial-religious schism. In response to the challenges of intercultural/interdenominational marriage, resources are presented for couples and families to thrive. A focused curriculum has been developed in conjunction with a support group. It is anticipated that this project will be a launching point for future replicated ministries that attend to Greek Orthodox-Catholic couples.

Die-attachment, as the first level of electronics packaging, plays a key role for the overall performance of the power electronics packages. Nanosilver sintering has becoming an emerging solder-free, environmental friendly die-attach technology. Researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of die-attachment on silver (Ag) or gold (Au) surfaces by pressure-less or low-pressure (< 5 MPa) nanosilver sintering. This study extended the application of nanosilver sintering die-attach technique to copper (Cu) surface. The main challenge of nanosilver sintering on Cu is the formation of thick Cu oxide during processing, which may lead to weak joints. In this study, different processes were developed based on the die size: for small-area dice (< 5 * 5 mm2), different sintering atmospheres (e.g. forming gas) were applied to protect Cu surface from oxidation; for large-area dice (> 5 * 5 mm2), a double-print, low-pressure (< 5 MPa) assisted sintering process was developed. For both processes, die-shear tests demonstrated die-shear strength can reach 40 MPa. The effects of different sintering parameters of the processing were analyzed by different material characterization techniques. With forming gas as sintering atmosphere, not only Cu surface was protected from oxidation, but also the organics in the paste were degraded with nanosilver particles as catalyst. External pressure applied in the processing not only increased the density of sintered Ag, but also enhanced the contact area of sintered-Ag/Cu interface. Microstructure of Ag/Cu interface were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Characterization results indicate that Ag/Cu metallic bonds formed at the interface, which verified the high die-shear strength of the die-attachment. Thermal performance of nanosilver sintered die-attachment on Cu was evaluated. A system was designed and constructed for measuring both transient thermal impedance (Zth) and steady-state thermal resistance (Rth) of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) packages. The coefficient of variation (CV) of Zth measurement by the system was lower than 0.5%. Lead-free solder (SAC305) was applied in comparison of thermal performance with nanosilver paste. With same sample geometry and heating power level, nanosilver sintered joints on Cu showed in average 12.6% lower Zth and 20.1% lower Rth than SAC305 soldered joints. Great thermal performances of nanosilver sintering die-attachment on Cu were mainly due to the low thermal resistivity of sintered-Ag and the good bonding quality. Both passive temperature cycling and active power cycling tests were conducted to evaluate the reliability of nanosilver sintered joints on Cu. For passive temperature cycling tests (-40 - 125 C), the die-shear strengths of mechanical samples had no significant drop over 1000 cycles, and nanosilver sintered IGBT on Cu packages showed almost no change on Zth after 800 cycles. For active power cycling test (Tj = 45 - 175 C), nanosilver sintered IGBT on Cu assembly had a lifetime over 48,000 cycles. The failure point of the assembly was the detachment of the wirebonds. Great reliability performances of nanosilver sintered die-attachment on Cu were mainly due to the low mismatch of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between sintered-Ag and Cu. Meanwhile, low inter-diffusion rate between Ag and Cu prevented the interface from the reliability issue related to Kirkendall voids, which often took place in tin (Sn) -based solder joints. / Ph. D.

Body image or satisfaction with physical appearance has been established as an important aspect of self-worth and mental health across the life span. It is related to self-esteem, sexuality, family relationships and identity. Given the fact that physical appearance is a multifaceted structural concept that depends, not only on inner-biological, but also a psychological and socio-cultural components, the purpose of this study was to examine variables that are related to and influenced by satisfaction with physical appearance. Body mass index (BMI), eating disturbances, attachment (to mother, to father and to peers), global self-worth, parental control, peer influence and pressure regarding eating and media influence were examined in relation satisfaction with physical appearance. College students in a large southeastern university (195 males and 340 females) completed two subscales of Harter's Self-Perception Scale for College Students. Each subject self-reported his/her weight and height and these were used calculate weight/height ratio known as the body mass index. Participants also reported on attachment (to mother, to father and to peers) using the Inventory of Parent and Peer attachment scales (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987), Peer Influence Scale (Mukai, 1993) and the Media Influence scale which was developed for this project. Differences between male and female perceptions of physical appearance in relationship to BMI were found: Among women, higher BMIs were associated with lower scores on perceptions of physical appearance (r = -. 429, p £ .001), whereas for males BMIs were not related to satisfaction with physical appearance. For both males and females, satisfaction with physical appearance was significantly and negatively (r = -.258, p £ .01) associated with media influence. Media influence was related to higher scores on the EAT 26 scale that measured disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors (r = .307, p £ .01). Females were affected by this association more so than were males. However, males appeared to not to be immune to such influence. Peer influence and peer pressure was another influential factor for both gender groups and it was associated with high eating disturbance scores (r = .369, p £ .01 for peer influence, and r = .413, p £ .01 for peer pressure). Attachment variables were associated with satisfaction of physical appearance and global self-worth in a different manner for adolescent females and males. For males, satisfaction with physical appearance was positively related to attachment to mother (r = .135, p £ .05) and father (r = .170, p £ .05) and negatively associated with maternal control (r = -. 246, p £ . 001). For females, only attachment to mother (r = .082, p £ .05) was positively associated satisfaction with physical appearance. While there were many significant bivariate correlational findings, there were few significant coefficients in a regression analyses, presumably because of the high intercorrelations between the predictor variables. For females, BMI was the best predictor of satisfaction with physical appearance, whereas for males, the feeling of global self-worth was the strongest variable in predicting satisfaction with physical appearance. Satisfaction with physical appearance is an essential part of global self-worth and is constructed differently by males and females. For females, high BMI was negatively related to satisfaction with physical appearance as well as global self-worth. On the other hand, for males neither global self-worth nor perceptions of physical appearance were affected by high BMIs. More research is needed to understand the complexity of influences on satisfaction with physical appearance as well as construction of global self-worth and its domains for both sexes. / Ph. D.

The Child Welfare System is faced with an increasing number of children in foster care with a decreasing number of foster homes available for placement. By interviewing adults who were former foster children, this study examines the significance of one caring adult in the life of a foster child. Erik Erikson states that in the first stage of psychosocial development a child learns trust vs. mistrust. For many children entering foster care, this first stage of development has not been achieved, given their experiences in their biological families. In order to protect themselves during this time of mistrust, children exhibit behaviors designed to keep adults at a distance. This poses a problem for foster parents who must try to develop trust with their foster children in an effort to change their behavior. What if anything can be done to help these children learn to trust? The participants were asked to focus on specific behaviors at least one caring adult demonstrated that helped them as foster children, move through their past experiences of mistrust to a place of trusting that caring adult. The concept of attachment theory provided a foundation for the study. / Master of Science

This study examined associations between foster mothers' state of mind in regards to attachment (as measured by the Adult Attachment Projective [AAP]) and foster mothers' descriptions of their foster children (as measured by the Parent Development Interview [PDI]) for 37 foster mothers. Sixteen foster mothers were classified as secure-autonomous while twenty-one were classified as insecure in regards to attachment. Approximately sixty percent of the insecure foster mothers were classified as unresolved with regards to attachment. It was hypothesized that there would be differences between secure and insecure foster mothers on the 13 PDI subscale scores. Results indicated that the two groups (secure and insecure foster mothers) differed significantly on 7 constructs in the PDI; namely pleasure, business of caregiving, achievement, comfort/safe haven, perspective taking, enmeshment, pleasure and pain. Findings suggest foster mothers' attachment status is related to their representations of their foster children. The distributions of attachment classifications in the current study are consistent with those found in other studies and suggest that foster mothers are unresolved in regards to attachment. It is suggested that focus should be on further research and the development of intervention programs related to quality foster parenting. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.

This grounded theory methodology (GTM) study examines the process of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in coming to accept a transgender or gender diverse (TGD) child. Data comes from interviews with 38 Latter-day Saint parents of TGD children and 130 Facebook posts from the same population. Data was analyzed using GTM in coding and theory construction. A model of Latter-day Saint parents' process in accepting a TGD child and the factors that impact that process is presented. The results indicate that coming to accept a TGD child tends to engage Latter-day Saint parents cognitively, emotionally, socially and spiritually, and is a developmental process. We identified four stages of parents' process: assimilation of new perspectives, deconstruction and disequilibrium, reconstruction and accommodation, and acceptance; as well as typical emotional responses in each stage. We found that factors which impacted parents' process included parents' pre-process characteristics and contexts, religiously defined meaning making, social embeddedness, external resources, community building, and spiritual autonomy. Additionally, we found that parents' commitment to their child's wellbeing and connection with their child (i.e., attachment) motivates their process and that their personal spiritual experiences tend to guide it. Parents in the study expressed that their process was both deeply challenging and profoundly spiritually meaningful. Theoretical grounding, clinical implications and recommendations for working with this population are given, as are future directions for research.

This study examined the intake levels of client general anxiety and attachment anxiety andthe relationship of these levels to changes in therapy alliance across the first four couple therapysessions. Participants were 165 couples in a treatment-as-usual setting. Dyadic growth curvemodeling was used to determine whether couple ratings of therapeutic alliance changed overtime and explored the influence of general anxiety and attachment anxiety on therapeutic alliancedevelopment. Results showed that the alliance increased over the first four therapy sessions.Additionally, female alliance ratings across time were positively associated with female generalanxiety and negatively associated with male attachment anxiety. Results also showed that maleattachment anxiety was negatively associated with male alliance ratings across time.