Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Farrell J. Webb / The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between chronic stressors-believed to be a condition present by race, sex, and social class and Well-being when mediated by individual resources and perceptions. Additionally, this study examined the utility of the proposed ABC-WB Model of Well-Being adapted from the ABC-X Model. The data used in this dissertation were gleaned from the 2004 General Social Survey which contained a weighted sample of 3,260 respondents. Several observed indicators were used to define each of the latent constructs corresponding to theoretical variables of the ABC-WB model. Each of these constructs contributed to the overall model in some way despite some inconsistent findings. The utility of the model was examined with multiple indicators for Stressor. None of the four research hypotheses were supported by the tested models. The data models were then respecified. This process did not produce any working structural models as well. Nevertheless, the findings revealed that well-being was an important factor to consider in the ABC-WB model. Despite the shortcomings of the model the stressor measurement revealed a direct but mild relationship with well-being. In all the models, Stressor was tempered by Resources and Perceptions both of which had a strong relationship with well-being. The selected models suggested that despite the lack of fit, largely to do with data restrictions rather than model specificity, the overall ABC-WB model has research potential.

Lietuvai įstojus į Europos sąjungą suaktyvėja trumpalaikė ir ilgalaikė žmonių emigracija iš Lietuvos. Susiduriama su nauju reiškiniu – vienas iš tėvų arba abu tėvai vyksta į užsienį užsidirbti, ieškoti geresnių gyvenimo sąlygų, o jų vaikai lieka Lietuvoje giminių arba valstybės globai. Tokia nauja partnerystės forma vadinama „atotolio šeima“. Magistro darbe keliamas tikslas - sudaryti teorinį modelį atotolio šeimų analizei ir atskleisti atotolio šeimų pateikimą televizijos laidoje „Emigrantai“ bei moksleivių laiškuose. Jis realizuojamas pirmoje dalyje analizuojant šeiminę partnerystę emigracijos procesų kontekste (pateikiant emigracijos mastus ir ankstesnius tyrimus atotolio šeimos tema), antroje dalyje aptariant atotolio šeimų tyrimo teorinį lauką (nagrinėjamos emigracijos priežastis aiškinančios teorijos, šeimos teorinės prieigos: L. Ryan, J. Arango, J. Scanzoni, R. M. Milardo, B. Wellman, N. Charles). Remiantis šiomis prieigomis ir R. Hill šeimos streso ABC – X analizės modeliu sudarytas teorinis modelis atotolio šeimų tyrimui, šią partnerystės formą analizuojant kaip šeimą, patiriančią stresą. Pagal teorinį modelį, analizuojant atotolio šeimas svarbu tyrinėti stresorių (A), resursus, padedančius šeimai įveikti stresą (B), šeimos narių stresoriaus vertinimą (C) ir šių trijų veiksnių sukeltas pasekmes šeimai (X). Trečioje empirinėje dalyje atliekami du sociologiniai tyrimai. Pagal sukurtą teorinį modelį atliekamas atotolio šeimos tyrimas, pasitelkiant retai naudojamus... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Emigration rate increases after Lithuania becomes the member of European Union. New phenomenon emerges – parents (or one of them) go abroad to work, to look for better living conditions and their children stay in Lithuania in care of their relatives or state. This phenomenon creates the new family form – “family with parents abroad” (FWPA). The purpose of this work is to suggest the theoretical model for analysis of FWPA and display presentation of FWPA in Lithuanian telecast “Emigrants” and in children’s letters. It is implemented by analyzing family partnership in the context of emigration in the first part (presenting statistics and previous analysis of FWPA) and discussing theoretical field for researches on FWPA in the second part (analyzing theories explaining reasons of emigration, theoretical approaches for family: L. Ryan, J. Arango, J. Scanzoni, R. M. Milardo, B. Wellman, N. Charles). According to those approaches and R. Hill ABC-X model of family stress I frame the model for analysis of FWPA. In FWPA as family under stress analysis it is important to pay attention to stressor (A), recourses, helping family to cope with stress (B), stress definition given by family members (C) and consequences of stress (X). In the third empirical part I present two sociological researches. According to created theoretical model FWPA is analyzed using unusual methods. First research - content analysis of television broadcast “Emigrants”. The goal of the research is to analyze how... [to full text]