Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 230-233).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-166). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-49).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 375-409). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-171). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 86 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-58).

This study tested a structural model, examining the relationship between a latent variable termed demoralization and measured variables (anxiety, depression and hopelessness) in a community sample of Canadian youth. The combined sample consisted of data collected from four independent studies from 2001 to 2005. Nine hundred and seventy one (n=971) participants in each of the previous four studies were high school students (grades 10-12) from three geographic locations: Calgary, Saskatchewan and Lethbridge. Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-Revised (BDI-II), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and demographic survey. Structural equation modeling was used for statistical analysis. The analysis revealed that the final model, including depression, anxiety and hopelessness and one latent variable demoralization, fit the data (chi-square value, X2 (2) =7.24, p<. 001, goodness of fit indices (CFI=0.99, NFI=0.98) and standardized error (0.05). Overall, the findings suggest that close relationships exist among depression, anxiety, hopelessness and demoralization. In addition, the model was stable across demographic variables: sex, grade, and location. Further, the model explains the relationship between sub-clinical anxiety, depression and hopelessness. These findings contribute to a theoretical framework, which has implications with educational and clinical interventions. The present findings will help guide further preventative research in examining demoralization as a precursor to sub-clinical anxiety and depression. / xi, 127 leaves ; 29 cm.

In this study of 120 early adolescents (59 girls, 61 boys), 81 of whom were identified as gifted, overall psychosocial maturity (or social-perspective coordination) was measured and related to academic ability and adolescents' perceptions of friendship quality and self-concept. Gifted status, sex, and grade significantly* predicted overall psychosocial maturity in multiple regression analyses. Conversely, as a group, overall social-perspective coordination, perceptions of one's ability to make and keep friends (close friendship self-concept), academic ability, sex, and grade level predicted the overall quality of adolescents' friendships. Being a female, seventh grader, or adolescent not identified as gifted, significantly predicted friendship quality. In addition, higher developmental levels of psychosocial maturity and close friendship self-concept predicted higher levels of friendship quality. Finally, when a measure of interpersonal negotiation strategies in hypothetical situations was entered into the prediction model in place of overall psychosocial competence, it appeared to be a better predictor of friendship quality. Specifically, higher levels of psychosocial competence were associated with higher levels of help, closeness, and lower levels of social comparison in friendship experiences. Likewise, the ability to think of higher levels of negotiation strategies was associated with higher levels of closeness and help, and with lower levels of social comparison and conflict in friendship experiences. / *Throughout the text, the term significance refers to statistical significance, rather than a meaning of importance.

The purpose of this study was to determine if adolescents who exhibited different profiles with respect to gender and the social-cognitive variables of negative mood regulation expectancy (beliefs regarding one's ability to alleviate negative moods), self-concept, personal uniqueness (a facet of adolescent egocentrism defined as the conviction that one is "special"), and daily hassles differed on current and post-romantic breakup depression levels. Subjects were 72 adolescents (19 males, 52 females, and 1 undesignated gender) attending a medium-sized Midwestern high school located in a city with a population of approximately 70,000. The mean age of the adolescents was 16.5 years. Eighty percent of the participants were White. A romantic relationship was defined as one that was exclusive, acknowledged to exist by both parties, and based on mutual feelings of attraction. All participants experienced a breakup with a romantic partner during the 12 months preceding the study. Self-report measures of depression (one referring to the week just prior to the study and one targeting the first week after the breakup) and the four social-cognitive variables were administered in random order. Results of a K-Means cluster analysis showed that adolescents who reported strong beliefs in their ability to alleviate negative affect, high self-concepts, weak personal uniqueness beliefs, and few hassles experienced the least amount of depression. Conversely, teenagers professing weak mood regulation beliefs, low self-concepts, a strong sense of uniqueness, and many hassles reported the greatest amount of depression. Females' depression scores were higher than males', but the relation was not significant. Notably, 45% of the participants reported current depression levels indicative of the need for further screening. Twenty-five percent of adolescents in the sample had current scores in the "clinically depressed" range. With respect to post-breakup depression, 76% of the teenagers reported scores at or above the screening cutoff point, whereas 51 % had scores indicating clinically significant symptoms.These results suggest that school psychologists and counselors should take seriously the romantic breakups that occur during adolescence. Addressing adolescents' post-breakup depression would be a prime opportunity for these professionals to demonstrate their expertise in the areas of prevention, intervention, and consultation. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of this study was to examine to perceptions of early adolescent girls with regards to friendships, peer relations and stress. Ten early adolescent girls (aged 12-13 years) were interviewed using a semi-structured qualitative format. Findings report that subjects felt a sense of belonging in friendships, as well as experiencing exclusion from friends. In summary, the participants reported that they do experience stress and that it is friends, boys and parents that act as the main stressors in their life. A number of strengths were reported, including friendship as protective factor, empathy and optimism. The Positive Youth Development Framework is identified and implications for future research and social work practice are discussed.