Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern in the United States that puts women at increased risk for negative health and vocational outcomes. Severity and duration of negative outcomes, however, vary widely among trauma survivors, with some women developing more severe, negative outcomes and others developing less severe or fewer negative outcomes, or none at all. The study of cognitive appraisals for trauma, or an individual's assessment of her/his beliefs, feelings, and behaviors after a traumatic event, shows promise for illuminating what, and how, post-trauma outcomes develop for trauma survivors. Few studies have examined cognitive appraisals of trauma in relation to IPV, and none to date have examined them in relation to physical health and vocational outcomes. The purpose of this dissertation study was to use a correlational, descriptive, non-experimental, survey research design to examine whether trauma appraisals mediate the relationships among a broad range of IPV experiences and mental health, physical health, and vocational outcomes for adult women IPV survivors. Participants were a community sample of 158 women who had experienced IPV in adulthood. Participants were recruited from multiple community organizations and completed surveys online or in-person or over-the-phone with the principal investigator. Stepwise linear regressions were used to analyze the mediation models, and linear regressions were performed to examine how specific trauma appraisals predicted physical health and vocational outcomes. Dissertation study findings showed that trauma appraisals significantly and fully mediated the relationship between IPV experiences and mental health outcomes for women, with appraisals of fear, alienation, and anger significantly predicting mental health outcomes. When childhood betrayal trauma was controlled for within this model, however, trauma appraisals only partially mediated the relationship between IPV and trauma-related mental health. A mediation model was not used for physical health and vocational outcomes, but findings revealed that appraisals of self-blame and anger significantly predicted physical health outcomes, and appraisals of anger and shame significantly predicted vocational self-efficacy outcomes. These findings highlight the importance that trauma appraisals play in the development of a broad range of outcomes for IPV survivors. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

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Individuals and organizations must continuously improve to succeed in today’s competitive economic climate, yet a major dilemma in tough economic conditions is that the resources needed to support such proactive improvement behaviors are limited. Existing theories on organizational resources, stressors, and continuous improvement are relevant yet insufficient for answering the important question of how individuals remain motivated to pursue continuous improvement activities despite minimal organizational resources to support them. Therefore, the goal of this dissertation was to build and test theory on this phenomenon. Inspired by full-cycle research, I began this program of research with a phenomenological study of employees in a manufacturing environment to better understand their appraisals regarding continuous improvement under resource-constrained conditions. The results highlighted the ways in which employees interpret constraints as either a threat or a challenge, and how positive psychological capital (PsyCap) guides these interpretations and subsequent continuous improvement. Informed by this rich data, I proposed a synthesized theoretical model which was tested in two separate contexts. First, I conducted a time-lagged survey study in another resource-constrained environment that demands continuous improvement, namely entrepreneurs launching a new business. To exert more control and to enhance the generalizability of this research, I then conducted an online experiment with participants from various industries and backgrounds. The results of these studies largely supported the theoretical model, documenting in particular the importance of individuals’ challenge appraisals for their ensuing continuous improvement behaviors. The benefits of individuals’ positive psychological resources as a way to enhance the perceived learning opportunities from resource constraints (i.e., challenge appraisal) were also illustrated. Threat appraisals did not produce the expected effects in this context of continuous improvement, and as such, the theoretical model was refined further. Collectively, this research provides answers to the important question of how individuals can find ways to proactively improve in the face of resource constraints, which is a timely and relevant topic across contemporary organizational contexts today. / Thesis (Ph.D, Management) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-27 18:02:23.883

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xiii, 173 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Prior research has tended to focus on rational (e.g., collective social action and cost-benefit factors) rather than emotional processes when predicting boycott intention. The current dissertation proposes that both processes contribute to a boycotting decision and that each is premised on a perceived moral violation. A model is offered in which boycott intention is conceptualized as a consumer coping response. Three studies provide support that moral emotions and cost-benefit factors independently contribute to overall consumer boycott intention. In Study 1, online survey responses from active boycotters (N = 121) indicated that participants felt other-condemning moral emotions more acutely in symbolic boycotts than in non-symbolic boycotts. In Study 2, the theoretical relationship between perceived moral violation, boycott intention, and boycott behavior was established in a simple experiment (N = 201). In Study 3, experimental results from a real world consumer panel (N = 709) indicated that the key to diffusing consumer boycott intention is counter-message tactics aimed at reducing overall perceived moral violation. Path analysis using the data from Study 2 and 3 provided additional insight into the structure of the proposed model. Other-condemning and self-conscious emotions, along with perceived boycott benefit (ability to make a difference and self-enhancement), contributed to boycott intentions whereas cost perceptions played a lesser role in predicting boycott intention. Comparisons between the hypothesized model and a set of alternatives supported the proposition that boycott intention may be conceptualized as a coping behavior. Finally, the results of a path analysis indicated that two individual difference variables were determinants of perceived moral violation: humanitarian- egalitarian orientation and negative attitude towards big businesses. / Committee in charge: Robert Madrigal, Chairperson, Marketing; Lynn Kahle, Member, Marketing; David Boush, Member, Marketing; Robert Mauro, Outside Member, Psychology

The role of child optimism as a mediator and moderator in the relationship between interparental conflict and child adjustment was examined for 36 children between the ages of 9 and 12 years who resided in a two adult home. Child participants completed self-report measures of dispositional and attributional optimism, as well as a self-report measure of interparental conflict. Mothers of child participants completed measures of child internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Multiple regression analyses found that dispositional optimism mediated the relationship between interparental conflict and both child internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Attributional optimism was found to mediate the relationship between interparental conflict and child internalizing symptoms. No significant moderating effects of optimism were found. The relationships between optimism and child appraisals of threat and self-blame related to interparental conflict were examined using correlations. Both dispositional and attributional optimism were significantly negatively related to child appraisals of threat and self-blame regarding interparental conflict. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

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Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are related to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), with links to ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac mortality, and other cardiac conditions. Given that these disorders are associated with increased medical costs, disability, and employer burden, research has investigated which factors increase the likelihood that one will develop CVD. While one hypothesis suggests that individuals who exhibit exaggerated responses to stress are at greater risk of developing CVD, individuals with PTSD/depression have been shown to exhibit both exaggerated and blunted stress responses. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether differing PTSD symptomatology, depressive presentation, dissociation, or cognitive appraisals of stressful events can predict the nature of one’s cardiovascular response to stress. It was hypothesized that: (1) PTSD arousal would be positively related to cardiac reactivity and PTSD avoidance negatively related to cardiac reactivity; (2) depressive activation would be positively related to cardiovascular reactivity and depressive withdrawal negatively related to cardiovascular reactivity; (3) dissociative symptoms would be negatively related to cardiovascular reactivity; and (4) challenge appraisals would be related to greater cardiac reactivity and threat appraisals to greater peripheral resistance. Female participants (N = 57) were administered the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) by graduate research assistants. Participants subsequently completed a demographic questionnaire and the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES II), and Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) to assess traumatic life events, depression, dissociation, and cognitive appraisals, respectively. Participants’ cardiovascular reactivity (HR, CO, SBP, DBP, and TPR) in response to two stress tasks‒mental arithmetic and public speaking‒were assessed via impedance cardiography and an automated blood pressure cuff. Multivariate regression revealed support for some hypotheses as significant relationships were found between reactivity and PTSD avoidance, PTSD arousal, and depressive withdrawal. No significant relationships were found between reactivity and dissociation, depressive activation, or threat appraisals. This study provides preliminary support for the idea that differing psychological presentations can predict the type of cardiovascular response one exhibits in response to stress.

This thesis investigates stress and coping in high performance squash coaching from the perspectives of both the coach and the player. An introduction to the thesis (chapter 1), a discussion of key concepts and theories from the general stress and coping literature (chapter 2), and a systematic review of the stress and coping in sport literature (chapter 3) are presented. The empirical work is reported in two phases. Phase one (chapters 4, 5 & 6) documents an in-depth study of 18 high performance squash coaches. Retrospective interviews were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Inductive content analysis (Patton, 1980) revealed 223 raw data themes for stress, which collapsed into 12 general dimensions, and 415 raw data themes for coping, from which 13 general dimensions emerged. Descriptive statistics on stress source characteristics revealed a number of interesting trends that required further investigation. Further, general ('multi-purpose') and specific coping strategies were identified. Coping effectiveness and frequency data detailed the analysis. Phase two (chapters 7, 8 & 9) investigates stress and coping experiences of elite squash players during coaching activities via two studies. In study one, data were collected through telephone interviews, and analysed using inductive content analysis (QSR NUDIST), revealing 227 raw data themes for stress and coping from which 9 stress and 8 coping general dimensions emerged. These results were used to develop a postal questionnaire (study two) administered to 84 elite squash players on the England Squash World Class Performance Programme (Jan. 1999). A response rate of 60% was obtained, data was input into SPSS, and various statistical tests revealed significant contributions to 5 major investigative themes detennined at the outset. An overall picture of the landscape in stress and coping in high performance squash coaching is offered, and conclusions and future directions are presented (chapter 10).

La notion de réussite criminelle a essentiellement été définie au moyen de l’indicateur objectif des gains monétaires. Si l’idée selon laquelle l’argent est au coeur de la réussite professionnelle fait l’objet d’un large consensus social, il semble improbable que les gains monétaires permettent à eux seuls d’appréhender la réussite. Pour mieux comprendre certaines dimensions des carrières criminelles telles que la persistance et le désistement, il paraît utile de se pencher sur la manière dont les criminels définissent leur propre réussite. Il a été établi que l’auto-efficacité, soit la croyance que possède un individu en sa capacité à accomplir une tâche, permet de prédire plusieurs dimensions des carrières légitimes. À partir de la théorie sur l’auto-efficacité, ce mémoire examine de quelle manière se forme l’auto-efficacité criminelle. Nous soutenons que les perceptions relatives à la réussite criminelle sont affectées par des facteurs semblables à ceux qui jouent dans le développement de l’auto-efficacité légitime. Nous partons de l’hypothèse que les criminels forgent leur auto-efficacité à partir de quatre sources d’expérience : les réussites personnelles, l’apprentissage vicariant, la persuasion sociale et les états physiologiques. Il est également avancé que certaines caractéristiques individuelles et environnementales ont un impact significatif sur le développement de l’auto-efficacité criminelle. Sur la base d’entrevues auprès de 212 délinquants, nos résultats indiquent que l’auto-efficacité criminelle est une construction complexe fondée sur les caractéristiques individuelles et environnementales, ainsi que sur les expériences criminelles personnelles. Nous discutons de l’impact éventuel de ces conclusions sur l’appréhension de la persévérance et du désistement dans les carrières criminelles. / The study of success in crime has been primarily restricted to a single objective indicator: earnings. While there is broad cultural agreement that money is a central component of career success, it is unlikely that earnings are the sole factor equated with achievement. Understanding how offenders subjectively define success for themselves might prove informative in understanding criminal career outcomes such as persistence and desistance. Self-efficacy – the belief that one can successfully perform a behavior leading to desired types of performance – has been shown to predict various legitimate occupational outcomes. Drawing from the self-efficacy and social cognitive career theories, this thesis explores how criminal self-efficacy beliefs are formed. It is argued that factors akin to the ones leading to the development of legitimate self-efficacy also serve as a basis for perceptions of success in crime. More specifically, it is hypothesized that criminal self-efficacy is forged as offenders interpret information from four experiential sources: personal performance accomplishments, vicarious learning, social persuasion, and physiological states and reactions. Because cognitive self-appraisals are not formed in a vacuum, it is also argued that individual and environmental characteristics exert a significant impact on the development of criminal self-efficacy. Based on interviews with 212 incarcerated offenders, our results suggest that criminal self-efficacy is complexly built from individual and environmental characteristics, as well as from personal experiences with crime. The potential repercussion of these findings on the understanding of criminal persistence and desistance are discussed.