Research shows that the initial honeymoon phase of a marriage dissolves after some time and differences between the couple begin to hamper the harmony in the relationship. One of these differences is that attributed to gender. This study attempts to study these phases of the relationship. It approaches this issue from an inductive standpoint to counterbalance the deductive quality that pervades most literature in this field. A mixed qualitative and quantitative design was selected in a multiple case study format. An open style interview preceded and followed a Q-sorting exercise. Ten individuals (five couples) who have been married between five and ten years were studied. For several reasons, including the need to widen the cultural base of the research field, the study was conducted in Malta, a Mediterranean culture. The information provided by each participant (called coresearcher here to indicate the empowerment accorded to them in the research), was organized by re-casting it into a narrative form. The accuracy of the narrative was additionally validated by the respective co-researcher and an independent reviewer. The purpose was to construct individual and common stories of the marriage f r om the perspective of difference and harmony. Comparisons between individuals and gender revealed common factors, indicating the generic path of these relationships, and individual factors based on previous history, personality, gender and culture Individual life thanes, the dialectic pattern of relating, and phases i n the relationships were identified. Finally, the results were compared to previous research on love, relational development, gender differences, and attachment. The model of the dialectic was found to be a useful tool for understanding relationships and integrating research. Finally, the implications of this study on counselling, and possibilities for further research were discussed. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Psoriasis is a chronic, clinically heterogeneous, skin condition that affects approximately 2% of the general population. In 1985, Henseler and Christophers, classified psoriasis into early onset (EOP; age at onset ≤40 years-y) and late onset disease (LOP; age at onset >40 y). Previous research suggests that there are genetic and immunological differences between EOP and LOP. In particular, the major genetic determinant for psoriasis, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-Cw6 allele, occurs more frequently in EOP (55-80%) compared to LOP (15-20%) patients. Epidermal Langerhans’ cells (LC) migration is also different in these 2 subtypes of psoriasis. The primary aim of this thesis was to further explore the clinical, histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) differences between EOP and LOP. We compared clinical characteristics in a total of 497 subjects, including 340 psoriasis patients (108 recruited prospectively; 76 EOP and 32 LOP, mean age of onset 20.3±9.9 and 55.6±7y respectively, and 232 retrospectively; 202 EOP and 30 LOP, mean age of onset 20.7±9.9 and 55.2±7.2y respectively) and 157 controls (mean age 66±11.2y). Information on demographics, family history of psoriasis, clinical features, treatment and co-morbidities were recorded. Patients were also assessed for health-related quality of life and psychological distress. A total of 31 psoriasis patients, ≥ 50y of age, participated in the histological and IHC evaluation; 17 EOP and 14 LOP, mean age of onset 21.1±8.5 and 55.4±7.7y respectively. Skin biopsies were taken from involved (PP) and uninvolved (PN) skin and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and IHC antibodies against various T-cell (CD3, CD4, and CD8) and LC (CD1α) markers. The H&E parameters (morphological and inflammatory) were graded with the use of a study specific histological score, whilst IHC positive epidermal cells were counted per microscopic field at 200X magnification. The dermal IHC infiltrate was assessed with a semi-quantitative (0-3) scale. Gender, body mass index, disease duration and severity, diagnosed hypertension and dyslipidemia were treated as covariates. The clinical data showed that LOP patients had a lower likelihood of having a positive family history of psoriasis (62% of EOP versus 35.6% of LOP patients; chi square-x2, P=0.001). In addition, patients with EOP parent(s) were 91% less likely to develop LOP than EOP (odds ratio-OR=0.093, P=0.025, 95% confidence interval-CI 0.012-0.74). Moreover, compared to LOP, EOP patients had a more severe disease (x2, P=0.021), usually requiring 3rd line treatments (x2; P=0.010). They also experienced frequent flares, following upper respiratory tract infections (x2, P=0.049). When data were segregated by age (≥50years) and after accounting for covariates, we observed that, compared to the non-psoriasis population, LOP patients were approximately 3 times more likely to develop type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (OR=2.56, P=0.05, 95% CI 1.01-6.54), whilst, EOP subjects were 98% less likely to develop autoimmune thyroiditis (OR=0.025, P=0.02, 95% CI 0.001-0.55). Psychologically, LOP patients were found to be a clinically more anxious group compared to EOP (t-test, P=0.006). Microscopically, the results from the H&E study showed an increased total inflammatory infiltrate in LOP, PP sections compared to EOP, PP ones (t-test, P=0.028). With IHC stains, we observed that in the epidermis of LOP PP, there was a significantly higher count of CD4+ cells; mean CD4+ in LOP of 15.1 ± 6.2 versus 6.7±4.6 in EOP (Analysis of variance-ANOVA, P<0.001). This subsequently led to a higher epidermal CD4+/CD8+ ratio of 1.3 in the LOP versus 0.5 for the EOP sections (ANOVA, P=0.002). In the PP dermis, CD4+ were also more abundant in the LOP tissue (x2, P=0.049). To assess whether these CD4+ cells were either T-lymphocytes or LC, we examined for differences in the CD3+ and CD1α+ cells. The mean epidermal CD3+ tended to be higher in LOP PP sections; mean epidermal CD3+ in the LOP 42.8 ± 13.3 versus 31.7 ± 17.5 in the EOP group (ANOVA, P= 0.061), while the dermal infiltrate showed a similar pattern (x2,P=0.067). Finally, there was no difference in epidermal and dermal CD1α+ and CD8+ cells in PP between EOP and LOP sections. These data indicate differences in clinical phenotype, heritability, comorbidities and immunopathomechanism between EOP and LOP. Taken together they provide further evidence that EOP and LOP may be different diseases.

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tend to experience social functioning problems, with girls more likely to encounter peer rejection than boys. The present study investigated gender differences in child, parent, and teacher perceptions of social functioning among ADHD and control children. Participants included 119 children (ages 6-11) and their parents. Sixty-one children were previously diagnosed with ADHD. Parents, teachers, and children completed measures assessing the child's social functioning. The results indicate that the relationship between ADHD status and social functioning differs as a function of rater. Teachers and parents reported that ADHD children had lower social functioning than controls, while ADHD and control children reported similar levels of social functioning. Gender differences were found on the child self-report, with girls reporting lower social functioning than boys. In ADHD children the relationship between social functioning and comorbid depression differed as a function of rater. Specifically, among ADHD children with depression, parents rated children as having lower social functioning than did children or teachers. In ADHD children without comorbid depression, however, there were no rater differences. Additionally, no rater differences in social functioning were found between ADHD children with and without a comorbid psychiatric condition. Overall, the results of the current study lend support to the idea that parents, teachers, and children have different perceptions of social functioning. Clinically, these results suggest that interventions could focus on identifying those ADHD children most at-risk for social functioning problems and developing interventions that fit with their perceptions. The limitations of the current study and directions for future research are presented.

No description available.

by Sit Fung-Ming, Anita. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-61). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.v / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / Chapter / Chapter I --- OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF STUDY --- p.1 / Chapter II --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.4 / Human Capital Perspective --- p.4 / Sociopsychologicial Perspective --- p.5 / Sex-role Socialisation --- p.5 / Sex-role Stereotyping --- p.6 / Organisation-Structure Perspective --- p.7 / Major References for Themes and Methodology --- p.7 / Perceived Participation in Decision-making --- p.8 / Upward and Downward Influence Tactics --- p.9 / Chapter III --- THEORETICAL CONSTRUCT OF STUDY --- p.11 / Chapter IV --- METHODOLOGY --- p.15 / Participants --- p.15 / Procedure --- p.17 / Measurements --- p.18 / Dependent variables --- p.18 / Independent (explanatory) variables --- p.18 / Perceived self-efficacy --- p.19 / Position Rank --- p.19 / Length of service --- p.19 / Mentor and sponsor --- p.20 / Informal Networks --- p.20 / Socio-demographic characteristics --- p.20 / Data Analysis Methods --- p.21 / Chapter V --- FINDINGS --- p.23 / Mentor --- p.23 / Sponsor --- p.24 / Length of Service in the Grade before Promotion to the Present Rank --- p.25 / Satisfaction with Career and Personal Advancement --- p.25 / Perceived Level of Influence --- p.27 / Perceived Level of Participation in Decision-making Committees --- p.27 / Perceived Level of Influence in Decision-making Committees --- p.29 / Perceived Level of Influence at Functional Section Level --- p.30 / Perceived Level of Influence at Division Level --- p.32 / Perceived Level of Influence at Department Level --- p.33 / Perceived Degree of Equal Influence --- p.35 / Overview of the findings for Perceived Level of Influence --- p.36 / Perceived Self-efficacy --- p.37 / Workplace Network --- p.38 / Frequency of Use of Upward and Downward Influence Tactics --- p.40 / Upward influence --- p.40 / Downward influence --- p.42 / Chapter VI --- DISCUSSION --- p.45 / Satisfaction with Career and Personal Advancement --- p.45 / Perceived Level of Influence --- p.46 / Frequency of Use of Influence Tactics --- p.47 / Overview of Themes in the Study --- p.48 / Chapter VII --- CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH --- p.53

"May 2002." / Bibliography: leaves 123-144. / xiv, 144 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Aspects of the control of ventilation and an upper airway dilator muscle (genioglossus) are compared between healthy men and women, in an attempt to identify a gender difference that may contribute to the high male prevalence of sleep apnea. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physiology, 2002

The purpose of this research is to examine the gender differences that exist when male and female participants complete the mirror-tracing task. This task was chosen because it requires both spatial and psychomotor abilities and is unusual in the sense that it has a far higher correlation with standard spatial ability measures than do most other psychomotor tests. This research will focus on looking at gender differences in speed, accuracy, and practice effects. It will also investigate two personality traits that correlate with performance on the task: introversion and anxiety. Data will be collected from three studies: Experiment 2 of Ackerman&Cianciolo's (1999) study, Experiment 3 of Ackerman&Cianciolo's (2000) study, and Experiment 1 of Field's (1998) study. The results are expected to show that males complete the mirror-tracing task quicker than females during initial, intermediate, and final assessments; however, females will exhibit greater practice effects than males. The results are also anticipated to show there is no significant gender difference in the number of errors made during initial, intermediate, or final assessment. Finally, the number of errors made during initial assessment on the mirror-tracing task is expected to be negatively correlated with introversion and positively correlated with anxiety.

The current research evaluated individual differences and contextual effects on men’s robust sexual overperception bias and on women’s tendency to be misperceived. Study 1 pioneered the use of a “speed-meeting” methodology which allowed for a direct calculation of sexual misperception by comparing measures of actual interest to measures of estimated interest across five interactions. As predicted, men demonstrated a robust sexual over-perception bias, a bias that was influenced by their mating strategy and physical attractiveness. Women, on the other hand, consistently underestimated men’s sexual interest in them, and physical attractiveness was a key predictor of their likelihood of being overperceived. Study 2 replicated the prediction tests from Study 1 and narrowed down the exploratory regression models to the most specific and robust effects, namely mating strategy and physical attractiveness. Study 3 examined the effects of testosterone (T) on men’s sexual misperception by manipulating intrasexual competition in the lab. Men engaged in a computer game, which randomly assigned them to win or lose, against an unseen male competitor. After the game, each participant interacted with a trained female confederate posing as a participant, after which they rated her on multiple traits, including interest in her and his estimate of her interest in him. Salivary assays for T were collected before and after the game, and after interacting with the confederate. The results of the experiment demonstrated that although the competition outcome did not affect men’s T, changes in T during the interaction with the woman predicted men’s sexual misperception. The more attractive the man found her, and the more interested he was in her, the more his T increased during their interaction and the more he overperceived her interest. Taken together, these studies indicate that far from a simple sex difference, men’s overperception bias is predictably nuanced and specific. / text

Whether there are sex differences in the kinematic organization of non-reproductive behaviors is rarely addressed. In this thesis, evidence is presented that male and female rats organize their posture and stepping differently during a food protection task, contact righting, skilled reaching, and vertical rearing. Neonatal gonadal steroid exposure can alter sex-typical patterns of movement organization. Whether these differences are due to sex differences in body morphology or central nervous system (CNS) was also addressed using gravid females and tfm males. The results reveal that sex differences in movement are CNS based. Furthermore, the expression and choice of sex-typical patterns of movement can be altered by CNS injury. Finally, evidence is presented that sex differences in movement organization are also present in marsupials and insects. The implications of these results for our understanding of the evolution of sex differences in CNS anatomy and behavior will be discussed. / xvi, 249 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

Brain aging is a heterogeneous phenomenon, and this thesis illustrates how the course of aging can vary within individuals over time and between individuals as a function of age, sex, and genetic variability. We used two contrasts from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), namely spin-lattice T1-weighted imaging, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) from gradient-echo images, to picture the aging brain, by means of morphometric measures and brain-iron concentrations. Within each study, the same rigorous imaging acquisitioning protocols were used over large samples sizes of 167-183 individuals, which contribute to the uniqueness of the studies. Most of the current knowledge about the aging brain rests on the foundation of cross-sectional age-related differences, and studies I and III contribute to current knowledge with longitudinal designs to investigate individual rates of change. The importance of genetic variation in relation to regional brain changes was addressed with a specific emphasis on functional polymorphisms involved in pro-inflammatory responses. These studies further shed light on the importance of bi-directional relations between structural integrity and maintained cognitive abilities over time. Study II is the largest study to date to have quantitative susceptibility estimates examined in healthy adults, and the first in-vivo report to show a lowering in overall subcortical brain iron estimates in women from midlife to old age. Studies I and III are unique by examining longitudinal differences in anatomical brain regions using high resolution images from a 4 Tesla scanner. Peripheral vascular risk factors were not strong determinants of either brain- or cognitive changes in the studied samples. The results are discussed in the context of cognitive reserve, the brain maintenance hypothesis, and potential influences of hormones, inflammation and oxidative stress.