The study focused on testing a web-based parenting course called FosterParentCollege.com (FPC) Culturally Competent Parenting for parents who were fostering or adopting children transracially. Transracial parenting means parents who have adopted or are fostering a child of a different race than themselves. It is important for parents who are foster or adopting transracially to learn about resources when it comes to culturally competent parenting due to the positive impact culturally competent parenting has on children. Research study findings have indicated that transracial children who receive racial-ethnic socialization (a type of culturally competent parenting) demonstrate positive outcomes such as better self-esteem and psychological adjustment. This study utilized a mixed methods pre-test post-test treatment and control group design. The purpose was to determine if there was a difference in parent scores on openness to cultural receptivity after completing the course in comparison to parents taking the control course. Additionally, parents who participated in the treatment course completed two-month follow-up interviews to assess if they self-reported applying techniques learned from the culturally competent parenting course. Results of the study indicated that parents enrolled in the treatment course had significantly higher scores for openness to cultural receptivity after completing the course than before. Themes identified in the qualitative interviews indicated parents’ efforts to learn more about cultural competency. Implications and limitations are discussed. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2018. / March 20, 2018. / Child welfare, Cultural competence, Foster care, Parent-child relations, Transracial adoption, Web-based training / Includes bibliographical references. / Lenore McWey, Professor Directing Dissertation; Angela Canto, University Representative; Melinda Gonzales-Backen, Committee Member; Ming Cui, Committee Member.

Homelessness is a complex issue that impacts families in many ways. One pathway of addressing homelessness among families has been the use of transitional housing programs. Previous research demonstrates the importance of social support among homeless parents, including their involvement in transitional housing programs. While these programs may serve as a support for families experiencing homelessness, little is known about the lived experiences of social support among homeless parents including their strengths and challenges. The purpose of this study was to understand if and how social support is an important resource for families experiencing homelessness. More specifically, this study aimed to explore the social support networks of families living in transitional housing, including their immediate families and non-homeless friends and family members, and the challenges they experience in accessing these supports. In addition, this study sought to understand if and how transitional housing programs may act as a support for homeless families and the challenges that accompany this. Finally, this study aimed to understand homeless families' perceptions of other needed supports within their housing program. Both ecological systems theory and structural family therapy were used as guiding frameworks in this study. These theories provided both a detailed look at family life and relationships and also a broader lens to view the family within their environment and larger context. Using a qualitative design, data for this study were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Participants included 20 parents living in transitional housing with at least one child. Interviews were conducted to assess parents' experiences in transitional housing, their social support networks, and their suggestions for change. An ethnographic framework supported by constant comparative analysis was used to analyze the data. This included the process of open, axial, and selective coding. Trustworthiness was promoted through the use of observation data for triangulation as well as several other measures. Results revealed themes related to parents' isolation from support, parents' family as a source of strength, and the impact of the program on their support network. Parents also identified several additional support needs including employment services, interpersonal supports, increased services for children, and increased awareness of and access to supports. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2015. / April 22, 2015. / ethnography, homelessness, parenting, social support, transitional housing / Includes bibliographical references. / Lenore McWey, Professor Directing Dissertation; Tomi Gomory, University Representative; Kendal Holtrop, Committee Member; Wayne Denton, Committee Member.

Despite the prevalence of delinquency during adolescence and the influence of culture on parenting behaviors and adolescent outcomes, few comparative studies have examined the association between parental warmth and delinquency trajectories both longitudinally and cross-culturally. Thus, this study sought to identify cultural differences in individual delinquency trajectories and those associations with parental warmth. In Study 1, latent growth modeling (LGM) was used to examine the individual trajectories of delinquency and the protective effect of parental warmth on delinquency trajectories using the U.S. sample from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). In Study 2, using the Korean sample from the Korean Youth Panel Survey (KYPS), the same two research questions were investigated. Lastly, Study 3 explored cultural differences in such associations between the United States and South Korea. Findings showed the patterns of delinquency across time and culture, indicating delinquency decline from middle to late adolescence in both the U.S. and Korean samples. Results also demonstrated the protective effect of parental warmth concurrently and longitudinally in both countries. More importantly, there were cultural differences in such associations, indicating that the longitudinal protective effect of parental warmth was larger for U.S. adolescents than Korean adolescents. Implications of the study suggest the need to improve a warm relationship between parent and adolescent to reduce delinquency. It is also important to understand cultural influences on parenting and adolescent outcome for educators, clinicians, politicians, interventionists, and researchers. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2015. / June 17, 2015. / Add Health, Cross-Cultural, Delinquency, Korean Youth Panel Survey, Longitudinal, Parental Warmth / Includes bibliographical references. / Ming Cui, Professor Directing Dissertation; Karen A. Randolph, University Representative; Kendal Holtrop, Committee Member; Marsha L. Rehm, Committee Member.

ABSTRACT During this case study there was an investigation of the perceived impact of social media posts on a college athlete's performance and self-evaluation. The goal was to have up to ten Division I athletes from Southeastern colleges or universities. The convenience sample was recruited through flyers posted on social media and word of mouth. The participants completed a demographic survey, which allowed them to identify their race and age group (18-20, 21-23, or 24-26). The survey also asked the athlete to describe their academic classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), as well as their athletic classification (red shirt freshman, true freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), and what sport they play. The athlete also completed a face-to-face interview, with the exception of one athlete, about social media posts and the impact the posts have on them on and off their perspective fields. For this qualitative study descriptive statistics were used through the survey data received from the participants. Traditional qualitative analysis techniques were used to identify themes found from the interview responses. The results of the study revealed the social media activity of the athletes, how social media posts about themselves or teammates impact them on the field, and how the posts have affected how they identify who they are and perceive themselves. Key words: social media, Division I athletes, emerging adults / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester 2016. / March 23, 2016. / Division I athletes, Emerging adults, Social media / Includes bibliographical references. / Marsha Rehm, Professor Directing Thesis; Melinda Gonzales-Backen, Committee Member; Bethany Blair, Committee Member.

This study examined the role of humility in romantic relationships. Specifically, a theoretical model was tested in which perceptions of humility are associated with self-forgiveness and partner forgiveness in romantic relationships, which are in turn associated with relationship satisfaction. A sample of emerging adult females (N = 152), who reported being in a romantic relationship completed measures of self-reported humility, self-forgiveness, partner forgiveness, and relationship satisfaction. Serial mediation analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling procedures. Perceptions of humility were not related to relationship satisfaction directly. Significant indirect effects through self-forgiveness and partner forgiveness did serially mediate the influence of humility on relationship satisfaction. Findings are discussed as well as limitations and implications for research and clinical practice. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2016. / June 22, 2016. / Emerging Adult, Forgiveness, Humility, Mediation, Relationship Satisfaction / Includes bibliographical references. / Lenore McWey, Professor Directing Dissertation; Robert L. Glueckauf, University Representative; Mindy Gonzalez-Backen, Committee Member; Frank D. Fincham, Committee Member.

Helicopter parenting continues to be an important issue for social science researchers. Researchers continually seek to understand this phenomenon within the context of the college student population. One of the core issues challenging this body of research is the continued tendency and focus towards understanding helicopter parenting through a quantitative lens while overlooking the theoretical foundation upon which this research is built. Through a grounded theory approach, this qualitative study seeks to begin to build a theoretical foundation through interviews of a sample of 20 college students who have experienced helicopter parenting in their own life. Four distinct types of helicopter parenting were discovered and used to begin to create a substantive theory for this field. The empirical implications of how this theoretical discovery could bolster and unify the field, how these findings could fit within the current research literature, and the practical implications for parents and professionals were also discussed. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / 2019 / November 12, 2019. / College age adults, Grounded Theory, Helicopter Parenting, Parent-child relationship, Parenting, Qualitative / Includes bibliographical references. / Ming Cui, Professor Co-Directing Dissertation; Marsha Rehm, Professor Co-Directing Dissertation; Karen Randolph, University Representative; Joseph Grzywacz, Committee Member.

This qualitative case study of five couples in which one spouse has Alzheimer's disease in the early stage, and the other spouse is a caregiver, investigated including both spouses in couple interview sessions which included using emotionally focused couple therapy techniques, and how their prior quality of relationship before the onset of Alzheimer's was related to their present attachment, depressive symptoms, and marital adjustment. The couples participated in in-depth couple interviews which included an Oral History Interview (Gottman, 1994) and a semi-structured Interview Guide. They individually completed four instruments: the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) (Spanier, 1976); the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (Yesavage, 1983); the Prior Quality of Relationship Scale (PQRS), a composite scale created by Zahn; and the adapted Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-R) (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000). The Screen for Caregiver Burden (SCB) (Vitaliano, Russo, Young, Becker, & Maiuro, 1991) was given to the caregiving spouses. The researcher qualitatively analyzed the audiotaped interviews and questionnaires, which all spouses with Alzheimer's were able to complete. All couples reported positive prior quality relationships of 16-63 years, and present continued attachment. All couples reported problems of marital adjustment, and varying depressive symptoms were reported for 2 out of 5 caregivers, and 2 of 5 persons with Alzheimer's. Implications of findings were that couples experiencing early stage Alzheimer's would benefit from couple interviews or therapy to assist with depressive and other symptoms and marital adjustment problems, and that spouses in the early stage of Alzheimer's are able to fully participate in these couple procedures. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2015. / March 23, 2015. / Alzheimer's, qualitative / Includes bibliographical references. / Wayne H. Denton, Professor Directing Dissertation; Robert L. Glueckauf, University Representative; Marsha L. Rehm, Committee Member; Kendal N. Holtrop, Committee Member.

Recent demographic trends show that multiple partner fertility (MPF; having children by more than one partner) is prevalent in American family life, particularly among unmarried men and women. MPF challenges family relationships and leads to poor economic and socio-emotional outcomes for parents and children, and paternal MPF is particularly problematic as it often results in fathers parenting multiple groups of children across households. Whereas some research shows that paternal MPF is associated with less supportive coparenting relationships among non-resident fathers and mothers and less father involvement, little is known about the mechanisms linking MPF with coparenting support and father involvement. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study and the family chaos perspective as a guide, the current project included three studies addressing the role of family chaos in the lives of unmarried non-resident fathers and their relationships with mothers and children. In Study 1, I examined the association between paternal MPF and family chaos, indicated by partnership instability, residential instability, work stability, number of different work shifts, work flexibility, material hardship, and perceived social support. In Study 2, I tested a mediation model hypothesizing that paternal MPF is associated with higher levels of family chaos, and family chaos, in turn, is associated with less coparenting support as perceived by both non-resident fathers and mothers of a focal child. Building on Study 2, Study 3 tested a mediation model hypothesizing that both family chaos and coparenting support mediate the association between MPF and father involvement with the focal child. As the timing of MPF may also matter, the effects of both early MPF (fathering a child by another partner before the focal child's first birthday) and later MPF (fathering another child between the focal child's first and third birthdays) on family chaos, coparenting support, and father involvement were examined with no MPF fathers as the comparison group. Overall, findings from Study 1 were that paternal MPF was associated with some indicators of family chaos (greater partnership instability, residential instability, material hardship, less work stability), but not others (work hours, number of work shifts, work flexibility, social support). Early MPF and later MPF were similarly related with work stability and material hardship, although later MPF was more strongly associated with partnership instability than was early MPF. Associations between MPF and family chaos were generally small. Results from Study 2 showed that most indicators of family chaos did not mediate associations among paternal MPF and coparenting support two years later. One exception was that both early and later MPF were associated with partnership instability which, in turn, was negatively, though only marginally, associated with fathers' perceptions of coparenting support. Results from Study 3 were similar to those of Study 2 and showed that most indicators of family chaos did not mediate the associations among paternal MPF, coparenting support, and father involvement two years later. Early MPF was negatively, though marginally, associated with social support which, in turn, was positively associated with concurrent reports of mothers' coparenting support, and mothers' perceptions of coparenting support were associated with father involvement two years later. Later MPF was directly associated with father involvement two years later, but this association was not mediated by family chaos or either parents' perceptions of coparenting support. Overall, findings suggest that family chaos may be a factor in the lives of fathers who experience MPF; however, further research is needed understand these associations. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2014. / July 31, 2014. / coparenting, family chaos, fathers, fragile families, multiple partner fertility / Includes bibliographical references. / Kay Pasley, Professor Directing Dissertation; Ming Cui, Committee Member; Melinda Gonzales-Backen, Committee Member.

Family leisure is conceptualized as engagement and satisfaction with experiences that involve joint participation in activities with other family members during one’s free time. Although family leisure has been linked to family functioning, the process by which family leisure contributes to family functioning, particularly in the context of leisure constraints, has yet to be explicated. Guided by theory, this study examined the relationships between leisure constraints and family functioning of United States Army personnel who have recently experienced deployments and evaluated the role of family leisure between these relationships. Two theoretically competing models were empirically tested to determine whether family leisure mediated or moderated the relationships between leisure constraints and family functioning. Leisure constraints were conceptualized as factors that inhibit a person’s ability to engage in leisure or derive satisfaction from leisure; these leisure constraints fall under one of three domains: structural constraints, interpersonal constraints, and intrapersonal constraints. For this study, relevant leisure constraints for United States Army personnel were identified. Structural constraints were defined as tangible, contextual factors that influence a person’s ability to function effectively in a leisure setting; perceptions of financial management were identified as a salient structural constraint for this population. Interpersonal constraints were defined as relationship factors that inhibit a person’s ability to function in a leisure setting; relationship warmth was identified as a salient interpersonal constraint for this population. Intrapersonal constraints were defined as perceptions of personal or internal processes that inhibit a person’s ability to function in a leisure setting; coping with the military lifestyle was identified as a salient intrapersonal constraint for this population. Family functioning was measured as a latent concept that included dimensions of family flexibility and family communication, both of which have been identified by the military as vital components to creating military family readiness. The construct of family leisure encompassed aspects of leisure engagement and leisure satisfaction. The first model was theoretically derived from leisure constraint theory and examined whether family leisure served as a mediating influence between leisure constraints and family functioning. The second model, theoretically derived from effort recovery theory, evaluated family leisure as a moderating influence between the variables of interest, leisure constraints and family functioning. The study sample consisted of 222 active duty United States Army personnel stationed in the continental United States, who were in a committed romantic relationship for at least two years, and had at least one adolescent child between the ages of 11 and 18. Studying military members who have significant others and adolescent children is important as the military operating environment is one characterized by high rates of transition and instability that can have a significant influence on informal networks, namely familial relationships. Family relationships are highly correlated with military family readiness, the ability of the family to effectively respond to military needs. Results indicated that family leisure fit best as a mediator and did not fit as well as a moderator for this sample of military members. More specifically, family leisure partially mediated the relationships between the leisure constraint variables of interest and family functioning. The leisure constraints of financial management and relationship warmth were significantly associated with family functioning. However, the direct relationship between military coping and family functioning was non-significant. For the indirect relationships, all leisure constraints were significantly associated with family leisure, and, in turn, family leisure was significantly associated with family functioning. This model fit similarly when accounting for the depressive symptomology of the active duty service member. In the competing model, no moderating effects were found for the study variables of interest. Results from this study can be used by service providers and policy makers who can advocate for family leisure as a leverage point for promoting healthy military families post-deployment. Practical applications include disseminating information to military families about leisure resources to provide families with new avenues to promote positive family functioning. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2017. / June 13, 2017. / active duty U.S. Army personnel, deployment, family functioning, family leisure, leisure constraints, military family readiness / Includes bibliographical references. / Mallory Lucier-Greer, Professor Directing Dissertation; Thomas Joiner, University Representative; Kendal Holtrop, Committee Member; Lenore McWey, Committee Member.

The experience of divorce can be a complex and challenging experience, particularly for families with minor children. Divorce intrinsically facilitates several related transitions that can include changes in financial circumstances, residence or geographic location, and various interpersonal relationships. Among the most drastic changes in relationships during this time can be the relationship between former spouses. Divorce may terminate the romantic relationship among partners, but for those with shared children, the joint responsibility in childrearing remains. How parents relate to each other in the capacity of childrearing is what is referred to as the co-parenting relationship. Within the divorce literature, limited research exists which considers comprehensive parent-reports of a range of co-parenting behaviors that are typical within the literature on co-parenting among continuously married intact families. This dissertation built upon this gap in the literature to advance understanding of a new measure of co-parenting behaviors among parents who have experienced a relationship dissolution. This measure, the Multidimensional Co-parenting Scales for Dissolved Relationships (MCS-DR), consists of four scales: (1) support, (2) overt conflict, (3) internally-regulated covert conflict, and (4) externally-regulated covert conflict. Support and overt conflict are commonly assessed dimensions within the divorce literature. However, internally-regulated covert conflict and externally-regulated covert conflict represent an understudied set of behaviors that distinguish between actions that an individual parent controls themselves and behaviors that fall outside of their control. Using this measure as a vehicle, the two studies herein sought to better understand (1) the utility of measuring covert co-parenting conflict in the divorce literature, (2) how physical custody status, a critical component of the post-divorce experience, can influence or shape the experience of co-parenting, and (3) what leverage points exist that can help to alleviate the impact of post-divorce stress on individual wellbeing. Study 1 involved the assessment of the MCS-DR for measurement equivalence across three distinctive physical custody statuses. Results indicated that nonresident parents and parents who shared joint custody demonstrated similar measurement related to factor loadings and intercept-levels across all four scales of the MCS-DR. Post-hoc tests were conducted to examine measurement equivalence between resident parents and a combined group of nonresident parents and joint custody parents. Findings suggested that although factor loadings were similar across all constructs, only internally-regulated covert conflict demonstrated similar intercept-levels across each custody group. Study 2 involved the assessment of competing models, comparing the well-established Quality of Coparental Communication Scale (QCCS) and the MCS-DR in predicting a latent variable of adverse mental health symptomology. Using a stress process approach, each model considered dimensions of co-parenting as sources of chronic stress manifesting in the form of adverse mental health symptomology, with self-efficacy acting as a mediator. Results indicated that the MCS-DR predicted a significantly greater proportion of the variance in self-efficacy, and three indicators of adverse mental health symptomology compared to the QCCS. Indirect effects were found in both models from a single dimension of co-parenting to adverse mental health symptomology through self-efficacy. Taken together the results of these studies provide further support for the utility of the MCS-DR, the value of assessing covert co-parenting conflict following divorce, and contextual considerations in studying divorcing families. Suggestions for future research, divorce education programming, and intervention are presented. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2017. / June 14, 2017. / co-parenting, custody, divorce, interparental conflict, measurement equivalence, structural equation modeling / Includes bibliographical references. / Mallory Lucier-Greer, Professor Directing Dissertation; Kathryn Tillman, University Representative; Ming Cui, Committee Member; Kendal Holtrop, Committee Member.