The purpose of this study was to explore mother-daughter relationships as age and perceptions of autonomy related with reported intimacy, conflict, self-esteem, and quality of relationship. The study utilized 221 matched pairs of post-adolescent females and their mothers. Questionnaires were completed using college students in the College of Human Sciences at The Florida State University during 1992. Mothers of the females who volunteered for this study were mailed questionnaires to complete and return to this researcher. The variables of age and autonomy were examined with respect to the variables of intimacy, conflict, self-esteem and quality of relationship. / The research questions were analyzed using canonical correlations and multiple regression analysis. The canonical correlation results showed the six scales to be unidimensional with age correlating only with autonomy, as measured by the Family of Origin Scale. Canonical correlations between dependent and independent sets of variables for both mothers and daughters were significant. / Multiple regression analysis results showed slightly varying patterns between mothers and daughters with conflict being the only independent variable to significantly predict quality of relationship for both mothers and daughters. Multiple regression analysis results for daughters yielded two significant predictor variables, that of conflict and family of origin. Regression results for mothers showed three significant independent variables including conflict, intimacy, and self-esteem. / Demographics showed a fairly homogeneous group of daughters and a slightly less homogeneous group of mothers. Mothers and daughters differed on autonomy and conflict; however, mothers and daughters were quite similar on measures of self-esteem, intimacy, and quality of relationship. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-08, Section: A, page: 3224. / Major Professor: Ronald L. Mullis. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

The field of couples and family therapy is guided by diverse theories that attempt to explain change processes in couples. Each of these theories has been criticized in the literature for various inadequacies that render the theory incomplete. The research question that guided this study was "What, if anything, is influential in the process of change in couples' relationships?" The key to answering this question lies in a qualitative research process that is not dominated by any particular theoretical paradigm. / The qualitative method used in this study is a grounded theory approach that attempts to eliminate any theoretical assumptions in collecting data. Twenty-six couple members were interviewed regarding their separate views of how change occurred in therapy. The results of these interviews were used to construct a theory of change processes in couples. / A core or organizing category of "the open mind" was found to be a major factor in precipitating change in couple relationships. Three important characteristics of an open mind are emotional control, a willingness to open up and an ability to understand the other person. It was found that both couple members are required to be open minded before change can take place in the relationship. The key factor in creating open minds in couples was their understanding that the relationship could end if change did not take place. Once couple members became open minded they were open to guidance from the therapist in learning to solve problems. Clinical implications of these ideas are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-08, Section: A, page: 2590. / Major Professor: Thomas E. Smith. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a contagious, infectious, and potentially fatal disease that has affected nearly 340,000 Americans as of October, 1993. About two-thirds of these cases have resulted in death. Persons with AIDS and persons identified by the PWAs as their primary support persons were compared regarding their historical level of family functioning, intensity of stress, level of coping, perception of the impact of AIDS, health status, and quality of life. / Using a survey research design, two samples of individuals served as subjects in this study. The first sample (n = 114) was comprised of persons diagnosed with AIDS (PWAs). The second sample (n = 114) was comprised of persons identified by the PWAs as their main support persons who were not infected by HIV. Both samples were recruited through community based support organizations in South Florida. Data analysis indicated that Persons with AIDS, as compared to their support persons, had a significantly more stressful perception of the impact of AIDS, a poorer health status, and a lower quality of life. Restricted and saturated path analyses of the proposed theoretical model were conducted for the PWA group and the affiliative family group. For both samples, quality of life was significantly influenced by health status and level of coping; and health status was significantly influenced by perception of the impact of AIDS and intensity of stress. This model explained 32% of the variance in quality of life for both Persons with AIDS and their affiliative family members. For PWAs only, a significant causal link existed between historical level of functioning and the perception of the impact of AIDS. For family members only, a significant causal link existed between intensity of stress and perception of AIDS. / Family health professionals need to be aware of the importance of social support and its influence on both health status and overall quality of life. Persons with AIDS all too often neglect the potential social support available from family members due to the stigma of this deadly disease or the historical level of functioning in their family of origin. Recognition must also be given to the stress experienced by caregivers and support persons. By facilitating family support, professionals can make important contributions to the health status and the quality of life for both Persons with AIDS and their affiliative families. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-08, Section: A, page: 2591. / Major Professor: Carol Anderson Darling. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

Recently it has been argued that ethnographic research methodology fulfills many of the research needs for marriage and family therapists. In utilizing Rogers' Innovation-Decision Process model, the purpose of this study was to gain greater insight into ethnographic research methodology in family therapy and determine the adequacy of Rogers' hypothesized relationship between innovation attributes and extent of adoption to explain adoption behavior by marriage and family therapists. Additionally, this study compared American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) accredited doctoral, masters, and postmasters program faculty on their awareness and extent of use of ethnographic research methodology. / A survey research design was used to sample faculty members in AAMFT accredited degree programs (n = 178). T-test statistical analyses were used to test mean differences while a multiple regression was used to examine Rogers' Innovation-Decision Process model. Results indicated that there were significant differences between doctoral and masters faculty. Doctoral faculty had a greater awareness and extent of use of ethnographic research methodology. Additionally, significant differences were found between university faculty and non-university training faculty. University faculty had a greater awareness and extent of use of the innovation. / Multiple regression analysis revealed that Rogers' hypothesized relationship between five innovation attributes and extent of adoption was not supported. However, significant positive relationships were found between adoption and the attributes compatibility, relative advantage, trialability, and complexity (alpha =.05). The five attributes did explain 36% of the variability in extent of use of ethnographic research methodology. It is recommended that qualitative research be used to generate other attributes which may influence adoption decisions by family therapists. Additionally, due to the lack of research endeavors by masters and post-masters faculty, it is recommended that the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education monitor accredited programs for research activity and scholarly production. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-08, Section: A, page: 2573. / Major Professor: Thomas E. Smith. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

This research describes the conditions under which the evaluation of children varies in a sample of preindustrial societies. Male and female children are evaluated differently according to the particular pattern of structural characteristics of the society. The type of subsistence economy was the strongest predictor of the evaluation of all children, with the highest evaluation found in societies using intensive agriculture. Frequency of internal warfare and average female contribution to the subsistence economy also made differences in the evaluation. The evaluation of female children was highest when female power was high, when the average female contribution to subsistence was high, when the type of subsistence economy was not horticultural, and the descent pattern was not patrilineal. In this research the value of children was shown to vary cross-culturally, and with significant differences by gender. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-03, Section: A, page: 1109. / Major Professor: Marie W. Osmond. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of young children's emerging theory of mind. The study focused on age differences in children's ability to use deception--an index of theory of mind--in a hide and seek game developed by Chandler et al. (1989). The task was modified to provide a more precise estimate of age differences in children's abilities: First, two characters, good and bad, were incorporated into the research design to assure that real representational understanding convey the child's behavior. Second, two levels of involvement in the tasks were employed, pretend play and socio-dramatic play. / In the first level of involvement, pretend play, the child was asked to help a doll, dressed up either as "best" or "baddest" figure, to hide a chocolate kiss in one of the cans on the board. The doll, with a marker attached to its foot, left traces on the board. In the second level, socio-dramatic play, the child, dressed up as either the "good guy" or the "bad guy", was asked to hide the chocolate kiss. Special rubber boots, with a marker attached to one of them, were put over the child's shoes. In both situations, pretend and socio-dramatic play, the child needed to decide when to help or hinder the chocolate's finding. In the wake of this decision, the child determined what deceptive strategy to employ. / Ninety preschool children, equally divided by gender, from Tallahassee, 30 in each age group, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds, participated in this study. The results indicate that 4-year-olds used significantly (p $<$ 0.00) more deceptive strategies discriminately in pretend and socio-dramatic play than 2- and 3-year-olds. There was no difference between 2- and 3-year-olds in the use of deceptive strategies. Both groups employed less strategies in the "bad" tasks than in the "good" tasks. No differences were found between the three groups performance in the "good" tasks. The level of involvement in the task, and gender did not affect the performance. / This study supports the notion of rudimentary theory of mind in preschool children. Age four seems as a watershed in this development. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-11, Section: A, page: 4272. / Major Professor: Murray Krantz. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

The purpose of this study was to examine similarities and differences in family stress, availability of resources, and levels of coping as reported by adolescents in nuclear, single parent, and remarried families. The 1,277 respondents were selected from a larger sample who participated in a statewide project funded by the Florida Department of Education. Four instruments were administered to Home Economics Family Living students by their teachers: (1) a background information questionnaire; (2) the Adolescent-Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes; (3) the Family Inventory of Resources for Management; and (4) the Adolescent-Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences. / Adolescents' scores indicated that members of nuclear families had experienced fewer family life events or changes and less family stress than adolescents in single parent and remarried families. The level of available resources was higher for adolescents in nuclear families than for those in the other family forms. Despite differences in the number of life events or changes, levels of family stress, and availability of family resources, the coping scores among adolescents were not significantly different across family types. / Sex of the adolescent was identified as an important influence on stress levels in nuclear and remarried families. Adolescents' coping scores were most influenced by the sex of the adolescents in all three family forms and by the importance of religion in nuclear families. Social class appeared to influence perceptions of available resources in nuclear families but appeared to have little effect in other family forms. Social class and the importance of religion appeared to be predictive of the level of available resources in nuclear families. In all three family types, a higher correlation was found between students' coping scores and their resource scores than between their coping scores and perceived level of family stress. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-01, Section: B, page: 0144. / Major Professor: Eileen M. Earhart. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

As researchers expand their discussion of disease etiology, they are increasingly concerned with the influence of social status and changes in status on health. This study examined the impact of family and work status on the rate of arthritis, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and ulcers in women. / Longitudinal data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey of the early 70's and its follow-up in the early 80's were analyzed. The sample included 4417 women who were between the ages of 25 and 45 at baseline. Family status was operationalized as the number of children at time one and marital status over time; work status was operationalized as labor force participation over time. Women who were working both times were analyzed seperately to determine the importance of occupational status and part-time/full-time employment. Ancestry, education, family income, and age were controls. Analyses were crosstabular and logistic regression. / Older women, non-white women, and women who quit work had higher rates of arthritis; among workers becomming unmarried and being Black were negatively associated and age was positively associated with risk. Women who were homemakers both times, older women, Black women, women with less education, and women with less family income had more diagnosis of hypertension. For workers, older women, Black women, and poorer women were more likely to report high blood pressure. / Rates of heart disease were higher for women who became unmarried, who were older, and who had less education; for workers becomming unmarried and education were negatively associated with incidence of coronary heart disease. Women who developed ulcers were less likely to go to work and had less education than those who did not develop the disorder. Theoretical implications and directions for future research were discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-08, Section: A, page: 2667. / Major Professor: Isaac W. Eberstein. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

This ex post facto co-relational study focused on the relationship between differentiation of self and perception of health in the family of origin and marital intimacy and fusion in the present marital relationship, in a non-clinical sample of 250 married couples. Couples were matched (high, medium, low) or mismatched with respect to their perception of the family of origin experience. Two matching criteria were used, one based on past perception (PERHEL) and the second on present perception (INTERGEN) of family of origin experience. The independent variable investigated was the perception of differentiation in the family of origin. The dependent variables assessed were spousal fusion and intimacy in the family of procreation. One dependent measure of fusion (PAFS) and two dependent measures of intimacy (PAFS and PAIR) in the marital relationship were considered. / Hypothesis 1 which predicted that couples "matched" with respect to level of differentiation, irrespective of the level of match, would enjoy greater marital intimacy and hypotheses 2 which predicted less discrepancy between perceived and expected marital intimacy scores for matched compared to mismatched couples, were not supported. / There was considerable support for hypotheses 3 and 4. Couples matched at high levels of differentiation (INTERGEN) reported greater intimacy than couples matched at medium and low levels of differentiation and medium matched couples showed greater intimacy than low matched couples. In hypothesis 4, couples matched at high levels of differentiation (PERHEL and INTERGEN) reported less fusion than couples matched at medium and low levels of differentiation and medium matched couples showed less fusion than low matched couples. / Lastly, Bowen's (1978) suggestion, that since individuals seek marital partners at similar levels of differentiation, their perceptions of the family of origin experience would be similar, was supported. / Other findings included significant correlations between antecedent (FOS, PAFS) and consequent (PAFS, PAIR) measures. / Results were discussed with respect to the method employed, future research and family therapy. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-03, Section: A, page: 0801. / Major Professor: Murray Krantz. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

The purpose of this study was to identify the boundary regulatory behaviors as reflected by the Assertiveness, Aggressiveness and Relationship Scales of the Interpersonal Behavior Survey (Mauger & Adkinson, 1980) that distinguish psychologically symptomatic from nonsymptomatic adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs). Subjects ($N$ = 139) were split into symptomatic and nonsymptomatic groups using the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1982) and compared on the Interpersonal Behavior Survey (IBS) responses. Mann-Whitney tests of the differences between the two groups on each of the IBS scales revealed that nonsymptomatic ACOAs had significantly higher assertiveness scores on each of the IBS scales: General Assertiveness; Self-confidence; Initiating Assertiveness; Defending Assertiveness; Frankness; Giving/Receiving Praise; and Refusing Demands. The results indicated that symptomatic ACOAs scored significantly higher on the IBS Aggressiveness Scales of Passive Aggressiveness and Expression of Anger, and significantly higher on the IBS Relationship Scales of Conflict Avoidance, Dependence and Shyness. Implications for prevention, therapeutic intervention and future research are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: B, page: 5568. / Major Professor: Mary W. Hicks. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.