Family of origin patterns were examined with respect to the adolescent family-separation process among female adult incest survivors. A comparison was conducted with an adult female normal population in order to explore family of origin patterns of autonomy and intimacy and adolescent family-separation variables of separation difficulty unique to incest families. / The incest group was comprised of 26 female adult paternal incest survivors who were identified by mental health professionals in Tallahassee, Florida. The non-incest group consisted of 102 college students attending Family Relations classes at Florida State University who reported no previous paternal incest experience. The instruments used were the Family of Origin Scale, the Home-Leaving Question, and the Home-Leaving Cognitions Scale. / Results were based on data analyzed using ANOCOVA, ANOVA, Chi-square tests and correlations. Findings of practical significance included the following: a high interaction was revealed between family of origin variables of autonomy and intimacy on the Family of Origin Scale. When autonomy and intimacy were treated as a single variable of healthy family functioning, women who experienced incest were lower in overall healthy family functioning than women who had not experienced incest. Trends of greatest family of origin impairment among the incest survivors were shown in the areas of conflict resolution, clarity of expression and respect for others' differences. Women from incest families experienced leaving home as more problematic, conflictual and difficult on the Home-Leaving Question, and rated emotional separation as a more important indicator of leaving home on the Home-Leaving Cognitions Scale than women who were not from incest families. A negative relationship was found between healthy family of origin functioning and adolescent family-separation difficulty. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-10, Section: B, page: 4579. / Major Professor: Eileen M. Earhart. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between adolescent family roles, family dysfunction and adolescent suicidal behavior. An attempt was made to differentiate between adolescents hospitalized for suicidal behavior and non-clinical adolescents with regard to family roles and family dysfunction. / The research hypotheses were investigated by administering instrumentation to 104 adolescents aged 13-18. Fifty two adolescents hospitalized for suicidal behavior and 52 non-suicidal adolescents from Florida High School comprised the two study groups. The instruments used in this study were the Role Behavior Inventory (Verdiano, 1986), the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III (Olson, Portner & LaVee, 1985) and a Demographic Data Sheet. Following administration and collection, the questionnaires were scored and the data were analyzed using a discriminant analysis and one-tailed T-tests. / All hypotheses and the research question were tested at the p $<$.05 level of significance. Support was found for all the hypotheses and partial support was found for the research question. Suicidal adolescents differed from non-suicidal adolescents with suicidal adolescents perceiving themselves as occupying more rigid roles than non-suicidal adolescents. Suicidal adolescents also perceived their family systems as more dysfunctional than non-suicidal adolescents. The combination of the family role and family dysfunction variables did allow for differentiation between the two study groups. The addition of adolescents reported level of family dysfunction to perceived family roles only slightly increased the ability to classify individuals in correct study groups. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-03, Section: A, page: 1015. / Major Professor: Mary W. Hicks. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences between Jews who intermarry and Jews who marry other Jews by examining family of origin relationships at the time of leaving home. The Parental Relationship Inventory (Lich & Silver-Stutman, 1986) measuring the differentiation process at the time of leaving home, the Parentification Questionnaire (Goglia, Jurovic, Wolkin & Sessions, 1985) focusing on family roles, and a background questionnaire exploring the ethnic and religious identification of the family experience of the subjects were used. Intermarried subjects (n = 103) were compared to homogamously married subjects (n = 113) utilizing both bivariate and multivariate analyses. While results indicated that the intermarried group was more parentified and married substantially later, the differences were most apparent when the groups were compared by sex. T-tests, chi-squares, and step-wise discriminant analyses revealed significant differences between intermarried men and homogamously married men on autonomy, respect for intergenerational boundaries, relatedness, mutuality, self-focus and supply-seeking and also parentification indicating that the former group was less differentiated from their families of origin at the time they left home and played a more parentified role. Differences between the groups on ethnic identification and religious observance in the families of origin were insignificant. The implications of the findings are that family of origin factors are influential in the mate selection process and that for the intermarried men in this study their intermarriages were related to being less differentiated and more parentified in relation to their families of origin. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-03, Section: A, page: 1016. / Major Professor: Eileen M. Earhart. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

Differentiation and integration of vocational interests is described as the process in which the self organizes experiences which define the personality and career identity of the individual. The literature on vocational development suggests that vocational goals originate in the family of origin (FO) and that a "crystallization of interests" occurs throughout the process of career development (Super, 1963; Roe, 1961). Literature on the socialization of professionals also suggests that the family of origin influences the career development path of the professional (Henry, Sims, & Spray, 1971; Bucher & Stelling, 1977). / The present study investigated the relationship between family of origin roles among groups of marriage and family therapists and occupational development. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the groups of marriage and family therapists included three criterion groups: 258 supervisors, 65 therapists, and 64 therapist trainees. These professionals were compared to a non-therapist group of adults (n = 52). Family of origin roles were measured by the adult version of the Role Behavior Inventory (Verdiano, 1986). The RBI's 50 items are conceptually grouped into five scales: hero, mascot, scapegoat, lost child, and enabler. / A 2 x 6 (gender x grouped experience level) ANOVA on both the hero and enabler scales showed significant main effects for gender across groups and for experience across groups, with females scoring higher than their male counterparts on both scales. No interaction effects (gender x group) were found. The hero scale revealed that males who perceive their FO role as hero-like are more likely to gravitate toward the supervisory role in the family therapy field. Females exhibited similar patterns with regard to grouped experience levels however; all female clinicians scored significantly higher than females-in-general. Comparisons among groups on the enabler scale revealed that females scored higher than males, adults-in-general scored higher than clinicians, and experience level of the therapist was a significant factor with regard to perceptions of FO enabler role. The hypothesized inverse relationship between supervisors and therapists was not supported. The extreme scores of beginning level trainees indicated that the "fit" between trainees and supervisors and the FO role of trainees needs to be further examined as these findings have various implications for the training of marriage and family therapists. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-07, Section: A, page: 1975. / Major Professor: Craig A. Everett. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

The National Coalition for the Homeless (1985) reported an estimate of over 220,000 school-aged children who are considered homeless on any given night. For homeless children, the additional loss of a stable environment and friends, coupled with a lack of basic necessities, increases their stress to exorbitant amounts. However, there have been few empirical studies that have examined both psychosocial stress and the effects of stress management on homeless children. The present study proposed, based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs model, that severe stress must be addressed among homeless children in order to help them thrive in an ever increasing stress-filled society. Fifty-two homeless children, living with their families in two family shelters in Central Florida participated in the study. / A quasi-experimental pre-post control group design was utilized to examine the effectiveness of a four session stress management training package on elementary school-age children. It was hypothesized that such training would reduce stress and improve the children's self-esteem, social competencies and behavior. It was also hypothesized that homeless children's pretest scores on the four dependent variables: Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (1981), Coddington's Life-Events Scale (1981), Stress Response Scale (1983), and Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (1983) would be significantly different than the general population. The relationship between psychosocial stress and length of homelessness was also examined. / Homeless children's mean scores, when compared to normative group data score, were statistically higher demonstrating clinically significant levels of stress. Treatment group children's mean scores displayed noticeable gains, indicating improvement in self-esteem, social competencies and behavior. Repeated measures ANOVA analysis found no statistically significant differences on the dependent variables between children in the treatment and control groups. T-tests conducted on the length of homelessness and psychosocial stress, (as indicated by pretest mean scores), showed no statistically significant relationship. Possible explanations of the findings, along with implications for practice and research are given. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-01, Section: A, page: 0356. / Major Professor: Dianne H. Montgomery. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationships among parental attachment in childhood, social support in adulthood, and psychological adjustment of resilient adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs). A structural model depicting the relationships among parent care, parent control, perceived availability of social support, appraisal of social support, orientation to use of social support, and psychological adjustment was constructed from empirical data by using linear structural modeling (LISREL). / A significant number of the subjects indicated the presence of an emotionally supportive parental attachment in childhood which provided a strong emotional foundation. This was evidenced by their positive psychological adjustment, positive perceptions of the availability of supportive friends, and positive inclination to use them as support systems. / The primary parental relationship had two components: care and control. The care component, when sufficiently present in the parent-child relationship, had a direct positive effect on psychological adjustment. Furthermore, it had a significant positive impact on perception of social support from friends and on orientation to the use of social support. Parental care in childhood appears to serve as a protective factor, insulating some children from the negative effects of parental alcoholism and providing a foundation that is subsequently utilized in socially supportive relationships in adulthood. On the other hand, the control component had a significant effect only on perception but not on utilization or appraisal of social support later in life. Further, it had no significant direct effect on psychological adjustment. / The present study provides preliminary empirical validation of a health promotion life span model emphasizing the critical role of emotional support in the parent-child attachment. The emotionally supportive parental relationship sets up a direct path to psychological well being as well as an indirect path through the development and use of another protective factor, social support relationships. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-01, Section: B, page: 0547. / Major Professor: Thomas A. Cornille. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

This investigation compared family functioning across four criterion groups. Eight dependent measures from FACES III, FILE and F-COPES family assessment instruments were utilized to assess family functioning. These four criterion groups were: (a) two-parent mothers with normal hearing preschool children (n = 17), (b) two-parent mothers with hearing impaired preschool children (n = 22), (c) single-parent mothers with normal hearing preschool children (n = 18), and (d) single-parent mothers with hearing impaired preschool children (n = 24). The total sample size consisted of 81 mothers. / Multiple specific criteria were established for the inclusion of both normal hearing and hearing impaired families. The selected hearing impaired families had a preschool aged child who participated in a special education program for hearing impaired preschool children established by the state of Florida. Families who were the recipient of mental health services were excluded from the investigation. / The results from multivariate and two-way analysis of variance procedures indicated that single-parent mothers (Groups III & IV) were associated with an increased reliance upon the external coping strategies of Mobilizing the Family to Acquire and Accept Support and Seeking Spiritual Support when compared with the two-parent (Groups I & II) mothers. The mothers of the normal hearing family (Groups I & IV) groups were associated with an increased reliance upon the internal coping strategy of Passive Appraisal when compared with the mothers of the hearing impaired (Groups II & III) family groups. There was no significant variation across the four criterion groups on the variable of family stress or on the family resource variables of cohesion and adaptability. The findings were viewed within the postulates of The Double ABCX Model of Family Stress. / An additional focus examined the variance in family functioning attributable to the sibling position of the hearing impaired child. There were no significant findings in regards to the sibling position of the hearing impaired child. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-07, Section: A, page: 2529. / Major Professor: Calvin Zongker. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.

The increase in the percentage of working women has raised issues regarding the relative contribution of work and family to psychological adjustment in women. Specifically, this study examined empirically the extent to which selected indicators of marital satisfaction and job satisfaction contribute to psychological adjustment in women. Marital satisfaction and job satisfaction variables collectively composed the domain of predictor variables. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used to measure overall marital satisfaction, and the Power Type Self Classification Scale was used to measure the discrepancy between actual and ideal amounts of control in dyadic decision-making. Five facets of job satisfaction (the work itself, pay, opportunity for promotion, supervision, and co-workers) plus an overall "job-in-general" satisfaction were assessed with the Job Descriptive Index. The domain of psychological adjustment was considered to be composed of state anxiety, trait anxiety, and general personal adjustment, as measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory A, Pt, and F scales. / Subjects were 93 married women from a church population. The women were at least 21 years of age, had been married for at least 1 year, and were employed in some capacity. / A canonical correlation analysis revealed one significant root between the predictor and criterion domains. Post hoc regression analyses indicated that (1) decision-making control satisfaction and general marital satisfaction were the greatest predictors of state anxiety, (2) general job satisfaction was the greatest predictor of trait anxiety, and (3) general marital satisfaction was the greatest predictor of general personal adjustment in these women. / The conclusion is that psychological adjustment in church women is related to satisfaction with dyadic decision-making, general job satisfaction, and marital satisfaction. Implications for women's personal adjustment, marital adjustment, and for counseling with women are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-10, Section: B, page: 5074. / Major Professor: James P. Sampson, Jr. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.

This study examines the processes associated with the institutionalization of marital and familial expertise in professional groups. Taxonomic, monopoly and systemic models of professionalization are delineated and applied to the historical development of the mental health professions and their claims of expertise over marital and familial problems from the late 1800s through the 1970s. A central focus throughout the historical analysis is how the relative position of a professional group within the system of mental health professions affected their jurisdictional (or lack of) claims of marital and familial expertise. / Building upon, yet critically extending, Andrew Abbott's systemic approach, the dissertation concludes that studies of professionalization should be reformulated in four ways: (1) the unit of analysis should shift from the internal development of an independent professional group to the larger task area and competing claims of expertise over the task area, (2) that spatial relations of professional groups must be given theoretical priority over theorizations of temporal order, (3) that the historical development of professional claims of expertise must be understood as a matter of complex conjunctures of intra-, inter-, and transprofessional forces, and (4) the study of professionalization must take place in a context within which the sociology of professions is subsidiary to the sociology of expertise. A theoretical outline of the sociological study of the institutionalization of expertise is developed in the concluding chapter. / Evidence of claims of marital and familial expertise made by marriage counselors, family therapists, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, social workers, pastoral counselors, lawyers, and physicians were gathered from a variety of sources: journals, books, newsletters, original association records, and correspondence. A major source of data includes all of the available original records of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the largest professional association for marriage and family therapists. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-03, Section: A, page: 1337. / Major Professor: Jill Quadagno. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1996.

Remarriage families, which are established following divorce, have soared over the last two decades. Most divorced persons remarry. In 1985, 29.7% of all marriages which took place in Canada involved at least one divorced person. A major problem identified in studying remarriage among Northeastern Frenchspeaking Ontarians is the lack of previous research. There are few Canadian empirical studies on remarriage. / This exploratory study was concerned with remarriages where mothers, stepfathers and adolescents were involved. A nonrandom sample of fifty-one volunteer Franco-Ontarian stepfather families answered written questionnaires. All families had one biological parent, the mother, who had remarried following divorce. The Stepfamily Adjustment Scale by Crosbie-Burnett (1989) was translated and adapted to the Franco-Ontarian context by this researcher. The instrument is composed of three questionnaires, individually and confidentially answered by the mother, the stepfather and the adolescent in the stepfamily. These instruments reflect the perceptions of these stepfamily members on the stepfamily adjustment. The data was then compared with a sample of forty-two stepfather families from Wisconsin. / As the samples are nonrandom, generalization cannot be mads to a larger population. The major contributions of this study lie in suggesting that overall the two comparative groups showed no statistically significant differences. The hypothesis that Northern Ontario stepfathers would be more disciplinarians than stepfathers in the Wisconsin group was not supported. It was also found that the couples (biomother and stepfather) were the ones who in reality of daily life made the rules and disciplined the children. Adjustment of these stepfamilies was supported more by the quality of the steprelationships than by the marital happiness of the couples. Sex and age, except the ages of adolescents in the stepfamilies, made a statistical significant difference in stepfamily adjustment. Further research is suggested to assess Northern Ontario Frenchspeaking stepfamilies in a minority cultural context. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-12, Section: B, page: 6453. / Major Professor: Bruce Bellingham. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.