The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the factors that contribute to positive educational outcomes as measured by the EXPLORE test for eighth grade males who qualify for free or reduced price lunch. In addition, this study was conducted for the purpose of improving the educational program at a Northeast Tennessee middle school. Archival EXPLORE data, as well as free and reduced price lunch data, were used to identify high school graduates, 6 males and 6 females, who had performed at or above expectation on the eighth grade EXPLORE test. Females were included in this study for the purpose of determining if the factors vary with respect to gender. The participants were interviewed for the purpose of gaining a rich understanding of the factors that enabled them to experience success, while the majority of their socioeconomically disadvantaged peers did not, as well as to determine if these factors varied with respect to gender. Two overarching themes emerged as a result of the interview data analysis: connection to school and support and motivation. Each of the participants reported a sense of connection to the school via of one or more of the following 5 subcategories: teachers, peers, other adults, extracurricular activities, and school structure, culture, and supports. Also, all of the participants spoke of support and motivation via 1 or more of the following 4 subcategories: parents, other adults, preparation, and ability and talent. Two factors emerged that seemed to be most important to their success: connection through relationships and outside support. Each participant was able to establish meaningful relationships during middle school, with 11 of 12 sharing accounts of their connections with school adults, and 12 of 12 discussing their peer relationships. Additionally, each spoke of feeling supported or motivated by a parent or other outside adult. There was little difference with respect to gender. Boys indicated a slightly higher proclivity towards extracurricular activities, while girls seemed to place slightly more importance upon peer relationships. However, establishing meaningful connections within school was of paramount importance for both genders.

The purpose of this project is to gather an understanding of binge eating disorder and effective treatment approaches used for the reduction of binge eating symptoms for adult females. The research focus of this study will be, what are the attitudes and perspectives of binge eating disorder treatments for adult females among students who are in a masters of social work field or study. This research project utilized a post-positivist paradigm where data was gathered qualitatively through the implementation of interviews with MSW students of diverse ethnic backgrounds (e.g. Hispanics, whites, and blacks, professional and personal experiences) from California State University of San Bernardino. The researcher utilized literature review to prepare for the study execution, and participants were provided with an inform consent and debriefing statement. The researcher prepared questions, and audio recorded, transcribe, and then analyzed the interviews. Master’s students’ first-hand knowledge and perspectives contributed to a better understanding of what needs to be known in order to effectively treat binge eating disorder. The results consisted of the following themes: knowledge; basic knowledge of eating disorders, limited knowledge or awareness about binge eating disorder among adult females, no knowledge in regards to effective treatments for adult females with binge eating disorder, need for knowledge or awareness, perceptions; negative perceptions of binge eating disorder and treatments for adult females, experiences; personal and school experiences, and treatments; cognitive behavior therapy for treatment.

African American women have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, thus increasing their risks for chronic diseases. Their understanding of their health status and response to it could be triggered by messages in the media, yet few researchers have examined this topic with African American women. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how advertisement and editorial content in media contributed to perceptions African American women have about overweight and obesity. Following the theoretical foundation of the social cognitive theory, the research questions explored what messages study participants encountered and which messages prompted behavior changes. Ten African American females age 25 and older were recruited and interviewed about their understanding of overweight and obesity, chronic disease risks, and self-efficacy. Codes and themes about obesity, health risks, physical activity, eating, and body image were extracted line by line from interview transcripts. Six themes emerged: obesity as viewed by participants, perceptions of health risks, impact of media messages, perceptions of body image, encouragement from media, and steps to improve personal health. These results indicated that media messages are factors in the development of the views African American women have about being overweight or obese and motivated them to adopt health improving behaviors. Messages in the media can contribute to shifting the imbalance of overweight and obesity among African American women. Additionally, the results can inspire public health officials, health communication researchers and media professionals to develop and disseminate informative health related messages.

本研究的主要目的是希望透過女性從原生家庭進入婚姻家庭的歷程，瞭解當前台灣社會中成年期女性的心理依附與分離概況，由於東西方社會家庭結構的差異，在中西方思潮融合交接的此刻，希望能透過研究瞭解文化因素對依附與心理分離的影響性，以及此一歷程中心理依附與分離的關係。 　　研究者以文獻分析所得的理論架構為參考點，採用質性研究方法進行非結構式的深度訪談。受訪對像是十五位成年期女性，年齡在二十五歲到三十四歲之間，為顧及受訪者的口語表達能力，因此選擇專科以上學歷的訪談對象；也因為此研究是一個歷程性的探討，因此訪談了不同婚姻階段的受訪者，婚齡最長不超過六年。 　　綜合研究所得，發現女性在婚姻歷程中心理依附與分離的現象是一個辯證循環的過程，關係會在不斷的變動發展。而就理論的層面來探討，可以發現女性的依附關係雖有西方文獻中所指涉的的內涵和類型，卻也存在著本土的特殊性，可以看到『依附反轉』的現象；另外，若要以西方理論的角度來探討『心理分離』，將會出現窘迫不足之憾；本文提出女性在婚姻歷程的四個困境，透過探討文化對親子關係、夫妻關係、和自我造成的影響，來瞭解當前女性依附與心理分離的概況。 　　另外，也提出一些影響歷程發展的因素，也發現女性在此一歷程中，依附與心理分離的現象具有持續發展和系統性的特色。 / The purpose of this study is to investigate adult females' attachment (or emotional connection) and psychological-separation (or separation-individual; differentiation), via the process of transition from their original families to married families, in current Taiwan society. The researcher hopes to learn more about the females' attachment and psychological-separation in this process of relationships between. Besides, the influence of culture on this process would be discussed. The thesis has the theoretical basis established by reviewing western literature. Moreover, samples including 15 adult females are chosen and qualitatively studied, according to the theory, by a non-constructional interviewing-in-depth method. The samples, ranging from 25- to 34-year-old, are all graduated from college or above. In order to have a longitudinal examination of the transition process, the samples are chosen to distribute in different married stages. None of the samples has married for longer than 6 years. 　　Results show that the attachment of females has some characteristics consistent with those in western literature, while some features reveal the influence of cultural traits. One of the special features absent in western literature is 'reverse-attachment' in the relationship between females and their original families. Thus, the related research results in western literature seem insufficient to explain adult females' psychological-separation in Taiwan. The thesis therefore provides four dilemma in relationship transition. 　　The thesis suggests that the females' attachment and psychological-separation have several developmental characteristics: consistency, mendability, dialectic process, and systematism. In addition, the finding in this study is consistent with family-system theory. That is, the transition process changes continuously and is influenced by the culture and the environment.

This researcher describes the characteristics of place...physical, cultural and human...of a small Kentucky county and looks at the incidence of disease and dying that occurred in that place in the last half of the nineteenth century. The impact of death on particular subsets of the general population was given a closer evaluation. Very young, females and the slave/Black communities were investigated individually. The overall site and situation of all aspects of Trimble County, Kentucky were viewed in an effort to support the notion that it is the manner in which man interacts with this environment that causes disease and death and that is not the environment itself that destroys human life.

Interviews of senior females ranging in age from 55 through 72 were conducted between September 2004 and April 2005, in order to determine what lifestyle options this group would like made available to them. The participants represented a sample of senior females who had different backgrounds, including culture, education level, and economic circumstance. Although all the participants had very different lifestyles at the time of their interviews, most were satisfied with their current lifestyles but wanted to change something about it. The research results indicate that there are three desired lifestyle options that senior females want: socializing, improving their health, and traveling, with the ability to travel being the most highly desired lifestyle option.

Black males continue to struggle when faced with the challenge of seeking a college education (Cuyjet, 1997, 2006; Mincy, et al 2006; Schott, 2006). Currently, they lag behind in college and university participation as compared to other gendered groups as well as their White and Asian counterparts (Cuyjet, 2006; Bush & Bush, 2010). As with every promising Black male community college student, there are barriers to enrollment and completion, e.g., first-generation and first-time-in-college, previous high school academic and disciplinary experiences, peer pressure, family dynamics, financial considerations and social environments serving as barriers to enrollment and completion. Despite these barriers, many Black males students make it to college. However, they often have difficulty remaining in the educational system long enough to complete their certificates and/or degrees. Although, there are many quality community college and university programs designed to increase the overall success of students “prior to” and “during” enrollment, regrettably, many colleges that facilitate outreach and retention efforts do little by way of accountability. Statistical monitoring for evaluation purpose is mixed. Adequate records of how Black males are performing in and apart from college are important for educational institutions as they consider developing specialized programs for minority sub-group participation, engagement, and success. Furthermore, unengaged Black males, and those attempting to aid them, have varying viewpoints as to the type and priority of programs designed to include Black male participation in postsecondary education. This study will examine Black males’ perspectives versus institutional engagement strategies relative to participation, engagement, and successes that influence Black males Men on the Move program at St. Philip’s College. Moreover, the study will furthermore investigate outreach and retention efforts for Black males that were developed by the St. Philip’s College. / text

Effective doctor-patient communication is critical to improving health outcomes. Good communication improves emotional health, symptom resolution, functional and physiologic status, and pain control. Conversely, ineffective communication leads to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment poor adherence, misuse of health services, and high patient stress. In the U.S., Hispanics are the fastest growing minority. Despite the high burden of illness among this population, Hispanics are less likely than other minorities to regularly see a health professional. This is explained in part because Hispanics navigate a health system designed for the majority, experience a mismatch between cultural values and health beliefs, and have limited English proficiency. These communication challenges contribute to health disparities among the Hispanic population living in the U.S. Despite the importance of doctor-patient communication, few communication interventions that focus on improving patient skills have been tested in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a patient communication intervention tailored for female Hispanic patients could be practically implemented in a practice setting. The first aim focused on adapting existing communication skills training tools for a Hispanic population. The second aim assessed the feasibility of implementing the training tool in a federally qualified health center in a US-Mexico border community. The third aim explored the extent to which trained patients were able to integrate the information provided. Results indicate that it is feasible to implement communication training when delivered by clinical staff. Patient follow-up revealed that patients valued training on how to communicate with their doctor the most. Moreover, it is feasible to sustain the intervention when it is aligned with the priorities of the clinical site. Patient communication training in medically underserved rural areas could improve barriers to improved health outcomes in communities with a high prevalence of Hispanic patients. Future funding is needed to further test, dissemination of communication training programs.

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“Although the subject of female leadership is very well documented at an international level, Pakistan still lacks enough research in this area. This scarcity of research gives rise to a commonly held belief that gender equality has been achieved in Pakistan which hides the gender stereotypes and discrimination practices still prevailing in the country.” “Digging into the experiences of thirty working women, this study examined the effect indigenous culture of Pakistan has in shaping their life experiences as well as career success. The study followed a qualitative research approach with phenomenological theoretical framework. Fifteen females were interviewed from urban areas and fifteen from rural areas to draw a holistic picture of indigenous culture of Pakistan and its effect on career success of females.” “Female participants of this study were interviewed on skype and the data gathered through these interviews was analysed using grounded theory approach. Interviews were taken in Urdu and transcriptions were prepared in English to conduct analysis for this study. Seven categories were initially developed through open coding, followed by three clusters through axial coding an lastly the study created a theoretical framework through selective coding. Findings of the study indicate that indigenous culture strongly effects the career success of working women in Pakistan. Based on thematic analysis, the study concludes that indigenous culture of Pakistan puts taboos on females in the form of family bevahior, expectations and the structurally enforced inferior status of females which effects their leadership skills negatively and restricts their career growth.” “Indigenous culture of Pakistan creates mobility issues for women which restricts the possibility to join better jobs at other places instead of their home town and it also effects expansion of entrepreneurial ventures by restricting females to their home towns. Apart from social mobility, culture restricts the decision making power of females which effects their self-recognition and vision development and other skills necessary to become a better leader. Females also face difficulty managing work and family life because of the uneven domestic work burden on females and the concept that woman is the caretaker of house no matter how tough her job gets. Single females don’t face the problem of managing house work and family life however they face issues such as social immobility, preference of male colleagues over them because of their perceived short work life, lack of decision making power and lack of self-confidence.” “The participants were of the view that despite of all the challenges brought by culture, they are still struggling for their career and fighting against the taboos put by culture.” “Respondents of this study agreed that their family support is most important factor for them to stand against the cultural taboos and pursue their dreams. Therefore, this study concludes that there is a strong need to change the mind-set prevailing in these societies that female is a creature who has to be agreeable and caretaker of family and who is responsible for saving relationships. Although efforts have been done to give women equal rights in Pakistan, these efforts will become more meaningful if general perception of society about women and their role starts to change which will require awareness programmes and cooperation from academic institutions and policy makers.” Page 4 of 97 Impact of Indigenous culture on Female Leadership in Pakistan “This study recommends a future research on the perception of males about female colleagues working with them in order to examine if males of countries like Pakistan are ready to accept female leaders. As this study was conducted on females only, for future it is recommended to examine the mind set of males of the society to draw a comparison between situation of females and impact of males mind set on this situation.”