This study compared Adult Children of Alcoholics and Adult Children of Non Alcoholics at two family life cycle stages; these included the Families with School Age Children Stage and the Families with Teenagers Stage. Respondents were compared in relation to family of origin health/pathology and family of procreation stress, functioning and quality of life. The theoretical framework included Systems and Family Development Theory. / The sample for the Families with School Age Children Stage included 90 Adult Children of Alcoholics and Adult Children of Non Alcoholics while the sample for the Families with Teenagers Stage also included 90 Adult Children of Alcoholics and Adult Children of Non Alcoholics. Subjects responded to a survey containing five instruments and a demographic section. The instruments utilized were the Family of Origin Scale, Children of Alcoholics Screening Test, Index of Family Relations, Family Assessment Device, and Quality of Life: Parent Form. / The study found significant differences between Adult Children of Alcoholics and Adult Children of Non Alcoholics in family of origin health/pathology and family of procreation stress, family functioning, and quality of life. The differences were found at both the Families with School Age Children Stage and the Families with Teenagers Stage of the Family Life Cycle. The integration of family of origin, family of procreation stress, and family of procreation functioning predicted quality of life for both Adult Children of Alcoholics and Adult Children of Non Alcoholics in the equations utilized. In addition, it was found that the differences in age when Adult Children of Alcoholics were exposed to alcoholism in the family of origin was significant for family of procreation stress for them. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-10, Section: A, page: 3689. / Major Professor: Carol Anderson Darling. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

A group of 30 self-mutilating patients in a large state mental hospital, was compared with a group of 30 nonmutilating patients at the same facility. The participants of the comparison group were matched on the basis of gender, race, and diagnosis, but who had not been identified as self-mutilators. A Multivariate Analysis of Covariance and a two group chi-square analysis were employed to determine if a selected set of variables from the MMPI-2 (Anger, Anxiety, and Depression content scales, and Psychasthenia, Social Introversion, Psychopathic Deviance, Schizophrenia, and Hypomania) could effectively discriminate between the two groups. Neither procedure produced results of statistical significance. The results of the study are discussed in terms of individual differences and the difficulty of establishing a profile with the MMPI-2 predictive of self-mutilative behavior. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-07, Section: B, page: 3761. / Major Professor: Harman Burck. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

This study explored a clinical population on the issue of forced-marital sex to determine its incidence, its relationship to husband-to-wife physical violence and the effect gender socialization of the wife had on how she labeled the abuse or discussed it with a therapist. Clinical members of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy in Florida (N = 95) presented questionnaires to their female therapy clients (N = 541) who anonymously returned them to the researcher. The scales used in the instrument were the Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979) to measure the variable of violence, the Sexual Experience Survey (Koss & Oros, 1982) to measure sexual abuse, and the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (Spence, Helmreich & Stapp, 1973) to measure sex-role attitudes. The therapists were white (99%) with a mean age of 48 and primarily worked in private practice settings (75%). The client sample reported a mean age of 40, a mean education of 14.9 years and a mean income level between $30,--40,000 (combined husband and wife). Results showed 33\% reported husband-to-wife violence and 26\% reported rape experiences, with more being raped in marriage (15\%) than outside that relationship (11\%). Of those raped by someone other than their husband, 60\% were by someone known to the victim. Of the subjects who had experienced marital rape, 64% occurred in physically violent marriages, while 37% were reported in otherwise non-violent relationships. Traditional sex role attitudes of the woman made it more likely she would experience forced-marital sex (p $<$.05) but did not significantly influence whether or not she labeled the experience rape nor whether she discussed it with a therapist. The strongest indicators of forced marital sex were couple conflict and husband violence (p $<$.001). How the clients discussed their abuse with a therapist was explored. Implications for researchers and family therapists are presented. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-12, Section: A, page: 4115. / Major Professor: Calvin E. Zongker. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationships between the marital satisfaction and self esteem of bereaved parents and the following four factors related to the child's death: (a) the amount of forewarning the parents had of the child's death, (b) the time since the child's death, (c) the degree to which parents perceived their spouse to be responsible for the child's death, and (d) the degree to which the parents perceived themselves to be responsible for the child's death. The pile up of family life stress was included in this study as a control variable. / One hundred and eleven bereaved parents participated in this study. The parents were recruited from local chapters of Compassionate Friends in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The data were gathered through self administered questionnaires. The findings were analyzed in the aggregate with the aid of multivariate analyses of covariance and multivariate correlations. / The results from this study revealed several relationships that shed light on the experiences of these bereaved parents. First, it was noted that a decline in marital satisfaction following the death of a child was related to an increase in the amount of time since the child's death. Second, there was evidence of a relationship between high self esteem and a high degree of perceived self responsibility for the child's death. Third, a relationship was revealed between the pile up of family life stress and the marital satisfaction and self esteem of these parents. The more stress the parents reported, the lower their marital satisfaction and self esteem. There was no support from these data for a relationship between the amount of forewarning of the child's death and the parents' marital satisfaction or self esteem. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-10, Section: A, page: 3171. / Major Professor: Mary Hicks. / 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 core components of Type-A behavior pattern in adults are extremes of aggressiveness, easily aroused hostility, a sense of time urgency, and competitive striving (Rosenman, 1978). The Type-A behavior pattern has been implicated as an independent risk-factor in the development of coronary heart disease (Brand, Rosenman, Shaltz, & Friedman, 1976). / Recent research has moved toward the investigation of the antecedents of the Type-A behavior pattern in children. Steinburg (1986) reports that the Type-A behavior pattern appears unstable from childhood to adulthood, but that the Type-A behavior pattern is stable from adolescence to adulthood. Yet, little is known about the formation and maintenance of the Type-A behavior pattern throughout the life span, and particularly in adolescents. / The purpose of this research project is to provide a description of Type-A behavior in adolescents. A description of Type-B adolescents is provided for comparison and contrast to Type-A adolescents. Ethnographic methodology was chosen as the method of research. The use of ethnographic methodology allows for the description and the generation of hypotheses based on the gathered data (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Data were continuously analyzed according to Spradley's (1980) Developmental Research Sequence Method. / Results indicate that Type-A adolescent subjects participate in more extracurricular activities; are achievement-oriented; measure success in numbers; are competitive, even when the situation does not call for competitive behavior; are self-evaluative; engage in negative self-talk; and report more daily stress and more daily uplifting events in their lives. Type-B adolescent subjects can be described as loners who are self-doubting; non-assertive; non-competitive; lack clearly defined goals; avoid conflict; and are uncomfortable socially. Hypotheses generated from the data include: Type-A subjects have Type-A fathers; the fathers of Type-A subjects appear to have a modeling effect on the development of Type-A behavior in subjects; Type-A subjects seek the approval of their fathers; and fathers of Type-A subjects have high expectations of their sons. Implications for counseling psychologists and future research possibilities are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-03, Section: B, page: 1537. / Major Professor: Stephen A. Rollin. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

Physicians, therapists, staff and patients who were employed or receiving care in a primary care practice were asked about their direct experience with the site. Using ethnographic research methods, informants' points of view were elicited through interviews and their comments were examined using domain analysis. Two physicians were interviewed on 5 occasions, 5 therapists between 2 to 4 times, 5 patients twice, an office manager on 3 occasions and 1 nurse twice for a total of 40 interviews. The interviews ranged between 30 to 75 minutes (50 minute average) and took place over an eighteen-month period. Six categorical themes were identified: Characteristics of the Environment; Characteristics of Therapists; The Referral Process; Characteristics of Collaboration; The Psychotherapy Process; and Social Considerations. This study, the first ethnographic investigation of Family Systems Medicine, generated 5 principal conclusions. First, several marked dissimilarities between Family Systems Medicine as depicted in the professional literature and by informants emerged. Second, although the bio-psycho-social model promotes innovative awareness of social issues in health care, informants demonstrated status-quo knowledge. Third, certain aspects of the physician-therapist relationship--which includes an employee-employer arrangement--likely impedes collaboration. Fourth, patients emphasized the relevance of several issues (e.g., central location and prestige by association) that have heretofore been casually discussed in the literature. And, fifth, several problems associated with the use of ethnographies in a for-profit setting were identified. Finally, based upon a review of the findings, 4 major theoretical assertions are proposed: (1) Central location significantly reduces underutilization of health care; (2) Clinical outcomes are significantly enhanced due to / therapists' direct association with physicians ("prestige by association"); (3) Family therapists are not ideally suited to provide biopsychosocial care; and (4) The employee-employer relationship between therapists and physicians impedes collaboration. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-07, Section: B, page: 3674. / Major Professor: Thomas Edward Smith. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

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 purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of group song writing, as compared to group singing and discussion, on the self-esteem of adolescent substance abusers at two treatment facilities. A modification of the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale was given as a pre-test and post-test measure before and after each condition to determine significant changes in self-esteem during either period. At the end of sessions 2-6 of each condition, subjects rated session enjoyment and wrote comments concerning whether or not they could relate session activities or discussions to their lives. Results showed that significant changes in self-esteem scores existed in the cases of increases in Group A's total scores and scores on the Physical Appearances and Attributes subscale during the song writing period. Since Group B did not exhibit these same changes, it was concluded that increases may or may not be attributed to song writing treatment. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.) / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 30-02, page: 0183. / Major Professor: Jayne M. Standley. / Thesis (M.M.)--The Florida State University, 1991.

The current study utilized the Delphi methodology to collect the opinion of "experts" in the clinical treatment and/or study of physically traumatized children and their families on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Nurses, social workers, psychologists, a physician, and a family therapist were asked to identify sources of stress, response patterns, and coping mechanisms that they believe are experienced/exhibited by family members following a physically traumatizing event and the child's subsequent treatment on a PICU. / Analysis of data after two rounds of information gathering revealed areas where consensus was reached. This final profile of the expert collaborators perceptions of the family experience throughout this post-trauma period is presented. / Seven research conclusions, all based on the final profile identified by the expert collaborators, are also discussed. These conclusions include: (1) family members appear to demonstrate symptoms of a secondary traumatic stress reaction throughout their post-trauma and PICU experience; (2) the sources of stress specific to the child's traumatizing event and physical injuries indicate that the family may be impacted more by the child's critical injuries than by the actual traumatizing event; (3) the sources of stress specific to the PICU, appear to be primarily associated with family concerns about the child's physical condition and family issues of safety, trust and a sense of personal control; (4) family system functioning appears to be impacted by the traumatic event and family experience on the PICU; (5) family member's attempts to deal with multiple stressors associated with the traumatic event, the child's injuries and the PICU may result in a cumulative experience of a Systemic Traumatic Stress Reaction within the family system; (6) the impact of culture/racial/class issues are the only areas of disagreement that were identified by the expert collaborators; and (7) the Internet is perceived to have limited value as a means for carrying out the research process. / The Internet computer network was utilized as a method of recruiting "expert" collaborators and as a means of data collection. A discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of this study and the use of the Internet as a research tool are also noted. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-08, Section: B, page: 4234. / Major Professor: Charles R. Figley. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.