The research described in this thesis investigated the relationship between perceptions of social support and the narrative coherence of traumatic war memories. The aim was to understand the way in which social support impacts on the process of reconciliation of war memories, with implications for provision of therapy to currently and formerly serving veterans. In order to provide a lifespan perspective, war veterans from the Second World (WWII), Korean War, Falklands War, Gulf War and Britain’s ‘Small’ Wars participated in semi structured one-to-one interviews based on perceptions of social support (comradeship, family support, and societal support), media representation of war, and commemoration. Analysis of narrative content was based on the perceptions of social support, and the subsequent analysis of narrative form explored the coherence of war memories as an indication of reconciliation. Coherence was operationalised as the presence of orientation and storied structure, consistency in affect, and uniting theme(s) running through the narrative. Data from the Imperial War Museum was used to provide triangulation of the social support themes, and was analysed using thematic analysis. Archival data from the Mass Observation Archive was also consulted to corroborate the findings from the interview data, providing a deeper understanding of the role of societal support using thematic analysis. In addition, a questionnaire study was conducted to probe perceptions of media representation and perceptions towards veterans. Findings suggest that veterans can reconcile their memories earlier in life, and that communicating with family members within a supportive society may aid reconciliation. This has implications for future interventions.

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<p> The importance of understanding how individuals appraise and cope with stressors is essential in the overall effective management of stress, especially in high-stress professions such as law enforcement. This study focused on understanding the reasons behind the dissimilarities in the appraisal of stressors and subsequent employment of different coping strategies among a sample of law enforcement officers. Although different variables have been examined independently, there was no clear understanding of the potential relationships between variables such as personality characteristics and coping strategies, especially when considering the appraisal of stressors. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationship among appraisal of occupational stressors, personality traits, and coping strategies for a sample of 97 law enforcement officers from the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates. This study included the appraisals of occupational stressors and personality traits as predictor variables and coping strategy choices will serve as the criterion variable. Multiple regression analyses were planned in order to evaluate how stress appraisals and personality traits predict coping strategies. Data were collected by using questionnaires consisting of the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire to measure stress appraisals, the Brief COPE Inventory Questionnaire to identify coping strategies, and the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-3) to provide information on the Big Five Personality constructs. An insufficient number of officers completed the stress questionnaire to complete all of the planned analyses. However, results from multiple regression analyses using personality traits to predict coping suggested that certain personality traits are strongly associated with particular types of problem and emotion-focused coping. These findings have provided a better understanding of personalities and how those fit within the coping process for law enforcement officers.</p>

<p> <b>Objective:</b> The primary goal of the current study was to characterize perceived social support (PSS) and isolation longitudinally among people with chronic pain (CP) who were and were not receiving group psychosocial interventions for CP. The second goal of the study was to describe how PSS and isolation variables are associated with quality-of-life (QOL) variables over time for those same participants. </p><p> <b>Background:</b> Previous research has demonstrated that positive social support can predict better outcomes for people with CP and negative social support can predict poorer outcomes. Furthermore, CP is associated with decreased social support and greater isolation. Despite the knowledge that PSS can be an important coping resource for people with CP, research on the longitudinal patterns of PSS and isolation and their relationships to QOL variables over time is lacking, especially among people with CP. </p><p> <b>Method:</b> Social health and QOL data from 290 participants from the Learning About My Pain study (Eyer &amp; Thorn, 2015) were used to examine longitudinal PSS and isolation with piecewise linear growth models using multilevel modeling. Participants were randomly assigned to participate in group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group pain psychoeducation (EDU), or medical treatment-as-usual (TAU) for 10 weeks followed by a 6-month post-treatment follow-up period. Participants were assessed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment, as well as at follow-up. </p><p> <b>Results:</b> PSS was relatively stable over the treatment and follow-up periods except for small decreases in emotional and informational support among TAU and social isolation among EDU during the follow-up period. Companionship was associated with decreasing pain interference, disability, and depression, and emotional support was associated with decreasing pain interference and depression, whereas instrumental support and isolation were associated with worsening QOL. The Buffering Hypothesis of PSS was not supported in the current sample. </p><p> <b>Conclusions:</b> A potential benefit of participating in psychosocial group treatments for CP appears to be the lack of deterioration of emotional and informational support for CBT and EDU and decreasing isolation for EDU participants. Social health was predictive of QOL. Future research and treatment of CP should account for PSS and isolation and the ways in which they interact with pain and QOL.</p><p>

<p> Studies show many college students are sexually active and do not use condoms consistently (American College Health Association, 2014); however, interventions aimed at increasing condom procurement and reported condom use have been successful (Wells &amp; Alano, 2013; Olenick, 1999). This study compared students&rsquo; attitudes and behavioral intentions toward obtaining condoms on campus according to the University&rsquo;s current condom administration policy to a group of hypothetical alternative policies. We were interested in determining if an alternative policy that provides condoms to students in unattended machines inside or outside of restrooms, as opposed to the student health center, would increase students&rsquo; intentions to obtain condoms on campus.</p><p> In accordance with the theory of planned behavior (TPB), students&rsquo; attitudes (ATB), perceived social norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and behavioral intentions (BI) to obtain condoms were measured, after reading a description of the current policy and again after reading one of eight alternative policies, which varied on location (inside, outside of restrooms), cost (free, two condoms for $0.25), and brand (Trojan, generic). The four components of TPB were compared between the current and alternative policies and amongst the eight alternative policies.</p><p> Results suggest that there may be minor differences in preference when comparing certain alternative policies to the current, especially alternative policies that provide condoms outside of restrooms; however, students overall showed significantly greater intentions to use any alternative policy over the current policy offered at student health services. This was without regard to gender, proximity to campus, relationship status, and sexual activity within the past year, which suggests that providing condoms to students in unattended machines could increase condom procurement amongst students. Limitations and future directions for this study are discussed.</p><p>

<p> A qualitative case study was used to analyze the experiences of 11 young women, ages 18&ndash;35 years diagnosed with breast cancer genetic mutations, BRCA 1 or BRCA 2. The 11 participants did not have a history or current diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer. There was limited information available within the literature regarding the experiences of young women who have been notified of BRCA 1 and 2 genetic mutations. It seemed vital to understand how women confronted with the difficult reality of their genetic status would like professionals such as psychologists, physicians, and genetic counselors to guide them through experiences of living with the BRCA1 and 2 genetic mutations. The combination of subjective truth, standpoint theory, and social constructivism does well to explain their living knowledge. Women&rsquo;s experiences described in this study suggested themes of taking action; making pragmatic adjustments; and emotional sub-themes including anxiety, empowerment, and advocacy. Professionals in the field of medicine, genetic counseling, and mental health counseling can benefit from this research. Individuals who are in the practice of medicine may find it helpful to be more aware of the emotions women experience regarding their results.</p><p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 kazuokawanonagamine_tese.pdf: 4436335 bytes, checksum: c1b23fd4cca930ca5e5a4810a91ebb78 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-18 / There is much evidence about the positive impact of physical activity on health, including reduction in morbimortality, and improvement in the general wellbeing. Regularly practicing physical activities reduces anxiety, stress, depression and burnout, enhances personal relationships and performance at work, reduces absenteeism and improves quality of life. The objectives of this study were to prospectively assess anxiety, depression, fatigue, burnout and quality of life in individuals before, during, and after their participation in a sixmonth physical activity program conducted at work. Wilcoxon test was used to analyze quantitative variables. A qualitative analysis of the participant s impressions of the program was also performed. Participants: female employees who answered to an advertisement affirming their availability for the program, met inclusion criteria (sedentary women, working 40 hours per week, no health problems, 75% of frequency in the program) and agreed to participate (mean age: 35 years old; SD: 7.5 years). Method: After a physical examination, anamnesis, anthropometrical assessment and testing to obtain heart rate, the participants joined a twice-weekly physical activity program after work that included: walking and/or jogging and localized exercise training (calisthenics exercise). On starting, and after three and six months of the program all participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Chalder Fatigue Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory and a measure of quality of life (QL) SF-36. Additionally, after six months, participants filled out a questionnaire about their participation in the program. Results: 39 participants xvi started the program, 17 remained until at least the third month and 12 completed the six months. Anxiety symptoms decreased from slight to minimal. There was a significant reduction in depressive symptoms (p=0.006), in fatigue (p=0.01) and burnout (p=0.02). There was an increase in all aspects of QL, with a significant increase in vitality (p=0.04). Participants who abandoned the program reported they did so because of domestic chores, academic activities and work. The highlighted positive aspects of the program were improved relationship with colleagues, wellbeing, health and benefits at work. Conclusions: Data from the study endorse reported benefits of regularly practicing physical activity. The positive testimonies by the participants and observed benefits, stress the importance of implementing this type of program, which can be conducted in the work place at a low cost. / Existem atualmente evidências a respeito do impacto positivo da prática de atividade física sobre a saúde, como redução da morbimortalidade relacionada a diversas doenças e aumento do bem-estar geral. A prática regular de atividade física reduz níveis de ansiedade, estresse, depressão e burnout, aprimora a relação interpessoal, o rendimento laboral, reduz o absenteísmo e promove qualidade de vida. Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar prospectivamente sintomas de ansiedade, depressão, fadiga, burnout e qualidade de vida em funcionárias, antes, durante e após a participação em programa de atividade física regular durante seis meses, oferecido dentro da própria instituição. Os dados foram analisados com o teste estatístico não paramétrico Wilcoxon do sinal. Análise qualitativa da perspectiva das participantes sobre o programa foi também realizada. Casuística: funcionárias que responderam a anúncio sobre disponibilidade do programa, atenderam aos critérios de inclusão (sedentárias, regime de trabalho de 40 horas semanais, sexo feminino, freqüência de 75% e ausência de problemas de saúde) e concordaram em participar (média de idade: 35; dp:7,5). Método: Após exame físico, anamnese, avaliação antropométrica e treino para obter freqüência cardíaca, as participantes iniciaram programa de atividade física (duas vezes por semana, após o expediente: caminhada e/ou corrida e ginástica localizada. No início, no terceiro e após o sexto mês no programa todas responderam aos Inventários Beck de Ansiedade e de Depressão, Escala de Fadiga de Chalder, Inventário Maslach de Burnout, Medida de Qualidade de Vida (QV) SF-36. Após o sexto mês responderam a questionário sobre sua participação no programa. Resultados: Das 39 participantes iniciais, 17 continuaram até o terceiro mês e 12 até o sexto. Os sintomas de ansiedade passaram da classificação "leve" para mínima". Houve redução significante dos sintomas de depressão (p=0,006), de fadiga (p=0,01) e de burnout (p=0,02). Nota de Resumo Houve aumento em todos os domínios de QV, com aumento significante da Vitalidade (p=0,04). As justificativas fornecidas pelas participantes em relação ao abandono do programa incluíram principalmente atividades domésticas, acadêmicas e de trabalho. Os benefícios apontados incluíram relacionamento com colegas, bem-estar, melhora na saúde, no trabalho e na auto-estima. Conclusões: Os dados obtidos são compatíveis com os benefícios da prática regular de atividade física. A avaliação positiva da experiência pelas participantes e os benefícios observados indicam a relevância de programas como este, que podem ser realizados no próprio ambiente de trabalho e são de baixo custo.