Voting analysts in the United States have attempted to predict political orientation based on race, gender, occupation, educational achievement, and economic background. Yet, the substantial amount of research available on these factors has been directed toward the understanding of the white-majority vote. Now, as a result of the overwhelming growth of ethnic minority populations scholars are beginning to look at the potential decisive role of ethnic minority voters. Part of this newly formed voting bloc consists of Hispanics which are now one of the fastest and largest racial minority groups in the United States. This thesis aims to understand the Hispanic electorate by addressing their social mobility. Furthermore, this research will shed light into the socio-economic factors affecting the political affiliation of Hispanic voters.

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This study investigates principals’ perceptions about the importance and degree of building relationships with Hispanic/Latino families in highly diverse schools in an Atlanta area school district. Over the past ten years, the school district’s Hispanic/Latino student population increased by more than 12,000 students. The school district’s current Hispanic/Latino enrollment is almost 15,000 students, which is 14.4% of the total student body. Six principals from different elementary and middle schools with growing Hispanic/Latino student populations participated in this qualitative study involving in-depth, one-on-one interviews, informal observations, and artifact collection. The data analysis process involved transcribing the interview tapes verbatim, analyzing the narratives for theme categories, and identifying the common theme patterns. Critical theorists Giroux, Apple, and Freire provided the framework to examine the principals’ responses and experiences. Hegemony, patriarchy, and reciprocity are critical theory concepts used to criticize and critique the data to glean meaning and understanding of the principals’ perceptions about relationship building with Hispanic/Latino parents and families. There is a disequilibrium between what the principals say is occurring at their schools and the hidden and taken-for-granted structures that exist at their schools. Based on their actions, it seems principals perceive that in order to build relationships with Hispanic/Latino families, the school leaders need to take on a patriarchal role and explain the necessary knowledge, skills, and practices to the parents. This hegemonic behavior perpetuates the dominant group’s power and control over the non-dominant, oppressed groups. In addition, there was no indication that the principals gain an understanding of the Hispanic/Latino culture and language before attempting to help the families with parenting and schooling. The findings suggest that the principals are operating on the assumption that they know what is best for the Hispanic/Latino population without prior inquiry. There is little evidence that the principals believe they have something to learn from the Hispanic/Latino parents and families, thus, a reciprocal learning relationship is non-existent. These underlying beliefs and assumptions will hinder the principals from building a true relationship with the students, parents, and families who they serve in the school community.

abstract: Parental over-control (excessively restrictive and regulatory parenting behaviors) has been consistently identified as a robust risk factor in the development and maintenance of child anxiety problems. However, current understanding of the parental over-control to child anxiety relation is limited by a lack of specificity. The broad ‘parental over-control’ construct represents a heterogeneous category of related but distinct parenting behaviors each of which may exert a unique effect on child anxious emotion. Still, research to date has generally failed to consider this possibility. Moreover, culturally cognizant theory and emerging empirical evidence suggest cross-ethnic (Caucasian vs. Hispanic/Latino) differences in the utilization of various parenting strategies as well as the effects of parenting behaviors on child outcomes. But, only a handful of studies have considered the potential differences in the functioning of parental over-control behaviors within a Hispanic/Latino cultural framework. Using a sample of 98 pre-adolescent children at-risk for anxiety problems, the present study sought to further explicate the association between parental over-control and child anxiety symptoms in the context of ethnic and cultural diversity. Results suggest that parents’ use of overprotection and (lack of) autonomy granting might be particularly relevant to child anxiety, compared to parental intrusiveness and behavioral control. Findings also indicate that some youth may be more vulnerable to parental over-control and suggest that cultural values may play a role in the relation between over-controlling parenting and child anxiety symptoms. Knowledge about cross-cultural variations in the relation among parental over-control behaviors and the development of anxiety symptoms is important because it can improve the cultural robustness of child anxiety theory and has potential to inform culturally sensitive child anxiety prevention and intervention efforts. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2016

Genetic medicine is a field progressing at a rapid rate. Even with all the new advancements, there are still minority groups who are less visible when it comes to the uptake of some forms of genetic medicine. African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos have been shown to experience certain conditions more than Caucasians. In the 2008 African American profile for North Carolina, African Americans had higher age-adjusted mortality rates for heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and chronic liver disease (North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, 2010). Hispanics/Latinos in North Carolina had higher incidence levels of cancer, HIV and kidney disease as opposed to other races (North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics (b), 2010). Despite these poor health outcomes, African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos are less visible when it comes to participating in medical genetics research opportunities and also in genetic testing (Shavers, Lynch, & Burmeister, 2002). Lack of participation among African-American individuals can attributed to mistrust, due to past misuse in clinical research settings such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and a variety of other factors (i.e. access to care, socioeconomic level) (Smith, Thomas, Williams, & Ayers, 1999). Among Hispanic/Latinos, concerns exist about immigration and governmental bias, as well as language barriers and cultural differences between the researcher and participant (Gelman, 2010). These cultural histories have become particularly salient as the field of genomics becomes increasingly reliant on initiatives to increase minority participation in research efforts. In order to explore beyond what previous quantitative studies have found, ethnographic research methods such as focus groups and semi-structured interviews were utilized to understand why members of these two heritage groups are underrepresented. The initial phase of my study was completing two separate focus groups, one with only African Americans and one with only Hispanic/Latinos. The information shared in the focus groups sessions revealed potential areas of exploration for the individual semi-structured interviews. Thus, I conducted 65 semi-structured interviews with African American individuals and 25 semi-structured interviews the other with only Hispanic/Latino individuals. The analysis of the interviews revealed that factors such as age, religion, education level, and finances play key roles in decisions about participating in genetic testing or genetic research. Understanding the views and concerns of African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos could not only help identify potential barriers to genomics research and testing, but could also provide effective means of overcoming them. As an outcome of my study I argued for the need for community input in setting the research agendas. Engaging the community in the design and implementation of genetics research can be a useful method of bridging the trust between minority communities and the research institution. Additionally, community-academic partnerships can be beneficial in addressing the barriers of genomics research and testing by providing useful collaborations in defining perspectives on race and genetics. Moreover, the information gained from community collaborations can be used to develop policy recommendations relating to genomics research (Jones & Wells, 2007). This study was not intended as advocacy for genetic testing, but to lay the foundation for understanding the health care decisions of African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos in this new era of genetic medicine. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among cultural/spiritual beliefs, risk behaviors, and disclosure among Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). Minority men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV, in particular MSM who are Hispanic/Latino or African American. Limited research is available on the link between Hispanic/Latino MSMW, their cultural/spiritual beliefs, risk behavior, and disclosure about risk behaviors to friends and family. The data were obtained from the SJS Project, which used survey methods to gather data on participants from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Among the participants in this project, 354 indicated that Hispanic/Latino was their only race/ethnicity, 264 identified as gay (MSM), 23 identified as bisexual (MSMW) and 67 identified as some other sexuality, and thus were not included in the analysis. Chi-square analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. Among the bisexual group, the results showed no relationship between the independent variable, cultural/spiritual beliefs, and the dependent variable, disclosure. Among the gay group, the results showed a moderate relationship on one item of the independent variable, cultural/spiritual belief, and one item of the dependent variable, self-disclosure. Thus there is a relationship between disclosing to friends, family and the neighborhood and feeling supported by family among the gay group. It is expected that these findings will inform public health practitioners who have an interest in creating and implementing HIV prevention programs geared toward the Hispanic/Latino members of the LGBT community and Hispanics/Latinos.

abstract: Anxiety sensitivity (AS; the fear of anxiety-related bodily sensations) has been earmarked as a significant risk factor in the development and maintenance of pathological anxiety in adults and children. Given the potential implications of heightened AS, recent research has focused on investigating the etiology and developmental course of elevated AS; however, most of this work has been conducted with adults and is retrospective in nature. Data from college students show that early anxiety-related learning experiences may be a primary source of heightened AS levels, but it remains unclear whether AS in children is linked to their learning experiences (i.e., parental reinforcement, modeling, punishment, and/or transmission of information about anxiety-related behaviors). Based on AS theory and its iterations, an emerging theoretical model was developed to aid further exploration of the putative causes and consequences of heightened AS levels. Using a sample of 70 clinic-referred youth (ages 6 to 16 years old; 51.4% Hispanic/Latino), the present study sought to further explicate the role of learning in the development of AS and anxiety symptoms. Results suggest that childhood learning experiences may be an important precursor to heightened AS levels and, subsequently, increased experiences of anxiety symptoms. Findings also indicate that some youth may be more vulnerable to anxiety-related learning experiences and suggest that culture may play a role in the relations among learning, AS, and anxiety symptoms. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Psychology 2012

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the 6th leading cause of death in older Americans. Currently there is no cure for AD, and even though the specific cause is unknown, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is regarded as a risk factor. Hispanics have a higher incidence of DM2 and possibly AD. I chose a life course theoretical model for this quantitative cross-sectional study to illuminate the variables most pertinent to a pathway from good health to poor health. The variables chosen were hypertension (HTN), obesity, smoking, stroke, dyslipidemia, and lower educational attainment. The research questions were used to examine biologic, metabolic, sociologic, and genetic risk factors in the development of DM2 and subsequently, AD. Using data from the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center, the association between DM2 and AD in Hispanics over 65 years of age was examined using Ï?2 and logistic regression to determine whether DM2 in this population contributes to AD development. No association was found between DM2 and AD (OR .791, 95% CI = .441-1.509, p = .476). Risk factors independently associated with AD were HTN, a history of stroke, and lower education in Hispanics. Obesity measured by BMI, dyslipidemia, smoking, and the APOE gene was not significant in their association to AD. This study offers information that medical providers can use to help determine which risk factors affect this population and may thereby alter the course of AD in their patients. Medical providers can make a significant impact on an individual's life by diagnosing dementia early. Early diagnosis could prevent or delay cognitive dysfunction and improve quality of life by using culturally and linguistically appropriate tools.

Minority women groups in the United States have the highest incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer. Hispanic women have the highest incidence rate and the second highest mortality rate of the disease. Researchers have examined the lower rates of cervical cancer screening among Hispanic women, as compared to other groups of U.S. women, but researchers have not examined the extent to which socioeconomic status, acculturation, and sexual activity impact Hispanic women's compliance with screening. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between compliance with cervical cancer screening and acculturation, socioeconomic status, and sexual activity among U.S. Hispanic women. The framework for investigating the extent of association between these identified barriers and willingness to comply with screening was the behavioral model for vulnerable populations. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyze data from the National Health Interview Survey for 2011, 2012, and 2013, focusing on U.S. Hispanic women ages 21 - 65 (N = 739). The findings from this study revealed that educational level was significantly associated with U.S. Hispanic women's cervical cancer screening; however, no statistically significant associations were found for socioeconomic status, acculturation, and sexual activity and screening rates for this group. Findings from this study can better inform researchers and others of the lower rate of screening for cervical cancer among U.S. Hispanic women. The findings will also promote positive social change by targeting U.S. Hispanic women and other minority women groups for programs that promote cervical cancer screening.

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