The purpose of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of Latina women in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) relationships. Young Women's Christian Association-Women In Need Growing Stronger (YWCA-WINGS) is a program in Los Angeles County that works with victims and survivors of IPV.

The purpose of the study was to develop a better understanding of the barriers faced by Latinas when confronted with domestic violence.

This study utilized a self-reported survey design to obtain information from 47 Latinas to determine their breast cancer knowledge levels and compliance with early detection methods.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to generate substantive theory on the bereavement process. A qualitative research design, grounded theory, was used to analyze the experience of bereavement for Mexican American widows. Research questions addressed were: What is the process of bereavement for Mexican American widows? What factors are associated with the bereavement process for Mexican American widows? Theory discovery was accomplished using the grounded theory methodology. Interviews were conducted with nineteen Mexican American widows who had been bereaved for approximately 18 months. Theoretical sampling involved the use of interviews and observations triangulated with scientific and popular literature. The constant comparative method of analytic induction was used for the analysis of data, in order to identify the elements and structure of the theory. A basic social process, Reorganizing a New Me, was identified as the core category of the theory. Reorganizing a New Me is the continuous process used by Mexican American widows in order to adjust and adapt to widowhood. The process includes four subcategories: (a) Feeling the Void is defined as the efforts of monitoring or becoming aware of the loss and highlighted the uncertainty that accompanied the experience, (b) My Mind and Body explains the Mexican American widow's work of resolving her grief in the form of culturally sanctioned idioms and emotional expressions, (c) Confronting the Paradox is defined as the centralization of the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that represented the concerns and compensations of being a widow, and (d) Tempering explains the work of adapting to the process of becoming a widow. Coping strategies that Mexican American widows utilized during this process were also identified. The significance of the study for nursing is that it (a) sensitizes nurses and other health professionals to the bereavement process and coping strategies for Mexican American widows, (b) provides a map which can guide the assessment of the bereaved Mexican American widow, and (c) identifies a substantive theory on the bereavement process, which, through further study, can be raised to a formal theory on this transitional phase for women.

This study tested the applicability of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change in predicting early termination, appropriate termination, and ongoing treatment of Hispanic battered women residing at domestic violence shelters. Self-efficacy, decisional balance, and acculturation were examined in relation to the applicability of this model with the Hispanic women population. One hundred and eight women residing in two shelters for survivors of domestic violence, located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, were asked to provide information regarding the problems in their relationships, the pull and the strain of their relationship, their level of temptation to stay in the abusive relationship, and how confident they felt that they would not return to their abuser (The Process of Change in Abused Women Scales- PROCAWS). In addition, the women were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their level of acculturation. This study confirmed the stage of change profiles found in a population of battered women as well as in other clinical populations and the results suggest that this model is applicable to Hispanic populations. The results indicated that the women in this sample could be meaningfully grouped according to their level of involvement in different stages of change. Furthermore, this study provided support for the validity of this theory by finding significant relationships among the profiles of change and the intervening variables that moderate movement across the stages of change. The women in this study differed with regard to their level of temptation to stay in their relationships and the amount of cons they to making changes. The findings also confirmed that the Transtheoretical Model can be used to predict termination status from domestic violence shelter programs. Although there were no significant differences in termination status among the women with different stage of change profiles, a trend existed that women in earlier stages of change terminated earlier and women in later stages of change terminated appropriately. Overall, the results of this study provide evidence for the applicability of the Transtheoretical Model and the usefulness of the PROCAWS in identifying profiles of change that can potentially guide treatment interventions and predict early termination with the Hispanic population.

Hispanics represent the greatest U.S. population growth, yet Hispanic women are the least educated of all U.S. ethnic female groups and reflect the lowest college enrollment as a percent of their total population. Since nearly half of Hispanics enrolled in college are served by community colleges, this research sought to understand if marianismo, i.e., the cultural expectations that Hispanic women females must focus on caretaking and mothering while reflecting passivity, duty and honor, and self-sacrifice, might provide some explanation for the low levels of degree attainment among Hispanic female community college students compared to their female peers from all other ethnic groups. Marianismo was once a construct that limited the role of women to the home. However, today’s Hispanic female is expected to juggle home priorities along with other roles in which she may engage. These various role demands may influence Hispanic female college persistence and success. Using secondary data analysis of the national Educational Longitudinal Study 2002 (ELS), this study examined the relationship between marianismo and persistence (semester to semester enrollment) of Hispanic females (n = 368) enrolled in community colleges. To create a marianismo scale, 13 items were selected from the ELS and reviewed by individuals familiar with Hispanic culture and marianismo. Confirmatory factor analysis was then used to generate a reliable marianismo scale (Cronbach’s alpha = .82). Logistic regression revealed that of marianismo, socio-economic status, generational status, and high school GPA, only high school GPA was statistically significant for predicting persistence.

Overweight and obesity are a growing national concern, particularly among women and selected minority populations (Ayala, Elder, Campbell, Slymen, Roy, Engelberg, et al., 2004; NHANES, 2003). Pregnant women bear a disproportionate risk of becoming overweight or obese (Greene, Smickikias-Wright, Scholl, & Karp, 1988; Gunderson et al., 2000; Rossner, 1999). Although exercise is a key factor in preventing overweight and obesity, women often decrease their exercise levels during pregnancy (McTigue, Garrett, & Popkin, 2002; Viau, Padula, & Eddy, 2002; Zhang & Savitz, 1996). Reported percentages of regular exercise during pregnancy have been documented as low as 5% in a predominately White population (Steele, 2002). Although there is ample evidence demonstrating that Hispanic women exercise less than White women during every other stage of life, little is known about how pregnant Hispanic and White women compare in exercise behaviors (Crespo, Smit, Andersen, Carter-Pokras, & Ainsworth, 2000). The purpose of this research was to study low-income White and Hispanic pregnant women to (1) determine the nature and the extent of exercise behaviors both before pregnancy and during pregnancy (2) identify factors that influence exercise behaviors (3) determine if there are differences in factors that influence exercise between ethnicities. Data were collected via a questionnaire developed by the author. A sample of 301 White and Hispanic pregnant women were recruited through the Women, Infants, and Children [WIC] agencies in four selected counties in Oregon. Although ACOG guidelines provide clear information on the benefits of exercise, over 90% of the women surveyed did not exercise at ACOG guidelines. A majority of the women, 57.8%, actually decreased exercise during pregnancy. Although ethnic differences did not exist in the prevalence of exercise during pregnancy, differences between ethnicities were found in the variety of exercise activities performed and behavioral factors that predicted exercise behavior. Analysis of these differences and the factors contributing to the overall low levels of exercise may provide critical information for future intervention program planning. Well targeted programs will ultimately decrease the excessive weight gain and subsequent increased risk for overweight or obesity that pregnant women face. / Graduation date: 2006

Thesis (Ph. D.)--St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas, 2007. / "December 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 281-301) and appendices.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.