<p> The purpose of this project was to develop and fund an intervention program that provides a psycho-educational and peer support group to Hispanic parents and siblings who have a child or a brother/sister on the autism spectrum disorder. The goal of the project is to provide education, resources, and peer support for Hispanic parents and siblings who are currently receiving behavior interventions, with the focus being on the mothers and siblings. Behavior Functions, Inc. was the agency selected as the focus of this project.</p><p> An extensive literature review was conducted to examine the need for implementation of this program. The knowledge gained through the literature assisted the grant writer in developing a grant that meets the needs of Hispanic parents and siblings of children on the spectrum. Submission and/or funding were not required for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> This study explored the phenomenon of family shared time in nature from both the parent and child perspectives. The overarching research inquiry was: In what ways do children and their parents describe the experience of shared time in nature with regard to their senses of connection with their family and with nature? Four sub-questions informed the research: 1) How do primary caregivers perceive and describe family connections while in nature? 2) In what ways do primary caregivers perceive and describe their connection to nature when with their families in nature? 3) How do children describe and perceive their family connections while in nature? 4) How do children describe and perceive their connection with nature? To explore these questions, the author designed and facilitated a series of nature scavenger hunts for families in her community. Through a participatory research approach, a combination of participant observations, surveys, and the draw-write-tell method were used to gather a rich and descriptive body of quantitative and qualitative data. From both parent and child responses, two key findings emerged: simple nature outings are valuable to the family unit, and organized and purposeful nature outings help to foster attention and family connection.</p>

<p> Research indicates children with disabilities benefit from therapeutic horseback riding (TR). This study examined the impact TR had on attention behaviors of five children with various developmental disabilities in a preschool classroom. Children were observed in the classroom setting twice weekly for 10 weeks on a day they participated in TR services and on a day they did not participate in TR. Single case experiments suggested there was not a significant difference in all but one child&rsquo;s sustained attention in the classroom on days children received TR services. An independent samples t-test suggested there was no significant difference in scores between riding day (<i>M</i> = 1.78, <i>SD</i> =.247) and non-riding days (<i>M</i> = 1.76, <i>SD</i> = .262); <i>t</i>(87) = -.481, <i>p</i> = .632 for the group as a whole. Further research should be conducted to determine TR&rsquo;s effect on behaviors in the classroom. </p>

abstract: In this dissertation Mexican American (MA) youths environmental risk contexts, HPA axis functioning and mental health symptomatology were investigated in two separate studies. In the first study, environmental risk contexts were examined utilizing a person-centered approach and focusing on MA adolescents' family, peer, and cultural risk factors in fifth grade (N = 750). Environmental contexts were then linked to mental health symptomatology in seventh grade. Results revealed three distinct environmental contexts: Low risk, Moderate risk-language, and High risk-peer. Youth in the High-risk peer context reported the highest levels of symptomatology; greater major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, conduct disorder (CD)/oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) symptoms than youth experiencing Low risk or Moderate risk-language context. Females, in particular, experiencing the High risk peer context appeared at greatest risk for MDD symptoms. Finally, adolescents in the Moderate risk-language context displayed similar levels of symptoms to the individuals in the Low risk context, with the exception of higher anxiety. This study suggested that MA youth live in unique environmental contexts and these contexts are differentially related to mental health symptomatology. In the second study, 98 MA youth participated in a three-day diurnal cortisol protocol in hopes of linking perceptions of discrimination and HPA diurnal cortisol rhythms. Results revealed that discrimination was related to greater overall cortisol output and marginally related to the cortisol awakening response and evening levels of cortisol. Results suggest that important physiological processes underlie the experiences of discrimination. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Family and Human Development 2011

This dissertation investigates the role of early time use socialization on social class reproduction and status attainment. I investigate the relationship between parents' class position and children's early (ages 6-12) time use patterns based on Lareau's (2003) discussion of different parenting styles across social classes. Contrary to Lareau's findings about the aversion middle class parents have to television, I find that children of more educated parents spend more time watching television than children of less educated parents, except on Fridays. Similar to Lareau's findings about increased homework time with parental education, I find that more educated parents' children spend more time doing homework than children of less educated parents, except on Fridays. This significant decline in both television and homework time on Fridays suggests that more educated parents' children trade these two activities for other activities. I also find that the traditional way of calculating the weekly time spent on a given activity ((weekday time*5)+(weekend time*2)) assumes that each day is identical (Hofferth & Sandberg, 2004), and overlooks the differences in within weekdays and weekends days, respectively. In addition, I find that controlling for type of diary reporter (adult vs. child) introduces a possible reporter bias related to the un/desirability of certain activities.

<p> Negative outcomes associated with poor money management and financial communication prompt research that provides fresh theoretical perspectives with the ultimate goal of providing concrete advice to both couples and practitioners. Contributing to scholarship regarding finances in committed relationships, the current study examined connections among relationship satisfaction, financial management, and financial communication. Results demonstrated positive associations between: (a) relationship satisfaction and financial management as well as (b) relationship satisfaction and financial communication. Further, utilizing Fitzpatrick&rsquo;s (1988) couple types, the investigation tested whether or not the typology explained differences in individuals&rsquo; and dyads&rsquo; relationship satisfaction, financial management, and financial communication. Regarding differences based on dyads&rsquo; types, <i>Independent</i> couples reported lower levels of relationship satisfaction than <i>Traditional/Independent, Independent/Separate</i>, and <i>Traditional</i> couples. As far as financial communication, <i>Independent</i> couples reported lower levels of communication than <i>Traditional</i> and <i> Traditional/Separate</i> couples. Second, concerning differences based on individuals&rsquo; couple types, <i>Traditionals</i> reported higher levels of satisfaction (low conflict and high stability) than <i> Separates</i> as well as higher levels of financial communication than <i> Independents. Separates</i> also reported higher levels of financial communication than <i>Independents</i>. Overall, findings of the study highlight the importance of productive financial management and communication in sustaining satisfying relationships. Finally, results indicate that couple types account for some differences in relationship satisfaction and financial communication; however, future research should continue to explore this phenomenon, particularly because of the profound impact of money on committed relationships. </p>

A study was made of the conversational patterns used by 24 children aged eighteen months to three years and their mothers. Tape recordings were made of the mothers and the children both in a free speech situation and while they were talking about a picture book. The mean length of utterance, frequency of usage of different types of utterance, and the way that these different types of utterances formed conversational units were examined, and related to the child's age, social class, sex, and whether the conversation was directed towards the picture book or was in a free situation. It was found that the child 1s mean length of utterance was related both to his age and to the situation. The patterns of utterances which made up the conversations were also related to both age and situation. It was also found that in the book situation the mother's and the children's speech became less complex and similar in form to the free speech of younger children and their mothers. The patterns of utterance types within conversational units was found to be very stereotyped with a small number of patterns repeated frequently. Computer sorting of these patterns showed that they did not often consist of more than two items, and higher order patterns consisted of repetitions of shorter frequently occurring patterns. The mother's speech was found to be related to their child's own level of complexity, but to be slightly in advance of the child's own competence. It was proposed that this kind of simplified speech would be a highly appropriate setting for language learning to take place.

<p> The United States is the leading country in the world with the highest concentration of incarceration of its people. At least more than half of those individuals who are incarcerated are parents to children under the age of 18 years old. Research identifies risk factors that children of incarcerated parents encounter, associated to their parent&rsquo;s incarceration, and suggests that regular visitation can serve as a protective factor to reduce these risk factors. Few studies report on the visitors&rsquo; perspective on their visitation experience or on prisons from different security levels. </p><p> This study takes a mixed-methods approach to fill in that gap. Using 72 self-reported surveys collected from caregivers who participated with Get on the Bus (GOTB) in 2011 and 2013 through 2017, this study provides a descriptive analysis of fixed-responses and thematic content analysis for open-ended responses. The prisons visited included three female and four male correctional institutions from different security levels in California. Using interviews of 11 individuals who participated with GOTB in 2017, this study provides a thematic content analysis of their responses. The prisons that they visited were San Quentin State Prison and FCI Dublin. Based on the participants&rsquo; responses, this study concludes that visitors are satisfied with their visitation experience with GOTB and favor these visits, as they promote parent and child reunification upon release of parent&rsquo;s incarceration.</p><p>

This cross-cultural study investigates the interpersonal perception of parents and young people in Lebanon and Britain. The aims were (1) to compare the students' degree of accuracy in perceiving their parents' opinion with the actual opinions of the parents. Similarly, the parents' accuracy in perceiving their children's opinion is compared with the actual opinions of young people, (2) to assess the students' level of security and find its relationship to accurate prediction, (3) to compare the two generations, the two sexes, and the two cultural groups quantitatively and qualitatively in their attitudes to the various areas of opinion. Using two questionnaires, three different scores were obtained for each student: a security score, an accurate prediction score and an agreement score. The personal security of the student was measured by Ainsworths' Security-Insecurity test. The prediction and agreement scores were obtained using an opinion statement questionnaire administered to both parents and students. By varying the instructions for both groups and by the scoring procedure it was possible to go beyond a mere accuracy score. The findings were as follows: 1. Security and accurate prediction are highly correlated for the Lebanese women students but non-significant for the other three groups (especially after partialling out agreement). Results were explained within the contexts of the Middle Eastern culture and Riesman's theory of 'inner directed society'. 2. Agreement and accurate prediction are highly related only for the Lebanese men and British men students. Various explanations were discussed of which one was found within the theory of cognitive dissonance. 3. Accurate predictions of both parents and children correlate significantly, suggesting the reciprocal nature of accurate perception. A. Agreement and accurate prediction are highly related. The possible effects of 'Real' and 'Assumed' similarity are pointed out. 5. Broadly, the qualitative and quantitative comparison of both generations, sexes and cultures are, with a few exceptions, generally in accordance with expectations. These findings were discussed within the social structure of each culture.

This thesis is an examination of the problems confronting the young mother with small children today. The first section is concerned with methodology. It explains how the choice of subject was made; it describes how the study was designed, and it records how the sample was selected for the survey. The second section provides a historical background by discussing the various changes affecting the position of women in this country, during the last one hundred and fifty years. From the point of view of this survey, three major consequences are noted. 1. The status of women, in relation to men, has risen considerably. 2. The number of roles which women can perform, in society, have increased and become more varied. 3. Women have experienced an extension in the freedom of choice as to which roles they wish to perform. The third section is a discussion of the results of the interviews. These were conducted with forty eight middle class mothers and forty eight working class mothers. All the mothers in the survey were aged thirty or younger, and had at least one child under five. The most important facts to emerge are: 1. Some of the mothers, more particularly the working class mothers, felt themselves to be leading rather isolated lives. 2. At the time of the interview all the mothers saw their childrenas the central focus of their lives; the role of mother took precedence over all other roles. 3. At the same time the majority did not feel entirely at home in this role. Mothers, both working class and middle class, found themselves unprepared for the responsibilities of motherhood, and for the restrictions it imposed on their lives. 4. Both the middle class and the working class mothers had enlisted the support of their husbands in facing their problems. The middle class husband gave his support by co-operating with his wife in extending her interests outside the home and the children. The working class husband gave his support by devoting his leisure to sharing his wife's roles within the home, and participating regularly in all the household activities. 5. Ninety percent of the total sample was planning to work when the children were older. The significant factor here was thatthis return to work seemed an automatic process, the special decision was to remain at home. The wives in both samples were aware of the conflicts between the role of mother and the role of worker. On the other hand the great majority did not feel that a conflict existed between the role of wife and the role of worker. The concluding section considers the findings of the survey against the wider background of the position of women in this country today. It is suggested that mothers with young children have aspecial problem. There is a conflict of interests between the role of motherhood and the many other roles which women can perform today. The inability to resolve this conflict has meant that many mothers find themselves isolated, in a cul-de-sac, cut off from the central activities of society. In conclusion several methods of improving the situation are proposed: 1. A re-analysis of the education of girls. This would take as its starting point the fact that girls will be performing many different roles at different stages in their life. 'Home' or 'Work' should not be posed as mutually exclusive alternatives. The educational process itself should be divided into three stages. 1) School. 2) Further education or training. 3) Re-training for re-entry to work after a period of absence. 2. A re-examination of the roles and capacities of women as workers. In particular retraining schemes would have to be allied closely to work opportunities. Employers too would have to be educated in: 1) the real nature of women's capabilities, 2) the special problems that married women may encounter owing to their domestic responsibilities. 3. The re-direction of mothers and young children, back into the main stream of society. This could be done: 1) by the promotion of organisations parallel to the Parent Teacher Association, which give mothers the opportunity to relate to each other, to their local community, and to society at large. 2) by the general improvement in the facilities which society provides for young children. 3) by encouraging the community to include young children in a whole range of situations, from which, at present, they are excluded. The aim of all these proposals would be to enable mothers with small children to perform their traditional roles as mothers in ways that complemented rather than curtailed their other contemporary roles.