My honors senior thesis, a creative project entitled Anything Else, is a collection of fourteen poems that reflects on trauma, loss, interpersonal relationships, and nature. Many of the poems are dramatic monologues, allowing me to portray a range of extreme voices, including a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima, a U.S. veteran of the Iraq War, and murderer Perry Smith. Although I consider myself a free verse writer, preferring to work without regular meter or rhyme, one of the poems is written in iambic pentameter. In addition, I took material from the Yahoo! Answers website and composed it as a found poem, adding to the diversity of the manuscript. A number of questions are explored across the variety of speakers, themes, and forms of poems included here, often coming back to the question of whether or not there is anything else.

Popular children are visible and influential in an adolescent peer group (LaFontana & Cillessen, 2002). Previous studies have demonstrated that there are two types of popular children: aggressive-popular and prosocial-popular (Cillessen & Rose, 2005). The current study was designed to determine that, while both types are well liked and accepted, they draw favor from different sources of affiliation. The Study uses a sample of 450 adolescents (36.2% boys and 63.1% girls) from one high school in Lithuania. Hierarchical generalized logistic linear models (HGLLM) were conducted to determine if there was differential acceptance of aggressive-popular and prosocialpopular adolescents. Also, models determined if peers exhausted with school, attached to school, connected to peers and anxious/withdrawn would have differential association with aggressive-popular and prosocial-popular adolescents. Results answered 3 questions. First, HGLLM models were used to replicate the previous finding that popular adolescents have more affiliations than other peers. Second, results determined that popular, popular-aggressive, and popular-prosocial adolescents were all more likely to receive affiliation nominations from peers. Third, results determined that aggressive-popular adolescents were chosen as affiliates by peers exhausted with school, and less likely to be chosen by peers attached to school, connected to friends and withdrawn. Prosocial-popular adolescents were chose as affiliates by peers attached to school and connected with friends. These findings indicate that aggressivepopular adolescents draw favor from crowds that are more oriented toward youth culture, while prosocial-popular draw favor from crowds that are more oriented toward adult culture (Brown, 1990) The findings first extend previous research by demonstrating that popular adolescents, of all types, are likely to receive affiliation nominations. Furthermore, prosocial-popular and aggressive-popular adolescents have more acceptance and affiliations than others, but this attraction comes from different sources. Previous studies have shown that popular children are well liked by some but not by others (Parkhurst & Hopmeyer, 1998). Taken with findings demonstrating that popular children strategically use cooperation or manipulation to influence others (Cillessen & Rose, 2005), the current study extends knowledge about the peer groups where cooperation or manipulation strategies may be most effective. Crowds that are school oriented and have positive peer relations follow prosocial-popular peers while crowds that are fed up with school follow aggressive-popular peers. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Systematic Review - Recent studies have identified potential change within interpersonal relationships following mindfulness-based interventions such as MBSR and MBCT; however, few studies have explored this in a clinical sample, from the participants’ perspective. This study aimed to explore this phenomenon by synthesising qualitative studies to answer the following question: How do people with a mental health diagnosis experience interpersonal change following MBSR and MBCT. A systematic search strategy identified 117 studies, of which 12 met the final inclusion criteria. A thematic synthesis was conducted based on the protocol developed by Thomas and Harden (2008). The thematic synthesis revealed an overall theme of connection, with subthemes of ‘the group as a community’; ‘reconnecting with the self’; ‘skill development’ and ‘reconnecting with others’. These themes were further synthesised to consider the interconnections between them. This revealed two points of interest: the power of the group community and intra- to inter-personal development. These themes were explored in relation to existing literature. The results are discussed in relation to the limitations of the study, and future research recommendations are considered. Empirical Paper - Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) have been shown to be effective in reducing the impact of cognitive reactivity (CR) and improving outcomes for people with recurrent depression. It has been proposed that this effect may be mediated by the cultivation of self-compassion; however, there is limited research into this mechanism. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of a sad mood induction and compassionate repair in people with currently remitted recurrent depression, with and without experience of MBCT. Sixteen participants were recruited (10 MBCT, six non-MBCT). Participants underwent a two-phase mood manipulation, sad mood induction and loving-kindness meditation (directed to a loved one and the self) and completed self-report measures before and after each task. Following this, participants engaged in a semi-structured interview exploring their experiences. The results showed both mood manipulations were successful, and mood repair was apparent within all but one of the participants. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, identifying six key themes: vulnerability versus tolerance of depression; immersion versus transience of cognitive and emotional reactivity; avoidance versus tolerance of compassion; self-criticism versus self-acceptance; locus of control and mechanisms of repair. No differences were observed between the two groups in their qualitative or quantitative responses to the mood manipulations; however, those in the MBCT group with a greater level of current MBCT practice, appeared more able to transcend negative thinking and utilise the Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM) more effectively for both themselves and others. The results are discussed in relation to study limitations and their implication to clinical practice.

Doctor of Philosophy / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Jared A. Durtschi / Each year in the United States, 40,000 individuals die by suicide, 7,000 of whom are young adults between the ages of 25-34. For every death, it is estimated that another 25 suicide attempts are made and that over 8% of young adults experience thoughts of suicide each year. Suicide rates are climbing, but identification of protective factors to reduce suicide risk remains elusive. Using a sample of 4,208 young adults from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a latent profile analysis was used to test the number of profiles that best fit the data based on indicators that were hypothesized to be risk or protective features, and those profiles were analyzed using logistic regression to assess suicide risk. Hypothesized protective indicators included parent and romantic relationship quality, parental satisfaction, job satisfaction, and religiosity. Hypothesized risk indicators included parental demands, depressive symptoms, job demands, isolation, alcohol use, and adverse childhood experiences. A four-profile solution was optimal for this data and yielded four distinct profiles named: Satisfied with Life (n = 2,442), Relationship Stress (n = 669), Demanding Jobs (n = 658), and Challenging Childhood (n = 427). Individuals in the Satisfied with Life profile reported positive relationship quality with parents, partners, and children, and low depressive symptoms, isolation, and adverse childhood experiences. This profile was associated with a 60% decrease in risk for suicidal ideation. Participants in the Relationship Stress profile reported low relationship satisfaction, lack of confidence that their romantic relationship was going to be permanent, and high alcohol consumption. Individuals in this profile were 104% more likely to experience suicidal ideation compared to those not in this profile. The Demanding Jobs profile included individuals who felt their work interfered with their family time, and vice versa, but still had moderately high satisfaction in each area. This profile was not significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The final profile, Challenging Childhood, included individuals who reported low quality of relationships with their parents, high levels of isolation and depressive symptoms, and significantly higher adverse childhood experiences than other individuals in this sample. Individuals in this profile were associated with 192% increase in risk for suicidal ideation than those not in this profile. The results of this study underscore the importance of positive relationships as a protective factor against suicide, and provide new information about how job satisfaction and demands can also serve as protective features. Therapeutic interventions that address improving social support, coping with traumatic events, and decreasing alcohol consumption are recommended to decrease suicidal thoughts.

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo principal compreender e explicar o desenvolvimento musical dos bebês tendo em vista as suas relações interpessoais no contexto do projeto Música para Bebês. Os dados foram coletados nos encontros de um grupo de bebês (até 2 anos) e seus acompanhantes no projeto de Extensão do Departamento de Música do Instituto de Artes da UFRGS entre março de 2004 e novembro de 2005. Os encontros foram registrados em fitas VHS e, durante a análise, organizados em um protocolo descritivo intitulado Descrição dos Dados de Vídeo (DDV). O referencial teórico utilizado fundamentou-se na educação, na educação musical, na psicologia e na medicina incluindo autores como Piaget (1987), Beyer (1994), Barceló (2003), Stern (1992), Klaus e Klaus (1989), Klaus e Kennel (1992). A pesquisa foi desenvolvida segundo uma abordagem qualitativa e o método utilizado foi de observação longitudinal. A análise dos dados confirmou a hipótese de que o desenvolvimento musical está vinculado às relações interpessoais do bebê e apontou para a importância do processo no seu desenvolvimento musical, ou seja, da promoção de vivências musicais para os bebês. Conforme os dados, o projeto Música para Bebês mostrou-se um espaço no qual tanto os bebês quanto os adultos podem desenvolver as relações interpessoais e as vivências musicais. / The present study aimed mainly at understanding and explaining the musical development of babies considering their interpersonal relationships in the context of the project ‘Music for Babies’. The data were collected during meetings of a group of babies (up to 2 years old) and their companions in the Music Department extension project of UFRGS Institute of Arts between March 2004 and November 2005. The meetings were taped on VHS and were organized in a descriptive protocol, during the analysis, entitled ‘Description of Video Data’ (DDV). The theoretical reference used here was based on education, on musical education, on Psychology and on Medicine including authors such as Piaget (1987), Beyer (1994), Barceló (2003), Stern (1992), Klaus and Klaus (1989), Klaus and Kennel (1992). The research was developed following a qualitative approach and a longitudinal observation method. The analysis of the data confirmed the hypothesis that the musical development is connected to the baby’s interpersonal relationships and it pointed out the importance of the process in his/her musical development, which is, the promotion of musical experiences for babies. According to the data, the project ‘Music for Babies’ showed to be a space in which both babies and adults can develop their interpersonal relationships and their musical experiences.

A large majority of the people throughout the world own a smartphone and access social media on a daily basis. Because of this digital attachment, the author sought to understand to what extent this use has impacted the users' emotional well-being and offline interpersonal relationships. A sample size of 627 participants completed a mixed-methods survey consisting of Likert scale and short answer questions regarding social media use, emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships. Results revealed that the more time an individual spent on social media the more likely they were to experience a negative impact on their overall emotional well-being and decreased quality in their relationships. Emotional well-being also mediated the relationship between time spent using social media and the quality of that user's relationships, meaning that the more time a person spent on social media the more likely their emotional well-being declined which then negatively impacted their relationships. The top three responses for negative effects of social media use on emotions were frustration, depression, and social comparison. The top three responses for negative effects of social media use on interpersonal relationships were distraction, irritation, and decreased quality time with their significant other in offline settings. An analysis of these, and other, results, along with relative implications, are discussed.

The current studies examined the interplay of dominance and power in their effects on various forms of prosociality, along with potential mechanisms that may account for their differential effects. Study 1 found that dominance and power had opposing effects on general prosocial tendencies, with dominance negatively relating to and power positively relating to general prosociality. Study 2 found the negative effects of dominance to be consistent both for general and relationship-specific prosociality. The effects of power were not replicated for the outcomes shared with Study 1, but other positive associations were found between power and prosocial propensities. Indirect effects in studies 1 and 2 supported the potential mediating role of other focus in explaining the differential effects of dominance and power. Study 3 utilized an experimental design to directly examine the potential mediating role of other-focus, by manipulating independent versus interdependent self-construals. Significant interactions between power and condition supported the notion that power positively affects prosociality by increasing other-focus. In the interdependent condition, power significantly predicted perspective-taking, whereas in the independent condition, the effect of power on perspective-taking was not significant. Study 4 involved collecting dyadic data from romantic partners, but did not find any significant partner effects. In line with the other studies, dominance was negatively associated with self-reported supportive tendencies as well as self-reported perceptions of a partner’s supportive behaviors. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This study makes an important academic contribution by adding a new dimension to the existing scholarly literature on the acculturative processes of immigrants through its findings from an investigation into ethnic minority migrant Chinese Chinese’s acculturation experiences in relation to workplace interpersonal conflict in New Zealand. The literature reviewed illustrates the complexities of the acculturation process for immigrants and is of prime importance and relevance to this study. The literature provides an informed academic foundation that aligns with the subject matter under study. The focus of this study is on the acculturation process experienced by ethnic minority migrant Chinese in New Zealand as they strive to adapt to various aspects of their new surroundings. The study inquires into whether the length of acculturation has an influence on ethnic minority migrant Chinese’s handling of workplace interpersonal conflict in the New Zealand. The researcher’s interest in conducting this study arises from her own personal acculturation and workplace interpersonal conflict experiences as an ethnic minority migrant Chinese. A phenomenological interpretive research methodology was adopted for this study. One-on-one indepth interviews of 25 ethnic minority migrant Chinese from China (Mainland), Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam provided primary data on the individual migrant’s experience and perspective on acculturation and workplace interpersonal conflict in New Zealand. The findings from the 25 ethnic minority migrant Chinese interviewed reveal the complexities and difficulties in the acculturation process, as they attempt to adapt to various aspects of their new environment. The adaptive strategies used almost certainly mean that the immigrants will have to make changes in their thinking, attitude, speech, and social conduct. There is a particular emphasis on the study of intercultural dynamics at play in the face of workplace interpersonal conflict between immigrants and members of the host society. The acculturation process is made more difficult for migrants who have negative workplace encounters in their intercultural interactions resulting in misunderstandings and conflict. The findings also reveal the migrants’ response mechanisms, particularly in learning to be more assertive. This study found that the cultural orientations of the ethnic migrant Chinese are such that for many, this concept (assertiveness) has to be learned since it runs counter to their educational, cultural tradition, and familial upbringing. The principles of Confucianism are deeply rooted, such as respect for authority and an emphasis on ‘giving-face’ to others and preserving social harmony. From this study’s findings, there is empirical evidence that Confucian principles are deeply entrenched in the ethnic minority migrant Chinese’ psyche irrespective of which country of origin they come from. In addition, the findings show that the acculturation experiences are unique to the individual migrant, depending on the person’s previous exposure to a foreign environment, language proficiency and personality. This study shows that the acculturation process experienced by these migrants was a period of personal growth and development, acquiring self-confidence, self-rationalisation, changes, and adjustments. Also, the findings reveal that while the length of residence in the host country is a significant factor for these migrants, other factors are significant as well, such as acquiring a certain level of language proficiency and increasing self-confidence.

In 2004 as many as 25% of teachers in Sweden, Denmark, and England were willing to leave their profession immediately; in the United States much effort has been invested in studying why teachers leave the profession. In this paper, four teachers who left the profession were interviewed from within the life-story tradition. In the narratives, which were rendered in a poetic style during the analysis, colleagues were mentioned both positively and negatively. The theme of having colleagues, and especially trust or mistrust between colleagues, was thus explored. The existence or non-existence of lateral trust between teachers can be connected both to school development and to student learning outcomes.

Att lyckas som platschef i anläggningsbranschen Eva Karlsmyr  Bygg- och anläggningsnäringen brottas med lägre produktivitets­utveckling än andra industribranscher och utveckling av ledarskapet ses ofta som en väg framåt. Kunskap saknas dock om vad effektivt ledarskap i denna specifika kontext är. Denna studie avser bidra med sådan kunskap genom att i en tematisk analys med kvalitativ ansats studera ledarskap ur effektiva platschefers perspektiv i ett svenskt rikstäckande anläggnings­företag. Utifrån menings­koncent­rering av sju intervjuade plats­chefers berättelser har gemensamma aspekter av ledarskapet identi­fierats som respondenterna upplever avgörande för att lyckas i rollen. Studien har även undersökt hur dessa platschefer behöver påverkas av andra för att kunna utöva ett effektivt ledarskap. Analysen resulterade i sex aspekter avseende ledar­beteenden och tre aspekter avseende påverkan från andra som samtliga respon­denter nämnde. Dessa nio teman tolkades som avgörande för ett effektivt ledarskap i organisationen och ansågs ha relation till tre över­gripande teman, intresse för människor, kommu­nikation och relationer. Identifierade teman kunde också på ett tydligt sätt knytas till organisa­tionens ledarmodell och till trans­formativa ledarbeteenden. Studien bidrar därmed med kunskap om effektivt ledarskap, med betydelse för organisationens arbete med att rekrytera, utveckla och behålla denna kärn­kompetens i verksamheten samt förståelse för transformativa ledar­beteendens inverkan på ledarskapets effektivitet i bygg- och anläggnings­branschen. Keywords: Leadership, Transformational leadership, Interpersonal relationships, Interpersonal communication, Construction industry / To Succeed as a Site Manager in the Construction Industry Eva Karlsmyr The construction industry has a long history of lower productivity than other industries, and leadership is generally seen as one important path to improve efficiency. However, the knowledge of leadership in this context is modest at best. This study’s aim is to contribute to the field of research through a thematic analysis with a quality focused approach towards leadership challenges from a site manager’s perspective. For the purpose of identifying commonalities in management success, seven site managers of a nationwide Swedish construction company have given their views on the factors that improve their leadership efficacy. The result of the study focuses on six aspects concerning leadership behavior and three aspects concerning input from others. The nine aspects of leadership that are the focus of this paper have in common the themes of interest in a people-focused approach, interpersonal communication and interpersonal relationships. These themes for successful leadership imply a clear relationship with the company’s overall leadership policy and newer theories of transformational leadership. The study contributes to the body of research on transformational leadership in the construction industry and improves the strategic knowledge on how to recruit, develop and retain personnel with core competence in the organization. Keywords: Leadership, Transformational leadership, Interpersonal relationships, Interpersonal communication, Construction industry