The thesis presents the results of research focused on young, disabled people who grew up in foster families. The aim of the research is to observe the lives of these people from their own perspective and to map their life experience. The research is focused on problem areas of their lives and barriers that prevent them from achieving certain goals. The work is based on an analysis of interviews with five respondents, evaluated by means of Life Course Theory. Key words: young person, person with disabilities, foster family, Life Course Theory

Title: They are searching for the holes in their bodies and souls – desistance from violent Islamic extremism, a qualitative approach.   This essay aims to provide a deeper understanding and insight into why individuals choose to leave violence-promoting Islamist environments. The choice of method has been qualitative. The essay consists of four semi-structured interviews with key informants. The interview material has been transcribed and coded individually by both authors. The study has taken an integrated theoretical approach where the main framework consists of a life course perspective supported by Hirschi’s theory of social bonds, Merton’s theory of strain and Sutherland’s theory of differential associations. The main findings show that possible turning points with regards to desistance related to violence-promoting Islamist environments primarily consists of aspects related to belonging and social contexts. In other words, this essay shows that social relations are an integral part with regards to desistance. The findings closely correspond to those of previous studies within the field. The findings are supported by the study’s theoretical framework where pro-social community interactions strengthen the social bonds to society through differential associations, this in turn leads to a decreased amount of strain. / Uppsatsen syftar till att ge en djupare förståelse och insikt till varför individer väljer att avhålla sig från våldsbejakande islamistiska miljöer. Valet av metod har varit kvalitativt. Uppsatsens teoretiska utgångspunkt utgörs av ett integrerat perspektiv innehållande Life Course Theory, Mertons teori om Strain, Hirschis sociala band och Sutherlands differentiella associationer. Uppsatsens underlag består av fyra semistrukturerade intervjuer med nyckelinformanter. Intervjumaterialet har transkriberats och kodats individuellt av båda författarna. Resultaten visar att vändpunkter i förhållande till utträden från våldsbejakande islamistiska extremistiska grupperingar i huvudsak utgörs av aspekter relaterade till tillhörighet, sammanhang och disillusionment. Resultaten korresponderar väl till tidigare forskning inom området och kan förklaras utifrån uppsatsens teoretiska ramverk, där en pro-social gemenskap skapar sociala band genom differentiella associationer - resultaten därav blir minskade upplevelser av strain.

This study uses a data set on adolescent offending, originally collected by a team of researchers at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York City, to critically examine the role of incarceration in criminal rehabilitation. A theoretical explanation of recidivism is constructed using four criminological theories: life course theory (Sampson & Laub 1993), differential association theory (Sutherland 1939), deterrence theory, and reintegrative shaming theory (Braithwaite 1989). This thesis uses these theories to investigate societal factors that may contribute to young offenders’ recidivism (versus successful rehabilitation). It is argued that youths who: (1) come from unconventional family environments, (2) possess deviant peer associations, (3) receive incarceration as punishment, and (4) undergo a stigmatizing shaming process are more likely to recidivate. The combination of these factors is also expected to be intensified during incarceration. An empirical examination of the effects of these factors on recidivism supports the main hypotheses advanced. Although conventional family environments and deviant peer associations are successful in determining first-time offending, results from this study suggest that these are inadequate as predictors of recidivism. Conversely, an extension of Braithwaite’s (1989) reintegrative shaming concept was found to be a strong predictor of subsequent offending. Medium sentence lengths in prison were associated with increased risk to recidivate. Most importantly, the results gathered some support for restorative justice approaches to criminal rehabilitation. Future considerations for recidivism research are explored. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2009-12-16 15:53:46.514

Abstract Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), both prospective cohorts, were used to explore the association between early life stressors, childhood protective factors, and early adolescent mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Early life stressors were measured prenatally to the age of 3 within the ALSPAC analysis, while early life stressors were measured between the ages of 1-3 within the NLSCY analysis. Childhood protective factors, exclusively modifiable protective factors, (physical activity, extracurricular activities, positive parenting, and positive friendships) were measured between the ages of 6-11 within both ALSPAC and the NLSCY. Mental health outcomes were measured between the ages of 12-15 in both ALSPAC and the NLSCY. The associations between early life stressors and childhood protective factors on early adolescent mental health outcomes were computed using multivariate logistic regression modeling. It was found that the majority of early life stressors, including prenatal stressors and family dysfunction increased the odds of developing early adolescent mental health disorders although more statistically significant results were found within the NLSCY analysis. Contrarily, it was found that the majority of childhood protective factors reduced the likelihood of early adolescent mental health disorders with some exceptions found within the NLSCY analysis. No interaction terms between early life stressors and childhood protective factors were found to be statistically significant.

abstract: In the United States, approximately 400,000 youth are in out-of-home care in the custody of child protection systems (CPS). They are incarcerated, but not as punishment for a crime. States place youth in CPS custody for many different reasons, centered around legal determinations of families’ failure to provide adequate care. Such youth are forcibly separated from their biological (“bio”) families and required to live in shelters, group homes, and foster households at the threat of arrest. Through the socio-legal concept of parens patriae, the government assumes responsibility for their safety and development. In other words, the state assumes the role of parents to children it places in CPS. Still, despite years of social work research, three fundamental questions remain about CPS for criminology. First, criminologists are beginning to recognize the overlap between criminology and CPS but lack a theoretical framework for analyzing that intersection. Second, the proper role of the state in youth development and the measurement of its relative success are of central importance to criminal justice, but at best loosely defined. Finally, this dissertation asks: how do entering CPS custody, growing up in state care, and (someday) exiting CPS shape the experiences and perceptions of CPS youth? Given the attenuated social processes associated with CPS, criminologists might expect youth to experience significant barriers to transitioning successfully to adulthood. At the same time, therapeutic assessment and treatment in CPS should ameliorate those barriers. This dissertation addresses that theoretical paradox in eight chapters. After an introductory overview, Chapter Two posits social control, social support, and agency over the life course as a theoretical framework for understanding the implications of growing up in CPS. Chapter Three details the phronetic and ethnographic approach of the study, designed to encounter the perspectives of youth themselves in their “natural” setting. Chapters Four through Seven present findings from interviews with participants in an arts-based therapy program for youth in CPS (n=33). Chapter Eight concludes the study with a discussion of the implications of this work for criminological research, juvenile justice policy, and youth who grow up in CPS. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Criminology and Criminal Justice 2018

Most individuals spend more than half their lives as single due to divorce, widowhood, and remaining single (Simpson, 2016). Singlehood, in general, has meant not being in a heterosexual relationship. Historically, lesbian women have been considered single because their relationships were not legally recognized. Single women and lesbian women have had more choices to live outside heterosexual marriage, financially and with social acceptability, in the later portion of the 20th century and in the early 21st century than previously. Single sexual minority women of the baby boom came of age during this time and are beginning to plan for and enter into old age. This study used qualitative methods to study how single sexual minority women of the baby boom cohort defined family and planned for their later years. Women from the baby boom cohort who are currently single and identify as a sexual minority were connected to their family of origin and extended families in their youth, focused on romantic relationships during adulthood, and currently identify their family as biological and chosen family. The women had formal and informal plans for their future as they continue to age. Limitations, future directions, and implications are also discussed. / Ph. D.

Syftet med denna studie är att öka förståelsen av socialtjänstens perspektiv och insikter angående de bakomliggande faktorer som bidrar till utvecklingen av problematisk användning av alkohol och droger bland vuxna över 18 år. Uppsatsen ämnar undersöka och analysera de olika faktorer som kan spela en roll i utvecklingen av missbruk och beroende av substanser hos vuxna, samt återfall i sådana beteenden. Fokus ligger på de perspektiv och erfarenheter som socialarbetare och behandlare har när de arbetar med vuxna som kämpar med alkohol- och drogproblem inom ramen för Socialtjänsten. Studien syftar till att utvidga kunskapen inom kriminologisk forskning genom att undersöka vuxna med problematiskt substansbruk, vilket är en annan aspekt än den tidigare forskningen som främst har inriktat sig på ungdomar och deras substansanvändning. Studien genomförde sex kvalitativa semi-strukturerade intervjuer, varav två med socialarbetare och fyra med behandlingar från två kommuner i centrala Sverige. Resultaten visar att orsakerna till beroende varierar avsevärt mellan olika individer. Trots dessa variationer identifierades gemensamma mönster som ökar risken för utveckling av beroende eller återfall i beteenden. / The purpose of this study is to enhance understanding of the perspectives and insights of social services regarding the underlying factors contributing to the development of problematic alcohol and drug use in adults over 18 years of age. The paper aims to examine and analyze the various underlying factors that may play a role in the development of substance abuse and dependence in adults, as well as relapse. This paper focuses on the perspectives and experiences of social workers and therapists working with adults with alcohol and drug abuse within the Social Services. The study aims to extend criminological research by investigating adults with substance dependency issues, which differs from existing research predominantly focused on youth and their substance abuse problems. The study conducted 6 qualitative semi-structured interviews, two with social workers and four with therapists from two municipalities in central Sweden. The findings demonstrate that the underlying causes of dependence vary widely among different individuals. However, there are common patterns that increase the risk of developing addiction or experiencing relapse.

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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-206) / This thesis describes a family variation among urban Nigerian couples called a commuter marriage. A commuter marriage in this study is defined as a union between a dual earner/dual career couple where the husband and wife have decided to live apart from each other due to work commitments until such a time as is convenient for them to live continuously together again. This separation is mainly undertaken to improve their financial and career prospects. The study seeks to understand what dynamics are involved in a commuter marriage in Jos, Plateau State. The Life Course Perspective, with a focus on the gendered life course perspective, serves as a theoretical framework for this study. The perspective assumes that families undergoing the same transitions are likely to display the same characteristics which may not be necessarily relevant for all families in the same life stage, while the gendered life course perspective acknowledges the gendered context. At the same time the cultural context of the Nigerian society in terms of family norms are taken into account. An overview of commuter marriages, including characteristics of commuter marriages and non-traditional marriages linked to commuter marriages are provided. The differences between established and adjusting couples were repeatedly underlined. The research has an underlying interpretivist paradigm, therefore a qualitative research methodology was deemed best for the study. A semi-structured interview guide and time diaries were used to obtain data from seventeen participants. It was found that a commuter marriage is costly financially, socially and emotionally. An emphasis on the male provider and the wife as the manager of the resources was highlighted. Commuter couples report that their greatest support system constitute their family members who show the most understanding to their situation. Commuter fathers were generally passionate about their fatherly roles, but had conflicting feelings about balancing work and family, feeling the family is losing out. Generally, commuter couples in this study showed a sincere desire for the commuting relationship not to span an indefinite amount of time. / Sociology / D. Phil. (Sociology)