According to leading psychosocial models of worry, the reduced imagery and concreteness of worries may prevent emotional processing and ultimately maintain fear. Given that Pennebaker’s written emotional disclosure paradigm may facilitate emotional processing, the present study investigated whether writing about potential problems about which individuals were worried had physical and psychological health benefits similar to the benefits of writing about other emotionally meaningful topics (e.g., decreased physician visits, reduced symptoms of psychopathology). Participants were randomly assigned to write either emotionally or objectively about a potential problem worrying them or a neutral topic (a 2 x 2 between-participants design). Each group completed four 15-min writing sessions on four consecutive days. Physician visits, generalized anxiety symptoms, trait worry, and problem appraisals were monitored six weeks before (visits), immediately after (all variables), one month after (symptoms, worry, and appraisals), and 3 months after (visits) writing. Contrary to past research, the present research revealed no beneficial effects of written emotional disclosure about potential problems. However, among emotional disclosure participants who wrote about the same worry across all four writing sessions, there was a subsequent decrease in trait worry scores one month later. Affective data suggested that disclosure facilitated slight fear activation and habituation, although these effects were small. Potential reasons for these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

This thesis investigates open market repurchase announcements by Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) listed firms. First, I develop a comprehensive database of normal course issuer bids (NCIB) and report descriptive data on repurchasing activity between 1994 and 2005. I find that repurchase programs peak in 2000 and then decline. I also find evidence that repurchase programs are concentrated in certain industries. Next, using Compustat data, I investigate the characteristics of firms announcing repurchase programs. I find evidence that firms who announce repurchase programs are large in size and have high operating cash flows, low leverage, low share turnover and low dividend yields. I extend the repurchases literature by demonstrating that firms with low trading volume are more likely to initiate repurchase programs, consistent with an attempt to improve sell side liquidity. Finally, I investigate the market reaction to NCIB announcements. The results indicate that TSX firms experienced a significant market reaction to repurchase announcements between 1994 and 2005 as measured by both return and volume tests. I extend the repurchases literature by showing that announcement returns are higher for firms who followed through on their previous repurchase announcements. Little evidence exists of investor response to the disclosed reasons for repurchase programs.

The 1999 Institute of Medicine report, To Err is Human, raised awareness about the multitude of errors that occur in healthcare. Frequently, errors are not disclosed to patients or their families. While several studies have examined patient and physician perspectives on disclosure, limited research on nurse perspectives exist. In hospitals, nurses are often the last line of defense before errors reach the patient. Because nurses are often present when errors occur, nurses’ experiences with disclosure are integral to understanding the issues that surround the disclosure of errors. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of nurse experiences with both disclosure and non-disclosure of errors to patients. An interpretive approach was used to guide the study, combined with a feminist perspective to illuminate the issues of power and gender. Registered nurses (n=17) employed in hospitals and caring for adult medical/surgical patients participated in semi-structured interviews. After the audio-recorded interviews were transcribed, they were reviewed for accuracy by participants. Analysis consisted of an eight-step process including use of a research team and peer debriefing. Three major themes and 6 sub-themes were identified. Major themes were: (a) disclosing errors, (b) perceiving expectations for disclosure, and (c) not disclosing errors. Some nurses provided constant information to the patient, so a disclosure decision was not necessary when errors occurred. Many of these nurses felt that full disclosure was the right thing to do. Other nurses based disclosure decisions on their perceptions of the culture or policies of the work environment. Disclosing events, but not errors was a method used to vaguely disclose while others overtly concealed errors. Some nurses felt that disclosure was a professional responsibility, while others felt that nurses should align themselves with institutional expectations. Still others indicated that disclosure should be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the context. This study contributes to nursing science by illuminating the experiences of nurses with disclosure, describing nurses’ ways of being truthful when errors occur, and examining the contextual factors that surround nurses’ practices of disclosure. Recommendations of the study for nursing practice, education and research were identified.

According to leading psychosocial models of worry, the reduced imagery and concreteness of worries may prevent emotional processing and ultimately maintain fear. Given that Pennebaker’s written emotional disclosure paradigm may facilitate emotional processing, the present study investigated whether writing about potential problems about which individuals were worried had physical and psychological health benefits similar to the benefits of writing about other emotionally meaningful topics (e.g., decreased physician visits, reduced symptoms of psychopathology). Participants were randomly assigned to write either emotionally or objectively about a potential problem worrying them or a neutral topic (a 2 x 2 between-participants design). Each group completed four 15-min writing sessions on four consecutive days. Physician visits, generalized anxiety symptoms, trait worry, and problem appraisals were monitored six weeks before (visits), immediately after (all variables), one month after (symptoms, worry, and appraisals), and 3 months after (visits) writing. Contrary to past research, the present research revealed no beneficial effects of written emotional disclosure about potential problems. However, among emotional disclosure participants who wrote about the same worry across all four writing sessions, there was a subsequent decrease in trait worry scores one month later. Affective data suggested that disclosure facilitated slight fear activation and habituation, although these effects were small. Potential reasons for these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

This thesis investigates open market repurchase announcements by Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) listed firms. First, I develop a comprehensive database of normal course issuer bids (NCIB) and report descriptive data on repurchasing activity between 1994 and 2005. I find that repurchase programs peak in 2000 and then decline. I also find evidence that repurchase programs are concentrated in certain industries. Next, using Compustat data, I investigate the characteristics of firms announcing repurchase programs. I find evidence that firms who announce repurchase programs are large in size and have high operating cash flows, low leverage, low share turnover and low dividend yields. I extend the repurchases literature by demonstrating that firms with low trading volume are more likely to initiate repurchase programs, consistent with an attempt to improve sell side liquidity. Finally, I investigate the market reaction to NCIB announcements. The results indicate that TSX firms experienced a significant market reaction to repurchase announcements between 1994 and 2005 as measured by both return and volume tests. I extend the repurchases literature by showing that announcement returns are higher for firms who followed through on their previous repurchase announcements. Little evidence exists of investor response to the disclosed reasons for repurchase programs.

Empirical research regarding the therapeutic value of creative artistic expression in dealing with symptoms from traumatic events is lacking. James Pennebaker has studied the efficacy of written expression regarding traumatic events in promoting mental well-being. Individuals who have difficulties with cognitive processing (e.g., learning disorders) often lack the faculties necessary to form a cohesive written narrative. There are also individuals who lack a strong enough command of written language to engage in a written disclosure task, such as children and those who are illiterate or undereducated. These populations are unlikely to benefit from written disclosure simply because they lack the capacity to write at such a sophisticated level. Disclosure of trauma by such individuals might be better accomplished symbolically through a creative artistic task rather than through written or verbal channels. Furthermore, because the task is symbolic in nature, it may be a safer and more comfortable means of disclosing trauma for individuals who are reluctant to divulge such information out of fear or shame surrounding the event. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the healing aspects of creativity; specifically the usefulness of creating a mandala. It was theorized that mandala drawing may provide the cognitive integration and organization to complex emotional experiences that yield a sense of personal meaning as well as serving as a mechanism of therapeutic exposure, as does the written disclosure task. By reviewing research in this field and attempting to duplicate previous research, this study used undergraduate college students as participants who met the criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The benefits were measured in terms of changes in PTSD symptom severity, depression, anxiety, spiritual meaning, affect, and the frequency of occurrence of physical symptoms and illness. Contrary to expectation, the current study failed to replicate previous results revealing statistically significant outcome differences for the mandala group. In fact, the finding was reversed in that the control group (drawing three objects or a kind of art therapy) showed a significant drop in PTSD symptoms at one-month follow up. Explanations for these differences are explored and future avenues of research outlined.

Often, a sexually abused child’s disclosure is the only evidence of the abuse. However, most victims do not disclose until adulthood, if ever. This study explores situational correlates of child sexual abuse disclosure. An archival data set comprised of 1120 cases of child sexual abuse was analyzed. Questions asked include whether or not any variable differentiates between the type of disclosure a child makes, the identity of the recipient of the disclosure, whether or not a child will recant, and if a child does recant, in what timeframe this occurs. Variables included victim characteristics (gender, ethnicity, age, family income) and abuse characteristics (relationship to the perpetrator, nature of the abuse, threat involved, frequency of abuse, and duration of abuse.) T-tests, chi-square analyses, and log linear modeling were used in the analysis of the data. Although statistical limitations were an issue, age and threat were found to be influential in the disclosure process.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Kent State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Oct. 29, 2009). Advisor: Nichole Egbert. Keywords: disclosure; weblog; blog; computer-mediated communication; uses and gratifications; social penetration theory; hyperpersonal theory. Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-186).

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iv, 44 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-31).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-125).