Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-169).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2009.

Thesis (D. Ed. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-118).

Thesis (M. Min.)--Cincinnati Christian Seminary, 1986. / Abstract.

Denmark's (1979) functional definition of profound deafness is adopted. Deaf individuals are aware of sound and may detect vibration but they have a limited facility of speech. Conrad (1979) and Rodda (1970) have shown the low level of scholarly achievement of such individuals. Denmark suggests that as young adults, they face the hearing world largely isolated from their parents, their friends and the professionals who advise them. This study is an attempt to explore the social problems brought about by such isolation. The thesis investigates the individual profoundly deaf young adult's self concept in relation to others. A unique form of Repertory Grid interview (Kelly, 1955)using sign language was developed, and was successfully employed with the majority of individuals. However, it became apparent that a substantial minority were lacking, sometimes wholly, in a structured form of language. A pre-interview routine was used to determine the form of investigation appropriate to the individual - an interview using sign language, or one placing heavy dependence on non verbal communication (such as mime and body language). Both forms of investigation enabled an 'existential phenomenological' description of the self-awareness of the individual to be produced. In the larger group, the procedure followed was near to the orthodox analysis of Rep Grids; in the smaller group, analysis involved a greater degree of interpretive intuition. Justification for the judgements made in each case is provided. The findings are reported in the form of case studies: 40based on Rep Grids, 10 on non-verbal interviews. Thematerial provides an advance in the understanding of the experience of the profoundly deaf young adult. Exuberance and vitality feature in the majority group interviewed by Repertory Grid method. Examples of isolation and of intense personal relationships are found in the minority group. The deaf have a special concern with: those whoaccept them and those rejected by them; dependence upondeaf peers rather than hearing adults; the apprehension of success and personal failure. The main finding of this research is that the young adult deaf do possess a self-awareness and this self-awareness is that of the normal individual. Theidiosyncracies of deaf behaviour are especially wellrepresented in the smaller group. This research confirms the suggestion of Denmark that the majority of deaf individuals referred for psychiatric help are not suffering from mental illness. The study also provides research evidence for necessary changes in the early education and upbringing of the deaf.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Addiction has seen to be an illness that not only affects the individual but the holistic well-being of the family. Primary caregivers form an integral part of the family system. The caregivers take on roles that might stagnate their own development and coping methods, which if used, could affect the entire family system. There are in-conclusive research on the effect of the coping method of the primary caregiver on the well-being of himself/herself and the family system as a whole. The aim of the research was to quantitatively, through making use of Orford’s Coping questionnaire, explore the different coping methods employed by the primary caregiver of an adult substance dependent and thereafter to qualitatively, through utilizing a narrative approach, explore the experience of the different means of coping. The study design was a mixed method study. Quantitative research was the dominant approach followed by qualitative research. The population was the primary caregivers of adult substance dependents who have sought treatment and who resided in the Mitchell’s Plain area. Eighty participants completed the coping questionnaire and four narratives were done. Quantitative research results was analyzed using SPSS and the qualitative research was analyzed by making use of narrative analysis whereby the interview was analyzed Labov and Waletzky’s structural model of narrative. The theoretical framework from which the researcher addressed this study was collaboration between the family systems theory and the disease model of addiction. Quantitative findings indicated that there more caregivers make use of tolerant coping than engaged and withdrawal coping. There is a distinction between the coping methods that males and females make use of. Qualitative findings indicated that there is no ‘correct’ way of coping with being the caregiver of a substance dependant. Caregivers take on coping methods that they are comfortable with.

Older adults often engage in few activities, for short periods of time, and typically engage with one item without switching to other items. The purposes of this study were (a) to further evaluate the MSWO preference assessment as well as the utility of the brief free-operant presentation method with older adults with dementia to identify preferred activities, (b) to determine if non-variable selection during a free operant preference assessment was due to repetitive behavior through concurrent engagement analyses, and (c) to determine the reinforcing effectiveness of stimuli identified via the single-array MSWO and free operant preference assessments through a reinforcer assessment. The results suggest that for 6 of the 7 participants the free operant was a better predictor for time allocation and engagement with a preferred activity. The results suggest that the single array MSWO was not as predictive of time allocation or engagement as the free operant, resulting in false positives. The results also suggest that individuals not switching items may be a result of the environment rather than a symptom of dementia (repetitive behavior), showing that it was not that the participants could not switch, but rather that they chose not to switch.

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study was to test an interactive educational program for older adults on preventing accidental falls. Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive study evaluating the helpfulness of an interactive educational program. English speaking residents were recruited from five independent senior living communities in Arizona. The intervention consisted of a 30-minute interactive PowerPoint presentation followed by a 10-minute question and answer session. Information provided during the presentation focused on information from the CDC and the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire to rate the helpfulness of the program. The primary dependent variable was overall helpfulness of the educational session. Other variables included: intention of changing future behavior related to preventing falls, whether participants would recommend the program to others, participant perception of gained knowledge, change in fear of falling, and interest in meeting with pharmacist to discuss medications. Categorical data was analyzed by calculating frequencies and percentages and continuous data by calculating means and SDs. A t-test for independent groups was used to compare men and women. Main Results: A total of 93 individuals attended the presentations. Out of 81 completed surveys, 5 did not indicate gender, 7 additional did not indicate age, and 6 were over 89 years of age. Demographic data for the men and women was similar. 90% of participants indicated that the program was either "very helpful" or "moderately helpful". 92% of participants responded “absolutely yes” or “likely” that they would recommend the program. No participants strongly disagreed that they had a better understanding of fall risks or medications that increase fall risk. 87% of participants responded “absolutely yes” or “likely” that they plan to increase daily exercise . 42% of participants said it was “not likely” that they plan to make changes in their living environment. Conclusions: An interactive educational program on fall safety and prevention is helpful for older adults. As one of the most widely accessible health care providers, pharmacists and pharmacy students are well suited to provide patient education and improve outcomes. The results of this study provide preliminary data supporting the usefulness of a patient education program on fall safety prevention administered by pharmacy students.

Background: Curtailing adverse social determinants of health is pivotal to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development`s vision for a healthy and inclusive society. In Zimbabwe, fulfilling Vision 2030 may involve adopting socially inclusive approaches, particularly for young people dually afflicted with HIV and substance use disorders. However, social inclusion remains conceptually unclear and underutilized in relation to marginalized groups in low resource settings. This study sought to explore and understand how dually afflicted young adults with substance use disorders and HIV in Zimbabwe experienced and negotiated their social inclusion. Methods: This study utilised a qualitative instrumental case study design. Primary qualitative and quantitative data were collected to develop a thorough understanding of the case of an occupational perspective of social inclusion among dually afflicted young adults in Zimbabwe. The multiple methods used in this study included: i) narrative inquiry with five dually afflicted young adults; ii) in-depth interviews with five key informants; iii) document analysis of seven policies; and, iv) exploratory cross-sectional survey of social inclusion and associated factors (n=105). These multiple methods and sources contributed to the study`s trustworthiness. Multi-level case study analysis was applied as follows; 1st level: narrative analysis of each of the five young adults` stories, descriptive analysis of key informant interviews, document analysis and descriptive statistical analysis of the cross-sectional survey data. 2nd level: thematic case analysis drawing from all four data sources. 3rd level: theorised conceptual occupational constructs. Findings: Five narratives illustrated how using agency and having occupational choices were central to the young adults` experience and negotiation of social inclusion. The overarching Case theme was “Navigating an already troubled life: Striving for belonging and well-being”. This consists of three categories: 1) Dealing with a context of mixed realities, 2) Trying to adjust to new challenges and, 3) Life on the margins. These findings show how dually afflicted young adults in Zimbabwe respond and resist the influences of dominant discourses through dynamic and interconnected actions that shape their realities. Conclusion: The study describes and explains how dually afflicted young adults experienced and negotiated their social inclusion. The data affirms the role of agency and proposes a more critical view of occupational choice, activist occupational choice, in understanding social inclusion. As an emergent concept it is categorized by occupational choices, largely defying standard norms of engagement, and aims to break away from oppressive systems and problematic situations. Recognising the diverse manifestation of agency yields an appreciation for how occupations that are indigenous, collective, and resist oppression contributes to experiences of social inclusion.

This study explored stigma associated with mental illness among Indonesian adults living in Indonesia. It investigated how mentally ill adults (both mentally ill patients and mental health nurses) perceive mental illness and how they respond to stigmatization on a daily basis. Given the current state of knowledge with regards to the meaning and process of stigma and mental illness among adults in Indonesia, a constructivist grounded theory was considered to be the method of choice for this study. We recruited 15 nurses and 15 patients to participate in the study; all from a psychiatric hospital in Indonesia. Data collection methods involved semi-structured interviews with the 30 participants as well as mute evidence, field notes and memos. Data analysis occurred over a period of six months. In keeping with the basic principles of a grounded theory method (Charmaz, 2006) as well as Paillé’s (1994) structure for data analysis which are congruent with Charmaz’s principles and include stages of codification, categorization, linking categories, integration, conceptualization, and theorization, 5 discrete but interrelated categories were produced: 1) treatment of mental illness; 2) violence; 3) fear; 4) constructing cursed citizens; and 5) stigmatization. Research results show that the experience of stigma for mentally ill patients in Indonesia is pervasive and impedes mental health services utilization. The stigmatization of mental illness is manifested by family members, members of the community, mental health professionals and staff, and also by governmental institutions and the media. Stigmatization is characterized by violence, fear, exclusion, isolation, rejection, blame, discrimination, and devaluation. Moreover, because of their (mis)understanding of mental illness, patients and families turn to alternative treatments provided by non-professionals (shamans, Islamic leaders, paranormals and traditional Chinese medicine); these individuals play a central role in supporting and offering solutions for someone suffering from a mental illness. In Indonesia, stigma affects mentally ill individuals at many levels. Until stigma associated with mental illness is addressed nationwide, those suffering from mental illness will continue to suffer and be prevented from accessing mental health services. As the results of this study have shown, patients seeking treatment experience violence and fear. Families and their mentally ill relatives have been expelled by their community, or have simply disappeared. Both physical and psychological abuse and humiliation have led to patients being avoided, rejected, and neglected, and thus isolated, hidden, or abandoned to the streets. There is a pressing need to combat mental illness stereotypes in Indonesia and health professionals, namely nurses, government agencies as well as the media must play a pivotal role in this process.