Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2008. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 247-262).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 2000. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 372-381).

Despite increasing mental health concerns, individuals from the Pacific Islands largely do not utilize the resources available to them (National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 2020). This is of particular concern among male adolescents within the population who are more at risk of mental health concerns. An interpretative phenomenological analysis focus group study was conducted in person with male adolescent Pacific Islanders (PI; ages 14–16) residing in one Western state (n = 3). Male adolescents reported that admitting to mental health concerns would greatly limit their academic, career, and personal ambitions due to the stigma attached. They also discussed religiosity as a protective factor and gave a number of individuals within their lives that could potentially be helpful to them in this area. In terms of stigma and perception, some participants described situations in which they discussed their mental health concerns to others within their community and their feelings were dismissed as being invalid or unimportant. In addition, several participants discussed the familial shame they would experience if they were to utilize mental health services. With regard to the cultural fit between practitioners and students, many students explained they felt uncomfortable being vulnerable with therapists outside their ethnic community. They felt that being open with their mental health concerns would give a poor impression of their PI community to therapists outside of their community. More research is needed to discover which groups to target within the community to impact the largest change in perception of mental health services across the community.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of California, San Diego, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed June 18, 2008). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-81).

People of Pacific Island descent are afflicted by obesity and diabetes more than other populations. Although interventions have succeeded in reducing these conditions among other groups, they have been unsuccessful among Tongans and other Pacific Islanders. Furthermore, little is known about the cultural perspectives of this population with a high rate of obesity and diabetes. Accordingly, this descriptive phenomenological study was conducted to investigate the lived experiences of Tongans with obesity and diabetes in a western metropolitan area of the United States to understand their predisposition toward these conditions and suggest appropriate interventions. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 11 Tongans, 18 years or older, with obesity and diabetes. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using open-ended questions. Data analysis consisted of verbatim transcription and splitter coding, which identified 5 emerging themes. The findings indicated that cultural customs have created an emotional attachment among Tongan participants to their native foods and that they feel obliged to eat abundantly at food-related social events. Moreover, they mistrust their healthcare professionals, which results in non-adherence to medical advice. The findings align with Martha Rogers' theory of the science of unitary human beings and Bandura's model of reciprocal determinism that there is a strong relationship between people and their cultural environment. This study's findings provide an understanding that may lead to positive social change in designing culturally specific preventive programs to decrease obesity and diabetes and ensure a better quality of life for Tongans.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-174). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Purpose: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the world. This study identified the proportion of our NHOPI sample in each body mass index (BMI) category and explored relationships between demographic characteristics and BMI. Design: This descriptive correlational study included 364 NHOPI caregiver adults in Utah (n=155) and Hawaii (n=209). We gathered demographic information with a questionnaire. Height and weight were measured for BMI calculations. Results: According to the CDC's BMI categories, 84.3% of our sample was overweight (BMI=25.0-29.9) or obese (BMI ≥30). Participants in Utah had significantly higher BMIs than participants in Hawaii. Educational attainment was inversely related with BMI; age, gender, and income were not significantly related with BMI. Implications for practice: Clinicians should screen all NHOPIs for obesity and related risks. Future research should focus on culturally sensitive interventions and education to reduce obesity and associated risks among NHOPIs.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-113). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

xv, 103 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The purpose of the current study was to examine the role of sociocultural factors in posttraumatic stress. The two major aims were to add to current knowledge about why women report higher rates of posttraumatic stress than men and to explore the role of ethnicity in response to trauma. Using an online survey with a college sample (n = 1041) and a community sample (n = 199), the findings confirmed prior research that traumas high in betrayal (e.g., abuse by a close other) are more strongly associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress than traumas lower in betrayal (e.g., natural disaster or abuse by someone not close to the victim). Women also reported higher rates of depression, anxiety, and reexperiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but not avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms. The hypothesis that betrayal trauma would mediate the association between gender and PTSD reexperiencing symptoms was statistically significant although the effect was not substantial. Gender role socialization may also moderate the relationship between gender and PTSD reexperiencing, whereby men with more egalitarian beliefs had lower scores than men with more conservative beliefs. This study also investigated the rates of traumatic events among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) populations, and cultural correlates of posttraumatic stress. It included one of the few non-clinical samples of API adults from the community in the U.S. as well as a cohort of API students. Notable differences between the younger and older API participants were found in the reporting of various traumatic events. In particular, young API men reported adult sexual assault with surprising frequency at nearly 20% for both close and not close perpetrators which is several times more than the older API men. The influence of participants' concern with loss of face (LOF) on PTSD symptoms was also examined. The prediction that concern with LOF would moderate the effect of traumatic experiences on posttraumatic stress for APIs was not supported although LOF was directly associated with PTSD symptoms. These results add to the growing body of evidence that interpersonal violence and posttraumatic stress are issues that require attention among API populations. / Committee in charge: Jennifer Freyd, Co-Chairperson, Psychology; Sanjay Srivastava, Co-Chairperson, Psychology; Jeffrey Measelle, Member, Psychology; Jocelyn Hollander, Outside Member, Sociology

Pacific Islander high school students in the state of Utah specifically, but across the United States generally, face significant challenges such as high levels of high school dropout and low levels of academic attainment. The purpose of this study was to examine if components of an achieved ethnic identity (exploration and commitment) are positively related to high levels of school belonging among Pacific Islander high school students in Utah. I further investigated whether self-esteem was a mediating factor in any observed relationship between ethnic identity and school belonging. Participants in this study were Pacific Islander youth between the ages of 13-19 years old and attending high school in the state of Utah. The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure—Revised, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory, Simple School Belonging Scale, and demographic questions were combined in a survey and taken by 111 participants. Results indicate a significantly positive relationship between school belonging and self-esteem (r = .39, p < .001). However, no relationship was observed between ethnic identity and school belonging. Results also suggests that self-esteem is not a mediating factor, nor is it related to ethnic identity individually for these students. Another purpose of this study was to better understand Pacific Islander students in our public education system, and especially in the state of Utah. Results revealed that ethnic identity may not operate in the same way for students in this study as has been suggested in the literature for other ethnic minorities. Specifically, ethnic identity, as measured by the MEIM-R may not represent the same construct, which leads to questions about how this sample was different than other national samples. The context of Utah may have been a determining factor and may play a role in the formation of ethnic identity for Pacific Islander students who live in Utah, especially for those who are also Latter-day Saint. Future research should look closely at the relationship between religiosity and ethnic identity for Pacific Islander students in Utah schools. The findings from this study also highlight the role of self-esteem in school belonging. They suggest a need to move beyond generalizations of this group of students as "minorities" to understanding how to increase their self-esteem in hopes of boosting their sense of belonging in our schools, thus leading to greater high school retention and academic achievement for this population.