Understanding factors that influence parenting practices is important, as parents play a critical role in the healthy development of children (Sanders, 1999). From an ecological perspective, both individual and contextual factors must be considered when examining predictors of parenting practices (Bronfenbrenner, 1977). There is limited research, however, that combines both individual and contextual factors within one model to predict parenting practices. The objective of the current research was to examine parents’ contextual sources of support as a buffer and as a mechanism of the relationship between the individual factors of parental stress, and beliefs and knowledge about parenting, and parenting practices. The two studies analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 3,008 Canadian parents who had at least one child under the age of five. In the first study, hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine the availability of community support as a moderator. Our result indicated that having a high number of community resources available buffered the additive effect of high stress and negative beliefs and knowledge about parenting on parenting practices. In the second study, structural equation modeling was used to develop multiple mediator models to examine three levels of support. The results indicated that: Partner support was a mechanism through which stress affects negative discipline; partner support was a mechanism through which beliefs and knowledge about parenting affect positive and negative parental discipline; community support was a mechanism through which beliefs and knowledge about parenting affect positive parenting practices and positive parental discipline; and national support was a mechanism through which beliefs and knowledge about parenting affect positive parenting practices. Together, these findings emphasize the importance of the environment in shaping parenting practices and demonstrate that support within each environment differentially impacts parenting. Interventions that enhance the support that parents receive at the individual, community, and national levels have the potential to increase positive parenting and decrease negative parenting, and in doing so, promote the healthy development of children. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-06 15:16:22.485

Domestic abuse against women has been a concern among feminist theorists, scholars, and activists. Although the issue of domestic abuse is a popular research topic, what is often neglected is an analysis of how the experiences of newcomer women differ from other women who experience partner abuse. While domestic abuse is inflicted upon women of all cultures and from all economic classes, the experiences of newcomer women are unique. While there are many research initiatives that investigate the complexities of domestic abuse, one area that is less researched is that of domestic abuse as experienced by newcomer women. Examining the data collected from semi-structured interviews with Winnipeg police officers, social service providers, and survivors of intimate partner violence, this study explores the questions: ‘What layers of vulnerability do newcomer women face when trying to extricate themselves from abusive partnerships, and how may Canadian laws and social policies exacerbate their susceptibility?’

Alzheimers sjukdom är den vanligaste formen av demenssjukdom och kännetecknas av minnessvårigheter, förvirring och en försämring av den kognitiva förmågan. Alzheimers sjukdom beskrivs som en anhörigsjukdom och den mest förekommande anhörigvårdaren är maken/makan eller partnern. Syftet med litteraturstudien var att belysa partnerns upplevelse att leva i en relation med en person med Alzheimer sjukdom i det gemensamma hemmet. Metoden som användes var en litteraturstudie vilken genomfördes utifrån Polit och Becks (2012) niostegsmodell. Litteratursökningen utfördes i databaserna CINAHL samt PubMed. Artiklarna valdes ut utifrån studiens syfte och granskades kritiskt utifrån Polit och Becks mallar gällande vetenskaplig kvalitet vilket resulterade i 13 artiklar. Resultatet genererade sju huvudkategorier; Rollförändringar och anpassning till ny livssituation, Sorg och förlust av livspartner, Minskad personlig frihet, Samhörighet och mening, Depression och börda, Förändringar av känslomässig tillfredställelse och sexuell intimitet, samt Försämrad sömn. Slutsatsen visar att partners till personer med Alzheimers sjukdom befinner sig i en process av oönskade förändringar som innebär påfrestningar och prövningar i det dagliga livet. Såväl den fysiska som den psykiska hälsan kan komma att skadas hos partnern. Sjuksköterskan bär ett stort ansvar att i tid uppmärksamma och bemöta partnerns till personer med Alzheimers sjukdoms behov för att undvika att de skall drabbas av ohälsa.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Catholic University of America, 2007. / Adviser: Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ball State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Aug. 21, 2009). Research paper (M.S.), 3 hrs. Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-54).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Texas, May, 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--George Mason University, 2009. / Vita: p. 81. Thesis director: Lauren Cattaneo. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-80). Also issued in print.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is common among college students and university counseling centers require strategies for addressing this health problem (Amar & Gennaro, 2005; Gover, Kaukinin, & Fox, 2004; Murray & Kardatzke, 2007). Attachment theory may provide strong theoretical and empirical grounding for guiding IPV prevention and intervention efforts (Magdol et al., 1998; Schwartz et al., 2006; Scott, Wolfe, & Wekerle, 2003). The present study evaluated a variety of social and emotional risk factors as potential mediators and moderators of the relation between attachment relevant variables and IPV victimization and perpetration in a college sample. None of the primary hypotheses were fully supported; however, women who reported IPV histories exhibited higher levels of anxious romantic attachment than women without IPV histories. Further, partner delinquency moderated the relation between problems with anger modulation and IPV. Sex differences were examined for study variables and women were more likely than men to experience both IPV victimization and perpetration. These results are compared to prior empirical findings and implications for potential prevention and intervention strategies with college students are identified. Methodological considerations that may influence the interpretation of study data are also presented and discussed.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore past intimate partner violence as it occurs in Appalachian women residing in rural and non-urbanized areas. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social problem occurring within the context of an intimate relationship. It is estimated that 3.5 to 5 million American women experience some form of IPV each year (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Abuse types include physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, and stalking, and can involve individuals of any age, race, socioeconomic status, geographic region, or cultural heritage. In this study, participants lived in areas of Appalachia with less than 50,000 residents. Appalachia is a geographic region which spans 13 states, including West Virginia where all participants lived. Twelve past IPV victims shared their stories through the sociocultural tradition of story-telling. Data which emerged through analysis of interview transcripts revealed a meta-theme of Turning Points, which is reflective of the perceived non-linearity of IPV. Themes were: (1) When Hope Turns to Fear; (2) Escalation of Abuse; (3) Continuation of Abuse; (4) That’s When I Knew it had to Stop; (5) Leaving as a Non-Linear Process; (6) Learn from my Story. Don’t Let it be Your Story; and (7) Does Where I Live Make a Difference? Participants experienced multiple types of abuse, and there was always a co-occurrence of abuses. When the severity and frequency of abuse escalated, perpetrators used multiple strategies to hide the abuse, such as isolating the victim from family and friends, and limiting access to transportation and phones. Eventually, each participant recognized they had to leave or their injuries might prove fatal. Leaving was a non-linear process, but each survivor was able to end her abusive relationship. One way they sought to make meaning from their IPV experience was educating others in abuse recognition; disseminating information about abuse both pro-actively and re-actively; and offering emotional, psychological, and perhaps even physical support to past or present IPV victims. One or more facets of the IPV experience was addressed in relation to the sociocultural components of rural or non-urbanized areas of Appalachia.

Prior research has shown that college women in the United States are experiencing significantly high rates of verbal intimate partner violence (IPV); estimates indicate that approximately 20-30% of college women experience verbal IPV victimization (e.g., Hines, 2007; Muñoz-Rivas, Graña, O'Leary, & González, 2009). Verbal IPV is associated with physical consequences, such as chronic pain and migraine headaches, and psychological implications, including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use (Coker et al., 2002). However, few studies have examined verbal IPV in college populations, and none have focused on Hispanic college women who are members of the largest minority population on college campuses today (Pew Research Center, 2013), and experience higher rates of IPV victimization (Ingram, 2007). The current dissertation sought to address these gaps by examining the influence of familial conflict strategies on Hispanic college women’s verbal IPV victimization. Further, within group differences were explored, with specific attention paid to the role of acculturation and gender role beliefs. A total of 906 from two Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) in the southeastern (N=502) and southwestern (N=404) United States participated in the three part study. Study one examined the influence of parental conflict strategies on Hispanic women’s verbal IPV victimization in current romantic relationships. Consistent with previous research, results indicated that parental use of verbal violence influenced verbal IPV victimization in the current romantic relationship. A unidirectional effect of paternal use of verbal aggression towards the participant on maternal verbal aggression towards the participant was also found. Study two examined the influence of parental conflict strategies, acculturation, and gender role beliefs on victimization. Acculturation and gender role beliefs were found to not have an influence on participants’ verbal IPV victimization. Study three examined within-group differences using Study two’s model. Differences were found between the southeastern and southwestern participants; gender role beliefs increased rates of verbal IPV victimization in the southeastern population. The current dissertation fills a gap in the literature on IPV experiences in Hispanic college populations, the importance of examining verbal IPV trends, and highlights importance differing cultural influences within populations traditionally viewed as homogenous. The implications for future research are discussed.