Because Latinos are the largest, fastest-growing ethnic minority group in the U.S., learning more about their sexual and reproductive experiences and decision-making processes is important. Importantly, although sexuality and abortion are stigmatized in many Latino cultures and conservative religious beliefs specifically oppose abortion, Latinas have the highest birth rates in the U.S. and an estimated one in four pregnancies to Latina women are terminated (Jones, Darroch, &Henshaw, 2002; Jones, Finer, &Singh, 2010). Consequently, nuanced exploration of contradictions in reproductive behaviors and cultural and religious values is critical to supporting women's health and well-being. Seeking to advance the scholarship on the lived experiences of women who undergo elective abortion, this dissertation used Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis and a cultural and religious lens to explore the decision-making processes and phenomenological experiences of four young Mexican-American women who elected to terminate their first pregnancy. Results indicated that the women in this study believed abortion was unique, and more difficult for Mexican-American (and other Latina) women, given cultural and religious norms that specifically prohibit abortion and simultaneously prioritize sexual purity, responsibility, and motherhood for women. The complexity and difficulty inherent in navigating overlapping and oftentimes contradictory sociocultural and religious values are discussed as they relate to the participants' abortion decision and experience. The manuscript concludes with strengths and limitations of the present study, suggestions for future research, and implications for psychologists. Keywords: Mexican, Latina, Abortion, Reproductive Health

Although women have made great strides in society working to close the gender gap, sexism still exists that may impact women’s psychological wellness. The current research examines the relationship between sexist attitudes toward women, stigma consciousness, and psychological well-being among 235 female participants from a medium sized Southern city. Participants took part in the research by completing a cross-sectional survey about the health and well-being of women in exchange for class credit or cash. The primary hypothesis was that stigma consciousness would serve as a mediator of the relationship between sexist attitudes toward women and psychological well-being. Results indicated a positive relationship between hostile sexism and psychological well-being and a negative relationship between hostile sexism and stigma consciousness. However, the relationship between stigma consciousness and psychological well-being was not significant. Therefore, stigma consciousness did not serve as a mediator between sexism and psychological well-being. This not significant relationship is explained in accord with past research. Possible reasons for the positive relationship between holding more sexist views toward women and having greater psychological well-being are discussed. / acase@tulane.edu

<p>Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det fanns skillnader i hur ungdomar mellan 16-18 år i storstäder, städer och landsbygd uppfattade sitt psykiska välbefinnande samt se om resultatet gällde för båda könen. Datamaterialet till studien samlades in av Statistiska Centralbyrån under åren 2000-2003.</p>

<p>Som en följd av samhällets utveckling väljer företag idag att periodvis hyra in personal från bemanningsföretag för att kunna klara av de nya krav som ställs. Syftet med denna studie var att jämföra det psykiska välbefinnandet hos arbetstagare i två olika anställningsformer i relation till den upplevda psykosociala arbetsmiljön. För att besvara syftet konstruerades en enkät som delades ut till två olika grupper av arbetstagare som arbetade på samma företag dock med olika förutsättningar. Hälften var inhyrda medan den andra hälften var direkt anställda av företaget. Totalt delades 78 enkäter ut och svarsfrekvensen blev 59 procent. Resultatet visade, trots skillnader i svarsfrekvens mellan urvalsgrupperna, att de inhyrda arbetstagarna hade ett högre psykiskt välbefinnande än de som var direkt anställda av företaget. Den psykosociala arbetsmiljön upplevdes något sämre av de arbetstagare som var inhyrda av företaget. När de olika psykosociala arbetsmiljöfaktorerna sattes i förhållande till varandra, var kontroll den faktor som de båda urvalsgrupperna upplevde lägst nivå av, högst nivå upplevdes det sociala stödet ha. Resultatet visade även på en signifikansnivå under 0.05 gällande anställningsform och det psykiska välbefinnandet, det fanns även ett signifikant samband mellan det psykiska välbefinnandet och upplevelsen av de psykosociala arbetsmiljöfaktorerna. Det fanns dock inget signifikant samband mellan anställningsform och upplevelsen av de psykosociala arbetsmiljöfaktorerna.</p>

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of a shortened version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) in an African context. This self-report questionnaire, referred to as the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory -Revised Form (ZTPI-RF) consists of 20 items representing the five subscales of the original scale, namely: Past-Positive, Past-Negative, Present-Hedonistic, Present-Fatalistic and Future. The ZTPI-RF was completed by participants (N=1050) from urban (n=451) and rural (n=599) areas in the North-West Province of South Africa, together with a number of measures of psychological well-being. These scales, which were included for criterion-related validity purposes, were the Affectometer 2 (short version) (Kammann & Flett, 1983), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985), Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky, 1987, 1993) and the General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979). Results regarding the reliability and construct validity of the ZTPI-RF and its subscales were unsatisfactory. Qualitative data was also obtained, and analyzed by means of direct content analysis to help establish a picture of how time perspective prevails in an African context, and to determine whether time perspective is associated with psychological well-being. Qualitative results showed that participants from an African context were strongly oriented toward the present and that social support played the most prominent role regarding participants' attitude toward the present. It was concluded that the ZTPI-RF is, in its current form, not reliable for the determination of time perspective of individuals from an African context, and that a longitudinal qualitative approach might be best suited to obtain information about the nature and dynamics of time perspective in an African context. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.