Yes

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2009. / Title from screen (viewed on November 4, 2009). School of Nursing, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Sharon Sims, Carrie Foote, Joan Austin, Melinda Swenson. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-110).

The communication of anthropogenic climate change presents many challenges, for communicators, scientists, policymakers and publics alike. Particularly difficult is the issue of uncertainty, which can include ambiguity around the phenomenon of climate change, the possible impacts of this, and the timeframe within which such impacts will be seen. Previous research has established that audiences are often averse to uncertainty, and will disregard or ignore messages that contain it. This raises a theoretical and practical question of how best to manage uncertainty in climate change communication in order to maintain audience engagement. This question was the focus of this PhD research. Specifically, the aim of this thesis was to explore the process of climate change communication from the perspectives of the scientists, communicators, and the recipient. I achieved this research goal by utilising a mixed methods design. I firstly interviewed the originators (i.e., scientists) and professional communicators of climate change information to explore the process from their side (Chapter 2). This revealed a number of themes connecting to the different ways scientists and communicators understand the process of communication (e.g., as information exchange versus relationship building), the challenges of climate change communication and uncertainty in particular, and the (appropriate) role of scientists when communicating with the public about climate change. Next, in a series of studies I experimentally explored how audiences respond to variations in the informational content of climate change messages (such as the level of uncertainty) and the role of different communicative styles in further shaping audience engagement (Chapter 3). Broadly, the results of these studies suggest that while uncertainty can undermine audience engagement with climate change communications, the negative effects of uncertainty are buffered when the communicator is perceived to be high in morality and/ or when they use an open communication style. Interestingly, these effects of communication style were particularly evident among women, whereas men tended to react against this. Together, these studies show how relational factors (e.g., communication styles and perceptions of communication sources) can moderate the impact of informational content on audience responses. Finally, I ended this programme of research by looking in more detail at how audiences perceive a real scientific organisation engaged in climate change communication and the bases of their beliefs about organisation competence and morality (Chapter 4). This study combined qualitative and quantitative data to delve deeper into some of the insights gained in the experimental work, and to reconnect this to the real-world organisation context I began with. This study again showed how perceptions of communicator morality moderate responses to uncertainty, but also provide useful insights into the different origins of perceptions of morality and competence. Chapter 5 concludes by summarising the research presented in this thesis, discussing its strengths, limitations and ways forward. Here, I also consider the theoretical, methodological and practical implications of the thesis’ research findings. Briefly, it is argued that addressing the scientific uncertainties of climate change may not necessarily mean altering the form of information itself. Rather, modifying the language peripheral to the information that contains uncertainty, attending to the ways in which audiences perceive the sources of uncertainty, and considering variations amongst publics, may help to engage in effective communication around the complex issue of climate change.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Notre Dame, 2006. / Thesis directed by Donald B. Pope-Davis for the Department of Psychology. "April 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-111).

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Aim: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of individuals with Huntington’s disease (HD) in a South African context. The focus of the current study was not only on the challenges faced by individuals with HD, but also the resources/supports that help them cope with their neurological condition. Method: I conducted twelve semi-structured interviews with the participants and they transcribed verbatim. I then performed a thematic analysis. Results: Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System’s Theory as the theoretical framework, several themes were identified that related to the participants’ experiences of living with HD. Challenges included: triad of symptoms, sleep problems, testing process, relationships, children, it’s a monster, employment, social support, partners and family members with HD, medical aid, life insurance, financial problems, lack of HD facilities, lack of understanding of HD, symptoms watching and the progression of HD. Several supports/resources were also identified and included: knowledge about HD, counselling, medication, coping, employment, social support, testing process, partners and family members with HD, medical aid, life insurance, cure, possible HD facilities, religion, grant and adaptation over time. Conclusion: This was the first study of this kind in a South African context, which set out to explore the experiences of individuals with HD in the Western Cape, South Africa. The findings from this study demonstrate that although these individuals with HD experience several challenges due to their debilitating condition, they also employ several resources to help them cope with HD. Lastly, the findings that emerged from this study contribute to raising awareness about the experiences of these individuals living with HD and could serve as a valuable foundation for tailor-made interventions for these unique individuals. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doel: Die doel van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie was om die ervaringe van individue met Huntington se siekte (HS) in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te verken. Die fokus van die huidige studie het verband gehou nie net met die uitdagings wat deur individue met HS ervaar word, maar ook die hulpbronne / ondersteuning wat hulp verleen met hulle neurologiese toestand om dit te beter te hanteer. Metode: Ek het twaalf semi- gestruktureerde onderhoude met die deelnemers gevoer en woordeliks getranskribeer , waarna tematiese analise uitgevoer is. Resultate: Met behulp van Bronfenbrenner se Ekologiese Sisteem Teorie as die teoretiese raamwerk , is verskeie temas wat verband hou met die deelnemers se ervarings van die lewe met HD geïdentifiseer. Uitdagings sluit in: drietal van die simptome, slaap probleme, toets-proses, verhoudings, kinders, dit is 'n monster, indiensneming, sosiale ondersteuning, metgeselle en familie-lede met HD, mediese fonds , lewensversekering, finansiële probleme, die gebrek aan HD fasiliteite, 'n gebrek aan begrip van HD, dophou van simptome en die vordering van HD. Verskeie ondersteuning / hulpbronne is ook geïdentifiseer en sluit in: kennis oor HD, berading, medisyne, hantering, werk, sosiale ondersteuning, toetsproses, vennote en familie -lede met HD, mediese fonds, lewensversekering, genesing, moontlike HD fasiliteite , godsdiens, staats-toelaag en aanpassing oor tyd. Gevolgtrekking: Dit was die eerste studie van hierdie aard in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks wat die ervarings van individue met HD in die Wes-Kaap , Suid-Afrika uiteensit. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie toon dat, alhoewel hierdie individue met HD verskeie uitdagings as gevolg van hul aftakenlende toestand ondervind, is daar ook 'n paar hulpbronne in plek om hulle met die hantering van hierdie neurologiese toestand te help. Laastens , die bevindinge uit hierdie studie dra by tot die verhoging van bewustheid oor die ervarings van hierdie individue wat met HD lewe en kan as 'n waardevolle fondament vir pasgemaakte intervensies vir hierdie unieke individue dien.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The HIV/AIDS pandemic has led to millions of deaths; disability for the sufferers and multiple socioeconomic effects on HIV infected and affected individuals. Among the factors affecting people living with HIV/AIDS that may contribute to HIV related disability is mental illness such as HIV related manias and depression. ‘HIV counselors’ make up part of the team at the forefront of HIV treatment and management in Uganda but little is known about their perceptions of mental illness. This study therefore sought to explore the perceptions of mental illness among HIV counselors in Uganda. A qualitative study was conducted. Ten individual interviews and three focus group discussions were carried out among 31 HIV counselors. They were selected from five HIV treatment centers in Kampala district, Uganda. An interview guide based on Kleinman’s explanatory model of illness with case vignettes depicting depression, alcohol abuse, mania, and psychosis were used to facilitate discussion. Data was thematically analyzed. HIV counselors exhibited some knowledge concerning depression among HIV positive clients, with some viewing the symptoms of depression as “understandable sadness” arising from the HIV client’s psychosocial reality which is rife with poverty, stigma and lack of social support. Counselors also reported that some of their client’s physical symptoms were a result of their emotional problems. Mania and psychosis were attributed to religious beliefs and witchcraft; and in some cases disease progression or HIV drugs. Chronic alcohol abuse, despite continuous counseling was seen as a waste of the counselor’s time in face of overwhelming numbers of clients per day. Such clients, along with clients with suicidal ideations were often threatened or ignored. Counselors agreed that they needed training on assessment of mental illness, and how difficult cases could be referred. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die MIV/VIGS pandemie het al miljoene sterftes tot gevolg gehad; ook ongeskiktheid vir die lyers en veelvuldige sosio-ekonomiese gevolge vir individue met MIV sowel as ander individue wat daardeur geraak word. Van die faktore wat ‘n uitwerking op mense het wat leef met MIV/VIGS en wat kan bydra tot HIV ongeskiktheid, is geestesversteurings soos HIV verwante manies en depressie. “MIV-voorligters” is deel van ‘n span wat aan die voorpunt staan van die behandeling en bestuur van MIV in Uganda, maar min is bekend oor hulle persepsies van geestesversteuring. In die onderhawige studie is MIV-voorligters in Uganda se persepsies van geestesversteuring ondersoek. ‘n Kwalitatiewe studie is onderneem. Tien individuele onderhoude en drie fokusgroepbesprekings is gedoen onder 31 MIV-voorligters. Hulle is geselekteer uit vyf MIV-behandelingsentrums in die Kampala-distrik, Uganda. ‘n Onderhoudskedule gebaseer op Kleinman se verklarende siektemodel, bestaande uit karakterskets-gevallestudies wat depressie, alkoholmisbruik, manie en psigose uitbeeld, is gebruik om die besprekings te fasiliteer. Die data is tematies ontleed. MIV-voorligters het getoon dat hulle in ‘n mate oor kennis beskik ten opsigte van depressie by MIV-positiewe kliënte. Sommige voorligters het die simptome van depressie beskou as “verstaanbare droewigheid” wat voortspruit uit die MIV-kliënt se psigososiale werklikheid, bestaande uit armoede, stigma en ‘n gebrek aan sosiale ondersteuning. Voorligters het ook gerapporteer dat sommige kliënte se fisiese simptome die gevolg is van emosionele probleme. Manie en psigose is toegeskryf aan godsdienstige oortuigings and toordery; en in sommige gevalle aan progressie van die siekte of MIVmedisyne. As gevolg van die feit dat voorligters daagliks oorlaai word met kliëntgetalle, is kliënte wat kronies alkohol gebruik beskou as ‘n vermorsing van voorligters se tyd, ten spyte van voortdurende voorligting. Sulke kliënte, tesame met kliënte wat selfmoordneigings getoon het, is dikwels gedreig of geïgnoreer. Voorligters was dit eens dat hulle opleiding benodig in die assessering van geestessiekte asook leiding oor hoe om moeilike gevalle te verwys.

Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education)--Cleveland State University, 2010 / Abstract. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 12, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p.191-201). Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : In 2010, young people aged 15–24 years accounted for 42% of new HIV infections globally. In 2009, about five million (10%) of the total South African population was estimated to be aged 15–19 years. Current South African national sero-prevalence data estimate the prevalence of HIV to be 5.6% and 0.7% among adolescent girls and boys aged 15–19 years, respectively. HIV infections are mainly transmitted via sexual transmission. Adolescent sexuality is multi-faceted and influenced at multiple levels. In preparing to enroll adolescents in future biomedical HIV prevention trials, particularly prophylactic HIV vaccine trials, it is critical to provide counseling services appropriate to their needs. At the time of writing, there was no developed psychosocial intervention in South Africa for use among adolescent vaccine trial participants. Thus, the aim of the present study is to adapt and pilot-test a psychosocial intervention, namely, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk reduction counseling intervention of Project Respect, an intervention tasked at being developmentally and contextually appropriate among potential adolescent participants in HIV biomedical trials in the future. To achieve this overall aim, I qualitatively explored adolescent sexuality and risk factors for HIV among a diverse sample of participants aged 16–18 from Soweto. Thereafter, I developed a composite HIV risk scale in order to measure the variance in HIV risk among the sample of adolescents studied. The study followed a two-phased, mixed method research design and was informed by ecological systems theory and integrative model of behavioral prediction. The aim of Phase 1, split into phases 1a and b, was to conduct focus group discussions (FGDs) and to undertake a cross-sectional survey, respectively, to determine psychological (for example, self-esteem and depression), behavioral (specifically, sexual behavior) and social (specifically, social support, parent-adolescent communication) contexts that placed adolescents at risk for HIV infection. Phase 1a was qualitative, with data collected via nine FGDs: three involved parents of adolescents, four involved adolescents aged 16–18 years and two counselors. Nine key themes related to adolescent sexuality and risks for HIV acquisition were identified, namely: (1) dating during adolescence; (2) adolescent girls dating older men; (3) condom use amongst adolescents; (4) teenage pregnancies; (5) views about homosexuality; (6) parent-adolescent communication about sexual health; (7) the role of the media; (8) discipline and perceived government influence; and (9) group sex events. Phase 1b was quantitative and the data were collected via a cross-sectional survey to investigate the variance of risk for HIV. For Phase 1b, the sample consisted of 506 adolescents with a mean age of 17 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 16–18). More than half the participants were female (59%, n = 298). I used a three-step hierarchical multiple regression model to investigate the variance in risk for HIV. In step 3, the only significant predictors were “ever threatened to have sex” and “ever forced to have sex”, the combination of which explained 14% (R2 = 0.14; F (12, 236) = 3.14, p = 0.00). Depression and parentadolescent communication were added to steps 2 and 3, respectively, with both variables insignificant in these models. In Phase 2, I adapted and pilot tested the CDC risk reduction counseling intervention. The intervention was intended to be developmentally and contextually appropriate among adolescents from Soweto aged 16–18 years, viewed as potential participants in future HIV biomedical trials. Participants in Phase 2 were aged 16–18 years; the sample was mainly female (52%, n = 11) and most (91%, n = 19) were secondary school learners in grades 8 to 12. Participants provided feedback about their experiences of the adapted counseling intervention through in-depth interviews. I identified three main themes in this regard, namely: benefits of HIV testing services, reasons for seeking counseling and HIV testing services, and participants’ evaluation of the study visits and counseling sessions. The adapted CDC risk reduction counseling intervention was found to be acceptable with favorable outcomes for those adolescents who participated in the piloting phase. This study adds to the literature on risks for HIV among adolescents in Soweto, South Africa, by considering multiple levels of influence. Reaching a more complete understanding of ecological factors contributing to sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in the pilot-study enabled the development of a tailored counseling intervention. The findings showed the adapted CDC risk reduction counseling intervention to be feasible and acceptable among adolescents likely to be participants and eligible to participate in future HIV biomedical prevention trials. Thus, this study provides a much needed risk reduction counseling intervention that can be used among adolescents, an age group likely to participate in future HIV vaccine prevention research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : In 2010 het jongmense tussen die ouderdomme van 15 en 24 jaar 42% van nuwe MIV-infeksies wêreldwyd uitgemaak. In 2009 was omtrent 5 miljoen mense (10%) van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking tussen 15 en 19 jaar oud. Volgens data oor die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse nasionale sero-voorkoms, word die voorkoms van MIV onderskeidelik op 5.6% en 0.7% onder tienermeisies en -seuns tussen die ouderdomme van 15 tot 19 jaar beraam. MIV-infeksies word hoofsaaklik deur seks oorgedra. Adolessente seksualiteit het baie fasette en word op verskeie vlakke beïnvloed. Ter voorbereiding van die werwing van adolessente vir toekomstige biomediese proewe, veral proewe oor profilaktiese MIVentstowwe, is dit van kritiese belang dat beradingsdienste verskaf word wat geskik is vir hul behoeftes. Op die tydstip wat hierdie tesis geskryf is, het daar nog geen psigososiale intervensie in Suid-Afrika bestaan vir gebruik onder adolessente deelnemers aan entstofproewe nie. Daarom is die doel van hierdie studie om ʼn psigososiale intervensie ‒ die Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) se Projek Respek, ʼn beradingsintervensie vir die vermindering van risiko ‒ aan te pas en met ʼn loodsprojek te toets. Hierdie intervensie is geskik vir die ontwikkelings- en kontekstuele vlak van adolessente deelnemers aan toekomstige MIV- biomediese proewe. Ten einde hierdie oorkoepelende doelwit te bereik, het ek adolessente seksualiteit en die risikofaktore vir MIV onder ʼn diverse steekproef deelnemers tussen die ouderdomme van 16 en 18 jaar van Soweto kwalitatief ondersoek. Daarna het ek ʼn saamgestelde MIV-risikoskaal ontwikkel om die variansie van MIV-risiko onder die groep adolessente te meet. Die studie se navorsingsontwerp het uit twee fases en gemengde metodes bestaan, en is gebaseer op ekologiesestelsel-teorie en die integrerende gedragsvoorspellingsmodel. Die doel van fase 1, wat in fases 1a en 1b verdeel is, was om onderskeidelik fokusgroepbesprekings te hou en om ʼn deursnitopname te doen om die sielkundige kontekste (byvoorbeeld elemente van selfbeeld en depressie), gedragskontekste (spesifiek seksuele gedrag) en sosiale kontekste (spesifiek sosiale ondersteuning en ouer-adolessent-kommunikasie) te bepaal waarin adolessente die risiko loop om MIV-infeksie op te doen. Fase 1a was kwalitatief en data is deur middel van nege fokusgroepbesprekings ingesamel: drie met die ouers van adolessente, vier met adolessente tussen 16 en 18 jaar oud en twee met beraders. Nege sleuteltemas is geïdentifiseer wat verband hou met adolessente seksualiteit en risiko’s om MIV op te doen: (1) verhoudings tydens adolessensie, (2) tienermeisies wat verhoudings met ouer mans het, (3) die gebruik van kondome onder adolessente, (4) tienerswangerskappe, (5) sienings oor homoseksualiteit, (6) ouer-adolessent-kommunikasie oor seksuele gesondheid, (7) die rol van die media, (8) dissipline en die ervaarde regeringsinvloed en (9) groepseksgeleenthede. Fase 1b was kwantitatief en data is deur middel van ’n deursnitopname ingesamel om die variansie van risiko vir MIV te ondersoek. Vir Fase 1b het die steekproef bestaan uit 506 adolessente met ’n gemiddelde ouderdom van 17 jaar (interkwartielwydte [IKW]: 16–18). Meer as die helfte van die deelnemers was vroulik (59%, n = 298). Ek het ’n hiërargiese meervoudige regressiemodel met drie stappe gebruik om die variansie van risiko vir MIV te ondersoek. Die enigste beduidende voorspellers in stap 3 was “ooit gedreig om seks te hê” en “ooit geforseer om seks te hê”. Die kombinasie hiervan het 14% (R2 = 0.14; F (12, 236) = 3.14, p = 0.00) verklaar. Depressie en oueradolessent- kommunikasie is onderskeidelik in stappe 2 en 3 bygevoeg, en albei veranderlikes was onbeduidend in hierdie modelle. In Fase 2 het ek die CDC se intervensie vir die verlaging van risiko aangepas en met ’n loodsprojek getoets. Die intervensie was bedoel om geskik te wees vir die ontwikkelings- en kontekstuele vlakke van 16- tot 18-jarige adolessente van Soweto wat beskou is as potensiële deelnemers aan toekomstige MIV- biomediese proewe. Deelnemers in Fase 2 was 16 tot 18 jaar oud, die steekproef was hoofsaaklik vroulik (52%, n = 11) en die meeste van die deelnemers (91%, n = 19) was in grade 8 tot 12 op hoërskool. Deelnemers het tydens indringende onderhoude terugvoering oor hulle ervarings van die aangepaste beradingsintervensie verskaf. Ek het drie hooftemas in hierdie verband geïdentifiseer, wat die volgende insluit: voordele van MIV-toetsingsdienste, redes waarom berading en MIV-toetsingsdienste verlang word, en die deelnemers se evaluering van die studiebesoeke en beradingsessies. Daar is bevind dat die aangepaste beradingsintervensie van die CDC aanvaarbaar was en gunstige uitkomste gelewer het vir die adolessente wat aan die loodsfase deelgeneem het. Hierdie studie dra by tot die literatuur oor MIV-risiko’s vir adolessente in Soweto, Suid-Afrika, deur meervoudige invloedsvlakke te oorweeg. Die feit dat ’n meer volledige begrip tydens die loodsondersoek verkry is van die interaksie van die ekologiese faktore wat tot seksuele risikogedrag onder adolessente bydra, het die ontwikkeling van ʼn doelgemaakte intervensie deur berading moontlik gemaak. Die bevindings het getoon dat die aangepaste beradingsintervensie van die CDC lewensvatbaar en aanvaarbaar is vir gebruik onder adolessente wat waarskynlik geskikte deelnemers aan toekomstige biomediese proewe oor MIV-voorkoming kan wees. Hierdie studie verskaf dus ʼn noodsaaklike beradingsintervensie om die MIV-risiko onder adolessente ‒ ʼn ouderdomsgroep wat waarskynlik aan toekomstige biomediese navorsing oor MIV-voorkoming sal deelneem ‒ te verminder.