Retrospective studies of college students who recall experiencing bullying during childhood and/or adolescence have found that being the target of bullying may place one at greater risk for depression (Roth, Coles, & Heimburg, 2002; Storch et al., 2001), anxiety disorders (McCabe, et al., 2003; Roth et al.) and interpersonal relationships (Schafer et al., 2004) in comparison to peers who do not recall a history of bullying during childhood or adolescence. However, researchers have found that not all targets of bullying develop such problems in adulthood (Schafer et al., 2004; Dempsey & Storch, 2008). Little attention has been devoted to understanding resiliency among adults who experienced bullying during childhood and/or adolescence (Davidson & Demaray, 2007). The purpose of this dissertation was to 1). Explore gender and racial/ethnic differences in recall of perceived seriousness of past bullying experiences 2). Replicate past findings regarding the association between past experiences with bullying and depression, anxiety, and loneliness in college students 3). Explore whether coping resources accounted for differences in symptoms of distress. A total of 211 college students completed the Retrospective Bullying Questionnaire (Schaefer, et al, 2004); The Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1982); UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, 1996) and the Coping Resources Inventory for Stress-Short form (CRIS-SF; Matheny, Curlette, Aycock, & Curlette, 1993). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to investigate gender and racial/ethnic differences in perceived seriousness of bullying. Hierarchical linear regression was used to test whether coping resources moderated the relationship between psychosocial distress in adults and past experiences with bullying. Females in this study reported that they perceived their experiences with relational bullying during middle/high school to be more serious than males. There were no significant differences between males and females in perceived seriousness of physical bullying during elementary or middle/high school, verbal bullying during elementary or middle/high school or relational bullying during elementary school. Males and females did not differ significantly in the duration of bullying experiences. White students reported that they perceived their experiences with relational and verbal bullying during middle/high school in middle/high school to be more serious. There were no significant differences between the racial/ethnic groups in perceived seriousness of physical, verbal, or relational bullying during elementary school. There also were no significant differences among the racial/ethnic groups duration of bullying. Implications for future research and clinical practice are addressed. Perceived seriousness of bullying and duration of bullying during childhood and adolescence was found to predict depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Coping resources were not found to be significant moderators of distress.

College is a time marked by a significant level of stress, especially for Latina students. One of the changes that often occurs during an individual's time in college involves one's gender role beliefs, shifting from traditional gender role beliefs to more liberal beliefs. Though a great deal of research has been done to show that college attendance plays an important role in the liberalization of gender role beliefs, little is known about this relationship for Latina students. This is particularly problematic as Latina students face unique challenges on the college campus, including issues relating to acculturation. Because the Latino cultural norms often dictate women to be dependent on their family, a move towards nontraditionalism can create family conflict and intragroup marginalization, both of which can contribute to psychosocial distress in ethnic minority groups. As Latina students face unique educational challenges, and may develop family conflicts, a supportive academic environment may serve to buffer some negative effects. This study conceptualizes this supportive environment as "academic families" which foster family like relationships in the college setting. This study examined the relationships between gender role beliefs, family conflict, family intragroup marginalization, academic family support, and psychosocial distress among a sample of 170 Latina college students to get a clearer picture of how changing gender roles impact this population. A statistically significant relationship was found between gender role beliefs and family intragroup marginalization, as well as between gender role beliefs and family conflict, though different from initially hypothesized. A statistically significant relationship was also found between family conflict and psychosocial distress, though academic family support was not shown to moderate this relationship. Implications for researchers and educators are also discussed.

Models of health care concentrate on acute conditions yet the major cause of disease burden is chronic illness. An emphasis on biomedical, as opposed to bio-psychosocial models, underestimates psychological disability and fails to explain burdens resulting from illnesses with no known organic cause. Topics explored were: quality of life, chronic and acute stress, emotion regulation, communication, support services, patient expectations, satisfaction with medical treatment, and health care seeking. Using grounded theory (Glaser, 1992) and active patient participation (Susman & Evered, 1978), the major objective was to develop strategies to improve the management of chronic illness. Two groups were studied: 20 patients with an organic cause (cancer) and 21 patients with a non-organic cause (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Using quantitative and qualitative measures, observational studies (N=29), interviews (N=41), focus groups (N=12), and a case study (N=10) were conducted. IBS patients reported greater disability (increased distress and reduced quality of life) than the cancer group and other chronic illnesses. Cancer patients showed impaired quality of life but they reported levels of distress up to 50% lower than the general population and 75% lower than another chronic illness group. Some cancer patients appeared to under-report levels of distress; however, when applying Pennebaker’s (1997) written disclosure method, emotional expression was not uniformly associated with beneficial outcomes. Interviews with IBS patients revealed that determinants of dissatisfaction involved a lack of acceptance and/or understanding of an IBS diagnosis and an expectation that consultants would find an organic cause. Cancer participants reported no need for participation in decisions concerning treatment. Evaluations of the quality of health services received were distinct from evaluations of the quality of care received by specialists. Fighting spirit and positivity were linked with emotional inhibition and a lack of uptake of support services. Patients became more pro-active in seeking emotional and social support later in their illness experience. These findings were interpreted within the Conservation of Resources Theory (COR; Hobfoll, 2001; 1999; 1998). Results in this study challenge public policy recommendations that focus on encouraging consumer participation in health care. Recommendations for intervention and future research with cancer patients focus on application of the COR theory. In IBS, patient education, improvements in communication and the adoption of Drossman’s (1998) bio-psychosocial model are advocated. Finally, recommendations for improvements in methodology involve suggestions to incorporate quantitative and qualitative measures using longitudinal assessments with the grounded theory (Glaser, 1992) approach being an excellent methodological template. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1339782 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2008

En pleine extension, la population sans domicile fixe (SDF) est devenue une problématique sociétale majeure qui confronte le dispositif de veille sociale à son impuissance. L'objectif de cette recherche est de comprendre comment une frange de la population SDF parvient à entrer dans une dynamique d'insertion quand une autre se chronicise dans sa situation. Pour ce faire, trois groupes sont comparés: un groupe de 24 SDF fréquentant l'hébergement d'urgence, un groupe de 25 SDF inscrits dans une structure d'insertion et un groupe de 25 SDF, "chronicisés", accueillis dans une structure de stabilisation. Un entretien semi-directif est mené auprès de chaque participant, et sont administrées l'échelle d'anxiété et de dépression (Zigmond et Snaith, 1983) et l'échelle d'estime de soi de Rosenberg (1965). une adaptation a été nécessaire pour l'échelle de lieu de contrôle (IPAH-Jutras, 1987) et pour le Questionnaire de Soutien Social Perçu (Bruchon-Schweitzer et Quintard, 2001), également administrés. de nombreuses variables différencient significativement les groupes SDF. Ces résultats permettent d'établir des liens entre le type de prise en charge d'une part, la souffrance psychique, la qualité du lien social et la perturbation identitaire d'autre part. Totalement déstructurante pour les SDF, la situation d'hébergement d'urgence est source d'une intense souffrance psychique. Ayant préservé ce qui fonde leur identité, certains SDF parviennent à s'appuyer sur le lien social pour s'inscrire dans une dynamique d'insertion. A l'inverse, d'autres mettent en place des défenses psychiques et des stratégies de survie qui ont l'effet paradoxal de favoriser leur chronicisation tout en diminuant drastiquement leur souffrance. C'est en considérant la santé mentale des SDF et leurs stratégies d'adaptation que nous pourrons améliorer le dispositif afin que la prise en charge soit adaptée à cette population. / The growing population of homeless has become a major social issue which forces the Social Watch to face its own inefficiency. The purpose of this study is to understand how a part of the homeless manages to achieve a process of social reintegration while another stays in a chronic state of homelessness. To do so, three groups have been compared: a group of 24 homeless people using the emergency center, a group of 25 homeless registered in a social reintegration center and a group of 25 homeless, in a "chronic state of homelessness", sheltered in a center of stabilization. A semi-structured interview is carried out with each participant. their are assessed on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Zigmond and Snaith, 1983) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965). An adaptation is necessary for the Locus of Control Scale (IPAH - Jutras, 1987) and for the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (Bruchon-Schweitzer et Quintard, 2001), which are also used. Numerous variables clearly dissociate these groups of homeless people. The results show the link between the type of social care, mental suffering, the strength of the social link and the disruption of one'x identuty. Deeply destructive for homeless people, the emergency center's environment is a source of intense psychological sufferinf. Having preserved what shapes their identity, some homeless manage to rely on this social link to start a pocess of integration. On the contrary, others build psychological fences and strategies to survive that paradoxically reinforce their chronic homelessness while drastically reducing their sufferings. By taking homeless people's mental health into account and their strategies to adapt, we will be abl to improve our plan of action so that this population can be taken care of properly.

Background: Patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer have one of the highest rates of psychosocial distress which may be reduced by identifying factors associated with psychosocial distress. This dissertation examined the association of neighborhood-level Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and delay in treatment initiation with psychosocial distress. It also qualitatively explored perceptions and practices of the lung cancer care team regarding psychosocial distress screening. Methods: Sociodemographic, clinical, and SDOH data of patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer between 2017 and 2021 was analyzed via logistic regression. Thematic analysis was done for interviews conducted with the lung cancer care team. Results: SDOH and delay in treatment were not significantly associated with psychosocial distress. However, a high deprivation level of SDOH was associated with delay in treatment initiation. Qualitatively, four principal themes emerged: (1) Timing and frequency of screening: Multiple screenings at different time points may be more effective; (2) Training needs: All staff would benefit from training; (3) Staffing needs: More psychologists and social workers are needed to address identified patient psychosocial distress and; (4) Opportunity for holistic patient care: Consistent communication of distress screening information to physicians and surgeons may enhance a holistic care model for patients. Conclusions: The lung cancer care team valued psychosocial distress screening and identified opportunities for improving screening processes. The finding of association of high deprivation level of SDOH with greater delay in treatment initiation suggests that targeted interventions to reduce delay in treatment initiation, focusing on economically marginalized groups may be warranted.