Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Sonya L. Britt / Maurice M. MacDonald / This dissertation, consisting of three studies, explores the influence of self-esteem upon retirement planning behaviors. Data for all three essays was obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort (NLSY79). A Theory of Self-Esteem (Cast & Burke, 2002) served as a theoretical framework for each study. The first essay examined the association between information search behaviors and retirement planning actions upon two dimensions of self-esteem, consisting of efficacy and worth. Both information search behaviors and retirement planning actions were found to be associated with both dimensions. Attained levels of education and the masculine gender were also found to be significantly associated with each self-esteem dimension. Essay two explored creditworthiness as part of the identity self-verification (Stryker, 1980) and self-esteem buffer mechanism, and its association with pre-retirement planning behaviors. Higher levels of self-esteem, attained level of education, net worth, and net income were all found to be associated with individuals who were likely to engage in one or more preretirement planning behavior. Creditworthy practices, however, were not found to be associated with pre-retirement planning behaviors in this study. Essay three postulated that respondents who possessed a composite psychosocial profile consisting of Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965), Pearlin’s mastery scale (Pearlin & Schooler, 1978), and Rotter’s locus of control scale (Rotter, 1966) would be associated with engaging in one or more retirement planning behavior. Results showed that a composite psychosocial profile is associated with individuals likely to engage in one or more retirement planning behaviors. Attained levels of education, net worth, net income, and age were found to be associated with individuals likely to engage in one or more retirement planning behaviors. Results of these three studies demonstrate that an association exists between self-esteem and retirement planning behaviors. This study offers the first exploration of A Theory of Self-Esteem (Cast & Burke, 2002) in a consumer finance context since the theory’s establishment ten years ago. These findings are important to academicians, financial planners, financial counselors, financial therapists, and policymakers in developing future research, strategies for financial success, and in the formulation of public policy to promote personal financial well-being.

Résumé : En protection de la jeunesse, les enfants ayant des comportements sexuels problématiques (CSP) suscitent l’incompréhension des intervenants et provoquent de l’inquiétude en raison des torts qu’ils peuvent causer. Prenant appui sur un modèle explicatif, cette étude visait à identifier les facteurs qui distinguent les enfants présentant des CSP des autres enfants pris en charge en protection de la jeunesse. Des analyses secondaires ont été réalisées à partir des données de l’Étude d’incidence québécoise de 2008 sur les situations évaluées en protection de la jeunesse. L’échantillon comprenait 1020 enfants ayant fait l’objet d’un signalement retenu et fondé. Les enfants avec CSP (n = 72) ont été comparés aux enfants sans CSP (n = 948) sur un ensemble de variables personnelles et familiales au moyen d’analyses univariées, puis multivariées. Le modèle final de régression logistique révèle que les enfants avec CSP sont plus susceptibles de manifester une variété de problèmes de fonctionnement, d’avoir fait l’objet d’un signalement fondé pour agression sexuelle et d’avoir un parent qui a vécu un placement dans l’enfance. À l’inverse, ils sont moins susceptibles d’avoir fait l’objet d’un signalement fondé pour mauvais traitements psychologiques. La discussion traite de l’implication des résultats pour l’intervention en contexte de protection. / Abstract : Sexual behavior problems (SBP) generate a lack of understanding from child protective services workers and is a source of concern as they can potentially harm children. Based upon an exploratory model, this study aimed to identify the factors differentiating children with SBP from other children cared for by protective services. Secondary analysis were realised with data obtained from the Étude d’incidence québécoise, with a sample of 1020 children aged from 2 to 12 years old and the subject of a substantiated report to the child protective services. Children with SBP (n = 72) were compared to children without SBP (n = 948) on several personal and familial variables using univariate, then multivariate analysis. The final model of the logistic regression reveals that children with SBP are more likely to show a variety of functioning problems, as well as more likely to be reported for sexual abuse and having a parent who has been the subject of a placement episode during his youth. Conversely, they are less likely to be reported for psychological maltreatment. The discussion covers the results implication for psychosocial intervention in a protective services context.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 vitorgiacominiflosi_dissert.pdf: 403974 bytes, checksum: 58e3ff734a5b2f087e3a861db334258c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-06-07 / Introduction: Suicide is self-infringed intentional death. The prevalence of suicidal rates varies from culture to culture and from time to time in the same culture. A growing tendency for female, adolescent and young adult has been observed. The current study attempts to describe the psychosocial profile of 40 patients attended in HB-FAMERP Hospital casualty due to suicide attempts. Method: A combination of measures was used while patients were in hospital. The Attempting Suicide Questionnaire, the Hamilton Depression Scale (Ham-D), the Beck Scale for Suicidal Intention (BSI), Two-question Questionnaire and the Goldberg Scale for Depression. Results: Results demonstrated that the male proportion was 37,5% and the female proportion was 62,5%. Self-poisoning was the most used method (95%): 50,3% by psychotropic drugs and 27,7% by pesticides. The average score for male and female was 9,86 (BSI) and 18,8 (Ham-D), and 15 (BSI) and 28,36 (Ham-D), respectively. Patients who had no history of previous suicide attempts were 52,5%. Affective Disorders with depressive episode were identified as diagnostic hypothesis in 87,5% of sample, in which 54,3% was considered grave, 25,7% considered moderate, and 20% tenuous. Family income was lower than 3 minimum wages for 73,5% and per capita family income was up to a minimum salary for 87,5% of the total. Conclusions: Patients are mainly young women, people from working class and with low intent. Self-poisoning is the commonest method. Affective Disorder is the usual diagnosis and most patients presented depression symptoms. / Introdução: Suicídio é a morte intencional auto-infringida. A prevalência das taxas de suicídio é variável em diferentes culturas e varia com o tempo numa mesma cultura. Tem-se observado consistente tendência de aumento da proporção feminina, adolescente e adulto jovem. O presente estudo pretende descrever o perfil psicossocial de 40 pacientes atendidos na emergência do HB-FAMERP devido à tentativa de suicídio. Casuística: Com os pacientes ainda internados os seguintes instrumentos foram aplicados: Questionário de Tentativa de Suicídio (QTS), Escala de Hamilton para Depressão (HamD), Escala de Intencionalidade Suicida de Beck (BSI), Teste das Duas Questões e Escala de Goldberg para depressão. Resultados: Dos 40 casos 37,5% foram do sexo masculino e 62,5% do sexo feminino. O auto-envenenamento foi o método mais utilizado (95%), desses 50,3% por medicação psicotrópica e 27,7% por pesticidas. As pontuações médias para os sexos masculino e feminino foram 9,86 (BSI) e 18,8 (Ham-D), e 15 (BSI) e 28,36 (Ham-D) respectivamente. 52,5% dos pacientes não haviam tentado suicídio anteriormente. 87,5% da amostra tiveram como hipótese diagnóstica Transtorno Afetivo com episódio depressivo, sendo 54,3%% considerados graves, 25,7% moderadas e 20% leves. 73,5% tinham renda familiar inferior a 3 salários mínimos e 87,5% renda familiar per capita até 1 salário. Conclusão: Os pacientes são predominantemente mulheres jovens, de classe socioeconômica baixa, com baixa intencionalidade e auto-envenenamento é o método preferencial. Transtorno Afetivo foi o diagnóstico mais encontrado e a maioria dos pacientes revelou sintomas de depressão.

The research focused on constructing a psychosocial profile for the career development practices of professional women. The relationship dynamics between the individuals’ psychosocial attributes (emotional intelligence, career adaptability, psychosocial career preoccupations, self-efficacy, perceived organisational and social support) were investigated and whether the constructs significantly related to individuals’ experiences of career satisfaction when controlling for age, race, marital status, number of children, job level, total monthly income and education level. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted on a purposive sample of professional women (N = 606) from various South African organisations. Inferential statistics (multiple regressions, canonical correlation analysis, structural equation modelling, hierarchical moderated regression and tests for significant differences) revealed core elements of the empirically manifested psychosocial profile. Participants’ career preoccupations and perceptions of organisational support were significant predictors of career satisfaction, along with age, race and job level. Managing own emotions, career control and self-efficacy were highlighted as important psychological resources in strengthening career satisfaction. Perceived organisational support and social support functioned as significant mechanisms in buffering the negative effect of high career preoccupations on levels of career satisfaction, and strengthening the link between emotional intelligence, career adaptability, and self-efficacy and career satisfaction. Significant mean differences were observed for age, race and job level groups regarding career preoccupations, perceived organisational support and career satisfaction. In addition, significant mean differences were observed for marital status, total monthly income and education level groups regarding career preoccupations, perceived organisational support and career satisfaction. On a theoretical level, the study advanced career theory for the career development of professional women by identifying the relationships found between the hypothesised psychosocial profile elements and career satisfaction. On the empirical level the study contributed towards constructing a psychosocial profile that informs the career development and satisfaction of professional women. On apractical level, the study proposes guidelines for enhancing the career satisfaction and success of professional women. / Psychology / PhD. (Psychology)