This study investigated the body image constructions of Afro-Latinx Caribbean women who identify as Domincan, Puetro-Rican, and/or Cuban. Fifteen women participated in the research study aiming to investigate how race, gender, culture and the intersection of the three influences the conceptualization of body image for this specific population of women. A mixed methodology approach was implemented. The primary research method was analysis of qualitative data via CQR. Interviews were accompanied by four quantitative measures in order to further inform the qualitative data. The measures specifically investigated cultural values (Marianismo Belief Scale), racial identity (Multidimensional Model of Black Identity), acculturation (Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale), and body image satisfaction (Stunkard Figure Rating Scale). The scales informed the data by providing information about the participant’s adherence to traditional cultural values and its intersection with gender (marianismo), the salience of their racial identity, the degree to acculturation, and ideal body image. Four domains emerged from the data, which shed light on the conceptualization and experience of body image for this group of women. The results have implications for the multicultural awareness for counselors working with Afro-Latinx Caribbean women, in addition to the psychological awareness of this group within the psychological body image research, and the many gaps which continue to need exploration.

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I determined abundance, movement and activity patterns of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis jamaicensis, RTHA) in Río Abajo Forest, Puerto Rico and surrounding lands during 2003-2004. Captive-reared Puerto Rican Parrots (Amazona vittata, PRPA) are scheduled for release in Rio Abajo Forest in 2006. Annual density of RTHAs (0.90 RTHAs/km2) was similar to the Caribbean National Forest (CNF; 1.29 RTHAs/ km2). RTHAs annual survival was high (0.89), and birds maintained compressed territories around the Rio Abajo Forest. Home ranges were 91% smaller than estimates reported for CNF, yet similar to those in North America. Approximately 98.3% of RTHA locations occurred outside the Río Abajo Forest boundaries. RTHAs exhibited random macrohabitat use patterns in north-central Puerto Rico. However, within their home ranges, RTHAs selected fragmented habitats with high patch and edge density, and avoided large tracts of dense closed canopy forest. Encounters between RTHAs and PRPAs may increase as parrots venture beyond the boundaries of Rio Abajo Forest.

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Puerto Rican adolescent ego identity development was studied within the frameworks of Erikson's psychosocial theory and Heller's conceptualization of familism. Ego identity was measured by the Revised Version of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2, an instrument based on Erikson's theoretical formulations. The Heller's Familism Scale was utilized to measure familism. It was hypothesized that there is a relationship between familism and the four identity statuses: achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion. It was also hypothesized that familism, gender, age, parent's education and occupation, and number of years living in the United States mainland affect an individual's identity status. There were two sample groups; one living in Puerto Rico (n= 180), and one living in Florida (n= 107). Correlations and multiple regression analyses were utilized to test the hypotheses of this study. The regression analysis showed that the independent variables, age, parental level of education, familism, and, for the immigrant group, number of years living in the United States mainland help explain the variance in some of the statuses scores. Some of the variance in the achievement scores can be explained by the independent variables for immigrant male and female adolescents. The independent variables helped explain the variance in the moratorium scores of the male adolescents living in Puerto Rico, and both male and female immigrant adolescents. The variance in foreclosure scores could only be explained by the independent variables when the subjects were female immigrant adolescents. Finally, the independent variables helped explain the variance in the diffusion scores for the female subjects, regardless of sample group. An analysis of variance revealed a main effect for gender in achievement scores, and diffusion scores. ANOVA also revealed a Significant difference among the subject groups diffusion scores. ANOVA identified a significant interaction between gender and sample group for the foreclosure status. Furthermore, ANOVA revealed a significant difference between male and female foreclosure scores. Also, ANOVA revealed a significant difference between sample groups. Because the independent variables explain only a small percentage of the variance in the four ego identity status scores, caution should be exercised in arriving at conclusions about the relative importance of the independent variables on ego identity. / Ph. D.

Intimate partner violence [IPV] is a preventable and costly societal issue that has reached epidemic proportions. Women are often the victims of IPV, and millions of children are exposed to it annually. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of Puerto Rican mothers and their perceptions of how IPV exposure may have impacted their children using resilience theory. Data were collected via audiotaped individual interviews with 9 Puerto Rican mothers who endured an array of escalating IPV, often exacerbated by the perpetrators use of alcohol or drugs, and had IPV-exposed children aged 6 -11 years. Data analysis integrated content and thematic procedures. Interview data was transcribed, read, audited and coded based on compelling statements, quotes, and sentences made by the participants. The coded clusters were further evaluated, reduced to significant statements, then grouped into themes that captured the essence of the participants lived experiences and of the group. The mothers separated because they feared for their lives and the effect of IPV on the children. Once separated the mothers felt isolated, lived in shelters which were unconducive to childrearing, and had challenges navigating the system. They perceived their IPV-exposed children exhibited a multitude of behaviors including PTSD but that most were showing signs of resilience. Their IPV was perpetrated by males who were mostly the biological fathers of their children who used controlling behaviors towards the kids. The potential positive social change impact of this study is to empower Puerto Rican mothers to disclose IPV and to better inform health care providers regarding the impact of IPV on children aged 6 -11 years in an effort to increase the health, well-being, and resiliency of this vulnerable population.

Background: Puerto Ricans experience high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (diabetes). Stress is a risk factor for diabetes. The allostatic load (AL) model explains how stress influences disease through a chain of physiological changes. Puerto Ricans experience psychological and physiological (obesity and high glycemic load (GL)) stressors linked with diabetes, yet how these stressors impact the AL chain and how their interplay affects glucose metabolism remains unknown. Methods: Using data from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, this thesis sought to examine: 1) the relationship between GL and primary AL markers, 2) the interaction between perceived stress and GL on HbA1c, and if primary AL markers mediate this interaction, and 3) the interaction between change in weight and in perceived stress on HbA1c. Results: 1) GL change over 2 years was associated with increases in primary AL markers in women. 2) Women with high perceived stress and high GL had higher HbA1c and primary AL markers did not mediate this interaction. 3) In women, there was an interaction between change in weight and perceived stress on HbA1c over 2 years, with the effect of weight change on HbA1c being greater with increases in perceived stress. None of these associations were observed in men. Conclusion: This study partially confirms the AL model in Puerto Rican women but not in men. It provides data to inform intervention targets to prevent and manage diabetes in Puerto Rican women and identifies women at high risk of diabetes in this minority group.

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This study consists of an Afrocentric historical and cultural revision of the country of Borikén (Puerto Rico). The project interrogates the African aspects that continue to provide Puerto Ricans with a “national” character despite colonialism and other structural challenges. Through archival methodology and a comparative cultural analysis, it offers a new interpretation of Latin American and Caribbean history with regards to African phenomena and experience there. A proposed conceptual overview unites Cheikh Anta Diop’s theory of African Cultural Unity and Marimba Ani’s conceptual framework of the asili and presents the Puerto Rican asili (cultural seed) as unharmonious with a European utamawazo (institutionalized thought) and an African utamoroho (collective cultural behavior). Many African cultural aspects coming from the Bantu, Yoruba and Akan belief systems including some that assimilate Ancient Egyptian (Kemetic) customs, were observed in Puerto Rico and its history, and framed as part of an encompassing African cultural unity. / African American Studies

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