abstract: ABSTRACT While the cross-cultural literature on body dissatisfaction among Mexican and Mexican-American women has continued to grow, the traditional Latino female gender role of marianismo, sociocultural factors related to ethnic culture and mainstream/American culture ideal perceived discrepancies in body size, and one’s romantic relationship have not been explored with this population in relationship to body satisfaction. The current study included 227 female participants predominantly from a large southwestern university in the United States and a large university in northern Mexico. The study examined differences in marianismo and body satisfaction between 120 Mexican and 107 Mexican-American women, investigated the role of marianismo as a mediator between weight-related teasing and body satisfaction, and explored the relationship between marianismo, Partner Ideal Discrepancy, Ethnic Culture Ideal Discrepancy, Mainstream/American Culture Ideal Discrepancy, Perceived Weight-Related Criticism/Teasing, Relationship Support, Relationship Depth, and Relationship Conflict to overall body satisfaction. Results indicated Mexican-American women endorsed less overall body satisfaction than did their Mexican counterparts suggesting that Mexican American women may be more influenced by societal messages about thinness and beauty than are Mexican women. The findings also revealed a possible trend for marianismo as a mediator between weight-related criticism and body satisfaction. Marianismo and weight-related teasing were found to have a negative relationship with body satisfaction. Multiple regression analyses revealed that Partner Ideal and Mainstream/American Culture Ideal discrepancies accounted for significant variance in body satisfaction. Relationship Conflict accounted for a smaller but still significant amount of the variance in body satisfaction. Ethnic Culture Discrepancy, Relationship Support, and Relationship Depth were not significant predictors. These findings from this study suggest that both cultural variables and romantic relationship variables are related to the body image of Mexican American and Mexican women. These findings have important implications for the adaptation of current etiological models explaining body satisfaction among Mexican and Mexican-American women as well as highlighting the need to consider the role of both cultural and relationship variables in designing clinical interventions for Mexican American and Mexican women coping with body image concerns. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Counseling Psychology 2015

abstract: Intercultural couples -partners from two different countries- may face increased levels of stress within their relationship (internal stress). Internal stress can negatively impact relationship satisfaction, whereas developing healthy ways to cope (dyadic coping; DC) can lower stress levels and improve relationship satisfaction (e.g., Bodenmann, 2005). Specifically, it may be important for partners to perceive that their partner as supporting them during times of stress through engaging in DC. This study examined whether intercultural couples experience internal stress and what effects, if any, perceived partner engagement in DC had on their reported relationship satisfaction. Cross-sectional data was gathered from 85 couples and was analyzed using Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs; Kenny & Cook, 1999). Separate APIMs were conducted to examine the association between the independent variables (perceived partner engagement in: positive DC, negative DC, delegated DC, and supportive DC) and the outcome variables of internal stress and relationship satisfaction, while controlling for years each partner lived in their country of birth, average and differences on identification with individualism-collectivism values and behaviors, and if partners did or did not identify as the same race and/or ethnicity. Additionally, APIMs of internal stress on relationship as moderated by perceived partner positive and negative DC were conducted. Results showed significant associations of all independent variables on internal stress and relationship satisfaction. There were no signification interactions between internal stress and DC on relationship satisfaction. Implications for relationship researchers and mental health professionals working with intercultural couples are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Counseling 2016

abstract: The current study employs dyadic data analysis to explore the intrapersonal and interpersonal antecedents of sexual communication in romantic relationships. Working from a family relational schema theoretical framework (family communication patterns [FCPs]; see Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 2002a), it is argued that FCPs within individuals’ family of origin structure their relational schema, which is subsequently associated with their openness and quality of sexual communication in their sexually active romantic relationships. In particular, dyadic data procedures are used to explore the interdependent influence of partners’ FCPs on reported sexual communication. It was predicted that individual (actor effects) and partner (partner effects) reports of FCPs are associated with individuals’ reports of sexual communication within romantic relationships. In addition, alternative models were proposed that predicted FCPs are associated with individuals’ self-schema (i.e., general and sexual self-concept), which is in turn associated with sexual communication. A sample of 216 heterosexual romantic dyads (N = 432) participated in a cross-sectional online questionnaire study. Results from path analyses provide partial support for hypotheses. Specifically, individuals from conversationally-oriented families tended to report higher levels of sexual communication in their romantic relationships. Also, the interaction effect between conversation and conformity orientations indicate that dyads tend to engage in more sexual communication when dyadic partners are from pluralistic families (i.e., high conversation, low conformity), and they engage in less sexual communication when partners are from laissez-faire families (i.e., low conversation, low conformity). Furthermore, FCPs were associated with the general and sexual self-concept (i.e., general self-esteem, general social anxiety, sexual self-esteem, and sexual anxiety), which in turn were associated with sexual communication. This study is important for its contribution to the family, interpersonal, and relational communication literature, as well as for its potential to expand Koerner and Fitzpatrick’s (2002a) theory of family relational schema to more domain-specific areas of communication, like sexual communication. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Communication Studies 2016

abstract: Romantic relationships are an important aspect of anyone's life. For individuals with an autism spectrum disorder, this is true as well. However, these people may experience relational dynamics and trajectories that are in some aspects either similar to or markedly different from those who are not on the spectrum. There are very few studies analyzing and understanding how adults with an ASD navigate romantic relationships. This particular study examined how turning points pertaining to relational escalation or de-escalation were recognized and understood by eight individuals (four men and four women) possessing an ASD. The Retrospective Interview Technique (RIT) was implemented in order to accrue data from participants. Each participant completed a RIT graph mapping out a romantic relationship of their choice by understanding when a turning point was identified and placing a mark next to the corresponding level of relational closeness or attachment. Once all turning points were mapped out, they were connected with lines so that a visual representation of the entire relationship may be viewed. Participants were then queried about how they knew that particular event (or mark) to be a turning point, how it impacted the relationship, and how they were, personally, influenced by it (how they responded to the event). Interviews were transcribed and explored through a grounded theory approach. Specifically, Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis method was applied to articulate interview data. The research revealed four main themes (Relational Genesis, Relational Escalation, Relational De-escalation and Conflict Management) as well as seventeen sub themes. Limitations for this study, information relating to discourses surrounding autism spectrum disorders and romantically intimate relationships, as well as, areas for future study are also discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Communication Studies 2016

abstract: The current study examined effects of representations of relationships with parents on young adults’ representations of romantic relationships and self-esteem, with particular attention paid to the role of fathers, instability of representations, and bidirectional effects. Data were obtained from two waves (Waves 4 and 5) of a five-wave study. At wave 4, 287 young adults (mean age = 20) participated, and at Wave 5, 276 young adults (mean age = 22) participated. One-time interviews (Behavioral Systems Questionnaires; BSQ) were conducted to measure the level of representations of relationships with parents. Nightly diary checklists (7 nights at Wave 4, and 5 nights at Wave 5) were used to measure the level and instability of representations of romantic relationships (BSQ) and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale). Two styles of representations, including secure versus dismissing (e.g., relying on parents or romantic partners when distressed versus not relying on them) and preoccupied (e.g., worrying about rejection and excessive dependency) were measured for relationships with parents and romantic partners. The results showed evidence for unique roles of fathers, instability of representations, and bidirectional effects. Relationships with fathers affected young adults’ self-esteem. More nightly fluctuations in security with romantic partners predicted higher levels of security with romantic partners, but only in the context of more secure relationships. More nightly fluctuations in self-esteem predicted more dismissive representations of fathers. Bidirectional effects involved young adults’ representations of both romantic relationships and self-esteem, and their representations of relationships with parents. The relation between instability of representations of romantic relationships and later security in romantic relationships might represent learning about romantic relationships. The relation between instability of self-esteem and later dismissive styles with fathers (e.g., not relying on fathers when distressed) at this age might be an indication of learning to become autonomous from fathers. Finally, I also hypothesize that during emerging adulthood, fathers tend to encourage children to solve their stress or problems by themselves, while mothers tend to still provide help when children are distressed. These suggested hypotheses should be examined in future research. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2016

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-06-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:56:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 biancolino_t_me_ia.pdf: 8518794 bytes, checksum: e0883b41634079e4cc679ac8ef255b1d (MD5) / Os escritos estéticos dos autores do Frühromantik (Primeiro Romantismo), surgidos a partir das duas últimas décadas do século XVIII, constituíram a base do pensamento do Romantismo musical alemão. De vital importância dentro desta nova concepção estética foi o entendimento da música instrumental como a manifestação mais nobre das artes, algo que ia contra o preceito que vigorara até então, segundo o qual a música sem voz possuía pouco valor, por ser incapaz, apenas por meio de sons, de imitar o mundo físico e despertar sentimentos nos ouvintes. Paralelamente a esse processo, o piano - cujos primeiros modelos bem sucedidos surgiram entre 1698 e 1730 - ganhou maior repertório no último quarto do século XVIII e, ao mesmo tempo, passou a ser utilizado como substituto de formações instrumentais maiores, em reduções de sinfonias e óperas. Este trabalho trata da importância que os fenômenos de valorização da música instrumental, da formação da linguagem do piano e da utilização deste instrumento enquanto redutor da orquestra exerceram no aparecimento do Lied em princípios do século XIX, um gênero híbrido entre música e poesia e entre música vocal e música instrumental, que se contrapôs à tradição da canção estrófica setecentista. Mais especificamente, esta pesquisa investiga em qual medida a composição da parte do piano do ciclo de canções Winterreise (1827) de Franz Schubert foi realizada sobre a idéia de evocação de sonoridades de outros instrumentos, tomando por base similaridades de escrita entre determinadas passagens da obra de Schubert e aquelas retiradas de obras sinfônicas e de câmara, do próprio Schubert e de outros compositores que representaram grandes influências suas, especialmente Haydn, Mozart e Beethoven. / The aesthetic writings by Frühromantik (Early Romantic) authors, which appeared during the last decades of the eighteenth century, became the basis of German musical conception of Romanticism. Fundamentally important that new aesthetic idea was the undestanding of instrumental music as the noblest manifestation of arts, which was against the old precept that music without singing was worthless, as it was incapable of imitating the physical world and reviving the listener's sentiments. Simultaneously, the repertoire for piano - which early successful model appeared between 1698 and 1730 - was substantially increased during the last quarter of the eighteenth century and, at the same time, gradually started to be used as a substitute for larger instrumental groups, and reductions of symphonies and operas. The present work discusses how the phenomena of instrumental music valorization, piano idiom formation and its use as a substitute for an orchestra (piano reduction) influenced the advent of Lied at the beginning of the nineteenth century - a hybrid genre between music and poetry - and between vocal and instrumental music, in opposition to the eughteenth century strophic song tradition. More specifically, this research examines how much of the piano accompaniment of Fraz Schubert's song cycle Winterreise (1827) was based on the idea of the evocation of the sonorities of other instruments, using as evidence stylistic similarities between some of the passages from Schubert's works and those extracted from symphonic and chamber pieces - by both Schubert himself and other composers, notably his major influences: Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:16:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1675298 bytes, checksum: 69921a2218e6b54ef51b114c95f51dd5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Introduction: from the mid-18th century it was possible to see significant changes in ideas about romantic love, which began to gain importance, contributing to the secular and changes affecting the social life as a whole. The lives of men and women was reorganized and the beliefs and roles assumed by everyone in modern society were restored, revealing the emergence of other interpretative axes to sexuality and, consequently, the establishment of relationships. In this sense, the present study aimed to investigate the dynamics of emotional relationships of young adults in common-law, compared to their beliefs, satisfactions and compromises to fidelity, and the possible implications for vulnerability to HIVAIDS. For the Methodology, the sample consisted of 400 young adults of both sexes, with the age group 20 to 29 years old, heterosexual and who are in stable relationships. To the data collection instruments were used: 1) Romantic Beliefs scale; 2) scale of loving satisfaction; 3) related behaviors survey Infidelity; 4) Questionnaire of behaviors associated with vulnerability to HIVAIDS; 5) socio-demographic Questionnaire and additional information about the affective relationship. Questionnaire replies were given in Likert type scale with 10 points and the database has been built from the Statistical Software SPSS for Windows-versão18, with descriptive and bivariate analyses. The Results pointed to sample women as having romantic beliefs, which may be the most influential factor and exposure to vulnerability to HIV, because the majority is on the fickleness of the use of condoms in their sexual relations. Confidence in the partner was a reason stated by most participants as much to the absence in the use of condoms, as well as to the low membership in personal perception of vulnerability to AIDS. However, the behavior of infidelity linked to vulnerability to HIV has shown how unbreakable confidence in partner is mistaken, since the male participants, in greater numbers than women, they claimed they have already betrayed its partners, even if these unofficial relations have not always made use of the condom. The sample was characterized as satisfied lovingly, having men presented as more satisfied than women, or safer this satisfaction, or even lower. Therefore, it was noticeable that many of the recent practices carried out by young adults in common-law are re-signified by organizers of the sense that relate to traditional myths of romantic love, in which trust in partner claims its right to eternity, although the scope for freedom of the contemporary world, which corroborate in unprotected sexual practices. All of these components point to weaknesses in health promotion initiatives and HIVAIDS prevention, resulting in a situation of vulnerability. / Introdução: A partir de meados do século XVIII foi possível assistir a mudanças significativas nas idéias acerca do amor romântico, que começaram a ganhar relevância, colaborando para mudanças seculares e afetando a vida social como um todo. A vida de homens e mulheres foi reorganizada e as crenças e papéis assumidos por cada um na sociedade moderna foram restabelecidos, revelando a emergência de outros eixos interpretativos para a sexualidade e consequentemente, à constituição dos relacionamentos. Nesse sentido, o presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a dinâmica das relações afetivas de adultos jovens em relacionamento estável, frente às suas crenças, satisfações e comprometimentos à fidelidade, e as possíveis implicações para a vulnerabilidade ao HIV/AIDS. Para a Metodologia, a amostra foi constituída por 400 adultos jovens, de ambos os sexos, com faixa etária de 20 a 29 anos, heterossexuais e que se encontram em relacionamento estável. Para a coleta dos dados foram utilizados os instrumentos: 1) Escala de Crenças Românticas; 2) Escala de satisfação amorosa; 3) Questionário de comportamentos relacionados à Infidelidade; 4) Questionário de comportamentos associados à vulnerabilidade ao HIV/AIDS; 5) Questionário sócio-demográfico e informações complementares acerca do relacionamento afetivo. As respostas ao questionário foram dadas em escala tipo Likert com 10 pontos e o banco de dados foi construído a partir do Software estatístico SPSS for Windows - versão18, com análises descritivas e bivariadas. Os Resultados obtidos apontaram para as mulheres da amostra como possuidoras de crenças românticas, o que pode ser o fator de maior influência e exposição destas à vulnerabilidade ao HIV, pois a maioria encontra-se na inconstância do uso do preservativo em suas relações sexuais. A confiança no parceiro(a) foi um motivo declarado pela maior parte dos participantes tanto para ausência no uso do preservativo, bem como para a baixa associação na percepção pessoal de vulnerabilidade à AIDS. Todavia, o comportamento de infidelidade associado à vulnerabilidade ao HIV veio demonstrar o quanto a confiança inquebrantável no parceiro está equivocada, tendo em vista que os participantes masculinos, em maior número do que as mulheres, alegaram já terem traído suas parceiras, verificando-se ainda que nessas relações extra-oficiais nem sempre fizeram uso do preservativo. A amostra se caracterizou como satisfeita amorosamente, tendo os homens se apresentado como mais satisfeitos do que as mulheres, ou mais seguros desta satisfação, ou até mesmo, menos exigentes. Portanto, foi perceptível que muitas das recentes práticas exercidas pelos adultos jovens em relacionamento estável são ressignificadas por organizadores de sentido que reportam aos mitos tradicionais do amor romântico, em que a confiança no parceiro reivindica o seu direito à eternidade, embora às possibilidades de liberdade do mundo contemporâneo, que corroboram em práticas sexuais desprotegidas. Todos esses componentes apontam para fragilidades nas iniciativas de promoção da saúde e de prevenção ao HIV/AIDS, que resultam em situação de vulnerabilidade.

Aims and Rationale: Romantic relationships are recognised for playing a pivotal role for the emerging adolescent. These relationships are frequently reported to be detrimental to adolescent emotional and psychological well-being, though research focusing on adolescents’ romantic relationships in a clinical capacity is significantly restricted. This study endeavours to understand factors that affect youth in romantic relationships according to practitioners, and how these factors correspond to adolescents with no experience of therapy. These findings aim to broaden an understanding of the subject area, develop therapeutic practices and explore whether adolescents would benefit from counselling regarding their romantic relationships. Method: A mixed-method approach was used to carry out semi-structured interviews with 7 therapeutic practitioners to explore factors that affect adolescent romantic relationships. Themes extracted from a thematic analysis were used to develop an online q-sort survey with a non-clinical adolescent sample. Subjective viewpoints of 33 adolescents were quantitatively examined and triangulated with practitioners’ views. Results: The triangulated findings developed an understanding of factors that may affect adolescent adjustments to romantic relationships. Perspectives held by practitioners and those from adolescents, suggested key differences in developmental benefits, emotional and social adjustments and the role of adults. Similarities regarding the difficulties experienced by adolescent males were identified. Conclusion: Contributions of the findings go beyond whether counselling is appropriate or needed for adolescents in a romantic relationship. They add to an understanding of the discrepancies in the way romantic relationships are perceived by practitioners in affecting adolescents’ adjustments and development, as opposed to how young people actually experience these relationships.

Estudo sobre a relação entre história, identidade e turismo nos municípios que integram o projeto turístico Rota Romântica no Rio Grande do Sul. Analisa como a história e as construções identitárias serviram para a estruturação do turismo, considerando o contexto anterior à formatação do referido Projeto, especialmente a partir dos anos de 1950, seguindo até o momento atual. Enfoca as circunstâncias que favoreceram o que hoje se pode identificar como um reavivamento étnico; a homogeneização identitária como processo presente em diferentes contextos; as relações entre rural e urbano; e as relações entre identidade regional e local em contexto interétnico. / This is a study of the relationship between history, identity and tourism in the cities that constitute the touristic project called Romantic Route, in Rio Grande do Sul. It analyzes how history and identitary constructions have been used to structure tourism, considering the context before the Project was developed, especially from the 1950s until the present time. The study focuses on the circumstances that have favored what can be presently identified as ethnical revival; the identitary homogenization as a process that has been present in different contexts; the relationships between rural and urban; and the relationships between regional and local identity in an inter-ethnical context.

abstract: Communication skills within dating contexts are developed during the adolescent years, and are associated with a lifelong ability to have satisfying, enduring, and non-violent partnerships. As such, they are currently and increasingly implemented into both more general forms of healthy relationship education, as well as that targeting the prevention of teen dating violence specifically. Reaching Mexican American youth with culturally and developmentally appropriate relationship education, including communication skills, may be particularly important given their earlier transitions to marital and parenting relationships, acculturative stressors that present them with unique coupling challenges, and their higher rates of teen dating violence as compared to European American youth. We know very little about how Mexican American dating couples communicate about areas of conflict. This dissertation research utilizes Bell and Naugle's (2008) framework of interpersonal violence to explore how cultural and developmental considerations may be integrated in order to better understand how communication behaviors contribute to Mexican American middle adolescents' experiences with dating conflict. I use an observational study design in order to 1.) Qualitatively explore the communication strategies used by a sample of committed couples, including integration of culturally- and developmentally-relevant contexts, 2.) Quantitatively examine whether couple-level discrepancies in acculturation are associated with observed negativity, including whether this relationship may be mediated by dissimilar gender-related beliefs, and to 3.) Review empirical findings pertaining to the communication behaviors of Mexican American adolescents and to integrate ecodevelopmental theory in said framework as informed by Papers 1, 2, and literature specific to this topic area. The ultimate aim of this dissertation research is to generate findings that may improve the dating health of Mexican American adolescents living in the United States. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Social Work 2013