Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Texas, May, 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ball State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 09, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 186-198).

This thesis explored the ways in which people experiencing psychosis respond to their distressing experiences. Mixed methodology was used to address the research questions. Chapter two included a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between safety seeking behaviours and psychosis. This review concluded that safety seeking behaviours, avoidance and resistance were associated with increased distress whereas engagement was associated with reduced distress. The review also highlighted some conceptual difficulties with differentiating between safety seeking and coping in this population. Study one, a qualitative exploration of how people respond to the experience of psychosis is presented in chapter four. This study found three key themes relating to perceived importance of responses, accuracy of threat appraisals and perceptions of ability to control experiences. An overarching theme of fighting a daily battle to maintain functioning was also identified. This analysis provided some support for the model of safety seeking responses but also demonstrated additional complexities in the way that people respond to their distressing experiences. Chapter five presents study two, the development and validation of a measure of responses to psychosis. Principal Components Analysis identified three subscales: threat monitoring and avoidance, social control and reassurance seeking and conscious self-regulation attempts. The subscales were found to have good internal consistency and convergent validity. To build on this work, study three used Structural Equation Modelling to test an integrative cognitive and metacognitive model of voice hearing (chapter six). In support of this model, it was found that voice hearing predicted beliefs and beliefs predicted responses and negative affect. Responses were not predicted either by voice hearing or negative affect. It was also found that both schematic beliefs and meta-worry mediated the relationship between avoidance and negative affect. Finally, in study four, presented in chapter seven, the response styles of attentional avoidance and attentional focusing were manipulated in response to an ambiguous auditory task in an experimental study. It was found that the attentional avoidance response resulted in a significantly greater increase in words heard during the task. However, the manipulation did not have an impact on distress levels. This thesis has demonstrated significant relationships between response styles, distress, appraisals and voice hearing. This, therefore, confirms the important role of responses to unusual experiences in models of psychosis. It appears that avoidance is likely to be unhelpful however, it should not be assumed that other responses are either helpful or unhelpful as this is likely to be person and context specific. The clinical and research implications of this are discussed.

This dissertation examines the macroeconomic effects of poverty and inequality. The second chapter considers the effect of poverty and subsistence consumption constraints on economic growth in a two-sector occupational choice model. I find that in the presence of risk taking, subsistence consumption constraints result in a dramatic slow down in terms of economic growth. The third chapter (joint with Shankha Chakraborty) proposes a model in which agents face endogenous mortality and direct preferences over inequality. I find that the greater the scale of relative deprivation the worse the mortality outcomes are for individuals. The fourth chapter looks at the relationship between inequality and the demand for redistribution when individuals have social status concerns. I show that under social status concerns an increase in consumption inequality results in higher taxation and lower growth. This dissertation includes unpublished coauthored material.

Master of Science / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Jared R. Anderson / Couples often wait until the very end to seek help for their relationship, with divorce being one of the primary concerns cited in couple’s therapy (Doss, Simpson & Christensen, 2004). While couples appear to be reluctant to seek formal resources, we know that over 50% of individuals are confiding in friends and family about their relationship (Lind Seal, Doherty, & Harris, 2015). Currently, the literature is limited and unable to provide a comprehensive explanation for why individuals do or do not seek help for their relationship. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we adapted a medical model- the Health Belief Model (HBM)- to relationship help-seeking. Based on the success of this model at predicting help-seeking behaviors related to physical and mental health, we believe it could be applicable to relationship help-seeking. In addition to identify factors associated with relationship help-seeking behaviors, we hope to identify factors that mediate both formal and informal relationship help-seeking behaviors. To study this we collected data from 347 individuals in emotionally committed relationships. The results of the analysis showed that the perception of threats, such as greater relationship instability and greater negative social comparison, were linked to more online help-seeking; whereas expectations such as the greater endorsement of stigma of self and masculinity were linked to lower levels relationship help-seeking behaviors and worse attitudes toward help-seeking. Furthermore, greater stigma of self was found to be directly linked to having a worse attitude toward help-seeking, as well as indirectly linked to lower rates of formal and online relationship help-seeking behaviors via the prior effects of attitudes toward help-seeking. The results of this study suggest further areas for investigation in regard to relationship help-seeking, specifically around self-stigma.

Magister Artium - MA / The study investigated the information behaviour of fourth year students of Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study specifically intended to establish the information needs, preferred information sources and information seeking behaviours of fourth year students at Mzuzu University. The study also aimed at ascertaining whether emotions experienced by these students conformed to some of those identified by Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process (ISP) model. The study used the Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process model as a theoretical framework because of its being closer to reality on how students search for information. The target population of the study was seven hundred and fifty two (752) fourth year students belonging to the five faculties of the University (Mzuzu University website, 2013). A mixed method survey employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. The study used the probability sampling method. Specifically, stratified sampling in which students were divided into different strata according to the faculty they belong to was adopted. The study used the sample size of two hundred and fifty four (254) students of which two hundred and forty three (243) responded to the questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that most of the fourth year students (65.4%) needed information for their academic studies. The study also found that most of these students (62.5%) preferred electronic and not printed information sources. Most students indicated that they did not use e-journals (66%), subscription databases (94%) or printed journals (52%). As sources of information, students relied mainly on the Internet (64.6%), search engines like Google (56.2%) and the OPAC (45%). When searching for information, the majority of students did not use truncation (98.3%) or Boolean logic (98.8%).It has also been established that students did not fully conform to Kuhlthau’s ISP model of information behaviour. Some of the obstacles met during information seeking were lack of financial resources as well as lack of essential textbooks and important books. The findings suggest that the students lack information literacy skills and it is recommended that the university should re-examine its information literacy education. It is expected that the findings of this study will assist the researcher and the Mzuzu University library and the Learning Resources Centre to establish more effective and user centred services to meet the needs of their students. It also adds to the body of knowledge on information behaviour of students, especially in Malawi.

Background: Depression within the older adult population is common. Previous reviews of the literature have considered the efficacy of psychological therapies for older adults. However, they have exclusively focussed on evidence provided by randomised controlled trials neglecting emergent evidence from other therapeutic modalities. Despite the efficacy of psychological and pharmacological treatments many depressed older people go without treatment. The barriers to treatment remain unclear, however the literature has previously suggested that they may fall within three factors; patients, health care providers and health care organisations. This study focussed on patient related factors. The literature has suggested that older adults not be as accurate in recognising symptoms of depression than adults of working age. In turn, lack of recognition of the presence of a mental health problem may influence older adult’s attitudes to seeking psychological help. The literature suggests a number of factors may influence treatment seeking attitudes in older people. These may include accuracy of depression recognition, cognitive fusion; engagement in valued activities although these did not appear to have previously been considered. Aims: The aims of this thesis were addressed by the systematic review of the literature and empirical research paper comprising it. Systematic review aimed, in light of a recent efficiency target issued by the The Scottish Government to update the literature relating to the efficacy of standalone psychological therapies for older adults and to consider the efficiency implications of the results. The empirical article had two overall aims. It sought to determine the predictive effect of attitudes to ageing and degree of depression on older adult’s ability to conceptualise their symptoms of psychological distress as depression. This study also sought to consider, in light of a paucity of empirical evidence to date, the relative predictive effect of attitudes to ageing, depression, recognition of depression symptoms, cognitive fusion and engagement in valued activities on the treatment seeking attitudes of a cohort of depressed older adults. Method: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to consider the efficacy and efficiency of psychological therapies in the treatment of late life depression. An empirical cross sectional survey recruiting older adults (n = 281), aged ≥ 65 years was undertaken to examine the effects of depression, cognitive fusion, attitudes to ageing, and valued behaviour on attitudes to seeking professional psychological help. Results: In the systematic review, of the 1493 articles identified 11 were retained for review. Papers reviewed considered the effectiveness psychological interventions including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, Reminiscence Therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Problem Solving Therapy. The results of the statistical analysis in the empirical work suggested that a significant proportion of ‘depressed’ older adults (n = 43) recruited to our study were not able to recognise they were depressed at the time of their participation in the study. A binomial logistic regression suggested that depression severity rather than attitudes to ageing predicted depression recognition in this sample. A hierarchical multiple regression undertaken to analyse the predictive influence of depression, depression recognition, cognitive fusion, attitudes to ageing and engagement in valued activities suggested that non of these variables significantly predicted our sample’s attitudes to seeking professional psychological help. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that there is increasing evidence that some psychological therapies could be offered as alternatives to antidepressant medication for older people and within an efficient model of stepped care. The results of the empirical element of this project suggest that attitudes to ageing and cognitive fusion are both predictors of attitudes to treatment seeking. The results further suggest that many depressed older people don’t recognise when they are depressed suggesting a lack of mental health. These findings suggest several implications for clinical practice, psychological therapies and public health.

Previous research has shown a large genetic influence over personality traits, especially sensation seeking. One gene thought to influence this behavioural trait is the dopamine-4-receptor gene (DRD4), in which variants have been associated with sensation seeking and novelty seeking in some, but not all studies. The inconsistencies between studies may be due to heterogeneity in both the behaviours and the populations being assessed. Some studies included only males and few studies have a priori analyzed males and females separately. SS has been associated with high-risk sports, including skiing; however, this is the first study to address the possibility that genetics may play a role in individuals’ inclination towards SS in sport. Using the Contextual Sensation Seeking Questionnaire for Skiing (CSSQ-S), developed and validated for this study, and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ), levels of SS in males and females were analyzed in association with the alleles of a polymorphism in the dopamine-4-receptor, -521 C/T (a C or a T at position -521). Behavioural analysis of skiers (N = 200) revealed a significant correlation (r²= .506, p < .001) between skier behaviour (CSSQ-S) and skier personality score (ZKPQ) for sensation seeking. Genotype analysis (N = 74) revealed allele frequencies of .58 C and .42 T and an over-representation of the C allele was found in the population of skiers compared with a general Caucasian population (p < .01). In females, a significant association was found between the homozygous C/C genotype and high levels of contextual skiing SS behaviour (N = 36, p = .006, η² = .2), along with a non-significant trend between ZKPQ impulsive SS scores and the alleles of -521 C/T (p = .086). No association, however, was found in males (N=38, p ZKPQ = .473, p CSSQ-S = .345). This study supports the hypothesis that alleles of the DRD4 -521 C/T polymorphism are associated with context-specific SS behaviours, however only in females. Social pressures may differentially influence male and female sensation-seeking behaviour which may explain the lack of association in males, though this hypothesis requires further investigation. / Education, Faculty of / Kinesiology, School of / Graduate

The underutilization of mental health services among the Chinese Canadian population is a perpetual problem. The present study examined the help-seeking process among second generation Chinese Canadians using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The utility of the TPB was tested using both direct and indirect measures and path analyses were used. The influence of additional variables, including self-stigma, anticipated benefits and risks, and cultural variables such as Asian values, European American values, Chinese identity, Canadian identity, family connectedness and self-concealment were investigated. Two hundred and twelve second generation Chinese Canadians participated in the study. Participants had the option to complete the study questionnaire online or in paper format. Results supported the utilization and application of the TPB in understanding help-seeking intentions and highlighted the differential contribution of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. The study also supported the notion that perceived behavioural control consists of two inter-related but distinct components: self-efficacy and controllability. Results highlight the importance of self-efficacy in predicting help-seeking intentions among second generation Chinese Canadians. Findings also showed that Asian values, Canadian identity, anticipated benefits and risks, self-concealment, and self-stigma play different roles in predicting attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control in the help-seeking process. In sum, results of the present study served as an important step in further understanding the help-seeking process among second generation Chinese Canadians. Implications for research, clinical practice, and future directions are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to explore how level of cultural identity was related to help-seeking attitudes among Asian students and to compare between Asian and Caucasian students. A total of 367 undergraduate university students participated in this study, of whom 184 (127 female and 57 male) were Asians and 183 (137 female, 44 male and 2 unspecified gender) were Caucasians. A weak positive correlation was found between Asian cultural identity and positive help-seeking attitudes (r = .158, p = .034, n = 181) (2-tailed); no significant correlation existed between cultural identity and negative help-seeking attitudes (r = .077, p = .305, n = 178) (2-tailed); no significant differences were found among: (a) high Caucasian cultural identity, (b) low Caucasian cultural identity Asian groups, and (c) Caucasian group for both positive help-seeking attitudes (F(2, 186) - .612), p = .544). Mixed results were found indicating that there was no easily identifiable trend between cultural identity and positive and negative help-seeking attitudes. Theoretical, clinical, and research implications are discussed. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate