The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the personality characteristics of dominance and submissiveness on the communication patterns of women in mixed-sex dyads. / A criterion group design was used, with the criterion of dominance determined by the Dominance (Do) and Dependency (Dy) scales on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Forty female college students were randomly assigned (within the classification of dominant or submissive) to mixed-sex dyads with either dominant or submissive male confederates. Four groups were thus formed which included: Group 1, dominant female subjects with dominant male confederates; Group 2, dominant female subjects with submissive male confederates; Group 3, submissive female subjects with dominant male confederates; and Group 4, submissive female subjects with submissive male confederates. A 2 x 2 factorial design was employed in the analysis of the data. The dyads were given an exercise on reducing campus crime to generate data on their communication patterns and attitudes toward the process, the outcome, and their partners in the exercise. Audiotapes of the discussions were analyzed using the Allred Interaction Analysis (AIA). / The results indicated that submissive women with submissive partners used a smaller percentage (p < .05) of vertical statements (18%) than did dominant women interacting with dominant partners (34%) or with submissive partners (35%). There was also a significant difference (p <. 001) in whose choices were used first the joint ranking of the best ideas for reducing campus crime. In those dyads containing a dominant man, almost all (19 of 20) chose the man's ideas first. In dyads containing a submissive man, however, both partners' choices were selected (13 of 20 used the woman's choices first). There was a significant subject by confederate interaction effect (p < .01) regarding the subjects' expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the discussion. Groups 2, 3, and 4 (dominant-submissive, submissive-dominant, submissive-submissive) expressed greater satisfaction with the outcome than did those subjects in Group 1 (dominant-dominant). The results of Factor III (Activity) and Factor IV (Dynamism) of the semantic differential form substantiated that the experimental conditions were met by the confederates. / Implications for both future research and practice with individuals, couples, and families were discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-03, Section: B, page: 1236. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

This study examined the relationship of the degree of social support available to families with handicapped preschool children to the nature of maternal interactions with the child. Also examined was the relationship of role sharing between a husband and wife to the nature of maternal interactions with handicapped preschool children. / Forty-one rural North Carolina families were randomly selected from a list of active participants in a community-based infant stimulation program for preschool children. The 41 mothers were interviewed using the Psychosocial Kinship Inventory and the Parent Role Scale. Sessions with 34 of the 41 mothers and their children were videotaped during a 15-minute play session. / Findings indicated there were no statistical differences in selected demographic characteristics of mothers who engaged in more positive interactions with their handicapped child when compared to mothers who engaged in less positive interactions with their handicapped child during the 15-minute play session. No differences were found in the degree of social support available to mothers who engaged in less positive interactions with their handicapped child. Also, no differences were found in the role sharing between a husband and wife with mothers who engaged in more positive interactions with their handicapped child and mothers who engaged in less positive interactions. / The results of this study indicate that families with handicapped children have fewer social supports than do families with children not so handicapped. It can be speculated that if families have social support networks too small to provide adequate support, these networks are also too small to have impact on mother-child interactions. Findings indicated that the 41 mothers performed the majority of family roles. The mothers also expressed satisfaction with their family role division, and reported that they interact positively with their handicapped children. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, Section: A, page: 1089. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

This study departs from previous methodological approaches to study the impact of community mental health services on state mental hospital admission rates. By studying specific types of community mental health services, instead of mental health centers considered as a functional unit, the real service specific impact of community mental health programs on state hospital admission rates was isolated in each of the 67 counties in Florida. Service provision data and rates of state hospital admissions in each county were obtained from the state's Mental Health Program Office for the period from July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979. / The primary research hypothesis suggested that community-based mental health services that provide the custody and asylum functions of the state hospital, called functional alternatives, can reduce or replace the need for the state hospital. A more general hypothesis examined the impact of all types of community mental health services on state hospital admission rates. Other factors such as total county population, population density, per capita income, and the proximity of each county to the state hospital were also included in the study to explore alternative explanations for state hospital admission rates. / Results of the study provided limited support for the primary hypothesis under certain conditions. In those counties with functional alternative community mental health services (mainly large, urban counties), and a range of other community mental health services, state hospital admission rates were lower. / The findings suggest that counties may utilize the state hospitals to serve different functions (e.g., treatment, custody, etc.) depending on the types of mental health services present in the county as well as the county's population size, social, and economic condition. For example, large, urban counties with comprehensive community mental health services may use the state hospital for individuals who do not respond to community treatment programs. In small, rural counties however, the state hospital may be their only accessible mental health service agency. / Mental health policy implications are developed and areas for further research are identified. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, Section: A, page: 1089. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a short-term model of intervention on diagnosed schizophrenic patients and their caregivers. The author implemented an in-home ten session educational, behavioral and skills training program, which was adapted from existing models. The intervention's effects on the patient's clinical status and social functioning, caregiver attitudes, and family stress were evaluated using a multiple baseline across four cases, as well as pre-, post-, and follow-up data. / Results largely supported the existing literature in that reductions of family stress, which occurred in two cases, were associated with decreases in negative attitudes of the caregiver toward the patient. Also, for all patients, intervention was associated with a clinically significant improvement in symptomatology that was maintained at follow-up. No clear pattern of change was noted in patients' social adjustment. / This study demonstrated that it is feasible to integrate several of the existing models of family-based intervention, and implement it successfully without a large research staff and grant money. It replicates much of the data that suggests short-term interventions seem to be most appropriate with patients with good premorbid functioning. It also added support to research that correlates caregiver attitudes with family stress. Finally, this study expanded the empirical validation of the behavioral, educational and skills training approaches by achieving positive outcomes with patients not recently discharged from an inpatient facility. Among the major limitations noted were the study's unknown generalizability and the possibility of measurement error. In addition to describing and discussing the study in detail, its particular relevance to social work is reviewed, and future directions for research and clinical practice are suggested. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-10, Section: A, page: 2727. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

A descriptive study of the structural characteristics of the employee assistance programs of the Florida State Departments of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV), Law Enforcement (FDLE), and Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) was carried out to ascertain which structural characteristics facilitate or hinder implementation of employee assistance programs. / The variables chosen to represent these characteristics were: Resources, complexity, formalization, centralization, autonomy, and training. These variables were gleaned from the literature on the models of change. Zaltman, Duncan, and Holbek (1973) was the particular model of change selected. In the implementation, Zaltman, Duncan, and Holbek found that high formalization, high centralization, and low complexity were needed to facilitate implementation of change. Structured interviews utilizing scales gleaned from The Handbook of Organizational Measurements (Price, 1972) were conducted with EAP representatives from HSMV, FDLE, and HRS. Also interviewed were the Commissioner of FDLE, Secretary of HSMV, and former Secretary of HRS. The current Secretary of HRS was unavailable. One Tallahassee service provider for all three agencies was interviewed for additional data. Policy statements, job descriptions, and organizational charts were secured through EAP representatives or the service provider. / It was found that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles EAP is at the implementation state of change characterized by high formalization, high centralization, low complexity. It was also found that high autonomy and high level of training of EAP personnel facilitated implementation of the EAP. / HRS and FDLE are still in the initial phases of change even though HRS has had an EAP for 14 years and FDLE has had an EAP for 5 years. The factors hindering the implementation were mainly environmental. The HRS Secretary changed three times in four years. Also funding has been cut. In addition there is no move at HRS or FDLE toward higher formalization, centralization, or low complexity within the EAP. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-05, Section: A, page: 1440. / Major Professor: C. Aaron McNeece. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

The effects of a short-term semi-structured group on individual adjustment to divorce were examined. The 10-week group treatment program was adapted from Fisher's Divorce and Personal Growth Seminars. Single case design and group comparison methodologies as well as qualitative data were employed in the analysis. Twelve subjects who participated in two groups were studied. Psychosocial wellbeing was measured by repeated administrations of Hudson's Generalized Contentment Scale, the Index of Self Esteem, and the Index of Peer Relations, in a baseline, treatment and posttreatment phases. Pre- and posttest measures of divorce adjustment were obtained by administering the Fisher Divorce adjustment Scale. ANOVA showed that both groups had significantly improved in divorce adjustment and in psychosocial wellbeing scores between the pretest and posttest measures. All subjects improved on divorce adjustment, and 8 of 11 subjects improved on psychosocial wellbeing. However, broad variations in the rate of improvement were observed among individuals. Single case analysis was done by visual inspection of plotted scores. Qualitative data from the subjects' history and from notes taken by the researcher during the study, were used to interpret the differences observed among the individual subjects. / The presence of factors such as multiple stressors, life events, social support, who initiated the separation, and the passage of time, were judged to have an effect in the divorce adjustment process of individual cases. The use of the group as a therapeutic modality for the crisis of divorce and implications for social work practice and research are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-09, Section: A, page: 2813. / Major Professor: Dianne Harrison Montgomery. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-06, Section: B, page: 2893. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1978.

Older adults with advanced metastatic lung cancer are faced with both poor prognosis and options for cancer-directed therapies very late into their disease trajectory. This trend of increasing chemotherapy close to death in older cancer patients continues to grow resulting in unmet psychosocial and existential needs at the end-of-life for patients who choose to continue cancer-directed therapies. The present study is grounded in an existential and social constructionist perspective which characterizes the either/or choice of late-stage cancer treatment or palliative care through a hospice program as an existential conflict within a context of socially constructed options for end-of-life care. This observational study examined differences among three groups of older advanced lung cancer patients (N = 30) to determine whether simultaneous care patients have better psychosocial and existential quality-of-life at the end-of-life than patients receiving only cancer-directed therapy or routine hospice care. Simultaneous care refers to a care model in which patients with late-stage cancer receive cancer-directed therapy and routine hospice services concurrently. Quality-of-life at the end-of-life represents developmental tasks and concerns associated with preparation for death and life closure. Participants were recruited from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center oncology clinic and a non-profit community hospice. Nonparametric statistics examined the study's primary hypothesis whether simultaneous care makes a difference in quality-of-life at the end-of-life compared to conventional care models such as cancer-directed therapy or routine hospice care. The primary hypothesis was not supported in the present study, although subgroup analyses based on demographic variables indicated statistically significant results. These findings support a sense of generativity, interpersonal connection, and having social support in which one can communicate substantial concerns or thoughts as important components of life closure. Methodological challenges within the present study reify cultural influences embedded in oncology practice and society as a whole that continue to support a taboo around dying and death. Efforts to integrate a hospice care model and cancer-directed therapy earlier in a cancer diagnosis face considerable challenges as a result of socially-constructed meanings of hospice. Further study is needed to determine which palliative care models can best meet the psychosocial and existential needs of older advanced lung cancer patients at varying points on the cancer trajectory. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Social Work in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2011. / Date of Defense: July 1, 2011. / Advanced lung cancer, Quality-of-life, Palliative care / Includes bibliographical references. / Jean C. Munn, Professor Directing Dissertation; Kenneth Brummel-Smith, University Representative; Stephen J. Tripodi, Committee Member.

This research examined relations between parenting styles and children's social status. Seventy-eight families and their children from Boston, Massachusetts and Tallahassee, Florida constituted the sample for this study. To determine parenting style, parents completed the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire, whereas children completed a peer-rating measure. This research also examined sex of parent, sex of child, socioeconomic status, and race as mediating variables. It was found that parenting styles did not relate to children's social status. The only variable that mediated this relationship was racial identity. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to future research. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Family and Child Science in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2004. / Date of Defense: June 9, 2004. / Peers, Social Status, Parenting / Includes bibliographical references. / Ronald Mullis, Professor Directing Thesis; Christine Readdick, Committee Member; Nicholas Mazza, Committee Member.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 36-08, Section: B, page: 4233. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1975.