Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1996. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-148).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1996. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-148).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1996. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-148).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn., 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-177).

No abstract available / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Family social environment -- Late adolescent females -- Psychological Separation Inventory -- Family Environmental Scale -- Cohesion and expressiveness -- Conflictual independence.

Only in about 35 percent of mergers do companies meet their pre-merger goals. One cause of these failures is attributed to the unstable work environment created by a pending merger. Previous research has focused on post-merger attitudes of employees. The purpose of the current study was to explore communication processes in announcing a merger. Scenarios were used to simulate merger announcements.

The termination of a romantic relationship, be it by breakup or divorce, is a fairly ubiquitous experience. Most individuals will recover from a traumatic experience of this nature; some however, experience substantial difficulties in recuperating that persist over time. For these individuals, relationship termination can invoke a variety of negative physical and psychological health outcomes. This project examines the role of social cognitive maturity, operationalized as Interpersonal Decentering, in recovery following a relational loss. Participants in this study were assigned to a pre/post control or measurement intensive (four visits) condition over the course of nine weeks. Individuals in the latter condition completed a Stream of Consciousness (SOC) task in which they discussed their breakup experience out loud for four minutes. These narratives were then transcribed and scored using the Interpersonal Decentering manual as adapted for Expressive Writing. Results indicate that – for women only – mature social cognition is inversely related to depressive mood at the initial visit. However, it is not related to initial PSTD symptomatology for men or women, nor does it predict decreases in depression and trauma symptomatology from the initial visit to the nine-week follow-up. Implications, limitations, and future directions for research of this nature are discussed.

Although significant research has shed light on what happens to children when they are removed from their parents, few studies have explored the effects on parents undergoing separation from their children. Discussions tend to be confined to separate dimensions exploring child’s needs on one side and parental obligations on the other. Much of the planning and prolonged care provided for children in placement reflects a traditional child-centered focus. This has led to a lack of attention to parental needs, and a gross ignorance about their lives, feelings and aspirations. When women are involuntarily separated from their children through incarceration, a more complex disruption between parent and child occurs. There is systemic research done on the unique nature and meaning of this separation to mothers. With this in mind, the focus of this descriptive study has been on the exploration of feelings and attitudes of imprisoned mothers regarding enforced separation from their children and the effects of imprisonment on their maternal role.