<p>An exploratory, action research approach was used with adult Karen-Refugees (n = 26) separated by sex (male/female) in focus group sessions. The aim of the study was to explore a cultural-, context-specific definition of resilience and the factors that may contribute to resilience in resettlement using an ecological framework. In vivo coding techniques were used resulting in several themes. Results suggested a definition of resilience that encompassed a sense of gratitude, positive outlook, and resourcefulness; demonstrating a strong work ethic and perseverance, and moving towards a sense of community and belonging. Factors contributing to resilience in resettlement include language and availability of resources, the importance and value of education, the availability of other resources in the community (e.g., employment), a supportive civil society, special care for the elderly, and opportunities for the exhibition of cultural- pride, and preservation, which lead to a sense of community and belonging. Implications for prevention and intervention services are discussed along with contributions to literature pertaining to international psychology, resilience, and refugee research.

<p> Social Epidemiology has made critical contributions to understanding health inequities. However, translation of social epidemiology science into meaningful and timely action remains a challenge. With so much focus within the field on issues like social position, discrimination, racism, power, and privilege, there has been surprisingly little deliberation about the extent and value of social inclusion and equity within the field itself, and how the challenge of translation might be more readily met through re-envisioning the role of the people in the research enterprise&mdash;reimagining what &ldquo;social&rdquo; could, or even should, mean for the future of the field. Place-health research represents a particularly promising subfield within which to emphasize these principles, especially within the context of public housing. </p><p> Thus, the overall aim for my dissertation work was to conduct research at the nexus of public health and public housing by integrating participatory research methods and information communication technologies (ICTs) to democratize the research process and facilitate local action. In this spirit, my work develops, introduces, and field-tests 3 interrelated and nested concepts that, in application, represent a model for inclusive and equitable social epidemiology: A People&rsquo;s Social Epidemiology, the Placescape, and Geographies of Embodiment. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)</p>

<p> The purpose of the grounded theory study was to understand and explain factors affecting the well-being of Korean MKs studying at universities in America. While various factors emerged from the data, three categories of factors dominated the three distinct stages of the MKs&rsquo; adjustment process: financial factors, social factors, and spiritual factors. Even though all three were present throughout the three stages, the factors manifested themselves differently in each of the stages. </p><p> In the early stage, a plethora of negative factors permeated the Korean MK&rsquo;s life. Negative factors outweighed positive factors all three main categories: financial, social, and spiritual. Additional negative factors also hindered Korean MKs&rsquo; adjustment in America. </p><p> In the middle stage, positive financial, social, and spiritual factors increased, and negative financial, social, and spiritual factors decreased. The financial, social, and spiritual factors interacted dynamically, resulting in a net gain in positive influences over negative ones. The major distinction at this stage was that social and spiritual factors have a greater impact on Korean MKs&rsquo; lives than did financial factors. </p><p> In the later stage, financial factors rarely affected Korean MKs deeply. Moreover, by this time they had cultivated continuous and mature social relationships, and their spirituality and faith continue to improve. Above all, most of the MKs testified that their relationship with God was the most important thing in their lives because it affected every part of their life (e.g., friendships, studies, physical and even mental health). Overall, most of the Korean MKs had entered a state of well-being.</p>

<p> Child welfare agencies continue to be challenged in their separate and collaborative pursuits to achieve child safety, well-being, and permanence. The debate over separation of church and state is turning new corners with the recognition that collaboration between faith-based communities and public/private child welfare can exist and yield great benefits. Individual sovereignty of faith-based, non-profit, private, and public child welfare agencies can better provide for national mandates of child safety, well-being, and permanency by allowing every provider to fulfill its mission according to its own values. Greater collaboration should be viewed less as private and faith-based supplementation of public incapacity and more as a strategic partnerships that capitalizes on the strength of each public and private sectors. Online, competency-based learning communities hold great promise to provide discursive learning opportunities for the transfer of training and practice knowledge regarding faith-based partnerships to advance the mandates of child welfare.</p>

<p> In recent years, church leaders have struggled to integrate persons with disabilities and their family caregivers into the regular life of the church. A misunderstanding of the disability culture combined with a lack of resources and volunteers effectively curtail ministry efforts for successful integration and inclusion for persons with disabilities. </p><p> This comparative investigative study of both clergy and family caregivers of persons with intellectual disability provides an initial foundation for clergy to envision effective ministry in mutual relationship. This project surveyed eighty-four Assemblies of God Kansas Ministry Network credential holding clergy members as well as thirty-six adult family caregivers of persons with disability. The survey also asked each group to predict the response of the other. </p><p> The research suggests the following: (1) clergy members have little awareness of their discrepancies between claimed theology and supportive practice, (2) both clergy and caregivers require additional opportunities to develop mutual understanding, (3) very few churches attempt inclusionary practice or intentional targeted outreach in comparison to the prevalence of disability, (4) congregations can successfully implement some level of disability ministry despite their size or status, and (5) churches would benefit by collaborating with existing local social agencies. </p><p> Local pastors can build bridges alongside those within the disability community to further inclusion and create co-laborers for the work of the gospel.</p>

<p> <b>Background:</b> Advanced nursing education needs to be pursued along the continuum of the nursing career path. This education process is indispensable to the role of the nurse as educator, manager, nurse leader, and researcher who will effect policy changes and assume leadership roles as revolutionary thinkers in addition to implementing paradigmatic shifts. </p><p> <b>Purpose:</b> This grounded theory study sought to unearth the critical factors that motivate nurses to advance academically. The study aimed to gain an understanding of the social processes associated with the decision of diploma and associate degree nurses to advance their nursing education. </p><p> <b>Philosophical Underpinnings:</b> A qualitative methodology in the tradition of grounded theory using the constructivist and interpretivist approach was used to conduct the study. </p><p> <b>Method:</b> Data were collected from two groups of participants using a face-to-face semistructured interview. The first group was diploma and associate degree nurses, and the second group was a focus group comprising of baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degree nurses who have progressed academically from diploma or associate degree level. </p><p> <b>Results:</b> Emerging from the thick rich data that were collected from the research participants were the following core categories that ground the theory: rewarding, motivating, and supporting for diploma and associate degree nurses to advance academically. </p><p> <b>Conclusions:</b> The study concluded by elucidating that professional advancement was the social process that grounds. Hence, the emergent theory was; <i>The Theory of Professional Advancement.</i></p>

<p> This inquiry has engaged master dowsers in conversation about their lived experiences with the practice of dowsing, how it has affected and influenced their lives. The history of dowsing, including its folklore, master dowsers throughout history distributed across numerous countries, is offered as contextual background of the lineage to which these individuals belong. Controversies regarding the validity of dowsing and how it functions are discussed. The multitude of tests of dowsers and dowsing are described. Mindfulness practice is explored as a bridge to the dowsing mind state. It is hoped that the information and insight gleaned from this inquiry will support the hypothesis that students will benefit by learning dowsing skills to enhance and expand their mental and emotional capacities.</p>

<p> This study assessed sexual satisfaction for individuals 60&ndash;75 years of age in same-sex relationships and explored predictors of sexual satisfaction; associations between internalized homophobia, resilience, sexual communication, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction; and the effects of gender, exclusivity, and length of relationship on sexual satisfaction. Participants (<i>N</i> = 265) were from a non-random sample recruited online who reported high levels of relationship satisfaction and resilience, moderate levels of sexual communication, and low levels of internalized homophobia and sexual satisfaction. The means and standard deviations for each gender were similar. Relationship satisfaction was found to be a predictor for sexual satisfaction. Relationship satisfaction was found to be directly correlated with sexual satisfaction, inversely correlated with internalized homophobia, and directly correlated with resilience; internalized homophobia was found to be inversely correlated with resilience; and length of relationship was found to be inversely correlated with sexual satisfaction. Findings will inform clinicians, sexuality educators, policymakers, and same-sex individuals. Recommendations for sexuality educators, clinicians, and future research are included.</p>

<p> Major hurricane landfalls are the most dangerous natural hazard threats experienced in the U.S. Television news is a primary sources of hurricane hazard information and has the ability to influence what viewers understand about and how they respond to these events. While it is understood that media plays a central role in communicating weather, it is unknown whether or not news media content communicates the recommended hurricane hazard adjustments that are needed for preparedness and protection. Thus this study supports prior research calling for a closer examination of the role and effects of visual information in media documents. Using the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, the present research employs qualitative media analysis to explore the framing of hurricane preparedness through television newscasts covering Hurricane Katrina from August 23-29, 2005. Key findings from this study suggest that there are five common frames through which hurricane information is presented to viewers of the national news broadcasts surveyed in this study. Preparedness information was found to be mainly represented through visual content but sparsely mentioned in reporting. The study also found that more often visuals were used to aid story development instead of provide educational or instructional messages that model the adoption of hazard adjustments and have the potential to motivate protective actions and behaviors by helping to increase self-efficacy. The present study concludes by discussing underlying aspects of conflict present within the media frames and offering recommendations for better integration of media content into risk communication campaigns for severe weather.</p>

<p> This research investigated cross-sector collaboration as ideal-seeking social action within the context of a stakeholder-led initiative to foster place-based community revitalization in the City of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It engaged organizational leaders and citizen activists to develop and refine the praxis of design conversation inspired by an appreciative awareness of values and qualities found in communities as thriving, living systems. Within a framework of community action research (CAR) methodology, the study engaged a small group of community leaders to create a learning space and relational field enabling them to acquire knowledge and understanding in the manner of an evolutionary learning community. Through facilitated design inquiry, participants sought to understand their communities as living socio-ecological systems; evolving purposefully within a context of embedded cultural and institutional influences.</p><p> The group discourse combined generative and strategic dialogue with other co-creative inquiry practices to embody dynamic and purposeful characteristics of an evolutionary guidance system. Through design conversation in both small group and community practice settings, participants worked to transform habitual patterns of thinking and shift awareness towards appreciative qualities of communities as purposeful social systems; thereby building collective evolutionary competencies that enable self-organization and unfolding of human evolutionary potentials at the levels of self, organization, community, and society.</p><p> The study results were summarized from participant journaling and transcribed conversations, and interpreted through critical hermeneutic analysis and systemic modelling. The results demonstrate, at least tentatively, how designing conversation as a strategic approach to community revitalization praxis enabled participants to coalesce as a dynamic learning community, expressing evolutionary consciousness and competency and developing a more integral, shared understanding of Cleveland&rsquo;s communities as continuously evolving and appreciatively self-guided, living systems. These results show how strategically facilitated conversation within a framework of evolutionary systems design enabled community stakeholders in Cleveland to utilize conversation as purposeful social action to build appreciative awareness of their differences and understanding of their collective human potentials as the conscious embodiment of values and qualities found in healthy, resilient communities.</p>