<p> Despite increased numbers of intercultural couples in the United States, data shows that the pairing of non-Hispanic Black-White interracial couples falls short on all scales (Pew Research Center, 2012). The number of cohabitating interracial couples is almost double the number of married interracial couples; however, they have the lowest rates of marriage and are more likely to divorce when compared to all other intercultural couples. To determine what non-Hispanic Black-White interracial couples must do to strengthen and maintain their relationships, this study interviewed seven cohabitating couples. The qualitative analysis revealed five themes: Culture, Secure Attachment, Communication, Authenticity, and Humor. The themes and implications for couple therapy and future research are also discussed.</p>

<p> Prostate cancer (PCa) affects Blacks disproportionately when compared to other groups. PCa is the primary cancer and second cause of cancer mortality among Black men. Some researchers have declared that the high PCa incidence and mortality rates in the Black population are a result of poor screening rates. PCa screening perceptions are reasonably known among African American men; however, limited documentation is available for the ever-expanding population of ethnic Black Caribbean men in the United States. Ethnic Blacks from the Caribbean are at high risk for PCa, with PCa incidence and mortality rates comparable to, or exceeding those of African American men. This quantitative non-experimental comparative analysis study examined differences in the perception of ethnic Blacks toward PCa and PCa screening. Also being examined was the extent and manner in which these PCa perceptions among ethnic Black men differ with respect to specific ethnic groups within the Black population and varied with respect to demographic factors of age, education, marital status, health insurance coverage, and income. The Health Belief Model &ndash; Prostate Cancer Scale (HBM-PCS) was theoretical framework used in this study. The HBM-PCS and a Demographic survey were provided to 167 participants (40 to 80 years), recruited via flyers at grocers, shopping malls, plazas, restaurants, and barbershops frequented by ethnic Black men residing in Broward County, Florida. There was a statistically significant difference in Perceived PCa Seriousness with respect to ethnic identity, <i>F</i>(4, 162) = 4.54, <i> MSE</i> = .531, <i>p</i> = .002, <i>&eta;</i>² = 0.10. There was also a statistically significant difference in Perceived PCa Screening Barriers with respect to ethnic identity, <i> F</i>(4,162) = 4.08, <i>MSE</i> = .226, <i>p</i> = .004, <i>&eta;</i>² = 0.09. There was no statistically significant difference in Perceived PCa Screening Benefits with respect to ethnic identity, <i>F</i>(4, 162) = .80, <i>MSE</i> = .188, <i>p</i>= .526, <i>&eta;</i>² = 0.02. The interaction effect between ethnicity and age <i>F</i>(8, 152) = 2.08, <i>MSE</i> = .180, <i>p</i>= .041, partial eta = .099 and ethnicity and income <i>F</i>(14, 142) = 1.79, <i> MSE</i> = .177, <i>p</i>= .045, partial eta = .150 on perceived PCa screening Benefits were of statistical significance. Perceived PCa Screening Barriers also statistically significantly differed with respect to education level [<i>F</i>(5, 160) = 4.48, <i>MSE</i> = .221, <i> p</i>= .001, <i>&eta;</i>²_p = 0.12], income level [<i>F</i>(4, 160) = 6.21, <i>MSE</i> = .216, <i> p</i> &lt; .001, <i>&eta;</i>²_p = 0.13], and health insurance coverage [<i>t</i>(165) = 3.22, <i> p</i> &lt; .001]. Future studies should take into consideration additional ethnic Black groups, which should consist of larger samples that are more equally weighted among each ethnic group being examined. Additionally, future studies should focus on how ethnic Black men perceived the benefits of PCa, and how their perceptions of the benefits of screening contribute to, or prevent them from screening for PCa disease. Of interest should also be studies on PCa trajectory in ethnic Black immigrants in the United States, as to whether PCa incidences and mortalities become lessened upon migration from their country of origin.</p>

<p> Despite the high incidence of prostate cancer (PC) amongst men of African descent, there is a paucity of qualitative data that explores how Afro-Caribbean men perceive their risk, susceptibility to, and management of this disease. This phenomenological study sought to explore and analyze beliefs about PC in a sample of Afro-Caribbean men who reside in the United States (U.S.). The research questions considered the perceptions, beliefs, and lived experiences of participants. The conceptual framework is a synthesis of the health belief model (HBM) and the theory of reasoned action (TRA), primarily because the TRA allows for a culturally-based relevance and perspective that is lacking in the HBM. Data were collected using in-depth interviews from a purposive sample of 13 U.S. participants from 7 Caribbean territories, who provided detailed descriptions of their perceptions. Data management and inductive, iterative analysis were facilitated through the use of the NVivo 10 software program. This study found that participants had a low level of awareness and education about PC, but they also believed that if PC were caught early, they have a good chance of a long life. There was no indication that culture played a significant role in their attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of the disease. Education about PC should be targeted to this population as well as their significant others. In addition, qualitative research is needed to compare perspectives of Afro-Caribbean, African American, and African men who all reside in the United States. This study may contribute to positive social change by providing practical strategies that may increase screening and early diagnosis among Afro-Caribbean men, thereby reducing the mortality from this disease. </p>

<p> The need for equality has become one of the most deeply talked about subjects in the health care field. One challenge in this area is to reduce health care disparities and improve access to high-quality health care for diverse patients. There is a vast amount of literature on the implementation of cross-cultural competence in health care to reduce health care disparities. Cultural competence strategies include a racial and linguistic staff, culturally competent education and training, and integrated culturally translated signage. The cultural competence approach that is being investigated in this thesis considers the concepts of sociological factors that contribute to a complete understanding of one's culture. This thesis will examine two separate literatures: first, research on the historical culture context, sociocultural behavior and ethnic identity; and second, research on the cultural competence approach in the health care industry.</p><p> A literature review expands this research by applying a theoretical framework based on Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, Institute of Medicine Principals of Quality, and Minority Populations and Health. A cross-cultural curriculum model through which to consider social psychology variables is presented.</p><p> Keywords: disparities, race, social psychology factors, cross-cultural curriculum, health care.</p>

<p> The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine if any relationship exists between a cross-section of 48 fourth-grade elementary-school students in one suburban intermediate school, thirty miles from a large northeast metropolitan city, and their artistic judgments regarding the seven elements of art; color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. Each of these elements of art affects our senses and might offer a better understanding of an individual. This study employed a mixed methods interdisciplinary approach, to identify viewpoints that were shared among children, and the works of art. Four <i> Q</i>-models emerged from the data, and were identified as: (1) Colorful and Eye-catching; (2) Perplexity and Animals; (3) Multiple Components; and (4) Nature. </p><p> Q-methodology, a form of factor analysis, was utilized for its suitability in facilitating children's participation in research. The use of <i>Q</i>-methodology allowed participants to be competent contributors regarding their behavior without speaking. These findings lead to a better understanding of students' likes; which can increase awareness and engagement; strengthen motivation; and lead to better performance in school. </p><p> Participant characteristics included: gender, ethnicity (Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White students), socioeconomic status (SES), academic and artistic ability. Findings showed that each of these characteristics were salient factors. The results of this study support the visual arts in schools; can contribute to curriculum development; teacher education; policymaking; text book visuals; and to the field of neuroaesthetics. Keywords: behavior, fourth-grade students, seven elements of art, Q-methodology</p>

<p> My objective in the proceeding paper is to qualitatively analyze the conditions of children since the child population faces severe discrimination with few laws created and enforced to protect it, especially when most societal systems are predicated on ageism (a form of discrimination based on age). The most comprehensive child policy present on an international level is the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). This also includes the CRC's three Optional Protocols (OPs), which countries can also ratify for further protections or address emerging issues; these are OP number one: the safeguarding of children from armed conflict, OP number two: the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography, and OP number three: the opening of communications procedures for children with complaints of violations. Because of the progressiveness of the Convention and its Protocols, if ratified and adhered to by a country's government or if at least followed by those that have not ratified it, children's conditions would progressively improve. My primary case studies include El Salvador, Costa Rica, the United States; and I also touch upon Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Norway, and Canada. The conditions of children in neighboring Central American countries, El Salvador and Costa Rica, are compared with those in the U.S. By measuring the level of each country's fulfillment of key provisions and concepts within the CRC and the Protocols, despite the U.S not ratifying the core body of the CRC, I qualify the conditions of these country's children. The first Optional Protocol is especially pertinent to El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Philippines since there are extremely high rates of child sexual exploitation in these countries. This is especially the case for the Philippines, since UNICEF estimates that one million children per year are trafficked out of Southeast Asia alone. The second Optional Protocol is especially pertinent to El Salvador since the Salvadorian community and its government are still recovering from the country's civil war and the participation of children in this conflict. Out of all of my case studies, Costa Rica is the only state that has adopted the third Optional Protocol (Melton), again demonstrating the country's progressiveness not only in valuing the child's voice, but more generally in human rights. </p><p> The analysis showed that the cultural and social backgrounds of each country are leading variables (other variables including standing law and economic systems in each country and inertia that follows after major policies are ratified) that drive the country's views and subsequent treatment of children; and the ratifying countries, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, and Norway also confirm this conclusion. Thus mere ratification of the CRC by a country is insufficient in ensuring children's rights under its provisions. In my concluding chapter, I look to leading international examples of child welfare promoters, Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway, to offer suggestions on how local and national governments can better actualize and support positive conditions for children.</p>

<p> There is a distinct possibility there may be many people of color who are in leadership positions or applying for leadership positions that believe racial stereotyping creates barriers for opportunity and can hinder one's chances for success. The purpose of this research is to explore strategies used by leaders of color to overcome the threat of racial stereotyping in the Las Vegas hospitality and gaming industry, as it pertains to barriers, opportunities, and success. There are four research questions the researcher explored through leadership, strategies, assimilation and performance. The sample size consisted of twelve leaders of color in the Las Vegas hospitality and gaming industry. Leaders of color were defined as African-American, males and females, and Hispanic-American, males and females. The researcher utilized qualitative interviews as the primary instrument and chose a semi-structured interview format. The researcher asked predetermined questions while still exercising the freedom to seek clarification with follow up and improvised questions. The twelve interviewees were asked seven questions relevant to the four research questions to provide an in-depth analysis. The results of this study concluded that leaders of color have cultivated strategies to overcome the threat of racial stereotyping in the workplace. Although each leader of color in this study had never officially chronicled a professional strategy that is in direct correlation with the threat of racial stereotyping, all of the leaders have been living by a subliminal game plan that is either reactive, proactive or both. The leaders of color in this study were given, and took advantage of the opportunity to disclose what works for him or her in respect to their existence, relationships, and motivation to overcome the threat of racial stereotyping in their respected workplaces.</p>

Population-based molecular epidemiologic studies of tuberculosis have been widely performed to assess the burden of ongoing TB transmission within a population. By genotyping M. tuberculosis isolates (M.TB), cases with matching DNA "fingerprints" are inferred to be due to ongoing transmission, and those with non-matching or "unique" fingerprints are inferred to represent re-activation disease. Two population-based molecular epidemiologic studies using three genotyping methods (IS6110 RFLP, spoligotyping and MIRU) are presented here. The first study examines all TB cases among the Inuit community if Nunavik, Quebec (1990-2000). Our analysis identified previously unrecognized inter-village transmission and estimated that at least 65% of TB cases were due to ongoing transmission. The second study is a case-control study that examines a pyrazinamide-resistant (PZA-R) M.TB strain present in the Canadian-born population (1990-2000). We observed that 77 PSA-R TB cases shared a common mutation conferring the PZA resistance. In this low-incidence setting, the cases were most likely due to reactivation from a common but old PZA-R M.TB strain in the absence of significant ongoing transmission. In contrast to the Inuit case-study where 76% of cases had matching genotypes across all three modalities, only 19% of PZA-R cases and 13% of Canadian-born controls were clustered by the same analysis. The utility of cluster analysis in the understanding of the transmission patterns of TB in these two different populations are compared and discussed.

This research advances the literature on interracial marriage by using variables that align with the social contact hypothesis. The purpose of this project is to accurately gauge the exact social predictors influencing current attitudes towards Black and White interracial marriage. Multiple regression models containing social contact predictors are analyzed using data from the 2018 General Social Survey. The conclusive review of the literature summarizes age, region, and education as essential social contact predictors of attitudes towards interracial marriage. Therefore, the formulated hypotheses and multiple regression models measure this specific relationship controlling for other predictors such as sex and income. For Whites, the two most significant factors are age and living in the south vs. the west. Interestingly, a college education is not significant. For Blacks, the key contact variable that seems to matter is age. Baby boomers are less likely to favor interracial marriage. Overall, results show areas of convergence. Therefore, one's age is significant predictor for White and Black acceptance. However, it also shows divergence-region appears to only matter for Whites. Accordingly, younger Blacks and Whites were more likely to favor close relatives marrying individuals of the opposite race. Older Blacks and Whites were less likely to support interracial marriage. This analysis displays some of the critical gaps in using the social contact hypothesis to measure beliefs in Black and White conformity. Thus, there is a need to develop more logical variables to help solidify the exact social forces effecting attitudes towards interracial relationships.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1996. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-07, Section: B, page: 4728. Chair: A. L. Greene.