The internalization of stigmatizing beliefs is influential on the attitudes a person holds toward seeking help because it leads to harm on one’s self-esteem and concept of self (Corrigan, 2004). The Model of Self-Stigma (Corrigan, Watson, & Barr, 2006) outlines the process of how self-stigma develops and highlights the essential role agreement with negative stereotypes has on the development of self-stigma. Research on the stereotypes relevant to African Americans is limited, and no scale exists to measure stereotype endorsement specific to this population. The current study investigated the relevant beliefs held among African Americans toward psychological help seeking and developed a scale to examine the stereotype endorsement stage of the Model of Self-Stigma. Study one involved conducting an Exploratory Factor Analysis on 228 participants and produced one single factor describing help seeking beliefs for the population. Study two involved conducting hierarchical linear regressions on 148 participants to determine whether the Psychological Help Seeking Stereotypes for African Americans (PHSSA) scale accounted for unique variance beyond existing stereotype endorsement scales developed on majority White samples. Results indicated that the PHSSA scale accounted for unique variance beyond that of the existing stereotype endorsement scales. Implications for the PHSSA scale are discussed.

Obesity is a serious public health issue within the U.S. and minimal long-term success is found with standard behavioral weight-loss treatments. Typical weight-loss interventions do not acknowledge psychological factors, such as weight-related stigma, which may play a role in the development and maintenance of poor coping behaviors, such as unhealthy eating patterns. Individuals who are obese may often experience weight-related stigma present in society and are ultimately at risk for weight self-stigma, which is related to poor health behaviors and increased psychological distress. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), can be effective for treating numerous mental health presentations, might also be effective in decreasing weight self-stigma and improving health behaviors. Guided self-help may be particularly attractive to individuals struggling with weight self-stigma because it allows for greater flexibility and personal choice. There have been no previous randomized controlled trials evaluating guided self-help for weight self-stigma and health behavior change in obese populations. This study reports the results of a randomized controlled trial of ACT guided self-help for weight self-stigma comparing two versions of guided self-help with varying levels of support versus waitlist control. Each active condition provided unique levels of guided self-help to evaluate whether phone coaching enhanced the program. Results showed both active conditions were highly acceptable, although greater satisfaction with support and greater follow-through with book reading was found for those who received phone coaching. There were significant improvements at post in binge eating, physical activity, psychological distress, weight self-stigma, and weight-related psychological flexibility for both active conditions versus waitlist. Mediational analyses showed significant treatment effects, such that weight self-stigma and weight-related psychological flexibility fully and separately accounted for the relation between ACT guided self-help and binge eating behavior. The findings from this study provide the first randomized controlled trial data of an effective intervention for weight self-stigma. Clinical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Previous research on self-change in support groups has focused on the ways individuals accomplish self-change in the "local cultures" of the support group settings. This ethnographic study of the 12-step self-help group Debtors Anonymous (DA) departs from that tradition by focusing on the ways that DA members achieve self-change by employing "recovery" strategies learned from the group in their everyday lives. DA members enter the group during financial crises, and often believe they cannot manage their own personal finances. By learning techniques of financial management taught by the group, DA members gradually gain "sobriety" and financial management skills. This analysis highlights the important role played by various technologies of self-construction in DA members' recovery efforts. Drawing on narrative and governmentality theories, this analysis shows how DA members accomplish self-change by learning to become self-monitoring and self-restrained financial managers and consumers.

While support is generally a helpful resource for employees, support can also serve as a job stressor. Unhelpful workplace social support (UWSS) is any action taken by a supervisor and/or colleague that is intended to benefit another worker but is perceived as unhelpful or harmful by the recipient. A series of three studies identified types of UWSS, developed a measure of UWSS, and established a nomological network of variables related to UWSS. In Study 1, critical incidents were collected from 116 employees, and a content analysis revealed 11 distinct categories of UWSS. A measure of UWSS was developed in Study 2, and a nomological network of variables related to the construct was examined using responses from 176 employees. Results demonstrate that UWSS is associated with higher negative affect, lower competence-based self-esteem, lower coworker satisfaction, higher work-related burnout, higher organizational frustration, and higher physical symptoms (e.g., headache, nausea, and fatigue) among recipients. Study 3 replicated the findings using data from 496 registered nurses to mitigate the chances of reporting Type 1 errors. Together, the studies demonstrate that unhelpful workplace social support is a meaningful job stressor worthy of further investigation.

Since the turn of the twentieth century, middle-class Americans have considered the thin body--ostensibly the result of self-control and self-discipline--a moral imperative and a symbol of good citizenship. In this thesis, I provide a critical perspective on fat studies by examining the ways in which the field authorizes itself in a society that deems the fat body unhealthy, costly, and immoral. As one potential solution to fat-hatred, fat studies proposes fat-positivity, but I argue that fat-positivity requires an extraordinary act of imagination in which the fat person overcomes what I term the ideology of thinness and subsequently feels good about herself. Importing models of ambivalence from disability studies, I propose ambivalence as an alternative to fat-positivity. I argue that ambivalence is a legitimate response when living in a society that de-values one's embodiment, but ambivalence is undertheorized by fat studies scholars. In Chapter 2, I analyze from a feminist perspective Tweets with the hashtag "feeling fat," tracing the emotion to cultural ambivalence about consumption and consumerism. In Chapter 3, I examine how the genre of the fat memoir authorizes itself during an "obesity epidemic" and what those methods reveal about gendered selfhood. Instead of indicting these Twitter users and fat memoirists for their purported lack of fat-positivity, I emphasize instead the social situations that give rise to these cultural forms. I suggest that drawing attention to ambivalence is a form of political resistance.

This study sought to explore what Self-Help Support Groups (SHSGs) might have to offer young people who experience mental health issues. By definition, these non-profit support groups are run by and for people who come together on the basis of a shared experience. Although much research has been conducted on SHSG involvement among adults, there has been little investigation on the experiences of young people; this is despite the importance of youth mental health. Although several bodies of knowledge contributed to this study, they offered a limited understanding to the findings. Consequently, a more encompassing social capital framework was used to illuminate and challenge the findings. Among the varied understandings of social capital are two oft-cited perspectives – that of Bourdieu (1986) and that of Coleman (1988). However, that applicability of social capital to this study necessitated a theoretical extension of these two perspectives. The present study offers valuable direction to improve current social policy. This includes increased training opportunities for human service providers to raise awareness and appreciation for the unique role filled by SHSGs ; the demonstration of explicit support for SHSG’s in social policy that is relevant to mental health, substance use issues, and young people; and the establishment of a New South Wales clearing house. The thesis closes by attesting the potential benefits associated with SHSGs; if not for the potential benefit they offer young people with mental health issues, and the communities to which they belong, then as a valuable area for future investigation. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In 1992, the Web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) as an application over the Internet using TCP/IP protocol as stated in the World Wide Web Consortium (WC3). Accessing local IS to process data is no longer appropriate in the revolution of distributed processing. Web environments are heterogeneous and portable. First, the Web was developed for textual publishing purposes. However, in parallel the rapid advances of related technology and the incredible growth of ubiquitous data, the Web has evolved from a static medium for information sharing into an interactive multimedia platform that includes video, sound, animation, with dynamic links. In the light of these advancements, Web accessibility and associated problems (eg. People with deafness), represent a serious obstacle that prohibits people with special needs from accessing telecommunication systems. The Deaf Community’ is almost a closed community that has its own language (i.e. sign language), customs and traditions. There is little research around the world investigating direct machine translation of sign language. To avoid machine translation and associated problems, this thesis built on current Web technology to integrate Signage Information into the Web environment. As part of this integration, it made use of an ‘Intermediary Signage Object’ rather than intermediate transmission of video-based sign language. Finally, this thesis provides a Sign Language Annotation tool. It generates an XML document in order to process signage object content. The Graphical Usage Interface (GUI) contains a display window that plays customized sign language clips according to the sign viewers’ preferences. The Signage Tool extends IBM VideoAnnEx Tool to include sign language attributes and related data. In addition, it has been developed for different types of users involved with the deaf community (i.e. hearing impairment, hard of hearing, and sign language interpreters.) / Master of Science (Hons.)

The population of Australia is increasing in age, consequently the incidence of cancer diagnoses is rising. This rise will have a dramatic impact on hospitals with much of the disease burden extending to psychological support for cancer care. At present few men diagnosed with cancer seek support. This study sought to explore men's perceptions of support and prostate cancer support groups. The benefits of support groups for men with prostate cancer have been well documented in international studies. In Australia however, relatively few men diagnosed with prostate cancer join such groups and few studies have examined the factors that influence membership and attendance. This study investigated the experiences of a sample of 181 Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer, 80 of whom were members of support groups and 107 who were not. The participants were recruited from prostate cancer support groups and an outpatient department of a major cancer hospital, in Melbourne, Australia. The two groups were compared on a range of factors, including disease characteristics, illness perceptions and views of prostate cancer support groups. Further, members of support groups rated a number of objectives to determine the effectiveness of the groups. The majority of members recommended prostate cancer support groups to other men with prostate cancer (92%), however of the non-members of prostate cancer support groups, almost half (48%) had never heard of them. Factors that discriminated between support group members and non-members were emotional perceptions of the illness, symptom reports and illness coherence, with support group members reporting higher scores on these variables. Length of diagnosis and age were also factors that discriminated between the groups with support group members younger and diagnosed longer than non-members. There were no differences between the groups on personal control, both groups reported high perceptions of control over the disease. Members reported more benefits and less costs associated with prostate cancer support groups than non-members. Benefits included information, support, sharing experiences, and supporting other men with the disease. Costs included negative discussions, other men dying, and the distance required to travel to the groups. Both members and non-members reported distance to travel to the groups as a major barrier to attendance. The majority of members had heard of the groups through friends and, for non-members who had heard of the groups, through hospital staff. General practitioners were one of the least likely sources of information about prostate cancer support groups reported by members. Prostate cancer support group members reported high levels of satisfaction with the groups on a range of objectives outlined by the Cancer Council of Victoria. Making friends and accessing community assistance exceeded men's expectations of attendance, however men reported a desire for more information and communication. A need for more funding, advertising, and recognition of prostate cancer support groups by medical staff was also reported. Many men with prostate cancer are unaware of support groups, however a number of benefits were noted by both members and non-members. Greater recognition of prostate cancer support groups by medical staff may provide men with prostate cancer an opportunity to access those benefits. Health service providers should consider the important role prostate cancer support groups play in the recovery of men from prostate cancer and consider ways of dispelling myths men may hold regarding the notion of support.

Introduction: La bibliothérapie est l'utilisation d'un support écrit dans le traitement ou la prévention d'un trouble de santé mentale. Son utilisation en pratique clinique est méconnue en France. Pourtant, elle pourrait être utile pour le médecin généraliste. Objectifs : - Etat des lieux des données de la science sur la bibliothérapie, en particulier en soins primaires - Comprendre la nature de l'action du livre sur les individus. Méthode : Revue simple de la littérature. Recueil et analyse qualitative de témoignages écrits d'individus déclarant avoir vécu un trouble psychologique qui a été amélioré par la lecture d'un ouvrage. Ces témoignages ont été recueillis par un formulaire en ligne diffusé par voie numérique de manière pyramidale via par internet. Résultats : 336 articles ont été trouvés. Au final, 58 articles sont retenus pour leur contenu directement à propos de la bibliothérapie et la méthode employée. Dans ces essais, les auteurs ont étudié dans leur quasi-totalité des livres de thérapie auto-administrée, ou "self-help book" dont le contenu est issu des thérapies cognitives et comportementales. Utilisée seule ou en association avec un suivi en consultation, la bibliothérapie est efficace notamment dans les troubles anxieux et les troubles de l'humeur, ainsi que dans certains troubles de l'érection, le sevrage alcoolique et les troubles du sommeil. Elle renforcerait également l'alliance thérapeutique. 590 sujets ont participé à l'enquête diffusée par internet. 299 témoignages ont été laissés, dont 137 de la part de sujets déclarant avoir vécu un bénéfique psychologique à la lecture d'un livre. Ces témoignages analysés par le logiciel NVivo 8.0 révèlent la nature de l'effet bénéfique de la lecture. A saturation du modèle, nous identifions cinq thématiques qui sont développées: l'expérience d'éveil, la distanciation, l'accompagnement, l'apaisement et la prévention. Conclusion: La bibliothérapie est un outil méconnu mais efficace, qui peut être une réponse pertinente, efficiente, accessible et acceptable en soins primaires dans le traitement et la prévention des troubles de santé mentale. Elle est aussi un moyen de placer le patient au centre de la prise en charge de ses troubles en s'appuyant sur ses compétences et son autonomie. Un champ de recherche est ouvert pour l'utilisation de cet outil en France.

<p>Abstract</p><p>Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent in Pakistan. Social support is associated with a reduced risk for violence and adverse mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between social support and the occurrence of IPV and adverse mental health among Pakistani women exposed to IPV, along with exploring help-seeking behaviour using qualitative interviews. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 759 women, aged 25–60, were analyzed using logistic regression. The results demonstrated that informal social support was associated with fewer occurrences of all forms of IPV and less likelihood of adverse mental health when exposed to psychological violence, whereas formal social support was associated with more occurrences of all forms of IPV and more likelihood of adverse mental health when exposed to psychological violence. The qualitative result showed that fear of social stigma and low autonomy were, among others, obstacles for seeking help. Suggestions for future interventions include strengthening informal social networks and expanding formal resources, as well as raising awareness of IPV in order to address the issue.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> / This thesis was made possible by a Minor Field Study grant from the Swedish International Developmental Agency (SIDA) distributed by the department of Psychology at Stockholm University and we would like to express our gratitude for assisting us financially. / PhD project by Tazeen Saeed Ali, School of Nursing, Aga Khan University, called, “Living with violence in the home - a normal part of Pakistani women's life or a serious transgression of human rights.”