Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009. / Title from title screen (site viewed July 6, 2010). PDF text: iii, 227 p. : col. ill. ; 4 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3366068. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis--University of Florida. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-118).

Li Ka Shing Prizes for the best MPhil thesis in the Faculties of Arts,Architecture, Business & Economics, Education, Law and SocialSciences, 2006-2007 / published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

Why do some people experience more emotional distress than others after spousal-death? And can we predict who will struggle more than others? While many will exhibit resilience in the wake of a bereavement, a small but notable portion ranging from 7-10% (Maciejewski, Maercker, Boelen & Prigerson, 2016; Nielsen et al., 2017) experience a prolonged period of elevated symptoms and distress (Bonanno et al. 2007; Prigerson et al., 2009). Although there is marked individual variation in the grief course, little is yet known about the mechanisms underlying grief that endures, and why some people will struggle more than others after experiencing the death of a spouse. Compelling findings have linked deficits in emotion regulation with the development of psychopathology (Buss, Davidson, Kalin, & Goldsmith, 2004; Gehricke, & Shapiro, 2000), and the study of one particular form of emotion regulation, contextually responsive emotional responding, may be particularly promising in predicting divergent individual differences in the grief course following the death of a spouse (Bonanno & Burton, 2013). Recent bereavement studies have provided preliminary evidence linking contextually responsive emotional expression to grief-related adjustment. However, these studies suffer from notable methodological limitations, such as the use of limited measures of emotional expression or cross-sectional design. The current study will use a longitudinal design to investigate whether individual differences in emotional expressions of happiness and contempt, across varied contexts, can predict long-term adjustment and psychopathology. In addition, we will employ a standardized facial coding system to investigate contextually unresponsive facial behaviors, which we operationalize as the mismatch between facial expression of emotion and four systematically varying idiographic contexts.

Widowhood is an experience that typically brings about many changes in the lives of surviving spouses, and the resources available for coping may be limited, particularly for elderly persons. Specific variables which influence the ability of men and women to cope with the changes brought about by widowhood have not been identified completely. No one has examined the extent to which widowed persons are able to manage resources so they can continue performing personal and household functions. It is reasonable to assume that this type of continuity is a necessary foundation for overall adjustment to widowhood. Empirical data used in this study are from a larger project entitled "Continuity of Household Task Performance During Widowhood", supported by the AARP-Andrus Foundation. The Household Task Performance model was applied to examine gender differences in household task performance before and during widowhood and variables associated with strategy choice for maintenance of continuity of household task performance during widowhood. Respondents to the personal interviews were 173 household heads (38 males and 135 females), aged 60 to 91 years, who had been widowed 5 years or less and lived in Southwest Virginia. Respondents were located using public records and personal referrals. Widowers received more help than widows. Widowers widowed for longer time periods assumed personal responsibility for fewer tasks than their more recently widowed counterparts. Women widowed for shorter periods performed more of their own tasks than women widowed for a longer time. Both widows and widowers were maintaining continuity despite the generally lower skill level in household tasks for males Two strategies for maintaining this continuity were identified: (1) use and/or development of the widowed person's own resources, and (2) substitution of the labor of others for the performance of household tasks. Multiple regression analysis identified 5 predictors of household task performance strategy choice: health status, household task performance resources and resource demands, household task performance skills and knowledge, normative expectations for gender role, and initial adjustment difficulty. / Ph. D.

This study was an investigation of loneliness among widowed elders using a model conceptually based on symbolic interaction theory. Symbolic interaction theorists contend that people are active, self-directing, and creative individuals who adjust to dramatic situational changes such as widowhood by defining the transition according to its symbolic meaning and their current perspective of the event. The loneliness model suggested that certain background characteristics, personality resources (morale and mastery), and perceived levels of social support would influence the sample’s perspective and definition of the social reality of widowhood, and thereby, serve to facilitate or impede the development of feelings of loneliness. In contrast to most studies of loneliness among widowed elders, this study included males (n=38) as well as females (n=135) and both short-term (6-24 months) and long-term (25-60 months) widowed persons. Participants were healthy, educated, unmarried community residents aged 69 to 91 years. In general, the sample was well adjusted with high levels of social support, morale and mastery, and low levels of loneliness. Data analyses included bivariate correlations, tests, and multiple regression. The regression analysis revealed that morale and the social provision of emotional attachment and morale were the strongest predictors of loneliness in the regression model (R²=.39). The results of the study partially supported the proposed model of loneliness. The findings also served to further substantiate Weiss's theory of relational provisions and the importance of various social provisions, especially attachment, in countering feelings of loneliness during widowhood in later life. / Ph. D.

Thèse (Ph. D.)--Université de Montréal, 2001. / Comprend des réf. bibliogr.

by Cheng Bing-yee, Banny. / Questionnaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-151). / ABSTRACT --- p.11 / Chapter ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.14 / Chapter TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Bereavement --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Stress --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Social support --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4 --- Quality of life --- p.43 / Chapter THREE --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1 --- Conceptual definition of variables --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2 --- Relationship of the variables in this study --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Research questions and hypotheses of this study --- p.58 / Chapter FOUR --- METHODOLOGY --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1 --- Research design and sampling method --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Data collection operation --- p.61 / Chapter 4.3 --- Data analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 4.4 --- Measuring instrument --- p.62 / Chapter FIVE --- RESULTS --- p.67 / Chapter 5.1 --- Demographic characteristics --- p.67 / Chapter 5.2 --- Psychometric properties of the scales --- p.70 / Chapter 5.3 --- "Descriptive findings on stress of bereavement, social support, and quality of life" --- p.73 / Chapter 5.4 --- "Impact of demographic characteristics of the respondents on perceived stress, social support, and quality of life" --- p.103 / Chapter 5.5 --- "Relationships between stressor, perceived stress, social support and quality of life" --- p.106 / Chapter SIX --- DISCUSSION --- p.117 / Chapter 6.1 --- Discussion on methodology of this study --- p.117 / Chapter 6.2 --- Discussion on the results of the findings --- p.118 / Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations of the research --- p.130 / Chapter SEVEN --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION --- p.132 / Chapter 7.1 --- Recommendations for general practice --- p.132 / Chapter 7.2 --- Recommendations for bereavement services and program --- p.135 / Chapter 7.3 --- Further Research --- p.141