Although the public understands that participation in clinical research is necessary to advance the knowledge and skills of medical science, the rates of participation have been demonstrated to be trending downwards. Inadequate participation rates can have dramatic scientific and economic effects that ultimately affect the advancement of science. The attitudes and reasons for participation and non-participation in clinical research have been examined by a multitude of researchers. However, willingness to participate research is typically focused on a narrow range of populations, that is those diagnosed with an illness or disease and minority populations. The purpose of this study is to examine the demographic and knowledge factors which influence community-dwelling young adults' attitudes, as the future generation of clinical research volunteers, towards willingness to participate in clinical research. Knowing which factors are associated with young adults' attitudes and intention of willingness to participate will be of benefit to those who conduct research by identifying and rectifying barriers to participation. Quantitative data, in the form of a one-time questionnaire administered by a paper and pencil instrument, were collected from a purposive sample of Grade 12 (seniors) students recruited from Iowa public high schools. My findings suggest that knowledge, acquired both by formal education and informal education, was associated with behavioral beliefs and attitudes about clinical research in this sample of students as a precursor to being willing to participate in clinical research. Fewer demographic factors, such as gender, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, were associated with the behavioral beliefs and attitudes measures. This is excellent news to those who conduct research as informational factors may be changed. Aiming interventions at informing young adults about clinical research process and procedures may be of benefit to attitude formation with hopes to impact future enrollment in clinical research. Media, as a method of informal education, may be of use as a way to provide information.

This dissertation study sought to explore the hidden resilience among a homeless young adult population (ages 18-24). The majority of research conducted on homeless young adults remains limited to examining their multiple challenges and risk factors. While the high rates of substance use issues, mental health problems and trauma implicit in their lives warrant attention, research on the unconventional resilience of this group may enable service providers to better understand their unique needs. Recently researchers have begun to address the strengths and unique personal capabilities of this population. This dissertation follows this trend and utilizes the social estrangement model as a conceptual framework to examine predictors of resilience. Variables were examined within the context of four domains implicit in the social estrangement model that represent the amount of estrangement that exists in the lives of homeless young adults. The four domains explored within this conceptual framework included, institutional disaffiliation, psychological functioning, human capital and identification with the homeless culture. Findings from this study revealed that homeless young adults' self-esteem and optimistic perspectives of the future predicted higher resiliency, while drug dependency predicted lower resiliency. Additionally, homeless young adults' coping served as a mediating variable between their levels of self-esteem and optimistic perspectives of the future with resiliency. Implications for professionals working with a homeless young adult population include developing and strengthening substance preventions programs tailored to uniquely address their resiliency needs. Additionally, social workers and other direct service providers may incorporate intervention strategies that focus on improving self-esteem and increasing young adults' optimistic perspectives of the future. Homeless young adults will benefit from working with professionals who have a better understanding of their lives on streets and the unique coping strategies and survival skills that enable them to persist in a dangerous environment. Recognizing the strengths and resilience that homeless young adults are capable of, and incorporating strength-based perspectives in work with this group may empower these young adults to make positive choices and increase the likelihood of transitioning out of homelessness. / text

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Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the School of Information Studies. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/02/12). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PhD) -- Australian Catholic University, 2006. / Submitted total fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Bibliography: p. 315-338. Also available in an electronic format via the internet.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, 2007. / Abstract. Includes annotated bibliographical references (leaves 205-211).

Thesis (Psy.D.)--Carlos Albizu University, 2005. / Adviser: Richard Gaudet. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in nursing)--Washington State University, May 2010. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 17, 2010). College of Nursing." Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-59).

Undergraduate honors paper--Mount Holyoke College, 2005. Dept. of Sociology. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-61).