Although childhood maltreatment has been established as a risk factor for the development of problematic gambling, there are significant omissions in the literature regarding the investigation of mediating mechanisms underlying this etiological relationship. The purpose of the current study was to examine altered self-capacities (i.e., relationship difficulties, identity disturbances, and affect dysregulation) and gambling motives as mediating mechanisms underlying the link between childhood maltreatment and gambling, in a sample of emerging adults recruited from the community. It was hypothesized that childhood maltreatment would lead to impairments in the aforementioned self-capacities, which would subsequently predict greater endorsement of gambling motives. In turn, gambling motives were hypothesized to predict increased gambling frequency and gambling problems. The results revealed a pattern wherein altered self-capacities mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and gambling motives. However, gambling motives were not observed to mediate the relationship between altered self-capacities and gambling frequency or gambling problems.

Although childhood maltreatment has been established as a risk factor for the development of problematic gambling, there are significant omissions in the literature regarding the investigation of mediating mechanisms underlying this etiological relationship. The purpose of the current study was to examine altered self-capacities (i.e., relationship difficulties, identity disturbances, and affect dysregulation) and gambling motives as mediating mechanisms underlying the link between childhood maltreatment and gambling, in a sample of emerging adults recruited from the community. It was hypothesized that childhood maltreatment would lead to impairments in the aforementioned self-capacities, which would subsequently predict greater endorsement of gambling motives. In turn, gambling motives were hypothesized to predict increased gambling frequency and gambling problems. The results revealed a pattern wherein altered self-capacities mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and gambling motives. However, gambling motives were not observed to mediate the relationship between altered self-capacities and gambling frequency or gambling problems.

Recent literature has suggested that global identity and world citizenship are relevant capacities in an increasingly globalizing world. However, these concepts remain understudied. The current study aimed to explore qualities of these concepts with emerging adults and to examine their views of humanity and how these influence their decision-making. Interviews with 20 participants between the ages of 19-25 and a thematic analysis resulted in the identification of a number of themes. Global identity and citizenship, universally intrinsic, implicate global belongingness and stand as opposites to adversarial constructs. Humans, linked as one species sharing common skills, were recognized as essentially interdependent. Participants also depicted a sense of global responsibility and role unawareness in relation to humanity. The findings may serve as a springboard for a future scale development to measure these concepts.

The developmental period of adolescence typically refers to the years between 13 and 19, and is associated with developmental tasks that help youth become young adults. The transition to adulthood is typically recognized by common adulthood benchmarks such as leaving home, finishing school, marriage, financial independence and having children. However, many young men and women attending college remain financially and emotionally dependent on their parents, as they have not entered the professional work ranks and are faced with the challenges of college. Increasingly, colleges and universities are becoming places to help teach young people to become prepared for the professional ranks and engaged with the world that surrounds them. However, very little research in higher education is focused on the developmental benefits associated with the college experience. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of developmental supports for self-determination and initiative in a student leadership program. Throughout the youth development literature, self-determination and initiative are recognized as important internal capacities that aid young people as they transition to adulthood. These concepts provide the theoretical lens for a qualitative case study of a college leadership group. Data were gathered through in-depth semi-structured interviews, observations, a year end focus group, and supplemented by a review of the organizational instruments and tools they develop. Findings from this study confirm past studies of youth development organizations and extend this work by applying it to the developmental period of emerging adulthood. For the leadership group under investigation, initiative and self-determination were supported primarily through the actions of peers within the group. The experience of student leaders often shaped how the group was led, and these leaders became an important source of support for the basic needs of relatedness, competence, and autonomy within the group. The study covers a three-year period, and contrasts how peer leadership changed and impacted group functioning and performance over time. Practical implications of the study relate to the important role of faculty and graduate student advisors in training and monitoring student leaders before these individuals take a formal leadership role for these groups.

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on December 29, 2009). Thesis advisor: Dr. Bruce D. Bartholow. Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

This thesis explores the experiences of emerging adulthood for men with an acquired impairment. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with four men with acquired impairments in an urban center of Canada. Through thematic analysis, three themes emerged: internal perceptions, dynamics of social relationships, and barriers and opportunities. Their stories illustrate many common emerging adult experiences as well as some divergent experiences, which may potentially be due to their acquired impairment. The main findings include the importance of friends and family and the fact that the timing for some of the developmental tasks of emerging adulthood may be delayed. Implications for professionals and researchers are presented, focusing on ways to best support men in emerging adulthood with acquired impairments.

This thesis explores the experiences of emerging adulthood for men with an acquired impairment. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with four men with acquired impairments in an urban center of Canada. Through thematic analysis, three themes emerged: internal perceptions, dynamics of social relationships, and barriers and opportunities. Their stories illustrate many common emerging adult experiences as well as some divergent experiences, which may potentially be due to their acquired impairment. The main findings include the importance of friends and family and the fact that the timing for some of the developmental tasks of emerging adulthood may be delayed. Implications for professionals and researchers are presented, focusing on ways to best support men in emerging adulthood with acquired impairments.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed September 4, 2007). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-90).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1974. / Bibliography: leaves 72-79.