<p> The purpose of this research study was to develop a theory about how military experience influences the obesity trend among retired veterans. The grand tour question was phrased as how does cultural socialization, attributes, predispositions, and available opportunities influence the obesity trend among retired military veterans. The sample population included 15 retired military veterans who were professionals in the government or private industry at the time of the study. Participants were between 38 to 70 years of age and were retired from active duty military service after serving 20 or more continuous years of service. This qualitative study utilized a grounded theory methodology design to develop a theory completely grounded the data collected. Data sources included demographic surveys, interviews, field journal notes, memo writing, and member checking. Overall results suggested maladaptive coping behaviors developed throughout active duty years influence the obesity trend among retired military veterans.</p><p>

<p> Along with the deinstitutionalization movement, supports for persons with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) have shifted to promotion of person-centered supports inclusive in the community. Although successes have occurred regarding physical inclusion, skill building and social inclusion have not fared as well for those with more significant disabilities. This study evaluated a 5-week intensive, behavioral, specialized training and skill-building program for transition-age youth and emerging adults with more significant intellectual disabilities in a community college setting that utilized Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behavior Support (PBS) strategies. Eighteen persons with significant IDs participated in the study in a mixed methodology research design. Through voluntary sampling, eight participants received the intervention first, in Group 1, and ten participants received the intervention second, in Group 2, through a quantitative switching replications design. Results were analyzed with a sequential explanatory approach for mixed methodology research. The results demonstrated a statistically significant increase when participants were in the intervention group, as compared to acting as the control group, on the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Program Plan (VB-MAPP), which measures social and communication skills. A similar pattern was trending towards significance on the Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS). No statistically significant difference occurred on the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3). Subscales on the San Martin Scale (SMS) for Quality of Life demonstrated statistically significant interaction effects for five of six subscales, when individuals were in the intervention group, but the treatment gains did not maintain after the intervention ended. The multiple-probe across-behaviors design demonstrated that participants were able to gain one to three skills while in the intervention, but, again, little carry-over effect was found on skills in baseline until the skill teaching was implemented. Further analysis demonstrated high satisfaction on the part of caregivers. Qualitative focus groups demonstrated a significant dichotomy between Theme 1, <i>Fitting into a System</i>, which did not meet individual needs, and Theme 3, <i>Learning is Meaningful</i>, which described successes and skill increases from the intervention as seen by caregivers. Results provided evidence that a short-term behavioral intervention can be effective in increasing skills, demonstrating satisfaction, and improving quality of life, combining a focus on behavior with one deriving from the disability rights movement.</p><p>

<p> This study represented an examination of the social issue of increasing female aggression in the State of Connecticut and has clarified a predictive relationship among internal locus of control, pathological narcissism to include contingent self-esteem, self-sacrificing self-enhancement, hiding the self, devaluing, grandiose fantasy, entitlement rage, and the four manifestations of female aggression that included physical and verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. </p><p> Aggression perpetrated by young adult females has been problematic in terms of the direct cost to society through injuries or damage sustained, increased displacement, or negatively affected social circumstances of children as collateral damage created by sanctioning of the female parent. As a learned response, children emulate the aggressive values and behaviors of those adults both as a defensive coping strategy, as well as the multi-generational perpetuation of aggressive behavior as a learned behavioral choice. This study was conducted in Connecticut with a selective participant group of 174 self-reported adult females, aged 18&ndash;35, with histories of having been legally sanctioned for aggressive behavior. Participants were solicited through a receptive social service agency, The Connection, Incorporated and the social media network, Facebook. The data generated in this quantitative study were analyzed utilizing multiple and stepwise linear regression analyses; statistically significant, predictive relationships among the variables, internal locus of control, pathological narcissism, and female aggression were identified and measured independently, as well as in different groupings. The various combinations of internal locus of control and components of pathological narcissism were each more predictive of each of the specific forms of female aggression.</p><p>

<p> Children with autism often have limited functional communication repertoires. One way to teach functional communication is through the use of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. Individuals who use an AAC device can be taught utterances (i.e., single words or phrases) through prompting and providing a consequence specific to the utterance in a mand, or a generalized conditioned reinforcer in a tact (Skinner, 1957). In the present study, five children diagnosed with autism were taught to emit utterances consisting of 26 &ldquo;core&rdquo; words that comprised 96% of words uttered by toddlers (as noted in a study by Banajee, Dicarlo, &amp; Stricklin, 2003). The children emitted the utterances by touching symbol sequences on the screen of the AAC device. Various utterances that included the 26 core words were taught using discrete-trial teaching methods, and the item specified in the utterance was presented following it (i.e., mand). A Language Activity Monitor (LAM), a software program that continuously recorded utterances, recorded target utterances emitted before, during, and after training. Two participants completed the training package, and three others experienced some training. Discrete-trial training was effective for all participants, and increased frequencies of some targeted words were evident outside of teaching sessions with the two participants who completed the study. The study showed that teaching a &ldquo;core vocabulary&rdquo; to children with autism using an augmentative communication device can lead to some generalization without further instruction. The study may lead to further research on how vocabulary is taught, as well as how it is taught to children with language delays. A major contribution of this study is the tracking of the verbal behavior generalization automatically and continuously across all phases.</p><p>

<p> Donor behavior in the non-profit organizational environment is a complex matrix of social influences that include social expectations from social media sites, direct cohort and peer influence, and perceptions of organizational performance, transparency and fundraising expenditures. A widespread general problem in non-profit organizations (NPOs) is that organizational members (cohorts) can exert an influence on the donor behavior of others, and organizational fundraising objectives can be adversely impacted. The purpose of this research was to identify those predictor characteristics that negatively influence donor behavior and would assist in minimizing costs associated with fundraising. I employed a quantitative study using a correlational design of multivariate analyses to identify a set of predictor characteristics originating from the influence of organizational cohorts on donor behavior. This study used a modified original survey to collect data from 244 non-randomized participants from the State of Colorado who donated to non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the last year. </p><p> A series of backward regressions produced five statistically significant models that showed positive correlations among the fifteen dependent variables that were included in the survey. In addition, the statistical evidence (p >.001) provided additional support for the three alternate hypotheses in all three research questions. In this study, I attempt to provide correlations that serve as predictor characteristics of cohort influence in the non-profit organizational environment. This data also provides additional information on donation behavior patterns for the three-key areas of interest: Donation Amounts, donation frequency, and volunteer hours. Additional research across other demographic and geographic areas is recommended.</p><p>

Substance abuse is the foremost health problem in the United States, with an estimated annual cost of over $400 billion and is linked to over 400,000 preventable deaths each year. Adolescents are among those abusing drugs and alcohol. Approximately one-half of high school students use alcohol and one-fourth smoke marijuana, and by their senior year of high school, over half will have used an illicit drug. Effective substance use interventions for young adults are important in preventing the progression toward other drug use disorders and harmful consequences of frequent drug use. Schools have been identified as a viable setting in which to conduct brief interventions to reduce adolescent substance use. However, a standard therapy for implementing motivational interventions in the school setting has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a motivational intervention on substance use in a school-based adolescent population and to test the hypotheses that motivational interviewing, compared to assessment only, would result in a reduction of substance use and an increase in each participant’s readiness to change. The proposed study utilized a randomized controlled design in which participants received one of two conditions, two 30-minute sessions of a motivational intervention or assessment only. Assessments were administered before and one month following the intervention. Results demonstrated that the intervention was effective in reducing daily cigarette use and symptoms of cigarette dependence for participants in the experimental group. These results are consistent with past research investigating the effectiveness of motivational interventions on reducing adolescent substance use, yet the current findings are unique because this is the first school-based motivational intervention delivered by school personnel to effectively reduce adolescent substance use. Results indicate that the current intervention could be implemented as a standard therapy for using motivational interventions to decrease adolescent substance use in the school setting.

This study examined how emotion and discipline differed in response to children's relational and physical aggression in African American and European American women. Affective (e.g., concern) and discipline responses of adults toward physical aggression have been linked with children's behavior problems. However, these reactions have not been explored as a function of ethnicity and only little examined as a function of gender. Even less is known about reactions toward relational aggression. Better knowledge about adult perceptions of children's aggressive behaviors could improve theoretical understanding of the development of these problems, and guide efforts at improving treatments. In the present study, hypothetical vignettes depicting a boy or a girl engaging in physical and relational aggression were used to assess how participants report they would respond to such behaviors in their own children. Consistent with initial hypotheses, adults were more concerned and embarrassed about physical aggressive behavior among children than relationally aggressive behaviors. Additionally, adults were more lax for relational aggression and more overreactive toward physical aggression. Adult behavioral responses toward relational aggression were more likely to include discussion and they were more likely to provide a consequence for physical aggression (i.e., adults displayed more reparation and reprimands for physical aggression). With respect to ethnicity, African Americans generally reacted more strongly to aggression, though European Americans made more reparation responses than African Americans for physical aggression. With regard to gender, participants were more overreactive to boys being relationally aggressive than girls and less overreactive to boys being physically aggressive than girls, and this finding appeared to be largely accounted for by African American participants. Results point to the need for psychoeducation regarding the seriousness of relational aggression.

Identifying effective strategies for encouraging individuals to disclose their personal information on the Internet is important for marketers. In today's information-based economy, access to consumer data is imperative for organizations in conducting marketing activities. However, the extant privacy literature has found conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of safety cues (e.g., privacy policies) and rewards (e.g., discounts) for encouraging consumers to provide their personal information to Web sites (Andrade et al. 2002). There is also scant research on the implications of compensating consumers for their information, and its subsequent impact on privacy control expectations. This dissertation consists of two essays that examine how consumers respond to marketers' strategies for encouraging self-disclosure on the Internet, and how these strategies affect expectations for privacy control. Essay 1 employs regulatory focus theory for investigating the impact of consumers' goals (privacy protection vs. acquisition of benefits) on how they respond to marketers' online influence strategies and brand reputation. The use of safety cues, rewards, and brand reputation have been identified in the privacy literature as important factors that influence consumers' trust, privacy concern, and willingness to provide personal information (Milne and Culnan 2004). Essay 2 draws on theories of social exchange and social contracts for examining how the value and type of compensation received influences the degree to which consumers believe they own the information provided to marketers and their expectations for control over how their information is used. Although consumers frequently trade their personal information for benefits online, it has been suggested in the privacy literature that the point at which consumers own and control information about themselves and when that information becomes the property of marketers is unclear (Sheehan and Hoy 2000). This dissertation employs a mixed methods approach that includes a series of scenario-based experiments using survey panel data, and in-depth interviews. The results of essay 1 provide evidence of the importance of consumer goals in decisions to disclose personal information to marketers. Findings from essay 2 reveal that privacy exchanges may affect the degree to which consumers believe ownership and control over their information is shared with marketers.

Puerto Rico has endured horrendous natural disasters in the last few years, leaving thousands to cope with the aftermath; a mental health crisis. Therefore, understanding how Puerto Ricans navigate adversities, be that childhood adversity, natural disasters or daily stress is of utmost importance. Understanding the role resilience and drinking play in Puerto Rico will help us to further understand how they navigate adversities. Hence the reason why in this study we looked at how Adverse Childhood Experiences, Perceived Stress, Natural Disaster Adversity and Shame relate to each other and to Drinking behaviors and Resiliency. Data were collected on Puerto Rico via an online survey. Several individuals participated in the study (N = 189). Modifying variables included, age, place of residence on the island, gender, ethnicity, education, occupation and socio economic status. The results demonstrated significant differences between some modifying variables. Differences were seen between men and women in levels of Shame and ACES. No significant differences were found between ethnicities in levels of Shame, Stress, ACES, Hurricane Adversities and Resiliency. Similarly, no relationship was found between respondents level of drinking and SES. When looking at the sample as a whole there was no relationship between ACES and hurricane adversities as well as with drinking. However, there appears to be a positive relationship between ACES and Shame, and a small positive relationship between drinking and Shame. On the other hand, a negative relationship was found between Shame, ACES and Resiliency. However, a small positive relationship was found between the number of drinks people have and Resiliency. Additional analysis was conducted to further understand these variables and their relationships. Additional research, exploratory research, is needed to understand the variables and the relationship between them. Exploratory research is needed as a way to further understand the role culture plays in understanding Shame, ACES, Stress, Hurricane Adversities, Drinking and Resiliency in Puerto Rico.

As organizations struggle to become and remain competitive, the engagement of employees may be a critical enabler in achieving organizational goals, enhancing organizational competitiveness, and improving employee well-being. To this end, scholars have identified a continuing need for research focused on organizational factors within the purview of managers to improve the engagement of employees (Alagaraja & Shuck, 2015; Coyle-Shapiro & Shore, 2007; Eldor & Vigoda-Gadot, 2017; Oswick, 2015; Whittington et al., 2017; Whittington & Galpin, 2010). Using the employee engagement framework proposed by Shuck and Reio (2011), this research examined the relation among employee alignment, perceived organizational support, and employee engagement in an organizational context. The research site was the human resources department of a not-for-profit health care organization located in the southern region of the United States. Census sampling was used to identify the actual sample (Fritz & Morgan, 2010) of 109 full-time nonsupervisory employees whose data was used in the analysis. Three self-report survey instruments were used: (a) the Employee Engagement Scale (Shuck, Adelson, et al., 2017), (b) the Stringer Strategic Alignment Scale (Stringer, 2007), and (c) the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (Eisenberger et al., 1986). Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to test the research hypotheses. The results provided evidence of partial support for the researcher’s hypotheses, with four of the seven hypotheses supported. Evidence was found for a positive relation among employee alignment, perceived organizational support, and employee engagement, as well as the statistically significant contribution of employee alignment in explaining unique variance in employee engagement (i.e., 23.4%). Contrary to expectations, the results did not provide evidence that perceived organizational support had a statistically significant direct effect on employee engagement. Additionally, the results did not provide statistically significant evidence of either a moderation or mediation effect of perceived organizational support on the relation between employee alignment and employee engagement. This study provides preliminary evidence that suggests that employee alignment, and to a lesser extent perceived organizational support, are two factors within the purview of managers that can be useful in creating the requisite organizational environment in which engagement may thrive.