<p> It is unclear whether parental autonomy support is related to positive outcomes for adolescents in collectivist and hierarchical societies, where values of deference to authority and putting the community's needs above oneself are encouraged. The current study examined the relations of specific autonomy supportive behaviors to adolescent outcomes in Ghana, a country described as collectivist and hierarchical, and compared findings to the US which has been described as individualist and egalitarian. In addition, it examined whether adolescents' self-construals influenced the relation of specific types of autonomy support with outcomes. A mixed-methods design was used. Participants in the quantitative portion of the study were 401 seventh and eighth graders from Ghana (<i>N</i> = 156) and the US (<i>N</i> = 245). Participants in the qualitative portion were 8 Ghanaian parents. Factor analyses indicated two distinct types of autonomy support: perspective-taking and allowance of decision-making. Perspective-taking was found to be a valid measure of parents' autonomy support in both countries, however allowance of decision-making was valid only in the US and not in Ghana. Additionally, in the US, perspective-taking was a unique predictor (over allowance of decision-making) of positive outcomes. Results also suggested that adolescents' self-construal significantly moderated the relationship between autonomy support and outcomes such that the more independent adolescents' self-construal, the stronger the relation of decision-making to autonomous motivation and other measures of well-being. Results are discussed in terms of how parents can provide autonomy support in ways congruent with the cultural context in which they live.</p>

<p> Prior research has identified a variety of common correlates between food security and depression but oftentimes the data used in these analyses are not representative of the US or do not consider multiple categorical levels of the focal variables. Using data from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES), this study sought to examine the relationship between four levels of food security - full, marginal, low and very low - and depression. The findings indicate low and very low food security are significantly related to an increased risk of depression, while marginal food security is not significantly different from full food security. Inclusion of interaction effects between food security and gender as well as food security and having a child/children were not found to be a significant improvement to the model.</p>

<p> What often stands out in people's life stories is the presence of one person who seemed to change the course of their life. Although such life-changing relationships are portrayed in literature, and can be found all around us, there has been limited research on what makes these experiences possible. Many relevant studies have been conducted within the field of mentoring, however the transformational elements of such relationships have remained elusive. This study, through phenomenological qualitative research, involving semi-structured dyadic interviews, explores mentorships that have been identified as "transformational" and aims to discover the key attributes common in these relationships. Thirteen mentees, whose lives have been significantly changed by their mentorships, agreed to participate, along with their mentors. Several themes emerged from these narratives of transformational relationships: Commitment and Caring, Involvement, Affirmation/ Recognition of Mentee, the mentor being a Role Model and Contextualizing the Relationship, and the mentee having a Unique Experience. These common elements may provide a way to enhance mentoring efforts and facilitate life-changing relationships between adults and youth in need. </p>

<p> A qualitative study of three families who had a male family member come out as gay was conducted in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the events leading up to coming out, the actual coming out event, and events following coming out. In particular, this study was conducted to gain more information about families that describe an overall positive experience of the coming out process, including common processes and familial characteristics. In total, individual interviews were conducted with seven participants: a brother and sister; a son, mother, and sister; and a son and mother. Interviews explored each individual's recollection of the coming out process and events following the coming out process that were related to addressing a family member's sexuality. Data analysis revealed five prominent themes for all three families: (a) coming out in stages, (b) types of responses to coming out, (c) expressions of acceptance, (d) cultural influences, and (e) exposure to homosexuality. Additionally, one theme, psychological distress, was salient for one family and became evident during the within-family analysis. The themes are discussed in relationship to current research. Clinical implications and implications for future research are also addressed.</p>

<p> From the perspective of acculturation stress theory, the historical background of Iranian immigrants is visited in this dissertation, as well as different types of acculturation strategies that are being utilized by immigrants. This research study addresses the impacts of inadequate access to and underutilization of mental health services on the psychosocial wellbeing of Iranian families, and the lack of appropriate interventions due to ongoing stress, such as economic hardships. Furthermore, the usefulness of several inexpensive and accessible stress-reduction techniques in reestablishing psychophysiological relaxation is examined. It is noted that, in spite of their long history, such techniques are not widely recognized as effective coping skills in response to stress-inducing immigration experiences. In addition, the relaxation qualities of music are reviewed, revealing consistent therapeutic effects and significant relaxation responses elicited in the listeners. The purpose of this applied research study was to develop a proposed Hindustani music-assisted multimodal guided relaxation intervention designed to lower stress and particularly, acculturation stress experienced by Iranian families. An evaluation of the program's efficacy by validity judges concluded that this program is potentially effective for inducing relaxation responses in the listeners.</p>

<p> A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their typically developing siblings (TDS), and parents. The literature was assessed for demonstration of evidence-based practice (EBP). A comprehensive search of the literature between 1998 and 2014 generated 87 studies; 54 articles were excluded, and 33 were included in the systematic review. Behavioral and psychosocial interventions for children with ASD most commonly demonstrated EBP in achieving optimal outcomes. Support groups, counseling, and parent-as-therapist interventions suggested EBP for increasing quality of life, but support groups for TDS did not. Parent-as-therapist interventions demonstrated EBP in achieving optimal outcomes for children with ASD, and improvements in quality of life and empowerment for parents. Interventions should therefore be created and studied for EBP most often in order to improve the quality of life for the whole family.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to construct a guided therapeutic activity workbook, in English and in Spanish, for Latino children and families who have experienced the actual or threatened deportation or detention of a primary caregiver. The workbook is primarily intended to be utilized by Latino children between eight and twelve years of age with assistance from a family member or substitute caregiver, although the workbook can also be used with mental health professionals and other helping adults. The theoretical foundation of the workbook is largely based on the Reflective Network Therapy Model, as well as a narrative approach to trauma treatment. It also utilizes the concept of ambiguous loss, and incorporates the therapeutic use of writing and drawing about traumatic experiences. </p><p> The workbook is designed to strengthen the relational resilience of children forced to deal with a parent or caregiver's detention or deportation. Children are invited to think, write, and draw about their positive memories of their caregivers, strengthening their internalized relationship to them. They are given tools for self-soothing and for turning to others for support, and offered avenues for active mastery. Helping adults, are given guidance on using the workbook to strengthen resilience rather than retraumatize children. </p><p> Five mental health professionals with substantial experience in different aspects of this topic were recruited as consultants to provide oral and written feedback on how to improve the workbook. Their critiques and recommendations were categorized and analyzed by the researcher with the assistance of her doctoral research committee. Interpretations and conclusions regarding the analyzed data were incorporated into a final draft of the Spanish and English versions of the workbook. Recommendations included simplifying the workbook language, expanding the introduction for helping adults, and increasing the number of meaningful interactions between the children using the workbook and the adults helping them. </p><p> The resulting workbook provides a much-needed therapeutic tool. The workbook's adaptability for use within children's natural support networks or with a mental health professional is designed to increase its accessibility and utilization. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of this workbook with the target population.</p>

<p> Depression is a serious mental disorder with prominence in the literature, but information on its manifestation in males has been overlooked until fairly recently. Attention should be paid to depression for several reasons, including the risk of suicide. The presentation of depressed males differs from that of depressed females. They may display additional symptoms not typically associated with depression, such as anger, hostility, withdrawal and substance abuse, and may not show sadness or tearfulness. Men's reluctance to seek help, and the strong association between shame and depression, make detection even more difficult. Research suggested that families in which fathers display negativistic parenting practices, such as hostility and low levels of warmth, suffer undesirable outcomes. Conflict resolution strategies may be impaired in depressed men, and there is research available showing that depression is correlated with marital discord. Men with depression may also be at risk for substance abuse disorders, intimate partner violence, and child maltreatment. Cultural factors may affect manifestation of depression, and cultural background and adherences should be considered when working with depressed men.</p>

<p> The question of how one may effectively build a therapeutic relationship with adolescent patients deemed to be experiencing symptomatology associated with psychotic functioning has largely evaded examination by both qualitatively and quantitatively oriented researchers. This study has attempted to discover, through semi-structured interviews with students at a residential treatment facility, whether said question may be seen to have anything approaching a useful answer. It was hypothesized that student participants would speak to a desire for those with whom they interact to understand them as persons, to behave authentically and to communicate their shared humanity. Results provided evidence that these issues and themes were included in student perceptions of human relationships, as well as indicated several other important topics related to successful and unsuccessful interactions with others. While conclusions did offer tentative insights into effectively forming bonds with severely disturbed youth, further research is necessary to determine alternative explanations for relational successes and failures.</p>

<p> Investigation of the variations in aspirant juvenile probation officers' recommendations for a juvenile offender who may suffer from a mental health disorder was the purpose of this study. Two hypotheses were developed to test this purpose: a) there was a significant difference between the recommendations of mental health evaluations and b) there was a significant difference in the recommendations for a mental health evaluation prior to and after the mental health overview administered among two groups. A survey was administered to 13 undergraduate students with an aspiration to be juvenile probation officers. The survey consisted of a pretest and posttest questionnaire following a case vignette where a juvenile offender meeting the criteria for conduct disorder was described to measure if the mental health overview would increase the participant's likelihood of recommending a mental health evaluation. A Chi Square and McNemar Test were completed. The statistical analyses and implications are discussed.</p>