abstract: The primary goal of this study was to investigate whether youth from an affluent community showed elevated rates of substance use and associated problems in young adulthood relative to national norms. The secondary goal was to determine if parents’ “containment,” or stringent disciplinary action, of adolescent substance use as measured in Grade 12 could help predict substance use in senior year of college, over and above other parenting factors. The final goal was to assess trends of substance use over time for stability based on categories of participants’ overall levels of use in Grade 12, (low, medium, high). Results indicated that substance use remained elevated into young adulthood, relative to national norms, consistent with extant research involving upper middle class youth. In regression analyses, high parents’ containment was associated with low substance use in senior year of college; however, the inclusion of Grade12 use as a covariate reduced this association with containment such that it was no longer statistically significant. Such results suggest a mediated effect, with Grade 12 substance use mediating the effects of Grade 12 Containment on college senior year substance use. Finally, upper middle class youth were found to remain in their relative substance use group (low, medium, high) as determined at Grade 12 through all four years of college. Taken together, these results emphasized the importance of high school substance use behaviors as a notable risk factor for problematic substance use over time. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2015

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A integração dos países periféricos na globalização financeira foi acompanhada por diversas crises desde o início dos anos 1990. Essas crises contribuíram para o desenvolvimento de uma literatura sobre indicadores de vulnerabilidade externa que busca encontrar acúmulo de fragilidades nas economias emergentes, para proporcionar medidas capazes de contornar ou amenizar momentos de crise. A busca de sinais de vulnerabilidade se torna relevante frente ao cenário atual de uma potencial reversão de liquidez internacional, com a expectativa do mercado em relação à mudança da política monetária dos países centrais. O objetivo desta pesquisa é comparar, através de diversos indicadores, a posição de vulnerabilidade externa de Brasil, Índia, Indonésia, África do Sul e Turquia, os países emergentes sobre os quais o mercado possui as piores expectativas quanto à capacidade de resistência frente a um choque externo e que, por conta disso, foram apelidados de Fragile Five. / The integration of peripheral countries in financial globalization was accompanied by several crises since the early 1990. These crises contributed to the development of a branchof the international economy literature devoted to the study of external vulnerability indicators which seeks to find of weaknesses in the external structure of emerging economies so that the policy makers can take measures to circumvent or mitigate a crisis. The search for signs of vulnerability becomes significant in light of the current scenario, in which grows the possibility of a reversal in international liquidity, due to thechange of monetary policy in central countries. The objective of this research is to compare, through various external vulnerability indicators found along the literature, the external position of vulnerability of Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey, because these are the emerging countries for which the market has the worst expectations of resilience against external shock and, therefore, were called the Fragile Five.

Doctor of Philosophy / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Elaine M. Johannes / The life-span theoretical framework contends that development occurs throughout the entire life-span and that experiences at one stage of life influence later development (Baltes, 1987). With this in mind, the present studies explore the developmental experiences of gender and sexual minority (GSM) individuals as they make the transition to adulthood. The first study found that overall, there were no major differences in GSM emerging adults’ perceptions of this developmental stage when measured using the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA). The second study situated group identification as a process of identity development and found that identifying with the GSM community was a protective factor for GSM emerging adults. Higher attributions to prejudice were associated with increases in well-being when explained through group identification even though the direct effect was negative. The final study found that, similarly to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, GSM individuals’ self-esteem develops in quadratic fashion over the transition to adulthood and that perceptions of familial understanding in adolescence was significantly associated with both the initial level and the rate of change of self-esteem for this population. Implications for further research are discussed.

A integração dos países periféricos na globalização financeira foi acompanhada por diversas crises desde o início dos anos 1990. Essas crises contribuíram para o desenvolvimento de uma literatura sobre indicadores de vulnerabilidade externa que busca encontrar acúmulo de fragilidades nas economias emergentes, para proporcionar medidas capazes de contornar ou amenizar momentos de crise. A busca de sinais de vulnerabilidade se torna relevante frente ao cenário atual de uma potencial reversão de liquidez internacional, com a expectativa do mercado em relação à mudança da política monetária dos países centrais. O objetivo desta pesquisa é comparar, através de diversos indicadores, a posição de vulnerabilidade externa de Brasil, Índia, Indonésia, África do Sul e Turquia, os países emergentes sobre os quais o mercado possui as piores expectativas quanto à capacidade de resistência frente a um choque externo e que, por conta disso, foram apelidados de Fragile Five. / The integration of peripheral countries in financial globalization was accompanied by several crises since the early 1990. These crises contributed to the development of a branchof the international economy literature devoted to the study of external vulnerability indicators which seeks to find of weaknesses in the external structure of emerging economies so that the policy makers can take measures to circumvent or mitigate a crisis. The search for signs of vulnerability becomes significant in light of the current scenario, in which grows the possibility of a reversal in international liquidity, due to thechange of monetary policy in central countries. The objective of this research is to compare, through various external vulnerability indicators found along the literature, the external position of vulnerability of Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey, because these are the emerging countries for which the market has the worst expectations of resilience against external shock and, therefore, were called the Fragile Five.

Doctor of Philosophy / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Amber V. Vennum / Belonging to groups has been found to lead to many positive outcomes, including acting as a buffer for maladaptive coping behaviors, in the lives of emerging adults. Less is known about how belonging may act as a protective factor to engaging in unhealthy behaviors, less is known in regards to how group coping norms of the groups emerging adults belong to impact the motivations for coping and subsequently coping mechanisms. Further, belonging is a necessary component to life; however, less is known about how emerging adults understand what it means to belong. This dissertation includes two studies focused on belonging in emerging adulthood. Both studies utilized participants recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk). In study 1, a quantitative study (N = 438) was conducted to further explore how group coping norms moderates the associations between group belonging and individual motives for coping. Additionally, coping behaviors were included to understand how belonging to groups is associated with coping motives and coping behaviors. Results from study 1 indicated that while belonging was not significantly predictive of motivations and functions of using specific behaviors, unhealthy group coping norms were positively predictive of motivations for and functions of behaviors for coping purposes. Moreover, the interaction term (belonging X unhealthy group norms) yielded one significant path indicating that belonging to groups may be protective of using sex to cope even when unhealthy group norms are present. Additionally, belonging was negatively associated with drug frequency and positively associated with healthy supportive and self-soothing coping. Further, several coping motives were positive predictors of both unhealthy and healthy coping behaviors. In study 2, a qualitative study (N = 422) using open-ended questions was conducted to hear from emerging adults about their experiences of belonging. A thematic analysis approach was used to code participant responses before categorization and identifying themes. Participant responses indicate that emerging adults belong to groups based on personal identity, religious and spiritual affiliations, life stage and circumstances, educational group associations, professional association, significant relationships, social change initiatives, shared interests and activities, online connections. Moreover, themes outlining what it means to belong to emerging adults include embraced, increased self-confidence, greater life meaning, experience of a safety net, commonalities among group members, relationship component to group belonging, and fitting in and conformity. Before belonging to groups, results indicate that becoming a member of the group is necessary. Reasons for joining groups, group membership through intentionality, formal group entrance process, group membership as a natural process, group membership through identity formation, and group membership in an online context are all components of joining groups for emerging adults. Participants described the process of belonging with the following themes: building investment and intimacy, messages of inclusion, developing connection and community, mutual support, positive feelings that foster belonging, and individual growth and development and the process of belonging. Finally, participants identified what they get from belonging to groups which included a sense of belonging, feeling included and a part of something, personal growth needs, emotional needs, communal needs, work needs, and giving back and volunteering needs. The findings of this qualitative study indicate a need to further understand the belonging phenomenon in emerging adults across many populations. Research, clinical, and practical implications are outlined and provided.

Psychological flexibility (PF), the core process of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; a third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapy), is the ability to stay focused on the present moment and intentionally engage in value-driven behavior despite experiencing difficult thoughts or feelings. This multifaceted construct includes components that target processes occurring both internally (e.g., cognitive processes) and behaviorally (e.g., value-consistent actions). Psychological flexibility has been applied to studies of adjustment in non-clinical samples and may be beneficial for college students as individuals navigate novel developmental stressors. Despite evidence suggesting the benefits of PF for psychological distress, additional work is needed to examine the potential of PF to foster adaptive functioning. The current study builds on previous research by a) conceptualizing distinct internal and behavioral components of PF as promotive factors and b) emphasizing competence-focused outcomes. This research examined the influence of components of PF over the course of an academic semester. A sample of college students (N = 250) completed self-report measures online at the beginning (Time 1) and end (Time 2) of a college semester. Measures included components of PF, competence, and demographic and academic information. Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between components of PF at Time 1 on competence at Time 2, while accounting for the influence of competence at Time 1. Findings suggested that within the social domain, value-consistent action at Time 1 was associated with increased social competence at Time 2. Additional results indicated that baseline competence accounted for associations between components of PF and Time 2 competence. Implications for the dissemination of ACT-informed efforts to promote positive adjustment among college students are reviewed, and future research directions are discussed.

The purpose of this dissertation was to a) examine the correlational relationships between Canadian university athletes’ perceptions of coach leadership behaviours and their perceptions of positive developmental outcomes (e.g., life skills) and negative experiences related to university sport, and b) explore how coach leadership behaviours and the associated developmental outcomes and negative experiences were described by both coaches and athletes. Data for this dissertation were collected over four stages. In Stage One, an online survey was used to collect data from a pan-Canadian sample (n = 605) of university athletes. In Stage Two, semi-structured open-ended interviews were conducted with fifteen university athletes. In Stage Three, semi-structured open-ended interviews were conducted with fourteen university coaches. In Stage Four, an online survey was used to collect data from a second pan-Canadian sample of university athletes (n = 498). Five articles were written to address the purpose of this dissertation. In Article One, data from two pan-Canadian samples of athletes were used to modify and confirm a new measurement tool known as the University Sport Experience Survey (USES). The USES provides a reliable and factorially-valid instrument for measuring development in university sport. In addition, Article One provided the first operational definitions of the positive developmental outcomes and negative experiences that could be reliably and validly assessed in a university sport context. Article Two qualitatively explored athletes’ perceptions of the developmental outcomes associated with their participation in university sport, as well as their perceptions of transfer. Results provided additional support for certain USES categories to be used for understanding positive development within the context of Canadian university sport programs. Further, results suggested university sport programs offer rich opportunities for developing skills, qualities, experiences, and relationships needed to become functioning members in our society. In Article Three, quantitative survey data were used to assess the cross-sectional relationships between athletes’ perceptions of their coaches’ leadership behaviours and outcomes from the USES. Coach leadership behaviours were conceptualized within the Full Range Leadership Model and assessed using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. Findings showed that transformational coaching was generally related to positive developmental outcomes and inversely related to athletes’ negative experiences in sport. Moreover, coaches’ passive/avoidant behaviors were commonly related to athletes’ negative experiences in university sport. Contrary to expectations, passive/avoidant coaching behaviors were also positively related with a number of positive developmental outcomes. Article Four qualitatively assessed athletes’ perceptions of who they believed was responsible for their positive development within the university sport context. Athletes specified other athletes, the head coach, the coaching staff, and their parents as the people who influenced their positive development within the context of university sport. Notably, athletes felt they themselves were the ones who contributed the most to their own development. Article Five qualitatively explored coaches’ perceptions of and strategies for fostering their athletes’ positive development through university sport. The coaches believed there were inherent conditions surrounding university sport that facilitated positive development. However, the coaches maximized their athletes’ development by establishing a support network, building team culture, and empowering their student-athletes by teaching them fundamental skills related to self and social regulation. Together, the five articles make novel theoretical and practical knowledge contributions to the field of positive development through sport, and set a precedence for positive development research in university sport, as well as other emerging adult sport contexts.

In this thesis the distinctive features and challenges of the company valuation in emerging markets are presented. The valuation approach considered as superior in comparison to other methodologies, the triangulating method, is applied to a company from the emerging market of Brazil, the aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The triangulation valuation approach comprises one primary method, the scenario discounted cash flow valuation, and two secondary approaches, the valuation based on multiples and the valuation with a country-risk built into the cost of capital. At the beginning, the valuation methods prevalent in developed markets are presented. Afterwards, for the emerging markets, the applicability of these approaches from the developed world is assessed. In addition, potentially useful modifications are identified. In advance of the detailed valuation of Embraer, the Brazilian macroeconomic situation and its main financial market, the Bolsa de Valores, Mercadorias & Futuros de Sao Paulo (BOVESPA), will be analyzed.

The adoption of electronic self-service systems (SSTs), using information technology (IT) devices and channels, for the provision of banking services (also known as electronic banking or e-banking) has evolved in the last decade in emerging markets. In Nigeria, for instance, this development is driving the movement towards a cashless economy. These services, however, are fraught with problems ranging from incidents of fraud, empty automated teller machines (ATMs), the inability of the ATMs to dispense cash, and outright service unavailability. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to identify service improvements following current electronic banking service performance measures. Given the dearth of developing country research and appropriate constructs, secondary objectives include the: 1) conceptualisation of e-service using service science principles; 2) description of factors and attributes of electronic banking quality (EBQ) in Nigeria; 3) identification of consumer perceptions of EBQ; 4) proposal of a model of EBQ; and 5) rank and score EBQ performance. A three-step sequential mixed-methods research design is conducted. This consists of a substantial qualitative (QUAL) process that posits EBQ constructs using grounded theory techniques. This is followed by an equally substantial quantitative (QUAN) process that employs survey methods in the formulation of a scale to measure EBQ. The final quantitative (quan) process scores EBQ using survey research methods and intelligent decision system (IDS) analysis. Consumer perception measurements of Nigerian bank customers using the derived dimensions of EBQ - acceptability, accessibility, competence, convenience, reliability, responsiveness, security/privacy, access to support, availability of support, and usability - generated an unimpressive industry performance score of 56%. The thesis concludes that even though Nigerian bank customers are desirous of participating in the cashless economy, issues of cash security and responsiveness are paramount. Service improvement spaces for e-banking operators, centred on rigorous strategic planning initiatives, are identified alongside additional initiatives for bank customers and regulators. In summary, this thesis presents an alternative scale to measure consumer perceptions of EBQ that adds to the existing body of knowledge.