Thesis (M. Div.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-94).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept of Recreation Management and Youth Leadership, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

The economic and health disadvantage of Canadian single parents relative to the general population is well documented. Most studies, however, have not considered the effects of gender or urban/rural residence on the mental well-being of single parents. These gaps are important to address given that: 1) single father families are growing at a faster rate than single mother families; and 2) 13% of families residing in rural Canada are headed by single parents. Three research questions guided the study: 1) Does the mental health of single parents vary by gender and/or urban- rural residence? 2) Do single parents’ demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial characteristics vary by gender and/or urban- rural residence? and 3) Do the demographic, socioeconomic, and social correlates of single parents’ mental health vary by gender and/or urban- rural residence? Data from Statistics Canada’s 2007-2008 Canadian Community Health Survey (Master file) was used, with analyses focused on a subsample of 18-64 year old single parents. The primary dependent variable was self-rated mental health (fair/poor vs. good/very good/excellent). The other dependent variables were the prevalence of anxiety disorders, mood disorders and binge drinking. The primary independent variables were gender and urban/rural residence; the Metropolitan Influenced Zone (MIZ) classification was used to measure residence. Additional independent variables were included to reflect single parents’ demographic characteristics (age, marital status, Aboriginal identity, number and ages of children), socioeconomic position (e.g. household income, education, income assistance home ownership, food security), and psychosocial characteristics (e.g. sense of community belonging). Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were the main statistical techniques applied. Sampling weights and bootstrapping were used to calculate accurate estimates and associated confidence intervals. iii Results indicated that the proportion of single parents who rated their mental health as “fair or poor” did not differ significantly by gender or urban-rural residence. Single mothers were more likely to report mood and anxiety disorders in comparison with single fathers, though the prevalence did not vary by residence. However, single mothers and single fathers living in Strong/Medium MIZ regions of the nation were more likely to report higher proportions of binge drinking compared to their more urban counterparts. Compared to single fathers, a greater proportion of single mothers resided in urban Canada, were less than 45 years of age, never married, self-identified as Aboriginal, had two or more children, and had a child under or equal to five years of age in the household. On most indicators of socioeconomic position, single mothers were significantly more disadvantaged than single fathers but did not differ significantly on psychosocial measures. Demographically, a greater proportion of rural than urban single mothers were of Aboriginal origin had two or more children, and at least once child under the age of 6 years in the household. Regarding socioeconomic characteristics a higher percentage of rural than urban single mothers indicated receiving social assistance, working part-time and having an annual household income of less than $20,000. No significant differences emerged by residence with respect to employment status, food security, home ownership or perceptions of life stress; however, single mothers living in more rural locals were more likely to rate their sense of community belonging as “somewhat or very strong” When data on single fathers was analyzed (Table 4.6), relatively few differences emerge. However, a greater proportion of urban than rural single fathers had a university education and owned their own home. Single fathers in rural regions were more likely than their urban counterparts to report most days as “quite a bit or extremely” stressful. No other statistically significant differences by residence emerged. iv The results of the multiple logistic regression analyses found the following variables to be associated with increased odds of fair/poor self-rated mental health: older age, low household income, being unemployed, being food insecure, experiencing higher levels of life stress and a weaker sense of community belonging. The relationship between demographic, socioeconomic and psychosocial characteristics and self-rated mental health was not modified by gender or urban-rural residence. Thus, the findings of this study will help policy makers identify the factors that adversely affect the mental health of single parents in Canada.

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in patterns and underlying practices between fathers of gifted and fathers of non-gifted children. The study included 10 fathers of gifted (FG) children and 10 fathers of non-gifted (FN) children. The children were preschoolers, ages 5-6 years old. Giftedness of the children was determined by scoring at or above the 97th percentile on the Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised. Fathers in both groups were interviewed by the researcher using a 119 item protocol, which covered 16 categories. Data analysis revealed differences in parenting patterns between FG and FN in all 16 categories which included: 1. FG read more to their children and chose a greater variety of reading material, and read a higher proportion of non-fiction. 2. FG were more actively involved doing activities and interacting with their children such as building with blocks and Legos and making up nonsense songs, stories, and riddles. 3. More non-gifted children than gifted children frequently watched television. The non-gifted child watched 11 solid days of television more than the gifted child in the course of a year. Cartoons and comedy programs were the typical pattern chosen by children in the non-gifted household; whereas educational programs chosen jointly by the parent and child was the typical pattern in the gifted household. 4. Both groups of fathers used different strategies for helping the child develop interpersonal problem solving techniques for academic, behavior, and discipline problems. 5. FG mentioned that children were encouraged to fulfill household responsibilities because it was their duty. None of the FN encouraged their children to accomplish their household duties because it was their duty. 6. FG frequently took their children to arts activities an often provided their children access to art reproductions, record players, tape recorders, and CD players that FN. / Graduation date: 1992

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of a daughter's managerial style and her personal relationship with her father in father-daughter work relationships in family-owned businesses. This research is an attempt to reveal daughters' perceptions of these occurrences and interactions which often are overlooked in current research and everyday practices. The theoretical framework stems from four distinct but connected areas of research: family-owned businesses, father/daughter relationships, father-son relationships in and outside of family-owned businesses, and men and women in management. The data in this study revealed that the majority of the daughters chose and implemented managerial styles different from their fathers'. However, the daughters reported that differences in style did not create substantial problems for their father/daughter work relationships. Six of the seven daughters reported that having had the experience of working outside of their family-owned businesses provided them the opportunity to develop their own personal differences in management styles. Yet, the apparent incongruence of these daughters' reports reveals that the daughters were more concerned with preserving intergenerational continuity than with facing up to conflicting beliefs in management. Furthermore, the research found that the decision-making styles in which the fathers and daughters engaged did differ and the differences affected their familial relationships in limited ways. Overall, the daughters perceived the interaction between their managerial style and personal relationships with their fathers to be compatible and not debilitating. / Graduation date: 1993

Fördelarna med amning är många, trots detta tar allt fler mödrar beslutet att delvis amma/ inte amma sina barn. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att erhålla mer kunskap om samt undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkar mödrars beslut att amma/ inte amma. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en deskriptiv litteraturstudie, där 12 vetenskapliga artiklar granskades. Resultat: Faktorer som påverkar mödrars beslut till att amma var: bröstmjölk anses vara den ultimata födan för spädbarnet, föräldrar har god kunskap gällande amning, bra stöd från närstående och vårdpersonal, högutbildade mödrar, tidigare erfarenhet av amning, partnern föredrar amning, amning är praktiskt och ger lycka till både modern och barnet. Faktorer som påverkar mödrars beslut till att inte amma var: okunskap hos modern, fadern och sjukvårdspersonal, amning känns genant, fysiskt smärtsamt och obehagligt, stressad personal, föräldrarna får otillräckligt med stöd och information från vårdpersonal, tidig återgång till arbete, spädbarnet är otillfredsställt av endast bröstmjölk, oroligheter över bröstmjölkens näring samt rädsla för viktuppgång och hängiga bröst. Slutsats: Bristande kunskap, information och stöd är faktorer som kan påverka moderns beslut till att amma/ inte amma. Föräldrar behöver mer information och stöd gällande amning både innan och efter förlossningen, så de kan grunda sitt beslut på relevant fakta.

Childhood overweight/obesity (CHO) is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Despite increased efforts to prevent CHO, prevalence rates have actually increased. Evidence suggests that parents are critical to successful interventions to reduce CHO among children. While research efforts aimed at parental inclusion have increased, limited research has been conducted to investigate fathers’ perception of CHO, or their influences on their children’s health. The objective of this two-phase study was to answer three research questions: a) How does the extant literature operationalize African American parental perceptions of childhood overweight/obesity? b) What are African American fathers’ perceptions of CHO? and c) How do African American fathers perceive CHO in relation to their own child’s weight status? Evidence-based studies reveal that fathers have the potential to play a significant role in CHO prevention. Phase one (literature review) revealed that published studies on parental perception of CHO either exclude fathers, include them only in data collection, and/or report no results specific to paternal perception. Thus, an exploratory qualitative study was needed to explore African American fathers’ perceptions of CHO. In phase two (qualitative study), four fathers were interviewed about their perceptions of CHO and how they contextualize this problem. The results indicated fathers believe that weight categories are racially & culturally insensitive and do not account for individual health status or differences in body/bone structure, and that parents with overweight children are financially disadvantaged, irresponsible and overworked. Fathers also indicated that colloquial terms (e.g., chunky, husky, big-boned, thick) were commonly substituted medical definitions for overweight and that child/teen sports participation was motivated by health, as well as non-health related benefits (e.g., competitiveness, educational scholarships). Further, fathers’ identification of CHO is subjective and includes visual means and parental assessment of health status (e.g., child mobility/activity levels). Implications of this study are that additional studies are needed to clarify fathers’ roles in CHO and that future studies should consider complex familial structures, as well as reframe prevention efforts to focus on optimal child health as opposed to weight labeling and focusing on parents’ accuracy in identifying weight categories.

Thesis (M.A.)--Northern Michigan University, 2009. / "14-67108." Bibliography: leaves 107-109.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2001. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-189). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Masters) -- Simmons College, 2009.