The purpose of this research study was to identify, from the perception of realtors, how prepared first-time homebuyers (FTHBs) are when purchasing a home and to discover what kind of issues and problems arose during the home-buying process. This study also identified common factors used by realtors to identify: how FTHBs are prepared, usefulness of FTHB workshops, FTHBs' mortgage knowledge, and recommendations to better prepare FTHBs. The goal was twofold: identify areas in the home-buying process where FTHBs are less prepared and provide information to financial educators and real estate agents to help fill the gap in FTHB preparedness. This study covered three main areas of buying a home: pre-purchase preparedness, mortgage finance, and the closing process. Data for this study were collected using an online survey emailed to realtors in the Cache Rich Association of Realtors (CRAR) in Northern Utah. A total of 66 realtors responded to the survey. Descriptive statistics, matched pair t tests, correlations, and simple regression analyses were used. Overall, realtors find their FTHB clients to be less than somewhat prepared. This is evident when the mean percentage of FTHBs that realtors stated were well-prepared for homeownership was only 44.4%. According to realtors' perceptions, many FTHBs did not have their personal finances in order and poorly understood the cost of obtaining a mortgage and its process. The analysis of the data collected from realtors' responses also identified the most frequent problem or issue that arose during the home-buying process was obtaining a mortgage. When asked if FTHB workshops are useful, 60% of realtors perceived them to be more than somewhat useful. Reasons for their usefulness included being educational, beneficial, and preparing FTHBs for buying a home. Results also indicated that the level of mortgage knowledge and knowledge about housing sustainability directly related to the level of pre-purchase preparedness of FTHBs as perceived by realtors. When pre-purchase preparedness levels were low, mortgage knowledge and knowledge about housing sustainability levels were also perceived to be low. In the end, realtors offered their suggestions on how to better prepare FTHBs for homeownership and their answer to this question was to have FTHBs work with a qualified realtor and network of professionals. The second most frequent response was to educate FTHBs on affordability and housing sustainability.

BB som verksamhet har förändrats över tid och är idag en plats där familjen skall kunna vila ut efter förlossningen, i en lugn och trygg miljö. Att fadern på olika sätt är delaktig kring sitt barn främjar faderskapet. Syftet med studien var att beskriva förstagångsfäders upplevelser av delaktighet på BB efter en normal förlossning. För att undersöka fenomenet valdes en deskriptiv, fenomenologisk metod enligt Giorgi. Halvstrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med tio förstagångsfäder i åldrarna tjugotre till fyrtioett år. Utifrån det insamlade materialet identifierades fyra teman i analysen. En inre kärna, den så kallade essensen, fastställdes och den benämndes Dubbelhet - Familjeinriktad eller mor- och barninriktad? När familjen anländer till BB efter en normal förlossningen uppträder en tvetydighet och förutsättningarna för faderns möjlighet till delaktighet förändras. Att få vara närvarande med sin familj på BB upplevdes som något positivt av fäderna och flera ansåg att det borde vara en självklarhet att få den möjligheten. Organisatoriska faktorer orsakade en känsla av utanförskap hos fäderna. Personalens bemötande och mannens eget intresse hade betydelse för hur fäderna upplevde graden av delaktighet.

Becoming a mother is a transition that leads the woman from a known to an unknown existence, both social and professional support can facilitate this revolutionary event. In order to offer a good support, more knowledge about women's thoughts on the birth of their first child is needed. Aim:To describe pregnant women's thoughts before the birth of their first child. Method: Qualitative content analysis with inductive approach. Qualitative questionnaires were answered by 18 informants. Findings: Four main categoriesreveal; thoughts about their own ability and experience, thoughts about the childbirth environment, thoughts about the partnerand thoughts about the unborn child. The theme that reveals is that pregnant women's thoughts about the birth of their first child commute between trust and doubt.Conclusion: Women have confidence in their own ability but at the same time concern about the unknown. Thoughts that the delivery may affect the experience, therefore it is important that the midwife helps the woman to handle her thoughts so that she gains realistic expectations. Women have ambivalent thoughts about the support she will be offered. Professional and social support is important for achieving a positive childbirth experience and therefore continuous support should be offered during childbirth. / Att vänta barn och att bli mamma är en transition som leder kvinnan från en känd till en okänd tillvaro och både socialt och professionellt stöd kan underlätta vid denna omvälvande händelse. För att bättre kunna erbjuda kvinnorna ett gott stöd behövs mer kunskap om kvinnornas tankar inför deras första barns födelse, då detta område är relativt outforskat. Syfte: Att belysa gravida kvinnors tankar inför sitt första barns födelse. Metod: Kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats.Kvalitativa frågeformulär besvarades av 18 informanter. Resultat: Det framkommer fyra huvudkategorier; tankar om den egna förmågan och upplevelsen, tankar om förlossningsmiljön, tankar kring partnern och tankar om det ofödda barnet.Temat som genomsyrar resultatet är att gravida kvinnors tankar kring sitt första barns födelse pendlar mellan tillit och tvivel.Konklusion: Kvinnorna har tilltro till den egna förmågan men samtidigt en oro inför det okända.Tankar inför förlossningen kan påverka upplevelsen, därför är det viktigt att barnmorskan hjälper kvinnan att hantera sina tankar så att hon får realistiska förväntningar. Kvinnorna har ambivalenta tankar om det stöd hon kommer att erbjudas. Professionellt och socialt stöd är viktigt för att uppnå en positiv förlossningsupplevelse och därför bör kontinuerligt stöd erbjudas till alla födande kvinnor.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Bronwyn S. Fees / When compared to adult mothers, adolescent mothers are more prone to parenting challenges (Whitman et al., 2001). Age is considered influential on a mother’s belief in her ability to successfully organize and execute her parenting plan (Bandura, 1999). The purpose of this study was to examine potential predictors of self-efficacy (determinant of parenting) among first-time mothers applying Belsky’s (1984) parenting framework. Maternal age, maternal depression, available social support and infant temperament were all considered to be potential predictors of maternal self-efficacy. A sample of first-time mothers (N = 115) with no other children in the home with an infant between the ages of four and six months was recruited from local alternative high schools, home and center child care facilities, and various other social services agencies and programs that typically serve new mothers. Participants self-reported on the above variables by completing a survey measuring self-efficacy as well as the hypothesized predictors. Responses were analyzed using group mean comparisons between 3 age groups: mothers 19 years and under (23%); mothers 20-26 years of age (29%); and mothers 26 years of age and older (48%). No significant differences in self-efficacy, perceived infant temperament, social support were found between age groups. Age differences in maternal depression fell just below significance. Maternal income level was significantly (and negatively) correlated with maternal depression, therefore was controlled for in additional analyses. Annual income, depression, and self efficacy were significantly correlated to perceived infant temperament. Mothers with lower incomes, who perceived less social support, who reported higher levels of depression, or had lower levels of self-efficacy were found to rate their infants as more temperamentally difficult. Regression analyses demonstrated that level of perceived social support significantly predicted maternal self-efficacy levels across all age groups. Additionally, infant temperament and maternal depression levels predicted self-efficacy. These findings provide evidence to support the importance of equal accessibility and affordability of social support for all new mothers to assist with the positive transition to parenthood.

Bakgrund: Forskning om psykisk ohälsa relaterat till föräldraskap har under en längre tid varit kopplad till kvinnan och barnets behov. Sedan 1990-talet har forskningen ökat inom området postpartum depression (PPD). Det är först under senare tid som fäders psykiska ohälsa har börjat undersökas mer grundligt. Enligt studier drabbas mellan 6-10 % av blivande och nyblivna fäder av depressionssymtom. Förutom lidande hos fadern, har negativa konsekvenser hos både partnern och barnet identifierats. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa depressionssymtom hos blivande och nyblivna fäder. Metod: En litteraturstudie i ett deskriptivt syfte med induktiv ansats som granskade relevanta originalartiklar som svarade på denna studies syfte och frågeställningar. Artiklarna kvalitetsgranskades initialt enligt kvalitativa och kvantitativa kvalitetsgranskningsmallar och resultatet analyserades. Resultat: Blivande och nyblivna fäder riskerar att drabbas av depression innan, under och efter förlossningen. Depressionssymtom är förknippat med destruktiva tankar och beteendeförändringar, vilka förutom att påverka faderns vardag, innebär negativa konsekvenser för familjen och för barnet. Riskfaktorer, bland annat depression hos partnern, har identifierats kunna öka risken ytterligare för depression hos fäder. Screening och strategier för att identifiera blivande och nyblivna fäders depression är motiverat, men har bevisats vara otillräckliga. Rutiner, omvårdnad och kompetens att inkludera fäder behöver förbättras inom MVC och BVC. Pappagrupper värderas högt och har visat sig normalisera tillvaron hos nyblivna fäder. Slutsats: Blivande och nyblivna fäder beskriver ett brett spektrum av negativa känslor och beteendeförändringar. Fäder riskerar att utveckla depressionssymtom i samband med en eventuell depression hos modern. Stöd som pappagrupper samt inkludering av vårdpersonal är friskfaktorer som identifierats och som beskrivits som positivt av fäder. / Background: Research on mental health related to parenting has for a long time been linked to the woman and the child's needs. Since the 1990s, research has increased in the field of postpartum depression (PPD). It is not until recently that the mental health of the fathers has been investigated more thoroughly. According to studies, between 6-10 % of future and first-time fathers suffer from depression symptoms. In addition to suffering in the father, negative consequences for both the partner and the child have been identified. Aim: The purpose was to illustrate depression symptoms in future and first-time fathers. Method: A literature study with a descriptive purpose with an inductive approach that examined relevant original articles that responded to the aim and issues of this study. The articles were quality tested initially with qualitative and quantitative quality assessment templates and then the result was analyzed. Results: Future and first-time fathers are at risk of depression before and after the child’s birth. The experience of this depression is associated with destructive thoughts and behavioral changes, which, apart from affecting the father's everyday life, have negative consequences for the family and for the child. Risk factors, including the partner’s depression, have been identified to further increase the risk of depression in fathers. Screening and strategies for identifying father’s depression are motivated, but proven to be insufficient. Routines, nursing and skills to include fathers need improvement in both maternity care center and child health care center. Dad groups are highly valued and have been shown to normalize first-time fathers existence. Conclusion: Fathers describe a wide range of negative emotions and behavioral changes. Fathers risk developing depression symptoms in the event of a possible depression in the mother. Support such as dad groups and being included by nurses and healthcare professionals are described as health factors that fathers appreciated.

Bakgrund: Den första tiden efter hemkomst från BB kan präglas av såväl lyckliga som ansträngda känslor för nyblivna föräldrar. Det har framkommit att en tidig uppföljning från en barnmorska och ett gott stöd den första tiden hemma efter förlossning kan stärka föräldrarna i sina nya roller som föräldrar.  Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka förstagångsföräldrars förväntningar på och erfarenheter av de första två veckorna hemma.  Metod: En kvalitativ metod har använts och datainsamlingen till studien har utförts med hjälp av kvalitativa intervjuer med strukturerande öppna frågor. Urvalet bestod av sex föräldrapar som rekryterats från BB. Insamlad data analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats. Resultat: Förväntningarna inför den första tiden hemma stämde inte alltid överens med hur det blev. En del av föräldrarna hade en vision om att allt skulle vara mysigt och att de var oförberedda på hur den första tiden hemma skulle bli och en del upplevde också oro inför hemgången. Majoriteten av föräldrarna efterfrågade mer förberedande information inför den första tiden hemma från mödrahälsovården. Föräldrarna upplevde dock överlag att de kände sig trygga och nöjda med den information de fått från BB vid hemgång och att de sen visste vart de skulle vända sig vid frågor. Förutsättningarna har dock sett olika ut för dem då en del har haft återbesök till sjukhuset och några har fått uppföljande samtal från MHV och har då kunnat ställa eventuella frågor och/eller bli bekräftade. Slutsats: Mer tydlig information, redan under graviditeten, om första tiden hemma efterfrågas. Föräldrarna upplever huvudsakligen den första tiden hemma som positiv och att de har känt sig trygga i vart de kan vända sig vid frågor. Behov av stöd och information är av stor vikt tiden efter förlossning då det kan bidra till att känna trygghet i det nyblivna föräldraskapet. / Background: The first period at home, after returning from BB, can be characterize by both happy and strained feelings for new parents. It has emerged that early follow-up from midwife and good support the first period at home after childbirth can strengthen parents in their new roles as parents. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine first-time parents’ expectations and experiences of the first two weeks at home. Method: A qualitative method has been used and the data collection for the study has been carried out by means of qualitative interviews with structured open questions. The sample consisted of six parents recruited from BB. Collected data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis with inductive approach. Result: The expectations for the first period at home did not always agree with how it became. Some of the parents had a vision that everything would be cozy and that they were unprepared for what the first period at home might be like. While some experienced anxiety about the thought of how it would be like when they were going home. The parents where asking for more preparatory information from the maternal health care about the first time at home. However the parents generally felt that safe and satisfied with the information that they received from BB upon returning home and that they later knew where to turn for questions. However the conditions have looked different for them as some of the parents have had return visits to the hospital and some have received follow-up calls from MHV and have then been able to ask any questions and or be confirmed. Conclusion: More direct information about the first period at home is requested, already during the pregnancy. The parent couple mainly experience the first time at home as positive and that they have felt safe in where they can turn to questions. The need for support and information is of paramount importance after the birth as it helps to feel secure in their parenting.

Young people are the most crime-active group in society, and in the recent decade juvenile delinquency has emerged as one of the central problem areas in Swedish public debate. How the work of preventing crime among children and youths should be designed is therefore a highly relevant question. In the city of Stockholm, so-called “serious talks” with young people who are suspected of crime for the first time, are used as a method to reduce recidivism. However, such initiatives have no clear scientific support based on previous studies. The overall purpose of this study was to examine professionals' perspectives on the work with serious talks in the city of Stockholm. To interpret and conceptualize the results, Lipsky's theory of street-level bureaucracies has mainly been used as a theoretical perspective. Key informant interviews were conducted with professionals in 12 of Stockholm City's 13 district administrations. The overall results show that discretion does not necessarily become or is perceived as desirable due to two main reasons. The first is about the practical, that is, vague guidelines and definitions as well as ambiguities regarding implementation and cooperation with the police. The second is about the value of the intervention, ie that the professionals do not really see any concrete meaning with serious talks due to the lack of knowledge support and that there is a low risk of continued criminal behavior among the majority of young people who are called for serious talks. The discretion given to the professionals is thus not perceived as fulfilling, facilitating or meaningful, but as aggravating and something that creates confusion and undermines work motivation. Finally, the results are also discussed in relation to what can be interpreted as the underlying assumptions that justify serious talks among political decision-makers in the city of Stockholm.

The purpose of this non-experimental, correlational, quantitative study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the relationship between pre-matriculation variables on retention of first-year, full-time students from fall-to-fall semesters at three small, private, liberal arts institutions in the Southeast United States. The findings will help to determine the significance of the relationships between retention and pre-matriculation variables on first-year, full-time students who entered each institutions the fall 2017 and fall 2018 semesters. Archival data at the participating institutions were used to test the significance of the relationships between retention rates and pre-matriculation variables (standardized test scores, high school GPAs, gender, first-generation status, and financial aid status). The sample for this study included approximately 3,612 first-year, full-time students who entered the three participating universities for the fall semesters of 2017 and 2018. Independent samples t-tests or two-way contingency tables using crosstabs were used to evaluate each of the respective research questions. Findings from this study demonstrated student demographic variables financial aid status (Pell Grant eligibility), gender, and first-generation status had a significant relationship to retention for Institutions 2 and 3; students who were not eligible for financial aid were retained at higher percentage rate than students who were eligible for financial aid; students who were first-generation students were retained at lower percentage rate than students who were continuing-generation students; and self- identified female students were retained at a higher percentage rate those students who were self-identified as males at Institution 1.

When an individual goes from employee to leader, they are forced to go through a role-formation process. The first-time leader faces new challenges from both employees and organizations that he or she must deal with. The first-time leader may either need to create a new relationship with the employees or already have a relationship which changes during role formation. The aim is to highlight, through interviews with seven first-time leaders in Sweden, the factors that are relevant to role formation and the challenges the leader faces.The empirical material is analyzed through Pierre Bourdieu's sociological theory and Hersey och Blanchard's leadership theory. The concepts of Symbolic Perspective and Role Exit are also central to the study. The results show that experiences, culture and values are factors that can influence individuals in the formation of a new role. It also shows that the leadership style is both shaped by role formation but also helps to create the role. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the first-time leader needs selfawareness to identify development opportunities and meet the requirements and expectations that exist.

Den här studien handlar om att undersöka hur förskollärare uppfattade den första tiden som anställd förskollärare. Mer specifikt undersöks hur förskollärare beskriver den första verksamma tiden samt vilka utmaningar de stött på under den första tiden. Studien undersöker även vilka förutsättningar förskollärare anser vara nödvändiga för att hantera första tidens arbetsrelaterade utmaningar och dess orsaker. Studien utgörs av sju kvalitativa intervjuer med förskollärare som varit verksamma i 1-4 år efter examen. Resultatet har analyserats med hjälp av praktikarkitekturens teori och fokuserar på de faktorer som kan påverka den första tiden som verksam, såsom mentorsprogram, stöd från kollegor och rektor samt det kollegiala lärandet. Utifrån den tidigare forskningen som gjorts på området visar den att första tiden som verksam präglades av stress, höga krav och utmaningar. Resultatet i vår studie uppmärksammar vikten av stöd i olika former för att hantera första tidens utmaningar. Den typ av stöd som förskollärare ansåg vara viktigt under den första tiden var stöd i form av mentorskap, stöd från kollegor och rektor samt nätverksträffar med andra förskollärare. Faktorer som kan komma att påverka den första tiden i arbetslivet är bland annat bristande kunskaper från utbildningen, brister i det kollegiala lärandet samt resursbrist i form av vikarier. Viktiga slutsatser av studien är att förskollärarna upplevde den första tiden som tuff. Det stöd som förskollärarna fick, gjorde det möjligt för dem att utföra sitt arbete på bästa sätt. / The aim of this study has been to investigate how preschool teachers experienced their first time within the profession. We have chosen to look into how preschool teachers describe the first time as newly graduated teachers and what challenges they have faced. Finally, we have investigated which conditions the preschool teachers consider necessary to handle the challenges. The study consists of seven qualitative interviews with preschool teachers who have been working for 1-5 years after their graduation. The result has been analyzed with the help of the theory of practical architecture and we have reached some factors that can affect the first time in the profession. The factors were mentorship, support from colleagues and principle and the collegial learning. Based on the previous research that has been made on the area, it shows that the first time in the profession was embossed by stress, high demands and challenges. The result in the study paid attention to the importance of support in different forms to handle challenges during the initial time in the profession. The support that emerged from our result and the things that newly graduated preschool teacher’s considered important was mentorship, support from colleagues and principal and also network meetings with other preschool teachers. Factors that may affect the first time within the profession may for instance be lack of knowledge from their education, deficiency in collegial learning and lack of resources in the form of substitute personnel. The important conclusion of the study is that the preschool teacher’s experienced the first time as tough. The support that the preschool teacher’s received, made it possible to conduct their work in the best way possible.