Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2005. / Title from title screen. Gabriel Kuperminc, committee chair; James Emshoff, Julia Perilla, Lisa Armistead, committee members. Electronic text (129 p. : ill.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed July 25, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-119).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ball State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 09, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 186-198).

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2017-07-03T16:31:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1000109 bytes, checksum: 9e02bd51414b069855c779a74974da4c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-03T16:31:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1000109 bytes, checksum: 9e02bd51414b069855c779a74974da4c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2000-01-14 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Na busca de solucionar a problemática do lixo urbano, nos últimos anos, o aterro sanitário vem sendo a forma de tratamento e disposição final mais comumente empregado na maioria das cidade brasileiras. Apesar de ser considerado uma forma de disposição segura, aterros sanitário apresentam algum risco de contaminação do solo e da água subterrânea. Os líquidos percolados dos resíduos, formados pelo chorume e pelas águas de chuva que infiltram no aterro, apresentam alto grau de poluição. Quando esse líquidos atingem os mananciais subterrâneos ou superficiais, podem alterar significativamente as características das águas, inviabilizando-as para consumo e impossibilitando a sobrevivência dos organismos aquáticos. Neste sentido, é necessário estimar a quantidade produzida desses percolados para que se possa projetar sistemas de drenagem e tratamento desses efluentes. A quantidade é determinada por vários métodos baseados em equações empíricas. Atualmente, métodos computacionais são utilizados, principalmente nos EUA, com destaque para o Modelo Help (Hidrologic Evaluation landfill Performance) desenvolvido pela Agência de Proteção Ambiental dos Estados Unidos (EPA). Em função disto, o presente trabalho procurou analisar a aplicabilidade do Modelo HELP para estudar o comportamento hídrico de aterros sanitários no Brasil. Para isso, o projeto do aterro de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, foi usado, considerando-se as características climáticas, geotécnicas e hidrológicas locais. Em relação a outros modelos computacionais, o trabalho mostrou que o Modelo Help teve desempenho satisfatório em função da menor quantidade de dados de entrada requeridos e da facilidade na obtenção dos resultados. / In the last years, landfills have been used as the final disposal method most commonly used in Brazilian cities. Although considered as a safety solution, landfills present some risk of soil and groundwater contamination. Leachings from waste, formed by the leachate and the rain water that infiltrates in the landfill, present a high degree of pollution. When these leachings reach the aquifers, they may alter significantly the characteristics of the water, avoiding its use and life of aquatic organisms. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the amount of leachate produced in order to design the drainage and treatment system of these effluents. There are several methods to determine this amount of leachate based on empirical equations. Nowadays, computational methods are utilized, mainly in the USA, with emphasis to the HELP (Hydrologic Evaluation Landfill Performance) model developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Due to this, the present wok analyses the applicability of the HELP model to study the performance of landfills in Brazil. To do so, the landfill project of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, is used, considering the local climatic, geotechnical and hydrological conditions. Related to other computational models, the results show that the HELP model had a satisfactory performance considering the small amount of data required and the facility to obtain the results. / Dissertação importada do Alexandria

Master of Science / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Jared R. Anderson / Couples often wait until the very end to seek help for their relationship, with divorce being one of the primary concerns cited in couple’s therapy (Doss, Simpson & Christensen, 2004). While couples appear to be reluctant to seek formal resources, we know that over 50% of individuals are confiding in friends and family about their relationship (Lind Seal, Doherty, & Harris, 2015). Currently, the literature is limited and unable to provide a comprehensive explanation for why individuals do or do not seek help for their relationship. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we adapted a medical model- the Health Belief Model (HBM)- to relationship help-seeking. Based on the success of this model at predicting help-seeking behaviors related to physical and mental health, we believe it could be applicable to relationship help-seeking. In addition to identify factors associated with relationship help-seeking behaviors, we hope to identify factors that mediate both formal and informal relationship help-seeking behaviors. To study this we collected data from 347 individuals in emotionally committed relationships. The results of the analysis showed that the perception of threats, such as greater relationship instability and greater negative social comparison, were linked to more online help-seeking; whereas expectations such as the greater endorsement of stigma of self and masculinity were linked to lower levels relationship help-seeking behaviors and worse attitudes toward help-seeking. Furthermore, greater stigma of self was found to be directly linked to having a worse attitude toward help-seeking, as well as indirectly linked to lower rates of formal and online relationship help-seeking behaviors via the prior effects of attitudes toward help-seeking. The results of this study suggest further areas for investigation in regard to relationship help-seeking, specifically around self-stigma.

A User Interface Management System (UIMS) called the Harness has been developed to support the front-ending of existing software systems. In the Harness, a set of core Abstract Interaction Objects (AIOs) was provided for knowledge-based modules to interact with the user. It is not realistic to expect the Harness to be a closed and fixed system. On the other hand, help capabilities are today considered essential components of well designed software and on-line help systems have come to be a standard feature of most new software systems.

The underutilization of mental health services among the Chinese Canadian population is a perpetual problem. The present study examined the help-seeking process among second generation Chinese Canadians using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The utility of the TPB was tested using both direct and indirect measures and path analyses were used. The influence of additional variables, including self-stigma, anticipated benefits and risks, and cultural variables such as Asian values, European American values, Chinese identity, Canadian identity, family connectedness and self-concealment were investigated. Two hundred and twelve second generation Chinese Canadians participated in the study. Participants had the option to complete the study questionnaire online or in paper format. Results supported the utilization and application of the TPB in understanding help-seeking intentions and highlighted the differential contribution of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. The study also supported the notion that perceived behavioural control consists of two inter-related but distinct components: self-efficacy and controllability. Results highlight the importance of self-efficacy in predicting help-seeking intentions among second generation Chinese Canadians. Findings also showed that Asian values, Canadian identity, anticipated benefits and risks, self-concealment, and self-stigma play different roles in predicting attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control in the help-seeking process. In sum, results of the present study served as an important step in further understanding the help-seeking process among second generation Chinese Canadians. Implications for research, clinical practice, and future directions are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to explore how level of cultural identity was related to help-seeking attitudes among Asian students and to compare between Asian and Caucasian students. A total of 367 undergraduate university students participated in this study, of whom 184 (127 female and 57 male) were Asians and 183 (137 female, 44 male and 2 unspecified gender) were Caucasians. A weak positive correlation was found between Asian cultural identity and positive help-seeking attitudes (r = .158, p = .034, n = 181) (2-tailed); no significant correlation existed between cultural identity and negative help-seeking attitudes (r = .077, p = .305, n = 178) (2-tailed); no significant differences were found among: (a) high Caucasian cultural identity, (b) low Caucasian cultural identity Asian groups, and (c) Caucasian group for both positive help-seeking attitudes (F(2, 186) - .612), p = .544). Mixed results were found indicating that there was no easily identifiable trend between cultural identity and positive and negative help-seeking attitudes. Theoretical, clinical, and research implications are discussed. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Over the past decade results from a series of research studies have contributed to the development and evaluation of the Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP), a volunteer-led patient education program for persons with arthritis. To date, these studies have primarily focussed on program effectiveness, process, implementation, and dissemination. In these studies self-efficacy was identified as an important construct contributing to the program's effectiveness, however, the exact relationship between self-efficacy and health outcomes has not been determined. In this dissertation research I investigate the evidence of a causal relationship between self-efficacy and three program outcomes (a decrease in depression, less pain, and a higher self-rating of overall health status), and attempt to determine the nature of that relationship. The research methodology involved the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) with two longitudinal samples, one (n=122) of 1991 ASMP participants in British Columbia, the other (n=189) of 1992 ASMP participants in Ontario. In the analysis self-efficacy was paired separately with depression, pain and perceived health status. The results of the SEM failed to confirm a dominant causal relationship from self-efficacy to depression, or to pain. This may indicate that these variables have a reciprocal or "spiral" relationship or that both sets of variables may be caused by factors not considered in the analysis. The results of the SEM between self-efficacy and perceived health status did, however, show that higher self-rated health status leads to higher self-efficacy at a later time. The data did not show statistical significance for other causal patterns among these variables. The findings suggest that self-efficacy may play a moderator role in the complex relationship involving individuals with arthritis, their behaviors, and health outcomes. As well, the findings have implications for health promotion planning and research in that they reinforce the complex interplay of psychological and behavioral variables (probably influenced by social variables) in programs which attempt to give individuals greater control over their health. The efficacy and effectiveness of the ASMP has been established in previous studies. This study in no way calls these into question. It does, however, suggest that the mechanism by which these effective outcomes are achieved warrants further investigation. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

No description available.

Major Depressive Disorder is regarded as a major contributor to the global burden of disease. It is considered as the fourth highest cause of disability across the globe and second highest between the ages of 15 and 44. It is a serious mental health condition that affects individuals’ physical and mental health and is often associated with comorbidities, functional impairment and at times fatal consequences. Men with depression are considered as an at-risk group as research has shown that males are less likely to receive intervention or health care compared to women, due to hegemonic masculine norms. Within the qualitative research community, some efforts have been made to give voice to men’s experiences of depression and help-seeking, as well as the coping strategies that they deploy to manage such symptoms. However, comparatively little to no research has focused on the South African population, and specifically on Black men’s experiences. Similarly, only a few studies have concentrated on the positive, helpful and/or adaptive coping strategies used by men to manage their internal distress. Thus, this study contributed to a growing body of knowledge and filled a gap in current literature. This research was qualitative in nature and deployed Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase framework for conducting a thematic analysis, in order to analyse the eight individual interviews conducted. The analysis produced various themes and subthemes that elucidated the experiences of masculinity, depression, help-seeking and coping mechanisms among Black men in South Africa. The three overarching themes included: Real men don’t cry; Sadness hurts, but sharing hurts more; and Dark days, take control; all of which were related to several subthemes. The analysis indicated that Black men in South Africa do experience depressed moods and internal distress. However, they may deny such experiences due to their subscription to strength-based masculine ideals. They instead foster a mask of indifference to such pain by denying or supressing their emotions in order to assimilate into masculine norms. This was even more apparent in Black African cultures where hegemonic masculine norms were further entrenched and encouraged. Furthermore, public and self-stigma were commonly cited as a reason why the men in the study felt the need to uphold this image of indifference and keep subscribing to such dogmas. This translated into the men’s experiences and attitudes towards help-seeking, where they would often reject or be reluctant to disclose their emotional distress to professionals or to those closest to them. This was due to the perception that help-seeking is in line with femininity, which diverts/shifts away from the masculine ideals they sought to uphold. Another aspect introduced was how these concepts intertwined with Black African cultures. Namely, it may be more difficult for Black men in South Africa to openly express their experiences of depression or seek help psychologically, as these are Westernised terms and are uncommon in Black communities. However, a more traditionally accepted help-seeking route was to go to a traditional healer or Sangoma. Considering the men’s overall reluctance to seek help, they engaged in coping strategies in order to manage depressed feelings, as this was more in line with the masculinity expectations of autonomy, unemotionality and problem solving. Negative coping mechanisms were seen as a celebrated and normalized way for men to numb or supress their emotional distress, while still enacting masculinity. Lastly, although positive coping strategies were posited as a way for men to directly engage in distressful emotions, this was more difficult to adopt as they were perceived to be aligned with more feminine traits. This research created a framework that can be used to conceptualise Black South African men’s experiences of depression, help-seeking and coping strategies. This research is of utmost importance considering that men are noted to be more likely to experience functional impairments or fatal consequences due to their reticence for help-seeking. As such, men and future public health messaging could capitalise on this research in order to improve help-seeking and self-management behaviour amongst this population. This is particularly relevant considering our current context of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Keywords: Major Depressive Disorder, South African men, help-seeking, coping strategies, and qualitative thematic analysis. / Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Psychology / MA (Clinical Psychology) / Unrestricted