abstract: Determining the factors associated with the availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in the household may help in understanding the varying complexities that contribute to obesity among children and help design interventions to impact children's food consumption behaviors. This study examined factors that are associated with the availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in children's home food environments (HFE). Data was collected from a random-digit-dial telephone survey of 1708 households, with at least one child between 3-18 years of age, located in five low-income New Jersey cities. HFE was assessed based on responses to a set of six items that measured availability of specific healthy and unhealthy foods in the respondent's home. These items contributed to construction of three HFE scales used as dependent variables in these analyses: healthy HFE, unhealthy HFE, and a ratio of healthy to unhealthy foods in the HFE. Independent variables included household socio-demographics, parental perceptions of their own weight and diet health, frequency of family meals, proximity to food outlets, and perception of access to healthy foods in the neighborhood food environment. Significant differences were observed in the HFE by race and ethnicity, with Non-Hispanic black children having fewer healthy foods and Non-Hispanic white children having more unhealthy food items available at home. Parents who reported being overweight or obese had a healthier HFE and those perceiving their own eating as healthy had more healthy and less unhealthy foods in the household. Food-secure households had more unhealthy compared to healthy foods at home. Households located farther from a supermarket had a greater number of unhealthy food items and a lower healthy/unhealthy food availability ratio. Parental perception of better access to fruits and vegetables and low-fat foods was associated with availability of a greater number of healthy food items at home. Overall, the HFE varied by parental and demographic characteristics, parental perceptions about the food environment and the actual features of the built neighborhood food environment. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2012

Master of Science / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Briana S. Nelson Goff / Traumatic events affect not only the primary trauma survivor, but also secondary trauma survivors (e.g., spouses, children). Intimate partner relationships provide unique conditions for examining how the interpersonal and/or systemic impact of trauma exposure and post-trauma responses can impact both the primary and secondary trauma survivors, and the interpersonal dynamics of the couple. Preliminary work has indicated that the extent of trauma disclosure may serve as a buffering effect for relationship adjustment for those below the clinical threshold for PTSD (Monk & Nelson Goff, 2014). Researchers also have found that relationships can suffer effects in direct correlation to trauma disclosure (Creech, Benzer, Liebsack, Proctor, & Taft, 2013; Nelson Goff et al., 2006). The current study explored qualitative and quantitative data from low trauma disclosure individuals (n = 15) and their partners. The Couple Adaptation to Traumatic Stress Model (Nelson Goff & Smith, 2005; Oseland, Gallus, & Nelson Goff, in press) was used to provide the framework for understanding the experiences of low trauma disclosure to spouses in a sample of Army soldiers and their spouses. The low trauma disclosure group reported some positive and negative themes related to relationship functioning. The mixed trauma disclosure partners (n = 7) reported primarily negative themes related to relationship functioning, as well as the positive theme of increased communication. The high trauma disclosure partners (n = 4) reported all positive themes related to relationship functioning. Contrary to the original hypothesis, the results indicated mixed trauma disclosure partners seemed to be functioning at lower levels than the low or high trauma disclosure partners A quantitative analysis demonstrated a number of trends throughout the disclosure groups. The low trauma disclosure group reported scores between the mixed and high trauma disclosure groups for all measures. The mixed trauma disclosure group overall reported the highest PTSD scores and lowest couple adjustment scores, despite experiencing the lowest number of traumatic events and general trauma symptoms. The high trauma disclosure group reported the highest couple adjustment scores, despite experiencing the highest number of traumatic events, trauma symptoms, and lowest PTSD scores. Implications for practice and future research also are described.

abstract: This dissertation examines how young children engage with digital games at home and how parents think and talk about their children's digital gaming. This is an ethnographic case study of the digital game playing of six three-year-old children in six families. This study combines ethnographic methods and critical perspectives to construct analyses that have the potential to rethink young children's digital game play. The focus of this study is on understanding how digital gaming functions in children's everyday lives. This study shows that young children's digital game play takes place in the interstices of their everyday family life. Digital games do not entirely change or displace other practices in early childhood, but they are integrated into existing young children's everyday practices in their family life. Digital games as a source of young children's imagination enrich young children's play rather than substitute for young children's spontaneous non-digital play. Young children and their parents tactically use young children's mobile game play to cope with their modern life. Negotiating over game selections, time, and space between young children and their parents is an everyday practice of families and digital games are a site not only for family power struggles but also of shared activity. Digital games reflect the dominant culture in which they are produced. However, this study shows that young children do not passively receive the messages in the games but rather make sense of the game contents according to their everyday local experiences. Digital games are now a part of everyday practices for both adults and young children, and young children's digital game play reflects contemporary society. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Curriculum and Instruction 2015

Young people from foster care face numerous challenges and barriers in their transition to adulthood and engagement with higher education. Foster alumni are one of the most disadvantaged student populations, compelling educators and policy makers to create pathways leading to student success. This qualitative life history explores the journey of one foster alumnus from high school drop out to four-year college scholarship recipient. Narrative intimate inquiry frames this study. A critical lens is used to view the identity capital of one raised by surrogate parents—the state. Jean serves as the heart of this study; I serve as a co-constructor in bringing her story to life. I explore how the life of one speaks to the plight of many and how we can smooth out the transition processes for this underserved, historically marginalized group of young people seeking stability. In addition, this study explores intimateness in inquiry. Intimate inquiry bringing to the forefront a critical conversation of how love and relationship with participants adds dimension to both scholarly contribution of findings and the rich nuances of researcher-participant engagement.

The current study examined the influence of parental warmth/support on adolescent psychological well-being (i.e., depression and psychosocial maturity), and how the impact of parental warmth/support on these outcomes may differ based on the relationship an adolescent is able to develop with at least one teacher at school (i.e., teacher-student bond). It was of particular interest to explore whether a close teacher-student bond might moderate the effect a parent-child relationship lacking warmth and support has on adolescent depressive symptoms and psychosocial maturity. Participants were a sample of 15-year-old adolescents (N= 815) from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore the potential interaction effects of teacher bonding and parental warmth/support on depressive symptoms and psychosocial maturity in 15-year-old adolescents. Results suggested that the teacher-adolescent relationship moderated the impact of parental warmth/support on adolescent depression scores for female adolescents only. The teacher-adolescent relationship did not moderate the influence of parental warmth/support on adolescent psychosocial maturity.

The current study investigated the importance of a father-adolescent relationship when a mother experiences depressive symptomatology. Specifically, does a sensitive father serve to buffer his adolescent's social-emotional well-being from the potential negative outcomes associated with maternal depression (e.g., depression, anxiety; Bureau, Easterbrooks, & Ruth-Lyons, 2009; Cummings et al. 2005; increased behavior problems and psychopathology; Garstein & Sheeber, 2004)? Secondary statistical analyses were ran on 498 families of adolescents using the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care (SECC) longitudinal data set. Results indicate that having a sensitive father does moderate the relationship between a mother who has depressive symptoms and her adolescent daughter's depressive and anxious symptoms. An adolescent girl with a depressed mother will experience fewer anxious/depressed symptoms when she has a father high on sensitivity; however when her father is lower on sensitivity, she will experience more anxious depressed symptoms. The results were not significant for externalizing behavior, thus having a sensitive father did not serve as a buffer between maternal depression and adolescent externalizing symptoms.

Student sense of belonging in universities is tied to increased retention rates and satisfaction with university experience. However, international students may be experiencing low levels of belonging, especially with American students. From a survey that asked students about their sense of belonging to the university, with American students, and with other international students, it was found that ethnic background had an impact on the level of belonging and connection. Through interviews with four Chinese females and two Caucasian males, further information was gathered about their experiences that contributed to or inhibited their sense of belonging. Themes such as discrimination, levels of English fluency, and participation in groups on campus emerged as some factors for why some students felt a high sense of belonging when others felt a low sense of belonging. Suggestions for how to improve university services to increase sense of belonging were addressed at the end of the study.

Doctor of Philosophy / Family Studies and Human Services / Duane W. Crawford Jr / Farrell J. Webb / This investigation sought to examine the role of acculturation and generational theory and influenced social and cultural practices among Saudi Arabian students who were currently residing in the United States. Theoretically, it sought to answers questions that help determine how Americanization—the adaptation and acculturation of a visiting culture to absorb and incorporate the host culture into their lives, customs, and social practices, and in this case savings behavior. A comprehensive model was developed to test the idea that living in America can and does have an influence on social and cultural practices. What was of interest in this study was whether or not these same influences could have an impact on particular cultural practices, in this case how people felt about, reacted to, and addressed the concept of savings—the stockpiling of funds for future needs. Information was gathered from a sample of over 500 Saudi Arabian students living in the United States. The model as structured was tested using SEM analytic techniques in an effort to fully explore and expose the nuanced and subtle differences among the respondents. The concept of savings behavior being influenced by Americanization as originally discussed was not substantiated by the model even though some of the indicators were within expected parameters (χ² = 217.241, p < .001; CFI = 0.839, TLI = 0.732, RMSEA = 0.034). Despite the general problems the overall model revealed that at least 17% of what was termed as savings behavior could be explained by the model. The study still retained its value because it has made inroads into an area that has not yet been explored. Future investigations should take care to find better ways to incorporate some of the cultural elements of savings behavior directly into the instrument based on the perspective of their test populations rather than assume value in and use instruments tested and normed with US samples.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Rick J. Scheidt / Previous research has discovered that most 18-to-25 year olds do not feel they have reached the rite of passage known as adulthood. This period of development, termed “emerging adulthood”, is characterized by identity exploration and myriad possibilities related to who one is and what one wants out of life. Empirical evidence suggests that future goals linked to one’s identity are more likely to be obtained through three actions specified in the Selection-Optimization-Compensation (S.O.C.) model: selecting goals to focus one’s resources, optimizing goal-relevant means, and, when necessary, compensating for losses that may occur in these means. The purpose of this study was (a) to identify the proportions of 18-to-25 year old perceived adults vs. emerging adults in a university sample (n = 828); (b) to assess the degree to which self-reported perceived adult status distinguishes self-reports of achieved adult criteria, goal-pursuit strategies, and subjective well-being, and; (c) to determine the predictive utility of perceived adult status, background characteristics, and goal-pursuit strategies for understanding individual differences in life satisfaction, positive affect (i.e., subjective vitality), and negative affect (i.e., depressive symptoms). Analyses of on-line survey responses indicated that approximately one-fourth (24%) of participants reported they had reached adulthood, and, compared to their emerging adult peers, had achieved more criteria for adulthood and were using more effective goal-pursuit strategies. Step-wise multiple regression analyses revealed that specific background characteristics (e.g., relationship status and GPA) and goal-pursuit strategies (e.g., optimization) were significant and strongest predictors of the participants’ life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. Perceived adult status was a significant moderate predictor of both life satisfaction and positive affect but was unrelated to negative affect. Implications of the findings for developmental researchers, educators, and practitioners are discussed.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Sandra Stith / Farrell Webb / This study explored the impact of differentiation of self on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). First, the study determined if differentiation of self in a relationship added to the variance accounted for by the known risk factors including relational satisfaction, marital conflict, romantic jealousy, depression, anxiety, and attitude about violence towards women. Second, it examined the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between differentiation of self and IPV. Results indicated that differentiation of self in a relationship is a predictor of perpetration of intimate partner violence in relationships even after controlling for other known risk factors. Results also indicated that gender did not moderate the relationship between differentiation of self and perpetration of violence.