<p> This qualitative phenomenological study explored the research question: What is the lived experience of hearing adults of Deaf parents who acted as language and cultural conduits for their parents during their formative years? Interviews captured recollections of 12 hearing adults, of culturally Deaf parents, where American Sign Language was the primary language in their home of origin, and who experienced interpreting for their parent(s). Recollections of lived experiences and perceptions of influence on personal development served as the research data. Open-ended questions stimulated self-directed responses of interviewee perceptions of desirable and challenging experiences. Interview data examined through Moustakas&rsquo; phenomenological analysis schema, provided a sense of the whole, ascertained meaningful units for psychological concept application, captured distinct descriptions, and composite essence of findings. Giorgi&rsquo;s three-stage analysis via bracketing, description, and essence articulation through the use of intentional journaling, secondary researcher scrutiny/agreement, along with manual and electronic analysis, supported objectivity. Nuance appreciation emerged using Bronfenbrenner&rsquo;s bio-ecological Process-Person-Context-Time model. Composite themes included: being a Child of Deaf Adults (Coda) is a privilege; parental interpreting expectations/preferences were influenced by era, sibling chronology, gender, personality, fluency, and technology; language brokering dynamics beyond the child&rsquo;s level of comfort or understanding; transient resistance to signing during one&rsquo;s tween/teen years; influence on one&rsquo;s own parenting style; personal identity development within the Deaf and Hearing cultural milieu; pride and appreciation for their parents&rsquo; achievements; and overt certainty that personal career choices directly stemmed from being a Coda.</p>

<p>The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if there is a relationship between the constructs of authentic leadership and scores on the WFS-DMC in a state in the Southeastern United States of America. It is not known if or to what extent there is a relationship between authentic leadership traits and scores on the Willingness to Foster Scale-Disabilities and Medical Conditions, which has been linked to positive outcomes in foster parents. Authentic leadership was the theoretical framework for this study. Authentic leadership has been shown to lead to improved morale, job performance, job satisfaction, and other positive attitudes. This quantitative study was guided by the following five research questions: Is there a relationship between one?s overall level of authentic leadership and scores on the WFS-DMC? Is there a relationship between self-awareness and scores on the WFS-DMC? Is there a relationship between internalized moral perspective and scores on the WFS-DMC? Is there a relationship between balanced processing and scores on the WFS-DMC? Is there a relationship between relational transparency and scores on the WFS-DMC? The study population consisted of 44 participants from the target population of foster parents who licensed at the time of study with a public or private agency in a Southeastern state in the United States of America. This study used a quantitative methodology with a correlational research design. Spearman?s rho was used to analyze the data. Results from the study showed no significant statistical findings but pointed out areas for further research and practice.

<p> This project looked at the experience of 14 interracial couples who are connected with Fort Lee Gospel Church and a second multiethnic church. The question being addressed was whether or not a multiethnic church was better positioned to minister to an interracial couple than a mono-ethnic church. The questions were organized around the topic of general opposition, or failure to belong, experienced by interracial couples, how interracial couples experienced various churches, and how they experienced belonging in a multiethnic church. The experience of belonging was organized around five constructs: verbal affirmation, sense of commonality, feelings of inclusion, feelings of positive regard, and absence of prejudice or racism. On each of these constructs it was determined that an ethnically diverse church is a better setting for interracial couples to experience belonging. In addition, the transcultural experience of interracial couples uniquely equips them to help overcome racial differences that naturally occur within a multiethnic church.</p>

<p> Children placed in out-of-home care experience challenges while in foster care. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between children placed in out-of-home care and the bond and closeness with their caregivers. Secondary data from the Midwest Study About the Crime During the Transition to Adulthood: How Youth Fare as They Leave Out-of-Home Care in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin was used to develop a quantitative study on related variables. Findings indicated no significant relationship between outcomes for children in foster care and caregiver closeness.</p>

<p> This qualitative phenomenological study explored the various experiences and understandings of the key differentiators that predict family-owned businesses&rsquo; success from the first generation to the third generation. The sample used in this study consisted of ten public family-owned businesses and ten private family-owned businesses. The study utilized open-ended interviews and empirical research to identify relevant themes, trends and relationships. Three clusters of themes emerged: growth, entitlement and differentiation. The study identified those concepts that would explain the historical trajectory of the public and private family-owned companies. Leadership continuity drives succession planning, and leadership is the starting point for successor training, education, and development. The continued survival and growth of the organization depend on employing the right people, in the right position, at the right time. The future of succession planning is an important issue for all firms due to demographic factors, such as the rising number of employees reaching retirement age and the dwindling number of younger workers replacing them.</p>

One purpose of this study was to measure and compare adolescent perceptions of intrafamilial stress for 1698 natural-parent, 283 stepfather, and 77 stepmother families. The Index of Family Relations scale was used to measure the level of intrafamilial stress in family member relationships. Results of the one-way analysis of variance show that while adolescents in stepfather families report significantly more intrafamilial stress than adolescents in natural-parent families, adolescents in stepmother families report the highest degree of stress. / These results indicate that one-third of the adolescents in stepfather families and approximately one-half of the adolescents in stepmother families report clinically significant family member relationship problems. On the other hand, two-thirds of the adolescents in stepfather families and approximately one-half of the adolescents in stepmother families perceived no clinically significant problems in their intrafamilial relationships. / A second purpose was to examine the relationship between adolescent perceptions of intrafamilial stress in stepfamilies (n = 360) and: (A) quality of the marital relationship (QMR); (B) quality of the mother-child relationship (QMCR); (C) quality of the father-child relationship (QFCR); (D) length of time the stepfamily has lived together; (E) presence or absence of a common child of the remarried couple; (F) type of termination of the previous marriage; (G) stepchild's religion; (H) stepchild's age; (I) stepchild's sex; (J) stepparent's age; and (K) stepparent's sex. / The results of the regression analysis indicate that the QMR, the QMCR, and the QFCR (i.e., variables which were indicators of relationship dynamics) were excellent predictors of adolescent perceptions of intrafamilial stress in stepfamilies. The remaining eight demographic variables were non-significant. These results indicate that if researchers want information on family member relationship problems, it seems imperative to focus on variables which are related to relationship processes rather than single-factor demographic characteristics. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-11, Section: B, page: 4557. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

The major purposes of this study were to determine the conditions of, satisfactions with and aspirations for housing of the Appalachian coal miner and to examine the relationships between housing deprivation, housing satisfactions, housing aspirations and various demographic and housing characteristics. / A proportionate random sample was selected from the rank-and-file coal miners employed at mines located in McDowell County, West Virginia. A questionnaire was developed, pilot tested, revised and mailed to 687 miner families. A total of 438 usable questionnaires (63%) was returned. An SPSS computer program was used to analyze data. / Findings revealed the majority of miners in this study was not housing deprived; however, they lacked some amenities enjoyed by workers of similar incomes in other geographic locations. Housing deprivation was related to length of time in dwelling, form of tenure, location of dwelling, family income and race; however, the magnitude of the relationships was weak. / Housing satisfaction was significantly correlated with location of dwelling, race, housing deprivation and propensity to more. However, only location was an important relationship in terms of magnitude. Thus, it can be concluded that those miners in the sample who live outside McDowell County are better satisfied with their housing. / Housing aspirations were related to only one variable, family income. However the magnitude of the relationship was weak. Respondents desired a brick home with central air conditioning, a dining room, family room, laundry room, three bedrooms, one and a half baths, a deck or patio, and a garage. These aspirations closely approximate American cultural norms for housing. / A comparison of McDowell County residents and non-residents showed significant differences in family income, education of household head, race, housing deprivation, and housing satisfaction. Miners living outside McDowell County were better satisfied with their housing and less likely to be housing deprived than those living within McDowell County. However, there was no difference in the housing aspiration levels of the two groups. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-05, Section: A, page: 1707. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.

This study examines the relationship between emotional distance and negotiation power in intact families with two adolescent children resident in the home. It also assesses the role of sex as a mediating variable. Controlling for biological generation, occupational status and education, the study uses Osmond's Reciprocity game to measure negotiation power and the Kevbaek Family Sculpture Technique to measure emotional distance between family members. The sample consists of thirty-three families from evangelical churches in the Jackson, MS SMSA. / The results indicate that emotional distance is significantly related to power for some family members and dyads, but not for others and that the direction of its effect varies. Emotional distance is most influential among adolescents, especially daughters. Partner emotional distance is positively related to subject power for parents negotiating with parents and for mothers negotiating with daughters. In the remaining family dyads, the effect of power is the inverse, power decreases as partner emotional distance increases. Sex does not mediate the relationship of emotional distance and power. / Models predicting power in the six possible family position dyads were constructed by hierarchical ANOVA procedures. The models vary from dyad to dyad with respect to variables included and the magnitude of the contribution which each variable makes to the prediction of power, highlighting the complex diversity of power in families and the relevance of the individual subsystem, the family relationship system and the extra-familial social system to family power. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-07, Section: B, page: 3840. / Major Professor: Marie W. Osmond. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

The purpose of this study was to explore mother-daughter relationships as age and perceptions of autonomy related with reported intimacy, conflict, self-esteem, and quality of relationship. The study utilized 221 matched pairs of post-adolescent females and their mothers. Questionnaires were completed using college students in the College of Human Sciences at The Florida State University during 1992. Mothers of the females who volunteered for this study were mailed questionnaires to complete and return to this researcher. The variables of age and autonomy were examined with respect to the variables of intimacy, conflict, self-esteem and quality of relationship. / The research questions were analyzed using canonical correlations and multiple regression analysis. The canonical correlation results showed the six scales to be unidimensional with age correlating only with autonomy, as measured by the Family of Origin Scale. Canonical correlations between dependent and independent sets of variables for both mothers and daughters were significant. / Multiple regression analysis results showed slightly varying patterns between mothers and daughters with conflict being the only independent variable to significantly predict quality of relationship for both mothers and daughters. Multiple regression analysis results for daughters yielded two significant predictor variables, that of conflict and family of origin. Regression results for mothers showed three significant independent variables including conflict, intimacy, and self-esteem. / Demographics showed a fairly homogeneous group of daughters and a slightly less homogeneous group of mothers. Mothers and daughters differed on autonomy and conflict; however, mothers and daughters were quite similar on measures of self-esteem, intimacy, and quality of relationship. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-08, Section: A, page: 3224. / Major Professor: Ronald L. Mullis. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

The field of couples and family therapy is guided by diverse theories that attempt to explain change processes in couples. Each of these theories has been criticized in the literature for various inadequacies that render the theory incomplete. The research question that guided this study was "What, if anything, is influential in the process of change in couples' relationships?" The key to answering this question lies in a qualitative research process that is not dominated by any particular theoretical paradigm. / The qualitative method used in this study is a grounded theory approach that attempts to eliminate any theoretical assumptions in collecting data. Twenty-six couple members were interviewed regarding their separate views of how change occurred in therapy. The results of these interviews were used to construct a theory of change processes in couples. / A core or organizing category of "the open mind" was found to be a major factor in precipitating change in couple relationships. Three important characteristics of an open mind are emotional control, a willingness to open up and an ability to understand the other person. It was found that both couple members are required to be open minded before change can take place in the relationship. The key factor in creating open minds in couples was their understanding that the relationship could end if change did not take place. Once couple members became open minded they were open to guidance from the therapist in learning to solve problems. Clinical implications of these ideas are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-08, Section: A, page: 2590. / Major Professor: Thomas E. Smith. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.