AAMSM (African American men who have sex with men) endure homophobia and racism in their political realities because of their identity. How do multiple oppressions impact the experiences of AAMSM participating within Black churches? Despite the Black church's legacy for liberating African Americans, AAMSM feel demonized and alienated while enduring religion-based homophobia espoused within many Black churches. In the church, AAMSM are pushed further down the hierarchy of oppression and privilege. In response to these observations, this thesis employs a sexual discourse of resistance. I engage this discourse with a literature review in order to discover links between homophobia and AAMSM in an interdisciplinary manner. Jungian psychology is then utilized to interpret internalized oppression. This leads to a discussion of social and religious justice for AAMSM in the Black church through the lens of liberation theology. While the oppressed have become oppressors within the Black church as regards AAMSM, liberation theology affirms all of humanity. Liberation theology provides a message of love for AAMSM and a source of Christian ethics for the Black church.

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The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of internalized stigma of mental illness on the career development of college students with hidden disabilities. The availability of research investigating career variables within this population is limited and is primarily focused within the vocational rehabilitation arena. Therefore, one of the goals of the current study was to link separate bodies of literature on college students with disabilities, career development, and internalized stigma of mental illness. The second goal was to examine the interaction of internalized stigma of mental illness between career decision self-efficacy and career exploration on the perceived likelihood of achieving hoped for occupational possible selves (OPS). The study included college students with hidden disabilities and investigated variables related to mental illness and career. Participants were administered a background information questionnaire, the Career Decision Self-Efficacy scale (CDSE-SF), selected subscales of the Career Exploration Survey (CES), and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI). Contrary to hypotheses, career decision making self-efficacy, career self-exploration, and internalized stigma of mental illness did not have a direct effect on the perceived likelihood of achieving hoped for OPS. However, career environment exploration did have a direct and positive association with perceived likelihood of achieving hoped for OPS. Results further indicated internalized stigma of mental illness did not moderate the effect of career decision self-efficacy and career exploration on the perceived likelihood of achieving one's hoped for occupational self. Study implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Les adolescents qui ont subi de la négligence ou des abus substantiels dans leur famille risquent de présenter des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs et des comportements antisociaux plus importants. Parmi les ressources internes qui pourraient contribuer à la résilience de ces jeunes, les stratégies qu’ils adoptent pour composer avec les situations stressantes ont été peu examinées. Dans cette thèse, nous examinons les stratégies d’adaptation utilisées par 336 adolescents placés en centre de réadaptation, avec pour objectif de vérifier leur rôle modérateur dans la relation entre les mauvais traitements qu’ils perçoivent et l’ampleur de leurs problèmes intériorisés ou extériorisés. Le premier chapitre présente une revue de la recherche sur les liens entre divers stresseurs, les stratégies d’adaptation des jeunes et leur condition psychologique. Ces études mettent en lumière combien les effets des stratégies qu’ils utilisent peuvent varier selon les stresseurs familiaux ou sociaux auxquels ils sont exposés. Les deux études empiriques aux chapitres 2 et 3 portent sur les interactions entre trois types de maltraitance (abus émotionnel ou physique, négligence émotionnelle) et quatre stratégies d’adaptation (centrées sur les problèmes, les émotions, la diversion sociale et la distraction). Dans la première étude, ces interactions sont testées pour leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes intériorisés rapportés par les jeunes ou leurs éducateurs; la seconde étude explore leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes extériorisés. Quand les problèmes intériorisés sont rapportés par les adolescents, les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes, la diversion sociale et la distraction avaient un effet protecteur sur l’ampleur des symptômes associés à la maltraitance émotionnelle, surtout chez les filles. Les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ont aussi un effet protecteur sur la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et les comportements agressifs rapportés par les jeunes. Toutefois quand il s’agit des problèmes extériorisés, plusieurs interactions montrent plutôt que les effets adaptatifs de certaines stratégies diminuent quand les mauvais traitements augmentent. Il en est ainsi pour les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ou la diversion sociale quand ces problèmes sont observés par les éducateurs, et pour les distractions, lorsqu’ils sont rapportés par les filles. Enfin la diversion sociale est associée à des comportements délinquants plus marqués rapportés par les jeunes et son effet modérateur chez les garçons montre que cette relation est plus forte quand ils sont moins maltraités. Les stratégies d’adaptation examinées contribuent donc surtout à atténuer la détresse émotionnelle des filles victimes de maltraitance psychologique, mais elles semblent avoir peu d’impact sur les comportements antisociaux des jeunes maltraités. Ces résultats sont discutés en lien avec les caractéristiques de notre échantillon. Les implications cliniques qui s’en dégagent permettent de suggérer des pistes pour mieux soutenir ces jeunes dans l’apprentissage de stratégies adaptatives pour réguler leur stress. / Adolescents who experienced serious abuse and neglect show a higher risk of anxious and depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior. Therefore, it is important to identify the coping strategies that favor their psychosocial adjustment. This doctorate dissertation examines the moderating role of coping strategies on the relation between maltreatment reported by 336 adolescents staying in a rehabilitation centre and their internalized and externalized problems. The first chapter presents conceptual and developmental models of coping and a literature review of the relations between different stressors, adolescents coping strategies and their psychological adaptation. In the following two chapters, the interactions between three types of abuse (emotional or physical abuse, emotional neglect) and four coping styles (emotion-oriented, problem-oriented, social diversion or distraction) are tested, for their effects on adolescents internalized problems in the first study, and on their externalized problems in the second study. Emotion-oriented coping was positively and directly related with internalized and externalized problems reported by all youths. For girls, problem-oriented strategies, social diversion and distraction showed stress-buffering effects on the relation of emotional abuse or neglect to self-reported internalized problems. Problem-oriented strategies had a similar effect on the relation between emotional abuse and self-reported externalized problems for all youths. When predicting externalized problems, other interactions revealed that the adaptive benefits of coping diminish when abuse is more serious. Hence, problem-oriented strategies and social diversion were associated with less externalized problems reported by educators only when adolescents were not maltreated and distractions were related to less aggressive behaviors only in non-maltreated girls. Social diversion was associated with an increase in self-reported rule-breaking behaviors by all youths. For boys, social diversion interacted with all maltreatment variables, so that it was related to more severe rule-breaking behaviors when boys were not maltreated. Thus, our results show more protective effects of these strategies when predicting the emotional symptoms of abused girls, and little impact on the extent of antisocial behavior in abused adolescents. These results are interpreted in relation with developmental issues related to adolescence, and with the specific vulnerabilities observed in abuse victims.

Plusieurs facteurs de risque de développement de troubles intériorisés, tels que les troubles d’anxiété et de l’humeur, ont été identifiés dans la littérature. Les deux plus importants facteurs de risques regroupent l’adversité vécue durant l’enfance (par exemple la maltraitance) et le risque parental (c’est-à-dire la présence d’un trouble intériorisé chez l’un ou les deux parents). Ces facteurs de risque ont été liés à des changements neuroanatomiques similaires à ceux observés en lien avec les troubles intériorisés. Ainsi, en présence de ces facteurs de risque, des anomalies anatomiques pourraient laisser présager l’apparition prochaine d’une symptomatologie de troubles intériorisés chez des individus encore asymptomatiques. Chez les quelques populations de jeunes investiguées, les participants présentaient des comorbidités et/ou étaient sous médication, ce qui rend difficile l’interprétation des atteintes cérébrales observées. Ce travail de thèse s’est intéressé aux liens entre ces deux facteurs de risque et les substrats neuroanatomiques associés à chacun d’eux, chez des adolescents asymptomatiques et n’étant sous aucune médication. Une première étude a examiné le lien entre le niveau de pratiques parentales coercitives et le niveau de symptômes d’anxiété, mesurés de manière longitudinale depuis la naissance, et les différences neuroanatomiques observées à l’adolescence (voir Chapitre 2). Une deuxième étude a examiné le lien entre le risque parental de développer des troubles d’anxiété et les différences neuroanatomiques observées à l’adolescence (voir Chapitre 3). Une troisième étude s’est intéressée au lien entre le risque parental de développer un trouble de dépression ou un trouble bipolaire et les différences neuroanatomiques observées à l’adolescence (voir Chapitre 4). Les résultats démontrent des différences de volume et/ou d’épaisseur corticale dans plusieurs structures clés impliquées dans le traitement et la régulation des émotions. C’est le cas du cortex préfrontal, de l’amygdale, de l’hippocampe et du striatum. Ces résultats suggèrent que certaines des différences neuroanatomiques observées dans les troubles intériorisés peuvent être présentes avant que le trouble ne se manifeste, et représenter des marqueurs neuronaux du risque de développer le trouble. Les implications théoriques et les limites de ces trois études sont finalement discutées dans le Chapitre 5. / Several risk factors for the development of internalized disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorders have been identified in the literature. The two most important risk factors include adversity during childhood (i.e. abuse, neglect and harsh parenting) and parental risk (i.e. the presence of an internalized disorder in one or both parents). These risk factors have been linked to anatomical changes in several brain structures, which are similar to those observed in internalized disorders. Thus, in the presence of these risk factors, anatomical abnormalities may predict the appearance of internalized disorders in asymptomatic individuals. In the few studies that have investigated the influence of these risk factors in a youth population, participants often had comorbidities and/or were medicated, which makes the observed anatomical changes difficult to interpret. This work has focused on these two risk factors (i.e. adversity during childhood, in the form of harsh parenting, and the parental risk) and their link with the anatomical cerebral substrates, in asymptomatic and un-medicated adolescents. A first study examined the link between harsh parenting, levels of anxiety symptoms, as measured longitudinally from birth, and neuroanatomical differences in adolescents (see Chapter 2). A second study examined the link between parental risk of developing anxiety disorders, and neuroanatomical differences in adolescents (see Chapter 3). A third study looked at the link between parental risk for developing depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, and neuroanatomical differences in adolescents (see Chapter 4). Results show differences in volume and/or cortical thickness of several key cerebral structures involved in emotional processing and regulation. This is the case of the prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, the amygdala, hippocampus and striatum. These results suggest that some neuroanatomical differences in internalized disorders may be present before the disorder emerges, and represent neuronal markers denoting the risk of developing the disorder. The theoretical implications and limitations of these three studies are discussed in Chapter 5.

This project explores, identifies, and interrogates how Swedish online mass media represent the issue of 'racisms' between people with migrant background/migrant groups and the implications of these representations on their lives. The materials are analyzed using the WPR approach (Bacchi 1999) and content media analysis. The theoretical background draws from social psychological theory of intergroup relations, postcolonial theory and critical race theory in order to establish an overview of the concept of ‘racism’ and how it can be used in relation to migrant groups. Where the media representations maintained that migrants can produce 'racism', led to further stigmatization and exclusion of migrant groups. Internalizing racism by migrants can result in self-hatred and practicing migrant respectability in order to differentiate themselves from undesirable migrants as represented in the materials. This project contributes in exploring the system of hierarchies which can deepen our understanding of how tensions and conflicts work between migrant groups.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2009. / Advisor: Michael W. Ross. Includes bibliographical references.

Denna studie har, genom en tvärsektionell design, undersökt relationen mellan positiv och negativ självbild och fyra aspekter av internaliserad och externaliserad problematik. Självskattningsinstrumenten Structural Analysis of Social Behavior och Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire har fyllts i av en klinisk grupp bestående av 327 ungdomar i åldrarna 12 - 19 år. Data har analyserats med hjälp av stiganalys. Resultatet visade en positiv relation mellan negativ självbild och både uppförandeproblem och emotionell problematik, samt en negativ relation mellan positiv självbild och emotionell problematik. Sammanfattningsvis tyder resultatet från denna studie på att en klinisk ungdomsgrupp har liknande relation mellan självbild och problembeteende som ungdomar utan psykopatologisk problematik; där en negativ självbild associeras med mer- och en positiv självbild associeras med mindre problembeteenden. Studiens resultat accentuerar betydelsen av att inkludera både interpersonella och intrapersonella aspekter när problembeteenden utreds och behandlas. / This study examined the relationship between positive and negative self-concept and four aspects of internalized and externalized problem behaviors, through a cross-sectional design. The self-assessment instruments Structural Analysis of Social Behavior and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were completed by a clinical group consisting of 327 adolescents aged 12-19 years. Data were analyzed through path analysis. The results showed a positive relationship between negative self-concept and both behavioral and emotional problems, as well as a negative relationship between positive self-concept and emotional problems. In conclusion, the result of this study suggests that a clinical youth group has a similar relationship between self-concept and problem behavior as do young people without psychopathological problems; where a negative self-concept is associated with more- and a positive self-concept is associated with less problem behaviors. The study's results accentuate the importance of including both interpersonal and intrapersonal aspects when problem behavior is investigated and treated.

Psykisk ohälsa har blivit allt mer uppmärksammat i Sverige och de senaste 10 åren har en 100 % ökning skett. Att utöva sport som fritidsaktivitet är mycket vanligt i Sverige. 80% av alla ungdomar har någon gång deltagit i någon form av sportaktivitet. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur sportaktivitet påverkas ungdomar internaliserade problem. De tre internaliserade som valdes i denna studie var depressiva symptom, misslyckande förväntningar och dålig självkänsla. Tidigare forskning visar att självkänslan ökar vid ett aktivt sportande, depressiva symptom minskar vid ett aktivt sportande medan misslyckande förväntningar och sport aktivitetens betydelse var ett mycket begränsat forskningsområde. Vi undersökte högstadieelever vid två tillfällen med ett års mellanrum. De var 14 år gamla vid första tillfället. Resultaten från denna studie visade att självkänslan ökade, depressiva symptom och misslyckande förväntningar minskade hos ungdomar som idrottade jämfört med de som inte idrottade. Studien fokuserade även på att dela in ungdomarna i fyra grupper där vi hade ungdomar som inte idrottade vid något av de två tillfällens, de som idrottade vid båda tillfällens, de som idrottade vid första men inte vid det andra tillfället, och slutligen hade vi ungdomar som inte idrottade vid första tillfället men som gjorde det vid andra tillfället. Som slutsats visade studien att sportaktivitet påverkar ungdomars internaliserade problem och att det inte är viktigt hur mycket ungdomarna idrottar utan om de gör det eller inte. Mer betydelsefullt, vi fann att avsaknad av sportaktiviteter vid första tillfället predicerade ökningar i dåligt självförtroende och ökningar i misslyckande förväntningar från det första till det andra tillfället. / Mental illness has become more noticeable in Sweden and in the last 10 years a 100% increase has occurred. To attend sports as a leisure activity is very common in Sweden. 80% of all children have participated in any form of sport activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sport activity affects youth’s internalized problems. The three internalized problems which were chosen in this study were depressive symptoms, failure expectations and poor self-esteem. Earlier research shows that self-esteem increases when youth are active in sports, depressive symptoms decrease when youths activate themselves in sports while failure expectations and sports activities are very limited in research. The results of this study showed that self-esteem increased and depressive symptoms and failure expectations decreased in youths who exercised sports compared to those who did not exercise. The study also focused on dividing the youths into four groups where we had youths who had never been active, youth who had always been active, those who started but then stopped being active and finally we had youths who did not exercise first but who started practicing sports later on. In conclusion, the study showed that sports activity affects youths internalized problems and that it is not important how much youths are exercising sports it is whether they do or do not. More importantly, we found that the absence of sports activities initially predicted increases in poor self-confidence and increases in failure expectations from the first to the second occasion.