Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references: (p. 233-251). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references: (p. 329-345). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 124-134)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: During adolescence, friends are a central part of adolescents' daily lives, they serve as significant sources of emotional support and companionship (Keefe & Berndt, 1996; Way & Robinson, 2003) as well as provide opportunities to negotiate interpersonal conflicts and disagreements (Laursen & Pursell, 2009). This study was designed to examine the nature and correlates of friendships, capturing the multidimensional nature of these relationships. Specifically, three goals were proposed: (a) to use a pattern-analytic approach to identify different profiles of adolescents' friendships along three dimensions: intimacy, negativity, and involvement; (b) to examine linkages between profile membership and adolescents' cultural orientations and values; and (c) to explore the relation between profile membership and adolescent well-being. Participants were 246 Mexican-origin adolescents (M = 12.50 years; SD = 0.58) who participated in home interviews and a series of nightly phone calls. Adolescents reported on their friendship qualities, their cultural orientations and values, as well as their depressive symptoms, risky behaviors, and on their current grades (GPA). Adolescents' time spent with best friends was calculated from the seven nightly phone calls. Results revealed three distinct latent profiles: Positive Engagement, Moderate Engagement, and Low Involvement. Profile membership was not linked to adolescents' cultural orientations and values. Further, associations emerged between profile membership and adolescents' GPA, but not their risky behaviors and depressive symptoms. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Family and Human Development 2011

The study of Latinos in the Midwestern United States is still a largely under researched territory. Until the early 2000s, the only major sources of information about Latinos in the Midwest came from surveys done in the early 20th century that investigated patterns of Mexican immigration and labor (Martinez 2011:3,4). With the influx of more Latin@s from multiple countries of origin, researchers have expanded their topics to include issues on assimilation, transnationalism, and identity (Saenz 2011: 33-34). However, these studies paint the immigrant population as affected by the host society without consideration for how the host society may be influenced by them (Tello Buntin 2011: 228). Another issue in the literature is that Latinos are consistently categorized by language, specifically Spanish (Saenz 2011: 36. 37). For this research, I am investigating the ways that Mexican community members talk about language and identity within the context of living in CC-town, Illinois. In general, this project explores what identities are being indexed by Mexican family members living in the town and how they index their identities through language.

abstract: The popularity that regional Mexican music has achieved in the last years is impressive. The population increase of Mexican nationals in the United States and the availability to share information via web has increased the popularity of the musical genre, specially the subgenres of música norteña and banda. Regarless of the low economic class that is associated with the subgenres of música norteña and banda, nowadays they are a fundamental asset in the music industry, impart to the high volume of sales and popularity. However, even with a high index of popularity at a multinational level, the world of música grupera, how is categorized for subgenres of banda, música norteña, conjunto and duranguense, there is a low number of feminine artist that participate. The participation of women in the gupera world is very scarce, due to the patriarchal hegemony and machismo that spreads through the subgenres. Because of the low participation of women in the subgenres, they get classified the passive voice. The absence of a strong female representation has caused the expansion of a machista message though the songs implemented in the regional Mexican music. This phenomenon can be clearly appreciated in the songs "El carrito" (n.d.). "Disfruté engañarte" (2013), "La fory fay" (2013) and "Soy un desmadre" (2014). Using the ideology of power of Michel Foucault and complemented with the feminism of Hélène Cixious, the analysis and identification of the marginalized women in this examples can be reached. However, even though there are a low number of feminine artists that participate in the subgenres of música norteña and banda, their success has achieved the distortion of the hegemonic barrier imposed on society. Artist like Jenni Rivera and Los Horóscopos de Durango are some of the few artist that have distorted this socio and cultural hegemony that preexist in regional Mexican music. With the success of their songs, they have created a space of feminine expression against the machista message that marginalizes women, and opens new doors of opportunities for others. All this efforts have the intent to create equality of power in the sphere of regional Mexican music. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Spanish 2015

Mexican American women are at particular risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage. Risk factors include genetics, limited screening practices, and delayed treatment. Evidence has shown culture to be an important factor influencing screening beliefs, health care behaviors, and breast cancer knowledge. A culturally and linguistically appropriate educational video about breast cancer and breast cancer screening recommendations was created, in both the English and Spanish languages, to engage Mexican American women and explore their perceptions and feedback about the culturally tailored intervention. Qualitative descriptive methodology was used to explore Mexican American women’s perceptions of a culturally and linguistically appropriate educational video about breast cancer and the importance of breast cancer screenings. Using snowball recruitment from a Spanish language breast cancer support group, eight Mexican origin women participated in a focus group interview. The interview was conducted in the Spanish language. The video production integrated Mexican cultural values and used them as instruments to present information about breast cancer and breast cancer screening recommendations. An extensive literature review and a theoretical underpinning helped guide the project purpose and intervention. The findings supported the importance of production of a culturally and linguistically appropriate education video to educate Mexican American women about breast cancer and the importance of breast cancer screenings. Analysis of the focus group discussion identified an overarching theme of “Language, Identity, Values” which supports the underlying premise that the information needed to be presented in the language spoken by the population of focus, in ways they could identify with, using cultural values to under pin the messages presented in the video. The implications for nurse practitioners, centers on the importance of employing Mexican cultural values when imparting knowledge. More studies like this one can help further identify the impact of Mexican cultural values on health care.