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Research on traumatic experiences has focused on disclosure to social networks. Among these findings, disclosure was lower for individuals at risk for PTSD than the general population, and the amount of disclosure depended on the person to whom the individual disclosed. Social support can be related to fewer psychological problems such as PTSD. In this way the understanding of disclosure, and its predictors and consequences become especially relevant. This current study examines disclosure of Childhood Sexual Assault (CSA) experiences among college students and perceived quality of their current relationships (i.e., whether there is someone they can confide in about personal problems or feelings without holding back). As disclosures occur primarily to create and maintain social bonds (Fivush, Bohanek,Robertson, & Duke; 2004), disclosure may lead to greater intimacy. Or, individuals may disclose because they already have quality relationships. Participants were identified from a sample of 654 college students attending a Southeastern university and who completed an online survey. From this sample 44 (6.73%) had experienced CSA (Finkelhor). Of these, 18 had disclosed their experiences, and 39 indicated having a confiding relationship with someone in their lives. Other findings indicated that although 75% of those without a confiding relationship were from the group that had not disclosed, disclosure may not directly relate to the level of quality of relationship (as defined by confiding). Specifically, of those who did not disclose, the large majority (88.5%) indicated having a confiding relationship. And, of those who had at least one confiding relationship, only 41 percent had disclosed their CSA. Future research may look at other indicators of quality in relationships and how they relate to disclosure. Moreover, future studies might explore how disclosure does or does not affect the relationship quality with specific social network members.

The Group Questionnaire (GQ) is a recently developed measure of the quality of the therapeutic relationship in group treatment. Its 3 subscales-Positive Bonding Relationship, Positive Working Relationship, and Negative Relationship-are taken from a 3-factor conceptualization of the group therapeutic relationship (Johnson et al., 2005). The purpose of the present study was to estimate the GQ's construct and criterion-related validity by 1) replicating the aforementioned factor structure with a similar sample and by 2) correlating the GQ with the measures from which is was derived (i.e., Working Alliance Inventory, Burns Empathy Scale, Therapeutic Factors Inventory, Group Climate Questionnaire) and to 3) explore the GQ's ability to measure relationship quality at member-member, member-leader, and member-group structural relationship levels using a sociometric test. Two hundred and ninety participants were recruited from 65 treatment groups at 4 university counseling centers and 1 community mental health clinic. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) fit indexes from both single- and multiple-level analyses met standards for acceptable model fit. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) suggested the GQ is sensitive to group level processes. Therefore, the Johnson et al. (2005) 3-factor model was successfully replicated and the GQ's construct validity supported. Pearson product-moment (r) and Spearman's rank (ρ) correlation coefficients were sufficiently high to lend support for the GQ's criterion-related validity. Sociometric exploration yielded moderate support for the GQ's ability to access the structural parameters of group therapeutic relationships. The present study's findings suggest the GQ is an empirically valid, clinically useful measure of the quality of the group therapeutic relationship.

This study examined pregnancy risk and protective factors for developing postpartum depression from a structural family theory lens. The purpose of this study was to (1) examine previously identified pregnancy stressors to learn which stressors put women more at risk for postpartum depression and (2) to identify possible buffers for women who are at risk for developing postpartum depression. In this paper, two analyses were proposed. Analysis I, uses a hierarchal regression analysis to examine the impact of couple related stress on postpartum depression. Analysis II uses moderated multiple regression to test factors during pregnancy which may protect at-risk women from postpartum depression symptoms. Three post-hoc exploratory analyses were conducted following the originally proposed analyses. Secondary data was used in this study. The data was collected in four large urban hospitals in Utah from 2005-2007 and included 1568 women. The results of these analyses illustrate the importance of conceptualizing postpartum depression from a family systems perceptive. Specifically, this study shows that a couple's relationship, depending on the stress level experienced in the relationship, can be both a risk and protective factor for pregnant women. / Ph. D.

The membership numbers of most of the Protestant denominations in the United States have been decreasing for a number of years. Much of the research studying this phenomenon has used demographic data and surveys of former members to understand reasons for leaving. This qualitative study uses a phenomenological perspective to understand the lived experience of eight former members of the Sunrise Mennonite Church. One former leader and three current church leaders from the Sunrise Mennonite Church were also interviewed for their perspective of the costs and benefits of church membership. The findings of this study were consistent with the literature across two main themes. First, a significant attraction and benefit of church membership is the support and fellowship experienced from close friendships within the church. Relationships as a whole are important, and negative interactions within the church can serve to damage one's satisfaction with a church as a whole. A second factor affecting church membership is the change experienced by church members and the change that occurs in the culture of the surrounding community. These changes lead to new and different preferences of the church members, and if these can not be incorporated into their churches, these members may leave their church. / Master of Science

This thesis concerns questions of being in good relation, with others and the created world, in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, which shows interdependent and positive self-other relationships in Eden, as well as a mutual, constructive, and enduring relationship between God and humanity. Working with Lee Morrissey’s suggestion that “subjectivity requires difference, not, as Adam had assumed, similarity” (“Eve’s Otherness” 340), my thesis not only suggests that Milton’s poem esteems relationships that recognize others as welcome additions to the self – hence, Milton’s “other self” (8.450, 10.128) – rather than subtractions or even self-absorptions, but also explores what specific differences emerge across relationships (e.g., God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit versus Satan, Sin, and Death) and how they might fulfill or, conversely, upend God’s plan for His original created good to continue as such. I argue that within Paradise Lost, both earthly and divine self-identity develops and becomes fully realized only through relationships with others. And further, because the good in the created world of Paradise Lost comes from humanity’s relationship with God, this relationship is the basis of all relationships that are good. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This dissertation studies relationships in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, a poem that shows interdependent and positive self-relationships in Eden, as well as a mutual, beneficial, and enduring relationship between God and humanity. My thesis not only suggests that Milton’s poem extols relationships that recognize others as welcome additions to the self rather than subtractions or even self-absorptions, but also explores what specific differences emerge across relationships (e.g., God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit versus Satan, Sin, and Death) and how they might help or impede God’s plan for His original created good to continue for all time. I argue that within Paradise Lost, both earthly and divine self-identity develops and becomes fully realized only through relationships with others. Further, because the good in the created world of Paradise Lost comes from humanity’s relationship with God, this relationship is the basis of all relationships that are good.

No abstract provided. / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

No abstract provided. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / That interpersonal relationships within the family may have a direct influence upon the development of schizophrenia is a fact well-recognized by authors. In recent years the exact role of the mother-child relationship in the etiology of schizophrenia has especially been the subject of a great deal of investigation. As a result of these investigations there has been developed the concept of the "schizophrenogenic mother." Tietze's findings are characteristic.