The purpose of this study was to examine the idea that a late adolescent's career exploration activities may be influenced by levels of attachment to and psychological separation from family, family health, and family structure. It was proposed that higher levels of self and environmental exploration would be associated with positive family relationships and adequate levels of psychological separation and attachment. Cognitive and demographic variables were included as control measures. Measures of family health, attachment, separation, family structure, career exploration, career decision making self efficacy, and beliefs in the usefulness of engaging in self and environmental exploration were administered to 304 undergraduates from intact families. Multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the contribution of the independent variables measuring family processes to the variability in the dependent variables of self and environmental exploration, after controlling for the variability associated with the control measures. The demographic variables were age, gender, class standing, and decision status about a major. Results indicated that the best predictors of career exploration in late adolescence were the cognitive variables. Beliefs in the usefulness of self exploration were the best predictor of self exploration, whereas career decision making self efficacy was the best predictor of environmental exploration. Measures of attachment and psychological separation were not substantially related to career exploration. A weak relationship between family structure and self exploration was found, however contrary to theoretical predictions, it suggested that problems in the parent child relationship may facilitate rather than inhibit this career development activity. Findings also suggested a relationship between variables of family processes and career decision making self efficacy. Future research might explore the idea that separation, attachment and family variables influence cognitive beliefs, which in turn effect career development. The demographic variables emerged as minimally important in predicting exploratory behavior. Results were discussed with regard to theory and research in career exploration.

This thesis reports the findings of a replication of a segment of previous research in which level of emotional attachment to former spouse was measured, and relationships of that measurement to particular variables were explored. The hypotheses are based on characteristics expected to be related to attachment in the context of marital separation and divorce. The data reveal that neither length of marriage nor length of time since physical separation bears a relationship to level of attachment. There is no difference in levels of attachment for males and females. Level of attachment is higher for those individuals who wanted the divorce less than for those who wanted the divorce more. Both expectedness of the divorce and preparedness for the consequences of divorce are related negatively to level of attachment.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores patterns of separation and/or connection in the narratives of the respondent, a female farm worker living and working in the Western Cape, South Africa. The major objective of this qualitative case study is to examine the possible construction, co-existence and interaction of separation-connection themes in the reality of the respondent. Founded within the social constructivist tradition, an approach that assumes reality to be constructed through language and within relationships, a window on the respondent's narrative construction of her reality, relationships and separation-connection processes was obtained. To compliment the explorative nature and social constructionist approach of the study, Grounded Theory and Narrative Analysis were administrated. Through the analysis the two central themes, separation and connection, manifested on two different levels - firstly on a content level (what the participant has to say regarding the themes) and secondly on a process level (what is happening between participant and researcher). Findings provided a preliminary understanding of the techniques the respondent implores to construe a sense of separation and connection. Results confirmed the co-existence of separation-connection themes and indicated a possible interaction between the two constructs. Findings also provided a glimpse on the experiences and impact of the separation-connection process in the idiom of the respondent. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie belig patrone van binding en/of skeiding in die narratiewe van die respondent, In vroulike plaaswerker in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Dié kwalitatiewe gevallestudie is gerig op In ondersoek van die potensiële konstruksie, naasbestaan en interaksie van binding- en/of skeidingstemas soos wat die respondent dit beleef en verwoord. Deur die fundering van die navorsing in die sosiaal-konstruktivistiese tradisie, In benadering wat glo dat die realiteit in verhoudings via taal gekonstrueer word, is toegang tot die respondent se narratiewe konstruksie van haar realiteit, verhoudings en binding- en/of skeidingstemas verkry. In ooreenstemming met sosiaal-konstruktivistiese aannames, het die data-analise Narratiewe Analise en Grounded Theory metodiek behels. Met behulp van die ontleding het die twee sentrale konsepte, binding en skeiding, op twee vlakke gemanifesteer - eerstens op In inhoudsvlak (dit wat die respondent daaroor vertel) en tweedens op In prosesvlak (dit wat tussen die respondent en die onderhoudvoerder gebeur). Die resultate bied In voorlopige verstaan van die wyses waarop die respondent binding en/of skeiding konstrueer. Bevindings bevestig die naasbestaan van binding- en skeidingstemas en dui op In moontlike interaksie tussen dié twee konstrukte. Die studie verskaf ook In blik op die respondent se ervaring van die konstrukte in haar eie idioom.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: A, page: 2422. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-133).

Thesis (M. Nurs.) (Hons.) -- University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1998. / Bibliography : p. 180-188.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Canterbury. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 58-60). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 176-194). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn., 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-177).

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Acadia University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-82). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.