The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not risk and protective factors (socioeconomic status, social connectedness, negative reactivity temperament, approach/withdrawal temperament, social acceptance competence, behavioral conduct competence, and global self-worth) measured in middle childhood would statistically predict the prevalence of suicide-related ideations and behaviors in high school. This study highlights the importance of examining a population of this age range prior to entering a critical developmental stage, shown to be at increase the risk for suicide. Due to the growing rates of suicide in adolescence, the objective is for this population to be regarded as a main target of future suicide prevention and intervention techniques. As such, the current study examined specific risk and protective factors in middle childhood with the goal to help identify a profile for adolescents in high school at risk for future suicide-related ideations and behaviors or to determine those who have developed protection against this health-risk behavior. The sample for this study was taken from two larger longitudinal studies with student participants from three rural school districts of central Texas. The data were analyzed using binary logistic and multiple linear regression analysis. While the findings of this study revealed statistically significant relationships between three out of the seven predictive variables (self-connectedness, global self-worth, and behavioral conduct competence), the results were not robust. Given the minimal significance of these exploratory findings, further analysis is suggested before development of intervention programs is warranted. / text

Yes / Medical Research Council

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to develop a greater clarity of how HIV infected individuals live and work within the sphere of HIV infection as represented through unsolicited, personal narratives posted on blogs. Existing, single author, personal blogs were identified via a search engine. Blogs were defined as the blog author's postings and all responses, whether written by the blog author or a reader respondent. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed to respect indicators of bloggers' intentions for privacy, e.g., blogs which required a password were excluded. A total of 14 blogs met inclusion criteria. Actions to promote validity focused on the areas of credibility, authenticity, criticality, and integrity. Throughout the blogs, online social connectedness formed the context for expression of the four themes identified to describe the experiences of the bloggers and their readers living with HIV infection. Suffering was the human experience of stigma related to living with HIV infection. This was primarily manifested in either self-imposed isolation or isolation resulting from rejection by others. Relationships addressed both the online and offline/in-person interactions experienced by the blog authors and their readers. These stories were predominantly about receiving support from persons via online interactions. Daily living with HIV dialogue addressed the common experiences shared by various bloggers and their readers such as longing for normalcy. A call to action addressed a self-embraced sense of mission or purpose which was a contributing impetus to blog. Blog readers affirmed these missions in their responses. While these themes have been documented in prior qualitative research on living with HIV infection, the opportunities for online social connectedness altered the expression of these themes. Further research using unsolicited narrative blogs is warranted.

Thesis advisor: Pratyusha Tummala-Narra / The present-day sociopolitical climate, with its noxious anti-immigrant sentiment and policies, has increased the emotional stress experienced by immigrant-origin populations. This dissertation presents findings from research that explored the relationship between race-and ethnicity-based discrimination, exposure to trauma, and psychological distress among a sample of Central American–origin immigrants and refugees in the United States. Informed by socio-ecological and contemporary acculturation theory, this research extended the traumatic stress and migration literature by examining how a global sense of social connectedness, as well as a sense of belonging to one’s ethnic community or the mainstream community, may mitigate or exacerbate the influence of discrimination and trauma on mental health. In addition, this research explored the potential moderating role of immigrant generation and documentation status. Participants (N=89) between 18 and 70 years of age completed surveys both online (N=28) and in person (N=61). Survey instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the Perceived Racism Scale for Latinos (PRSL), the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ), the Social Connectedness Scale – Revised (SCS-R), the Social Connectedness in Mainstream (SCMN) and the Social Connectedness in the Ethnic Community (SCETH) scales, as well as measures to assess for symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), posttraumatic stress (PCL-C), and somatization (SSS-8). Ordinary least-squares regression analyses revealed that discrimination and exposure to trauma significantly predicted psychological distress. Higher levels of social connectedness predicted lower levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Mainstream social connectedness was found to moderate the association between exposure to trauma and PTSD such that for individuals with low levels of SCMN, posttraumatic stress was consistently relatively high regardless of the degree of trauma exposure. For those individuals with high SCMN, posttraumatic stress symptoms were low when trauma exposure was low. However, all individuals regardless of their sense of mainstream belonging experienced high PTSD when trauma exposure was high. In addition, a lower sense of mainstream belonging augmented the strength of the association between discrimination on depression, whereas a stronger sense of mainstream belonging reduced the strength of this relation. Specifically, individuals with low SCMN reported higher depressive symptoms with increasing perceived discrimination, while individuals with high SCMN reported similar levels of depression even at increasing levels of discrimination. Analyses did not support moderation effects for ethnic social connectedness, immigrant generation and documentation status. The study’s strengths and limitations as well as its significance for future research and practice are discussed. Implications highlight the multifaceted and dynamic nature of belongingness in the context of discrimination and trauma, and speak to the importance of culturally responsive and multi-systemic interventions. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

abstract: Objectives This cross-sectional study sought to assess the eating and physical activity behaviors among in-state and out-of-state college freshmen attending Arizona State University and to determine if social connectedness mediated the relationship between residency status and eating and physical activity behaviors. Methods College freshmen from two dormitories were recruited for participation from Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. A 128-item survey assessing demographics, college life, eating and physical activity behaviors, and social connectedness was administered. In addition, participants completed up to three days of dietary recall. Multivariate linear regression models, adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, highest parental education, dormitory, Pell grant status, number of dietary recalls, and availability of a weekend day of dietary recall were used to assess the relationships between residency status, social connectedness, and eating and physical activity behaviors. Results No associations were observed between residency status and calories, grams and percentage of calories from fat, and added sugar. There was a statistically significant association between residency status and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). In-state students reported 21 minutes less per day of MVPA than out-of-state students did (β=-20.85; 95% CI=-30.68, -11.02; p<0.001). There was no relationship between residency status and social connectedness. Social connectedness and eating and physical activity behaviors were not associated. Social connectedness did not mediate the relationship between residency status and eating and physical activity behaviors. Conclusions In-state and out-of-state students differed in their MVPA; however, this relationship was not mediated by social connectedness. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between MVPA and residency status. In addition, more studies are needed to assess the relationship between social connectedness and MVPA. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Nutrition 2016

The positive association between income and subjective well-being (SWB) is undisputed; there remains scope, however, to expand our understanding of the explanatory mechanisms at work. The theoretical framing is formed from economics and psychology which have been the traditional homes of happiness research. However, the stance taken here is sociological in its attention to social networks and social status. I also emphasise psychological benefits as an explanatory mechanism for the money-happiness relationship. Following Layard (1981) and Easterlin (2001), it is posited that above the level at which basic needs are met, higher SWB results from the higher rank in society that money brings. I argue that rank and status inform how individuals feel about themselves (self-esteem, self-worth) and their environment (perceived control) and that it is these factors that bring about SWB. Furthermore, social connectedness is an alternative source of these benefits and it is thus hypothesised that connectedness will intervene in the money-happiness relationship. Secondary or “weak” ties are expected to have an additional and separable effect to close ties alone. I use the term resilience as a framing concept as it allows the stressor (financial situation) and outcome (SWB) to be discussed in a single term. The thesis has three empirical aims. The first is to determine whether connectedness influences the money happiness relationship, where ‘money’ refers to household income, perceived financial situation and being worse off than the previous year. Secondly, I aim to separate the effect of connectedness from the effect of personal characteristics by observing outcomes before and after a change in connectedness. Third, I aim to unravel the potentially paradoxical role of networks for those on low incomes as both a resilience resource and therefore greater happiness, and as a source of wider social comparison and therefore greater unhappiness. I use data from seven waves of the British Household Panel Survey. A latent class analysis establishes a measurement schema of connectedness based on strong and weak ties. Growth curve models are used to measure the effect of money on SWB and differential effects by connectedness are demonstrated with interaction terms. Resilience before and after network changes are explored using multiple group linear regression at two time points, and neighbourhood social comparison is examined in multilevel models. The findings are that income has no bearing on the SWB of the socially-integrated (those with both strong and weak ties) while the isolated have a lot to gain. The SWB of the integrated does suffer in difficult financial circumstances as subjectively reported but less so than the isolated or those with only strong ties. Further, when individuals expand their network it is accompanied by a decrease in the importance of income for SWB. These patterns can in part be explained by the fact that the SWB of the well-connected is less influenced by their position relative to those living around them, at least where the income gap is not too large. Therefore, the assumption of happiness as a zero-sum game is mistaken; social comparison is not inevitable and SWB can be maintained through social integration providing the level of inequality is not too high.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Internationalisation is an important worldwide phenomenon, and amongst others, presents as a major trend in higher education and continues to be on the agenda of higher education providers worldwide. It is significant for the sustainability of higher education at a national level, and subsequently, the contribution that higher education makes to the development of a nation, its people and its ability to compete in the global market. Internationalisation within universities continues to develop apace as institutions move from equating international strategies with international student recruitment to developing mature internationalisation agendas that incorporate recruitment, research collaborations and capacity-building.

Background: Refugees find it difficult to integrate and assimilate in their host country because of a myriad of challenges. Mobile phones have become one of the main tools for promoting their wellbeing and supporting the integration of refugee communities on the margins of society. Mobile phones can contribute towards reducing isolation and loneliness, and assist in improving interpersonal relations and fostering processes of assimilation. The purpose of the research: The main objective of this study was to examine how the use of mobile phones by refugees in South Africa contributes to their social connectedness. To this end, the study discusses the role of mobile phones in the process of acculturation, in creating a sense of belonging, and in maintaining relationships. Design/methodology/approach: This research employed a qualitative method and an interpretivist epistemological perspective. A conceptual framework was developed on the basis of a literature review. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews and WhatsApp group chats, and analysed using thematic analysis. The interviewees comprised 27 refugees living in South Africa, and the WhatsApp group had 15 members. Findings: The findings demonstrate that the refugees face a multitude of obstacles, including language and culture barriers, the challenge of obtaining legal status, physical separation from their friends and family, and feelings of being judged, insecure, and excluded. Mobile phone usage offers refugees several benefits, especially through their affordances that include accessing information, pursuing economic and institutional opportunities, enabling communication, and developing linguistic and cultural knowledge of the host country. At the same time, mobile phones enable refugees to maintain connection with their country of origin. Refugees nevertheless considered it difficult to develop a sense of belonging through their use of mobile phones. Research contribution: This study adds to perspectives on utilising mobile phones to achieve social connectedness for two categories of refugees: newcomers and old-timers. The study contributes to theory by proposing a framework for understanding and analysing the relationship between social connectedness and mobile phones. The study contributes to knowledge through the investigative approach of using WhatsApp group chat to collect data. The findings can contribute to enabling non-profit organisations and UNHCR to develop strategies and processes for providing interventions for refugees.

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) are at a higher risk for suicide compared to the general population, but little is known about why this is. Many LGBTQ individuals face some form of discrimination or victimization in their lifetime, and some evidence suggests these experiences may contribute to this group’s higher suicide risk. Unfortunately, research has only examined the impact of direct discrimination/victimization on suicidality and has neglected to examine how ambient discrimination/victimization relates to suicidality. Additionally, although some links exist between discrimination, victimization, and suicide, the mechanisms by which these are related are unknown. This study aims to address these gaps in the literature by exploring the effect of ambient discrimination/victimization on suicidal ideation and examining psychological pain as a mediator and social connectedness as a moderator between various forms of discrimination and victimization and suicidal ideation. Regression, mediation, and moderation analyses were conducted in order to examine these relationships in a sample of 200 LGBTQ-identified individuals. Results of this study may provide insight into why the LGBTQ community is at an increased risk for suicide.

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