Browsing by Author "Galway, Alison"
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- Alcohol and College Students: Do Parents Matter?Jeffes, Errin J. (Virginia Tech, 2001-05-09)Higher education in America has attempted to define the relationships it has with both students and parents for many years. While some argue that the philosophy of in loco parentis has seemingly disappeared, others suggest that its return is imminent on American college campuses. One example of this return is the trend among campuses towards notifying parents when students are involved in judicial matters. Recent changes in federal privacy laws have clarified the right of colleges and universities to notify parents when their son or daughter is involved in a violation of the university alcohol policy. There is an assumption that parents will intervene with their students and help the university promote a more responsible use of alcohol. Many colleges are debating the value of such notifications, but little is known as to whether or not the inclusion of parents in university discipline affects the decisions college students make about their alcohol consumption. The present study used qualitative and quantitative means to address this gap in literature. Students whose parents were notified of their alcohol violation were interviewed in the qualitative component of the study. The interviews explored the relationships between students and parents before entering college, immediately after enrolling in college, and after parental notification. Students were then assigned positions within three categories of parenting styles (General Relationships, Level of Parental Involvement, and Parental Attitudes Toward Alcohol) for the three time periods explored in this study. The quantitative component explored students' experience with alcohol during the same three time periods. Students completed a pencil and paper survey about their drinking behaviors and were assigned to categories of alcohol consumption for each time period. This enabled the researcher to evaluate whether certain parenting styles were associated with certain drinking patterns. In addition, the researcher examined the results to identify trends in parental relationships and alcohol consumption over the three time periods in question. The study revealed some interesting findings. First, parent and student relationships appear to improve over time, while the parents' Level of Involvement with their student remains the same. Second, during all time periods, the participants indicated that their parents had little control over their alcohol consumption. Third, while students may have experienced frustration with the parental notification process, most were comfortable with the concept of parents being notified when students have violated university policy with respect to alcohol. Finally, most students came to college with experience drinking alcohol, and most had parents who were permissive in their attitudes towards drinking once students arrived at college. Although the study examined only a limited number of students, the results indicate that universities may want to re-evaluate the way in which they educate students about alcohol.
- Biblical Family SystemsWhite, Richard J. (Virginia Tech, 2003-04-17)Systemic thought has been utilized to deconstruct various works of literature and art, such as novels, plays, and even sculptures. Even though the Bible is viewed as a work of faith by many, it also combines aspects of mythology and history with prose and poetry. Using four major theories of family therapy, namely structural, contextual, Bowenian, and narrative, the family of King David, as presented in the first and second Books of Samuel and the beginning of the first Book of Kings, is investigated and explored. Using the King James Version of the Bible as the main text, consideration is given to what each theory has to offer in expalining what occurs throughout this narrative, as well as what the David story has to say about each theory. Confirmation of certain aspects of a given theory and possible refinements to these are also given consideration. Reflexivity on the part of the author is also given consideration in the final chapter.
- Childhood Experiences of Sibling Abuse: An investigation into learned helplessnessMcLaurin, Shamla L. (Virginia Tech, 2005-04-01)As various forms of interpersonal family violence receive more attention in the literature, sibling abuse is still in the background. Despite the increasing knowledge about the prevalence, causes, and effects of sibling abuse, many of us continue to relegate it to a childhood occurrence. Sibling abuse symptoms continue to go unrecognized and its demoralizing effects continue to be ignored (Wiehe, 1990). Minimization and denial of sibling abuse have also contributed to constraining the extent of knowledge related to this phenomenon. The present study seeks to add to the existing research confirming the existence of sibling victimization and its long-term impacts. This study has two primary purposes: 1) to capture the beliefs, feelings, and firsthand account of the abusive sibling experiences from the perspective of victims, and 2) to investigate the potential learned responses associated with sibling abuse and their possible impact on adult relationships by exploring participants' emotional and relational histories, and belief systems. This study presents data taken from a clinical sample of six adult female sibling abuse survivors. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and data analyzed using cross case analysis, constant comparison, and analytic induction techniques. Data suggests the long-term impacts of learned responses associated with sibling abuse can be detrimental to both interpersonal relationships and mental health. Emergent themes related to family functioning and environment and resiliency after abuse are also presented. Implications of findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
- Clients' Views Regarding the Inclusion of Religious Issues in Couple TherapyZitzman, Bryan K. (Virginia Tech, 2003-04-18)Despite the critical role that religion plays in the lives of many clients, therapists often do not ask about or address religious issues in therapy. Argument is given for why religious issues should not be excluded from therapy as well as why religion has historically been avoided by many therapists. To understand what clients' views are on this issue, eight couples who had participated in marital therapy were interviewed. The stratified sample included two Catholic, two Protestant, and two Latter-day Saint couples, as well as two couples in which spouses differed in their religious affiliation. Most couples were interviewed in their home for the initial interview, and then by phone for a brief follow-up interview. Qualitative analysis revealed themes centered around the therapist's role, assessment and joining, tapping into religious resources, and addressing problems associated with religion. Findings revealed that all sixteen participants believed that therapists should routinely inquire about religious issues. Beyond assessment, therapists should give permission for couples to explore religious issues in therapy. Numerous examples are given for how religious issues may be related to or serve as a resource in overcoming presenting concerns. Participants provide numerous suggestions for how therapists might respectfully work with religious issues. Moreover, including religious leaders in the marital therapy sessions was generally seen as uncomfortable and unhelpful to the participants. Issues associated with the therapist's religious affiliation are also addressed. Clinical and theoretical implications as well as suggestions for future research are highlighted.
- Commitment in long term cohabiting couplesGalway, Alison (Virginia Tech, 1994-04-05)Researchers on close relationships presupposed marriage as a central measure of successful commitment and identified a mix of structural and personal motives underlying commitment. Debate on how to measure and predict commitment has been prompted by its conceptual complexity and the importance of its role in relationship maintenance. This study focused on five couples together for at least 13 years outside the institutional grooves and prescribed roles of marriage. Johnson's (1991a) social-psychological model of commitment types embedded within a social structure guided the research. The couples defined commitment, discussed a challenging time in the maintenance of their relationship, and responded to specific questions. Data analysis resulted in development of a three dimensional model of commitment phenomenology. Dimensions include types of commitment from Johnson's model (1991a); commitment contexts of time and society expanded from Johnson's model; and the expression of commitment (awareness, salience, plans, or behavior) implied in Johnson's model but made explicit in this model.
- A Cybernetic analysis of the United States of America's relationship with IraqMorris, Matthew T. (Virginia Tech, 2006-12-11)This study applied a theory of marriage and family therapy, specifically cybernetics, to the relationship between the US and Iraqi governments. This study also attempts to describe recent changes in Iraq incurred during the ongoing war in Iraq as either first- or second-order change. Taken from 2001 to 2005, 76 print media articles describing the war in Iraq from three major US news sources were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Four prominent themes: Military Operation, Costs, Perceptions, and Transition, were identified and described in cybernetic terms such as recursive processes, circular causality, and punctuation. Results suggested that international relationships can be described cybernetically, and that many recursive processes were evident in the war in Iraq. Results also show that determining first- or second-order change is very difficult in large system analyses. Implications for this research are presented and discussed.
- Examination of Universal Design in Kitchens and Bathrooms of the Housing and Urban Development Demonstration Program Elderly Cottage Housing OpportunitySteeves, Jeannette Frost (Virginia Tech, 2005-05-05)Appropriate housing for the aging American population is a timely topic of research in both housing and gerontology. Universal design is an innovation in housing design that is gaining interest from both industries. This research examines the effectiveness of universal design features that have been identified by experts in the field of aging, housing, and universal design as important to resident and caregiver participants of the ECHO demonstration housing program. A national survey was conducted that included all available current residents of the HUD ECHO houses and their caregivers. The relationships between age, effectiveness of universal design features, health and dependency were investigated. Quantitative results include some confounding relationships, and plausible explanations. A qualitative analysis, based on on-site and telephone interviews, and tape recordings of those interviews with residents and their caregivers, as well as architectural drawings, observation, and photographs of the ECHO houses provided additional details. The qualitative approach indicated that many of the universal design features recommended by the experts consulted satisfactorily met the needs of residents and/or their caregivers. It also revealed, however that some features were not considered important by residents and caregivers, some were not reported as present (when they were documented by the researcher as present), and at least one HUD-specified universal design feature was not provided by ECHO houses. Another aspect of the qualitative perspective addressed the health of the residents. Health characteristics are presented in the context of their effect on dependency. Phase II dependency task information was compared to that reported in phase I, and improvement and decline was noted. Conclusions, and Implications that elaborate on findings, and future research is recommended for taking this research to the next level.
- Mental Health Clinicians' Perceptions, Knowledge, Level of Training, and Utilization of Evidence Based Practices with a Specific Focus on Dialectical Behavior TherapyNunley, Robyn Suzanne (Virginia Tech, 2010-04-30)In the past decade the push for utilization of evidence-based practice (EBP) in mental health has increased dramatically. Due to managed healthcare, lowered spending on state and federal mental health budgets, and requirements by funding agencies such as Medicaid, it is imperative that mental health clinicians (MHCs) be trained in and utilize EBPs to improve funding and ensure continuity of best practice in clinical interventions with clients. Minimal research exists on MHCs and their knowledge and use of EBPs. The present study examined MHCs' perceptions, knowledge, training, and utilization of EBPs, with a specific focus on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). To date, it is the most prominent and effective EBP for treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and associated parasuicidal and suicidal behaviors. Current research supports its effectiveness in treating a myriad of other commonly treated disorders. The exploratory study provides insight into MHCs level of interest in receiving more EBP awareness and DBT training. Results indicate that though clinicians have received training in EBP and DBT, most of that training has been encouraged through career settings. Age of the clinician, years in practice, and type of training background are predictors of level of education, knowledge and training. Results show the majority of clinicians are interested in EBP, aware of the impact EBP can have on treatment effects, and report desire to have more training in EBPs and DBT specifically. These results could provide a necessary bridge between disciplines to allow clinicians, irrespective of training, to provide the most clinically effective treatments to clients.
- The Role Taijiquan in Supporting Adaptive Development in AdulthoodKomelski, Matthew F. (Virginia Tech, 2010-03-31)Purpose: Working from lifespan development theory and the theory of Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC), I provide theoretical analyses to inform and direct research on Taijiquan where research questions involve issues of adaptive development (optimization of gains, maintenance of function, and prevention of lost resources). I also used these frameworks to construct a biopsychosocial mind-body practices model that seeks to explain and predict the role of key aspects (curriculum, practice, context) in Taiji-related development. The above frameworks are further substantiated through a comparative analysis of health status between Taijiquan practitioners (N =120; age range = 24-83, M = 54.77) and a nationally representative sample (N = 414,629; age range = 18-99, M = 54.86) collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The model's predictive potential is explored through an analysis of health status within a subset of experienced Taiji practitioners (N = 94; age range = 24-83, M = 55.82). Design: Theoretical and cross-sectional; between- and within-group comparisons. Methods: Responses from a convenience sample of Taiji practitioners were collected using an online survey. The instrument was designed to collect data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), lifestyle variables, and Taiji practice regimens. Data from Taiji practitioners were merged with the CDC's 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset, forming three groups: no exercise, some exercise, and Taiji exercise. Health status was regressed on exercise group while controlling for age, income, and education, as well as the interaction between age and exercise group. Further analyses were also conducted on a subset of the Taiji data (N=94). These analyses examined the relationships among self-reported health, practice regimens, and diet while controlling for age and experience. Results: In the first set of analyses (see paper one), I controlled for the effects of age, income, education, and the differential effects of age on exercise group, while determining associations between health and group membership. A significant interaction effect (p < 0.001) occurred between age and exercise group membership. This interaction showed little difference between exercise groups in the young adult age range, but among older adults, Taijiquan practitioners displayed the best HRQoL. In the second set of analyses (see paper 2), I found significant interaction effects between (a) curricular complexity and out-of-class practice (p < 0.05) and (b) curricular complexity and diet (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The extraordinary health status trajectory among Taiji practitioners may be attributable to several conditions including: (a) the implied presence of SOC-related strategies, (b) the general benefits of psychophysical expertise, and (c) concomitant structure between Taiji-related goals and health behaviors that contributes to optimal aging. Specifically, intervention designers, Taiji teachers, and practitioners should consider the potential benefits of well rounded Taiji curricula, regular out-of-class practice, and healthy diet for optimizing health-related gains and minimizing losses typically associated with aging.
- Trauma resolution treatment as an adjunt to stand treatment for sexual offendersRicci, Ronald J. (Virginia Tech, 2004-05-06)This study explored the use of adding trauma resolution therapy to standard cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention therapy for sex offenders. Ten adjudicated sex offenders with sexual abuse histories were treated with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing as an adjunct to standard outpatient sex offender treatment. Data points include self-report, other-report, assessment instruments, session transcripts, research journals, and physiological measures. Systematic treatment research and development methods (Bischoff, McKeel, Moon, & Sprenkle, 1996) resulted in a proposed treatment protocol. Emergent themes from a cross-case, grounded theory data analysis are presented. The data suggests the adjunct treatment provided some benefit both to participants and to the goals of standard sex offender-specific treatment. Implications for treatment providers, marriage and family therapy, and future research are discussed.