NU Masters and Dissertations (Restricted)
Permanent URI for this collection
This collection contains access-restricted National University student dissertations and master's theses, including work by students who graduated from National University, Northcentral University, and John F. Kennedy University.
Please visit the NU Institutional Repository website to explore our FAQs, learn how to submit, and more. If you have any questions or concerns, please email the Institutional Repository librarian, Tammy Ivins.
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Diagnosing Dementia in Persons Having Intellectual Disability(2006) McGrew, DeborahThe purpose of this study is to determine whether a selected battery of neuropsychological tests could be used to detect dementia in Intellectually Disabled persons. Seven participants having mild to moderate Intellectual Disabilities were grouped by a) the presence of dementia, b) the absence of dementia, and c) questionable dementia. Participants were given a test battery that included the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - III, The Test for Severe Impairment, the Dementia Rating Scale for Mentally Retarded Persons, the Finger Tapping Test, and the Grooved Pegboard. Data was recorded in both written and videotaped form and analyzed through visual inspection and content analysis of the process. Results indicated differentiation between groups using the above measures. The most robust findings occurred using the Finger Tapping and Grooved Pegboard Tests. Implications for future research and client welfare are discussed.Item Children of Holocaust Survivors in Dialogue with Children of the Third Reich: Working through Intergenerational Trauma(0209) Matz, David G.The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the possibility of healing and reconciliation by analyzing the psychological meaning of a dialogue between CHS (children of Holocaust survivors) and CTR (children of the Third Reich) from the perspective of CHS. The qualitative research technique of phenomenology was utilized with five children of Holocaust survivors to understand this experience in greater depth. Specifically, this research explored the potential for healing a CHS after engaging in a dialogue with CTR. More broadly, this research may have implications for healing dialogues between other conflicted groups, as well as making a small contribution toward peacebuilding and conflict resolution by better understanding how to reduce prejudice and violence between groups. This study found empirical evidence that dialogue groups may promote the healing of individuals with intergenerational trauma, as well as having the potential to interrupt the perpetuation of intergenerational trauma. This study also found a shift in the identity development process occurs in part due to participation in the dialogue groups, and there was evidence that this may lead to prejudice reduction and increased pro-social beliefs and behaviors in the presence of intractable conflicts. The author proposes an identity development model (IHID- Intergenerational Holocaust-Survivor Identity Development model), suggesting identity development occurs for the child of a Holocaust survivor through participation in a dialogue with a child of the Third Reich. This identity development contains the potential to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of trauma in addition to interrupting the perpetuation of prejudice and intolerance.Item Cognitions of First-Time Expectant Fathers(2003) Lynch, Barton D.The prenatal period can be conceptualized as an unutilized time in which men's once benign presence is now viewed as a defining factor in the transition to the family triad. While childbirth classes have enabled men to become more involved than in the past, many men continue to feel left out and unprepared for fatherhood (Barnhill, Rubenstein, & Rocklin, 1979; Gearing, 1978; Wente & Crockenberg, 1976). This transitional period for expectant fathers is described by Shapiro (1987) as a period encompassed by anxiety, stress, and insecurity, often resulting in increased substance use, workaholism, psychosomatic distress, and sexual promiscuity. Expectant fathers appear to require a concrete method, or "vehicle," during this period to help in understanding the foreign thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with their partner's pregnancy. While various modalities have been utilized with expectant fathers, none have effectively addressed the wide range of complexities during this vital transition. This study sought to investigate whether a cognitive-behaviorally based intervention with a traditional Lamaze class for first-time expectant fathers could reduce levels of anxiety and frequency/intensity of negative automatic thoughts. Participants from both control and experimental groups were administered a demographic questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Scale (Spielberger, 1983) and an Automatic Thought Survey. Results of the study suggest that participants involved in the experimental group showed decreases in intensity for a specific automatic thought following the intervention. Conversely, an additional automatic thought increased in intensity following the intervention. Furthermore, trends in the data interestingly suggested an increase in trait anxiety for experimental group participants following the intervention.Item Attitudes and Beliefs about Health among African-American Men: An Examination of Prostate Cancer Knowledge(2005) Lewis, Clevon D.The incidence of prostate cancer among African-American men is almost 60% higher than that of Caucasian males. While there is speculation as to why this disparity exists, the causes of these rates are, for the most part, still unknown. To date, there has not been much effort in research to identify attitudes and beliefs about health among African-American men that may hamper effective treatment compliance. African-American men, compared to other ethnic groups, have not been studied with a focus on their unique cultural health values. This study was designed to ascertain attitudes and beliefs about health, particularly prostate cancer, among African-American men and to identify any cultural barriers that may contribute to treatment non-compliance. A quantitative research design with a qualitative component was implemented to gather population-specific data on attitudes and beliefs about health among African-American men. A cohort of 14 African-American men, between the ages of 45-80, were enlisted in the study. Subjects were asked to complete a demographic survey, a healthcare survey, and a prostate cancer knowledge questionnaire. This study found that African-American men were somewhat knowledgeable about prostate cancer, followed through with annual physicals, feared the healthcare system, and would in fact seek treatment if diagnosed with prostate cancer. These patterns indicate that the unique psychology of African-American men needs to be considered when setting treatment goals for them. Healthcare professionals, as well as researchers, will benefit from understanding the relationship between cultural beliefs and health in the hopes that more culturally appropriate services and treatment plans will be implemented.Item Acculturation and Parenting in Latino Immigrant Fathers(2004) Lozano, Marco A.The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the possible relationship between acculturation and parenting in Latino immigrant fathers. It was hypothesized that low levels of acculturation would be associated with high levels of parenting stress and low levels of parenting competence. Two subscales of the ARSMAII (AOS and MOS) were used as the independent variables. The Parental Stress Scale and the Parent Performance Subscale were used as the dependent variables. A regression analysis found two significant findings. A stepwise regression indicated that the Anglo Orientation Subscale was significantly related to parenting stress. The analysis revealed that the Anglo Orientation Subscale was positively related to the Parental Stress Scale. Also, a stepwise regression indicated that years in the U.S. was significantly related to parenting competence. The analysis revealed that years in the U.S. was positively related to the Parent Performance Subscale. One possible explanation for the first finding is that greater acculturation may be related to more cultural conflicts with the majority culture. It is also possible that the higher the level of acculturation, the more likely conflicts with other less acculturated family members may surface. These cultural conflicts may contribute to higher degrees of parenting stress. A possible explanation for the second finding is that longer residence in the U.S. may create more opportunities for interacting with the majority culture, acquiring a new language, and developing an emotional and cultural attachment. These cultural variables are critical to acculturation and could be important assets in fulfilling the parental role. This suggests that the ARSMA-II may not be tapping into aspects of acculturation that might be associated with parenting competence, such as affective cultural constructs. Future studies should address the complexity of acculturation by considering tools that not only measure behavior but also affective and abstract characteristics. From the clinical perspective, clinicians can increase their awareness of the complexities of acculturation, and avoid making inaccurate assumptions regarding parenting. The researcher hopes that the information gathered in this study will be used to increase the cultural sensitivity of researchers and clinicians when working with Latino fathers.