Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2016, Child and Family Studies (Health Sciences and Professions)

Statement of the problem: The developmental task for adolescents to accept their body may be hindered by the diagnosis of a chronic illness. There is a lack of adequate support or resources to assist adolescents with a chronic illness in building a positive body image and self-esteem. Methodology: A retrospective interview was conducted with three adults who were diagnosed with a chronic illness during or prior to adolescence. The interview consisted of body assessment questions and questions about their process of building self-esteem and a positive body image. There was also a Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale for both their current self and adolescent self, completed prior to the interview. Conclusion: Adolescents with a chronic illness benefit from parents, peers without a chronic illness, and other adolescents with a chronic illness, as long as those groups are supportive. The primary source of self-esteem and positive body image comes from body acceptance, which is facilitated through positive, supportive interactions with the aforementioned groups.

Committee: Jennifer Chabot Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Joan Jurich Ph.D. (Committee Member); Julie Brown Ph.D. (Committee Member); Dana Lange CCLS (Other) Subjects: Developmental Psychology; Families and Family Life; Health Care; Individual and Family Studies; Personal Relationships; Psychology

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2016, Psychology

With recent advances in cancer treatments, breast cancer is now considered more of a chronic illness than an acute disease. However, breast cancer survivors are expected to have to manage the long-term effects of treatment, such as fatigue, insomnia, lymphedema, treatment induced menopausal symptoms, weight gain, hair loss, depression, anxiety, and body image distress, which can negatively impact valued living, or quality of life. Various ACT components may be key in predicting valued living in breast cancer survivors. The present study examined the predictive role of Body Image related components (i.e., Body Image Distress and Body Image Flexibility) and components of the ACT model (i.e., Acceptance, Mindfulness, and Experiential Avoidance), in the domains of Valued Living in breast cancer survivors. A sample of 157 breast cancer survivors was recruited from online breast cancer support groups. Results were analyzed using multiple regression. Results indicated that overall, the ACT variables and body image components, as a set, predicted some domains of Valued Living Satisfaction and Valued Living Behaviors. Chronic Illness Acceptance-Activity Engagement and Age were determined to be independent predictors of certain Valued Living domains. These results suggest components of ACT, specifically Chronic Illness Acceptance-Activity Engagement, may be predictive of some domains of Valued Living Satisfaction and Behaviors in breast cancer survivors.

Committee: Abbie Beacham Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Christine Dacey Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member); Nicholas Salsman Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2008, Psychology

An acceptance model of intuitive eating has been empirically supported with traditionally-aged female undergraduates (Avalos and Tylka, 2006). The present study extends this research by testing its tenets with women aged 18-24 (n=307) and women aged 25-79 (n=381). Latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) with multiple group analysis was used to test model invariance and evaluate the proposed pathways among this model's core constructs (general unconditional acceptance, body acceptance from others, body function, body appreciation, intuitive eating). Findings were consistent for both groups of women. After controlling for body mass, general unconditional acceptance (i.e., perceived social support) directly predicted body appreciation by others. Body appreciation by others predicted body function and body appreciation. Body function, then, predicted body appreciation and intuitive eating. Finally, body appreciation predicted intuitive eating for participants of the present study. Analyses also indicated model invariance. These results replicated and extend findings of Avalos and Tylka (2006), suggesting that the acceptance model extended to women older than traditionally-aged undergraduates; however, the core constructs may be associated at somewhat different strengths for older and younger women.

Committee: Nancy Betz Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Tracy Tylka Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair); Don Dell Ph.D. (Committee Member); Thomas Gregoire Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2005, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, English (Arts and Sciences)

The subject of my dissertation is a neglected area of Food Studies themed composition courses: women's relationships with food and the subsequent connection to food and body image, self-esteem, and overall health. Knowing how to eat and having positive relationships with food are a problem for many people, especially women. And my research for the project is situated in this tension. My methodology uses a feminist theoretical lens for a textual, rhetorical, and critical discourse analysis of: (1) the genre of cooking shows, and (2) popular diets. I further conduct a comparative discourse analysis of the two to gain insight about the ways in which women might navigate the tensions between expectations to cook as a service to others, while following diets to achieve or maintain thinness. The results of my analyses provide the basis for an upper-level Feminist Food Studies composition class, with the goal to teach writing concepts through critical analyses of artifacts (in this case, cooking shows), and through research (researching and analyzing diets), designed for any student who might take the course to evaluate the concepts therein based on her own life experiences. Additionally, beyond the immediacy of students, my research seeks to provide an alternative to toxic gendered expectations attached to food. This approach to understanding the rhetoric of women's relationships with food can additionally aid in re-examining the limitations of diagnosing and treating eating disorders as a mental illness by identifying and understanding them as potential byproducts of toxic grand narratives surrounding food consumption and societal pressures of thinness.

Committee: Mara Holt PhD (Committee Chair); Sherrie Gradin PhD (Committee Member); Nicole Reynolds PhD (Committee Member); Devika Chawla PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Composition; Gender; Rhetoric; Womens Studies

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2018, Psychology

The present study examined the predictive role of body-related components (i.e., Body Compassion and BMI) and components of the ACT model (i.e., Mindfulness and Experiential Avoidance), in two dimensions of pain (i.e., pain severity [PS] and pain interference [PI]) and quality of life (QOL) in endometrial cancer (EC) survivors. Data were utilized from 82 participants who are members of a national online support group for EC and had completed treatment. Results indicated that the ACT components and body-related components, as a set, predicted PI and QOL but not PS. Experiential avoidance was determined to be an independent predictor of QOL. Negative affect, used as a covariate, independently predicted unique variance in PS, PI, and QOL while age as a covariate was an independent predictor of PI and QOL. Post hoc analyses found statistical differences between obese and non-obese groups within the sample, such that obese EC survivors endorsed higher experiential avoidance, lower mindfulness, and lower body compassion compared to non-obese EC survivors. Results suggest that body-related and ACT components, taken together, may be predictive of PI and QOL while experiential avoidance may contribute uniquely to QOL, rendering it a key target of future intervention for EC survivors post-treatment.

Committee: Christine Dacey Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Abbie Beacham Ph.D. (Committee Member); Renee Zucchero Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Health; Psychology

Master of Fine Arts, University of Akron, 2017, Creative Writing

A collection of personal essays

Committee: David Giffels (Advisor); Mary Biddinger MFA, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Varley O'Connor MFA (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Gender; Glbt Studies; Personal Relationships; Religion; Spirituality; Womens Studies