Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2021, Psychology

The social support dynamic has received a considerable amount of attention from scholars across a variety of psychological disciplines. When discussing this dynamic in a workplace context, researchers often focus on the perspective of those receiving support and the many benefits the reception of support carries. This focus, however, has left gaps in our understanding of the provider perspective of the workplace social support dynamic. In particular, little is known in regard to who is likely to provide support at work when it is elicited from colleagues as well as in what environments this support is likely to be provided, and how providing support to such elicitations may make providers feel. The present research addresses these questions, assessing how individual differences and contextual factors affect not only the likelihood of providing social support when it is elicited from colleagues, but how the provision of support ultimately affects those who frequently provide support. Using a diverse sample of employees (N = 307) recruited via MTurk, hypotheses were tested using Hierarchical Moderated Multiple Regression and Path analysis. Results indicated that those who are highly directive (i.e., active problem solvers) are more likely to provide support when it is elicited from colleagues, while those who are highly distant (i.e., likely to keep emotional distance from their colleagues at work) are less likely to provide support when it is elicited from colleagues. Exploratory analyses revealed that providing support when it is elicited from colleagues has implications for experienced burnout; these analyses also shed light on a mechanism that explains the relation between support elicitation and support provision. Implications for research and practice are discussed, and suggestions for future research are provided.

MA, Kent State University, 2014, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

The transition to parenthood is an important developmental milestone and a major life transition for first-time fathers, as it involves significant changes in self-identity and marital relationship dynamics. Additionally, the effects of role transitions on physical health outcomes are important for new fathers; however, most of the literature concerning the transition to parenthood focuses primarily on the psychological and physical health of the mother. The primary aim of this study is to examine the role of social support in men's physical health during the transition to parenthood. I propose that lack of received social support from a partner predicts poor physical health outcomes in the father. As a result of the increased stress of the birth of a new baby and a decrease in spousal support, fathers will utilize the alternative stress response of tend-and-befriend and seek social support from existing social ties, namely family and close friends. Furthermore, I argue that these alternative sources of social support will compensate for the lack of spousal support. The analyses were conducted using cross-sectional and longitudinal data collected from 104 married/cohabitating couples expecting their first child. This study utilized paired t-tests to examine changes in health across four waves of data: pregnancy, 1-month, 4-months and 9-months postpartum. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used to analyze main and moderating effects of spousal support and external social support on new fathers' physical health. Results suggest that new fathers experience changes in self-rated health and physical somatic symptoms across the first year after a baby's birth. Second, low levels of spousal support have a direct effect on poor physical health outcomes. Finally, social support from family and friends has health benefits for fathers who receive low spousal support.

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2008, Psychology/Clinical

Involving supportive others in Behavioral Weight Loss Programs (BWLP) is related to improved participant weight loss (e.g., Black, Gleser, & Kooyers, 1990), however little is known of the influence of naturally occurring (external to the intervention situation) support. Similarly overlooked is the role of social support to the numerous behavior changes required for successful weight loss. The current study evaluated the occurrence (i.e., frequency) and experience (i.e., helpfulness appraisal) of naturally occurring support in relation to behavioral and health outcomes. The primary goals were to examine the support – behavior change relationship for evidence of specificity and to evaluate the utility of measuring support appraisals as a tool for identifying resource-need match. Within these objectives, another aim of the study was to identify potentially distinct contributions of different sources of support. Hypothesis testing returned largely null results. Small sample size and low power are important considerations in explaining the null findings. However, attention is also called to other possible factors, including stage of behavior change and the “obesogenicity” of modern environments, which may have contributed to the current null findings and warrant further attention.

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2011, Nursing

Quality of life of older adults is influenced by multiple environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of quality of life and internal environmental factors (physical functioning, and depressive symptoms), and external environmental factors (social support satisfaction and social network density). The study framework was based on the Complexity Theory and the Human Response Model. A cross-sectional predictive design was used to study the residents of retirement communities or people who attend senior centers in Northeast Ohio. Data collection involved the Short Physical Performance Battery, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule, and the Quality of Life ICECAP index. This study was approved by the Case Western Reserve University's Human Subjects Review Board. Total sample size was 95. Data analyses indicated 62% of the sample was female, 78% were white, 90% were non-Hispanic, 86% lived at home, 63% lived alone, 73% were drivers, 89% completed high school or higher, and subject age ranged from 65 to 96, with the average age of 76 years. Descriptive statistics are as follows: physical functioning was high (M =8.95, SD = 2.49); quality of life was high (M = .84, SD =.11); depressive symptoms were low (M = 1.98, SD = 2.42); social support satisfaction was high (M = 35.67, SD = 6.18); and social network density was moderate (M = .53, SD = .33). Physical functioning was significantly higher in participants who completed college or higher than those who complete high school or less, and higher in participants who lived with others than those who lived alone. Depressive symptoms were significantly lower in the drivers than non-drivers/drivers with constraints. Hierarchical regression analysis shows that predictor variables explain 32% of variance in the quality of life of older adults (R2adj = .32, F(11, 83) = 4.95, p < .001). Physical functioning (β = .26, p < .05) and depressive symptoms (β = (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2009, Social Welfare

This study examined predictors of perceived social support and support forrecovery of women with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. The sample consisted of 136 adult women; 86 women were engaged in inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs, and 50 women were recruited from a study of mothers with cocaine exposed infants. The women in the study were predominantly African American (82.4%) and of low income status with 80% of the women reporting an annual family income below $15,000. All of the women had a current substance use disorder and 77 (56.6%) of the women also had a co-occurring mental disorder including: Major Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mania, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Hypomania, and Dysthymia. On average, women reported having a social network comprised of 10.73 members. A significant relationship was found between critical members (those who provide negative support) within women's social networks and perceived social support, with a higher percent of critical network members predicting lower perceived social support. Perceived social support scores were also significantly lower for women with a co-occurring mental disorder. Indirect relationships were found for women's perceived social support. The percent of professionals within women's social networks moderated the relationships between women's treatment motivation and treatment status with perceived social support. The percent of substance users in women's networks moderated the relationship between treatment motivation and perceived social support. A sub sample analysis of 86 women in substance abuse treatment explored predictors of support for recovery. A significant relationship was found between the percent of members who support sobriety and support for recovery. This finding provides construct validity for the support for recovery measure. Practice implications as well as directions for future research are included in (open full item for complete abstract)

MA, Kent State University, 2023, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

Poly-victimization refers to the experience of multiple victimizations of different kinds, such as bullying, sexual or physical assault, physically abusive punishment, and intimate partner violence, among others. Much attention has been given to the relationship between poly-victimization and adolescent outcomes, especially substance use, but little research attention has been given to the relationship between poly-victimization and adult substance use. This relationship, along with social support as a potential moderator, is important to explore for the sake of implementing non-punitive interventions and reducing our reliance on incarceration. The present study examines the relationship between adolescent poly-victimization and subsequent substance use in adulthood, as well as the potential moderating effect of social support. Publicly available data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) are used to assess the impact of multiple measures of violent victimization, as well as multiple measures of social support, such as religiosity and school and parental support, on adult substance use. Past-year marijuana and hard drug use are assessed as outcome variables. Findings suggest that adolescent poly-victimization is positively associated with the odds of using marijuana and hard drugs during adulthood, while higher levels of social support are negatively associated with the odds of using these substances during adulthood. Avenues for future research and policy implications are discussed.

Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Weatherhead School of Management

This mixed-methods study examined what factors drive student success among undergraduate business students and using that knowledge to promote positive academic outcomes for all students. The literature posits that academic engagement is associated with high performance levels (Fredin, Fuchsteiner, & Portz, 2015; Kuh, Kinzie, Buckley, Bridges, & Hayek, 2006; Pace, 1980). However, engagement does not work alone in predicting success. Many other significant factors predict higher engagement levels. According to Karki, Chaudhury, and Patangia (2020), the interplay of external variables alongside individual or psychological aspects of students leading to academic engagement is still not fully understood. This study begins to address this knowledge gap. Using a sequential explanatory design, data were collected in two phases: a qualitative phase followed by a quantitative phase. Phase I consisted of qualitative interviews of twenty-eight participants from a private liberal arts college. The questions explored what factors they felt contributed most to their college success during a first-year accounting sequence. The most significant finding was that all participants reported some form of social support as essential for their success level and necessary for their belief that they could succeed in accounting. A quantitative study was then conducted using a hypothesized model to explore the causal relationships of cohort support and family support on engagement as mediated by self-esteem. The quantitative results were positively correlated between both forms of support and engagement and between competence and engagement. A mediating role for self-esteem was also proven between social support and engagement. The quantitative and qualitative data illustrate variables such as social support and self-esteem predict higher levels of engagement and ultimately positive academic outcomes.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, Social Work

Children's earliest experiences are critical for health and well-being across the lifespan. These experiences shape the development of social-emotional skills which lay the foundation by which children learn to navigate the intricacies of social interactions and complex emotions. Not all children, however, develop the social-emotional skills needed for success, with between 9 and 14% of children in early childhood exhibiting some type social-emotional deficit (Brauner & Stephens, 2006). Difficulties with early social-emotional skills may lead to behavioral, academic, and social problems during early childhood, as well as later in life (Denham & Brown, 2010). Low-income children of color often face barriers that put them at risk for poor social-emotional skill development. In an effort to support these vulnerable young children, the social settings in which they spend time should be targeted. One key setting in which many young children spend time is center-based child care. Examining this setting is a growing priority, so that the contributions of child care toward child social-emotional outcomes are maximized. Using secondary data from the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) 2009, this study examined child care as a social setting that may positively influence social-emotional skill development among young low-income, children of color. Specifically, this study used multilevel modeling to explore child care center support, and also teacher emotional support and behavior management practices, and their influence on problem behaviors and social skill development among young children. Findings revealed that neither teacher emotional support practices nor teacher behavior management practices were significantly associated with child social skills or problem behaviors. However, teacher perceived center support was significantly related to child problem behaviors among low-income children of color, with higher teacher perceived center support as (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2015, American Culture Studies

This dissertation is an autoethnographic inquiry into mental illness, social support, and voluntary kinship. I explore relationships with my voluntary kin - people who act as family without biological or legal ties - and the types of supportive relationships in which we engaged that helped me accept the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder (BPD). Because of their communication and commitment to me, I learned to thrive while complying with mental health treatment. This document describes the process by which I went from being self-centered to other-centered; from social support receiver to social support provider; and from defining myself as an individual to understanding my role in the collective.

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2014, Educational Studies

The level of perceived social support in higher education continues to be a field of interest within academia, particularly with regards to its relationship to academic retention. The study investigated social support using 143 randomly selected students (100 females and 43 males) from a large Midwestern university. In order to characterize their perceptions of social support, students were asked to write 5-10 open-ended statements their closest family member could ask of them that would demonstrate feelings of support. Data were analyzed utilizing QDA Miner and WordStat software. Cluster analysis was used to identify the themes undergraduate students perceived as indicators of social support. Using a grounded theory approach in which the researcher did not restrict analysis with a priori assumptions about thematic content, the study identified three themes: academic support, personal support, and financial support. Based on these results a survey was developed to assess levels of perceived social support from undergraduate students. The new instrument provides academic institutions the opportunity to better access levels of family social support, where students with lower scores are at higher risk for attrition.

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2008, Psychology

To many consumers, recovery is much more than just a return to a normal state of functioning or symptom remission: it is a journey (Deegan, 1995). Social support has been found to play an important role in this recovery journey (Frese & Davis, 1997) for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). However, individuals with SMI have been found to have social networks that are one-half the size of those of the general population (Corrigan & Phelan, 2004; Wilson, Flanagan, & Rynders, 1999). Many individuals with SMI have a dual diagnosis for co-occurring substance use disorders (MacDonald et al., 2004), and the recovery process is not unique to the field of mental health (e.g., other health arenas such as cancer and substance abuse also address recovery processes). Today, in the age of the consumer-survivor movement, where the client is an active and informed participant in their treatment and recovery (Gonzalez, 1976; Wilson et al., 1999), there is much debate about the definition of recovery. This study represents an integration of the current recovery and social support literature with an evaluation of the Wellness Management and Recovery (WMR) program. The WMR program is an ongoing, multi-site project which is designed to promote mental health recovery among individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness in the community. The current research was an adjunct to WMR and examined how this recovery program affects the quality and quantity of the social support of the participants. The present study was designed to evaluate whether a recovery-oriented program helped individuals with SMI to gain not only in number of social supports (quantitatively), but also whether these supports were perceived to be meeting their needs (qualitatively). Results found that participants successfully completing the WMR program showed a significant increase in both quantity and quality of their social support networks. Exploratory analyses of follow-up data, as well as (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science in Sport Studies, Miami University, 2010, Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies

This paper examines the role of social support and its affect on athletic injury rehabilitation. The study utilized a semi-structured interview structure on six previously injured Division I athletes. Results were analyzed using qualitative methodology looking for emergent themes and sub-themes. It was originally thought a social network of supporting roles was crucial for injured athletes' recovery. However, with the current results, it is now evident that social networks are but a small fraction of the process. This study concludes with future research directions.

Master of Gerontological Studies, Miami University, 2005, Gerontology

The purpose of this research was to provide a comprehensive examination of personal characteristics, health status, diabetes experience, and perceived social support from family and perceived social support from friends as predictors of self-management in adults with diabetes mellitus. Perceived social support was measured using the Perceived Social Support from Friends and Family Scale (Procidano & Heller, 1983). Self-management was measured using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Scale (Toobert, Hampson, & Glasgow, 2000), as well as a hemoglobin A1c test, a biomedical indicator of self-management efforts. Participants included 50 individuals who reported moderate levels of support from family and friends, but significantly more support from family members. Participants also reported the most adherence to taking medications and least adherence to exercising. Additionally, a modicum of support from family was associated with high adherence to diet and exercise. Economic and diabetes intervention implications are discussed, as well directions for future research.

PHD, Kent State University, 2010, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Spouses of adults with type 2 diabetes often provide social support to reduce patients' distress and facilitate healthy behaviors and social control to discourage patients' unhealthy behaviors. Yet, it is unclear how spouses' support and control affect patients' daily management of diabetes through physical exercise; daily physical exercise can be especially challenging for older adults with diabetes. The aims of this dyadic, daily diary study were to investigate 1) Direct associations between spouses' exercise support and exercise control and patients' daily physical exercise, 2) Patients' daily emotional responses as mediators of the direct associations, and 3) Patients' gender as a moderator of the direct and mediated associations. Older adult couples (N = 70) were recruited from physicians' offices, diabetes education centers, senior citizen organizations, and through newspaper and radio advertisements. To be eligible, adults had to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, be at least 55 years old, be in a marriage or marriage-like heterosexual relationship, and reside with the spouse in the community. The non-diabetic spouse had to be the primary source of assistance with the patient's diabetes management. Patients and spouses independently completed laptop diaries (once an evening for 7 days) and paper questionnaires. Patients also wore an activity monitoring device on the wrist throughout the diary period. Multilevel modeling analyses were used to test the direct, mediated, and moderated associations between spouses' exercise support and exercise control and patients' physical exercise. On days in which spouses provided exercise support, patients engaged in more physical exercise. On days in which spouses provided exercise control, patients engaged in less physical exercise. Patients' emotional responses on a given day did not mediate the association between either spouses' exercise support or exercise control and patients' physical exercise. For female patients, h (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2007, Clinical Psychology (Adult)

The evidence linking the stress of dementia caregiving to negative mental and physical health is compelling and consistent. Research shows that supportive social interaction may help reduce some of the emotional burden experienced by dementia caregivers. However, empirical evidence also suggests that even a few negative social interactions can negate the ameliorative effects of positive social exchanges. Furthermore, the literature suggests that relationships with family and non-familial social contacts are qualitatively disparate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between positive and negative social exchange in familial and non-familial social contexts. Study variables included aspects of the caregiving situation (i.e., caregiver gender, coresidence with the care recipient), care recipient characteristics (i.e., degree of impairment, behavioral symptoms), caregiver perceived social support and negative interactions with family and non-family contacts, and caregiver emotional distress. The findings of the current investigation provide preliminary evidence that social interactions with family and non-family social network members have differential effects on the emotional well-being of caregivers. Specifically, higher levels of emotional support from family may tend to reduce overall caregiver emotional distress while emotional support from non-familial sources may bolster the caregivers optimistic outlook on the experience of caregiving. Furthermore, negative social interactions with family and non-familial social contacts was not a significant predictor of caregiver outcome variables in the present study, though this finding may have been non-significant due to limited power or restricted range in the negative social interaction scores. Investigation of variables that may reduce the burden experienced by caregivers is essential to the development of effective treatment of the increasing number of individuals that assume the caregiving (open full item for complete abstract)

MA, Kent State University, 2023, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies

The purpose of this study was to assess first-generation college students' perceptions of peer mentoring for social integration. Most previous research on first-generation college students has been focused on their academic outcomes. Less attention has been paid to social integration into campus life for first-generation college students. The participants in this study were 58 first generation adult college students. Participants' reported social integration to college and their perceptions of peer mentoring for social integration were assessed through an online Qualtrics survey. The findings showed that only one-third of respondents felt mostly or completely socially integrated into college life. Nearly half of the respondents were either moderately or very interested in participating in a peer mentoring program aimed at promoting social integration for FGCSs. Almost two-thirds reported increased social connections and friendships and better understanding of campus resources as likely benefits of a peer mentoring program. When participants were provided characteristics of peer mentors, supportiveness/encouragement was rated very or extremely important. Recommendations for future programming and research were provided

Master of Arts, Case Western Reserve University, 2023, Psychology

Depression is a powerful risk factor associated with suicidality, but determining who goes on to die by suicide remains unclear. Social support has been identified as a protective factor against suicidality, however the mechanisms involved are not well understood. The current study utilizes a new instrument to measure aspects of social support to determine how they impact the likelihood of dying by suicide. Clinical, diagnostic, and social support factors were measured utilizing psychological autopsy procedures to determine association with cause of death in 100 depressed adults. Results indicated suicide decedents were more likely to be male, experience thoughts of suicide, and experience interpersonal conflict than natural deaths. Natural deaths were more likely to be socially connected than suicide decedents. Socially isolated or conflicted individuals were more likely to experience alcohol abuse and endorse feeling guilty or worthless than socially connected individuals.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2023, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

Images have become prominent means of communication online through social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Selfies are the most common type of photo that is shared on social media, taken by a person captured within the photo. Social media platforms allow people to obtain social rewards, through the responses it receives, which leaves the question regarding “Could an individual be negatively affected by posting Selfies?”. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of uploading Selfies on self-esteem. In addition, this study aimed to explore the impact of how their Selfie is received by their peers after uploaded. Social support and anxiety are useful in understanding the impacts of posting Selfies. A quantitative study was designed to test the effects of uploading Selfies has on self- esteem, social support, and emotional well-being. The study was conducted online with volunteers. Data were gathered using a survey form, as well as the following instruments: State- Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Self-Conscious Scale- Revised (SCS-R), and the Social Support- Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL). The frequency of uploading Selfies did not demonstrate any effects on the aforementioned variables. The results of the data collection indicated that there were statistically significant relationships among enthusiasm for uploading Selfies, increased trait anxiety, and diminished depression. Additionally, there was a statistically significant relationship between Disappointment for uploading Selfies and higher trait anxiety only. This study provided a framework for future explorations of identity construction through Selfies and social media use. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, Sociology

Historically and in the present, immigration looms large in the American consciousness. Today, we find ourselves in a challenging moment, struggling with political polarization alongside key questions about the causes and consequences of immigration. In this contemporary context, I explore the views that Americans hold about immigration, which may in turn impact immigrant integration. I then explore how first, second, and third-generation immigrants experience national and transnational social ties with attention to their health impacts. Broadly speaking, my dissertation seeks to understand how proximity to the immigrant experience is an important marker of group change. Since a large number of Americans are immigrants or have parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents who are or were immigrants, understanding variability in the ideas or stereotypes that Americans hold with respect to contemporary immigration is crucial to understanding how today's immigrants will be incorporated into the fabric of American life. To that end, I collect and analyze original survey data through the American Population Panel (APP) to first examine variability by generation in how Americans view immigrants in today's climate (Chapter Two). I find that generation is an important predictor of views towards immigration, but generation matters less for how individuals perceive diversity. Next, I use the commentary associated with my original APP survey to understand the thought processes and ideas that respondents invoke when presenting their views of immigration (Chapter Three). I find that oftentimes respondents cannot separate immigration from illegality, with politics, nationalism, and mistrust combining to create archetypes that respondents superimpose on immigrants broadly. Last, I conduct interviews with first, second, and third-generation immigrants in order to characterize the social ties that immigrants hold, how these ties inform their experiences in both the U.S. and in t (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2022, Psychology/Clinical

This qualitative study examines the lived experience of adult women diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with a specific focus on gender roles and social support. Previous research has identified a potential conflict between symptoms of ADHD and societal expectations of women, in addition to a negative correlation between levels of social support and ADHD symptoms. In the present study, in-depth semi-structured interviews that focused on societal expectations of women and social support were conducted with nine women from ages 25 to 45 diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Results of content analysis of interview transcripts indicate that most participants perceived themselves as possessing different personal qualities than those societally expected of women. Participants described reacting to these perceived differences by attempting to modify themselves to meet societal expectations, pretending to meet expectations, or intentionally flouting societal expectations. Most participants reported that increased ADHD symptoms led to a decrease in social connectedness, whereas nearly one half of participants reported that increased social connectedness led to a decrease in ADHD symptoms. All participants reported that increased ADHD symptoms led to an increase in comorbid symptomatology. Some participants identified an optimal level of social connectedness and described an increase in ADHD and comorbid symptoms when deviating either above or below the optimal level. Future research should examine adaptive responding to conflicts between socially dictated gender norms and qualities of women with ADHD and examine the concept of an optimal middle level of social connection