PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2020, Arts and Sciences: Romance Languages and Literatures

Central Americans in Movement: A Diasporic Revival of Poesia Comprometida is an interdisciplinary investigation that analyzes the sociopolitically engaged poetry of Cynthia Guardado (1985), Alexandra Lytton Regalado (1972), Ilka Oliva Corado (1979), and Javier Zamora (1990), four emerging authors of Central American descent of the U.S. diaspora. Considering their diverse diasporic conditions, this investigation employs theories of diaspora and hybridity to better understand how their differing diasporic conditions impact their sociopolitically engaged poetry. On a similar front, this investigation also compares the themes and styles of their poetry with a sampling of poesia comprometida authored by Central American poets, spanning between the 1940s and 1980s. My hypothesis is that the collective of contemporary writers of the Central American diaspora to the United States are reviving poesia comprometida in a manner that is affected by notions, concepts, and theories of diaspora and hybridity in relation to each author's diasporic conditions and experiences. The representative authors used for the literary comparison made in this investigation are Claribel Alegria (1924-2018), Ernesto Cardenal (1925-2020), Roque Dalton (1935-1975 ), Jorge Debravo (1938-1975), Pompeyo del Valle (1928-2018), and Otto Raul Gonzalez (1921-2007), six widely published and researched poetas comprometidos.

Committee: Jorge Espinoza Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Maria-Paz Moreno Ph.D. (Committee Member); Nicasio Urbina Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Latin American Literature

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2010, Counselor Education (Education)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation level and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence in Central American immigrants in the United States. Central American immigrants represent a population that is a part of the Latino/Hispanic Diaspora in the United States. By the year 2050 the United States population will experience a great change in the ethnic/racial demographics and most will be former minorities comprising over 45% racial minorities (U.S. Census, 2005). Thus, it becomes more important for counselor educators and other helping professionals to understand how to adequately assess the “Latino” and be culturally sensitive — especially since Central American immigrants come from diverse backgrounds, and although they may be labeled “Hispanic,” there is diversity within groups of ethnic minorities. This dissertation examined the research hypotheses: There is a relationship between acculturation level and PTSD among Central American immigrants in the United States. In addition, there are predictive relationships among the demographic variables. The null hypotheses presented are: There is no relationship between acculturation level and PTSD among Central American immigrants in the United States and additionally, there are no predictive relationships among the demographic variables. A Pearson correlation design was done to assess statistical significance (both positive and negative), and to examine if there was a relationship between acculturation level and PTSD. The alpha level was set at a significance level of .05. A standard Multiple Regression design was utilized to assess predictive relationships among the demographic variables with PTSD severity: migration reason, age, gender, migration year, and marital status. The sample of participants was n = 63 out of 100 participants who volunteered to participate in the study. The results show that there was a relationship between accultur (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mona Robinson PhD (Advisor); Gordon Brooks PhD (Committee Member); José Delgado-Costa PhD (Committee Member); Yegan Pillay PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Academic Guidance Counseling; Education; Hispanic Americans; Latin American History; Mental Health; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Psychology; Psychotherapy