MA, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

Since the late 1990's, the U.S. has been struggling with an epidemic linked to the use of opiate drugs and their synthetic counterparts. While many have died in this epidemic, many also recover. In this qualitative study, I aim to gain a better understanding of how people with opiate addiction seek out, navigate and sustain recovery. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals in recovery from opiate addiction. Analysis of data suggests that individuals with opiate addiction utilize a wide range of resources to access treatment and engage in recovery. In this paper, I discuss four major themes and four subthemes. Specifically, individuals who suffer from addiction mobilize various forms of recovery capital, including social, economic and cultural capital (e.g. Cloud and Granfield 2008). I also find that in this sample of middle-aged, White individuals in recovery, themes and experiences such as existential pain, hope, and engagement with the criminal justice system figure prominently in narratives about recovery.

Committee: Clare Stacey Ph.D. (Advisor); Susan Roxburgh Ph.D. (Committee Member); Robert Peralta Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Health; Mental Health; Public Health; Social Research; Sociology

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

As the Muslim convert population continues to grow in the U.S., it is important for psychologists to have ways of assessing their spirituality and religiosity. While there are measures of conversion to Islam, none have been empirically validated with a U.S. convert population. The purpose of the current study was to validate an assessment measure (Lakhdar et al., 2007) previously developed with French converts, with a U.S. convert sample. The present study did not find strong evidence for the eight-factor solution that was found in the original study (Lakhdar et al., 2007). However, support for two of the original factors was established (telic and autic sympathy). Additionally, the measure demonstrated good temporal stability and three subscales (telic, conformist, and autic sympathy) were significantly correlated with validated measures of Islamic beliefs and behavioral practices. While some psychometric validity for the measure was established, the scale will likely require further revisions before being considered a valid measure of conversion to Islam for the U.S. convert population.

Committee: John Barrett Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Dalia Diab Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jennifer Gibson Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Islamic Studies; Psychological Tests; Psychology; Religion; Spirituality