Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Social Work

Postpartum depression and anxiety (PPD/A) represent the most common side effects of childbirth. In addition to distress, mothers' with untreated PPD/A are more likely to have poorer breastfeeding outcomes and worse postpartum physical health. For women who have had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—most frequently identified as abuse, neglect, and household instability—the transition to motherhood may be fraught with particularly challenging cognitive and emotional responses frequently labeled as PPD/A. A few recent studies have demonstrated a link between ACEs and postpartum mental health. This dissertation—via a two-phase, explanatory sequential mixed methods design—makes a novel contribution to the perinatal mental health field by utilizing a combination of life course theory and the liberation health social work model to examine the association between a broad range of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and four interrelated outcomes—PPD/A, postpartum physical health, and breastfeeding challenges—and whether or not the variables of social support, experiences of discrimination, and material (economic) hardship influence this association. In phase I, a fairly diverse sample of United States' mothers age 18 and older who delivered a live baby within the previous year (N = 306) completed an online survey on (a) ACEs (including the original 10 core questions as well as childhood experiences of discrimination, community violence, forced migration, and economic hardship); (b) depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale); (c) anxiety (Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale); (d) experiences of discrimination (Everyday Discrimination Scale); (e) social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), (f) material hardship; and (g) demographics, childbirth, breastfeeding, and self-rated postpartum physical health. In phase II, a strategically selected and diverse (i.e., age, income, race, and ethnicity) subset of participants (n = 22) with ACEs (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sharvari Karandikar PhD (Committee Chair); Kathryn Maguire-Jack PhD (Committee Member); Lauren B McInroy PhD (Committee Member); Susan Yoon PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Health; Mental Health; Public Health; Social Psychology; Social Research; Social Work; Womens Studies

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2013, Counseling Psychology

Gay men experience, internalize, and expect more stigma than do their lesbian and bisexual men/women peers (Herek, 2009; Balsam & Mohr, 2007). Subsequently, it is important to investigate gay men's beliefs about themselves, such as the stereotypical assumption of gay men's inability to have or maintain romantic relationships (Meyer & Dean, 1998; Peplau, 1991). Using a combination of the minority stress model (specifically, experienced discrimination, stigma consciousness, internalized heterosexism and self-concealment) and self-efficacy theory, two path models were constructed to explore this association with the novel relationship constructs of relationship self-efficacy and optimism. The investigation improved past research by the measurement of the minority stress variables, the use of a sample of only gay men, and the use of social media data collection. To test these models, 522 participants were collected. Although both models were outright rejected, three surprising findings emerged. First, the self-efficacy mediation model was supported after a slight alteration to include a direct path from internalized heterosexism to relationship optimism. Secondly, a positive path emerged from experiences of discrimination to relationship self-efficacy. Thirdly, support was found for using an exploratory feminist model which included experiences of discrimination as antecedents to proximal stress processes of minority stress. The findings are discussed in terms of contributions to and future directions for the minority stress model and the inclusion of feminist theory in the exploration of gay men's concerns regarding relationships. Limitations, future directions, and contributions to the field of Counseling Psychology are discussed.

Committee: Linda Subich Dr. (Advisor); Suzette Speight Dr. (Committee Member); Dawn Johnson Dr. (Committee Member); Kuldhir Bhati Dr. (Committee Member); Robert Schwartz Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Counseling Psychology; Gender; Glbt Studies; Personal Relationships