Supervision of Doctoral Dissertations
Sample of Dissertation Committee Role, Dissertation Title and Abstract:
Dissertation Chair for Self-Construal, Acculturation, and Depressive Symptoms in Mexican Americans (2008) by Scott E. McClure, PhD.
This study examined how self-construal and acculturation affect depression symptoms in a sample of 143 Mexican American adults from a general population sample (52% female, 48% male; mean age = 35.90 years, SD = 10.21) while controlling for gender, socio-economic status, and social desirability. A principle component analysis was conducted on the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (Cuellar et al., 1995) and the Self-Construal Scale (Singellis, 1994) to ensure replicability of the two factor structures proposed by each scale on this studies general population sample. The Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II demonstrated good replicability of the two factor structure. The Self-Construal Scale demonstrated poor replicability of the factor labeled Interdependent Self-construal and good replicability of the factor labeled Independent Self-construal. Therefore self-construal could only be discussed in terms of Independent Self-construal rather than a two factor structure. In multiple regression analysis, higher report of both independent self-construal and socio-economic status were associated with lower levels of depression symptoms. Univariate analysis produced no significant differences in report of depression symptoms between male and female genders. Acculturation measured linearly produced no significant results in the overall regression model, but when assessed as a multidimensional construct in a univariate between subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA) individuals who scored as High-integrated Bicultural showed significantly lower report of depression symptoms than those who were not identified as High-integrated Bicultural. Tests on the interaction effects of acculturation and self-construal on depression produced no significant interactions. Implications about the protective functions of independent self-construal, high integrated bicultural identification, and socio-economic status against symptoms of depression were discussed.
Dissertation Chair for Fatalism, Religiosity, and Level of Acculturation: Their Relationships to Symptoms of Depression in Mexican Americans (2009) by Araseli Perez, PhD.
This study explored how fatalism, religiosity, and level of acculturation are related to symptoms of depression in Mexican Americans. The literature related to these social, cultural and psychological factors were reviewed and clarified previous contradictory findings when looking at these variables with Mexican Americans. The sample consisted of 111 Mexican Americans, 44 men and 67 women between the ages of 18 and 65 with a mean age of 34.54 (SD = 9.10). Socioeconomic status (SES) and social desirability were covariates. Data collection was from Mexican and Mexican American communities in Northern California. Individuals such as field workers, members of GED classes, junior college students, and participants in a Migrant Education program were contacted. When necessary, participants were allowed to take home the packets and return them the following day or week. Written instructions were provided in both English and Spanish. A multiple regression analysis was conducted in order to help understand how the predictor variables fatalism, religiosity, and acculturation predicted depressed mood among Mexican American adults. Although this study did not find a three way interaction between the variables (fatalism, religiosity, acculturation) with symptoms of depression, there was a two way interaction between the variables and depression. Participants with higher levels of religiosity and fatalism reported lower levels of depressive symptoms. In addition, lower levels of fatalism and higher levels of acculturation were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. A second multiple regression analysis was conducted to understand how the predictor variables fatalism, spiritual well being (SWB), and acculturation predicted depressed mood among Mexican American adults. A three way interaction between the variables was not significant. However, a two way interaction between the variables and depression was found. Participants with both higher levels of SWB and fatalism reported lower levels of depressive symptoms. The limitations, implications, and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Dissertation Chair for Conflicting Worldviews and Gender-Role Expectations Among Mexican American College Women: Their Relationships to Depressive Symptoms by Ines Dominguez-Barros, PhD.
This study explored how gender-role expectations, socioeconomic status (SES), individualism/collectivism, and acculturation related to depressive symptoms in Mexican American female college students. The literature related to these social, cultural, and psychological factors were reviewed and not necessarily their relationship to actual dropout rates. The sample consisted of 140 Mexican American, English-speaking, female students between the ages of 18 and 30 with a mean age of 20.91 ( SD = 3.08) from in and around a state university in Southern California. Gender and ethnicity were held constant for participants in the study and other variables that were controlled included age and enrollment at a 4-year university. Participants in the experimental group read six vignettes in which gender-role expectations were incongruent with academic demands; those in the control group read a neutral article. To assess the face validity of the vignettes, 16 students who met criteria for the study were asked to read and critique the vignettes during a pilot study. Their feedback was incorporated and modifications were made prior to their use in the final study. Students in the pilot study were excluded from the final sample. Logistic regression was used to analyze the presence or absence of depressive symptoms using SES, acculturation, collectivism, femininity, and the experimental condition as predictors. The results of the logistic regression analysis indicated that acculturation, collectivism, the interaction between femininity and the experimental condition were not statistically significant predictors of depressed mood. Endorsement of lower SES, higher femininity, and the experimental condition (incongruent vignettes) predicted higher depressed mood. The limitations, implications, and recommendations for further research were discussed.