Theses and Dissertations from UMD
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New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a give thesis/dissertation in DRUM
More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.
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Item Facilitators and Barriers of Neighborhood Social Integration(2024) Fuchs, Joelle; Gard, Arianna M; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Social isolation has reached concerning rates, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Social integration can combat social isolation and loneliness and promote feelings of belonging. Social integration within the neighborhood context (e.g., chatting with neighbors, participating in local organizations) can be used combat loneliness, but less is known about the process of social integration across various social identities. The current study examines variability in the patterns and mechanisms of neighborhood social integration across sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., developmental stage-social role, ethnic-racial identity, and housing tenure). Thematic analyses were conducted on interviews with 29 residents of Wards 4 and 5 of Washington, D.C. Results suggested that youth were far less socially integrated with their neighborhoods due to gentrification-induced transience and school choice programming. Despite sociodemographic differences in the perceived facilitators and barriers to neighborhood social integration, many residents called for more community programming and shared spaces to facilitate neighborhood connections.Item "EXCEPTIONS OF THE EXCEPTIONS": SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAMS, WOMEN OF COLOR, AND THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE(2014) Udeli, Michelle Nkechi; MacDonald, Victoria-Maria; Education Policy, and Leadership; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The purpose of this small-scale study is to explore how women of color perceive that their participation in Summer Bridge programs helped them adjust to collegiate life at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). While recent studies have focused on challenges women of color encounter at PWIs, the literature on college integration is missing female students' voices. This study seeks to contribute to this line of research by exploring how women of color adapt to their new academic and social environment, and provide recommendations for the improved academic and social integration of women of color. There were two major themes that emerged in my findings that they perceived contributed to their integration at the institution: structure of the summer bridge program, and institutional fit.Item Health, Multiculturalism and Social Integration(2013) Na, Ling; Hample, Dale; Communication; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This project was inspired by Durkheim's (1897, 1951) pioneering theory of social integration and its health benefits, as well as relatively more contemporary work on contact hypothesis by Allport (1951) and intercultural communication theory by Kim (2001). Durkheim proposed that the underlying cause of suicide was lack of social integration. More recent research also suggested that social integration had health benefits, such as reduced mortality and morbidity, better mental health and wellbeing. What is often missing from this picture is the role of network homophily and possible psychological pathways in the relationship between social integration and health. This study explored social integration, health outcomes, and psychological wellbeing of different groups in Canada using the Canadian General Social Survey 2008, tested the potential predictors of ethnic homophily with multilevel modeling and regression analysis based on Allport's contact hypothesis, examined how ethnic homophily and racial diversity in the neighborhood affected individuals psychologically, and how social integration affected health outcomes (physical health, mental health, and psychological wellbeing) via psychological pathways (personal control, sense of belonging and generalized trust) for each group of Canadians using structural equation modeling. The study found that visible minority immigrants were least socially integrated, and their health outcomes remained at a comparable level as the native-born whites. The Aboriginal Peoples reported poorest physical health, mental health, and psychological wellbeing and lowest level of income and education achievement. They were however integrated at a comparable level as the native-born Whites. Compared to visible minorities, whether they were immigrants or not, Aboriginal Peoples had more ethnically and linguistically homophilous social networks. Living in diverse neighborhoods decreased the sense of belonging felt by the native-born Whites, whereas having less homophilous networks increased the generalized trust of white immigrant and increased the sense of belonging felt by visible minority immigrants. The study also showed social integration had positive impacts on health outcomes across five groups, even though not all effects were significant. When a total effect of a social integration variable on a health outcome variable was significant, it was very likely to be mediated by a psychological pathway. Limitations of the study were discussed as well as its theoretical and policy implications.