http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/726 2013-05-31T06:11:23Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6152 Title: A study on the implementation of a positive youth development program (Project P.A.T.H.S.) for secondary on ethnic minority students living in Hong Kong Authors: Wun, King Fung Keith (尹競風) Abstract: Project P.A.T.H.S. is a curricular-based program that attempts to promote positive youth development in Hong Kong. It is a universal program providing for junior secondary school students in the participating schools. With more than 30 evaluation studies carried by the Project P.A.T.H.S. research team, none has evaluated its impact on ethnic minority students living in Hong Kong. Counting for about 5% of the total population, non-Chinese are living in a rather disadvantaged position. An effective implementation of positive youth development program during their adolescence stage would surely help promote them a better life in Hong Kong. The aims of this study is to: 1) understand the expectations that S1 ethnic minority Hong Kong students have for a youth development program, 2) explore the effectiveness of Project P.A.T.H.S. as perceived by ethnic minority students, and 3) explore critical factors for successfully achieving the intended learning outcomes of Project P.A.T.H.S. It is a process evaluation study. Qualitative methods are adopted in which data was obtained through class observations (in three schools) and in-depth interviews (for twenty-two students) in 2007-2008 school year. Discussion is made on: 1) Ethnic minority students' expectation for youth development program, 2) effectiveness of Project P.A.T.H.S. as perceived by ethnic minority students (in terms of 5C: Connection, Competence, Confidence, Contribution and Character), and 3) People, Program, and Process as critical factors for effective program implementation. The limitations and recommendations of this study, together with suggestions for future research are pinpointed at the end of this paper. Notes: CityU Call Number: LB1620.53.C6 W86 2010; viii, 232 leaves 30 cm.; Thesis (M.Phil.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2010.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-216) 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6150 Title: Intimacy, passion, commitment and satisfaction in romantic relationships : the effects of duration, partner and perception Authors: Ng, Ting Kin (吳挺堅) Abstract: In the light of the literature on loving relationships, the present research attempted to refine Sternberg's (1986, 2006) triangular theory of love and derive further explanations of phenomena in romantic relationships. In particular, the roles of relationship duration, the partner's feelings of love, and the perception of the partner were investigated. Two separate studies were conducted for these purposes. Study one aimed at inspecting (a) the contributions of intimacy, passion, and commitment to satisfaction in romantic relationships, (b) the effects of relationship stage and relationship length on the triangular love components, and (c) the moderating effects of relationship stage and relationship length on the associations between the three components of love and relationship satisfaction. Questionnaires were administered to 168 Chinese people currently involved in a heterosexual romantic relationship. The results indicated that intimacy and commitment were independent predictors of relationship satisfaction, whereas passion influenced relationship satisfaction indirectly through affecting intimacy and commitment. Regarding the effect of relationship duration on love, the three components followed significant linear and quadratic trends across the five relationship stages (casually dating, seriously dating, exclusively dating, engaged, and married). Participants at the engaged stage reported the highest levels of intimacy, passion, and commitment. Significant quadratic trends of intimacy and passion and a significant linear trend of commitment over relationship length also emerged. Concerning the moderating effect of relationship duration on the influences of the love components on relationship satisfaction, the effect of commitment was found to be stronger at later stages. Contrary to the prediction, passion was found to be increasingly influential over relationship length. Another unexpected finding was that relationship duration did not appear to moderate the impact of intimacy on relationship satisfaction. The second study aimed to examine (a) the effects of the partner's levels of intimacy, passion, and commitment on the actor's relationship satisfaction, (b) the negative effects of the actual discrepancies between a couple's levels of the triangular love components on relationship satisfaction, (c) the influences of the actor's and the partner's levels of the love components on the actor's perception of the partner, (d) the associations between actual discrepancies in the love components and the perceived discrepancies, (e) the mediating effect of the actor's perception of the partner's love on the relationship between the partner's love and the actor's relationship satisfaction, (f) the mediating effect of the perceived discrepancies in love on the associations between actual discrepancies and relationship satisfaction. Questionnaires were collected from 79 Hong Kong Chinese couples. The results revealed that both the actor's and the partner's levels of intimacy, passion, and commitment were predictive of the actor's relationship satisfaction and the actor's perception of the partner's love. Moreover, the effects of the partner's love on the actor's relationship satisfaction were found to be mediated by the actor's perception. On the other hand, the actual discrepancies between a couple's levels of the love components were related to dissatisfaction and the couple's perceived discrepancies. Furthermore, the negative influences of the actual discrepancies in love on relationship satisfaction were mediated by the perception of the discrepancies. Notes: CityU Call Number: BF575.L8 N49 2010; xiv, 172 leaves 30 cm.; Thesis (M.Phil.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2010.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-167) 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6149 Title: Seeking social support in marital relationship : the role of communication styles and age Authors: Lee, Kit Ling (李潔鈴) Abstract: The crucial role of social support in social relationships and psychological well-being has been well-documented. Given the interactive nature of social support process, however, little is researched about the antecedents and consequences of using different support-seeking strategies. The thesis investigated the relationship of communication styles (explicit and implicit), support-seeking strategies (direct and indirect), and social exchanges (positive and negative) in marriage. The thesis also explored the partner effects in seeking social support. On top of that, the age differences of these factors were also examined. One hundred pairs of younger (22-40 years old) and 104 older couples (55-90 years old) participated in the study. Older adults reported higher endorsement of both explicit and implicit communication styles than younger adults. Older adults also reported using more direct support-seeking strategy and less indirect support-seeking strategy as compared to younger couples. Explicit communication and implicit communication styles partially mediated the age differences in direct and indirect support-seeking strategies respectively. For both age groups, seeking support directly was more beneficial than indirect support-seeking effort in terms of increasing positive exchange and reducing negative exchange. Whereas older couple were had a stronger negative relationship of actor's indirect support-seeking and perceived positive exchange, younger adults were more affected by the reduction of actor's direct support-seeking and increase in partner's indirect support-seeking for perceived negative exchange. Future direction and implications of the study were discussed. Notes: CityU Call Number: HQ728 .L484 2010; vii, 97 leaves 30 cm.; Thesis (M.Phil.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2010.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-72) 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/5691 Title: Caring for elderly people with dementia in Hong Kong : towards a holistic approach Authors: Mok, Wai Kit Linda (莫惠潔) Abstract: This study was undertaken with the purpose of enhancing the quality of care for elderly people with dementia living in institutional settings in Hong Kong through advancing from medical and behavioural management models towards a Holistic Care Approach. The Holistic Care Approach in this study is based on three core dimensions of a Person, which are shown in behavioural, cognitive, and humanistic social interactions. Literature support for the framework of such a Holistic Approach is to be found in theories arising from Behavioural Psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Psychology, and Humanistic Social Psychology. The study proceeded in two stages. Results from a Stage I quantitative survey were incorporated into an experimental design for Stage II which explored whether changes take place in formal care staff members following Holistic Approach training. Stage I, the quantitative study, took place in 2007. A total of 639 formal care staff members who worked directly with older people with dementia in 27 government sub-vented and 36 private homes in Hong Kong completed self-administered questionnaires on their difficulties in handling disturbed behaviours and their perception of burnout Stage II was conducted in 2008. Data was collected in two Care and Attention Homes. Eight weeks of Holistic approach training was provided for an intervention group while no training was provided for a comparison group. There were several major findings from the study. A first finding was that the five most frequently reported "difficult to handle behaviours" exhibited by older people with dementia were: spitting; going missing; wandering; complaining about personal items being stolen; and complaining about personal items being lost. Secondly, analysis found that lack of organizational support was the key determinant of staff burnout but that provision of training courses and support for formal care staff strengthened their sense of personal accomplishment. Thirdly, findings showed that the Mace behavioural dimension, one of the training elements in the Holistic Training Model, was effective for handling disturbed behaviours. Fourthly, formal care staff who had undertaken Holistic Training experienced an increased sense of personal accomplishment. The overarching contribution of this study is to demonstrate that receiving Holistic Approach training strengthens caring practices, benefiting those with dementia, and increases the sense of personal accomplishment in care givers, thus benefiting formal care staff members in institutions. The study reflects a trend towards a Holistic style of caring known as “Caring by Doing and Knowing” which addressed three core dimensions, behavioural, cognitive and social humanistic aspects of “Persons” with dementia. Notes: CityU Call Number: HV1484.C65 H6694 2009; xiii, 299 leaves : ill. (some col.) 30 cm.; Thesis (M.Phil.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-201) 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z