NJIT eTD::njit-etd1999-006::Maya, Veronica Maria::"An examination of the self-perceptions of the physical environment and psychological health of Latina women living in the St. Columbia neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey"

A correlation between perceptions of environmental quality and psychological health has been established in a sample of Latina women. Three psychological scales exist to measure psychological constructs such as learned helplessness, hopelessness, and selfesteem. These three scales have been used in conjunction with an environmental survey designed to capture the perceptions of the sample to their physical environment.

The mean of scores for each psychological construct in the Latina sample were compared to the mean of scores for these constructs in independent samples of oncology, hemodialysis, and spinal cord injured patients being treated for depression. This comparison yields the following information: the Latina sample displays similar levels of learned helplessness with the samples of oncology and hemodialysis patients; the Latina sample displays similar levels of hopelessness with the oncology, hemodialysis, and spinal cord injured sample; and the Latina sample displays similar levels of selfesteem as the sample of hemodialysis patients and spinal cord injured patients, and possibly, the sample of oncology patients.

Title:	An examination of the self-perceptions of the physical environment and psychological health of Latina women living in the St. Columbia neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey
Author:	Maya, Veronica Maria
Document Type:	Thesis
Department:	Committee on Environmental Policy Studies, Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies
Degree:	Master of Science
Major:	Environmental Policy Studies
Advisory Committee:	Elliot, Norbert Beaton, W. Patrick Quinless, Frances
Thesis Date:	1999, May
Keywords:	Hispanic Americans--Women--Medical care--New Jersey Psychological tests Gender identity Health
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	A correlation between perceptions of environmental quality and psychological health has been established in a sample of Latina women. Three psychological scales exist to measure psychological constructs such as learned helplessness, hopelessness, and selfesteem. These three scales have been used in conjunction with an environmental survey designed to capture the perceptions of the sample to their physical environment. The mean of scores for each psychological construct in the Latina sample were compared to the mean of scores for these constructs in independent samples of oncology, hemodialysis, and spinal cord injured patients being treated for depression. This comparison yields the following information: the Latina sample displays similar levels of learned helplessness with the samples of oncology and hemodialysis patients; the Latina sample displays similar levels of hopelessness with the oncology, hemodialysis, and spinal cord injured sample; and the Latina sample displays similar levels of selfesteem as the sample of hemodialysis patients and spinal cord injured patients, and possibly, the sample of oncology patients.
Complete Thesis:	njit-etd1999-006 (118 pages ~ 4,792 KB pdf)
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