The International Forum for Logotherapy, 23, 53-58.

THESES AND DISSERTATIONS

OF INTEREST TO LOGOTHERAPISTS 1993-1998

Bartos, Mitzi Kohatsu. [Pepperdine University; PsyD] (1995). An intermittent, continuous, and integrated psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder. Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 56(12), 7038.

Described a 3-component model for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Logotherapy served in the integration of the components.

Fortier-Buckley, Lisa [California School of Professional Psychology¾ San Diego; Ph.D.] (1993). The effects of a short-term Eriksonian group life review on ego integrity versus despair in the elderly . Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 55(02), 589.

Predicted that purpose in life (PIL) and ego development would significantly increase, while death anxiety would significantly decrease, for a group participating in a 7-week life review (but not for two control groups). The hypotheses were not supported.

Gaudet, Lisa C. [California School of Professional Psychology¾ San Diego; Ph.D.] (1996). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A synthesis of the theories of V. Frankl and M. Horowitz . Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 57(12), 7725.

Incorporated logotherapy of trauma into Horowitz's information processing model of PTSD. Provided an in-depth, qualitative, single-case study.

Gerwood, Joseph Garry [The University of Toledo; Ph.D.] (1995). The Purpose-in-Life test: A comparison in elderly people by relational status, work, spirituality, and mood. Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 57(01), 100.

Relational status (lived alone vs. with someone) and employment (worked, volunteered, or retired) were not significant predictors of PIL scores. Spirituality and depression showed moderate to strong correlations with PIL.

Gillaspie, Michael Harold [University of Florida; Ph.D.] (1993). Using the threat index to predict death anxiety, sense of purpose, and effectiveness of hospice volunteer personnel . Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 55(09), 4118.

Examined use of the Threat Index to predict purpose in life (PIL), death anxiety, and caregiver performance in hospice trainees and non-hospice volunteers. Threat Index scores correlated (weakly) with PIL and death anxiety scores. None of the scores differentiated the hospice from the non-hospice volunteers.

Gilmore, Byron Ross [Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada); M.Th.] (1997). The search for meaning in grief: A comparison of Viktor Frankl's `search for meaning' with Douglas Hall's `theology of the cross,' and their implications for grief ministry . Masters Abstracts International, 36(03), 693.

Explored psychotherapeutic and theological issues raised by both Frankl and Hall for grief ministry. Reported deficiencies in one perspective to be effectively addressed by the other, resulting in a more holistic model.

Hall, Louis Michael. [The Union Institute; PhD] (1996). Languaging: The linguistics of psychotherapy. How language works psycho-therapeutically: An exploration into the art and science of `therapeutic languaging' in four psychotherapies using general semantic formulations. Dissertation Abstracts International -A, 57(11), 4717.

Explored therapeutic languaging in: Logotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Reality Therapy, and Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy.

Holahan, Linda [Columbia University Teachers College; Ed.D.] (1995). A study of suffering, hope, healing, and demographic factors in persons receiving hemodialysis. Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 56(07), 3693.

Administered the Meaning in Suffering Test, Miller Hope Scale, and PIL to hemodialysis patients. Results showed significant correlations among suffering, hope, and healing.

Jackman-Wheitner, Leah Renee [The Ohio State University; Ph.D.] (1994). Vocational identity and psychological health. Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 55(10), 3139.

Showed that vocational identity could be significantly predicted from levels of purpose in life (PIL), ego identity, and sense of well-being.

Jeffries, Laura Lea [University of Houston; PhD] (1995). Adolescence and meaning in life . Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 56(08), 4634.

Designed a questionnaire to measure purpose in life in adolescents based on the Life Purpose Questionnaire (LPQ) and Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Factor Analysis resulted in a two-factor solution: (a) purpose in life, and (b) existential vacuum.

Kowalkowski, Sally Rose [Loyola University of Chicago; Ph.D.] (1998). Values in psychotherapy: A philosophical analysis of the normative assumptions in Freud's psychoanalysis, Sullivan's interpersonal theory of psychiatry and Frankl's logotherapy . Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 58(12), 4686.

Explored implicit philosophical assumptions of the philosophies of Frankl, Freud, and Sullivan. Explored each philosophy's normative force for individuals who seek treatment.

Krueger, Kurt John [Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Ph.D.] (1996). The search for meaning: A logotherapeutic approach to Ernest Hemingway's life and work. Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 57(07), 3021.

Discussed that Hemingway as well as many of his major characters felt trapped in existential vacuum. His major characters often discovered meaning in their lives and achieved self-transcendence through values actualization.

McLafferty, Charles L., Jr. [University of Virginia; Ph.D.] (1997). Spirituality in three theories of psychology: A qualitative study. Dissertation Abstracts International -B, 58(03), 1567.

Used a qualitative approach to interview and prepare case studies on Elisabeth Lukas, Meredith Sprunger, and Robert Gerard. Presented their theories in the context of each theorist's life. Summarized points of agreement; differentiated the concepts of `divine spirit' and `soul'; and discussed the interrelations with the human experience.

Miles, Tony Allen [California School of Professional Psychology¾ Berkeley/Alameda; Ph.D.] (1997). Gay and bisexual men living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): The relationship among purpose in life, death anxiety, and life changes. Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 58(05), 2691.

Examined relationships among purpose in life (PIL), death anxiety, and HIV-related life changes for gay and bisexual men with HIV. Did not find predicted significant relationships between PIL and death anxiety, or between death anxiety and HIV-related life changes.

Oxenberg, Julie [Loyola University of Chicago; Ph.D.] (1996). Personality and peace: A study of person, process, and response in a human growth group procedure. Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 56(12), 7053.

Found significant improvement in life purpose (PIL), life satisfaction, assertiveness, general anxiety, and social anxiety in participants in the 36-hour Lifespring basic training.

Prior, Michael B. [The Fielding Institute; PhD] (1997). Surviving transition at ABC Limited: A study of heuristic research and action research interventions to affect employee anxiety reduction in changing times. Dissertation Abstracts International -B, 58(09), 5178.

Studied anxiety reductions experienced by employees undergoing a third reorganization in 7 years. Supported the hypothesis that restored sense of personal meaning and autonomy contribute to reduction in employee anxiety. Interpreted the results as support for including logotherapy and other philosophies/techniques in plans for organizational redesign.

Reina, Charles Michael [Duquesne University; Ed.D.] (1997). The effects of intergenerational programming on the attitudes of senior citizens toward public education. Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 57(10), 4319.

Examined the effects of intergenerational programs on the attitudes of senior citizens toward public education. Experimental and comparison groups completed the PIL plus additional questions before and after an 8-week intergenerational program. PIL results were not significant while results of the other questions showed statistically significant differences.

Romer, Gail H. [University of Tennessee; Ph.D.] (1997). The experience of laughing in prisoner of war camps . Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 58(09), 4331.

Used an existential-phenomenological approach with ex-POWs to support the hypothesis of a connection between laughing and health.

Sarid, Aksel [University of Houston; Ph.D.] (1995). Assumptive world theory and its relation to psychological trauma. Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 56(08), 4569.

Analyzed trauma impact scores as predictor variables for the PIL, Belief In A Just World scale, and World Assumptions scale.

Sayles, Martha L. [The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Ph.D.] (1994). Adolescents' purpose in life and engagement in risky behaviors: Differences by gender and ethnicity . Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 55(09), 2727.

Showed an inverse relationship between purpose in life (PIL) and risky behaviors (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, drinking and driving, hard drug use) in adolescents.

Schramm, Martin Gustav [University of Southern California; PhD] (1993). Women's liberation rhetoric as logotherapy: A symbolic healing of the female psyche. Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 55(03), 421.

Compared the therapeutic similarities between the texts of Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem and logotherapy.

Shein, Stuart Adam [Carleton University (Canada; MA] (1994). Adult survivors of emotional abuse: Creative and logotherapeutic aspects. Masters Abstracts International , 33(03), 739.

Presented a subjective and creative exploration of emotional abuse, using logotherapy to understand the impact of suffering on people's lives.

Smith, Wanda C. Simpson [East Texas State University; Ed.D.] (1995). Life in the middle school: Teacher behavior and student apathy. Dissertation Abstracts International-A , 55(11), 3403.

One of the many conclusions of this study was that rural middle level students found more meaning (PIL) in their school experiences and in their lives than students in larger middle schools.

Tengan, Andrew [Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana (Vatican); Ph.D.] (1995). Search for meaning as the basic human motivation: A critical examination of Viktor Emil Frankl's logotherapeutic concept of man. Dissertation Abstracts International -C, 59(02), 194.

Argued that a religious foundation underpins logotherapy and the search for meaning is in effect a search for God.

Ulvila, Karen Marie [California School of Professional Psychology¾ San Diego; PsyD.] (1996). Homicide survivors and the search for meaning: A qualitative study. Dissertation Abstracts International -B, 57(02), 1490.

Qualitatively analyzed four interviews, using logotheory as a guideline, to assess how homicide survivors found meaning within the experience of losing someone to murder.

Weber, Jeffrey Phillip [Northern Arizona University; Ed.D.] (1996). Meaning in life and psychological well-being among high school freshmen and seniors. Dissertation Abstracts International-B, 57(04), 2912.

Found a positive relationship between meaning in life and well-being among high school freshmen and seniors.