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    Women's experiences of medical miss-diagnosis : how does gender matter? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Thompson, Jessica
    Misdiagnosis is increasingly becoming a significant health risk. Women experience higher rates of misdiagnosed illnesses and health conditions compared to men. An androcentric, patriarchal medical system has historically under-researched female bodies and therefore has limited knowledge about recognising symptoms in women. This also extends to tests and treatments that have been developed on male bodies, making them inefficient and inappropriate for female bodies. Additionally, women have historically been positioned as ‘emotional’, ‘weak’, ‘hysterical’ and ‘hypochondrial’, meaning they are not taken seriously as legitimate patients and are considered unreliable symptom reporters. Collectively, the lack of knowledge, and negative prejudices against women, produce healthcare that ignores and silences them, and fails to diagnose and treat them appropriately. This thesis engages a qualitative feminist standpoint, using a narrative framework to explore women’s experiences of misdiagnosis and how they make sense of it. The research draws on semi-structured interviews conducted with eight women aged between 26 and 57 years old, who had experienced a misdiagnosis of an illness that is equally likely to affect women and men. A descriptive inductive analysis approach was used to look for similar experiences in the narratives to inform categories and themes. This research found that a misdiagnosis is highly distressing and often leads to disparate health outcomes. The women described doctors lacking knowledge to make a correct diagnosis, or knowledge to treat their conditions. They needed to advocate for themselves when symptoms continued or worsened. The women experienced rude and sceptic treatment, adding to the burden of being unwell. It is recommended that future research continue to privilege women’s voices in healthcare settings, and explore the misdiagnosis experience from the perspective of healthcare professionals to enable more transparent and collaborative healthcare for women.
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    Loneliness, social support and lifestyles in gay and heterosexual women : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1990) Johnson, Janet
    Lifestyle, social support and loneliness in gay women have been poorly documented. Further to this no comparisons have been made with heterosexual women in these areas. The present investigation assessed lifestyle, social support and loneliness and involved two samples, 87 heterosexual women and 63 homosexual women. Of particular interest in the area of social support was support offered by family and friends, as perceived by the respondents. Lifestyle variables were studied to possibly offer an explanation if any differences were found between the two groups. Loneliness was assessed as a multidimensional construct involving four types of relational deficits. Finally variables predicting loneliness were explored. Results indicated that the gay women suffer relationship deficits in the areas of family and community. They also perceived less support from the family than the heterosexual women, and had less kin in their support network, relying on friends more in times of need. This may be because friends of the gay women, both heterosexual and homosexual, tended to react more positively than parents, to finding out about their lesbianism. The variables of perceived support were the main predictors of family and friends loneliness in heterosexual women. These and variables associated with lesbianism, such as feelings of isolation and who was first told, were found to be the best predictors of the different areas of loneliness in gay women. The results suggest that gay women have become alienated from their families and society in general.
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    An exploration of embeddedness : with special reference to Japan : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Economics at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Bruin, Jan C. M. de
    This thesis utilises the economic sociology concept of embeddedness as the theoretical underpinning to provide an alternative perspective to traditional explanations of economic growth. In general, the advantages of social embeddedness have been the main focus in the literature on the topic. The main purpose of this study is to explore, with special reference to Japan, how embedded relationships could both enable and hinder growth. The study examines the operation of embedded ties in four key areas: inter-firm interaction with an emphasis on the auto-industry; embedded relationships within the financial sector; networks in the internationalisation of firms and embeddedness between government and business, including a case study of the construction industry. It finds that while embedded ties have several advantageous facets, they also have the potential to be an impediment to growth, flexibility and adaptability to change. Network ties can expand and become so rigidly structured, especially in a Confucian society like Japan, as to become obstacles particularly in the face of changing economic circumstances. They can atrophy. This finding led to the development of the concluding notion of "atrophied embeddedness".
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    The social and psychological effects of the Ruapehu eruptions within the Ohakune community : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Millar, Marian
    It is commonly accepted that exposure to disaster will cause distress and anxiety within affected communities. This distress is due to both the occurrenec of disaster and the secondary stressors that result from this event. Previous research has noted the beneficial effects of certain individual characteristics in the healthy recovery of community members following exposure to disaster. These characteristics are sense of community, self-efficacy, problem-focused coping, and access to adequate social support. This study examined the importance of these characteristics within a rural New Zealand community exposed to a series of volcanic eruptions. A cross sectional survey collected data at two different periods; once in the post-disaster period, and again when the community had returned to levels of non-disaster functioning. The survey measured levels of the characteristics mentioned above and psychological symptomatology. Demographic information was also collected. A number of statistical procedures were run and the results found that age, coping style and self-efficacy were significant predictors of symptomatology during the post-disaster phase. These were mediated by the quality of social support available to the respondents. However, in the non-disaster period, none of the variables included in this study were accurate predictors of psychological outcome. Future studies need to clarify these results within other rural New Zealand communities exposed to disaster. From this research, practical community response programmes can be installed within communities that will aid in their healthy and effective recovery following exposure to disaster.
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    Out of sight, out of mind : an exploration of the sexuality experiences of women with enduring mental illness : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Nursing at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2008) Davison, Joanna
    This thesis explores the sexuality experiences of women with enduring mental illness. Sexuality is a complex and important aspect of a person's health and well-being. Yet, health professionals seem generally reluctant to discuss sexuality related issues, and few research studies have explored the sexuality of women with enduring mental illness. The aim of this research was to gain a deeper understanding about these women's sexuality experiences, including how they would like health professionals to address this aspect of their lives. Eight women were interviewed individually, and then together as a focus group. Working from a feminist theoretical perspective, the interview transcripts were analysed thematically. All the women considered their sexuality an essential component of their identity. However, powerful interlocking systems controlled and influenced how the women expressed their sexuality, often marginalising, and positioning them as 'Other'. The women's experiences highlight the need for mental health professionals to recognise that sexuality is an important aspect of a person's care and recovery. Mental health professionals need to offer services that enable women with enduring mental illness to openly discuss their sexuality.
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    Absenteeism : an investigation into some socio demographic variables in a specific empirical setting : a Research Report presented as part of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1985) Slade, Peter
    Absenteeism has been the focus of many research studies since the Second World War when war time economies dictated the efficient use of resources, both human and material. In New Zealand, even more attention was directed towards the phenomenon, along with labour turnover, in the 1950's and 1960's, largely as a result of a severe labour shortage. Interest now appears to be on the wane, largely, the writer suspects, because of the advent of unemployment. This is seen as unfortunate, since absenteeism is a costly problem regardless of the state of the economy. Since most organisations are nominally interested in improving the efficiency of resource use, it was hoped that this study would offer some general insights into absenteeism in a specific empirical setting. Accordingly, various socio-demographic variables were examined to see if they were related to absenteeism at Santoft Forest.