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Predictors Of Self-Esteem And Spiritual Well-Being Among Sexually Abused Women, Kathryn D. Rodriguez

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of the study was to a) formulate an equation for predicting self-esteem and spiritual wellbeing among women molested as children and b) analyze the role of beginning age of abuse, ending age of abuse, relationship between offender and victim, family authority structure, and religious orientation of the home in predicting self-esteem and spiritual well-being in contributing to these equations. The sample consisted of 50 adult women between the ages of 18 and 60 who were involved in outpatient treatment for childhood sexual abuse in one of six outpatient treatment facilities in the Northwestern United States. Stepwise multiple regression …

The Effect Of Religious Orientation, History Of Sexual Trauma, And Typology On Spiritual Well-Being And Interpersonal Behavior Among Adult Male Child Molesters, Anthony J. Papania

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The study measured the effect of religious orientation, typology, and history of sexual trauma on assertiveness, aggressiveness, and spiritual well being for child molesters. The sample consisted of SS child molesters from outpatient and inpatient programs in Oregon. The subjects ranged in age from 19 to 72. The subjects completed the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Interpersonal Behavior survey, and an Information survey. The scores on the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the General Aggressiveness Rational scale and General Assertiveness Rational scale of the Interpersonal Behavior survey were the dependent variables. A 3-Way ANOVA via regression approach with a 2x2x2 design was conducted …

The Relationship Between Father's Parenting Style, Concept Of God, And Spiritual Well-Being In Christian College-Aged Women, Teresa L. Dean

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study is to examine whether an Authoritative parenting style by a woman's father has an effect on her Concept of God and Spiritual Well-being. The Children's Report of Parent's Behavior Inventory (CRPBI), two Concept of God scales, and the Spiritual Well-being scale were given to a randomly chosen sample of 200 women from Messiah College. A total of 127 women responded to the questionnaire.

It was hypothesized that there would be significant relationships between the three scores derived from the CRPBI (Acceptance vs. Rejection, Psychological Autonomy vs. Psychological Control, and Firm Discipline vs. Lax Discipline) and …

The Effects Of Acculturation And Age On Spiritual Well-Being Among Ethnic Chinese Church-Goers, Stephen T.C. Jang

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This research investigated the effects of acculturation and age on Spiritual Well-Being among ethnic Chinese church-goers. Subjects consisted of 169 ethnic Chinese church-goers and English readers ages 18 - 55 from four Chinese churches in the Northwest United States. The response rate was 93.9% of the 180 initially selected subjects.

The subjects completed a survey questionnaire that included demographic information, background information, and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB). The SWB consisted of two subscales: the Religious Well-Being (RWB) Scale and the Existential Well-Being (EWB) Scale.

born had significantly greater (_E.<.05) EWB than subjects who had lived in the U.S. 5 years or less. Age was significantly related to SWB and EWB; and subjects 26 years old or above had significantly higher SWB and EWB scores than subjects 18 - 25 years old.

Religious commitment, and importance of religion were related to greater …

A Comparison Of Interpersonal Behavior Traits And Spiritual Well-Being Among Eating-Disordered Patients And Medical Outpatients, Deborah B. Sherman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

A diagnosed eating disorder sample was compared with a sample of medical outpatients on interpersonal behavior traits and spiritual well-being. Instruments used included the Interpersonal Behavior Survey and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale. A demographic questionnaire was also administered to explore the relationship between demographic variables and the measures of interpersonal behavior traits and spiritual well-being. The sample included all Caucasian female subjects between ages 17-60, representing a range of financial conditions, educational levels, and marital status. Data analysis using an ANOVA with Scheffe post-hoc test demonstrated that the eating disorder inpatient group differed significantly from the medical outpatients in assertiveness, …

An Empirical Examination Of The Construct Validity Of The Spiritual Maturity Index, Rodney L. Cooper

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

In order to do empirical research on religious constructs, various testing instruments have been developed. Yet, many of the instruments developed have not been empirically tested for construct validity to see if they are actually fulfilling their stated purpose. One such instrument which has been developed is the Spiritual Maturity Index. It was the purpose of this study to do an empirical examination of the construct validity of this instrument. Pastors and seminary students from the Conservative Baptist denomination participated in a study to assess the capability of the Spiritual Maturity Index (SMI) in distinguishing levels of spiritual maturity. Also, …

A Correlation Study Of Self Concept And Spirituality In Seminarians, Judith C. Colwell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study investigated the relationship between self concept and spirituality among 55 adult male Master of Divinity students, all of what attended Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. It is one part of a larger research project which addressed the issue of psychological adjustment in seminarians (1'tleller, 1986; Neder, 1985; Powers, 1985). The sample was given a demographic questionnaire, a self concept scale, and three operational measures of spirituality. These were the Tennessee Self Concept scale (TSCS), the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB), the Spiritual Maturity Index (SMI), and the Religious Orientation scale (ROS) • The analysis of the data …

The Mascot Model Of Human/Companion Animal Interaction: Its Effects On Levels Of Loneliness And Depression Among Residents Of A Nursing Home, Mark E. Reed

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Pet-facilitated therapy has been hailed in recent years as an effective means of bringing about psychosocial benefits for elderly people in institutions. However, empirical investigations are relatively recent and more are needed.

The primary objectives of this dissertation were: 1) to conduct an empirically sound study of the mascot model of pet therapy, focusing specifically on its impact on levels of loneliness and depression among nursing home residents, 2) to identify the relationship between existential well-being and loneliness and depression, and 3) to address the use of pets to meet the social/emotional needs of humans from a framework of biblical …

The Mascot Model Of Human/Companion Animal Interaction: Its Effects On Levels Of Loneliness And Depression Among Residents Of A Nursing Home, Mark E. Reed

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Pet-facilitated therapy has been hailed in recent years as an effective means of bringing about psychosocial benefits for elderly people in institutions. However, empirical investigations are relatively recent and more are needed. The primary objectives of this dissertation were: .1) to conduct an empirically sound study of the mascot model of pet therapy, focusing specifically on its impact on levels of loneliness and depression among nursing home residents, 2) to identify the relationship between existential well-being and loneliness and depression, and 3) to address the use of pets to meet the social/emotional needs of humans from a framework of biblical …

Generalized Expectancy And Athletic Performance, Terry Lee Paddon

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Rotter's (1966} locus of control concept has been used to validate the belief that "athletics builds character." Internality is defined as the belief that reinforcement follows or is contingent upon one's own behavior. Externality is the belief that reinforcement is controlled by forces outside oneself, and independent of one's own actions. Previous authors have suggested that athletic participation fosters the development of an internal locus of control. Results have been inconclusive. The goal of this study was to investigate the range of scores on the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale among female professional golfers. It was hypothesized that locus of …

Predictors Of Spiritual Well-Being Among Full-Time Youth For Christ/Usa Staff Members, David E. Clarke

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Due to the vital role spiritual health plays in the job performance of religious youth workers, there is a need to adequately predict this quality in this group of professionals. Spiritual well-being is a construct with support in the literature which can be used to objectively measure the internal, subjective condition of spiritual health. The purpose of this st~1dy was to identify one set of specific, commonly occurd.ng variables which in linear combination would adequately predict the spiritual well-being of fulltime Youth for Christ/USA staff members. The target sample consisted of 350 full-time YFC/USA sta.tf members whose names were drawn …

Commitment To Spouse And God: The Relationship Among Measures Of Marital Commitment And Spiritual Maturity, Robert F. Pramann Jr.

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Marital commitment is increasingly becoming a research focus of many social science researchers. However, to date the research is plagued by the isolation in which definitions and measures were developed/used, the use of divergent theoretical and operational definitions of commitment, and the paucity of psychometrically sophisticated research instruments. In addition, the relationship between religious belief and marital functioning, once well substantiated, has more recently been neglected. The present research addresses these problems. First, the relationship of the social sciences and theology is discussed. Second, the significance of marital commitment is reviewed. Third, a transdisciplinary definition of commitment is developed. Fourth, …

The Relationship Between Religious Beliefs/Attitudes And Psychopathology In An Evangelical Seminary Sample, Eric E. Mueller

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study sought to measure the relationship between religiosity and psychopathology in an evangelical seminary. A sample of 55 randomly selected male Masters of Divinity students was selected from the first through third year classes at a prominent evangelical seminary during the spring quarter of 1984. This study was one facet of a larger research project which addressed adjustment in this seminary population from different perspectives (Neder 1985; Powers 1985). The sample was given a demographic questionnaire, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and three measures of religiosity. These were the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB), the Spiritual Maturity Index (SMI), …

The Correlations Among Ambivalence, One's Concept Of God, And Spiritual Well-Being As Measured On Two Diverse Religious Groups, Gregory G. Lewis

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study investigated the correlation among measures of concept of God, ambivalence, and spiritual well-being in members of a Baptist General Conference and a Unitarian Universalist Association congregations. Ambivalence is considered to have three manifestations; the simultaneous expression of opposite affect, emotional constriction, and indecision. While this condition is assumed to be present in several crucial developmental stages, and is especially apparent in relation to one's parents, this study argues through psychological and Biblical data that there is also an unrecognized ambivalence in relation to God. Parental ambivalence influences one's relationship with his or her parents and also influences one's …

The Relationship Between Individual Differences In Imaginal Ability, Christian Imaginal Frequency, And Christian Spirituality, Michael R. Bressen

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The relationship between the constructs of imaginal ability (vividness and control), Christian imaginal frequency, and Christian spirituality (well-being, maturity, and experience) was investigated. Eighty randomly sampled students from a private Bible college participated in the study. The measures used were the Sheehan (1967) shortened version of the Betts (1909) Questionnaire of Mental Imagery, the Gordon (1949) Test of Visual Imagery Control, updated by Richardson (1969), Ellison and Paloutzian's (Ellison, 1983) Spiritual Well-being Scale, Ellison's (Ellison, Rashid, Patla, Calica & Haberman, 1984) Spiritual Maturity Index, Hood's (1975) Mysticism Scale, and the Christian Use of Imagery Inventory that was specially designed for …

The Jesness Inventory As A Predictor Of Firesetters From Non-Firesetters Among Children 8-18: A Discriminant Analysis, David C. Waller

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The Jesness Inventory and several demographic variables were evaluated using linear discriminant analysis to explore the major question: Can the Jesness Inventory scales accurately discriminate and then classify firesetters and non-firesetters? Psychiatric hospital records of children ages 8-18 were reviewed at two hospitals from August 1983 to October 1985. Twenty-five patients who had engaged in firesetting behavior and a comparison group of fifty-one hospitalized non-firesetting children who had taken the Jesness Inventory during their hospitalization were selected for the study. Three linear discriminant analyses were run. The major finding was that the Jesness Inventory was unable to satisfactorily classify firesetters …

Christian And Non-Religious Sociopaths Compared: Self-Concept, Locus Of Control, Guilt, And Quality Of Religious Experience, David W. Agnor

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Criminal sociopaths frequently claim commitment to Christianity, a religion which philosophically is counter to a sociopath's world view. Ascertaining whether or not religious commitment is a variable relevant to corrections is confusing in light of a lack of research which addresses this problem. In this study 25 non-religious and 27 orthodox Christian male sociopaths, inmates from Oregon State Penitentiary, were administered the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, the Rotter Internal/External Locus of Control Scale, and the Mosher Forced Choice Guilt Scales. To gather data on the religious experience of the sociopath, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Intrinsic/Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale, and the …

Interpersonal Behavior Traits, Spiritual Well-Being And Their Relationship To Blood Pressure, David B. Hawkins

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study explored the relationship of interpersonal behavior traits and spiritual well-being to blood pressure. Using the Interpersonal Behavior Survey, the study correlated interpersonal behavior traits with bl0od pressure levels. Additionally, using the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the study evaluated the correlation between spiritual well-being and blood pressure levels. It was found that blood pressure was unrelated to assertiveness in this sample, which consisted of 88 patients in a medical out-patient clinic. Assertiveness, however, was found to be positively correlated with spiritual well-being. Both are seen as being important aspects to quality of life. Aggression expressed in a passive manner was …

The Effect Of Training On The Helping Behavior Of Religiously-Oriented Persons, Randy P. Marsh

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Persons who adhere to a religious faith or theology based upon the Bible value its teachings that call for responsiveness to the needs of others. However, belief often varies from behavior. Prior research (Darley & Batson, 1973, Batson, 1976, Batson & Gray, 1981, Batson & Ventis, 1982) has found that religious orientation consistently predicts differences in helping behavior. A particular disparity exists between quest oriented persons, who are typically responsive to the stated needs of others, and end oriented persons, whose responses seem more dependent upon an internal need to appear helpful. The present study hypothesized that such differences are …

Development Of A Screening Device For Western Conservative Baptist Seminary Using Mmpi Clinical, Research And Subscales, Demographics, Sentence Completion And Seminary Attrition Scale, J. Ross Neder

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study was to develop a method by which to screen prospective students for the possibility of future adjustment difficulties with seminary life. The final goal for this information is to identify students who would benefit from extra support and guidance. A random sample of 55 male M. Div. students from Western were given the MMPI, Sentence Completion, Seminary Attrition Scale, Demographics and a new scale developed by the author, the Seminary Socialization Scale (SSS) in the spring quarter of 1984. The 20 question SSS correlated in the expected direction with 44 pathology measures on the MMPI …

Self-Efficacy Expectancy As A Training Technique In Personal Evangelism, Glenda C. Loomis

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Bandura's self-efficacy theory was applied to a religious variable, namely personal evangelism, in a sample of 31 volunteers from a Christian liberal arts college. The study sought to determine whether a significant relationship exists between the kind of training a person receives in evangelism and the individual's subsequent self-efficacy expectancy, outcome expectancy and intention to perform the behavior. Three treatment emphases were used: a) an intellectual emphasis which provided individuals with arguments, proofs and evidences for the validity of Christianity; 2) an affective emphasis which encouraged individuals to rely on their faith and devotion to God, which would result in …

The Relationship Of Self-Concept As Measured By The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale To Adjustment In Seminary As Measured By The Sentence Completion Scale, Seminary Socialization Scale, And Seminary Attrition Scale., Harvey B. Powers

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study sought to measure the relationship between self concept and non-academic adjustment in seminary. A sample of 55 randomly selected male Master's of Divinity students was selected from the first through third year classes at a prominent evangelical seminary during the Spring quarter of 1984. The sample was given a demographic questionnaire, the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSC), and three instruments which were designed to measure non-academic adjustment. These were the Seminary Socialization Scale (SSS), the Seminary Attrition Scale (SAS), and the Sentence Completion Scale (SCS). Five professors also rated students in terms of their non-academic adjustment. The analysis …

Generalized Hope, Expectancies, Locus Of Control, And Spiritual Wellbeing In Relation To Quitting Smoking, Wayne C. Palmer

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Conceptually, hope has long been acknowledged in theological and psychological circles as central to human motivation and behavior. However, empirical investigations of hope are relatively recent. The two major objectives of this dissertation were: 1) to investigate the relationship between hope and subsequent behavioral outcomes, and 2) to address this subject area in such a way as to contribute to the integration of psychological and biblically theological constructs that pertain to hope, expectations and behavior change. Hope was operationalized as: "an expectation greater than zero of attaining a goal." Parallels between psychological and biblical perspectives were drawn in regard to: …

Orronic Pain: A Study Of Treatment Outcome As It Relates To Coping Behaviors, Assertiveness, Spiritual Well-Being, And Mmpi Scores, William H. Mullins

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study evaluated chronic pain patients in an attempt to predict treatment outcome. Forty-one volunteer patients completed a Patient History Questionnaire, The Ways of Coping (WOC), The Interpersonal Behavior Survey (!BS), The Spiritual Well-Being Inventory (SWB) , and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Each of these instruments were used to predict treatment outcome as measured by items from the Pain Treatment Outcome Questionnaire including Functional Activity Level, Use of Analgesic Medications, Subjective Pain Rating, and Return to Work. Linear regression statistics were used to determine which of the independent variables successfully predicted treatment outcome. Number of Months Since Last …

An Empirical Examination Of The Construct Validity Of The Spiritual Leadership Qualities Inventory, Thomas G. Parker Jr.

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The The Spiritual Leadership Qualities Inventory (SLQI) is a self-report measure of the qualifications for elders and deasons given in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. This study examined the construct validity of the SLQI by means of correlations with measures of religiosity and personality inventories, and by factor analysis at the subscale level for 90 male, evangelical, Christian seminary students in the Southwest.

The Effects Of A Communication Skills Training Program On Marital Satisfaction, Commitment, Social Desirability, And Spiritual Well-Being, Frank G. Upshaw

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The issue of marital communication between newlywed couples was explored in an experimental design which was intended to teach communication skills to newlywed couples. The participants were all newlyweds who had been married less then one year. There was a total of 48 subjects involved in the study (N=48, IF16, k=3). All the participants were Christians and they represented five different denominations in the Portland area. Each couple was randomly assigned to one of three groups: the Couples Communication Program (CCP) treatment group, a Filmstrip Series (FSS) treatment group, or a wait list Control group. Each parson was tested before …

Coaching Children In Social Skills For Gains In Self-Concept, C. Wayne Yocky

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a four-week social skills training program upon the self-concepts of low self-concept children. The 22 third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade children who participated in the study were identified by low scores on the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale (PH). The coaching condition included: (a) small group instruction from an adult in social skills; (b) behavior rehearsal during game play with a peer; and (c) group post-play review with the coach. The control condition included: (a) small group interaction with the same adult on topics unrelated to social skills; …

Coping With Hemodialysis: Cognitive Appraisals, Coping Behaviors, Spiritual Well-Being, Assertiveness, And Family Adaptability And Cohesion As Correlates Of Adjustment, Clark Daniel Campbell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Twenty-eight patients with renal failure who were receiving hemodialysis at a private hemodialysis center vollllltered as subjects for this study. A global adjustment score was formulated for each subject by averaging their scores on three instruments: Linkowski Acceptance of Disability Scale, Productive Use of Time, and the Beck Depression Inventory. A C:Ompliance With Treatment questionnaire was originally designed to be part of the global adjustment scores. However, it did not correlate with the other adjustment measures, and therefore was not incorporated into the global adjustment scores. Adjustment scores were then compared or related to demographic variables, cognitive appraisals, coping behaviors, …

Christianity And Assertiveness: Response Of Adults In Two Evangelical Churches To Assertive Behavior, Paul S. Otto

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

A review of the assertiveness literature from a biblical perspective produced six issues needing further examination: 1) definition of assertiveness, 2) concept of rights, 3) value issues, 4) relationship of self-denial to assertiveness, 5) goals of Christian assertiveness, 6) effects of assertiveness on others. In the present study, 114 subjects were randomly assigned to one of six conditions in a 2x3 analysis of variance design. Stimulus models were identified as "Christian" or "non-Christian" and modeled one of three types of interaction: 1) passive, 2) assertive, 3) considerate assertive. After reading one script, each person completed a 32 item adjective checklist …