Digital Commons Network^™

The Cost Of Comforting: Phenomenological Study On Burnout Among Marriage And Family Therapists In Community Settings, Steven Razo

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Burnout is best defined as a condition consisting of symptoms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment (Maslach, 1982). It has been characterized as a process that develops through a variety of work and individual factors. Furthermore, it has been shown to impact one’s career, physical health, and mental well-being. Much of the literature on burnout has been studied on psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, with a paucity of studies focused on marriage and family therapist (MFTs). The lack of burnout literature on MFTs is in spite of their employment in many diverse clinical settings. The purpose of this …

Indicators Of Client Engagement In A University Psychotherapy Training Clinic, Katie L. Randall-Sungar

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

A retrospective research study evaluated archival data on client engagement from a program evaluation project implemented at the Psychological Services Center at Antioch University New England. Student researchers from the Center for Behavioral Health Innovation (formerly Center for Research of Psychological Practices) partnered with the Antioch University Psychological Services Center (PSC) to investigate the impact of client early engagement on drop-out rates and therapy outcomes of mental health clients. Potential participants were administered a brief questionnaire, prior to the first session via phone call, to assess their readiness, expectations of therapy, potential barriers to seeking treatment, and their initial impression …

Does Personality Moderate The Relationship Between Video Gaming And Quality Of Life?, Jean M. Devenny

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Video game research has expanded greatly in recent decades, fueled partly by concerns that video game content affects real-word behaviors and experiences. Despite the preponderance of research on the effects of video game content on various outcomes, there are still areas left to be explored. For example, while the American Psychological Association has concluded that violent video game content serves as a risk factor for real-life aggression, the association has also recommended the pursuit of additional research on alternative variables that may influence the relationship between video game content and outcomes (APA Task Force on Violent Media, 2015). The present …

Knitting As An Adjunctive Treatment For Substance Use Disorder: A Mixed Methods Multiple Case Study, Aubriana M. Teeley

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Substance abuse disorder is a characterized by the presence of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms from substance use with continued use despite these consequences. It has serious individual and societal implications, such as negative health effects, overdose, poor work and school performance, negative impacts on relationships, and even death. Economic effects include more frequent use of emergency and hospital services as compared to peers without substance use disorder. A variety of treatments for substance use are available, including inpatient and outpatient programs accompanied by behavioral interventions, individual or group psychotherapy, or 12-step programs. However, there is no one treatment that …

"The Way To Become A Man": The Influence Of Commercial Sex On Male Psychosocial Development, Adrian Deluna Garcia

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Hegemonic masculinity and the negative consequences that it has on men and women continues to gain increasing attention in research and in popular culture. Particular attention is paid to the sexual violence that is perpetrated by men towards women, however, the research on men’s sexual development and its relationship to this sexual violence focuses largely on biological explanations. The feminist literature, however, on sexual violence offers a differing perspective, which includes the socialization processes that men undergo in their sexual development that lead them towards normalizing sexual violence. One of these processes is the existence and normalization of the commercial …

Sibling Survivors Of Suicide: A Retrospective Exploration Of Familial Attachment During Bereavement, Mark Macor

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The following qualitative study retrospectively explored the adolescent experiences and reactions of adult survivors to their loss of a sibling to suicide. The study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to inform subsequent interpretation of interview data collected from a sample of five adult sibling survivors of suicide. Criteria for an individual’s participation included being of at least 25 years old at the time of the interview and that they experienced the loss of a sibling to suicide while they themselves were between the ages of 12 and 21 years old. Participant responses to an attachment self-report measure—Attachment Style Questionnaire (Feeney, …

Children Of The U.S. Military And Identity: A Narrative Inquiry Into The "Brat" Experience, Edward C. Queair

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study is a narrative exploration of the experiences of individuals who grew up within a globally mobile community, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense. It seeks to surface, through their stories, any benefits of childhood that may have contributed meaningfully to their lives. Affectionately known as Brats (a group to which I proudly self-identify), we are the children of those who serve or are serving in the Armed Forces. Unfortunately, Brats are apt to be viewed from a position of sympathy; often identified by any number of negative characteristics presumed to result from their distinct childhoods. …

Return To Play Decision Making With Concussed Athletes: Sports Medicine Practitioners’ Responses, Courtney N. Condiracci

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Sports-related concussions continue to be a serious health concern as the prevalence and incidence of concussion continue to increase annually (Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2016). Decisions regarding return to play (RTP) following concussion represent one of the biggest challenges for sports medicine professionals. The literature recommends implementing an individualized, collaborative, multi-dimensional approach to increase accuracy when assessing concussion recovery and making RTP decisions (McCrory et al., 2013). The current study examined the self-reported practices of sports medicine professionals surrounding RTP decisions. The study utilized an author-developed questionnaire, Sports Medicine Practice Questionnaire (SMPQ), administered as an online survey to assess …

Self-Care And Self-Compassion Of Disaster Responders: Predictors Of Resilience, Marie F. Macedonia

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Every year, natural and human-made disasters occur around the world bringing chaos and destruction to unsuspecting populations. Disaster responders, both trained professionals and volunteers, rally from around the world to provide care, help, and support to survivors of these catastrophes. Responders operate often in tragic circumstances and are exposed to various stressors. Despite a large body of literature on self-care and growing research on self-compassion and their respective effects on resilience (Friborg et al., 2006; Germer & Neff, 2013; Leary, Tate, Adams, Allen, & Hancock, 2007; Roysircar, 2008) there exists no measure that assesses first responders’ self-care, self-compassion, resilience, and …

School Stress In Young Children With Learning Disorders: Implications For Psychological Well-Being, Caitlin Herring

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Children with learning disorders (LDs) are a vulnerable population likely to encounter a myriad of challenges throughout their lives. Research, literature, and interventions focus overwhelmingly on addressing the academic ramifications of LDs while ignoring the psychological impact of school stress. Chronic stressors have far-reaching implications for behavior, emotional development, social skills, academic performance, and development of psychopathology. In this study, five children with LDs and five children without LDs were interviewed using the Pictorial Measure of School Stress and Wellbeing (PMSSW). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to review the interview transcripts. Results suggested that young children with LDs are …

Disclosure And Nondisclosure In Clinical Supervision: Negotiation Of The Learning/Vulnerability Paradox, Vanessa Jayne Leary

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Few studies have explored the long-term impact of nondisclosure and disclosure events on supervisee development and identity formation. This qualitative study explored the retrospective accounts of supervisee (non)disclosure experiences in clinical supervision as supervisees negotiated the learning/vulnerability paradox that accompanies disclosure. Through the use of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), six early career licensed clinical psychologists who completed their predoctoral internships between 3 and 5 years ago, graduated from an APA-accredited program, and who were actively practicing in the field of psychology were interviewed. Following interview transcription, I engaged in the process of convergent and divergent analysis in order to elicit …

Attitudes Of Clinical Psychologists Towards The Reporting Of Nonhuman Animal Abuse, Laetitia Geoffroy-Dallery

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Research consistently demonstrates that nonhuman animals are capable of cognition and complex emotions, but their legal status in the United States remains similar to that of property. As such, they are not protected under laws mandating psychologists to report suspicions of abuse of populations that are judged to be vulnerable and unable to protect themselves, such as children, the elderly and people with disabilities (American Psychological Association [APA], 2010). Findings from previous research suggest that animal abuse is a relatively common topic encountered in therapy and the majority of clinicians are in favor of allowing voluntary reporting of nonhuman animal …

The Way We Say Sorry, Brie E. Everard

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

People living with autism struggle with social interaction, social play, and communication. Over the last decade, technology-based interventions have been used as a way of teaching social skills to children with autism. To investigate these issues more thoroughly, three topics were the focus of this research: (a) the development of autism, (b) theory of mind, and (c) technology-based interventions. The information gained from studying these topics was used to create a technology-based intervention called The Way We Say Sorry (TWWSS). This intervention was created to help children with autism better understand the way sorry is used in the English language. …

Differences Between Introverts And Extraverts With Bipolar Disorder, Ray E. Mchale

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

People living with bipolar disorder have vastly different presentations and experiences despite sharing a common diagnosis. While some research has explored the role of temperament in these different presentations (Azorin, Adida, & Belzeaux, 2015; Graham, Parker, Breakspear, & Mitchell, 2015; Iasevoli et al., 2013), little is currently known about whether individuals’ levels of introversion or extraversion are related to the symptoms they experience or their general way of understanding their experiences with bipolar disorder. For this study, participants were asked to complete an online survey that measured their level of extraversion, their symptoms of mania, and background information concerning their …

Key Considerations For Collaborative School-Based Mental Health Services: Partnering Community Psychology Principles With Systems Of Care Methodology To Address Issues Of Stigma, Brittany L. Foxley

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Mental health issues among school-aged children are a growing concern and subject of intervention and prevention studies nationwide. While several implementation and service delivery models exist for school-based mental health services (SBMHS) they are often localized, population or program specific, and do not adequately address the issues related to stigma. Building on Cook and Kilmer's 2012 article integrating community psychology principles and systems of care values, a review of the literature is conducted to identify issues and barriers from stigma in current school-based and mental health service delivery. Key guidelines and specific considerations are presented to address identified limitations and …

Philosophical Ends To Scientific Means: Diagnosis And The Epistemology Of Psychology, Christopher Michael Johnson

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Modern scientific psychology continues to advance toward newer and greater discoveries of the inner workings of the human mind, posited in the belief that a universal objectivity exists if only to be found. Despite the professional emphasis on conducting psychological enterprises in this manner, the field has spent much of its formalized existence struggling to answer some of its most basic questions. This paper thoroughly explores the nature of a scientific psychology, while suggesting that psychology may find wisdom in its philosophical origins. It further suggests that psychology continue toward a postmodern epistemology, in which a unitary psychological reality is …

A Single-Subject Evaluation Of Facilitated Communication In The Completion Of School-Assigned Homework, Nancy A. Meissner

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Few projects have combined quantitative and qualitative approaches in the analysis of facilitated communication as did this study of a 17-year-old nonverbal autistic male responding to homework questions using facilitated communication. Findings were consistent with prior studies: Tim was minimally able to produce correct responses independent of facilitator influence under controlled conditions; whereas, at least some typed messages in the spontaneous narratives appear to be his authentic communications independent of facilitator control.

An overview of the history of facilitated communication, its related research, and the heated debates around its validity are presented. Disparate findings between controlled and non-controlled circumstances are …

Early Adversity And Executive Dysfunction In Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Jennifer Amato

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

This dissertation was designed to inform the existing literature gap regarding variability in Executive Dysfunction on neuropsychological assessment tasks in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The two primary objectives of the study included: (a) evaluation of the relationship between number of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and performance on neuropsychological tasks of executive functions (EF; as measured by neuropsychological test results on Color–Word Interference, Verbal Fluency, Trail Making Test, and Semantic Clustering) for children with ADHD; and (b) evaluation of the relationship between number of ACEs and behavioral impairment on parent ratings of EFs (as measured by the Inhibit, Task …

Back On The Block: Spousal Transitional Difficulties In Military Retirement, Rhianna Kelsey Flohr

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

Service members who serve active duty for 20 years qualify for military retirement with retired pay. This study examined whether sociodemographic and clinical factors are associated with higher levels of transitional difficulty in spouses of retired military service members following at least 20 years of active duty service. Veteran research has shown that a variety of sociodemographic and clinical factors influence the ease with which the service member transitions back into a civilian lifestyle. Factors contributing to greater transitional difficulties for veterans include: (a) experience of a traumatic event, (b) probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), (c) race and ethnicity, (d) …

Minority Stress, Same-Sex Couples, And Marriage Equality: A Qualitative Interview Study, Angela Lee-Attardo

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

In June 2015, the marriage equality movement in the United States succeeded at the federal level. This study documents individuals’ perceptions of how the fight for marriage equality affected their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors within their own marriages to same-sex spouses. I conducted interviews with eight married individuals (five men and three women) who were married prior to the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Areas of inquiry included (a) motivation to get married, (b) factors affecting commitment, (c) willingness to utilize couple therapy, and (d) factors affecting thoughts about divorce. I hypothesized that, for some individuals or couples, …

Monitoring Psychiatric Patients’ Preparedness For Hospital Discharge, Carrie Olsen Hennessy

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This mixed method study piloted a newly developed tool for monitoring preparedness among youth discharged from New Hampshire Hospital (NHH) and explored its influence on hospital discharge planning and follow-up care. This study spotlighted psychosocial variables in readmission risk for a psychiatric population and introduced a conceptualization of preparedness that included patient understanding of their discharge plan, as well as hope for change and supportive relationships. Quantitative methods were used to examine the relationship between aftercare and hospital readmission and further to explore the relationship between patient preparedness and readmission, as well as adverse events experienced post-discharge. Qualitative methods were …

Can Podcast Listening Influence Attitudes About Mental Illness?: An Exploratory Study, Samuel B. Nathan

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Mental illness (MI) is a major problem in the United States, with significant economic, emotional, and physical impacts on individuals with MI, their loved ones, and their employers. Many of those who could benefit from treatment do not seek it out, despite the researched benefits of mental health care. The self-stigma (SS) associated with MI is a well-documented obstacle to help-seeking behavior. Mental health professionals have tried, with mixed results, to combat SS and encourage help-seeking. Individuals with MI have found and supported one another, forming a community and successfully advocating for reforms to the mental health system. Contemporary peer …

Nonmonogamous Clients’ Experiences Of Identity Disclosure In Therapy, Viktoriya Fuzaylova

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Presented is a qualitative phenomenological investigation of the experiences and perspectives of individuals who self-identify as consensually nonmonogamous regarding disclosure of that identity in psychotherapy. Members of this rarely-studied group (n=10) shared their accounts through an anonymous open-ended online questionnaire. Their prompted autobiographical accounts were analyzed for recurring themes and unique concepts which were drawn together into a model of disclosure of a nonmonogamous identity in a therapeutic setting. This model suggests that while nonmonogamous clients expect prejudice from their therapists, their desire for personal integrity and their culturally informed conviction that openness is necessary for best results, often leads …

Case Study Of The Four-Year Neuropsychological Changes In An Elderly Male With Possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Sarah M. Shreeve

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Research demonstrates that the brain's response to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is variable with age and the effects of TBI on the elderly are a critical and global public health concern, from both a medical and a neuropsychological perspective. Currently, there is scant research on the effects of TBI, including Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), on the elderly. Specifically, there is a paucity of literature regarding longitudinal neuropsychological changes in elderly post- TBI individuals. This dissertation will present a Single Case Research Design (SCRD) analysis of an elderly individual with possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and the associated neuropsychological changes over 49-months. …

Addressing Mental Health Stigma In Korean Americans: Culturally Adapted Anti-Stigma Psychoeducation, Alice Lim

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Stigma is a major barrier to mental health service utilization and treatment adherence. Effective anti-stigma interventions have been identified using predominantly Caucasian research subjects. Participation in research studies by other racial and ethnic groups has been limited. This pilot study examined the external reliability of Wood and Wahl’s (2006) study, which examined the effectiveness of an anti-stigma program, In Our Own Voice (IOOV), by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) among predominantly Caucasian undergraduate students. An older Korean ESOL group in a Korean community center in New York City (N = 20) served as the participants in this study …

Feelings Of Enlightenment: A Hermeneutic Interpretation Of Latent Enlightenment Assumptions In Greenberg's Emotion-Focused Therapy, Alex A. Gomez

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore how a mainstream theory of psychological practice might inadvertently conceal and ignore contemporary values and ideologies and their pathological consequences. Through a hermeneutic approach, I interpreted Leslie Greenberg’s Emotion-focused therapy: Coaching clients to work through their feelings (2^nd ed), a popular and widely used theory in psychotherapy. As a practitioner with humanistic foundations, this was also an opportunity for the author to understand his own unexamined values as a therapist. Specific EFT constructs and concepts that reflected Enlightenment assumptions and values were examined. EFT was situated within Enlightenment philosophy, particularly …

Emotional Self-Regulation And Management Of Disruptive Behaviors In Schools, Erin Hopkins

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study investigated the relationship between teachers’ emotional regulation skills and their management of students’ disruptive behaviors. Teaching is an emotionally demanding job made significantly more stressful by the time and resources required to handle dysregulated and non-compliant students in the classroom. Unfortunately, the current disciplinary practices in many schools fail to support teachers in more effectively managing problematic behaviors. While some teachers appear to be skilled at diffusing an escalating classroom conflict, little is known about what distinguishes them from their more overwhelmed peers. This study sought to determine if there was a relationship between the teacher’s own capacity …

Cultural Consultations In Criminal Forensic Psychology: A Thematic Analysis Of The Literature, Alesya Radosteva

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The importance of culture as a reference point in clinical practices such as forensic psychology has been considerably valued yet poorly understood, especially in an age where precision and sophistication outlast cultural authenticity and patient-clinician relationship. This paper looks at the gaps and inconsistencies that exist in current forensic psychology research. The topic is introduced by delving into the understanding of the phenomenon of culture and its influences on our everyday conditioning. Aspects such as language, biological development, traditions, rituals, and narratives are emphasized as potent tools that drive individuals to create and mold culture according to needs and requirements …

Development And Validation Of The Adaptive Leadership With Authority Scale, Mohammed Raei

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

A reliable scale to measure adaptive leadership with authority—leadership from a position of power—does not exist. This was an embedded mixed-methods study–QUAN(qual) with data collected through an online survey instrument that included the proposed scale items and an open-ended question. The quantitative part of the study, using data from 436 respondents (92.7% from Mechanical Turk, 7.3% from snowball sampling), involved the development and validation of a unidimensional scale that measures adaptive leadership with authority using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The 11-item scale had a Cronbach’s alpha value of .891 and thus displayed high reliability. In the qualitative part of …

Perspectives On Restraint Reduction In Residential Facilities, Ashley Welch

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study was designed to explore how the youth and staff in long term residential treatment experience the use of physical restraints, as well as what they view as essential to reduce the need for these restraints. Youth placed in residential care typically have a history infused with trauma that is often more intense than the general population. As a result, these youth are at risk of engaging in dangerous behaviors that may be deemed demonstrably dangerous, which could warrant the use of a restraint. To date, restraint usage in residential treatment centers has decreased through the following means: (a) …