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An Examination Of An Online Program For Parents With Anxious Adolescents, Tracy Sciulli
An Examination Of An Online Program For Parents With Anxious Adolescents, Tracy Sciulli
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The researcher conducted a mixed-methods study to investigate the effectiveness of an online parent coaching program in influencing parental beliefs about anxiety and enhancing parenting self-efficacy for managing adolescent anxiety. The researchers developed the piloted parenting program to determine whether a brief online intervention for parents could alter parental self-efficacy and beliefs about adolescent anxiety to bring about positive outcomes for adolescents undergoing treatment for anxiety. The team recruited parents of adolescents diagnosed with or receiving treatment for anxiety symptoms from Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry for a pre-intervention and post-intervention study. The proposed parenting program aims to address the shortcomings in …
Exploring Forensic Psychologist, Psychiatrists And Lawyers Perceptions On Incorrigibility And Juvenile Resentencing, Tyeca Reviere
Exploring Forensic Psychologist, Psychiatrists And Lawyers Perceptions On Incorrigibility And Juvenile Resentencing, Tyeca Reviere
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The United States is one of the only countries in the world that sentences juveniles to life without parole. In the United States, over 2,500 juveniles as young as the age of 13 are serving life in prison sentences without the possibility of parole. In 2012, the Supreme Court case Miller v. Alabama determined that sentencing a juvenile to life without parole was unconstitutional. Forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and lawyers assist in resentencing juveniles by determining if a juvenile is incorrigible (not rehabilitated). The method of determining incorrigibility regarding juvenile resentencing has not been standardized or well-defined amongst professionals in psychology …
The Experience Of Social Connectedness Among Adolescent Cancer Patients, Jennifer H. Nack
The Experience Of Social Connectedness Among Adolescent Cancer Patients, Jennifer H. Nack
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Adolescence and young adulthood are peak periods for the attainment of numerous physical and psychosocial developmental milestones. A cancer diagnosis during this time can disrupt the achievement of developmental milestones and have significant impacts on Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) physical, emotional, social, and academic wellbeing. Coping with the uncertainty of cancer treatment can be particularly daunting for AYAs, as they strive to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst the disruptions to their daily routines and expectations. Moreover, changes to daily routines and expectations are found to cause periods of isolation and significant changes to social relationships between cancer survivors …
School Refusal, Anxiety, And Executive Functioning In Adolescents, Marissa Kimmel
School Refusal, Anxiety, And Executive Functioning In Adolescents, Marissa Kimmel
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
School refusal behaviors impact students nationwide, negatively affecting their academic performance and social-emotional well-being. The current study was a two-part study looking at the factors influencing student attitudes toward attendance and then building and reviewing a program based on these findings. During the first part of the two-part study, a secondary data analysis was conducted to analyze the factors influencing student attitudes toward attendance. The secondary data analysis included correlational, regression, and hierarchical regression studies, utilizing responses from 1,056 teenagers attending a suburban high school. Based on the findings, a second study reviewed a program created to address the factors …
Examining Correlations Between Graphic Indicators In Projective Tests And Clinical Criteria Of Ptsd In Children And Adolescents, Melissa Brennan
Examining Correlations Between Graphic Indicators In Projective Tests And Clinical Criteria Of Ptsd In Children And Adolescents, Melissa Brennan
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The use of art and drawing has been known to be a well-suited assessment and treatment modality with children, especially children who have been traumatized, due to their hesitancy or inability to verbalize complex emotional thoughts and experiences. The use of projective arts-based assessments can be an effective approach for facilitating engagement, reducing resistance, and offering an alternative for self-expression that can provide insight into a child’s experience that words alone cannot. This study aimed to examine whether specific graphic indicators of the House-Tree-Person (H-T-P) assessment correlated with particular clinical or psychometric criterion according to the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale …
Critical Literacy: Meeting Twenty-First Century Literacy Demands For Adolescent Learners, Molly Blew
Critical Literacy: Meeting Twenty-First Century Literacy Demands For Adolescent Learners, Molly Blew
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Adolescents’ critical text interpretation skills are important to college, career, and citizenship demands. At present, the literature reflects concerns with adolescents’ ability to interpret academic and internet-based texts critically. The pedagogical framework of critical literacy is presented as an instructional approach that may support the development of adolescents’ critical text interpretation skills. The objective of this study was to understand the perceptions of secondary teachers concerning student proficiency in critical text interpretation, teachers’ current level of implementation of instructional practices consistent with the critical literacy framework, and perceived barriers to implementation. Three hundred thirty four (334) high school teachers were …
Pediatric Health Care Providers’ Perceptions And Knowledge Of Caregiving Youth, Brianna Bliss
Pediatric Health Care Providers’ Perceptions And Knowledge Of Caregiving Youth, Brianna Bliss
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Many young people younger than the age of 18 years are involved in providing care to family members who are unable to manage their own medical, physical, or mental illnesses. Youth caregivers are an understudied population in the United States. The small yet growing research base has illustrated the relationship between the caregiving role, academic performance, and an individual’s social and psychological well-being. Medical settings are uniquely positioned to identify caregiving youth and provide supportive resources. A survey was created and administered to pediatric health care providers who offered medical and psychosocial support to children and adolescents. Providers were recruited …
The Relationship Between Witnessing Domestic Violence And Criminal Recidivism Among Juvenile Sex Offenders, Shamyra Marie Shaw
The Relationship Between Witnessing Domestic Violence And Criminal Recidivism Among Juvenile Sex Offenders, Shamyra Marie Shaw
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This correlational archival dissertation focuses on the relationship between exposure to domestic violence and criminal recidivism among juvenile sexual offenders. The study examined archival criminal arrest records and self-reported data gathered from a sample of 67 male juvenile sexual offenders in a residential treatment facility. Given the somewhat limited explanations for and research into the causes of juvenile sexual re-offending and the importance of identifying its determinants, this topic may be viewed as having substantial importance to future research and criminal justice policy. Findings did not support the primary hypothesis that prior exposure to domestic violence would be positively correlated …
Adaptive Skills Training And Quality Of Life Of Young Adults With Autism, Reggie Candio
Adaptive Skills Training And Quality Of Life Of Young Adults With Autism, Reggie Candio
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study examines the effectiveness of a group-based adaptive skills training program in improving the perceived quality of life (QoL) of adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment Program (AYATP) is implemented by a specialized Autism outpatient treatment facility, with a focus on improving the personal independence and daily living skills of its participants. With the use of archival data from the specialized Autism outpatient treatment a study was conducted utilizing a mixed factorial design by analyzing pre- and post-measures of the participants’ perceived quality of life, as measured by a research-based …
Examining How Cardiologists Address Alcohol And Substance Use In Their Adolescent And Young Adult Patients Diagnosed With Cardiac Rhythm Disorders, Nicole Stewart
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
An arrhythmia, or cardiac rhythm disorder, is characterized by a change in the normal pattern of electrical impulses that occur in the heart. Cardiac arrhythmias can be life-threatening. Adolescents and young adults who have arrhythmias experience challenges of youth coupled with the medical challenges associated with their diagnoses. Cardiologists who treat these patients are faced with an ongoing need for decision-making surrounding addressing alcohol and substance use, which can be prevalent in adolescent and young adult populations. This qualitative study explored what guides physicians’ decision-making, as well as physicians’ beliefs and practices regarding how they address alcohol and substance use …
Therapist Knowledge, Attitudes Toward, And Experiences With Social Media Use In Treating Adolescent Females, Kristin Hess
Therapist Knowledge, Attitudes Toward, And Experiences With Social Media Use In Treating Adolescent Females, Kristin Hess
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Recent research on social media use suggest that over 90% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years use the Internet and 73% spend time on social networking sites (Cingel, Lauricella, Wartella, & Conway, 2013). This makes it increasingly important for therapists to be aware of the current social media applications, as well as the risks and benefits that may accompany use. Although there is much literature on the possible benefits and risks to social media use, there is minimal research on how therapists use this information to treat an adolescent population effectively. The present study utilized a cross-sectional web-survey design …
Exploring The Predictive Values Of Self-Evaluations And Cognitive Distortions In Relation To Childhood Anxiety Among Hispanic/Latino Youth, Cristina J. Sperrazza
Exploring The Predictive Values Of Self-Evaluations And Cognitive Distortions In Relation To Childhood Anxiety Among Hispanic/Latino Youth, Cristina J. Sperrazza
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-evaluation and cognitive distortions are predictors of anxiety in Hispanic/Latino youth. Hispanic/Latino elementary- and middle-school students (n = 84) from Grades 4 through 8 (42.9% female; average age = 11.80 years) attending a bilingual inner-city public charter school completed self-reports of anxiety, self-evaluation, and cognitive distortions in their school setting. The selected measure of cognitive distortions, Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (Yurica & DiTomasso, 2005), was revised and factor analyzed for the current child sample. Findings demonstrated that, while taking grade and gender into account, different domains of self-evaluation and cognitive distortions …
Self-Compassion, Body Image Dissatisfaction, And Negative Social Comparisons In Adolescents Utilizing Social Networking Sites, Brian Moran
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This quantitative survey study implemented a cross-sectional, correlational design. The present study explored the relationship between self-compassion, body image, and negative social comparisons in a sample consisting of adolescents who use social networking sites. Despite noteworthy limitations, this study elucidates the benefits associated with higher levels of self-compassion in adolescence. In line with previous studies, adolescents reported frequent use of social networking sites, primarily facilitated by smartphones. Although the constant accessibility of social networking sites via smartphones has been associated with negative outcomes, an important finding in this study was the lack of significant relationship between overall time spent on …
Assessing Outcomes: Evaluation Of A Social Competency Program For Children And Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jessie L. Kessler
Assessing Outcomes: Evaluation Of A Social Competency Program For Children And Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jessie L. Kessler
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study examines the effectiveness of a Social Competency Program, implemented by a local agency specializing in autism diagnosis and treatment, with regard to the development of social skills among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. This study, conducted using archival data from a local community agency, used a within-subjects, repeated measures research design to determine if the Social Competency Program enhanced the overall social performance of enrolled participants, as measured by clinician-completed rating scales. The study also examined the relationship between program effectiveness and variables including age and gender. The results did not support the program’s ability …
Feasibility Of A Nutrition Training Program On Improving Self-Efficacy And Life Skill Development For Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease, Ashara Calisse-Atchley Cashaw
Feasibility Of A Nutrition Training Program On Improving Self-Efficacy And Life Skill Development For Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease, Ashara Calisse-Atchley Cashaw
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for growth and nutritional
deficiencies due to poor dietary intake. Presently, no efficacious behavioral intervention exists to address the nutritional need in SCD management. The Good Nutrition 4Me Living with SCD program is a multi-component intervention, developed to improve knowledge base and the dietary habits of adolescents living with SCD. This report reviews the outcomes for 5 adolescents that participated in this 5-week program. Dietary intake was monitored daily via text messaging and progress with goals was reviewed weekly in the group sessions. Parents were also updated on their adolescent’s progress …
Youth Treatment Adherence At A Rural Community Mental-Health Clinic, Asma S. Ali
Youth Treatment Adherence At A Rural Community Mental-Health Clinic, Asma S. Ali
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the relationships between youth and adult psychopathology, and sociodemographic factors and treatment adherence for youth attending outpatient treatment at a rural community mental-health clinic. “Adherence” was defined as attending more than five sessions, while “non-adherence” was defined as attending fewer than or equal to five sessions. Results revealed no significant differences between youth adhering or not adhering to treatment depending on the relation of caregiver to youth or the mode of transportation taken to the clinic. Furthermore, caregiver and youth psychopathology and caregiver’s estimated travel time to the clinic did not predict treatment adherence. Incidentally, examination of …
Examination Of Physician Decision Making With Children And Adolescents Diagnosed With Long Qt Syndrome: A Qualitative Study, Julie Radico
Examination Of Physician Decision Making With Children And Adolescents Diagnosed With Long Qt Syndrome: A Qualitative Study, Julie Radico
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Physicians are faced with ongoing challenges in diagnosing long QT syndrome (LQTS) and the uncertainty regarding treatment for specific genotypes and prescription of restrictions regarding physical activity. This study explored what impacts physicians’ decision making with regard to treatment and recommendations for children and adolescents with LQTS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pediatric cardiologists who were currently treating this population. Several themes regarding physician decision making were identified: constant reevaluation of decisions, impact of years of experience/number of LQTS patients treated, differentiating from versus joining with other physicians, variations in recommending patient sports involvement and activity level, and physicians as …
Evaluating The Mindfulness-Based And Cognitive-Behavior Therapy For Anger Management Program, Brett Pellegrino
Evaluating The Mindfulness-Based And Cognitive-Behavior Therapy For Anger Management Program, Brett Pellegrino
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Problems related to adolescents who present with extreme anger, disruptive behavior, and aggression is an ever increasing concern for school officials (Christner, Friedberg & Sharp, 2006). There continues to be a need for effective interventions that can be utilized within the school setting to assist adolescents with anger management difficulties. This study examined changes in anger management difficulties and mindfulness for four high school students who participated in the Mindfulness-Based and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Anger Management Program (Kelly, 2006). The data were generated through pre and post assessments with the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory, Second Edition Child and Adolescent …
Examining Gender And Socio-Economic Status On The Emotional Intelligence Of Early Adolescents, Alicea J. Davis
Examining Gender And Socio-Economic Status On The Emotional Intelligence Of Early Adolescents, Alicea J. Davis
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine emotional intelligence and its impact on the maturational process of male and female early-adolescent youth. Demographic variables, such gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and educational status were, valued against emotionality factors such as intrapersonal stress, interpersonal stress, adaptability, general mood, and overall emotional intelligence (EQ). The study utilized a non-experimental, correlational design examining archival data. The participants consisted of approximately, early adolescent fifth-grade students aged 10-13 years. The participants were administered the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (BarOn EQ-I:YV) and a demographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population sample. A Pearson …
Self-Regulation: The Link Between Academic Motivation And Executive Function In Urban Youth, Sara Ferry Walker
Self-Regulation: The Link Between Academic Motivation And Executive Function In Urban Youth, Sara Ferry Walker
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The present study investigated the relationship between academic motivation and executive function skills through teacher reports of prototypical students, perceived to lack motivation. Second, the study examined the effect of grade level (i.e., elementary, middle, high) on both teacher-perceived academic motivation and executive function skills for these prototypical students. It was hypothesized that there were significant relationships between executive function processes and academic motivation. It was also hypothesized that due to the decline in academic engagement during adolescence, middle school and high school teachers would perceive higher levels of executive dysfunction and deficits in academic motivation than would elementary teachers. …
Psychosocial Factors Associated With Bullying Typologies In A Mental Health Population Of Adolescents, Jamie M. Bolton
Psychosocial Factors Associated With Bullying Typologies In A Mental Health Population Of Adolescents, Jamie M. Bolton
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Despite the well documented mental health consequences of bullying behavior, bullying has not been studied in a mental health population. This study has examined psychosocial factors (symptoms of internalizing disorders and cognitive style) in a population of adolescents admitted into a partial hospitalization program. Sixty-four participants completed five self-report measures. This study was not able to differentiate among bully typologies based on internalizing symptoms (PTSD and depression) or self-debasing cognitive style. Instead, a more relevant finding was that more than half of the sample had clinical levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms. Because this sample was more similar than it …
Profiling Executive Dysfunction In Adolescents With Autism, Nicole R. Rogers
Profiling Executive Dysfunction In Adolescents With Autism, Nicole R. Rogers
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Executive Functions (EF) have been assigned a causative role in a number of disorders, including schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, violent and criminal behavior, and nearly all learning disabilities. While the term executive functions in the professional literature easily yields more than 150 references, empirical research in which executive functions are studied and linked with specific disorders, such as autism, continues to help answer long-held questions about the disorder and adds to the literature base in order to better understand and treat the disorder. The purpose of this study was to review archival data collected using the Behavior …
The Relevance Of Executive Functions In Academic Production In Middle School, Norina Bobik
The Relevance Of Executive Functions In Academic Production In Middle School, Norina Bobik
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The present study investigated the role that executive function plays on academic production in middle school from a prototype perspective. It was hypothesized that middle school teachers' prototypical ratings of the executive function capacities of middle school students who are academically successful would differ significantly from these same middle school teachers' prototypical ratings of the executive function capacities of middle school students who are academically unsuccessful. The study used archival data consisting of items from the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), a questionnaire that was completed by middle school teachers during a professional in-service workshop at four large …
The Relationship Between Therapeutic Alliance And Treatment Outcome In Prolonged Exposure Therapy For Adolescents With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Sandy Capaldi
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The present study focused on the therapeutic alliance in Prolonged Exposure Therapy for adolescent girls with sexual abuse-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Two major questions were investigated. First, how does the therapeutic alliance act as a moderating variable between outcome and three predictor variables (homework compliance, habituation to the trauma memory, and number of sessions completed)? Second, how is the relationship between outcome and these same variables affected by the strength of the therapeutic alliance? The data used in this study were taken from an existing database of information on 40 sexually abused adolescent girls with PTSD (mean age = …
The Development Of The Measure Of Perceived Overscheduling (Mops), Aaron S. Pollock
The Development Of The Measure Of Perceived Overscheduling (Mops), Aaron S. Pollock
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
It has been suggested that extracurricular activity involvement can lead to later behavioral or developmental challenges for children, particularly when children are pressured or overscheduled. Research, however, has shown mixed results in attempts to find a relationship between overinvolvement in activities and emotional/behavioral challenges. However, previous research did not take into consideration the individual’s perception of being overscheduled. The Measure of Perceived Over-Scheduling (MOPS) was developed to assess if a difference exists between adolescents who believe they are overinvolved in activities and adolescents who do not hold this belief. The MOPS was subsequently utilized to assess the relationship between perceived …
Exploratory Factor Analysis Of A Relational Aggression Self-Report, Kimberly S. Carlson
Exploratory Factor Analysis Of A Relational Aggression Self-Report, Kimberly S. Carlson
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Relational aggression (RA) represents a distinct form of bullying and refers to behaviors that harm others through damaging their friendships, their inclusion in social groups, and their feelings of acceptance. RA has been recognized as a significant problem, which has psychosocial and academic consequences for perpetrators, victims and bystanders. This study evaluated a self-report inventory that examined RA in 219 females ages 10 through 18 from Central Pennsylvania. Inter-item correlations revealed that none of the scale’s items were highly correlated and therefore repetitive. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with an oblique rotation was used to identify the factors within the …
Program Evaluation : The Clinical Programming Of An Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Program And Adherence To Clinical Best Practice Guidelines, Michael K. Colbert
Program Evaluation : The Clinical Programming Of An Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Program And Adherence To Clinical Best Practice Guidelines, Michael K. Colbert
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The structure and delivery of clinical services at an adolescent psychiatric community residential program (PCR), located in New Jersey, was evaluated and compared to national clinical guidelines in order to determine the effectiveness of the services being delivered. A multitude of demographic and clinical variables were examined through the review of 70 closed medical records over a 5-year period. An exploration of the history, rationale, and effectiveness of residential treatment services for adolescents is also presented, along with recommendations for the delivery of more effective clinical services.
The Social Problem-Solving Approach Of Adolescent Females Diagnosed With An Eating Disorder :Toward A Greater Understanding Of Control, Roger K. Mcfillin
The Social Problem-Solving Approach Of Adolescent Females Diagnosed With An Eating Disorder :Toward A Greater Understanding Of Control, Roger K. Mcfillin
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study examined social information processing variables, social problem solving skills, and interpersonal assertiveness in adolescent females diagnosed with an eating disorder. A total of 114 adolescent females between the ages of 14-17 participated in the study. Fifty girls currently in treatment for a diagnosed eating disorder were compared to 64 healthy nonclinical controls. When presented with vignettes depicting ambiguous social dilemmas, the eating disorder group demonstrated a more hostile attributional bias, experienced a significantly greater intensity of negative emotions, and relied upon more avoidant coping strategies when compared to the nonclinical control group. Specifically, the eating disorder group …
An Analysis Of Survey Data On Student Perceptions Of Adolescent Counseling Needs, Jane Ellen Santo
An Analysis Of Survey Data On Student Perceptions Of Adolescent Counseling Needs, Jane Ellen Santo
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The school counseling needs of adolescents have often
been assessed through the perceptions of school personnel
and other adults. This study provides an alternative
perspective and reports the results of a mental health/life
stress counseling needs’ assessment, conducted directly
with middle school and high school students’ grades 7
through 12. The results of this student-centered survey
are reported with relation to literature pertaining to the
potential counseling needs of adolescents and the
deleterious consequences of not meeting these needs. Data
pertaining to each area of the survey: awareness of
counseling services, participation in counseling services,
perceived counseling needs, and perceived …
Transportability Of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy : A Case Study With Adolescents In A Residential Treatment Setting, Susanna A. Carew
Transportability Of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy : A Case Study With Adolescents In A Residential Treatment Setting, Susanna A. Carew
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Because of the increase in the numbers of adolescents presenting in residential care, the challenge and difficulty posed to therapists in treating this age-group, and the prevalence of chronic stress and complex trauma symptoms found in this population, the research conducted was a clinical case study investigating the transportability and effectiveness of using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), a manualized treatment format, with adolescent clients in a residential treatment setting. A doctoral candidate was trained to engage each of three residential clients in 12 individual sessions of TF-CBT. The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), Jesness …