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Transitioning From The Juvenile Justice System For Students With Disabilities, Michelle Cain
Transitioning From The Juvenile Justice System For Students With Disabilities, Michelle Cain
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Youth with disabilities are disproportionately involved in the juvenile justice system. However, there is limited research on how individuals with disabilities interact with support services or how their experiences may differ from youth without disabilities. The present study examined transition supports for youth exiting juvenile justice placements. The study utilized a semi-structured appreciative interview process. The purpose of utilizing an appreciative inquiry lens was to push past problem-focused ideas and highlight transition supports that have been successful. The primary research questions addressed the supports and services that have allowed youth with disabilities to successfully return to the comprehensive educational setting, …
The Invisible Load Of Motherhood: Exploring Parental Stress Differences Among Caucasian And African American Mothers, Angena Mombrun
The Invisible Load Of Motherhood: Exploring Parental Stress Differences Among Caucasian And African American Mothers, Angena Mombrun
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Parental stress can be defined as the perceptions and feelings that are experienced in a parental role because the demands that are related to the role are unable to be fulfilled with the resources that are available (Abidin, 1992). Research suggests that African American women may experience more parental stress than their Caucasian counterparts due to various factors (Coll & Pachter, 2002). However, there is not sufficient evidence to support this notion as the majority of research available on parenting stress is comprised of middle-class Caucasian women (Coll & Pachter, 2002; Nomaguchi & House, 2013). The purpose of this study …
The Relationship Between Burnout And Cognitive Distortions For Clinicians Working With Sex Offenders, Emily Stover
The Relationship Between Burnout And Cognitive Distortions For Clinicians Working With Sex Offenders, Emily Stover
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Burnout affects approximately 21% to 61% of mental health providers throughout their careers (Morse et al., 2012). Various precursors may lead to burnout, such as caseload, the severity of the clients, workplace climate, and lack of professional support. Burnout is a significant issue for mental health providers working with perpetrators of sexual offenses, specifically due to the increase in stressors when working with this population. Individuals working with this population have the additional risk of being objectified or threatened during a session and could experience vicarious trauma when listening to the details of the offense. Due to the continuous emotional …
Mental Health Professionals’ Perception Of Medications For Opioid Use Disorder, Patrick M. Mullen
Mental Health Professionals’ Perception Of Medications For Opioid Use Disorder, Patrick M. Mullen
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Despite the widespread attention and resources allocated to the current opioid crisis, the public health problem persists. A major target in the efforts to combat the opioid crisis is increased accessibility and utilization of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). A robust body of evidence supports the effectiveness of medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in reducing overdose deaths and improving overall outcomes. Yet, MOUD continues to be underutilized at alarming rates. Studies have discovered that only one-third of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment sites offer any form of MOUD and approximately 30% of individuals with OUD receive any …
Attitudes Of Providers And Researchers Toward Harm Reduction Strategies, Portia Womer
Attitudes Of Providers And Researchers Toward Harm Reduction Strategies, Portia Womer
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The present study utilized a mix methods approach to examine the relationship between professional role, years of experience, and support for harm reduction strategies to treat Opioid Use Disorder. There were 84 participants who completed the online survey. The survey included both quantitative and qualitative questions about their professional role, years of experience, age, use of cognitive behavioral therapy for opioid use disorder, and support for harm reduction strategies. There was no significant association among years of experience and support for harm reduction strategies (including safe injection sites). Additionally, there were no significant findings among age and support for harm …
African American Women’S Perspectives On Mental Health, Kristine Smalls
African American Women’S Perspectives On Mental Health, Kristine Smalls
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
African American women endure multiple stressors from such forms of social oppression as racism and sexism that impact their lives in many ways. Despite those stressors, several barriers impede African American women from seeking the professional mental health they need to cope. Instead, they rely on cultural and historical methods for managing stress, such as religious beliefs and the support of the church community, or they create their own. In this study, 25 women were interviewed to explore the barriers interfering with African American women seeking professional mental health treatment. This study specifically identified and examined three potential barriers: the …
Are Narcissism And Entitlement Associated With Higher Rates Of Violence And Unsuccessful Treatment Completion?, Melissa Chipollini
Are Narcissism And Entitlement Associated With Higher Rates Of Violence And Unsuccessful Treatment Completion?, Melissa Chipollini
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Following the dimensional-categorical model of personality functioning, this study used archival data to examine the degree to which narcissism and entitlement determined engagement in violent acts and treatment completion. The study reviewed MCMI-III/IV scores, discharge summaries, and violence histories for a sample of 105 individuals who were referred for forensic outpatient services by the court. One-way ANOVAs were used to assess all four of the hypotheses (a) individuals with more than one violent act (vs. one violent act) would have significantly higher mean scores on the MCMI-III/IV entitlement subscale, (b) individuals with more than one violent act would have significantly …
Do Law Enforcement Officers’ Attitudes And Knowledge Impact Their Likelihood Of Administering Naloxone?, Nicole Alexis Gulkis
Do Law Enforcement Officers’ Attitudes And Knowledge Impact Their Likelihood Of Administering Naloxone?, Nicole Alexis Gulkis
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are integral public service providers who have been called upon by government personnel across state and local government bodies to aid in combating the opioid epidemic. As LEOs are often the primary front-line workers who encounter opioid overdose scenarios, more states across the nation are training LEOs to administer naloxone. The emergence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has complicated LEOs’ involvement with naloxone administration because of shifts in policing strategies and occupational safety procedures. Given the current pandemic, concerns about contraction and transmission of COVID-19 must be considered for LEOs working in the frontlines of these concurrent public …
Inventory Of Cognitive Distortions: Validation Of A Measure Of Cognitive Distortions In A Forensic Sample, Eguono Voke Akpoduado
Inventory Of Cognitive Distortions: Validation Of A Measure Of Cognitive Distortions In A Forensic Sample, Eguono Voke Akpoduado
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Statistics suggest that crime is occurring at a startling rate and recidivism is a persistent problem in the American criminal justice system. Past research revealed that treatment focused on challenging criminogenic thinking aided in reducing recidivism. Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine cognitive distortions used by criminals and to enhance evidence-based psychotherapy focused on challenging criminogenic cognitions. This study explored the psychometric properties of a self-report inventory of cognitive distortions using a forensic sample and examined overall differences in levels of cognitive distortions. Participants were recruited through social networking sites. Measures were the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions …
Assessing Factors That Increase The Likelihood Of Naloxone Administration, Samantha Nagy
Assessing Factors That Increase The Likelihood Of Naloxone Administration, Samantha Nagy
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
For more than two decades, the opioid epidemic has swept through the United States and has caused thousands of deaths every year due to opioid overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2019) has reported that since 1999, over 770,000 Americans have died from overdoses. Nearly 70% of deaths in 2018 were due to opioids, 47% of which were the result of fentanyl or a non-methadone opioid and 22% were the result of heroin (CDC, 2019). As policy and treatment protocols attempt to manage those who seek treatment, the pharmaceutical industry has developed a life-saving medication that gives …
Evaluating Antecedents To Treatment Success In Juveniles With Sexually Problematic Behavior, Alexandra P. Pappas
Evaluating Antecedents To Treatment Success In Juveniles With Sexually Problematic Behavior, Alexandra P. Pappas
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The impact of rape and other sexual offenses represents a major problem in society and can lead to chronic and harmful physical, psychological, and social consequences. Juveniles (younger than 18 years old) account for 20% of sexual offense arrests in the United States, with 96% of reported cases committed by male perpetrators. Risk indicators and characteristics of juveniles who sexually offend include demographic factors (e.g., history of sexual abuse), personality factors (e.g., antisocial behavior), and below average intelligence and cognitive functioning. Treatment of problematic sexual behavior in juveniles varies in intensity, structure, and level of supervision, though research investigating unsuccessful …
A Review Of The Use Of Positive Reinforcement In Drug Courts, Katherine Bascom
A Review Of The Use Of Positive Reinforcement In Drug Courts, Katherine Bascom
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
There is a need to provide effective treatment for drug-abusing offenders, as evidenced by the explicitly supported relationship between drug use and crime (Anglin & Perrochet, 1998; Tonry & Wilson, 1990; McBride & McCoy, 1993). Drug policy in the United States has viewed drug abuse as a public safety concern or a public health concern (Marlowe, 2002). In 1989, the Miami Drug Court in Dade County, Florida developed a drug court system that is currently used nationwide. The model embodies a very strong behavioral orientation with clear expectations, as well as graduated sanctions and rewards for successive infractions and accomplishments. …
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 …
Parental Availability As A Predictor Of Academic Success Among Students Of A Private Residential School, Lesley Kubisiak Logan
Parental Availability As A Predictor Of Academic Success Among Students Of A Private Residential School, Lesley Kubisiak Logan
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
A private residential school in the northeast United States provides a cost-free coeducation to qualifying pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students. One of the most important application factors is need, which is measured by a scale for parental availability. For a parent to be considered unavailable, any or all of the following areas could be present: limited physical capacity to effectively parent the child, limited mental capacity to effectively parent the child, active abuse of drugs or alcohol or ongoing substance abuse history, inadequate supervision, chronic neglect, incarceration, death, no contact or sporadic contact (e.g., not on a regular basis or …
Girl Time: An Enrichment Program Fostering Social And Emotional Well-Being Among Kindergarten Girls, Irene A. Opuka
Girl Time: An Enrichment Program Fostering Social And Emotional Well-Being Among Kindergarten Girls, Irene A. Opuka
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Early identification and intervention are essential in meeting the unique needs of all children and families (Bagdi & Vacca, 2005). In addition to studying the growth of separate emotions and their importance for mature development, researchers have discovered that early-childhood years are a key time for developing capacity to control and regulate emotions (Nuttall, Romero, & Kalesnik, 1999). Schools are designed to promote emotional well-being, and GIRL TIME could be viewed as part of a responsive and collaborative approach to a child-centered service continuum that includes promotion, prevention, and intervention. Effective social-emotional-behavioral interventions have been found to change the balance …
How African American Men From Challenging Backgrounds Beat The Odds And Graduated From College, Valisha Terry
How African American Men From Challenging Backgrounds Beat The Odds And Graduated From College, Valisha Terry
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
While Bettis and Sternod (2009) asserted the notion of boys being in crisis as not a new phenomenon but a historically cyclical one, present research contends that African American men are one of the most at-risk groups in the United States. School and criminal-justice systems show similar results. African American men continue to lag in terms of graduation rates and college enrollment, while being overrepresented in victim violence and the criminal justice system. They also lead the nation in homicides as both victims and perpetrators. Despite these obstacles, many at-risk African American men graduate from college and excel in life. …
An Analysis Of Youtube Content On African American Parenting In The Face Of Community Violence, La-Rhonda Harmon
An Analysis Of Youtube Content On African American Parenting In The Face Of Community Violence, La-Rhonda Harmon
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This qualitative study analyzed YouTube video content on the discussion about African American parenting in the face of community violence. The study investigated if conversations about African American parenting changed after the killing of Trayvon Martin, which occurred on February 26, 2012. Ten videos recorded before Trayvon Martin’s death and 20 after were selected and analyzed. Transcripts were coded for emerging themes using grounded-theory research design. Several themes emerged in the videos recorded before and after Martin’s death. Themes related to African American beliefs about parenting and acculturation emerged from the videos recorded before Martin’s death. Themes related to African …
The Relationship Between Executive Functioning And Treatment Outcomes Among Juvenile Sex Offenders, Sarah Decker
The Relationship Between Executive Functioning And Treatment Outcomes Among Juvenile Sex Offenders, Sarah Decker
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
In 2006, youth 17 years of age and younger accounted for almost 20% of arrests for sexual offenses (Becker, 2007). Critical challenges exist to improve treatment for juvenile sex offenders, including identifying additional risk factors and developing treatment that is specifically tailored to the individual. Research has indicated the majority of juvenile sex offenders have difficulties in their executive-functioning abilities (Blanchard, Cantor, Robichaud, & Christensen, 2005). These deficits may contribute to higher risk potential and recidivism among juvenile sex offenders. Whether low levels of executive functioning influence risk of sexual or criminal offending/re-offending is unknown. The present study sought to …
School Personnel’S Knowledge And Perception Of School Refusal Behavior, Joshua M. Foy
School Personnel’S Knowledge And Perception Of School Refusal Behavior, Joshua M. Foy
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the knowledge of school personnel regarding risk and protective factors, the four-function model, assessment, and treatment of school refusal behavior. This study also explored the perceptions of school personnel regarding the understanding of school refusal behavior as an emotional condition versus its being delinquent behavior and the climate of understanding at their work setting. Two hundred, ninety-six mental health and non-mental professionals who currently work in school settings across the United States participated in this study by completing an online survey pertaining to this topic. Results indicate that mental health professionals demonstrated a higher level of knowledge …
Law Enforcement Decision Making With Suspects Who Are Mentally Ill: What Is Reasonable Use Of Force?, Danielle Marianne Dorn
Law Enforcement Decision Making With Suspects Who Are Mentally Ill: What Is Reasonable Use Of Force?, Danielle Marianne Dorn
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Police often come into contact with suspects who are mentally ill and who may resist arrest. Research has indicated that individuals with mental illness may have greater difficulty understanding and responding to commands than those who are not mentally ill. This two-group repeated-measures vignette study sought to determine whether law enforcement officers use different degrees of force with suspects who display overt signs of mental illness. One hundred and forty police officers were randomly assigned in equal proportions to read either two vignettes involving a criminal act in which the perpetrators displayed signs of mental illness (experimental condition) or two …
Measuring Aggressive Behavior Perceptions, Tammarra Jones
Measuring Aggressive Behavior Perceptions, Tammarra Jones
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Community Reentry, Mental-Health And Substance Abuse Treatment, And Stigmatization: A Qualitative Study Of Ex-Offenders, Deborah Luckey
Community Reentry, Mental-Health And Substance Abuse Treatment, And Stigmatization: A Qualitative Study Of Ex-Offenders, Deborah Luckey
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This qualitative study was conducted with ex-offenders who are currently in reentry programs and professionals who have contact with them in order to explore experiences of stigmatization, as well as access and adherence to mental-health and substance abuse treatment. A better understanding of what works and does not work, from the viewpoint of individuals actively engaged in the process of reentry, is needed in order to assist them with successful reentry. A total of 11 participants were in the study; six were in the ex-offender group and five were in the professionals group. All individuals were interviewed using a semistructured …
Institutional Aggression: Psychometric Development Of A Predictive Risk Assessment Screening Tool, Lauren Spotts M.S.
Institutional Aggression: Psychometric Development Of A Predictive Risk Assessment Screening Tool, Lauren Spotts M.S.
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Aggression among those with mental illnesses has been extensively reviewed. Research has shown that aggression within an institutional or hospital setting, that is presently termed “Institutional Aggression,” threatens the ability to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for both patients and staff. Although earlier measures have been designed to address this construct, the present study examines Institutional Aggression based on the parameters of the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS; Yudofsky, Silver, Jackson, Endicott, & Williams, 1986). The purpose of the current study was to determine the predictive relationship between clinical and sociodemographic factors and the rate of Institutional Aggression with the …
The Inclusion Of Spirituality In Sex Offender Treatment, Vanessa Bennifield
The Inclusion Of Spirituality In Sex Offender Treatment, Vanessa Bennifield
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The management of sex offenders is a collaborative effort that typically includes law enforcement and treatment professionals. The management of sex offenders has focused largely on assessing for risk and need of the offender, with limited attention paid to addressing responsivity factors of the sex offender, such as worldview, interpersonal style, and cultural influences. In an effort to understand how therapists perceive the influence of responsivity factors, this study explored sex offender therapists’ perceptions of the inclusion of spirituality in sex offender treatment. The investigator conducted semi-structured interviews with sex offender therapists who had at least 1 year of experience …
Self-Reported Strengths And Weaknesses In The Prediction Of Institutional Aggression, Sarah A. Demarco
Self-Reported Strengths And Weaknesses In The Prediction Of Institutional Aggression, Sarah A. Demarco
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Aggression on inpatient psychiatric units poses a multitude of issues not only for patients, but also for staff. Thus, the identification of dynamic risk factors that may increase and also of protective factors that may decrease the likelihood of a patient becoming aggressive is important. The current study sought to expand on the current literature by examining if there is a difference between self-perceived strengths and risk factors between aggressive and nonaggressive patients. More specifically, it was hypothesized that self-reported strengths would moderate the relationship between self-reported risk factors and institutional aggression (IA) in forensic and in civil psychiatric units …
Individual Characteristics, Protective Factors And Processes Significant In Helping Low-Income African American Students Achieve Academic Success And Projected Upward Mobility, Barbara Still
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Research and other studies have documented the educational plight and academic difficulties of many poor, urban African American students. A number of studies have explored and identified many reasons for the low level of academic success among these students. Nonetheless, some poor, urban African American students have completed high school and college; and they have successfully transitioned to higher socioeconomic groups. The purpose of this study was to identify individual characteristics, protective factors and school processes that are significant in helping current urban, poor African American students to achieve high levels of academic success and to begin movement towards eventual …
Predictors Of Vicarious Trauma And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Correctional Officers, Bertee Thomas Jr
Predictors Of Vicarious Trauma And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Correctional Officers, Bertee Thomas Jr
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The correctional setting is often dangerous and unpredictable. Correctional officers have the unique and often dangerous charge of overseeing a very volatile population. The job of a correctional officer can be very stressful and often contributes to emotional, physiological, and psychological distress. Correctional officers may be exposed to violence either directly or indirectly. One of the psychological reactions most commonly associated with violence is the development of trauma. This type of traumatic response may be triggered by direct or indirect exposure to traumatic stimuli. The focus of this study was to identify variables associated with secondary traumatic responses among correctional …
An Examination Of The Comorbidity Between Externalizing Disorders And Reading Disabilities In School-Age Boys, Victoria Loughman Fortuna
An Examination Of The Comorbidity Between Externalizing Disorders And Reading Disabilities In School-Age Boys, Victoria Loughman Fortuna
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Our current education system uses a global method that does very little to address the concurrent cognitive, academic and social-emotional needs of the special education student. By using a single analysis, we fail to address specific deficits, including comorbidity of cognitive, academic, and socio-emotional deficits. Generalized assessments do little to address the source of the student’s problems. If these comorbid learning and social-emotional problems are addressed early on, this might reduce the incidence of antisocial and/or delinquent behaviors and lead to greater academic success. In an attempt to further investigate the relationships between academic, (i.e., reading) and emotional/behavioral systems, the …
A Qualitative Study Of Recovery-Oriented Services In Inpatient Forensic Settings, Deanna Pecora Mellie
A Qualitative Study Of Recovery-Oriented Services In Inpatient Forensic Settings, Deanna Pecora Mellie
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Recovery principles are currently guiding the transformation of mental health practice and policy in the United States (Anthony, 2000; Davidson et al., 2005; Davidson et al., 2006; Ralph & Corrigan, 2007). Although principles of recovery have become the focus of mental health care reform, they have just begun to enter the forensic system (Hillbrand & Young, 2008). This is important because the forensic state hospital population has experienced a significant growth, reportedly approximating 50 % of all beds in given states, while the general civil state hospital population continues to decline (Salzer et al., 2006). Furthermore, Hillbrand and Young (2008) …
Programming Serving The Needs Of Homeless Adults And Families: A Survey To Determine Current Practices In Transitional Housing Programs Within The Interfaith Hospitality Network, Nathan A. Paro
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Over the last decade the rate of homelessness has continued to rise, putting an increased demand on services for the homeless such as transitional living programs. There appears to be little information about the standards of practice within the field of transitional living programs for the homeless. The current study surveyed directors of transitional living programs that serve women and children within the Interfaith Hospitality Network across the country, in order to compile information such as programing offered, services offered, and outcome measures which are used by the programs to determine success. The results of the survey suggested that there …