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Promoting Caregiver Mental Health Literacy: A Pilot Study Of The Online Program “Mental Wellness At The Lake”, Erika Baylis
Promoting Caregiver Mental Health Literacy: A Pilot Study Of The Online Program “Mental Wellness At The Lake”, Erika Baylis
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The mental health needs of children are growing in the United States. Caregiver’s mental health knowledge and attitudes about help-seeking can impede the awareness of help-seeking behaviors. The Baylis Model is a framework for caregivers to increase their mental health knowledge. This research is a pilot study to provide elementary caregivers with mental health knowledge to increase their awareness to access treatments for their children. Participants completed a pre-test to determine mental health knowledge to begin the study. A total of 14 families completed a 10-module course (Mental Wellness At The Lake) on canvas, a web-based learning management system. Throughout …
Parents Perception Of Teletherapy Use In Children, Beenish Rashid
Parents Perception Of Teletherapy Use In Children, Beenish Rashid
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Due to the demands of an ongoing pandemic, telehealth services have become increasingly popular particularly in the field of psychology. Teletherapy services are used on a regular basis by healthcare professionals and studies on teletherapy use in adults have shown that it is efficacious, convenient, and practical. However, prior to this study, there was a significant gap in literature about the use of teletherapy in children and adolescents. This study aimed to fill this gap in literature by providing data on how parents perceive teletherapy when compared to in-person therapy for their children. The data for this study was collected …
Participation In A Positive Education Curriculum And Symptoms Of Anxiety In Students, Aleida Silva-Garcia
Participation In A Positive Education Curriculum And Symptoms Of Anxiety In Students, Aleida Silva-Garcia
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Anxiety is among the most common mental health problems in children and adolescents in the United States (Bhatia & Goyal, 2018). Children and adolescents spend most of their day in the educational setting (Slemp et al., 2017). Positive education curricula may help students increase their well-being while increasing academic performance. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of a positive education curriculum in lowering anxiety levels in high school students. In addition, this study investigated the relationship among anxiety, happiness, optimism, perseverance, and academic outcomes. Through an independent samples t-test, archival data were utilized to determine the relationship between participation …
The Impact Of Teacher’S Understanding Of Childhood Trauma And Trauma-Informed Classrooms On Perceived Barriers And Comfort In Implementing School-Based Trauma Informed Practice, Alyssa Henry
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The impact of trauma on children has become an area of increased awareness, as research has demonstrated the consequences of traumatic experiences on academic, behavioral, and emotional success. Teachers have a unique opportunity to support intervention and facilitate relationships with children, in order to reduce the impacts of trauma on later outcomes. Research has demonstrated positive outcomes of students when teachers are provided direct training in trauma-informed intervention; however, there is little research on the knowledge teachers have from their training programs and professional development related to trauma and trauma-informed educations and the impact on their attitudes and perceptions in …
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 Equivalency Of Digital And Paper-Based Administration Of The Wechsler Intellegence Scale For Children-Fifth Edition With Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Students, Kenneth Reimer
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study explored the equivalence of the digital and paper-based version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th Edition (WISC-V) with deaf and hard-ofhearing children. There are a number of psychological tests being administered using both paper and digital formats. There is currently no literature on the validity of using these new digital tests with deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This study used a repeated measures design in which deaf and hard-of-hearing participants took the Figure Weights and Matrix Reasoning subtests of the WISC-V in counterbalanced order. The study found no format effect for the Figure Weights subtest with this …
Understanding The Comorbidity Of Asthma And Anxiety In Childhood: Characteristics, Vulnerabilities, And Treatment Implications, Nicole Fleischer
Understanding The Comorbidity Of Asthma And Anxiety In Childhood: Characteristics, Vulnerabilities, And Treatment Implications, Nicole Fleischer
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined potential differences in youth (aged 7-17 years, 76% Caucasian, 52% female) with comorbid asthma and anxiety compared to youth with anxiety without asthma who received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) alone, pharmacotherapy alone, the combination of pharmacotherapy or placebo pill in the Child/Adolescent Multimodal Study. Two groups were compared on negative self-talk; number of physical symptoms; parental anxiety; content of their worries; and presence of panic, generalized anxiety, and separation anxiety disorders across treatment conditions. Findings indicated that youth with asthma and anxiety were more likely to exhibit higher rates of negative self-talk than youth without asthma, possibly related …
The Impact Of Psychostimulants On The Executive Capacities Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Theresa C. Mcmahon
The Impact Of Psychostimulants On The Executive Capacities Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Theresa C. Mcmahon
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study compared executive-skill and executive-function deficits resulting from teacher ratings of two clinical groups of students diagnosed with ADHD (ADHD-Med, ADHD-NoMed) with ratings of demographically- matched control groups. In addition, teacher ratings of the ADHD-Med group and the ADHD-NoMed group were compared. The data for both clinical groups and their respective matched control groups were part of the data collected during the standardization of the McCloskey Executive Function Scale – Teacher Report (MEFS-TR). Analyses examined teacher responses to all of the items of the seven Self-Regulation, the Self-Realization, and the Self-Determination Clusters of the MEFS. Congruent with the …
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 …
Evaluation Of A Picture Exchange Communication System Program For Children With Autism, Jessica Rachel Mark
Evaluation Of A Picture Exchange Communication System Program For Children With Autism, Jessica Rachel Mark
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study examined the effectiveness of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) as a functional communication training (FCT) program implemented by a local community agency specializing in autism diagnosis and treatment in developing communication skills among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Conducted using archival data, this study used a within-subjects repeated measures research design to determine if PECS improved the overall communication skills of enrolled participants at the agency, as measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (Vineland-3) and the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). Individual growth on communication goals was measured by comparing goals concerning …
Sleep, Communicative Ability, And Diet As Predictors Of Aggression In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rafat Omar
Sleep, Communicative Ability, And Diet As Predictors Of Aggression In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rafat Omar
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Aggression is a common behavioral issue in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Aggression is often treated with evidence-based behavioral treatments, such as applied behavioral analysis and functional communication training. Another form of intervention that has grown in popularity is to alter the child’s diet. The most popular dietary intervention, the autism diet, has been used as a form of behavior management by parents and guardians for children diagnosed with ASD to address aggressive behavior; however, its use has not been strongly supported by research. The authors proposed that a more beneficial way of understanding aggression in ASD is to …
Long-Term Use Of Beta-Blocker Medication In Pediatric Long Qt Syndrome Patients: Neuropsychological Profiles, Kara J. Rudisill
Long-Term Use Of Beta-Blocker Medication In Pediatric Long Qt Syndrome Patients: Neuropsychological Profiles, Kara J. Rudisill
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a heart rhythm disorder characterized by a disruption of the heart’s electrical activity that may cause accelerated and uncontrolled heartbeats referred to as ventricular fibrillation. LQTS is primarily treated with beta-blocker medications, which reduce the risk of experiencing an arrhythmia through regulating the heart rate. However, the potential neuropsychological side-effects associated with the use of beta-blocker medication may impact the executive functioning skills, mental health, and behavior of the affected pediatric population at home. As a result, a child’s academic performance and emotional regulation etiology may be misunderstood by his or her parents, caregivers, and …
The Effects Of A Guided Imagery Intervention On The Working Memory Of Primary Aged Students, Monica D. Addison-Walker
The Effects Of A Guided Imagery Intervention On The Working Memory Of Primary Aged Students, Monica D. Addison-Walker
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Many practitioners view working memory as the temporary capacity to store and manipulate information. Current findings suggest a developmental trajectory of working memory and other executive functions. Limited research has been effective in improving working memory using short term methods; however, recent findings suggest guided imagery and mindfulness meditation improves working memory in children. This study examined whether or not a 30 day guided imagery intervention affected the working memory of students in the primary grades of an elementary school. Participants from a sample of convenience were randomly assigned to a guided imagery intervention (n = 12) or to a …
Sensory Processing Patterns And Emotion Regulation In Children Presenting With Externalizing Behaviors, Melanie Levitt
Sensory Processing Patterns And Emotion Regulation In Children Presenting With Externalizing Behaviors, Melanie Levitt
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Sensory processing is a neurological process that involves a child’s perception, organization, and reaction to sensory stimuli. Certain groups of people, such as children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), experience more intense sensory processing patterns (Dunn, 2007). Researchers have also observed that children presenting with ASD and ADHD exhibit more externalizing scores as their sensory processing patterns become more intense or problematic (Gourley et al., 2013). However, researchers have not examined the relationship between sensory processing and externalizing behaviors in those not diagnosed with ASD and ADHD. Additionally, there are overlapping neural mechanisms between sensory …
Trauma Training In Educational Settings: Developing A Universal Approach Training Manual, Kerri A. Flatau
Trauma Training In Educational Settings: Developing A Universal Approach Training Manual, Kerri A. Flatau
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Children who have experienced trauma(s) may display a wide variety of symptoms, including withdrawal, behavioral challenges, difficulty with focus, learning disabilities, and social/emotional delays (Cole et al., 2005). Each of these challenges can present a barrier to learning. Therefore, in order to provide the highest quality support in the school setting, teachers and other school staff need to be educated and trained on the topic of trauma. Further, they need strategies and tools regarding how to best work with all of their students, including those who have, or may have, experienced trauma. The current study examined the available research, as …
The Effect Of Age At Diagnosis On Neuropsychological Functioning For Survivors Of Pediatric Brain Tumors Treated With Proton Radiation Therapy, Christina Zebrowski
The Effect Of Age At Diagnosis On Neuropsychological Functioning For Survivors Of Pediatric Brain Tumors Treated With Proton Radiation Therapy, Christina Zebrowski
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Compared to photon radiation, proton radiation spares healthy tissue by better targeting the tumor, reducing entrance dose, and eliminating exit dose (Semenova, 2009). Research thus far has largely focused on intelligence and adaptive profiles for individuals treated with proton radiation therapy (PRT; Patel, Mullins, O-Neil, & Wilson, 2011). Additionally, the effect of age varies in regard to age being protective or not (Levisohn, Cronin-Golomb, & Schmahmann, 2000; De Ruiter, Van Mourik, Schouten-Van Meeteren, Grootenhus, & Oosterlann, 2013; Wolfe, Madan-Swain, & Kana, 2012). This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the effect of age on diagnosis on neuropsychological functioning for individuals with …
Identifying The Effect Of Preexisting Conditions On Low Neurocognitive Scores And Symptom Reporting Of School-Age Athletes In Baseline Testing For Concussion Management, Jessica Mae Corrigan
Identifying The Effect Of Preexisting Conditions On Low Neurocognitive Scores And Symptom Reporting Of School-Age Athletes In Baseline Testing For Concussion Management, Jessica Mae Corrigan
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors that are associated with low baseline concussion test scores by examining a range of modifiers such as previous concussion and pre-existing childhood disorders such as LD, ADHD, or mood disorder (depression/anxiety) in middle school age children. This study utilized a between-subjects research design. Participants included de-identified archival data of male and female student athletes, ages I 0-14 years old that participated in preseason testing at a small private concussion center located in suburban central New Jersey between 2006 and 2016. Data were obtained using retrospective computerized baseline neuropsychological testing and …
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 …
The Impact Of Treatment Beliefs, Caregiver Participation, And Treatment Adherence On Treatment Outcome In Childhood Mental Illness, Alexandra Gallagher
The Impact Of Treatment Beliefs, Caregiver Participation, And Treatment Adherence On Treatment Outcome In Childhood Mental Illness, Alexandra Gallagher
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
One in five children in the United States is diagnosed with a mental health disorder; however, not all of them receive the appropriate services (NAMI, 2015). When services are accessible, lack of engagement in treatment can contribute to high dropout and to limited treatment success (Staudt, 2007). In literature on adults, one well studied factor that contributes to participation and engagement in treatment is an individual’s treatment beliefs and expectations. In the case of children, however, it is important to consider not only their treatment beliefs and expectations, but also the beliefs and expectations of their primary caregivers, because they …
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 …
Raising A Child With A Disability: Coping Mechanisms And Support Needs, Noelle Cauda-Laufer
Raising A Child With A Disability: Coping Mechanisms And Support Needs, Noelle Cauda-Laufer
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Raising a child with a disability can affect parents, siblings, and family members in various ways and can be determined by the way in which a parent copes with and appraises the situation. The first goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between a parent’s coping mechanism (confrontive coping, distancing, self-controlling, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, escape-avoidance, planful problem solving, and positive reappraisal) on his or her mental health or distress (depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and anger) when raising a child with a disability. The second goal was to investigate whether positive and adaptive coping would result in better …
Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury And The Effect On Academic And Psychosocial Functioning In School Aged Children: A Pilot Study, Mary Ellen Henigan
Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury And The Effect On Academic And Psychosocial Functioning In School Aged Children: A Pilot Study, Mary Ellen Henigan
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The academic and psychosocial functioning of 20 post-TBI high school students were investigated in this pilot study. Participants included 12 males and 8 females ranging in age from 14 to 18 years. The students demonstrated a higher number of discipline referral post-TBI (d = 0.82) with a large effect size. Correlational analysis revealed a relationship between pre- and post-TBI, rate of attendance, and GPA. Thirty percent of student participants identified a level of significant elevation on the BASC-3 or BYI-II, most commonly social stress, depression, and sense of inadequacy. One hundred percent identified a change to their academic functioning, social …
The Examination Of Peer Support On Psychological And Academic Functioning In A Sample Of Inner-City Latino Students, Carly Bosacker Ma, Ms
The Examination Of Peer Support On Psychological And Academic Functioning In A Sample Of Inner-City Latino Students, Carly Bosacker Ma, Ms
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Research has shown that peer relationships influence both psychological and academic functioning (Woolley, Kol, & Bowen, 2008; Zimmer-Gembeck & Pronk, 2012). Peer relationships have also been found to be important components of a child’s emotional and behavioral functioning across cultures (Ladd, 1999; Jensen-Campbell & Malcolm, 2007; Parker et al., 2005; Parker & Asher, 1993; La Greca & Harrison, 2006)). However, there is a lack of research on peer relationships in minority youth, specifically Latino youth (Way & Chen, 2000). This study examined the relationship between peer support and psychological and academic functioning in a sample of Latino middle-school students. Self-report …
Attachment And Social Competence Of Children With A Mother Coping With Bipolar Disorder, Jennifer Forster
Attachment And Social Competence Of Children With A Mother Coping With Bipolar Disorder, Jennifer Forster
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of the attachment between a mother diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her child and the subsequent social competence of the child. A descriptive survey design was chosen due to the lack of existent literature in this area and the need to identify problematic areas of attachment and social competence in this identified population. A sample of ten mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder with at least one school-aged child (between kindergarten and sixth grades), to whom the mother is the primary caregiver, participated in this study. Each participant was given …
Relationship Satisfaction And Family Functioning: Mothers Of Children With Lqts Versus A Control Group, Karen Gentis
Relationship Satisfaction And Family Functioning: Mothers Of Children With Lqts Versus A Control Group, Karen Gentis
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Long QT syndrome is a condition that occurs as a result of a disturbance in the electrical function of the heart, and is a chronic illness that carries a high risk of sudden death. It is estimated that close to 1 in 2,000 individuals in the general population will be diagnosed with LQTS. Given the potential lethality of LQTS, and the numerous restrictions and life changes that individuals diagnosed with LQTS and their families must make, it is surprising that few studies have been conducted to evaluate psychosocial needs of people who have LQTS. Research has examined how children diagnosed …
Fathers Of Children With Long Qt Syndrome: Their Concerns And Ways Of Coping, Jodi Yarnell
Fathers Of Children With Long Qt Syndrome: Their Concerns And Ways Of Coping, Jodi Yarnell
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic disorder of the heart that may result in syncope, seizures, and sometimes sudden cardiac death. The wide-ranging clinical presentation of LQTS can lead to fear and uncertainty in families of children diagnosed with LQTS, while treatment and lifestyle modifications can significantly reduce the level of risk. Despite the far-reaching implications of this syndrome on the lives of children and families, very little is known about the psychosocial aspects of having a child with this syndrome. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of fathers of children with LQTS …
The Effectiveness Of The Concordance-Discordance Model: Identifying Learning Disabilities In School-Aged Children, Bryan Hendricks
The Effectiveness Of The Concordance-Discordance Model: Identifying Learning Disabilities In School-Aged Children, Bryan Hendricks
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
After the reauthorization of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in
2004, the federal regulations indicated that there are three possible methods for the identification of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). The three methods include the ability-achievement discrepancy (AAD), Response to Intervention (RTI), and the addition of a third method, which consists of other alternative research-based procedures. Hale and Fiorello (2004) proposed the use of a Concordance-Discordance Model (CDM), which suggests that learning disabled students have discordance between processing strength and both processing weakness and achievement deficit. In addition, SLD students have a concordance between the achievement deficit and processing …
Stress In Mothers Of Newly Diagnosed Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Barriers To Care, Use Of Support Services, And Child Behavior, Michelle Petrongolo
Stress In Mothers Of Newly Diagnosed Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Barriers To Care, Use Of Support Services, And Child Behavior, Michelle Petrongolo
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
A reasonable amount of parenting stress is not only expected, but often adaptive (Deater- Deckard, & Scarr, 1996); however, in the presence of chronically high levels of stress, negative outcomes are common. Parents of children with special needs, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are especially vulnerable to the presence of clinically significant levels of stress, making this group an important focus in the prevention of negative outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to determine the contribution of barriers to care, social support, and child behavioral problems to stress levels of parents with a child newly diagnosed with ASD. …
The Therapeutic Relationship And Alliance-Building Behaviors: Treatment Implications For Childhood Social Phobia, William La Valle
The Therapeutic Relationship And Alliance-Building Behaviors: Treatment Implications For Childhood Social Phobia, William La Valle
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The importance of alliance in therapy has been well documented. This study explored specific therapist behaviors and their relationship to child perceived alliance and outcome in a randomized controlled trial of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for youth anxiety disorders. Participants included 42 youth (male = 24; female = 18; Caucasian = 37; African American = 4; Hispanic = 1) between the ages of 7 and 13 years who met criteria for a principal anxiety diagnosis. The study examined the sample as a whole, as well as focused specifically on youth diagnosed with social phobia. Videos of the first session of treatment …
Exploring Perceived Benefits Of And Barriers To The Use Of Pet Therapy Dogs In A Private School For Children With Special Needs, Sarah Wodder
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Evidence-based psychotherapy is becoming an increasingly accepted way for individuals to manage a variety of clinical disorders and psychosocial stressors. Complementary therapies are designed to support, facilitate, or enhance existing treatment strategies. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is one such complementary treatment, in which animals are deliberately included in psychotherapeutic treatment plans in order to facilitate pre-designed treatment goals. Current literature suggests that AAT could have a multitude of benefits for both adults and children for an array of disorders and disabilities. Currently, there is a limited understanding of how AAT might contribute to learning and development for children with special needs. …