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Clinical.

2005

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Stress And Coping In The Families Of Canadian Military Members Deployed Overseas., Lorelei Walsh Jan 2005

Stress And Coping In The Families Of Canadian Military Members Deployed Overseas., Lorelei Walsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the stress levels and coping skills of families of Canadian Forces (CF) soldiers who have served on overseas "tours" that were at least six months in duration. Twenty-six families were recruited from three military units in Eastern Canada. The mother or wife in the family completed a set of eight standardized measures and one questionnaire designed by the author. The measures utilized were: (a) Demographic Questionnaire, (b) Family Hardiness Index (FHI; McCubbin, McCubbin & Thompson, 1987), (c) Family Stress and Support Inventory (FSSI, Halvorsen, 1991), (d) Family Crisis-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES; …


Forgiveness As Outcome In Emotion Focused Therapy For Adult Survivors With Childhood Abuse., Helen Chagigiorgis Jan 2005

Forgiveness As Outcome In Emotion Focused Therapy For Adult Survivors With Childhood Abuse., Helen Chagigiorgis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of the present study were to (1) identify clients who reported forgiveness with abusive and/or neglectful other(s) in Emotion Focused Therapy for Adult Survivors of childhood abuse (EFT-AS) and (2) determine whether this subgroup was distinct from clients who did not report forgiveness in terms of pre-treatment characteristics, therapy processes and outcome. Previous studies have shown conflicting results concerning forgiveness in EFT-AS where forgiveness is not an explicit goal of therapy. In two studies, clients, on average, reported resolving issues, and separation from abusive/neglectful other(s), but no reductions in hostility (Rice & Paivio, 1999; Paivio & Greenberg, 1995). …


The Relationship Between Readiness To Change And Relapse Prevention Outcome: A Continuum Approach With An Alcohol Treatment Group, Dory Becker Jan 2005

The Relationship Between Readiness To Change And Relapse Prevention Outcome: A Continuum Approach With An Alcohol Treatment Group, Dory Becker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the role of readiness to change (RTC) within the context of a relapse prevention (RP) treatment program for individuals with alcohol use disorders. RTC was assessed using the continuous version of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire, as research does not support the use of the categorical version with treatment seeking clients. Participants included 80 men and women seeking treatment for alcohol use disorders. Findings revealed that RTC did not predict treatment outcome. These results may have been a product of the poor psychometric properties of the continuous version of the RTCQ, as established in this study. Associated …


Hemispheric Asymmetries For Accessing The Phonological Representation Of Single Printed Words., Christopher H. Domen Jan 2005

Hemispheric Asymmetries For Accessing The Phonological Representation Of Single Printed Words., Christopher H. Domen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The differential abilities of the cerebral hemispheres to access the phonological representation of printed words was investigated using a visual half-field paradigm in which participants performed a lexical decision task for target words primed by semantic associates (e.g., TOAD-FROG), homophones of words semantically associated to target words (e.g., TOWED-FROG), and unrelated control words (e.g., FINK-FROG, PLASM-FROG). At a short stimulus onset asynchrony (165 ms), significant priming was obtained for both semantic and homophonic associates regardless of visual field of presentation, although the effects were much less robust for the left visual field/right hemisphere. Thus, both hemispheres seem to initially have …


Navigating The Autism Diagnostic System: Implications For Earlier Identification., Alison Ann Spadafora Jan 2005

Navigating The Autism Diagnostic System: Implications For Earlier Identification., Alison Ann Spadafora

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorders are characterized by repetitive, stereotyped behaviours and impairments in communication and socialization. The present research examined parents' experiences during the course of obtaining an autism diagnosis for their children. Participants, who resided throughout Ontario, were recruited through the Autism Society of Ontario and the Summit Centre Preschool for Children with Autism. The questionnaire was designed for the present research and focused on parents' initial concerns about their children's development and attempts at seeking professional help. By parent report, the children were diagnosed with Autistic Disorder (N = 52), Asperger's Disorder (N = 7) and PDD-NOS (N = …


Perceived Control And Negative Outcome Expectancy As Mediators Of Problem Gamblers' Readiness To Change And Predictors Of Abstinence Versus Moderation As Change Goal., Sharon Leela Elizabeth Jeyakumar Jan 2005

Perceived Control And Negative Outcome Expectancy As Mediators Of Problem Gamblers' Readiness To Change And Predictors Of Abstinence Versus Moderation As Change Goal., Sharon Leela Elizabeth Jeyakumar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present study was to examine why some gamblers experience shifts in motivational readiness to change their gambling practices while others do not. This cross-sectional study of gamblers at different points across the spectrum of change attempted to extend the Addicted-self model of recovery to the study of problem gambling by examining the associations of perceived control and negative outcome expectancy with gamblers' readiness to change. The present study also investigated the interaction of these two constructs in predicting gamblers' choice of change goals. To facilitate this investigation, the present study sought to validate newly-developed measures of …


Acculturation Strategies, And Psychological, Sociocultural And Academic Adaptation In Canadian Aboriginal Post-Secondary Students., Desiree Abotossaway Jan 2005

Acculturation Strategies, And Psychological, Sociocultural And Academic Adaptation In Canadian Aboriginal Post-Secondary Students., Desiree Abotossaway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated the relationship between Canadian Aboriginal post-secondary students' preferred acculturation strategy, and their psychological, sociocultural, and academic adaptation. Fifty-one Aboriginal post-secondary students participated in the study; analyses of their responses suggest that Aboriginal students adopting a bicultural strategy will experience less depression and greater life satisfaction when compared to Aboriginal students adopting other acculturation strategies. With regard to sociocultural adaptation, it appears that Aboriginal students adopting either an assimilation or bicultural strategy will experience fewer social difficulties while attending post-secondary school than Aboriginal students adopting a separation strategy. In terms of academic adaptation, results indicate that Aboriginal …


Gambling Seen Through Russian Eyes: Understanding The Russian Gambling Experience., Andrew Bohdan Pleshkevich Jan 2005

Gambling Seen Through Russian Eyes: Understanding The Russian Gambling Experience., Andrew Bohdan Pleshkevich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Russian culture has played a prominent role on the world stage for centuries. Increasingly, through immigration, it has come into close contact with other cultures. Recent years have seen dramatic changes in Russian society, among which have been significant increases in addictions such as alcoholism and drug use, and a phenomenal increase in gambling opportunities. This study empirically examined aspects of Russian worldview, the "cultural lens" through which people view themselves and the world around them. It also examined gambling and its correlates and the relationships between worldview and gambling. Doing so led to the observations that relative to Canadians, …


Utility Of The Cvlt-Ii Short Form: Differentiating Between Subgroups Of Stroke, Chand Taneja Jan 2005

Utility Of The Cvlt-Ii Short Form: Differentiating Between Subgroups Of Stroke, Chand Taneja

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective. The Short Form of the California Verbal Learning Test - Second Edition (CVLT-II SF) is used to screen ability to learn and recall verbal information. The objective of the current study is to examine psychometric properties of the CVLT-II SF in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation sample, with a focus on this tool's ability to differentiate between performances of three groups of individuals with stroke. Participants and methods. Archival data from 75 admissions for inpatient stroke rehabilitation are included in the study. Cronbach's alpha and the Spearman-Brown split-half method are used to examine internal consistency of the learning trials, and …


Factors Facilitating Therapist Performance In Interventions For Autistic Children: Comparing Parents And Professionals., Andrea Zicherman Jan 2005

Factors Facilitating Therapist Performance In Interventions For Autistic Children: Comparing Parents And Professionals., Andrea Zicherman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study compared professional behaviour therapists with parents of children with autism trained as therapists for their children. The groups were compared on several therapist variables that contribute to effective therapist performance. Participants included 36 professionals and 33 parents between the ages of 21 and 57. They completed questionnaires examining their knowledge of behavioural principles, self-efficacy, social support resources, and beliefs in the efficacy of behavioural interventions. Parents had significantly less social support than did the professionals. Among participants with high socioeconomic backgrounds, parents also were less satisfied with their support than were professionals. No other group differences were found …


Evaluating The Predictive Utility Of The World Health Organization's Diagnostic Criteria For Postconcussion Syndrome: A Longitudinal And Controlled Study., Shauna Kashluba Jan 2005

Evaluating The Predictive Utility Of The World Health Organization's Diagnostic Criteria For Postconcussion Syndrome: A Longitudinal And Controlled Study., Shauna Kashluba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Postconcussion syndrome (PCS) is the term used to describe the cluster of affective, somatic, and cognitive symptoms commonly reported by individuals following head injury. The International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10) provides a set of currently recommended diagnostic criteria for PCS. However, no study to date has investigated the incidence of ICD-10 self-reported PCS symptoms in individuals following mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). The vast majority of individuals who have sustained a MTBI report essentially a full recovery within 3 months of injury; however, a small percentage of individuals report persisting symptom complaints beyond the …


Aggressive And Non-Aggressive Preschoolers' Problem-Solving: The Role Of Maternal Scaffolding., Robert Clark Jan 2005

Aggressive And Non-Aggressive Preschoolers' Problem-Solving: The Role Of Maternal Scaffolding., Robert Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aggressive children suffer from deficits with respect to their ability to self-regulate. One way caregivers foster their children's self-regulatory development is through the teaching of problem-solving skills. This study examined the role of maternal scaffolding in terms of its relationship to children's aggression and social competence. Sixty mother-child dyads (30 aggressive, 30 non-aggressive) engaged in a 10-minute structured task (ERA; Clarke, Musick, Stott, Klehr, & Cohler, 1984). Utilizing the Parental Scaffolding Coding Manual (Neitzel & Stright, 2003), mothers were assessed with respect to 7 scaffolding behaviours encompassing cognitive, emotional, and autonomy support. The results revealed that compared to mothers of …


Individual Differences In Susceptibility To Induced Depressed Mood., Laura Garcia-Browning Jan 2005

Individual Differences In Susceptibility To Induced Depressed Mood., Laura Garcia-Browning

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One hundred and seventy-eight men and women were exposed to the negative Velten mood induction procedure in order to examine how individual personality characteristics contributed to differences in their responses. Personality characteristics measured were chosen based on relationships with naturally occurring depression (locus of control, emotional intelligence, neuroticism, negative attributional style, self-critical perfectionism, rumination, silencing the self score). Locus of control and silencing the self score was correlated with change in happy mood and emotional intelligence was correlated with and predicted change in happy mood, while neuroticism was correlated with and predicted change in sad mood. Differences in findings related …


Emotional Competence In Siblings: Influence Of Parent And Child Characteristics., Catharine Helen Lee Jan 2005

Emotional Competence In Siblings: Influence Of Parent And Child Characteristics., Catharine Helen Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This investigation provides preliminary evidence for the relative contribution of parent and child characteristics to emotional competence in siblings. A sample of 96 families with at least two children between 6 and 12 years of age participated. The participating parents completed measures of parenting attributes, child personality, and child's ability to regulate emotions for each participating child. At the same time, the children's language ability was evaluated and they were interviewed regarding their understanding of emotion. Preliminary analyses revealed that parental report of emotion regulation ability was not significantly correlated with emotion understanding scores for either younger or older siblings. …


Never A 'Needless' Suicide: An Empirical Test Of Shneidman's Theory Of Psychological Needs, Psychological Pain, And Suicidality (Edwin Shneidman)., Brenda J. Davie Jan 2005

Never A 'Needless' Suicide: An Empirical Test Of Shneidman's Theory Of Psychological Needs, Psychological Pain, And Suicidality (Edwin Shneidman)., Brenda J. Davie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The phenomenology of suicidal thoughts and behaviour has been an area of increased interest in recent years. One particular area of focus is psychological pain, or psychache. In this dissertation, Edwin Shneidman's psychological theory of suicide was studied. Shneidman has theorized that psychological needs are associated with the development of psychological pain, which in turn leads to suicide as an escape from pain. Two hundred and fifty-seven undergraduate students completed the Personality Research Form, the Psychache Scale, the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale, two items from Shneidman's Psychological Pain Assessment Scale, as well as demographic and suicide history items. …


How Does Forgiveness Work To Improve Mental Health?, Kathleen J. M. Schwartzenberger Jan 2005

How Does Forgiveness Work To Improve Mental Health?, Kathleen J. M. Schwartzenberger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many people are consumed with anger, depression, and/or anxiety as a result of harboring feelings of resentment towards an individual who has offended them. Refusing to forgive holds deleterious mental health consequences for the victim; however, forgiveness yields reductions in anger, depression, and anxiety. But, little is known regarding how forgiveness works to improve mental health. Rumination, repetitive and intrusive thoughts about the offense or emotions elicited by the offense, may exacerbate and maintain the negative emotions educed by the offense. Consequently, this study evaluated rumination as a mediator between forgiveness and mental health, hypothesizing that forgiveness works to improve …