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Evaluating Treatment Acceptability, Treatment Integrity, And Cultural Modifications Of A Bullying Prevention Intervention, Lillie Huddleston

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Treatment acceptability and treatment integrity are essential constructs to consider when designing, implementing, and evaluating school-based interventions. Existing literature has described treatment acceptability and treatment integrity as separate constructs rather than investigating their interrelationships. Also, models of treatment acceptability and treatment integrity have not systematically included the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, have not addressed multiple time points in the intervention process, and have not emphasized multiple methods of data collection. This paper reviewed extant literature related to current definitions and models of treatment acceptability and treatment integrity and presented a comprehensive integrated model of these constructs that addressed the aforementioned …

'Means Of Survival' As Moderator Of The Relationship Between Cumulative Torture Experiences And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Refugees, Lydia Odenat

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Refugee torture survivors often present with a myriad of psychological challenges, such as posttraumatic stress and depression, stemming from their exposure to torture and other pre- and post-settlement experiences (Gong-Guy and colleagues, 1991). The present study examined the moderating effect of four coping processes (i.e., family support, religious beliefs, political beliefs, and will to survive) on the relationship between cumulative torture and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a sample of 204 (N=204) adult refugee torture survivors. Subjects completed a demographic questionnaire, the Torture Severity Scale (TSS; Kira, Lewandowski, Templin, Ramaswamy, Ozkan, Hammad, & Mohanesh, 2006), the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale …

The Relationships Between Perfectionism, Stress, Coping Resources, And Burnout Among Sign Language Interpreters, Tomina J. Schwenke

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

The multidimensional construct of perfectionism is well studied as it relates to coping with stress and burnout (Flett & Hewitt, 2002). Bontempo and Napier (2011) identify the personality trait of conscientiousness, which includes perfectionistic traits, as beneficial to an interpreter’s job performance. In contrast, several studies suggest that constructs related to maladaptive perfectionistic traits play a role in the development of burnout among interpreters, although perfectionism has not been explicitly identified or used as a research variable (Qin, Marshall, Mozrall, & Marschark, 2008). These studies identify key components of both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism in the assessment of stress-related outcomes, …

The Relationships Among Multidimensional Perfectionsim, Shame And Trichotillomania Symptom Severity, Christina L. Noble

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism, shame and Trichotillomania (TTM) symptom severity in a sample of college students and a clinical sample of individuals with TTM. A total of 286 college students were recruited from a large, Southeastern public University and 114 individuals with TTM were recruited across at a conference for individuals with TTM and TTM-focused social media communities. The study sought to explore whether shame (characterological, behavioral or bodily) mediated the relationship between wither adaptive or maladaptive perfectionism and TTM symptom severity. Correlations and tests of means were conducted and the …

The Mediating Role Of Coping On The Relationship Between Attachment Style And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Suicidal African American Women, Wendy Heath-Gainer

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

The literature on clinical interventions for suicide prevention indicates that low-income, suicidal African American females are an historically underserved population. Contributing to this lack of service are the intersecting influences of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and related oppressions (APA, 2007). In suicidal African American females, a higher level of reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder has been found in suicide attempters as compared to nonattempters (Kaslow et al., 2000), and PTSD has been shown to be associated with heightened risk of an ensuing suicide attempt (Wilcox, Storr, & Breslau, 2009). One factor affecting manifestation of PTSD …

Social Support As A Buffer Of Acculturative Stress: A Study Of Marital Distress Among Undocumented, Mexican Immigrant Men, Douglas C. Ribeiro

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

SOCIAL SUPPORT AS A BUFFER OF ACCULTURATIVE STRESS: A STUDY OF MARITAL DISTRESS AMONG UNDOCUMENTED,

MEXICAN IMMIGRANT MEN

by

Douglas Costa de Andrade Ribeiro

Immigration trends in the United States have changed drastically in the last 20 years. Starting in the 1990’s the majority of immigrants have originated from Latin American, with most emigrating from Mexico. Men, some of whom are undocumented, have driven this new wave of immigrants. These new Mexican immigrants have bypassed traditional receiving sites across the U.S. Mexican border and settled in non-traditional sites in the southern U.S. (Kiang, Grzywacz, Marin, Arcury, and Quandt, 2010). They …

Professional Counselors' Conceptualizations Of The Relationship Between Suicide And Self-Injury, Julia L. Whisenhunt

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Research that explores the relationship between suicide and self-injury is limited, and the lack of clarity surrounding this topic can present challenges for professional counselors. Although persons who self-injure are at an increased risk for suicide (e.g., Toprak, Cetin, Guven, Can, & Demircan, 2011; Chapman & Dixon-Gordon, 2007), not all individuals who engage in self-injurious behaviors attempt or complete suicide (e.g., Hawton & Harriss, 2008; Howson, Yates, & Hatcher, 2008). Research on common and distinct risk factors for suicide and self-injury (e.g., Andover, Primack, Gibb, & Pepper, 2010; Brausch & Gutierrez, 2010; Greydanus & Apple, 2011; Hawton & James, 2005; …

Differential Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using The Basc-2 Parent Rating Scales Preschool Form, Julia I. Juechter

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

The Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2; Reynolds & Kamphaus 2004) is a behavior rating scale commonly used in preschool settings. In addition to measuring behavioral constructs such as hyperactivity, social skills, and adaptive functioning, the BASC-2 includes a Developmental Social Disorders (DSD) content scale that evaluates the presence of behaviors commonly associated with pervasive developmental disorders, including items related to self-stimulation, withdrawal and poor socialization. This study compared the T-scores of toddler and preschool-aged children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to children diagnosed with other developmental delays, and typically developing children using the BASC-2 Parent …

The Relationships Among Self-Regulation, Executive Functioning, Coping Resources, And Symptomatology Following A Traumatic Event, Rebecca A.C. Blood

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Traumatic events have the capability to alter people’s psychological, biological, and social functioning to a significant degree (van der Kolk & McFarlane, 1996). As a result, there has been a growing need to develop increasingly more sophisticated models to understand the complexities of people’s responses to trauma (Luxenberg & Levin, 2004). Undergraduate students (N = 391) completed surveys designed to measure past trauma, trauma-related symptoms, self-regulation, executive functioning, and coping abilities. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, a modified version of the Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report – Short Form (ETISR-SF; Bremner, Vermetten, & Masure, 2000), the Trauma Symptom Inventory – Alternate …

The Relationships Among Childhood Sexual Abuse, Self-Objectification, And Sexual Risk Behaviors In Undergraduate Women, Laurel B. Watson

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

On a routine and daily basis, women are exposed to sexually objectifying experiences, which result in a number of harmful psychosocial outcomes (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). Five-hundred and forty-sex women attending a large, Southeastern university participated in this study that investigated a conceptual model of how childhood sexual abuse (CSA) contributes to sexual risk behaviors (SRBs) via self-objectification (S0). In order to assess the causal relationships among variables, measured variable path analyses were conducted in order to test two theoretical models. The following instruments were used in this investigation: the Sexual Abuse Subscale of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (a measure …

The Impact Of Mindfulness Training On Hyperactive Behaviors Demonstrated By Elementary Age Children With A Diagnosis Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Jessica A. Carboni

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders in the United States. Although many children with an ADHD diagnosis are prescribed medication to control symptoms, behavioral concerns are still regularly noted in the classroom, home, and other settings. Therefore, school psychologists are often called upon to assist teachers and families with developing intervention procedures. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between mindfulness training, the cognitive processes of attention regulation, and behavior of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. This study utilized a multiple baseline across participant’s design where each …

Perceptions Of Collaborative Process In A Professional Learning Focused University-Community-School Collaboration, Lynnae L. Psimas

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

The current study explored the collaborative processes present in a collaboration between an urban university in the Southeast United States, a state-funded educational support agency, and several urban and suburban school districts served by the state agency. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the collaboration and relevant practices, perceptions were obtained from university, community agency, and K-12 school representatives through 12 individual and 2 group interviews. Data were collected and analyzed using Moustakas’s (1994) transcendental phenomenology methodology. Findings indicated that participants perceived collaborative processes in the areas of collaborative structure, communication practices, characteristics of collaborators and organizations, and group dynamics. …

Teachers' Perceived Barriers To Effective Bullying Intervention, Megan L. Marshall

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Despite the critical role teachers play in the management and reduction of bullying in schools (Craig, Henderson, & Murphy, 2000; Frey, Jones, Hirschstein, & Edstrom, 2011; Nicolaides, Toda, & Smith, 2002), minimal research has been conducted examining teachers’ responses to these negative behaviors (Bauman & Hurley, 2005; Marshall, Varjas, Meyers, Graybill, & Skoczylas, 2009; Sairanen & Pfeffer, 2011; Yoon & Kerber, 2003). Moreover, a critical topic lacking in the literature is the identification of potential barriers (e.g., difficulty identifying bullying, lack of time to address these behaviors) inhibiting teachers from successful intervention. The purpose of this exploratory study was to …

The Experiences Of Professional Counselors Who Exhibit Exceptional Practice With Children And Adolescents In Nonschool Settings, Maggie E. Walsh

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

One in five children and adolescents in the United States has a mental health disorder (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999) and 12.5% of children and adolescents receive treatment in a special mental health setting each year (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009). Children and adolescents have special needs in counseling, and applying adult based counseling skills and knowledge onto children is inappropriate and unethical (Lawrence & Robinson Kurpius, 2000). There exists no nationally recognized licensure, certification or training standards for professional counselors to work with children and adolescents in non-school settings despite the need for …

Kindergarten Teachers’ Knowledge And Perceptions Of Early Learning-Related Skills And Their Relationship To Academic Achievement, Kathryn M. Powell

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

ABSTRACT

KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY LEARNING-RELATED SKILLS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

by

Kathryn Powell

Historically, the kindergarten curriculum emphasized social-emotional development including interpersonal and learning-related skills (Logue, 2007). Researchers have confirmed that teachers valued social-emotional development, particularly learning-related skills, as foundational skills to school readiness and future academic achievement (e.g., Heaviside & Farris, 1993). Since the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2002), the focus of kindergarten has changed to incorporate additional academic standards and goals (Fantuzzo et al., 2007). This mixed method study (Tashakkori & Teddlie, 1998) utilized quantitative (i.e., surveys) and qualitative …

Headsprout Early Reading For Students At Risk For Reading Failure, Donna D. Kreskey

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

This study examined the efficacy of using Headsprout Early Reading (Headsprout, 2007) to supplement a balanced literacy curriculum for kindergarten and first grade students in a suburban public school system. Headsprout, which is an example of computer aided instruction (CAI), provided internet-based, supplemental reading instruction that incorporates the five critical components of reading instruction cited by the National Reading Panel (NRP, 2000). The school system implemented Headsprout as a standard protocol, Tier 2 intervention within their Response to Intervention (RTI) process. The study included kindergarten and first grade students from across the school system who were identified as at risk …

Universal Screening As The Great Equalizer: Eliminating Disproportionality In Special Education Referrals, Tara C. Raines

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

The overrepresentation of minority students identified for special education services continues to plague schools and serves as a challenge for researchers and practitioners (Ferri&Conner,2005). Teacher nomination, office discipline referrals (ODR), and functional behavior assessments (FBA) continue to guide referral processes (Bradshaw, Mitchell, O’Brennen, & Leaf, 2010; Eklund, et al., 2009; Mustian, 2010). These methods have been found to be riddled with inconsistencies. Practices used to identify students for behavioral and emotional interventions over-identify students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The use of a behavioral and emotional screener to make data-based decisions regarding placement and services could provide an objective …

Massively Multiplayer Online Gamers: Motivations And Risks, Amanda Wolfe

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) are a popular type of online video game. While these games and their players have been studied previously, there is gap in the literature that examines the relationship between one’s motivation to play MMOGs and loneliness, depression, and problematic use. For this study, 440 players of World of Warcraft (WoW), a popular MMOG, completed a demographics questionnaire and four measures, including Williams, Yee, & Caplan’s (2008) motivation measure, Peter’s & Malesky’s (2008) World of Warcraft-specific Problematic Usage-Engagement Questionnaire, UCLA’s Loneliness scale, and The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. Results from quantitative analyses suggest …

A School-Based Intervention For Third Grade Students Experiencing Test Anxiety, Laura S. Tenenbaum

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

With the advent of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001), students are regularly faced with high stakes tests and classroom-based assessments to determine if they are meeting grade level educational standards. Estimates suggest that up to 40% of children may experience significant anxiety surrounding evaluations (e.g., McDonald, 2001; Turner, Beidel, Hughes, & Turner, 1993) and research shows that this test anxiety can negatively impact school performance (e.g., Abu-Rabia, 2004; Putwain, 2008) and mental health (e.g., Barksdale-Ladd & Thomas, Weems et al., 2010). As a result, test anxiety has become a topic of concern for researchers, educators, and mental …

The Perceived Relationship Between Wellness And Microaggressions In African American And Latina American Female Doctoral Students In Counselor Education Programs, Dawn M. Robinson

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Wellness has been identified as one of the primary goals in the counseling profession (Myers, 1992; Myers & Sweeney, 2005; Roscoe, 2009). Although wellness is one of the main goals of counseling, and there has been a plethora of research on wellness, there is a scarcity of wellness research focused on counselors, and counselors in training (Myers & Sweeney, 2008). Research on racial discrimination and microaggressions in students, as well as faculty in higher education suggests that many colleges and universities are hostile settings for people of color (Bradley & Holcomb-McCoy, 2004; Salazar, 2009; Salazar et al., 2004). Day to …

The Relationship Of Lifestyle And Psychological Birth Order With Career Decision Self-Efficacy, Ronald M. Herndon

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

ABSTRACT

THE RELATIONSHIP OF LIFESTYLE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL

BIRTH ORDER WITH CAREER DECISION

SELF-EFFICACY

by

Ronald M. Herndon

Over the course of the last several decades Adlerians have demonstrated the vocational utility of Individual Psychology and the constructs of lifestyle and psychological birth order in determining career interests, preferences, and choices (Watkins, 1984a; Watts & Engels, 1995). However, these constructs have not been examined in terms of their relationship to career decision self-efficacy (CDSE). This study examined the relationship of the Adlerian lifestyle and psychological birth order constructs with CDSE among undergraduates (N = 156) at a major southeastern university. Participants …