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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Alliance Expectations And Alliance As Predictor Of Therapy Engagement And Outcome, Daniel C. Greif Jan 2015

Alliance Expectations And Alliance As Predictor Of Therapy Engagement And Outcome, Daniel C. Greif

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Clients begin psychotherapy with expectations that may or may not be met during treatment. Discrepancies between pretherapy expectations and the therapy experience may influence client response to treatment. This naturalistic observational pilot study investigated whether the discrepancy between initial expectations of the working alliance and the experience of the alliance predicts early client engagement and outcome. Participants were adult therapy clients at a university training clinic. Each participant completed the Expected-Working Alliance Inventory before their first session and a shortened version of the Working Alliance Inventory after. We hypothesized that the difference between expected alliance scores and actual alliance scores …


Resilience In Relation To Consistency In Self-Concept In Adult Third Culture Kids (Atcks), Crystal Labass Jan 2015

Resilience In Relation To Consistency In Self-Concept In Adult Third Culture Kids (Atcks), Crystal Labass

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The number of children raised in internationally mobile families (Third Culture Kids, or TCKs) is on the rise due to a growing trend towards globalization (Hoersting & Jenkins, 2011; Pollock & Van Reken, 2009). These individuals share numerous characteristics and a distinct cultural perspective (Pollock & Van Reken, 2009). A stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between resilience (as measured by the Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale), self-concept consistency (as measured by the Self Concept Clarity Scale), and the degree to which one has lived the TCK experience (as measured by the number of relocations experienced) in a …


Is There A Relationship Between Alcohol/Drug Counselor's Strength Of Belief In The Disease Concept Of Addiction And Burnout?, Dan D. Dodd Jan 2015

Is There A Relationship Between Alcohol/Drug Counselor's Strength Of Belief In The Disease Concept Of Addiction And Burnout?, Dan D. Dodd

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study examined the association between substance abuse counselors’ (a) level of burnout and strength of belief in the disease concept of addiction, (b) level of burnout and recovery status, and (c) recovery status and strength of belief in the disease concept. Participants were recruited via a purposive convenience survey sampling method of counselors who were certified Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDPs) or Chemical Dependency Professional Trainees (CDPTs) who were employed in substance use disorder outpatient treatment facilities. A total of 130 surveys were distributed of which 72 were returned giving a 55% response rate. Six surveys were removed due to …


Common Psychosocial And Spiritual Factors Among Individuals Who Have Healed From Chronic Lyme Disease, Frederick Green Jan 2015

Common Psychosocial And Spiritual Factors Among Individuals Who Have Healed From Chronic Lyme Disease, Frederick Green

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation examined the subjective experience of individuals who have healed from Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD). Despite significant attention paid to the controversy over CLD diagnosis and treatment, scholarly research has neglected the psychosocial and/or spiritual factors that facilitate healing from the perspective of CLD sufferers. This study addressed this research gap by using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the barriers and facilitators of healing among those who have healed from CLD. Six participants who had suffered from CLD and considered themselves healed from the disease were recruited and interviewed. The qualitative data was reduced to meaning units, which …


Asperger's Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder And Marital Satisfaction: A Quantitative Study, Kim L. Bolling Jan 2015

Asperger's Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder And Marital Satisfaction: A Quantitative Study, Kim L. Bolling

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Few empirical studies exist that examine adult Asperger-affected relationships. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the marital satisfaction of individuals in relationships in which at least one partner has Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), differs in some significant way from the marital satisfaction of individuals in relationships in which neither partner has AS/ASD. Participants were 126 adults in relationships in which at least one partner had a diagnosis of AS or ASD, recruited from Asperger- and autism-related websites, social media, and organizations from English-speaking countries. Couples consisted of heterosexual and same-sex couples, couples with …


Resilience To Trauma Throughout The Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse, Kaylee L. Curilla Jan 2015

Resilience To Trauma Throughout The Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse, Kaylee L. Curilla

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative dissertation project explored how young-old adults have healed from the traumatic experience of being sexually abused in childhood. This project utilized an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyze themes across the young-old adults’ responses. Data collection consisted of interviewing six participants (age 51-58) who have had a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) from a loved one or other trusted individual and have felt that they have healed and demonstrated resiliency from the experience. Ten general themes emerged: (a) Getting older has helped me develop a better understanding and helped me to become less emotionally reactive; (b) After …


Personhood & Parenthood: An Experiential Account Of Balance & Well-Being, Venice Bruno Jan 2015

Personhood & Parenthood: An Experiential Account Of Balance & Well-Being, Venice Bruno

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Parents are constantly engaging in a balancing act, weighing their own needs with those of their children and family. Helping parents navigate the role of parenthood can promote optimal development in the child, parent, couple and family. Parents engage in various roles and responsibilities essential for family and individual well-being that require balance in order to be effective. Past research on balance has indicated that people are more satisfied with life when they are active in multiple life domains rather than in a single one. This study is interested in two specific life domains: personhood and parenthood, and how parents …


The Moderating Effect Of Resilience Factors On Bully Victimization And Subsequent Psychological Adjustment Problems Among Adolescent Girls, Alexandra Hayley Quinn Jan 2015

The Moderating Effect Of Resilience Factors On Bully Victimization And Subsequent Psychological Adjustment Problems Among Adolescent Girls, Alexandra Hayley Quinn

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Bully victimization is linked to poor psychological adjustment, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal in children and teens. However, little research to date has examined the unique experiences of adolescent girls, the specific contributions of various subtypes of bullying, and the utilization of comprehensive instruments to examine the constructs of psychological adjustment and bully victimization. Further, researchers studying these issues have called for more studies to examine buffering factors that may protect teen girls from the psychological insults associated with peer victimization. This study advances research in the field by utilizing standardized self-report measures to examine the relationship between bully victimization …


A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of Parenting Half-Siblings Within A Blended Family, Nicole Josephsen Jan 2015

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of Parenting Half-Siblings Within A Blended Family, Nicole Josephsen

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Blended families are a growing population and encompass a diversity of characteristics and family types. Among the different types of blended families are those with both stepchildren and mutual children. Research on the complex experience of parenting a mutual genetic child and a stepchild within a blended family is minimal. To better understand the unknown experience of such parents, this phenomenological study was conducted to provide an in depth description of the experience of simultaneously parenting mutual children and stepchildren within a blended family. In this phenomenological study the researcher conducted interviews with six participants who varied by gender, socioeconomic …


Effects Of Negative Media On Evangelical Christians' Attitudes Toward Evangelism, Linda Hoover Jan 2015

Effects Of Negative Media On Evangelical Christians' Attitudes Toward Evangelism, Linda Hoover

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study examined how negative media influenced Evangelical Christians and their attitude toward evangelism practices. Using self-questionnaires, participants identified their level of in-group identification and type of internalized motivation for engaging in religious practices. After viewing a negative media clip about the professional football player, Tim Tebow, and his public expression of faith, 412 Evangelical Christians rated their fear of negative evaluation about engaging in evangelism. A control group of 31 participants completed questionnaires but received no media exposure. Consistent with previous research, the current study found that media exposure activated internalized social norms and feelings of oughtness, which were …


The Role Of Heart Rate Variability In The Treatment Of Migraines, Thomas M. Ledoux Jan 2015

The Role Of Heart Rate Variability In The Treatment Of Migraines, Thomas M. Ledoux

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation assessed the role of heart rate variability (HRV) in the treatment of migraine headaches. The extent of this relationship was measured through a 12-session HRV biofeedback protocol to increase HRV and decrease migraine frequency through resonance frequency breathing (RFB) training. This project used a single-case design methodology to analyze phase changes in physiological variables with a specific focus on changes in HRV and migraine symptoms from baseline to completion of the biofeedback protocol. The prevalence of migraine headaches is discussed, the history of biofeedback as an intervention for migraine is reviewed, and the rationale for the relationship between …


Organizational Leaders’ Experience With Fear-Related Emotions: A Critical Incident Study, Al Barkouli Jan 2015

Organizational Leaders’ Experience With Fear-Related Emotions: A Critical Incident Study, Al Barkouli

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study used the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) to better understand how organizational leaders experienced fear-related emotions. Through semi-structured interviews, fifteen executive leaders, mainly chief executive officers (CEOs), shared their experiences in response to threatening, risky, or dangerous incidents. In addition to a phenomenological understanding of the experience, participants illuminated the role that fear-related emotions play in leader decisions, how these emotions influence leader-follower relationships, the impacts of fear-related emotions on leaders’ health and well-being, and the ways leaders managed their experience with fear-related emotions including the role courage played. Leaders often faced threats, risks, or dangers (stimuli) from within …


Living Aloha: Portraits Of Resilience, Renewal, Reclamation, And Resistance, Camilla G. Wengler Vignoe Jan 2015

Living Aloha: Portraits Of Resilience, Renewal, Reclamation, And Resistance, Camilla G. Wengler Vignoe

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

When Native Hawaiians move away from the islands, they risk losing their cultural identity and heritage. This dissertation utilizes a Hawaiian theoretical framework based in Indigenous research practices and uses phenomenology, ethnography, heuristics, and portraiture to tell the stories of leadership, change, and resilience of five Native Hawaiians who as adults, chose to permanently relocate to the United States mainland. It explores the reasons why Kanaka Maoli (politically correct term for Native Hawaiians) leave the 'āina (land; that which feeds) in the first place and eventually become permanent mainland residents. Some Hawaiians lose their culture after relocating to the United …


Leadership For Social Change: Illuminating The Life Of Dr. Helen Caldicott, Leah Hanes Jan 2015

Leadership For Social Change: Illuminating The Life Of Dr. Helen Caldicott, Leah Hanes

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation is a biographical study of the life of Dr. Helen Caldicott that details her life and work over the years from 1997 to 2014. The history of her significant role in the end of the Cold War and her influence in public opinion regarding nuclear power and nuclear arms has been well-documented through many books, films, and articles as well as her own autobiography up to this twenty-year-period. My study will help to fill the gap in her most recent life. In particular, I will explore the impact of her activism on society and her personal life in …


My Heart Is In The East: Exploring Theater As A Vehicle For Change, Inspired By The Poetic Performances Of Ancient Andalucía, Jessica Litwak Jan 2015

My Heart Is In The East: Exploring Theater As A Vehicle For Change, Inspired By The Poetic Performances Of Ancient Andalucía, Jessica Litwak

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study addresses the research question “How Do I Inspire Personal and Social Change Through My Theater Practice?” I implement the theory and practice of H.E.A.T., a fusion theater system, combining use of theater arts as healing practice, educational asset, activist tool, and an art form.I research different ways that theater can affect change, focusing specifically on the use of history in performance.I dramatically interpret a period of history where performance and poetry contributed to change.I utilize qualitative methods including performance ethnography, auto ethnography, arts-based research, and historical research.I describe the fieldwork in conflict zones in the Middle East, which …


Child-Centered Play Therapy For Children With Autism: A Case Study, Ashley H. Morgenthal Jan 2015

Child-Centered Play Therapy For Children With Autism: A Case Study, Ashley H. Morgenthal

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation evaluated archival data from the implementation of a child-centered approach to play therapy with a young girl diagnosed with autism. Goals of treatment included promoting spontaneous symbolic play and increasing verbal communication skills. Young children with autism who engage in early intervention often receive behavioral interventions, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA), on a regular basis. However, the use of child-centered play therapy as an intervention is not as common, as play is frequently viewed as being a deficiency for children with autism. In psychological theory, play is often regarded as a child’s work, and his or her …


Undergraduate Catholic Lesbians: The Intersection Of Religious And Sexual Aspects Of Identity, Christina Marie Chestna Jan 2015

Undergraduate Catholic Lesbians: The Intersection Of Religious And Sexual Aspects Of Identity, Christina Marie Chestna

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The following is a qualitative study designed to shed light on the experiences of undergraduate Catholic lesbians. The study focused on the unique ways in which these women negotiate the intersection of the religious and sexual aspects of their identities. Research shows that religious and sexual aspects of identity often conflict. In-depth research aimed specifically at the negotiation of religious and sexual identity dimensions is needed. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate Catholic lesbians who had the opportunity to speak about the ways in which they negotiate the potentially conflicting religious and sexual aspects of their identities. …


Effects Of Presenting Normative Alcohol Data On Perceptions Of College Drinking Behavior, Cullen Patrick Hardy Jan 2015

Effects Of Presenting Normative Alcohol Data On Perceptions Of College Drinking Behavior, Cullen Patrick Hardy

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Alcohol abuse, often in the form of binge drinking, is a problem that every college campus faces. Many researchers suggest that students believe that their peers drink more alcohol than is actually true, and use such a perception as a justification to drink more alcohol than should be consumed (Perkins, Haines, & Rice, 2005). The purpose of this study is to understand whether presenting normative information on drinking behavior among college students in two different ways (focus on heavy drinking or focus on abstinence) has an effect on the perceptions of drinking behavior.


Character Strengths Of Students At Risk Of Dropping Out Of High School, Sarah Baker Jan 2015

Character Strengths Of Students At Risk Of Dropping Out Of High School, Sarah Baker

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The goal of this study was to determine the participants' perceptions about what strengths at-risk students who follow through and graduate from high school have, using the conceptual framework of positive psychology, and its classification system of virtues and character strengths. To reveal the strengths of these students, this study used a qualitative methodology, interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). In addition, the participants were asked to fill out a Likert scale survey to rate how frequently at-risk students who graduated employed each of the 24 VIA characteristics. The purpose of this study was to add to the under-researched area of identifying …


Worlds Of Connection: A Hermeneutic Formulation Of The Interdisciplinary Relational Model Of Care, Susana Lauraine Mccune Jan 2015

Worlds Of Connection: A Hermeneutic Formulation Of The Interdisciplinary Relational Model Of Care, Susana Lauraine Mccune

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Despite a general agreement across health care disciplines that Advanced Care Planning (ACP) and Advanced Directives (ADs) add important elements to a patient's end-of-life care desires, and can inform their loved ones and advocates, help create ease of mind, and enhance quality of care, they continue to remain significantly underused. More than half of Americans transition to chronic and terminal illness without having completed them. The aim of this study was to increase the frequency and enhance the quality of communication about Advance Directives and Advance Care Planning within the clinical relationship. The resulting Interdisciplinary Relational Model of Care (IRMOC) …


The Lived Experience Of Adolescents Who Engage In Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Erin Elizabeth Holley Jan 2015

The Lived Experience Of Adolescents Who Engage In Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Erin Elizabeth Holley

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of the current study was to explore the lived experience of adolescents who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Phenomenological interviews inquired about emotionality, conflict styles, and parental relationships among a clinical population of six adolescents. All participants met criteria for the proposed diagnosis of NSSI found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Nine central themes emerged as significant: identification with an alternative to the dominant culture, inhibition of affect, difficulty managing conflict, suicidality, negative emotionality, feeling numb, negative internal monologue, self-harm as a temporary coping skill, and maternal conflict. …


Therapeutic Horseback Riding With Military Veterans: Perspectives Of Riders, Instructors, And Volunteers, Leslie Lafleur Jan 2015

Therapeutic Horseback Riding With Military Veterans: Perspectives Of Riders, Instructors, And Volunteers, Leslie Lafleur

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Statistics reveal that over 353,000 military members have been diagnosed with PTSD and/or TBI resulting from war-related activities. With the rising number of war stress injuries, there have not been enough psychotherapeutic services to meet the current demand for the care of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Although some intervention strategies have been deemed successful, the current standards of care (e.g., exposure therapy, cognitive therapy) are limited by training inadequacies, accessibility, and outcomes (e.g., retention, early drop out, resistance, non-responsiveness). Furthermore, it is unclear whether these treatments are efficacious in addressing the unique symptom presentations of this population. The …


Haitian Children's House-Tree-Person Drawings: Global Similarities And Cultural Differences, Abimbola Afolayan Jan 2015

Haitian Children's House-Tree-Person Drawings: Global Similarities And Cultural Differences, Abimbola Afolayan

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The issues of rising terrorism, violence, and scarcity of basic needs will increase in the coming decades, and children that need psychological services in disaster areas around the world will also increase (Alim, 2008). The study utilized the House-Tree-Person (HTP) projective test to examine the adaptation and maladaptation of Haitian children who lived in extreme urban poverty, broken infrastructure, and relocation camps in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. The 43 participants of the original archived data set provided 129 protocols of house, tree, and person drawings (Roysircar & Colvin, 2015). Out of that dataset, the present study used 39 …


Solutions For Recruitment And Retention Of Rural Psychologists By Rural Psychologists, Beth Briggs Jan 2015

Solutions For Recruitment And Retention Of Rural Psychologists By Rural Psychologists, Beth Briggs

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

There are too few mental health providers to meet the needs of residents of rural communities. Rural inhabitants often present for treatment with severe symptoms, high risk for suicide, comorbid chronic health conditions, and socioeconomic stressors. It is difficult to recruit psychologists to rural communities due to limited training in rural psychology, financial barriers to sustaining a practice, frequent ethical dilemmas posed by small towns, and limited cultural amenities. While there is a significant amount of scholarly literature describing the needs of this population and the challenges of maintaining a practice in such geographic regions, there is scarce literature on …


Loneliness And Perceived Stigmatization Among Older Adults Enrolled In Opiate Substitution Treatment Programs And The Utilization Of Mental Health Services, Jennifer B. Armstrong Jan 2015

Loneliness And Perceived Stigmatization Among Older Adults Enrolled In Opiate Substitution Treatment Programs And The Utilization Of Mental Health Services, Jennifer B. Armstrong

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Little research has examined the role that loneliness and perceived stigmatization play in the decision to seek mental health services among older adults enrolled in opiate substitution treatment. Researchers studying this at-risk population have called for more studies to examine services that can be implemented within current opiate substitution treatment settings. This study advances research in the field by utilizing standardized self-report measures to examine the relationship between loneliness, perceived stigmatization, and the impact of said variables on the utilization of available mental health services among older adults enrolled in opiate substitution treatment programs. Ninety-four 50-71-year-old adults from an opiate …


The Experience Of Sibling Death In Childhood: A Qualitative Analysis Of Memoirs, Katrin Neubacher Jan 2015

The Experience Of Sibling Death In Childhood: A Qualitative Analysis Of Memoirs, Katrin Neubacher

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study explored the experience of the death of a sibling in childhood. Seven memoirs written by individuals who lost a sibling in childhood were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Themes focused on the child’s lived experience of sibling loss, parental and familial function, and factors identified as supporting the child’s grieving and functioning. Where relevant, an in-depth review of the existing literature of relevant psychological research and theories supported and expanded on the themes identified in the narratives. As the purpose of this research was to inform a model for understanding the life and grief of a bereaved …


Short-Term Attachment Outcomes Of Infants In The Child Welfare System, Tracy Markowitz Jan 2015

Short-Term Attachment Outcomes Of Infants In The Child Welfare System, Tracy Markowitz

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Children with prenatal substance exposure are often born into families of low socio-economic status, low educational level, and with restricted access to health services. Pregnant substance-using mothers tend to reject, neglect, and generally misattune to their infant children. These environmental risk factors increase the likelihood of negative developmental outcomes such as poor academic performance, externalizing behaviors, and an insecure attachment style. In compliance with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Child Welfare Services often places at-risk infants into traditional or kinship foster care placements. This study looked at how placement type and …


Fostering Connections: Group Therapy For Young Women Aging Out Of Foster Care, Meaghan Elizabeth Pilling Jan 2015

Fostering Connections: Group Therapy For Young Women Aging Out Of Foster Care, Meaghan Elizabeth Pilling

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The following dissertation outlines a group intervention designed to improve the relational and mental health of female emerging adults who have aged out of foster care. It is argued through review of the literature that emerging adulthood is a unique developmental phase in which relational connections are vital to successful transition to adulthood. Female emerging adults who have aged out of foster care frequently lack these social supports; their isolation renders them particularly vulnerable to psychological and interpersonal problems. Therefore, a mentoring component might be valuable to this population and is included in the current intervention. Included in the following …


Women Between The Ages Of 65 And 75: What Is Their Subjective Experience Of How Their Sexuality Is Portrayed In American Society?, Rebecca E. Gilda Jan 2015

Women Between The Ages Of 65 And 75: What Is Their Subjective Experience Of How Their Sexuality Is Portrayed In American Society?, Rebecca E. Gilda

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation focused on capturing and describing the experience of sexuality for women between the ages of 65 and 75 as they live in American society. The main research question asks how these women gain awareness, perceive, and react to the stereotypes, assumptions, expectations, and negative images associated with their sexuality. The participants completed a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview with the principal researcher. Information was gathered about age, relationships, family history, employment, and sexuality. In the interview general and specific questions were asked relating to sexuality in order to answer the research questions. The data from these was analyzed …


Understanding The "Refugee" Of Hurricane Katrina: An Exploration Of Titles, Time And Post-Traumatic Growth, Kandice L. Timmons Jan 2015

Understanding The "Refugee" Of Hurricane Katrina: An Exploration Of Titles, Time And Post-Traumatic Growth, Kandice L. Timmons

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the “refugee” experience of displacement from an individual perspective and the impact of trauma during a natural disaster through the lens of post-traumatic growth. It views survivors of Hurricane Katrina, who were displaced and returned home, and aims to investigate what changes, if any, have occurred since their return. The literature aids in understanding the complexities of the trauma endured in the aftermath, and seeks to better understand their refugee identity, the experience of displacement, the effects of trauma, and the changes that occurred in recovery. The data was collected through the Brief …