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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

The Lived Experiences Of Low-Income Mothers Raising Children With Autism, Renee L. Sullivan Ph.D., Leann Stadtlander Ph.D. Jul 2020

The Lived Experiences Of Low-Income Mothers Raising Children With Autism, Renee L. Sullivan Ph.D., Leann Stadtlander Ph.D.

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Previous studies indicated that parents raising children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience higher rates of stress; however, no qualitative studies have addressed low-income parents’ lived experiences of raising children with ASD. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the challenges that low-income parents of children with ASD face daily within the framework of family systems theory. Interview questions were used to focus on the impact of income and the core symptoms of ASD (social deficits, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors) on marital and interpersonal relationships. Although the study was open to both mothers and fathers, only …


Predictors Of Quality Of Life Among An International Sample Of Mothers Of Children 12 And Under With Corpus Callosum Disorders, Peggy Henninger, Donna M. L. Heretick May 2020

Predictors Of Quality Of Life Among An International Sample Of Mothers Of Children 12 And Under With Corpus Callosum Disorders, Peggy Henninger, Donna M. L. Heretick

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Previous research supports application of the Double ABCX model of family adaptation of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders. This is the first study to consider processes of adaptation among parents of children with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC). Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, an international sample of 266 mothers of children, aged 12 or under, with ACC completed an online survey. Parental reports of stress, resources, coping, and sense of coherence were evaluated as predictors of four subdimensions of parental quality of life for 178 mothers. In general, findings support the Double …


Emotional Intelligence And Psychopathic Personality Traits: Examination Of Adult Male Sex Offenders In New Jersey, Kelly Rose White Jan 2020

Emotional Intelligence And Psychopathic Personality Traits: Examination Of Adult Male Sex Offenders In New Jersey, Kelly Rose White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault and abuse have a significant impact on victims and society. Although there has been a plethora of research studies examining the criminogenic aspects of sexual offending, sparse literature exists on the emotional aspects of sexual offending. Prior research established that sex offenders hold deficits in their emotional functioning that could be a result of psychopathic personality traits. This research study sought to expand the literature on sex offenders and investigate if adult male sex offenders in New Jersey differ in emotional intelligence and psychopathic personality traits depending on victim typology. This study was grounded in coercion and integrated …


The Relationship Between Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy And Client-Therapist Attachment On Symptom Reduction, Kelly Tobin Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy And Client-Therapist Attachment On Symptom Reduction, Kelly Tobin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For centuries, scholars and individuals have recognized the psychophysiological impact of the horse-human connection. The felt impact helped launch the creation of equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP), an alternative form of treatment for individuals who struggle to connect to traditional forms of therapy. The limited amount of research on the objective benefit of EAP as an alternative to traditional psychotherapy has limited the number of individuals who are referred for such treatment. Grounded in Bowlby's theory of attachment, the purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to determine if attachment to a therapist differs between the method of treatment, traditional psychotherapy or …


Prayer As A Predictor For Burnout Among Psychiatric Nursing Assistants, James Michael Rose Ii Jan 2020

Prayer As A Predictor For Burnout Among Psychiatric Nursing Assistants, James Michael Rose Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The psychiatric nursing assistants who care for psychiatric patients in inpatient hospitals, like others who work in the human service field, experience some degree of burnout during their careers. This research used Pargament’s theory of religious coping to examine prayer as a predictor variable for a decrease in burnout experienced by psychiatric nursing assistants. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Prayer Functions Scale were used to examine the predictor variables of prayer, gender, and years of service in correlation to the 3 dimensions of burnout. An N = 97 was obtained from the psychiatric nursing assistant population from …


Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Rates Among Children In Foster Versus Family Kinship Care, Rashanda Allen Jan 2020

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Rates Among Children In Foster Versus Family Kinship Care, Rashanda Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children in foster care represent a highly traumatized population. However, trauma researchers studying this population have focused primarily on maltreatment rather than the full spectrum of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) attributes and symptoms for children living in nonkinship foster homes versus kinship foster homes. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in the literature, as well as examine the benefits and limitations of children placed in kinship and nonkinship foster homes. Attachment theory was the theoretical framework. The research questions centered on the prevalence of specific types of posttraumatic stress symptoms for a sample of children living …


The Lived Experience Of Monogamy Among Gay Men In Monogamous Relationships, Kellie L. Barton Jan 2020

The Lived Experience Of Monogamy Among Gay Men In Monogamous Relationships, Kellie L. Barton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on male gay relationships spans more than 50 years, and the focus of most of this research has been on understanding the development processes, consequences, and risk factors of nonmonogamous relationships. Few researchers have explored the nature and meaning of monogamy in the male gay community. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore the lived experience of monogamy to give voice to other expressions of gay male relationships and potentially add to the literature surrounding clinical implications of treatment. The framework for developing the research emerged from the construct of the monogamy gap, derived from theories of …


Cultural Identity As A Predictor Of Weight Loss In U.S. Hispanics, Leon Daniels Jan 2020

Cultural Identity As A Predictor Of Weight Loss In U.S. Hispanics, Leon Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on behavioral weight-loss programs has guided the development of health-related, behavior-change interventions that contribute to combating overweight and obesity in the United States, and illnesses that co-occur with unhealthy weight. However, research on behavioral weight-loss programs that focus on the U.S. Hispanic population and cultural identity is largely unrepresented in the current literature. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine body mass index (BMI) decreases of U.S. Hispanics while observing their (a) motivation toward exercise, (b) cultural identity, (c) physical activity program type, (d) exercise frequency, and (e) demographic variables as predictors of weight-loss. Guiding this study …


Job Self-Efficacy, Alexithymia And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Correctional Officers, Paulette Andrea Gayle Jan 2020

Job Self-Efficacy, Alexithymia And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Correctional Officers, Paulette Andrea Gayle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional officers work in a volatile environment and are regularly exposed to inmates’ violence or cruelty. These factors negatively affect their job performance, contribute to physiological and mental health issues that could result in secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. Researchers have identified job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits as mitigating factors against elevated stress. Other researchers have identified the traits as strongly associated with mental health illnesses. The purpose of this quantitative study, using a convenience sampling strategy, was to determine whether job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits were predictors of STS among a sample of 79 correctional officers working for Her …


Does Counselor Type Affect A Manualized Treatment?, Cynthia C. Kay Jan 2020

Does Counselor Type Affect A Manualized Treatment?, Cynthia C. Kay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study was to determine whether there are differences in client treatment outcomes based upon the type of counselor who conducted an empirically supported treatment called Seeking Safety for persons diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. Many studies show that counselors’ personal attributes impact treatment; however, this study added to the literature by focusing on a standardized treatment for the co-occurrence disorder of substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder. Archival data from an outpatient treatment facility was used. Clients were provided integrated services, which included psychological and substance use treatment. The participants/clients were men and women …


The Relationship Between Spirituality And Mental Health Among Kidney Dialysis Patients, Eddy Darcy Perez Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Spirituality And Mental Health Among Kidney Dialysis Patients, Eddy Darcy Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 9th leading cause of death in the United States is kidney disease. An estimated 37 million Americans in the United States, or about 15% of the adult population, have some level of chronic kidney disease. Kidney disease is multifaceted and has implications for both physical and psychological health of a patient. However, research on kidney dialysis patients has primarily focused on physical health. Grounded in social learning theory, this quantitative study used a correlational research design to examine the relationship between spirituality and mental health in 128 kidney dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney dialysis patients at kidney …


Predictors For Depressive Symptoms Among Women Instagram Users, Rochelle Henry Jan 2020

Predictors For Depressive Symptoms Among Women Instagram Users, Rochelle Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As social networking sites have become a typical daily activity, there is a need to better understand the outcomes of online behaviors on other life functions. Prior researchers have found that social comparison and social networking behaviors can negatively affect adolescents’ and young adults’ self-esteem, however the potential threats for women who evaluate themselves based on comparisons to others has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects on health and well-being for older adult women using the image-sharing site Instagram who share selfies. The theoretical framework for this study was the social comparison theory. …


Self-Care Practices, Work Experience, Educational Setting, And Burnout Among School Counselors, Paul Sylvester-Nwosu Jan 2020

Self-Care Practices, Work Experience, Educational Setting, And Burnout Among School Counselors, Paul Sylvester-Nwosu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSchool counselors should be well-adjusted in their personal and professional lives and possess a keen, accurate perception of their self-care practices. However, people drawn to careers in school counseling are often at risk of developing burnout due to high professional demands and limited resources supporting their self-care and well-being. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between the independent variables of self-care practices, years of work experience, and educational settings and the dependent variable of levels of burnout among practicing school counselors in K-12 suburban educational settings in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. …


The Influence Of Ethnicity On The Impact Of Cyberbullying Among Adults, Sarah Young Jan 2020

The Influence Of Ethnicity On The Impact Of Cyberbullying Among Adults, Sarah Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ethnicity is a factor that predicts how a person is impacted by cyberbullying, but to date little research has been conducted to investigate this phenomenon. Some researchers have reported that individuals belonging to ethnic minorities may have a greater overall resistance to bullying behavior and bias due to stress inoculation. The purpose of this study was to determine if ethnic minority status serves as a protective factor against the negative impact of cyberbullying in adults. This research study was guided by inoculation and socio-ecological systems theories. A convenience sample of 618 American adults who use social media at least 3 …


Restorative Justice As A Response To Middle School Rules Violations, Tammy Felps Jan 2020

Restorative Justice As A Response To Middle School Rules Violations, Tammy Felps

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The zero-tolerance approach of discipline in schools requires the involvement of law enforcement for many violations of school rules. Schools using this approach do not have the tools for effective behavior modification, without relying on school resource officers to intervene, often resulting in juvenile criminal charges. The key elements fueling this process are exclusionary discipline practices that lead to academic failure and increased high school dropout rates. Restorative justice (RJ), a targeted reform program, is a behavior management technique that promotes desirable conditions for successful academic achievement. Many schools are using components of RJ, encounter, repair, and transform; however, implementation …


Secondary Traumatic Stress And Spiritual Practices Among U.S. Psychologists: A Quantitative Study, Luis R. Sanchez Jan 2020

Secondary Traumatic Stress And Spiritual Practices Among U.S. Psychologists: A Quantitative Study, Luis R. Sanchez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies suggest that 8% to 20% of mental health providers struggle with secondary traumatic stress (STS), but the number of investigations evaluating psychologists' STS is limited. Furthermore, although literature on the effects of self-care practices on STS is vast, no studies have examined the role of such practices on U.S. psychologists' level of STS. Informed by Stamm's theory of professional quality of life, this study analyzed variations in 159 U.S. psychologists' STS and frequency of participation in spiritual-based self-care practices between different religious identity groups. This study also explored the effect of spiritual-based self-care on U.S. psychologists' STS. An exploratory …


Experiences Of Resiliency And Family Support In Older Women With Mental Illness, Dawn Harbin Jan 2020

Experiences Of Resiliency And Family Support In Older Women With Mental Illness, Dawn Harbin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of a support system for older females with mental illness may cause reduced resiliency skills and an increase in mental illness symptoms while they attempt to manage independent living. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the individual stories of older women living independently who suffer from a mental illness and have a support system. Social learning theory and self-efficacy theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with 8 women ages 65-80 years who are in treatment at a mental health center in South Carolina. Findings from coding analysis showed that …


Association Of Working Therapeutic Alliance And Psychopathy In Civilly-Confined Sex Offenders, Kearie Ann Newman Jan 2020

Association Of Working Therapeutic Alliance And Psychopathy In Civilly-Confined Sex Offenders, Kearie Ann Newman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past decade, researchers have focused attention on the therapeutic alliance (TA) and its impact in treatment outcomes. The literature on TA has been focused primarily on its impact on the client’s participation, the accomplishment of goals, and treatment completion. However, very little of this research includes individuals who have psychopathy. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative survey study was to explore the relation between the level of psychopathy (high versus low) and TA ratings of 16 therapists and 64 clients in the population of convicted civilly-confined male sex offenders. Bordin’s theory grounded the study. Data were gathered from …


Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Direct Care Workers Working With Juveniles, Brittany Anne Shaughnessy Jan 2020

Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Direct Care Workers Working With Juveniles, Brittany Anne Shaughnessy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the development of vicarious traumatization (VT) and burnout among direct care staff working in juvenile justice residential facilities. Measures used included the ACE module of the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System historical to assess for ACEs, the Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale (TABS) to measure VT, and Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) to measure burnout. Workplace organization was also included in data collection and analysis as a covariate as past research has indicated a relationship between workplace organization and burnout and VT. A covariate of workplace …


Effective Coping Mechanisms For Caregivers Of Dialysis Patients, Olga Natalia Hernandez Jan 2020

Effective Coping Mechanisms For Caregivers Of Dialysis Patients, Olga Natalia Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, approximately 9 million informal caregivers, such as family and friends, assist other adults with essential activities, and more than 20 million adult Americans in the United States suffer from some level of chronic kidney disease. Research on the burden and satisfaction of caregivers of dialysis patients has focused on patients and caregivers who have been dealing with long-term kidney disease; however, this study addressed patients and their caregivers who were first transitioning from wellness to illness. The main intent of this study was to identify the coping mechanisms of effective caregivers at this point in time. …


Predictors Of Mental Health Services Use Among Survivors Of Domestic Violence Emotional Abuse, Liseth Sales Jan 2020

Predictors Of Mental Health Services Use Among Survivors Of Domestic Violence Emotional Abuse, Liseth Sales

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence (DV) affects over 80,000 million individuals a year in the United States. DV survivors who do not use mental health services are often revictimized or pass on patterns of abuse and unhealthy behaviors of DV to future generations. However, research on factors that inhibit DV survivors from seeking mental health care is limited. Using the behavioral model of health services use, which helps predict health services use by identifying predisposing, enabling, and need factors, this study investigated which predisposing, enabling, and need factors predict the utilization of mental health services by DV survivors who were emotionally abused. In …


Factors Affecting Commitment For Military Couples, Laura Villalobos Garza Jan 2020

Factors Affecting Commitment For Military Couples, Laura Villalobos Garza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reintegration process for combat veterans is challenging not only for soldiers but also for their spouses and family members. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine factors affecting relationship commitment in military couples in which a service member has shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sternberg’s triangular theory of love provided the framework for the study. Independent variables were passion, intimacy, age, and social support, and the dependent variable was commitment. Survey data were collected from 116 participants using Sternberg’s Triangular Love Scale and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. The results of multiple linear regression …


Motivation For Exercise In Adults With Spina Bifida, Tasha Vitales Jan 2020

Motivation For Exercise In Adults With Spina Bifida, Tasha Vitales

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The activity level among the U.S. population is low. Lack of exercise among individuals with disabilities adds a level of vulnerability to health issues for a population already facing multiple challenges. Despite considerable research on factors that may affect exercise among the general population, scant information is available about the relevance of such factors among individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, researchers have not used a coherent theoretical framework to explain empirical results. The present study addressed shortcomings in the literature by assessing, within the self-determination theory framework, if gender, self-efficacy, and self-determination predict exercise in individuals with a spina bifida. The …


Sexually-Abused Adolescent Females Versus Nonsexually-Abused Adolescent Females Regarding Rorschach Inkblot Assessments, Angela D. Jones Jan 2020

Sexually-Abused Adolescent Females Versus Nonsexually-Abused Adolescent Females Regarding Rorschach Inkblot Assessments, Angela D. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored differences between female adolescents who experienced sexual abuse as children and those who experienced other forms of trauma or abuse. There is no previous research assessing the differences between these two groups. Some female adolescent victims of sexual abuse are sexually revictimized, sex trafficked, and exhibit delinquent behaviors. If differences are determined, a more tailored and appropriate intervention could be introduced to reduce these youths' revictimization and minimize adult sexual risk. This study was quantitative in nature and assessed the clinical profiles of 27 female adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system for being sex trafficked or …


Laughter Therapy And Coping Strategies For Dementia Patient Caregivers, Edith Ugwu Jan 2020

Laughter Therapy And Coping Strategies For Dementia Patient Caregivers, Edith Ugwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this research was to address a gap in the literature concerning the experiences of dementia caregivers who use laughter therapy as a coping strategy to manage their caregiving stress. Dementia caregiving involves high levels of stress, depression, and anxiety, which can cause both psychological and physical health problems for caregivers. It is, therefore, critical to identify effective coping strategies to mitigate caregiving stress. Laughter therapy is an inexpensive and readily available coping strategy that can help manage this stress. The current study used a phenomenological qualitative approach to address the research question. The transactional model of stress …


Masculine Ideals, Acculturation, And Attitudes Toward Seeking Psychological Help Among Mexican American Adult Males, Innocent Affam Obuah Jan 2020

Masculine Ideals, Acculturation, And Attitudes Toward Seeking Psychological Help Among Mexican American Adult Males, Innocent Affam Obuah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a paucity of published research identifying the relationships between masculine ideals, acculturation, and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among adult Mexican American men. The purpose of the current study was to examine how masculine ideals and acculturation can negatively affect attitude toward seeking psychological help among Mexican American adult males, a fast-growing population in the U.S. that is vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes. Among those factors reported to account for mainly negative perceptions in this population are masculine ideals, machismo, and acculturation; however, the effects of these factors on Mexican American males have not been quantitatively …


Emotional Intelligence And Psychopathic Personality Traits: Examination Of Adult Male Sex Offenders In New Jersey, Kelly Rose White Jan 2020

Emotional Intelligence And Psychopathic Personality Traits: Examination Of Adult Male Sex Offenders In New Jersey, Kelly Rose White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault and abuse have a significant impact on victims and society. Although there has been a plethora of research studies examining the criminogenic aspects of sexual offending, sparse literature exists on the emotional aspects of sexual offending. Prior research established that sex offenders hold deficits in their emotional functioning that could be a result of psychopathic personality traits. This research study sought to expand the literature on sex offenders and investigate if adult male sex offenders in New Jersey differ in emotional intelligence and psychopathic personality traits depending on victim typology. This study was grounded in coercion and integrated …


Qualities That Promote Male Friendship, Troy Alan Akins Jan 2020

Qualities That Promote Male Friendship, Troy Alan Akins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The psychological, physical, and social circumstances surrounding the relationship between friends can be detrimental, especially in males. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the qualities that can be used to promote friendship among adult men ages 30 to 35 in the Northeastern Wyoming area. The theoretical framework for the study was Miller’s relational cultural theory. Data were collected from 11 semistructured interviews with men ages 30 to 35. Data were transcribed and analyzed to identify themes. Participants reported that they rely on acts of justice and fairness as well as established understanding to have clarity in friendship, …


Body Dissatisfaction, Self-Objectification, And Ideal Body Size Among Alaska Native Women, Toni K. Monahan Jan 2020

Body Dissatisfaction, Self-Objectification, And Ideal Body Size Among Alaska Native Women, Toni K. Monahan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Body dissatisfaction is often a precursor to eating disorders and a variety of destructive behaviors that put a person at risk physically and reduce a person’s quality of life. This study added to the growing literature on ethnic differences in perceptions of the body by comparing Alaska Native and Alaskan White women on 4 measures. These included a demographic questionnaire, the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale. The theoretical framework for the study consisted of social comparison theory and feminist theory. A convenience sample of 134 Alaska Native …


Exploring The Effectiveness Of The Psychiatric Emergency Response Team At A Washington State Hospital, Laura Kay Schilling Jan 2020

Exploring The Effectiveness Of The Psychiatric Emergency Response Team At A Washington State Hospital, Laura Kay Schilling

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient-to-staff assaults have become a barrier to workplace safety at U.S. psychiatric hospitals. Assaults on staff result in loss of productive social service for the mentally ill; increases in labor, industrial, and medical costs from claims; and psychological scars, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, that may never completely heal. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the effectiveness of the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) at the Washington state hospital in reducing patient assaults on staff. There is very little research to substantiate the effectiveness of the PERT program as a conduit of workplace safety in psychiatric institutional …