Psychology Commons^™

The Practice Of Adoption: History, Trends, And Social Context, Amanda Baden, Kathy P. Zamostny, Karen M. O'Brien, Mary O'Leary Wiley

Department of Counseling Scholarship and Creative Works

This article presents an overview of the practice of adoption to counseling psychologists to promote clinical understanding of the adoption experience and to stimulate research on adoption. The article includes definitions of adoption terminology, important historical and legal developments for adoption, a summary of adoption statistics, conceptualizations of adoption experience, themes and trends in adoption outcome research related to adoptees and birthparents, and selected theoretical models of adoption. The importance of considering social context variables in adoption practice and research is emphasized.

The Practice Of Adoption: History, Trends, And Social Context, Amanda Baden, Kathy P. Zamostny, Karen M. O'Brien, Mary O'Leary Wiley

Department of Counseling Scholarship and Creative Works

This article presents an overview of the practice of adoption to counseling psychologists to promote clinical understanding of the adoption experience and to stimulate research on adoption. The article includes definitions of adoption terminology, important historical and legal developments for adoption, a summary of adoption statistics, conceptualizations of adoption experience, themes and trends in adoption outcome research related to adoptees and birthparents, and selected theoretical models of adoption. The importance of considering social context variables in adoption practice and research is emphasized.

The Spiritual Self: Toward A Conceptualization Of Spiritual Identity Development, Timothy B. Smith, Justin B. Poll

Faculty Publications

Both researchers and practitioners have demonstrated considerable interest in identity development, and positive personal identities have been associated with numerous positive mental health outcomes. However, major theories of identity development have neglected the salience of spiritual identity, even though the early work of William James placed this as a central component of personality. This article reviews four major theories of identity development (cognitive, psychodynamic, systems, and narrative) and suggests spiritual identity parallels to these theories. A tentative model of spiritual identity development is presented. Implications for therapy and future research concerning spiritual identity development are discussed.

Academic Persistence Among Native American College Students, Aaron P. Jackson, Steven A. Smith, Curtis L. Hill

Faculty Publications

Qualitative interviews with 15 successful Native American college students who grew up on reservations identified the following themes related to their persistence in college: (a) family support, (b) structured social support, (c) faculty/staff warmth, (d) exposure to college and vocations, (e) developing independence and assertiveness, (f) reliance on spiritual resources, (g) dealing with racism, (h) nonlinear path, and (i) paradoxical cultural pressure. The results indicated a need for stable mentoring relationships and programmatic support.

Religiousness And Depression: Evidence For A Main Effect And The Moderating Influence Of Stressful Life Events, Timothy B. Smith, Michael E. Mccullough, Justin Poll

Faculty Publications

The association between religiousness and depressive symptoms was examined with meta-analytic methods across 147 independent investigations (N = 98,975). Across all studies, the correlation between religiousness and depressive symptoms was –.096, indicating that greater religiousness is mildly associated with fewer symptoms. The results were not moderated by gender, age, or ethnicity, but the religiousness–depression association was stronger in studies involving people who were undergoing stress due to recent life events. The results were also moderated by the type of measure of religiousness used in the study, with extrinsic religious orientation and negative religious coping (e.g., avoiding difficulties through religious activities, …

Ethnic Identity And Racial Attitudes In A Minority Group Of Mixed Racial Origin, Timothy B. Smith, Joy Stratton, Christopher R. Stones, Anthony Naidoo

Faculty Publications

Limited information exists on the racial attitudes and ethnic identities of groups of mixed racial origin. The present research tested the hypotheses that the construct of ethnic identity is valid among such groups and that ethnic identity is related to out-group prejudice, as predicted by social identity theory. The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, the Anti-White Scale, and the Subtle Racism Scale were administered to 70 South Africans of mixed racial decent, the so-called Coloureds. A factor analysis supported the structural validity of the measure of ethnic identity with this sample, but correlations between scales did not support the prediction that …

Racial Attitudes Among South African Young Adults: A Four-Year Follow-Up Study, Timothy B. Smith, Christopher R. Stones, Anthony Naidoo

Faculty Publications

Due to many social changes that have occurred in South Africa since the first democratic elections in 1994, careful scrutiny must be given to the racial attitudes of South Africa’s young adults. Their degree of acceptance of the doctrine of deracialisation and reconciliation represents a hope or a warning in regard to a stable future. A follow up study was thus carried out in order to update data collected in 1995, with the hypothesis that, over time, greater acceptance of other racial groups would be reported. The authors examined the differences among the 180 Xhosa-speaking black, 89 so-called coloured, and …

Dysthymia And Major Depression : Distinct Conditions Or Different Stages Along A One-Dimensional Continuum?, Patrick Pössel

Faculty Scholarship

Until recently researchers have discussed whether dysthymia and major depression represent distinct conditions or rather different stages along a one-dimensional continuum. This study addresses this question by examining the belief systems of normal, dysthymic, and depressed participants. We explored participants‘ beliefs and differentiated between positive and negative as well as between core and peripheral beliefs. Normal participants showed fewer negative beliefs and negative peripheral beliefs than the dysthymic group, whereas normal participants had more positive beliefs and positive core beliefs as well as fewer negative core beliefs than the depressed group. The hypothesized one-dimensional continuum could not be demonstrated for …

Prävention Von Depression Bei Kindern Und Jugendlichen (Prevention Of Depression In Children And Adolescents)., Patrick Pössel, Martin Hautzinger

Faculty Scholarship

Depressive Störungen in Kindheit und Jugendalter sind unter anderem durch die hohe Prävalenz und Persistenz depressiver Störungen bis ins Erwachsenenleben, bedeutenden Komorbiditäten mit anderen psychischen Störungen und psychosozialen Problemen von hoher individueller und gesellschaftlichen Bedeutung. Aufgrund dieser Erkenntnisse haben verschiedene Autoren weltweit damit begonnen Präventionsprogramme zu entwickeln und zu evaluieren. In diesem Artikel werden die Probleme der Präventionsforschung und die Effektivität von Prävention bei Kindern und Jugendlichen dargestellt. Den Schwerpunkt bildet dabei ein Überblick über derzeit vorliegenden Programme und deren Evaluationen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Programmen, die in deutscher Sprache vorliegen. Abschließend werden mögliche Entwicklungsrichtungen der zukünftigen Präventionsforschung aufgezeigt.

Depressive …

Erste Ergebnisse Eines Programms Zur Schulbasierten Prävention Von Depressiven Symptomen Bei Jugendlichen (First Results Of A School-Based Prevention Program Of Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents)., Patrick Pössel, Andrea B. Horn, Martin Hautzinger

Faculty Scholarship

Depressive Störungen im Jugendalter sind ein weit verbreitetes Problem mit weitreichenden psychosozialen Folgen. Um beidem vorzubeugen wurde ein universales schulbasiertes kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutisches Präventionsprogramm entwickelt, das in Anlehnung an das Multifaktorielle Depressionsmodell aus einem kognitiven und einem sozialen Trainingselement besteht. Im kognitiven Teil werden dysfunktionale Gedanken bearbeitet und im sozialen Programmteil werden selbstsicheres Verhalten und Kontaktfähigkeit trainiert. Es wurde erwartet, dass die Teilnahme am Präventionsprogramm direkt nach Beendigung noch keinen signifikanten Effekt auf die depressiven Symptome zeigt, während geringer ausgeprägte dysfunktionale Gedanken und eine Verbesserung der sozialen Unterstützung erwartet wurden. Die Ergebnisse direkt nach Beendigung des Präventionsprogramms (Trainingsgruppe n = 187; Kontrollgruppe …

Universelle, Schulbasierte Prävention Der Depression Im Jugendalter : Ergebnisse Einer Follow-Up-Studie (Universal, School-Based Prevention Of Depression In Adolescence : Results Of A Follow-Up Study)., Gunter Groen, Patrick Pössel, Susanne Al-Wiswasi, Franz Petermann

Faculty Scholarship

Zahlreiche internationale empirische Befunde belegen heute, dass depressive Symptome und Störungen im Jugendalter ein weit verbreitetes, oftmals folgenreiches und ernst zu nehmendes Gesundheitsproblem darstellen. Depressive Jugendliche zeigen in vielen Fällen erhebliche Alltagsbeeinträchtigungen und verschiedene komorbide psychische Probleme. Sie tragen ein deutliches Risiko, auch in ihrer weiteren Entwicklung – bis in das Erwachsenenalter – unter anhaltenden oder wiederkehrenden depressiven Episoden, anderen psychischen Störungen und psychosozialen Beeinträchtigungen zu leiden (vgl. Groen & Petermann, 2002). Neben der persönlichen Leidensgeschichte der Betroffenen ist davon auszugehen, dass bereits depressive Störungen im Jugendalter mit hohen und längerfristigen öffentlichen Kosten zusammenhängen, die etwa durch notwendige Behandlungsmaßnahmen oder …

Building Self-Esteem With Bibliotherapy, Jennifer L. Law

Graduate Research Papers

This paper offers an explanation of what bibliotherapy and self-esteem are, and how they can be connected to one another. This paper discusses who uses bibliotherapy and who it can be used with. It also describes two types of bibliotherapy and the steps in using them. The goals of bibliotherapy are explained. Children's needs in order to benefit from bibliotherapy are discussed. Advantages and limitations of bibliotherapy are also included in this paper. Self-esteem will also be defined. Finally this paper will describe how to use bibliotherapy in a school setting.

Self-Management And Social Skills Training For Persons With Developmental Disabilities: Tools For The Rehabilitation Counselor To Facilitate Success In Community Settings: A Literature Review, Tina M. Anctil Peterman, Charles Edmund Degeneffe

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

People with developmental disabilities often display deficiencies in self-management and social skills in community based settings. Difficulties with self-management and social skills tend to pose particular difficulties for performing valued adult roles. Tools from behavior therapy have the potential to assist rehabilitation counselors in their work with consumers with developmental disabilities to overcome the negative impacts of functional limitations on expressing behaviors needed for success in community-based settings. This article presents a review of the behavior therapy literature regarding self-management and social skills training techniques rehabilitation counselors can use in their work with consumers with developmental disabilities in areas including …

From The Individual To Individualism: A Critique Of The Helping Professions, Timothy B. Smith, Matthew R. Draper

Faculty Publications

Individualistic values characterize contemporary society and many popular approaches to mental health treatment. This paper critiques the individualistic values embedded in the helping professions that implicitly contradict the teachings ofJesus Christ, the surest foundation for mental health interventions. Members of AMCAP are encouraged to search out and replace problematic values that contradict gospel teachings which have been integrated into contemporary mental health practice.