Psychology Commons^™

What Makes You Happy? Predicting Wellbeing In Nicaraguan Adolescents And Young Adults, Daniel A. Rodriguez

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The present study sought to identify significant predictors of wellbeing within a sample of 2,764 high school and university students in Nicaragua, a country where significant stressful events and suicide are common. Ages ranged from 11-22 years (M = 16.63, SD = 2.85), and 60.3% identified as female. Measures used include the Personal Wellbeing Index, the Child and Youth Resilience Measure, the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and demographic questions. Parent occupations were coded using the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08). A multiple regression was conducted to identify five core variables that combined to predict approximately 30% of the variance of …

Leadership Qualities Of Black Psychologists, Samuel Marque Smith

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Notions of what it means to be a leader are evolving as America becomes more accepting of perspectives purported by minoritized individuals. Psychologists are often well positioned to be leaders in their professional settings; most are equipped with a multifaceted skillset which enables them to effectively evaluate people and situations to provide valuable insight and direction across different professional contexts and situations. The present study seeks to understand the leadership qualities of Black psychologists by examining their conceptualization of their social identities and lived experiences, as proposed by Chin and Trimble (2015).

The present research follows a qualitative grounded theory …

Improv Theater As A Social Cognition Intervention For Autism, Daniel Wendler

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience impairment in social cognition, which contributes to a variety of challenges for individuals with ASD, including elevated risks of loneliness, depression and anxiety. For this reason, various interventions have been developed to improve social ability in ASD populations. However, many existing interventions lack strong research support, or are inaccessible to many individuals with ASD due to high financial cost. Therefore, a need exists for affordable, effective psychosocial interventions for ASD that are widely accessible. One potential intervention is improvisational theater training (improv). Improv training for youth and young adults with ASD is already …

Psychosocial Impacts Of Technology Training In Transitional-Aged Youth With Autism, Collin D. Dean

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be difficult to manage for any individual. In addition to typical adjustments, additional challenges for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have included living at home for longer, isolating themselves socially, and struggling to find the motivation to seek employment and/or education. Research suggests that these factors are influenced by deficits in adaptive functioning, social cognition, and emotional/behavioral functioning. For this reason, various programs have been implemented to support the adjustment of transitional-aged youth with ASD. Among such programs are postsecondary vocational organizations which seek to assist individuals on the Autism Spectrum by …

Coping Methods That Predict Reduced Symptoms Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Autumn Van Meter

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Objective: Most individuals experience a stressful event at some point in their lives. A third to half of those individuals will meet criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during their lifetime. Individuals that do not develop PTSD likely have better coping skills regarding trauma. Targeting specific coping strategies that reduce PTSD symptoms helps mental health professionals and providers create interventions and prevention skills.

Method: Eighty-four participants from a university took an online survey. Demographic information were gathered. Questionnaires were given to determine if the participant had experienced one or more traumatic events. Next, a questionnaire that measured the extent that …