Psychology Commons^™

Building Self-Efficacy In Peer Relations: Evaluation Of A School-Based Intervention, Shaun Davis

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study employs a longitudinal, cohort-sequential design (Schaie, 1965) to evaluate the effectiveness of Kelso’s Choice (KC), a behavioral intervention program, in 3 cohorts of 3rd and 4th grade students from a rural elementary school over the course of 2 academic years. The study evaluates the impact of KC on development of social self-efficacy, as measured in 2 domains: (a) social self-efficacy, as measured by student reports from the Children’s Self- Efficacy in Peer Interactions (CSPI; Wheeler & Ladd, 1982), the Social Problem Solving Measure (SPSM; Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 1990) and teacher reports from the Social Competence Scale (SCS; …

The Effects Of Diversity Training On Mental Healthcare Professionals, Andrea Elizabeth Theye

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Previous research has indicated that the United States is experiencing a rapid growth in its racial and ethnic diversity. Although diversity trainings are common place, many of these trainings do not include outcome measurements to ensure that training goals are met and reactions are favorable. The current study expands the research by evaluating the change in attitude, selfreported culturally competent behavior, and knowledge as a result of the training as well as reactions to the training through the use of pre and post-training measures. Mental healthcare workers (n = 47) completed a pretest, received the diversity training, and then completed …

Maternal Maslow: Evaluating Patient Follow-Up And Treatment Goal Completion For Prenatal Referrals In A Women’S Health Clinic, Julia Terman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Prenatal screeners in Obstetrics (OB) clinics can quickly and accurately identify health risks such as nutrition, lack of dental care, depression, anxiety or financial issues that not only impact the health of the mother but of the baby as well. With appropriate referrals and follow-up by the patient, the health of the next generation can be greatly enhanced by a simple screen and referral to treatment programs, as long as the patient is following through with referrals. This research identified patient follow-up to referral and treatment goal completion rate through a standardized screen and referral process in a local OB …

Influence Of Caregiver Activation On Health Of Informal Caregivers Of Persons With Alzheimer’S, Trinity Rose Parker

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract Caregiver activation is related to a caregiver’s knowledge, skill and confidence to provide multiple levels of care of another individual. To date there is little research assessing caregiver activation within the population of informal caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. Forty-four informal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s were recruited through caregiver resource centers and online communities in the state of Oregon, completed a self-report survey. The purpose of this study was to identify the predictive qualities and influence of caregiver activation on informal caregiver physiological and psychological health as well as positive health behaviors. General health, emotional wellbeing, self-efficacy, and caregiver …

The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (Odara): A Validation And Comparison Study For An Oregonian Law Enforcement Agency, Jennifer C. Ulmer

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The predictive validity of intimate partner violence (IPV) risk measures continues to be a newer, but significant, area of research within the domain of violence risk assessment. This study describes local (Oregon) normative data for the ODARA (IPV risk measure) as well as investigate, for a specific law enforcement agency, which tool is a superior predictor for the agency, a general violence risk assessment tool, i.e., the LS-CMI (part one), or an !PY-specific risk tool, i.e., the ODARA. Archival data was obtained through a law enforcement agency's research department. Descriptive and comparative analysis was done for the ODARA and LS/CMI …

The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (Odara): A Validation And Comparison Study For An Oregonian Law Enforcement Agency, Jennifer C. Ulmer

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The predictive validity of intimate partner violence (IPV) risk measures continues to be a newer, but significant, area of research within the domain of violence risk assessment. This study describes local (Oregon) normative data for the ODARA (IPV risk measure) as well as investigate, for a specific law enforcement agency, which tool is a superior predictor for the agency, a general violence risk assessment tool, i.e., the LS-CMI (part one), or an IPV-specific risk tool, i.e., the ODARA. Archival data was obtained through a law enforcement agency’s research department. Descriptive and comparative analysis was done for the ODARA and LS/CMI …

Effects Of An Electronically Guided Prayer Intervention, Brian Lee Goetsch

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract Hope has been identified as an important factor in a variety of positive outcomes in psychotherapy, medicine, academic success, and for general levels of functioning. However, until now most studies on hope have been correlational in nature, and researchers have rarely sought to understand how hope can be facilitated. The present study considered the effect of prayer on experiences of hope in a national sample of Christian college students. An intervention group completed a guided prayer exercise once a day for 2 weeks. Pre and post-test levels of hope were assessed and compared to a control group, and a …

Predicting Solitary Confinement, Bryce Young Roby

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract The rates of incarceration in the United States have steadily increased at an average rate of 3.4% per year since 1995, requiring the majority of federal and state institutions to function at or above capacity (Haun, 2007). This influx of adults entering correctional systems has placed increased pressure on prison officials to efficiently and effectively monitor inmate behavior as maintaining the safety and security of the correctional institution is most often the highest priority of correctional administrators (Cullen, Latessa, Burton, & Lombardo, 1993). One security measure commonly implemented to manage inmate violence and disturbances is solitary confinement. This study …

Exploring The Influence Of Smartphone Technology Within The Context Of Marriage: An Intervention Study, Joshua Shea Borrelli

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract The introduction of smartphones and their use into the everyday lives of a significantly large population has changed the way people communicate and interact. The purpose of this study is to examine any possible negative or positive effects smart phone use may have on partner satisfaction and couple-communication within a married/partnered couple. Participants were divided into a control group and an experimental group. The constructs of communication and relationship satisfaction were measured through a repeated-measures design. The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) was used to measure relational satisfaction, and the Primary Communication Inventory was used to measure partner communication. …

Stressors And Resources Of Oregon Psychologists: How Are Helpers Being Helped?, Nathan William Engle

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Professional psychology requires the navigation of a complex set of skills including clinical work, research, and consultation while also demanding a level of personal investment, which can tax the psychologists’ emotional and physical resources. Bearse, McMinn, Seegobin, & Free (2013) highlighted the deleterious impact of these stressors. The American Psychological Association (APA) has shown an awareness of impactful professional stress and responded by encouraging state psychological associations to create a Colleague Assistance Program (APA, 2006). Although the research and professional guild agree on the existence of professional stress, there is little research regarding the effectiveness of strategies and resources used …

Narrative Identity Development For Novice Psychotherapists In Clinical Training, Dana Michelle Satterlee

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract Narrative identity is “the internalized, evolving story of the self that each person crafts to provide his or her life with a sense of purpose and unity” (Adler, 2012, p. 367). This identity is distinct from the broad dispositional traits and the characteristic adaptations for contextualized behaviors. It provides the self with a sense of purpose, meaning, and unity across time and situations (McAdams & Olson, 2010). Researchers have developed ways of measuring innovative moments (IMs), or shifts in narrative identity that occur in psychotherapy. Researchers have also explored narrative identity processing as it seems to occur across the …

The Effectiveness Of An Evidenced-Based Decision Making Program In Criminal Justice Systems, Tashina Lorraine Keith

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract The National Institute of Corrections selected the Yamhill County Department of Corrections to implement a new evidenced-based decision making program within their criminal justice system. As part of the new program, every individual who was arrested and placed on probation went through a case analysis assessment and had their treatment programs approved by a judge prior to sentencing. In this study 20 randomly selected individuals who received their treatment programming prior to sentencing were matched to 20 randomly selected individuals who received treatment programs post-sentencing. The hypothesis of this study was that those probationers in the pre-sentencing group who …

Problem Solving Skills Training With At-Risk Nicaraguan Children And Adolescents, Jessica Lee

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Problem solving skills have been used to effectively improve behavioral, psychological, and social functioning in a number of clinical and nonclinical settings, but there is need for additional research in cross-cultural settings. Dissemination research focuses on increasing our knowledge on how to effectively deliver evidence-based health care interventions to diverse communities. In this study, 23 Nicaraguan females, ages 9-19, from a girls’ home in Managua, Nicaragua received problem solving skills training, and a token economy system was implemented to measure behavior change. A significant improvement was found in the girls’ problem solving ability, externalizing problems, conduct problems, and adaptive skills. …

Perceptions Of Intelligence And Academic Achievement Among Undergraduate Students With Learning Disorders, Ashley Blake

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Students with learning disorders are one of the largest and fastest growing populations of college students with disabilities, yet many experience significant difficulty in formal academic settings. These challenges may include lower levels of academic achievement, negative perceptions of school, and negative perceptions of themselves. Research has shown that certain variables, including implicit theory of intelligence, goal orientation, and self-efficacy, are related to academic achievement. The current study sought to assess the relationships between these variables and academic achievement, as measured by cumulative GPA, among a sample of college students with identified learning disorders. Results showed medium to large correlations …

Depression And Spiritual Predictors Of Wellness In Family Caregivers Of Individuals With Alzheimer’S Disease, Christine Green

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study investigated the role of spirituality in family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease as a means of lessening the development of depressive symptomology arising through caregiver burden. For this study, there were 41 caregiver participants taking care of a family member with Alzheimer’s disease. The population was obtained through various divisions of the Alzheimer’s Association of the United States of America. Participants completed a basic demographic survey, the General Well-Being Schedule, the Patient Health Questionnaire- 9, and the Spiritual Experience Index. Two groups, religious and non-religious, had their mental health functioning compared. Results from the 41 surveys suggest …

Examination Of The Effects Of Mild Hearing Loss On Memory Using The Wide-Range Assessment Of Learning And Memory – Second Edition (Wraml2), Heather Paige-Deming

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The current study examined whether young adults with mild hearing loss around 1000 Hz would differ from normal hearing participants in their performance on a standardized memory and learning instrument used in the field of psychology (i.e., WRAML2; Sheslow & Adams, 2003). Participants were 46 normal hearing individuals and 23 individuals with mild hearing loss. Hearing participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (hearing control, 23 decibel loss, and 37 decibel loss). All 4 groups completed the WRAML2 under standardized conditions. Based on the effortful hypothesis, it was anticipated that individuals with hearing impairment would show deficits on …

Barriers And Motivations In Mental Health Legislative Advocacy In Oregon, Bethany Webb

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Compared to other allied health fields, psychology continuously lags behind in representation on the state, national, and local level. The percentage of advocacy involvement by psychologists is very low compared with other professions. There is a great need for all psychologists to become advocates. Unfortunately, there has been limited research into the reasons why few psychologists actually engage in this process. The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in state psychological membership and primary place of practice among Oregon psychologists and students with regard to participation in mental health legislation and to identify barriers and motivations to …

Moral Injury: Repair Through Self-Forgiveness, Joel J. Snider

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Prolonged and numerous deployments have caused military personnel to encounter a variety of stressors associated with combat. As a result, returning soldiers are commonly being identified as having posttraumatic stress disorder, which does not seem to fully account for the shame, guilt, negative self-cognitions, feelings of worthlessness, and sense of being unforgivable that veterans experience. The complexity of these issues is forcing health professionals to investigate alternative explanations. One explanation that has gained significant interest is the shame that is associated with the concept of moral injury. This study sought to investigate if a self-forgiveness intervention could moderate shame and …

Activating Race: Race Priming In An Undergraduate Population, Amber L. Nelson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Can a race priming intervention improve evaluations of college scholarship applicants? Building on the work of Sanchez and Bonam (2009), the present study was designed to examine how evaluations of warmth, competence, and scholarship worthiness, change as a result of race priming and stereotype activation. The hypothesis was that race priming and stereotype activation would cause participants to consider how they may apply stereotypes in their judgments of candidates, resulting in a positive shift in their evaluations on dimensions of warmth, competence, and scholarship worthiness following a race priming intervention. Participants across three studies included 228 undergraduate students, and 24 …

The Effects Of A Grace Intervention In A Christian Congregation: A Study Of Positive Psychology In The Church, Jeff A. Moody

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There are certain virtues or character strengths that promote well-being in a person’s life. Positive psychology research has examined these characteristics, but not within spiritual and religious contexts. It has been demonstrated that involvement in religious life contributes to overall well-being. There is an absence of research examining the influence of spirituality on positive psychology variables. Within the Christian tradition, grace is considered to be a catalyzing element which leads to transformation in the Christian’s character and relationships. It was hypothesized that a successful grace intervention within a Christian faith community would lead to increases in the awareness and enactment …

Comparison Of The Use Of Gendered Language In Discourse On Christian Theology And Psychology, Chloe Ackerman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The English language has historically reflected the sexist principles of Western culture. Common examples include the use of sexist pronouns and nouns such as policeman, businessman, or servicemen to represent men and women. Research in the last 50 years revealed the detrimental effects of sexist language, and the English language was accordingly altered. However, sexist language is still used colloquially and in settings such as Christian theology. This study explored differences in the use of gender language between the discourse on Christian theology and psychology, and tested a method of promoting inclusive gender language in Christian discourse. One hundred thirty-nine …

The Relationship Between Compassion Fatigue And Organizational Culture, Katherine Mariah Condrey

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study examined the relationship between compassion fatigue (CF) and organizational culture in a sample of 16 organizations and 193 individual participants. Respondents completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale as well as the Organizational Culture Profile. Results of this study found an incidence rate of CF of 35-43%. Differences in CF among the organizations surveyed were due, in part, to organizational culture. Individuals who place a high value on rewards were found to be at higher risk of developing compassion fatigue. Organizations with less decisiveness and higher variability in their organizational value ratings tend to have more compassion fatigue. …

The Experiences Of Resilience And Hope Of Adolescent Girls Who Have Been Victims Of Sex Trafficking In The United States, Jasmine R. Holt

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Human trafficking has been explored in many countries, but few studies about girls’ experiences in trafficking within the United States exist. This study focuses on the experiences of resilience and hope of adolescent girls who have been trafficked and the stories of their lives. Participants are adolescent girls between the ages of 15 and 18 who are in or have contact with a local juvenile detention center. Interviews were conducted and a qualitative study was utilized to determine common themes of how trafficked girls understand and experience resiliency and hope in their lives. Participants also completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, …

Consistency Among Visual Memory Measures, Jeffrey A. Schloemer

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Many instruments have been developed to assess human visual memory functioning, though little research has been done to identify interrelationships among current visual memory measures with each other. The present study explores concurrent validity of the following visual memory tasks: Wechsler Memory Scale - IV (WMS-IV) Visual Reproductions I & II and Designs I & II subtests, the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, Second edition (WRAML2) Picture Memory and Design Memory subtests, the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, Revised (BVMT-R), and the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT). Two age groups (18-25 and 65- 79) of healthy adults were used …

The Effectiveness Of Patient-Centered Interdisciplinary Approach To Treating Chronic Pain In The Primary Care Setting, Corie Diane Houlbjerg

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Impact Of A Cognitive Behavioral Pain Management Group On Depression, Anxiety, Pain Severity, And Opioid Use In An Inpatient Population, Breanna Bocciolatt

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Chronic pain has significant, multifaceted effects on both the health care system and the individual. The total cost of pain to the U.S. healthcare system is estimated to be over $600 billion annually (Skinner, Wilson, & Turk, 2012). People with chronic pain may frequent multiple providers, often dominating the time and resources of healthcare professionals (Skinner et al., 2012). The approximately 100 million people with chronic pain miss work, experience financial distress, and strained relationships, which leads to comorbid psychological diagnoses (Birnie, McGrath, & Chambers, 2012). Pain treatment strategies have largely followed a biomedical framework, seeking to identify the source …

Comparison Of The Use Of Gendered Language In Discourse On Christian Theology And Psychology, Chloe Ackerman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The English language has historically reflected the sexist principles of Western culture. Common examples include the use of sexist pronouns and nouns such as policeman, businessman, or servicemen to represent men and women. Research in the last 50 years revealed 1e detrimental effects of sexist language, and the English language was accordingly altered. However, sexist language is still used colloquially and in settings such as Christian theology. 'his study explored differences in the use of gender language between the discourse on Christian 1eology and psychology, and tested a method of promoting inclusive gender language in Christian discourse. One hundred thirty-nine …

Learning To Combat Chronic Pain: Exploring The Effectiveness Of A Six-Week Patient Psychoeducation Course Teaching Self-Management Of Chronic Pain, Serita Backstrand

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Abstract Chronic pain is a highly prevalent health problem in the U.S. and poses a large economic and temporal cost to the medical system (Institute of Medicine, 2011; Marcus, 2003). Patients with chronic pain typically report a decrease in emotional, social, and economic functioning (Bair et. al, 2009; Breen, 2002; Kang, Backstrand, & Parker, 2013). This study investigated the efficacy of a 6-week evidence-based group psychoeducation course for the self-management of chronic pain. Pre- and post-test measures were utilized to assess results of the course. Data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test in order to explore the relationship and …

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 …