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Theses/Dissertations

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

2016

Articles 1 - 27 of 27

Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Faith Experiences Among Doctoral Psychology Students, Erika Leigh Eisele Nov 2016

Faith Experiences Among Doctoral Psychology Students, Erika Leigh Eisele

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

In order to become culturally competent psychologists, doctoral students must undergo their own process of self-reflection, including personal exploration of religious and spiritual issues. This can prove difficult insofar as many doctoral programs in psychology provide relatively little instruction in religious and spiritual issues. Even among those programs that specialize in religion and spirituality, a shifting of personal faith typically occurs over the course of doctoral training. This study is a step toward understanding the faith experiences of students in one explicitly religious doctoral training program. Faith experiences among students in the George Fox University Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology …

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Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Functioning For Transitional-Aged Youth With Autism, Tyson Dee William Payne Nov 2016

Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Functioning For Transitional-Aged Youth With Autism, Tyson Dee William Payne

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There is mounting evidence to suggest that higher numbers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are being identified, including a wide range of severity and outcome (Eaves & Ho, 2008). As identification of ASD has improved, there is a larger proportion of identified young adults with ASD (YA-ASD) in the transition to adulthood (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Though exceptionally talented in many cases, a large proportion YA-ASD have difficulty establishing independence and navigating the complex social nuances of a workplace, many end up “homebound” with difficulty finding employment (Daley, Weisner, & Singhal, 2014; Shattuck, Wagner, Narendorf, …

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Modifying Mindfulness: A Christian Translation Of Mindfulness, Ryan P. O'Farrell Sep 2016

Modifying Mindfulness: A Christian Translation Of Mindfulness, Ryan P. O'Farrell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Recently, psychologists have been captivated by the utility of mindfulness in treating a number of psychological problems. Despite the prevalence of mindfulness based treatments, Christian psychologists have done surprisingly little work towards integrating mindfulness, an originally Buddhist concept, with a Christian worldview. Using Johnson's (2007) translation metaphor, I proposed a Christian translation of mindfulness. In order to produce a faithful translation, I first described mindfulness as it appears in the psychological literature. Next, I translated the different elements of Kabat-Zinn’s (1994) definition of mindfulness as well as a number of proposed mindfulness change mechanisms into a Christian worldview, showing how …

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Assessing Adult Attachment Using The Dynamic Maturational Model: Exploring A Novel Measure, Albert Pace Sep 2016

Assessing Adult Attachment Using The Dynamic Maturational Model: Exploring A Novel Measure, Albert Pace

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is perhaps the most widely used and best-known assessment tool for assessing adult attachment. Several methods for scoring and coding the AAI exist; the Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation (DMM) offers one theoretical perspective that accounts for the dynamic nature of attachment in high-risk populations, and incorporates contemporary information processing theory (Crittenden, 2015a). Despite the AAI’s empirical and clinical power, its utilization in both clinical and research practice is time consuming and costly. Conversely, most self-report questionnaires are readily accessible, cost effective, and time efficient. Nevertheless, there has been concern regarding the psychometric …

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The Effects Of A Wisdom Intervention In A Christian Congregation, Paul T. Mclaughlin Jun 2016

The Effects Of A Wisdom Intervention In A Christian Congregation, Paul T. Mclaughlin

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Psychological research on the topic of wisdom is limited in its incorporation of religion and spirituality. This gap in psychological literature may serve to limit a thorough understanding of wisdom, which has strong historical and contemporary links to religion and faith communities. Positive psychology, with its interest in both spirituality and wisdom, may allow for some rapprochement in wisdom and spirituality. In collaboration with leaders of a local Friends (Quaker) congregation, this study investigated the effects of a spiritually informed wisdom intervention delivered in the context of a faith community. Participants for the study consisted of 27 young adults (24 …

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A Qualitative Study On Clients’ And Therapists’ Perceptions Of Therapeutic Interventions That Foster Hope, April B. Brewer May 2016

A Qualitative Study On Clients’ And Therapists’ Perceptions Of Therapeutic Interventions That Foster Hope, April B. Brewer

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Much research has shown that hope is beneficial in facilitating change and promoting progress in psychotherapy (Larsen & Stege, 2010a, 2010b, 2012; Lopez et al., 2004). However, little research has been done looking at specific interventions clients and therapists perceive as fostering hope and promoting change in clients’ lives (Larsen & Stege, 2010a, 2010b, 2012). This study involves interviews with clients and therapists following an early psychotherapy session using a technique called Interpersonal Process Recall (Larsen, Flesaker, & Stege, 2008). During this interview, participants were able to review video clips of their session and comment on ways they felt hope …

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Mother-To-Mother: Creating A Peer Mentor Program For Mothers In Homelessness, Taylor D. Hartman May 2016

Mother-To-Mother: Creating A Peer Mentor Program For Mothers In Homelessness, Taylor D. Hartman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Mothers with children represent a growing segment of the homeless population. The American Psychological Association (APA) responded to the problem by initiating a task force in 2009 calling psychologists to step forward and enhance the treatment and services available for this population. However, providing treatment is often a challenge for this population because of the power differential and other barriers that negatively impact the potential relationship between mental health providers and the person living in homelessness (Hoffman & Coffey, 2008). The use of a peer mentor to mitigate the risk factors for a specific population has been an effective intervention …

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Police Use Of Force With The Mentally Ill, Chelsea Moore May 2016

Police Use Of Force With The Mentally Ill, Chelsea Moore

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Police officers experience many difficult situations in their line of duty, but two situations stand out as particularly unsettling for police officers: when they interact with people who are (a) under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and when (b) people appear to be suffering from serious mental illness (Kaminski, DiGiovanni, & Downs, 2004). This study explores the impact of these conditions on whether or not police officers resort to using force within a Northwestern metropolitan police department. A set of archival data consisting of force incidents was divided into four subgroups depending on subject (suspect) substance use and mental …

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Treating Chronic Pain At A Federally Qualified Health Center: Staff Perspectives, Nathan K. Goins May 2016

Treating Chronic Pain At A Federally Qualified Health Center: Staff Perspectives, Nathan K. Goins

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Although half of all patients with chronic pain seek treatment with their primary care practitioner, many physicians report being overburdened, with limited confidence in their training in the treatment of chronic pain. Opiate monotherapy remains the most common treatment utilized, despite strong correlations with addiction issues and increased distrust between patients and providers. In response to these issues, multidisciplinary stepped-care approaches utilizing psychoeducation, cognitive therapies, movement-based therapy, pharmaceutical treatment, yoga, and acupuncture have been developed. However, treatment within Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are complicated by financial constraints and high complexity in patient populations. This study examined the perspectives of …

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Embedded Performance Measures Within The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, Daniel Olsen May 2016

Embedded Performance Measures Within The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, Daniel Olsen

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

It has become increasingly clear many patients do not manifest sufficient effort over the course of a neuropsychological evaluation (Horner, VanKirk, Dismuke, Turner, & Muzzy, 2014). While tests of memory and learning are considered to be the gold-standard in effort measurement, they are vulnerable to coaching (Bianchini, Greve, & Love, 2003). Fortunately, interest in assessing effort through other cognitive domains has grown over the last few years. In the current study, participants were divided into two groups, simulators and controls. All participants completed the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT, Green, 2004), the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Verbal Fluency Test …

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Factors That Affect Recidivism For Psychiatric Patients In Emergency Departments, Meghan Polits May 2016

Factors That Affect Recidivism For Psychiatric Patients In Emergency Departments, Meghan Polits

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Hospital recidivism for suicimicidal, and psychiatric patients is a burden on the medical system due to the high cost associated with each visit. Factors affecting psychiatric patients in the Emergency Department (ED) in two rural hospitals in the Pacific Northwest were assessed using data routinely collected at intake in an effort to determine patient risk factors for repeat visits. Additionally, patients identified as repeat visitors were assessed for any significant differences in how quickly they were readmitted. Logistic regression results indicate having a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder, being uninsured or on Oregon Health Plan insurance (i.e., …

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Factors Correlating With Resilience In Bolivian Street Girls, Emily Wynsma May 2016

Factors Correlating With Resilience In Bolivian Street Girls, Emily Wynsma

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Resilience is defined as the ability to respond adaptively and maintain a high quality of life even after adversity or trauma. Research conducted in Western cultures has identified multiple factors that correlate with resilience for survivors of childhood trauma, including social support, the presence of a stable adult, internal locus of control, supportive spiritual beliefs and lack of self-blame regarding the trauma (Crenshaw, 2013; Brooks & Goldstein, 2004; Goldstein, Brooks, & Devries, 2013). This study explored whether the factors that previous research has identified as predictive of resilience have a similar predictive value when applied to another culture. This research …

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Outcome Of Surgery On Neurocognitive Functioning In Patients With Otic Capsule Defects, Heather Seward Mackay May 2016

Outcome Of Surgery On Neurocognitive Functioning In Patients With Otic Capsule Defects, Heather Seward Mackay

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There are two forms of otic capsule defect: Perilymph Fistula (PLF), a tear that typically occurs in the round window; and Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence (SCD), a thinning or absence of bone between the otic capsule and the brain. Symptoms of either may comprise mild to severe disturbances in the vestibular and auditory systems. These may be accompanied by various cognitive inefficiencies. Neurotologists, Grimm, Hemenway, LeBray, and Black (1989) measured cognitive efficiency pre- surgery in 38 adults who had acquired PLF. Assessment revealed difficulty in: verbal and visual memory; attention/concentration; and mental flexibility. Despite their research, the reality of PLF …

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Fundamental Image Theory: An Integrated Model Of Trauma, Cassandra K. Sieg May 2016

Fundamental Image Theory: An Integrated Model Of Trauma, Cassandra K. Sieg

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Historically, trauma theory and intervention has focused on “actual or threatened death or serious injury” (DSM-IV; APA, 1994). More recently, the field has broadened its consideration to a range of trauma and stressor related disorders, including perpetration induced traumautic stress (PITS; MacNair, 2015). Violence perpetration has negative implications on a personal, interpersonal, and group level, but a review of the literature reveals a significant gap in our understanding of perpetration-induced traumatic stress, including 2 fundamental questions: how does perpetrating violence cause trauma, and how can we treat this trauma? None of the existing psychological models adequately answer the first question, …

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The Relationship Between Sexual Objectification, Body Image, Activity Monitoring, And Compulsive Exercise, Christina Tuning Apr 2016

The Relationship Between Sexual Objectification, Body Image, Activity Monitoring, And Compulsive Exercise, Christina Tuning

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study was to look at the relationship between sexual objectification, body image, eating disorder symptomatology, activity monitoring, and compulsive exercise. Objectification Theory provides a framework for understanding a woman’s experience of the culturally established ideal body, which in Western cultures has become increasingly thin. As women internalize the thin ideal, their experience of self-worth and body image can be impacted and can lead to efforts to control their appearance including diet and exercise. While exercise has been consistently shown to have health benefits, little has been said about unhealthy levels of exercise. Compulsive exercise in particular …

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Does Faith Ameliorate The Relationship Between Sleep And Depression?, Jesse E. Burrell Apr 2016

Does Faith Ameliorate The Relationship Between Sleep And Depression?, Jesse E. Burrell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in the world. College students are more likely to experience depression than adults. Research has established a correlational relationship between sleep and depression (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Davidson, 2013; Franzen & Buysse, 2008, Lund, Reider, Whiting, & Prichard, 2010; Tsuno, Besset, & Ritchie, 2005; Van Bemmel, 1997) and suggests there is also a causational relationship between faith and lower rates of depressive symptoms (Baker & Cruickshank, 2009; Koenig, 2008a Koenig, 2001; Newport, Agrawal, & Witters, 2010; Reutter & Bigattie, 2014; Rosmarin et al., 2013). However, little research exists exploring how faith …

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The Effect Of Technology On Therapy Alliance, Ryan F. Birch Mar 2016

The Effect Of Technology On Therapy Alliance, Ryan F. Birch

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The therapeutic alliance is considered a demonstrably effective variable for therapy outcomes independent of treatment type, yet the extent to which it may be affected by technology is vague. Similarly, studies examining how technology alters the therapeutic relationship in a traditional face-to-face context are sparse and inconclusive. The robust association between psychotherapy alliance and therapy outcomes combined with the lack of conclusive evidence concerning how technology influences this calls for more research on the relationship between alliance and technology. The current study examines how clients’ perceptions of therapy alliance over the course of 10 sessions change with the administration of …

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Relationship Competency: An Exploration Of Training And Relationship Assessment In An Apa Doctoral Program, Jacquelyn M. Rodriguez Feb 2016

Relationship Competency: An Exploration Of Training And Relationship Assessment In An Apa Doctoral Program, Jacquelyn M. Rodriguez

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Relational competency is regarded as foundational to doctoral psychology training (Mangione & Nadkarni, 2010), yet defining this competency has proven to be an arduous and nebulous task. The connection between relationship competency and strong therapeutic alliance, combined with the lack of knowledge and research around effective assessment and training of the nontangible relational attitudes, knowledge, and skills begs for more research on the implementation of this competency. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between student therapists’ technique and relational characteristics and therapeutic alliance outcome during 10 therapy sessions. Participants were 24 first year doctoral students …

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From Patient To Student Activation: Development Of The Student Activation Measure, Clinton J. Smith Feb 2016

From Patient To Student Activation: Development Of The Student Activation Measure, Clinton J. Smith

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The Patient Activation Measure (PAM) was constructed to measure a person’s knowledge, skill, and confidence for self-managing one’s healthcare, or “activation” (Hibbard, Stockard, Mahoney, & Tusler, 2004). The Student Activation Measure (SAM) extends this definition to secondary education. The SAM is a short, positively worded measure that is intended to guide intervention planning. Six hundred three students from two disparate high schools located in the Pacific Northwest completed the measure and an accompanying demographic questionnaire. The respective schools provided the students’ GPAs and attendance records. Using Rasch modeling, the SAM evidenced excellent reliability and construct validity. One-way ANOVAs with post …

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Trauma, Resilience, Hope, And Religious Coping In Haiti, Deborah L. Galindo Jan 2016

Trauma, Resilience, Hope, And Religious Coping In Haiti, Deborah L. Galindo

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Trauma is an international area of research, specifically in countries that have experienced natural disasters and political unrest (Bolton, Surkan, Gray, & Desmousseaux, 2012; Derivois, Merisier, Cenat, & Castelot, 2014; Desrosiers & Fleurose, 2002; Hobfoll, 1989, 2012, 2014; Hobfoll et al., 2007; Kira, 2001, 2010; Kira et al., 2008). Haiti has endured an immense amount of trauma, including the 2010 earthquake and daily traumas resulting from poverty, economic disparity, and political unrest. This study explored the experiences of trauma, resilience, hope, and religious coping of 51 Haitian individuals through a mixed methods design. Quantitative data was gathered through the following …

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Life After Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Method Analysis On Social Support And Quality Of Life, Caitlin M. Speck Jan 2016

Life After Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Method Analysis On Social Support And Quality Of Life, Caitlin M. Speck

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Obesity is often described as a national epidemic; bariatric surgery is one form of treatment that has become increasingly popular. Bariatric surgery is successful and many patients experience significant weight loss; however, many patients struggle to maintain their new weight. In an attempt to respond to the problem of weight loss maintenance, bariatric surgery programs are incorporating behavioral management-strategies in addition to typical program support. Support groups are often offered by bariatric surgery programs and are commonly focused around psychoeducation, behavioral strategies, and community support. This study provides a mixedmethod quantitative and qualitative analysis on life after bariatric surgery, primarily …

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Building Social Resilience: The Effect Of A Coping Skills Training Intervention In An Educational Setting On Adolescent Victims Of Bullying, Daniel T. Moshofsky Jan 2016

Building Social Resilience: The Effect Of A Coping Skills Training Intervention In An Educational Setting On Adolescent Victims Of Bullying, Daniel T. Moshofsky

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Despite the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs, there remains a significant portion of individuals who develop short and long-term difficulties as a result of bullying victimization. While most bullying programs are “preventative,” there is a dearth of research examining treatment effects on students who already self identify as having been victims of bullying. The most efficient way of implementing interventions to meet the needs of this population is within the educational system. This study attempted to adapt an existing evidence based intervention to the specific needs of a school setting. The adapted intervention and subsequent pilot study examined the effects …

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Efficacy Of Concreteness Training With Persons Qualifying For Palliative Care: Piloting An Ios Application, Diana Zarb Jan 2016

Efficacy Of Concreteness Training With Persons Qualifying For Palliative Care: Piloting An Ios Application, Diana Zarb

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Palliative care services (PCS) seek to increase quality of life and manage symptoms of persons with chronic illnesses. Depression and anxiety are common concerns for persons receiving PCS. One intervention that has demonstrated some effectiveness and requires further research is a brief concreteness training (CT) intervention based on cognitive-behavioral techniques. This study piloted the implementation of a brief CT intervention via an iOS application for persons qualifying for PCS. Forty-one people completed all of the pretest measures, and 9 participants completed the entire study. Variables measured were anxiety, depression, spiritual well-being, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and patient activation. Participants …

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Using Big Data In Psychotherapy Research: Possibilites And Perils, Timofey S. Galuza Jan 2016

Using Big Data In Psychotherapy Research: Possibilites And Perils, Timofey S. Galuza

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Traditionally, psychotherapy research has used efficacy and effectiveness studies. Efficacy studies have been considered the gold standard for studying clinical interventions and effects due to their stringent controls. While not as scientifically rigorous as efficacy studies, effectiveness studies examine clinical interventions with larger and more diverse populations and more real-tolife treatment protocols. Unfortunately, effectiveness studies tend to be based on retrospective report, sometimes many months or even years after the conclusion of psychotherapy. The growth of technology, in particular smartphone applications (apps) has opened the door to a form of effectiveness study that allows for real-time data collection. The Therapy …

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Working Memory And Long-Term Abstinence From Substance Use, Larry E. Jasper Jan 2016

Working Memory And Long-Term Abstinence From Substance Use, Larry E. Jasper

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Cognitive impairment is a well-established consequence of long-term substance abuse, with stimulant and polysubstance abuse leading to the most detrimental deficits, especially in the area of executive function. The extent of brain function recovery with long-term abstinence from substance use is less understood. Is cognitive impairment permanent after longstanding abstinence, or does near full recovery occur? The current study assessed working memory function and attention differences between addicts reporting long-term abstinence and individuals reporting no history of substance use. Volunteers were recruited from both Narcotics Anonymous meetings and the community; addicts reporting long-term abstinence and individuals reporting no substance abuse …

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The Benefits Of Gratitude In Spiritual Formation: Collaborative Of Gratefulness In A Christian Church Community, Jens Uhder Jan 2016

The Benefits Of Gratitude In Spiritual Formation: Collaborative Of Gratefulness In A Christian Church Community, Jens Uhder

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This field experiment examined the effects of a gratefulness intervention in the context of a Christian church congregation. Two Evangelical congregations with comparable demographic and socio-economic characteristics were enrolled and assigned to the experimental and comparison conditions. In an effort to integrate psychological intervention techniques with established spiritual formation practices, the intervention was developed collaboratively with church leaders. In addition to examining the well-known benefits of gratefulness – strengthening of interpersonal relationships, increased life satisfaction, psychological well-being (PWB), and enhanced spiritual well-being (SWB), this research considered whether the practice of gratitude mobilized participants to engage others inside and outside the …

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Religious Coping And Spiritual Struggle Among Emergency Room Patients With Suicidal Intent, Rosanna J.S. Bailey Jan 2016

Religious Coping And Spiritual Struggle Among Emergency Room Patients With Suicidal Intent, Rosanna J.S. Bailey

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death around the globe (World Health Organization, 2012; Wu, Wang, Jia, & Mazza, 2015). Previous literature has shown religiosity as a protective factor for depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (Dervic et al., 2004; Dew et al., 2010; Miller et al., 2012; Nonnemaker, McNeely, & Blum, 2003; Rasic et al., 2009; Rosmarin et al., 2012), and that spiritual struggle is associated with increases in suicidal ideation (Ahles, Mezulis, & Hudson, 2016; Henslee et al., 2014; Lee, Nezu, & Nezu, 2014; Rosmarin et al, 2013; Stratta et al., 2011; Trevino, Balboni, Zollfrank, Balboni, & …

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