Psychology Commons^™

Sports As A Resiliency Factor In Native American Youth, Martin Robison

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities face unique issues due to historical and continued colonization, genocide, and forced assimilation (Stumblingbear-Riddle & Romans, 2012). AI/AN youth must address intergenerational trauma related to high rates of adverse childhood life events (Duran, 2006, Waller et al. 2002). Native American youth have the challenge of balancing their individual traditional culture with mainstream culture (Waller et al., 2002). Sports are one way that AI/AN communities are able to express themselves (Bloom, 2000). Participation in high school sports has been associated with various academic and social benefits (Fredricks & Eccles, 2006). Identifying the coping skills and support …

Behavioral Health Consultants In Rural Integrated Healthcare: A Systematic Replication And Program Evaluation, Laurie M. Meguro

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

As the healthcare demand in the United States increases, the strain on available healthcare resources becomes more evident, marked by limited access to services and physician shortages. To meet growing patient demands, the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model focuses on improving clinical outcomes, fiscal expenses, patient satisfaction, and provider satisfaction in primary care settings through the integration of behavioral health consultants (BHCs; Sandoval, Bell, Khatri, & Robinson, 2018). The present study was a systematic replication of a previously conducted program evaluation examining the impact of BHC services within a primary care practice in a rural Oregon county, focusing on …

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 …

A Program Evaluation On The Effectiveness Of Chronic Pain Management In A Rural Community, Sylvia D. Ramirez

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Chronic pain is a well-known, significant problem in the United States, affecting approximately 55% of adults in Western countries. Opioid use to manage chronic pain impacts individual’s social, psychological, and physiological health. The shortcomings of monotherapy, such as opioid use, have been led to extensive research to develop and assess the outcome of multi-disciplinary evidence-based programs. Rather than eliminating pain, interventions focus on pain management and improving quality of life, independence, and mobility. This quasiexperimental study examined the effectiveness of the Persistent Pain Program (PPP), an 8-week Cognitive Behavioral Treatment program and movement therapy intervention for patients living in a …

Health Behavior Change As A Function Of Social Support And Individual Feedback, Katie Ghelfi-Dunbar

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The objective of this research was to examine the usefulness of increased social support and individual goal setting on health behaviors of traditional college students. Additionally, this study examined the effectiveness of the current required Lifelong Fitness course at George Fox University to explore factors associated with health behavior change. Past research indicates there are a variety of risks to sedentary lifestyle (Finn & Watson, 2017). Research also reveals social support and self-efficacy to be important factors in facilitating change in health behaviors. College students experience many changes due to development and change in environment, making this an opportune time …

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 …

Do Calories Count? Examining The Impact Of Calorie Awareness On Food Selection, April V. Rose

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study examined whether purchasing behavior of patrons in a college campus cafe changed when calorie information was provided. It compared weekly sales on food items before and after calorie information was posted for a group of target items (n = 6) that had calorie counts posted in fall 2017 and two groups of comparison items. Archival sales data were collected using the existing point-of-sale system. Sales of target items, which had calories displayed next to them, dropped significantly when compared with sales of the same items during the previous year. Sales of target items also dropped significantly when compared …

Do Calories Count? Examining The Impact Of Calorie Awareness On Food Selection, April V. Rose

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study examined whether purchasing behavior of patrons in a college campus café changed when calorie information was provided. It compared weekly sales on food items before and after calorie information was posted for a group of target items (n = 6) that had calorie counts posted in fall 2017 and two groups of comparison items. Archival sales data were collected using the existing point-of-sale system. Sales of target items, which had calories displayed next to them, dropped significantly when compared with sales of the same items during the previous year. Sales of target items also dropped significantly when compared …

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 …

Exploring Graduate Student Involvement In Advocacy, Roseann Fish Getchell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Effective legislative advocacy for the delivery of psychology services impacts both the practicing psychologist as well as the public served by the profession. In the field of psychology, advocacy contributes to the scope of practice, funding, and reimbursement for psychologists as well as access and quality of care for those needing services (Lating, Barnett, & Horowitz, 2010). Despite the significant impact on their future professional life, advocacy is not a routine part of graduate education and training. The purpose of this study was to explore graduate students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes toward legislative advocacy. The findings of this study suggest …

Intimate Partner Violence, Anxiety Diagnosis, And Binge Drinking Behavior Among College Students, David Kays

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Drinking behavior is common among students at colleges and universities, and binge drinking is particularly problematic due to its association with a variety of unwanted, negative experiences including anxiety (Thomas, Randall, Book, & Randall, 2008), unwanted intimate encounters (Lefkowitz, Waterman, Morgan, & Maggs, 2016) and intimate partner violence (IPV) (Rizo, 2015). The present study sought to determine if there were significant differences in college student drinking based on their experience of IPV, anxiety and its treatment. Archival data from the National College Health Assessment was used in this study. A randomly selected sample of 800 college students was analyzed. Results …

Cognitive And Academic Effects Of Aversive Stress On Latinx And European American Elementary Students, Annalise M. Manns

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study sought to examine the relationship between perceived stress, social-emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, and statewide academic testing in both European American and Latinx students in third grade classes in two schools in rural Oregon. A total of 47 third grade students participated in the study, including 31 European American students and 13 Latinx students. A non-verbal measure of cognitive ability (The Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of intelligence) was administered individually to each of the 47 students. Additionally, a rating scale of social emotional intelligence (Social Emotional Assets and Resilience Scales Short Form for child and Teacher) was self-reported (SEARS-C) and …

Examining The Effectiveness Of A Therapist Training On The Reflective Exploration Of Parenting Interactions Tool, Molly Jean Winterrowd

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The current study seeks to explore the impact of a therapist training on the Reflective Exploration of Parenting Interactions Tool (REPIT, Verona, 2015), a clinical, therapist-guided exercise that aims to improve parent insight, and in turn, facilitate a decrease in parent-child conflict. The REPIT was created as a therapy exercise in which parents are guided through a series of 19 standardized questions that build their insight into their own internal processes regarding conflict with their child. Specifically, the reflection encourages exploration of how the parental internal processes impact the parent-child relationship and interact with the child thought processes to create …

The Relationship Of Gender, Spirituality, And Willingness To Seek Mental Health Treatment Among Students At A Faith-Based Institution, Lauren A. Hoffman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

College is a demanding time in a student’s life that can require willingness to seek help in times of significant distress. The factors that can influence this decision are numerous and complex. This study examined the relationship between willingness to seek mental health treatment, gender, and level of religiosity and spirituality in students that are enrolled in a single faith-based institution. Results suggest that female students were more willing to seek help from a mental health professional than males, and students who endorsed high levels of religiosity and spirituality were more inclined to seek help from a religiously affiliated advisor …

Suicide Assessment Training: The Effect On The Knowledge, Skills, And Attitudes Of Mental Health Professionals And Trainees, Cynthia Song

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This research will examine the impact of training in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), a suicide assessment and intervention protocol, on the knowledge, perceived skills, and confidence for providers at three different levels of training. The trainee groups will include Qualified Mental Health Professionals (County),¹ master’s prepared third-year doctoral students on the Behavioral Health Consultation Crisis team (BHCC), and first-year psychology trainees (First-years). The three levels of participants were asked to complete a pre-test prior to and post-test immediately following their respective CAMS training. A 2 X 3 mixed ANOVA was conducted using different participant groups …

Long-Term Impact Of Lifelong Fitness: Examining Longitudinal Exercise Behavior In College Students, Garrett Drake

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Over time, the United States population has gradually shifted to an increasingly inactive lifestyle, and there has been a decline in health behavior. Only 50% of the population meet the recommended guidelines for weekly physical activity. With this glaring increase of inactive lifestyles, programs designed to increase health behavior change have become crucial. One solution to this problem has been a required Lifelong Fitness class at George Fox University where new college students learn knowledge and skills to implement for healthier lifestyles during this transformative time. A multiple regression model predicting long-term exercise by pre-minutes of exercise, post-minutes of exercise, …

Evaluation Of Parental Stress And Appointment Satisfaction In A Feeding Disorders Clinic, Erin L. Besser

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

More than one-quarter of the pediatric population in the United States struggles with feeding or swallowing challenges, many of which become chronic, lifelong disorders. Diagnosis and treatment of feeding and disorders can be challenging due to the interplay of behavioral and medical factors that create food refusal by the child. Treatment of feeding disorders is difficult, as it requires comprehensive involvement of parents and caregivers, which can be demanding and stressful. Parental stress may include anxiety, fear, and frustration with the child(ren) with feeding or swallowing disorders and can negatively affect health outcomes for children. Specialty clinics designed to address …

Effective Characteristics Of Christian Youth Mentoring Relationships, Andrew G. Kenagy

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Adolescents benefit from relationships with meaningful adult mentors in many ways (DuBois & Silverthorn, 2005). The quality of mentoring relationships is an essential mediating factor (Pryce & Keller, 2012). Particular relationship activities may influence the relationship’s success (DuBois & Silverthorn, 2005). However, few studies have considered the role of Christian faith in the relationship and outcomes of mentoring (Lanker & Issler, 2010).

The current study sought to identify effective characteristics of naturally occurring youth relationships with Christian adult mentors. It examined differences in life adjustment between adolescents with and without Christian mentors, the role of the mentoring relationship quality in …