Psychology Commons^™

Religious Identity, Spiritual Practices, And Burnout, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Preliminary work by Sanderson (2008; Bufford & Sanderson, 2009) examining data on burnout among staff members in an adolescent residential treatment program found that spiritual practices distinguished Buddhist and Christian participants and were related to burnout. They suggested that spiritual practices may prove useful in further understanding religiosity. However, some of their findings were puzzling. Sanderson (2009) found high burnout and low spiritual well-being, but unexpectedly spiritual well-being was not related to religious orientation. In an effort to further understand these findings, the present study performed a cluster analysis on Sanderson’s data and identified two clusters of participants. Cluster One …

Preliminary Validation Of A Measure Of Generosity, William Buhrow, Rodger K. Bufford, Kurt C. Webb

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

In 2006, there were 1.48 million non-profits in the United States. Of those, 190,000 were religiously oriented charities. Most charities rely at least in part on the generosity of others. However, review of the extant literature demonstrated a lack of scales designed to assess an individual’s generosity. Therefore, a scale was developed in order to measure this construct and its related dimensions. A random sample of University students (n=106) from a small, Christian university and members of a local church (n=68) chose to participate for a total of 174 participants. The generosity scale was a 14 item self-report scale designed …

Initial Validation Of The Spiritual Thoughts And Behaviors Scale, William Buhrow, Rodger K. Bufford, Russell Smith, Laura Helmer

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

The Spiritual Thoughts and Behaviors Scale was developed as part of a study exploring the relationship between spirituality and generosity. One goal of the study was to see if there was a relationship between individuals’ spiritual thoughts and their spiritual behaviors; particularly those behaviors of charitable (financial) giving, volunteerism, and donations of goods and services. The Spiritual Thoughts and Behaviors Scale is an 18 item self-report scale constructed to provide a global religiosity score comprised of two subscale scores: spiritual behaviors (7 items) and spiritual thoughts (11 items). Data was collected from both university students and a local church congregation. …

Flourishing: Human Nature, Happiness And Positive Psychology, Chad A. Houchin, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

Cognitive And Psychodynamic Mechanisms Of Change In Treated And Untreated Depression, Daniel Coleman, Diane Cole, Leslie Wuest

Faculty Publications - College of Social Work

Two patient-level mechanisms of change, defenses, and cognition were tested over 3 time points in 65 depressed adults, approximately half receiving treatment. Early changes in automatic thoughts and immature defenses were associated with symptom change from time-one to time-three. The directionality of early automatic thought change predicting symptom change was partially supported, but immature defense change occurs simultaneously with, or after, symptom change. Given the convergent evidence of cognitive change as a mediator of depression reduction, all depression therapies should consider how they address depressive cognition. To build a more complete understanding of how to ameliorate depression, future studies should …

Denominational Support For Clergy Mental Health, Bobby L. Trihub, Mark R. Mcminn, William C. Buhrow, Thomas F. Johnson

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

To date, minimal research has addressed the actual services provided to maintain the mental health of leadership in the church. Three major Protestant denominations were consulted within this study, including a total of 434 pastors across the United States. Among these three denominations, a range of services are now being offered to support clergy, with services such as time off, prayer support groups, and clergy retreats among the most valued, adequately provided, and utilized. Still, clergy do not see the provision of services as fully adequate, and report a number of obstacles to utilizing services. Generally, the most highly rated …

Behavioral Issues Of Children With Dcc: An Update, Glena Andrews

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

Just What Is Christian Counseling Anyway?, Mark R. Mcminn, Ryan C. Staley, Kurt C. Webb, Winston Seegobin

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Professional psychologists may be asked about Christian counseling services and wonder how to best respond. Given the diversity of methods and worldviews that might be considered Christian counseling, it is important for psychologists to understand some of the major approaches used. Biblical counseling, pastoral counseling, Christian psychology, Christian ministry, and other approaches are described briefly, and in each case implications for professional psychologists are offered. Collaborative efforts are likely to be productive when interacting with certified pastoral counselors and Christian psychologists, and ministry approaches may provide supplemental resources for psychotherapy with Christian clients. Ethical issues are considered, and a 5-step …

The Efficacy Of A Brief Behavioral Health Intervention For Managing High Utilization Of Ed Services By Chronic Pain Patients, Jonathan Woodhouse, Mary K. Peterson, Clark D. Campbell, Kathleen Gathercoal

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Patients with chronic pain continue to seek medical care from emergency departments nationwide despite the fact that an emergency department is a less-than-optimal environment for meeting their specific and specialized needs. As the scientific community has gained a more sophisticated understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the development and maintenance of chronic pain, the central role of psychological factors have emerged. Therefore, an ED-based, behavioral health intervention for chronic pain patients is needed to better serve this population and to help hospitals provide cost effective treatment at the appropriate level of care.

Psychologists’ Attitudes And Ethical Concerns Regarding The Use Of Social Networking Web Sites, Laura Taylor, Mark R. Mcminn, Rodger K. Bufford, Kelly B.T. Chang

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Most psychologists seek to control self-disclosures they make to patients, but the Internet’s rapid development and widespread use over the past decade have introduced new problems for psychologists trying to avoid inappropriate disclosures. A total of 695 psychology graduate students and psychologists were surveyed about their current use of social networking Web sites (SNWs), opinions regarding regulation of online activities by the American Psychological Association (APA), and interactions in clinical work as a result of online activities. Established psychologists seldom use SNWs and may lack the experience to provide relevant supervisory guidance. No consensus about the need for APA guidelines …

Development, Refinement, And Psychometric Properties Of The Attitudes Toward God Scale (Atgs-9), Benjamin T. Wood, Everett L. Worthington, Julie Julia Exline, Ann Marie Yali, Jamie D. Aten, Mark R. Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Perceived relationships with God can be a source of comfort or struggle. To advance the study of spiritual comfort and struggle, we develop the nine-item Attitudes toward God Scale (ATGS-9), and we describe six studies (2,992 total participants) reporting its development and psychometrics. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified two factors: (1) Positive Attitudes toward God and (2) Disappointment and Anger with God. Subscale scores showed good estimated internal consistency, 2-week temporal stability, and evidence for construct and discriminant validity. Positive Attitudes toward God correlated with measures of religiosity and conscientiousness. Disappointment and Anger with God correlated with negative religious …

Theology As Science: A Response To "Theology As Queen And Psychology As Handmaid", Mark R. Mcminn, Jeannine Graham

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

In response to Porter's article, "Theology as Queen and Psychology as Handmaid," three criteria are offered for theology as science. A scientific theology must be open to new discovery, it requires a community, and it is available for practical application. In addition to the benefits offered by Porter, viewing theology as science can promote practical helping efforts within the church.

Forgiveness And Reconciliation: The Differing Perspectives Of Psychologists And Christian Theologians, Nathan R. Frise, Mark R. Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Among psychologists, forgiveness and reconciliation are typically viewed as separate constructs. This distinction is often adaptive, making it possible for a person to forgive a deceased offender or to forgive without entering back into a dangerous relationship. But to what extent does this privatized and secularized view of forgiveness conflict with the religious construct of forgiveness that many clients and their religious leaders may hold? Two survey studies are reported here. The first assessed the opinions of academic psychologists and Christian theologians regarding the distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation. The second survey assessed the opinions of expert psychologists and Christian …

A Place For The Church Within Professional Psychology, Mark R. Mcminn, Michael J. Vogel, Laura K. Heyne

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

There are various reasons why Christian psychologists may resist fully participating in a church community. Among these are historic tensions between science and religion, the complexity of multiple role relationships, cynicism related to clients' negative experiences in religious communities, and differing perspectives on attributions and human nature. Despite these obstacles, there are compelling reasons for psychologists to remain involved in church. Eight of these reasons are described--clustered into professional, relational, and transformational domains--and implications discussed.

Validation Of The Patient Activation Measure In A Multiple Sclerosis Clinic Sample And Implications For Care, Lara Stepleman, Marie-Christine Rutter Goodworth, Judith Hibbard, Lisa Johns, Dustin Wright, Mary D. Hughes

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Purpose. Patient engagement in multiple sclerosis (MS) care can be challenging at times given the unpredictable disease course, wide range of symptoms, variable therapeutic response to treatment and high rates of patient depression. Patient activation, a model for conceptualising patients’ involvement in their health care, has been found useful for discerning patient differences in chronic illness management. The purpose of this study was to validate the patient activation measure (PAM-13) in an MS clinic sample.

Methods. This was a survey study of 199 MS clinic patients. Participants completed the PAM-13 along with measures of MS medication adherence, self-efficacy, depression and …

School Bullying: A Crisis Or An Opportunity?, Karin S. Frey, Leihua V. Edstrom

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

In 1999, a U.S. Supreme Court justice asked lawyers for a young woman who had endured years of peer sexual harassment, “Is this just kids being kids?” (Stein, 2003). In doing so, the justice posed a question that is often applied to bullying. Many adults view ostracism, demeaning behavior, even physical assaults among young people to be normal or “growth experiences” for the victims. Yet considerable evidence indicates that bullying can deny young people basic educational opportunities, as they attempt to escape daily harassment through truancy or dropping out (Slee, 1994), or develop maladaptive ways of coping with emotional trauma …

Steps For Prioritizing Academic Advising: A Small-School Case Study, Chris Koch, Kristina M. Kays

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

This paper presents a case study of the steps taken to prioritize academic advising at a small, four-year, liberal arts university. Assessment data from several sources and an advising task force shaped the plan for changing the importance and culture of academic advising within the institution.

Developmental Assessment And Feedback Relieves Parenting Stress, Marilyn J. Montgomery, Melody A. Whiddon

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

Numerous studies have established that role stress experienced by parents has an impact on their perceptions of their child’s behavior, the quality of their parent-child interactions, and their child’s overall adjustment. Significant numbers of parents do experience the parenting role as stressful, often because they have concerns about whether their child’s behavior is within normal limits. Having seen parenting stress frequently while counseling parents and children, we reasoned that providing individualized developmental information to parents could reduce their parenting stress, and in turn result in positive consequences for parents and for children.

This article describes a brief intervention we developed, …

Technology And Religion: Remaining Human In A Co-Created World (Book Review), Kristina M. Kays

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

Reviews the book, "Technology and religion: Remaining human in a co-created world" by Noreen Herzfeld (see record 2009-04118-000). In this book, the author urges laypersons and professionals to consider the complexities of moral decision making about technology. Herzfeld explores how Christian, Jewish, and Islamic thinkers evaluate three categories of new technologies: “technologies of the human body, technologies of the human mind, and technologies of the external environment” (p. viii). This text is part of the Templeton Science and Religion series, which addresses the intersection between science and religion. While all books in this series are authored by specialists in the …

Dance/Movement Therapy And Autism, Mariah M. Lefeber

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

Movement is a language. For children affected by autism, movement may be the only language they can rely on. Children with autism often have limited verbal abilities, making it extremely difficult for them to reach out to others (Hartshorn et al., 2001). When words fail, dance/movement therapy fosters a child's ability to relate, communicate, and connect on a nonverbal level.