Resilience And Representations Of God Among Sri Lankan Youth, Courtney Chapin

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Developing countries have unique challenges and minimal resources resulting in vulnerability to psychological distress. International research suggests youth in developing countries are often impacted by adversity. Resilience reduces the effects of adversity. Kent, Davis and Reich (2014) found representations of god(s) can serve as protective factors, mitigating the effects of hardship, or as a source of distress, contributing to psychological symptoms. The current study examined the relationship between resilience and representations of god(s) among Sri Lankan youth. The Tamil version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Questionnaire of God Representations, and a demographic questionnaire was administered to Tamil participants (ages 11-24) …

Baseline Trauma Symptoms: Residential And Non-Residential Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence, Brooke R. Jacobs

Dissertations

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a preventable public health problem that’s literature has documented the clinical presentations of those who have experienced IPV. These presentations include what is generally consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a wide range of other symptoms including different medical comorbidities, defensiveness, difficulties in self-regulation, externalizing behavior, difficulties in relationships, withdrawal, and somatic preoccupations. These presentations are typically assumed to be symptoms of IPV but some argue that some of these, such as insecure attachment or trauma exposure, may be precursors to experiencing IPV. This has been discussed with great caution to avoid victim …

Psychosocial Impact Of Pet Keeping On Schoolchildren In China, Yanxia Song, Toshiya Hirose, Naoko Koda

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Studies in Western countries have demonstrated the benefits of pets for humans. However, there are not many studies on human-pet relationships in different cultures and societies; for example, few in Asia. This questionnaire survey demonstrated that attachment to pets benefits the psychosocial development of schoolchildren aged 9 to 16 years (n = 599: 340 boys and 259 girls, 284 rural students and 315 urban students) in Hunan Province, central south China. Children with higher attachment to their pets scored higher on the scales of self-efficacy and empathy than those with lower attachment and those who had no pets. Moreover, girls …

Using The Coaching Approach Behavior And Leading By Modeling (Calm) Program To Examine Attachment And Parental Behaviors In Childhood Anxiety, Seana Bandi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety is one of the most common disorders in children that can often lead to detrimental outcomes. Empirically-supported risk factors for child anxiety include the child’s temperament and behavioral inhibition, insecure attachment, parental over-controlling behaviors, parental anxiety, and the impact of adverse life events on the child. Targeting these risk factors early on has the ability to lead to a decrease in anxiety symptoms later in adolescence and adulthood.

Evidence suggests behavioral, therapeutic interventions are effective for treating anxiety and other mood disorders for middle childhood and adolescents. Recent research has begun to focus on developmentally-appropriate adaptations for younger children …

A Randomized Controlled Trial: Attachment-Based Family And Nondirective Supportive Treatments For Youth Who Are Suicidal, Guy S. Diamond, Roger R. Kobak, E. Stephanie Krauthamer Ewing, Suzanne A. Levy, Joanna L. Herres, Jody M. Russon, Robert J. Gallop

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) compared with a family-enhanced nondirective supportive therapy (FE-NST) for decreasing adolescents’ suicide ideation and depressive symptoms. Method: A randomized controlled trial of 129 adolescents who are suicidal ages 12- to 18-years-old (49% were African American) were randomized to ABFT (n ¼ 66) or FE-NST (n ¼ 63) for 16 weeks of treatment. Assessments occurred at baseline and 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Trajectory of change and clinical recovery were calculated for suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. Results: There was no significant between-group difference in the rate of change in …

Social Learning In The Digital Age: The Impact Of Technoference On Mother-Child Attachment And Social Skills, Danielle N. Zayia

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown links between parenting practice and children’s social development. However, there is little research examining the role of parental technology use or technoference, which is the disruption caused by technology. In this study, parental technology use, child attachment style, maternal insularity, and children’s development of social skills were examined. Rating scales examining theses variables were completed by 80 mothers-child dyads between the ages of 18 and 50 with children between 6 and 10 years old. Confirmatory factor and measurement invariance analyses were conducted to examine and confirm the psychometric properties of each scale used in this study. Linear …

The Relationship Between Childhood Sexual Abuse, Attachment Style, Rejection, And Risk Recognition, Jordan E. Marshall

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to better understand the relationship between experiencing childhood sexual abuse, attachment, rejection, and risk recognition (risk appraisal and risk response). Participants consisted of 223 undergraduate women attending Illinois State University. A history of childhood abuse was reported by 37.7% of the participants. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, the Hot Topics Survey, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire, and the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, Adult version (A-RSQ). Participants were under the impression that information was being gathered for an online dating application algorithm and were randomly assigned to either a rejection condition or a non-rejection …

The Association Between Attachment And Conflict Resolution During Friendship Conflict Among College Students, Alison Hamlet

Theses and Dissertations

This study is about college students' attachment to friends and how conflict resolution is related to the level of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Studies have found low attachment anxiety and low attachment avoidance to be related to effective coping strategies and to the compromising conflict resolution style. Many studies have focused on how participants generally resolve conflict. The current study is focused on how participants have actually resolved conflict and how they believe they would resolve conflict in a hypothetical situation. Participants answered if they could think of a conflict with a friend in the past 6 months and …

Attachment And Internalizing And Externalizing Problems In Adolescence: Exploring The Mediating Role Of Physiological Self-Regulation Capacity, Michelle A. Kuhn

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Internalizing and externalizing problems impact functioning and health in adolescence. Therefore, understanding risk and protective factors related to these behaviors is of practical interest. The proposed study examined the relationship between parent-adolescent attachment security, self-regulation capacity, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Previous studies have supported prospective links between parent-child attachment security and self-regulation capacities. Similarly, self-regulation is as a protective factor from internalizing and externalizing problems. This study proposed a mediation model combining these findings. It was hypothesized that youth with stronger parent-adolescent attachment security would demonstrate fewer internalizing and externalizing problems, and that this relationship would be mediated by …

Sexuality Through The Lens Of Secure Base Attachment Dynamics: Individual Differences In Sexploration, Dylan Selterman, Amanda N. Gesselman, Amy C. Moors

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

A key aspect of attachment functioning is the secure base, which empowers people to explore their environments, though some individuals do this more effectively than others. While most researchers have focused on adult attachment dynamics in terms of stress and threat (safe haven), we argue that concerted attention should also focus on relational processes in times of optimal functioning. In this paper, we introduce a new theoretical concept: secure base sexual exploration (or sexploration). We define this as the degree to which individuals are able to effectively explore multifaceted dimensions of sexuality (e.g., behaviors, identity) as a function …

Family Of Origin Experiences And Young Adults’ Romantic Relationship Outcomes, Emily Isola

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This study seeks to identify the impact of one’s family-of-origin experiences on future young adult romantic relationships. It is hypothesized that greater conflict within parental and parent-teen relationships will predict poorer future romantic relationship outcomes. These associations will be mediated by anxiety, insecure attachment, and poorer conflict resolution skills. A mediating variable is a third variable that can help explain the connection between an independent and dependent variable. Buffering effects of positive friendship qualities will also be considered. Data were analyzed using an 18-year multi-method longitudinal study of 184 youth. Hierarchical regressions between family of origin predictor variables, mediators, and …

Attachment In Middle Childhood Among Foster And Adopted Children: Preliminary Validation Of A Behavioral Observation System, Somer George

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Abstract

The study of attachment in middle childhood, especially among foster and adoptive children, is a critical and timely one. An assessment that helps us understand the behavioral manifestations of attachment for these children, while considering the link with caregiving behavior and parental reflective functioning (PRF) can help to provide effective and efficient intervention leading to security and relational healing. This study examines the attachment patterns of 39 foster and adopted children (ages six to twelve) in the Modified Strange Situation Procedure (MSSP), with their caregivers. Association with caregiving patterns, PRF, and caregiver reported child behavior are analyzed using Pearson’s …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Attachment And Mentalization In Sex Offenders, Oksana Sklyarov

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to dysfunctional attachment, increased likelihood of criminal behavior, and mentalization deficits. Mentalization, also known as reflective functioning, is core aspect of social functioning that involved the capacity to “interpret both the self and others in terms of internal mental states such as feelings, wishes, goals, desires, and attitudes.” This study looked at adverse childhood experiences, attachment, and mentalization in 93 registered sex offenders attending court-ordered outpatient treatment. This study revealed that sex offenders endorse significantly more adverse childhood experiences compared to the general population. It also showed that sex offenders exhibit lower attachmentrelated anxiety …

Evaluation Of The Attachment Theory Program In Sierra Leone, Africa, Alexander Reppond

Honors College

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the Attachment Theory Program currently ongoing in Sierra Leone, Africa. Specifically, the evaluation focuses on whether the program was implemented correctly and whether it was effective in its goal to teach attachment theory and related behaviors to the caregivers. To determine whether the program was promising, eight evaluation questions with benchmarks for achievement were created with input from primary stakeholders, the donors.

This thesis includes a literature review of trauma, attachment, Sierra Leone, program evaluations, and WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) populations. After undertaking the review of literature, the caregivers …

Secure Attachment With Parents As A Moderator Between Child Sexual Abuse And The Development Of Borderline Personality Features, Febrian Moten

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to examine the association between child sexual abuse (CSA) and borderline personality (BPD) features and examine attachment security with parents as a moderator on that among college women. A total of 453 participants completed the study, of which 29 had experienced CSA. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire measuring a history of CSA and felt stress from it, attachment security measured through attachment anxiety and avoidance and parental bonding, and BPD features. CSA victims showed higher level of BPD features than non-CSA victims. Among CSA victims, attachment insecurity with the mother and BPD features were …

Attachment, Conflict Resolution, Marital Satisfaction, And Culture In Women, Ione Bretaña, Itziar Alonso-Arbiol, Shiri Lavy, Fang Zhang

Psychology Department Faculty Works

The aim of this study was to compare levels of attachment, conflict resolution strategies and marital satisfaction in women from Israel, United States, Turkey, and Spain (N = 343). A sample of individuals involved in a romantic relationship at ages 18-68 (M = 35.4, SD = 11.83) completed measures of attachment dimensions, conflict resolution strategies, and marital satisfaction. Tucker Phi coefficients revealed the same structure of the scales across all countries. Mean comparisons were used. Differences were observed among women from Israel, Turkey, USA, and Spain in attachment (avoidant and anxiety), as well as in own conflict resolution strategies and …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Attachment, And Ptsd Symptoms Among Male Offenders In Court-Ordered Diversion, Michael A. Quinones

Theses and Dissertations

There are millions of adult male offenders currently involved with U.S. corrections system, many of which report a wide range of mental health difficulties and a history of traumatic experiences. Mental health and trauma-related difficulties are important considerations in the treatment and rehabilitation of adult male offenders. The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), attachment style, and PTSD symptoms were studied in a sample of adult male participants in a court-ordered diversion program. The sample consisted of 59 men, ranging in age from 19 to 68-years-old, who endorsed a history of at least one prior arrest. Data were collected during …

Relationship Between Novice Counselors' Supervisory Attachments And Boundary Practices And Perceptions, Glenda Hill Nanna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Novice counselors may struggle to understand and follow ethical guidelines for boundary behaviors with clients. When counselors violate therapeutic boundaries, harmful consequences can result for clients and counselors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the possible relationship between novice counselors' (NCs') attachment to supervisors and NCs' ethical perceptions and boundary practices. This study addressed the possible predictor variables of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting. Bowlby's attachment theory provided the framework for the study. Survey data from 114 NCs were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression. Each regression analyzed predictors of age, gender, relationship …

Developmental Disruptions And Substance Use In An Emerging Adult Sample, Nena N. Mcgath

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Recent substance use reports indicate a rise in use-related deaths. Emerging adults are identified as the most prevalent users of substances when compared to other age groups. Current intervention methods are not universally effective, with relapse rates varying by treatment model. The poor efficacy of interventions may be due to a lack of models using a developmental focus. For example, previous research highlights the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on negative adult outcomes such as excessive substance use. ACEs may trigger a cascade of adaptation failures, disrupting attachment bonds between caregiver and child, and later influencing the development of …

Factors Associated With Parental Involvement In Their Child's Education, John Joseph Trentalange

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After 4 decades and a large body of research on children's academic success, there is still a need to understand how to increase children's academic performance. Researchers agree that the key component to elementary school children's academic success is parental involvement. However, little is known on how to increase parental involvement and the characteristics of the parents who participate in their children's education. This quantitative study examined 2 parental characteristics, parents' internal attachment patterns and parenting styles, and their relationship with parental involvement and children's academic success. Bowlby's theory of attachment and Baumrind's parenting typologies served as the theoretical framework. …

Substance Use And Romantic Attachment Among African American And Black Caribbean Adult Males, Shaun Faith Hutton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals from unfavorable environments tend to carry maladaptive patterns of attachment from infancy through adulthood. Empirically, these styles have been shown to be intergenerational. Substance use disorder has been linked to maladaptive patterns of attachment among adults. However, limited data exists regarding this phenomenon with African American and Black Caribbean males. Bowlby's attachment theory and Ainsworth's patterns of attachment were the theoretical frameworks applied to this quantitative study. The purpose was to determine the effect of ethnicity and alcohol use on anxious and avoidant attachment patterns among a sample of 151 adult males. Using the Experience in Close Relationship and …

Relationship Between Novice Counselors' Supervisory Attachments And Boundary Practices And Perceptions, Glenda Hill Nanna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Novice counselors may struggle to understand and follow ethical guidelines for boundary behaviors with clients. When counselors violate therapeutic boundaries, harmful consequences can result for clients and counselors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the possible relationship between novice counselors' (NCs') attachment to supervisors and NCs' ethical perceptions and boundary practices. This study addressed the possible predictor variables of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting. Bowlby's attachment theory provided the framework for the study. Survey data from 114 NCs were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression. Each regression analyzed predictors of age, gender, relationship …