Clinical Psychology Commons^™

The Impact Of Parenting Stress On Parental Synchronization In Children With Asd, Chloe Quinnett, Miles Feller

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Parental synchronization is associated with positive child outcomes and social competencies in early childhood. This study investigated if total parenting stress moderated the relationship between child developmental status: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus typical development (TD) and parental synchronization. Participants were 43 children (Mage = 4.85 years, 34.9% female, 13 ASD). Results indicated as parenting stress decreased parental synchronization increased for both ASD and TD parent-child dyads. Furthermore, developmental status did not predict parental synchronization scores and parenting stress did not moderate these effects. This research provides evidence for the effect of parenting stress on parental synchronization.

Cultural Differences In Coping Self-Efficacy, Perceived Social Support, And Satisfaction With Their Legal Advocate In Individuals Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault, Desta Gebregiorgis, Stephanie Quan, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center’s (KCSARC) legal advocacy program assists individuals who have been sexually assaulted to navigate the justice system and serves a diverse clientele. Research suggests that there exists differences between ethnic groups in the qualitative psychological reactions to trauma, prevalence of post-trauma victimization, and use of therapeutic and tangible services. Thus, the purpose of our study is to examine the association between ethnicity, the three critical outcome variables (coping self-efficacy, perceived social support, and legal advocate satisfaction) and posttraumatic recovery.

Affective Reactivity To Positive Daily Events In Adolescence, Katherine Benjamin, Sarah Chun, Amy Mezulis

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The experience of positive events is associated with increased positive affect (PA), which can beneficially impact physical and mental health outcomes of adolescents. This study investigated whether different types of positive events elicit different amounts of PA, and whether sex would moderate these effects. Participants were 136 adolescents (Mage = 13.03 years, 51.3% female). Results indicated that interpersonal and independent events predicted greater PA reactivity than non-interpersonal and dependent events, respectively. Sex did not moderate these effects. Furthermore, results indicated that interpersonal, dependent events were associated with the highest adolescent mean PA compared to any other combination of event types.

A Review Of Suicide In The Correctional System, Rocky Marks, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

In the United States of America, suicide is the leading cause of death in jails and the second highest in prisons, with inmates being nine times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, and it is a consistent finding worldwide that suicide rates in custody exceed those in the general population. Contributory factors have been suggested, such as the deinstitutionalization of mental health treatment facilities, and the establishment of correctional liability. This review traces the development of the history of correctional suicide, notable contributing factors and suggest next steps to address this rising issue.

The Effect Of Sexual Minority Identification And Religious Affiliation On Suicide Risk Factors In A South Korean American Sample, Janelle Wee, Jingyan Gu, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Previous studies investigating the effect of sexual minority identification and religious affiliation on suicide yielded mixed findings. The current study examined the effect of sexual minority identification and religious affiliation on proximal indicators of suicide ideation, belongingness and burdensomeness. Participants were 58 Korean Americans (40% Female). Using a median-comparison Robust ANOVA, results indicated no significant main effects of religious affiliation or sexual minority identification on burdensomeness and no statistically significant interaction effects. Some future directions include an investigation of intersecting identities and their impact on belongingness and burdensomeness in Korean American populations.

A Literature Review Of Suicide Research And Practices In Taiwan., Yu-Chin Lin, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Suicide reflects social values and is strongly influenced by the local culture (Farberow, 1975). Some researchers adopt an indigenous psychology approach to analyzing constructs of interest, in which the content and context of the local culture are explicitly considered (Yang, 2000). Suicide in Taiwan is associated with expectations, experiences, and consequences unique to the community. A literature review is conducted to provide an overview of the current status of suicide research and practices in Taiwan, and to assess the extent it is influenced by the indigenous psychology approach.

Evaluating The Relation Between Adhd Symptoms And Externalizing Behaviors In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Miles Feller, Quinnett Chloe, Kaitlyn Drafton, Tara Rutter, Beverly Wilson, Anna Shaarda, Nicky Navarro, Indy Hall, Devon Yamane, Jennifer Carron

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The risk for externalizing behaviors (Bos et al., 2018) complicates the comorbidity between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To investigate whether the relation between ASD status (ASD vs typical development, TD) and externalizing behaviors would vary by differences in ADHD symptoms, parent-child dyads (3-7yo), 127 TD (47.7% female) and 81 children with ASD (16.7% female), participated. The linear regression tested model with significant main and interaction effects explained 43.3% of variance, overall. Consistent with research, externalizing problems were higher for both groups when ADHD symptoms were also high compared to low, an effect stronger for TD children.

Interpersonal Sensitivities Prospectively Predict Aversive Reactions To Social Stressors In Daily Life, Kylie Fraga, Tilda Cvrkel, Thane Erickson

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Research suggests that individuals have unique social “irritants,” behaviors that they find particularly unpleasant in others. Individualized irritants, or interpersonal (IP) sensitives, are associated with aversive reactions. These IP sensitives map onto the IP circumplex. This study investigated whether baseline IP sensitivities could predict anger and disgust during IP stressors over five weeks. Participants were 165 people (76% women, 42% ethnic minority). Results indicated that IP sensitives prospectively predicted anger and disgust. Further, IP sensitivities prospectively moderated effect of social stressors on affect. These findings were consistent with previous cross-sectional research.

Emotion Regulation As A Moderator On The Association Between Acculturative Stress And Risk Factors Of Suicide Ideation In A Sample Of International Students, Jingyan Gu, Janelle Wee, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Previous studies suggest that international students are at greater risk of endorsing mental health difficulties such as suicide, depression, and anxiety which may be related to acculturative stress and emotion dysregulation. The current study aims to examine the effect of between acculturative stress and emotion regulation on proximal indicators of suicide ideation, burdensomeness and belongingness. Preliminary data yielded 20 participants (Mage = 28.2, 60% female). Results indicated that acculturative stress (ASSIS) was significantly positively correlated with perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Furthermore, emotional regulation significantly moderated the relationship between ASSIS and burdensomeness but not between ASSIS and belongingness.

Religiosity, Trauma, And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In A Sample Of East African Refugees, Jamie Layton, Mattie O'Boyle, Leanne Zaire, Jake Bentley

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Somali refugees have been found to experience more exposure to traumatic events than other refugees and asylum seekers (Gerritsen et al, 2006). Culturally, religious beliefs are key to Somali perceptions mental health and well-being (Abu-Raiya & Pargament, 2011; Mulatu, 1999). This study examined organizational religious activity (ORA), non-organizational religious activity (NORA), and intrinsic religiosity as potential moderators of PTSD symptom clusters among a sample of Somali refugees in the United States. Participants were 59 Somali refugees in the Pacific Northwest (Mage = 39 years, 66% male). Results indicated ORA and NORA moderated the relationship between trauma exposure and re-experiencing symptoms …

Maskmaker, Maskmaker, Make Me A Mask: A Study Of The Effect Of Resilient Coping Behavior On Positive And Negative Affect During Covid-19., Linda Montano, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

During times of crisis, resilient coping behavior may be an important pathway for improving positive and negative affect. This relationship is explored via a moderated mediation model using data from a survey administered to volunteer maskmaskers during COVID-19. We hypothesize there will be a significant effect of resilient coping on affect, mediated through mask making hours. Change to employment is likely to moderate this indirect effect as well as interact directly with the coping to affect relationship. If supported, our hypotheses support the notion that engaging in a prosocial behavior such as Maskmaking may contribute positively to mental health outcomes.

Help-Seeking Behaviors In Asian American Adolescents And College Students, Janelle Wee, Jingyan Gu, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The aim of this review is to examine Asian American (ASA) adolescents’ and college students’ help-seeking behaviors, to understand specific barriers to mental health service utilization. Despite a decreased likelihood of seeking treatment (SAMHSA, 2014), even those who sought treatment reported a greater severity of symptoms compared to their White counterparts (U.S. DHHS, 2001). ASA adolescents were less inclined to use school-based mental health services (SBMHS) compared to their peers (Wang et al., 2018), with parents reporting several barriers to utilizing SBMHS. ASA college students with a greater sense of ethnic identity also avoided seeking help (Tummala-Narra et al., 2018).

A Pilot Study On Executive Functioning In Mainland Chinese Autistic Preschoolers, Vanessa Zhou, John Strom, Kaitlyn Drafton, Beverly Wilson

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

There is a robust literature on the positive benefits of executive functions (EFs) on academic and social-emotional development in neurotypical Western preschool- and school-aged children. However, there is mixed evidence regarding EF dysfunction in autism and very few studies have investigated EF skills in East Asian autistic children. The purpose of this study was to compare whether preschool-aged, autistic children (n = 21) and neurotypical peers (n=28) in mainland China differed on iPad-delivered measures of EF. Neurotypical children outperformed autistic children on all EF tasks. This study provides preliminary evidence for EF difficulty in Chinese autistic preschoolers compared to neurotypical …

Spfc Virtual Research Conference Program 2020, Seattle Pacific University

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Full 2020 conference guide with descriptions of each poster or paper presented by students in Seattle Pacific University's School of Psychology, Family, and Community's annual research conference.

Knowledge Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Medical Students And Residents, Laura Katherine Hansen, Tammy D. Barry

Research Days

No abstract provided.

Value-Aligned Behavior & Psychological Flexibility: Exploring Relationships Between Seeking Mental Health Services And Core Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Processes, Morgan Brewington

Scholars Week

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, the sense of self as context, committed action, and values (Hayes et al., 2006). Valued living, or acting in line with personal values, includes behaviors that are personally meaningful and intrinsically engaging (Smout, et al., 2014). Behavior aligning with values has been related to lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as lower impairment for individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress symptoms, pain, or other psychological stressors (Fox et al., 2019). Psychological flexibility, particularly low experiential avoidance, aids in valued living (Fox et al., 2019). Approaches such as ACT …

Emotions & Satisfaction: Does Emotional Contagion Make The Heart Grow Fonder?, Morgan Brewington

Scholars Week

Existing research identifies strong links between empathy within couples and relationship quality, often helping to cope with difficult life events (Levesque et al., 2014). Similarly, emotional contagion is the process of mirroring the expressions and affect of others, but going further to adopt the emotions that were mimicked (Doherty, 1997). Some research identifies a positive relationship between contagious emotions and relationship quality but impacts of empathy and emotional contagion in relation to sexual and relational satisfaction are yet to be investigated (Mazzuca et al., 2019). The interpersonal theory of depression includes the contagion of negative affect, by which depressed individuals …

The Impact Of Social Climate On Self-Identity, Substance Use, And Mental Health Among Lgbtq+ College Students, Laura Agnich, Liyah C. Morgan

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Substance abuse is an unfortunate but commonly used escape for many LGBT youth as they lack resources to help address anxiety and trauma. When faced with a constant state of fear of violence and identity concealment many turn to drugs or suicide. This session will provide information on addressing LGBT youth substance abuse and creating an inclusive campus climate.

The Efficacy Of Ketamine In Adult Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder With Symptoms Refractory To Standard Of Care Treatment., Brooke Thornton

Capstone Showcase

First line pharmacologic treatments for adult patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involve selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI/SNRIs). These drug classes often fail to deliver timely relief of symptoms as well as maintain longevity of symptom recurrence. This research analyzed the use of ketamine in adult patients suffering with OCD for the purposes of more efficacious management of symptoms. Although ketamine demonstrated a timelier relief of symptoms in some small clinical studies, its effects were ultimately unable to be sustained long term. Additionally, a wide range of adverse effects including dissociation, and rebound symptoms were observed. As a result, large …

Therapist Self-Disclosure And Recall Of Therapy Content, Shivani Mansharamani, Steven Robbins

Capstone Showcase

SHIVANI MANSHARAMANI

Therapist Self-Disclosure and Recall of Therapy Content

Research Mentor: Dr. Steven Robbins

Patients’ faulty memory of what they learned in therapy is often associated with poor outcomes. One way to improve therapeutic outcome is to improve patients’ memory of therapy content. Therapist Self-Disclosure (TSD) refers to a therapist’s disclosure of personal information to facilitate the client-therapist relationship. It has been employed as a tool to improve alliance and overall treatment outcome, and has often been used to prime more client disclosure. Past research on a memory support system has been unsuccessful at significantly improving client memory. In this …

Treatment Of Comorbid Anxiety Disorders In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Melissa Trout

Capstone Showcase

The research question under investigation in this paper is in regard to the treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The investigation focuses on which treatment method is most effective in the treatment of the anxiety symptoms. While there are many methods to choose from, from psychosocial therapies to pharmacological therapies to alternative therapies, but the focus of this paper was on psychosocial therapy options. The research has shown that a modified version of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment program is the most effective in treating anxiety in children with ASD. Much of the …

Adhd: Not Overdiagnosed, Misdiagnosed, Krista Graham

Capstone Showcase

There has been much debate surrounding the over- or under- diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One reason for this debate is that ADHD is a commonly misdiagnosed disorder. This leads to negative consequences for those who have been misdiagnosed and receive stimulant medication management. Misdiagnosis of ADHD is likely due to the interaction of four main factors. First, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has a lower validity for ADHD diagnosis than previous editions. Second, primary care physicians (PCPs) are responsible for the vast majority of ADHD diagnoses but have a …

Depression In Adolescence: Risk Factors, Prevention, And Intervention - An Argument For Trauma-Informed Care In The Community, Beauty Davis

Capstone Showcase

BEAUTY DAVIS

Depression in Adolescence: Risk Factors, Prevention, and Intervention - An argument for trauma-informed care in the community

Depression is an unfortunately common mental illness that can lead to negative life outcomes such as substance abuse, suicide, lower quality of life, and anxiety. The stage of adolescence is known as a pivotal, transitional time of life as there are many changes in an individual’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. The research reviewed throughout this paper discusses risk factors that contribute to the development of depressive symptoms in adolescence. Observing how genetic, physiological, environmental, and social components contribute to …