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Adult Sexual Grooming: A Systematic Review, Christin Aletky, Bonita Sharma, Jose Carbajal, Tia Eubank

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Grooming is the manipulation and intimidation of people into acts that may appear consensual but are in fact exploitative and harmful, activities they would not have chosen otherwise. Different legal definitions and shifting social perspectives on consent complicate efforts to determine whether a given behavior is a result of informed consent or a response to grooming behaviors. Most studies on grooming and sexual assault focus on adults grooming and abusing children—research on adults grooming other adults is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to conduct a systematic review of current research on the grooming of adults. We used …

The Moderating Effect Of Empathy On The Relationship Between Psychological Reactance And Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration, Victoria Anne Rukus

Doctoral Dissertations

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a phenomenon found across cultures, genders, and sexualities. Those who are victimized are more likely to experience negative health and psychological outcomes than those who have not and are also at an increased risk for becoming perpetrators themselves. This has resulted in a significant need to identify the risk factors associated with perpetrators, so cycles of violence can be broken and violence can be prevented. Previous research has utilized a predominately feminist perspective to understand IPV perpetration risk factors and has focused predominately on exclusively male samples. Additional research is needed to develop a broader …

Women Residential Substance Use Treatment Program: A Quantitative Study Measuring Treatment Perceptions And Spiritual Experience Across Multiple Demographics., Michelle Davidson

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

WOMEN RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY MEASURING TREATMENT PERCEPTIONS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE DEMOGRAPHICS

Michelle Davidson, LCSW

March 24, 2025

Substance use disorders (SUD) present complex challenges that necessitate comprehensive and personalized treatment approaches, particularly for women. Historically, SUD treatments have been predominantly driven by male treatment approaches, often neglecting the unique needs and experiences of women. This cross-sectional quantitative survey study explores the relationship between the variables of client treatment perceptions and spiritual experiences among women in residential treatment for their SUDs. This study utilizes the Treatment Perception Survey and Spiritual Experience Index-Revised to …

Exploring Mental Health, Future Rehabilitation, And Systemic Oppression In Inmates: A Qualitative Study, Vennissica F. Kelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of systemic oppression in incarcerated inmates, with a focus on their emotional/psychological experience of systemic oppression and how it impacted their willingness to participate in rehabilitation programs. This phenomenological study used elements of the narrative approach to obtain the common themes that surfaced while communicating with the participants and focused on two areas: systemic oppression and how it affected the mental health of inmates and how it affected their willingness to participate in rehabilitation programs. For this purpose, systemic oppression was defined as systemic power used to control others. To …

Neurocriminology: A Beginner’S Guide, Jerrod Brown

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Neurocriminology: Revolutionizing Specialized Training For Criminal Justice System Professionals, Janina Cich

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Centering Black Resource-Poor Adolescent Voices: A Critical Phenomenological Study Of Lived Mental Health Struggles While Enduring The Covid-19 Pandemic, Paulette Dispagna

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

There is a dearth of research in general and qualitative research specifically about the mental health experience of resource-poor Black adolescents living in Boston. This has implications for the field in terms of how adolescents experiencing mental health issues can be supported and how professionals can create more useful mental health treatment. Drawing from the theoretical lens of critical race theory and more specifically, intersectionality, this hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry examined the ways in which experiencing multiple levels of inequality, especially from racism and poverty, affected a Black adolescent’s mental health. Eleven adolescents were interviewed via Zoom. Six major findings included: …

Barriers To Nigerian Community Members In The United States Seeking Mental Health Treatment, Chinwendu Ejekwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigerian immigrants in the United States face significant challenges in accessing mental health care due to various cultural and systemic barriers. This generic qualitative study, guided by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, was conducted to explore the barriers encountered by Nigerian community members in seeking mental health treatment in the United States. Data were obtained through semistructured interviews where nine Nigerian immigrants presented their perceptions and experiences concerning barriers to Nigerian community members seeking mental health treatment in the United States. Thematic analysis followed the six-step data analysis method, leading to three themes. The themes identified are: (a) mental health is a …

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Implementation Experiences Among Mental Health Professionals In Correctional Settings, Angdi Karim Impelee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the challenges and experiences of mental health professionals implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) within forensic populations in the United States, filling a significant gap in research that primarily focused on DBT in non-forensic contexts. Utilizing qualitative methods, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with practitioners from various correctional settings, emphasizing their perceptions of DBT's efficacy, adaptation strategies to meet the cultural and institutional demands of their unique environments, and resultant behavioral outcomes for incarcerated individuals. Thematic analysis revealed key challenges, including resource limitations, institutional resistance, and the necessity for extensive cultural adaptations of therapeutic techniques. Participants highlighted …

From Private To Public: Narratives Of Gender-Based Violence Among The Everyday Voices Of The #Metoo Movement, Anna Gjika Phd, Megan Stubbs-Richardson Phd, Mackenzie Paul

SSRC Publications

In 2017, the #MeToo movement garnered international attention when millions of people used the hashtag to share personal experiences of sexual violence. The present study examines how non-celebrity users discussed their experiences of sexual victimization through a qualitative and quantitative content analysis of a random sample of #MeToo tweets (N=1,427). We found that survivors prioritized details about the “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how” of trauma in their disclosures (Bogen et al., 2021). Key themes in their responses included child sexual abuse (22.7%), long-term adverse effects (17.6%), and polyvictimization (10.4%) across the life course. Survivors also utilized #MeToo to …

The Lived Experiences Of Police Officers’ Responses To Stranger And Familial Child Abductions, Kennedy Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When the media covers stories of child abductions, a common misconception is who the abductor is. Despite what the news broadcasts, a child is more likely to be abducted by a family member or acquaintance than a stranger. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of police officers’ responses to stranger and familial abductions using a phenomenological approach to determine how schemas may shape police officers’ perceptions, specifically concerning responding to child abductions. Schema theory suggests schemas are formed based on an occurrence between an individual and their surrounding environment. Nine interviews were conducted of police officers …

Perspectives Of Residential Treatment Center Staff On Organizational Climate And Rehabilitation, Erika Drayton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential treatment centers (RTCs) within the juvenile justice system (JJS) are commonly used as an out-of-home placement for adjudicated youths who require more individualized care. Several researchers studied the JJS; however, few explored RTCs or the direct care staff. Probation officers and detention facility staff have been the focus of previous studies. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of RTC staff on organizational climate and rehabilitation of adjudicated youths. The participants included 12 direct care RTC staff age 18 and older who had worked with adjudicated youths for one year or more. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological …

Verbal And Numeric Eyewitness Confidence Differentially Affect Decision-Making, Pia Pennekamp

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Eyewitness confidence is typically communicated verbally (e.g., certain). Interpretations for verbal confidence statements are variable which could affect decision-making. I explored the extent to which confidence format (i.e., verbal vs. numeric) influences juror decision-making. Participants (N = 468) read a trial vignette in which an expert witness draws attention to the eyewitness's confidence in their suspect identification (uncertain, or certain, or 28%, or 88%). Participants rated the expert's recommendation, rendered a conviction decision, and provided confidence in their decision on a scale of 0 = Not at all confident to 10 = Completely confident. Mock-jurors were more likely to convict …

University Counselor Perceptions Of Safety And Safety Coping Strategies After On-Campus Mass Shootings, Tonya Sims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For over 2 decades, mass college campus shootings have been a problem in the United States. College counselors are required to assist and support others on campus after mass shootings and coping with their own concerns and safety. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore coping strategies and perceptions of safety of college counselors in response to the potential risk of gun violence on campus. The framework was based on Figley’s principles of stress theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of eight university counselors. Narrative data were collected and analyzed manually for emerging themes. …

Tracing Reverberations: Vietnamese Refugee Mothers' Adaptations To Complex Structural Forces And Intergenerational Engagements, Kim Khanh Nguyen-Nalpas

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The main purpose of this study is to learn how refugee mothers adapt to hierarchical systems of oppression with agency and resistance. Global refugee forums and decades of past research on refugees have identified the importance of increasing agency to best support refugees as they resettle. Previous research by the author has demonstrated that refugee mothers model resistance to oppressive systems which has implications for children who witness this resistance. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 Vietnamese refugee mothers to explore their mothering practices, how they adapted given the socio-political forces shaping their lives, and how these adaptations reverberated through …

Beyond The Sum: A Network Analysis Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Behavioral Outcomes In Justice-Involved Youth, Jennifer Yang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines gender-specific patterns of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among justice-involved youth using network analysis. Despite experiencing higher rates of childhood adversity, female youth show lower recidivism rates than males, presenting an empirical paradox. Using a sample of 19,454 justice-involved youth (75% male), this study applies novel network methods to understand how ACEs and behavioral outcomes are organized across gender. Findings reveal distinct network architectures: female youth maintain more integrated but vulnerable networks, while males show more compartmentalized but stable structures. Female recidivists demonstrate systematic network destabilization when compared to non-recidivists, characterized by a 39% reduction in network density, …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Anger, And Violence Among Justice-Involved Youth: A Network Analysis, Nan Li, Matt Shelton, Elena L. Grigorenko

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a complex construct that can be viewed as a network of interconnected adversities, with some interactions being substantially stronger than others. However, relatively little is known about the complex interactions between adversities in justice-involved youth (JIY). Moreover, even less is known about the pathways through which early adverse experiences contribute to violent offending.

Objective: The present study aimed to identify the most influential adverse event(s) within a network structure of adversity. It also investigated one of the pathways through which ACEs contributed to violent offending.

Participants and setting: We used archival data consisting of …

Latine Immigrant Survivors Of Sexual Assault: Clinical Considerations For Aid And Empowerment, Jasmine Pochini

Counseling Psychology | Master's Theses

This thesis project attempts to ascertain the impact of sexual assault on Latine immigrants in the United States with the aid of a literature review and subsequent manual of clinical and sociocultural recommendations. The historical and political background of immigration in the U.S. is discussed, providing a background for the difficulties that Latine immigrants have faced for decades. All facets of immigration are explored, as well as the hostility that many immigrants face due to anti-immigrant sentiment. This combined with the acculturation process proves to have drastic effects on mental health. Sexual assault is then explored, identifying background and statistical …

Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Violence Among Non-Binary Individuals Assigned Male At Birth (Nbamab), Ahmad Z. Mouazzen

Theses and Dissertations

One hundred-fifty partnered Nonbinary assigned male at birth (NBAMAB) people completed an online survey assessing experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), and associated factors, including mental health, internalized and anticipated stigma, and relationship power and functioning. The results contribute to understanding of IPV among NBAMAB people, with further research suggested.

Testing Mediation Models Of Antisocial Behavior In The Context Of Parental Criminal Justice System Involvement, David Alfonso Tio

Theses and Dissertations

Parental criminal justice system involvement (CJSI) affects a significant portion of our children in a multitude of ways, including increasing the child’s risk for developing antisocial behaviors and, in doing so, perpetuating the intergenerational cycle of criminal offending that uniquely and unjustly afflicts marginalized communities of color and leaves behind what many have termed the ‘hidden victims’ of CJSI. This dissertation aimed to answer two research questions: 1. Does the division into two categories, the aggression, and rule breaking dimensions, provide a superior fitting model than the more commonly used unidimensional measure?; 2. Is it more accurate to model the …

Facets Of Self-Efficacy As Potential Mediators Of Interpersonal Relationships And Job Satisfaction With Teachers In Vietnam, Justin Meas Lazu

Theses and Dissertations

Job satisfaction is a critical factor influencing teacher retention, well-being, and self-efficacy. Interpersonal relationships within the workplace—including those with students, colleagues, and principals—have been shown to be key contributors to job satisfaction. Although research has extensively explored job satisfaction in a Western educational context, few studies have examined its predictors in a Southeast Asian context, particularly in Vietnam. Given Vietnam’s collectivist culture and Confucian-influenced education system, where workplace harmony and hierarchical relationships are emphasized over individual autonomy, the factors influencing teacher job satisfaction may differ significantly from those in Western contexts. Further, the mechanisms through which workplace relationships influence job …

Extracurricular Activity Involvement As A Protective Factor For Adolescent Delinquency For Youth Exposed To Parental Alcohol And/Or Drug Dependency, Faith Ippoliti

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated whether extracurricular involvement in adolescence serves as a protective factor against adolescent delinquency for youth exposed to parental alcohol and/or drug dependency in early childhood. While previous research has established parental substance use as a risk factor for adolescent delinquency, less is known about whether extracurricular activities moderate this association. The present study included a subsample of 3,251 youth (n = 1,662 boys, 1,589 girls) from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a probability sample of births in large US cities (> 200,000) between 1998 and 2000. Parental alcohol and/or drug dependency was …

Interviews With Professionals In The Psychology Field, Beatrice Brinkley, John Roop

CSU Tower Day

•Undergraduate students experience difficulties understanding their options after graduation •Options include academia, research, or applied skill practices •Prior projects have studied other majors and their opportunities •This study explores three applied practices in psychology •All professionals are different in their perspectives •Little overlap between answers •Results up to student interpretation

From Theory To Practice: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Mental Health Factors In Sentencing Decisions, Crystal Ortiz M.A.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The overrepresentation of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness sentenced within the criminal justice system remains a significant concern in the United States. While existing literature discusses the prevalence of mental health concerns among offenders, it does not acknowledge the importance of considering an offender’s mental health in sentencing as standard practice within the justice system. Research highlights the importance of individualized sentencing plans, the use of validated risk and needs assessment tools, and multidisciplinary collaboration among mental health professionals and law enforcement agencies to comprehensively evaluate an individual’s mental health history and needs (Skeem et al., 2006; Steadman et …

Parental Stress, Child Negative Affect, And A Mediating Relationship With Negative Talk, Olivia Goodman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study aimed to establish if a relationship existed between parenting stress and their child’s depression, anxiety and somatization, referred to as negative affect. Alongside establishing this relationship, this study investigated if parent negative talk, as seen in Parent-Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT) sessions, affected that relationship. It was hypothesized that parenting stress would negatively impact their children’s negative affect, and that parenting stress would lead to increased negative talk towards their children, in turn negatively impacting their children’s negative affect. A total of 47 families from archival PCIT video sessions created the data set. Results found that there was no …

The Role Of Ethnic-Racial Centrality On Exposure To Microaggressions And The Mental Health And Academic Success Of Second-Generation Latiné Adolescents, Lisette Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

People holding racially minoritized identities are frequently subjected to racial-ethnic microaggressions, a form of everyday racism and discrimination. Acculturative stress and microaggressions have a direct impact on immigrants' mental health (Gee et al., 2007; Finch & Vega, 2003; Hovey, 2000). The increase in conservative immigration policies has led to increased anti-immigrant sentiments and microaggressions (Sissoko & Nadal, 2021). The impact of microaggressions can detrimentally affect psychological and physiological wellbeing, as well as academic performance and cognitive function (Solórzano & Pérez Huber, 2020). Because of their experiences with discrimination, Latino children may become more aware of biases in their social interactions …

The Downstream Well-Being Effect Of Encounters With The U.S. Criminal Justice System, Christopher A. Sanders, Laura A. King

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study examines the relationship between encounters with the criminal justice system and psychological well-being in a large U.S. sample. This project builds upon previous research about the negative outcomes tied to such encounters by examining potential long term negative effects on people’s subjective well-being and sense of meaning and purpose in life. Panel study participants indicated their lifetime exposure to the criminal justice system, and then, about two years later, indicated their current subjective well-being and sense of meaning and purpose in life. Our findings reveal that the number of past police arrests is associated with reductions in well-being, …

Mental Health Perceptions Among Caribbean Adults In The United States, Ambika Ramjawam

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate mental health literacy (MHL) among Caribbean American adults and to assess the extent to which mental health perceptions (MHP) and acculturative stress contribute to variations in MHL. A cross-sectional, quantitative survey design was utilized to examine MHL, MHP, and acculturative stress among a sample of 138 participants. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to assess associations among MHL, MHP, acculturation, and age. Independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVAs were performed to examine demographics across key variables. Findings revealed moderate levels of MHL (M = 4.7, SD = .99) and a weak, positive correlation …

The Influence Of Media Exposure On Perceptions Of Police, Izabella Leblanc, Emily Pica

Modern Psychological Studies

The current literature suggests that People of Color (POC) often hold more negative perceptions of law enforcement compared to White individuals. These perceptions are influenced by various factors, including environment, exposure to media depictions of police brutality, and personal experiences. Since flawed portrayals of police procedures in television programs have been found to erode public trust in police legitimacy, the study analyzes how perceptions change through media portrayals of law enforcement interactions. We investigate how the media influences perceptions of law enforcement by presenting participants (n = 245) with mock news articles depicting various law enforcement interactions. Additionally, we consider …

Lgbtqia+ Hate Crimes And State Non-Discrimination Policies: An Analysis, Jillian Jones

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

While LGBTQIA+ rights have been increasing in the United States for decades, many states do not have non-discrimination policies that protect individuals based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. This lack in protection leaves many LGBTQIA+ individuals vulnerable to experiencing discrimination and harassment, which could lead to hate crimes, cultivating an environment of passive tolerance rather than active resistance. Active resistance can be achieved through the passage of non-discrimination policies, as well as addressing minority stress that LGBTQIA+ individuals can be susceptible to when they are actively experiencing or anticipating discrimination and harassment. This research paper addresses whether the …