Digital Commons Network^™

Male Collegiate Student-Athletes Masculinity And Attitudes Toward Mental Health Seeking, Jennifer L. Mayette

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The mental health and well-being of college student-athletes has recently come to the attention of the general public with the increase in current and past athletes speaking out about the stressors they faced during their collegiate careers. With this increase in attention, higher education institutions and larger athletic associations have turned towards research to identify factors that are contributing to the struggles of student-athletes. One factor that has consistently been identified as a barrier for athletes seeking help for mental health concerns is stigma. For male student-athletes in particular, perception of the stigma associated with receiving psychological help due to …

Graduate Students' Accessibility To Human Sexuality Training, Samantha B. Rotay

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Human sexuality is a basic foundation of the human experience. In graduate school for psychology, students are often taught about sexuality in terms of gender identity and sexual orientation. However, there is a lack of education around sexual functioning in terms of sexual wellbeing, arousal, and disorders. Many psychologists are licensed as general practice clinicians but only a small percentage of psychologists have training in human sexuality. However, many generalist psychologists hold a caseload of couples and individuals who are experiencing sexual concerns. Due to the limited training, therapists are less likely to assist clients in therapy around sexual concerns. …

The Effects Of Confession Evidence And Defendant Race On Juror Perceptions, Victoria E. Dodge

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Confession evidence continues to be one of the most persuasive, incriminating forms of evidence presented during a criminal trial (Kassin & Gudjonsson, 2004; Leo, 2009). Research suggests that jurors may also be influenced by extra-legal factors, such as personal characteristics of the defendant (e.g., the defendant’s race; D.J. Devine & Caughlin, 2014; Pickel et al., 2013; Sommers & Ellsworth, 2000). Research investigating the effect of race on juror perceptions has yielded mixed results. Some research has found that White jurors discriminate against defendants belonging to a racial minority while other research identifies a phenomenon referred to as the watchdog hypothesis …

"Why Does This Have To Be So Hard?": Perinatal Experiences From An Ecological Systems Approach, Caitlin Senk

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines the lived experience of the perinatal population to understand how they can be supported from the lens of different ecological systems and what counselors can do to better serve people with uteruses during their perinatal experience. Furthermore, this study aims to utilize an inclusive framework for capturing the perinatal experience of people with uteruses and to explore barriers and facilitators to care through an ecological systems framework. Fifteen participants who have experienced infertility, conception, pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, stillbirth, and postpartum were recruited through various means throughout the United States. Thematic analysis was used, with semi-structured interviews and …

Midas’ Children: Affluent White Families And The Effects Of Parental Bias On Child Outcomes, J. Sema Bruno

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Navigating parental biases within White affluent homes assumes family dynamics as yet unexplored within family therapy praxis. This dissertation examines parental biases directed toward domestic laborers employed in affluent White homes and how these biases might affect the parent-child relationship and the emerging values of children in these homes. Research from other fields demonstrates that domestic laborers experience social bias within the workplace; what this highlights is the likelihood that children in these settings are navigating unspoken subtleties of racism and classism in the context of developing socio-emotional maturity and family relationships. The first article within this dissertation critically reviews …

Understanding The Experience Of Mothers In Higher Education During The Covid-19 Era, Shannan L. Engel

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This exploratory study aimed to understand the experience of mothers in higher education both during the COVID-19 pandemic and toward the end of restrictions. The population included academic mothers with children at home during the pandemic. Data was analyzed thematically by a team of researchers. The results generated six themes: (a) life changed suddenly, (b) remote work, school, and life, (c) unsupported, (d) sense of control, (e) support, and (f) positive aspects of COVID. These findings are important to the field of mental health counseling profession, supervision, and higher education because of the circumstances exemplified by the pandemic that highlight …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Addiction Counselors’ Experience Working With Individuals With Methamphetamine Use Disorder, Lyris C. Tudhope-Locklear

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study explored the lived experience of addiction counselors in their work with clients who have a primary diagnosis of methamphetamine (MA) use disorder. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used as the methodology for this study. A total of seven participants were recruited and met inclusion criteria. Participants engaged in individual, semi-structured interviews. The primary themes that emerged included “Flexibility,” “Understanding,” “Self-Reflection,” “Demanding,” “Encountering Resistance,” “Hope,” “Developing an Individualized Understanding of MAUD,” and “Essentials of Treatment Success.” The findings of the study demonstrate the usefulness of qualitative inquiry to examine the lived experience of addiction counselors in their work with …

Maternal Burden: The Interplay Of Parental Burnout, Insomnia, And The Covid-19 Pandemic Among First-Time Mothers, Kaila Kutz

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The current study sought to better understand the relationship among parental burnout, insomnia, and first-time motherhood within the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A thorough review of the literature was conducted in order to position this dissertation and its questions within the current research landscape. A quantitative, survey-based research methodology was used to explore the association between the aforementioned variables of interest through correlational analyses. Findings of the study suggest a positive association between parental burnout and insomnia, though nonsignificant findings between motherhood groups in relation to insomnia and parental burnout suggest that continued investigation into these variables …

Experiences Of Counselors Working With Adolescents, Allison Bradford Chow

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study aimed to examine the lived experience of clinical mental health counselors working with adolescents. Participants included pre-licensed (associate) or licensed counselors who predominately work with and have a strong preference for working with adolescent clients. Data was collected through individual interviews and analyzed with a descriptive-interpretative approach. Ten domains were identified as part of data analysis: (a) Understanding Adolescent Culture and Building a Therapeutic Alliance, (b) The Intersection of Counselor and Adolescent Emotions, (c) Transference and Countertransference, (d) Clinical Challenges and Barriers, (e) The Multifaceted Role of Parents, (f) Nuances of Confidentiality, (g) Adolescent Development and Strengths, …

Cps Workers’ Perspectives On Mst-Ipv And Other Interventions For Child Maltreatment And Intimate Partner Violence: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis, Malea Lash

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Although the co-occurrence rate of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse and neglect (CAN) is about 40% (Appel and Holden, 1998; Herrenkohl et al., 2008), little research currently exists on integrated treatment for these concerns. Furthermore, no known published studies investigate child protective services (CPS) workers’ perspectives on such treatment. The present study explores the perspectives of CPS workers on treatment for co-occurring IPV and CAN, specifically focusing on Multisystemic Therapy for Intimate Partner Violence (MST-IPV). A total of 18 Connecticut CPS workers participated in semi-structured interviews. Seven participants had experience working with MST-IPV treatment providers, while 11 participants …

Black And African American Young Adult Male Experiences: Implications For Building Resilience And Survival Skills Within Educational Settings And Public Spaces, Akimma Wright-D'Abreau

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The aim of this study is to better understand, from the perspective of Critical Race Theory, the experiences of adolescent males who are Black and living in the United States and to examine how they build resilience and survival skills. Participants were between the ages of 18 and 26 and asked to recall adolescent experiences as part of a semi-structured interview with a Black Storytelling approach. There were six participants and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. According to the results, there were seven themes: (1) Policing In the United States of America Comes in Many Forms, (2) Recognizing Racism …

Therapeutic Interventions For Adolescents With Non-Epileptic Seizures, Noah Trantel

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Although there have been some studies that explore the lived experiences of adults with non-epileptic seizures, there have been limited studies that examine the lived experiences of adolescents and emerging adults with non-epileptic seizures. This qualitative study explored the experiences of emerging adults who had been diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures during adolescence. The study focused on specific interventions utilized in therapy that they found helpful, highlighted what their experiences were throughout their daily lives, and what treatment recommendations were provided. The research will also help guide parents, clinicians, and individuals with NES towards treatment recommendations. Eight participants completed an in-depth, …

Romantic Relationships And Adult Third Culture Kids, Samantha B. Hoffmann

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explored the lived experiences of romance and love among the Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCKs) population. A total sample of 10 participants was collected for the purpose of the study (five female and five male). Participants were of varying ethnicities, 25–46 years of age, met the study criteria for TCK identity, and reported at least one previous or current romantic relationship. Participants endorsed a history of a mobilized lifestyle and living in countries differing from their own passport country prior to the age of 18. Utilizing an Interpretive Phenomenological approach, participants were interviewed remotely and asked to describe …

"The In-Betweeners": The Lived Experience Of Adult Cochlear Implant Users, Aylah Sroloff

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of adult cochlear implant (CI) users, implanted prior to the age of 10-years-old. Seven adult CI users were recruited. In-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted to explore participants’ experiences and identities as CI users. Transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, through which six group experimental themes were generated: (a) CIs and identity,” (b) social isolation, (c) advocacy, (d), costs and benefits of integration into the hearing world, and (e) “the future of CIs.” This study’s findings highlighted participants’ perspectives on living with CIs, the challenges they face, their process of identity exploration, …

Marginalized Sexual- And Gender-Identified Clients In University Counseling Centers: Best Psychotherapy Practices, Sara M. Cauley

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Young adults in college experience significant rates of mental health difficulties. The mental wellness of young adults has shown to have a substantial link to future success, health, and well-being. Individuals with marginalized sexual and gender identities (SGM) often hold additional mental health difficulties due to having identities that typically defy societyʼs assumptions and expectations, and these assumptions/expectations are presented to youth from a young age. The distress experienced by SGM individuals can often be relational in nature due to living in and relating to a heteronormative, cisgender society that stigmatizes and oppresses SGM individuals. University Counseling Centers (UCC) typically …

A Mixed Methods Investigation Into Latino Fathers' Roles In Their Children's Educational Expectations, Jordan A. Arellanes, Kyle Miller, Eric D. Wesselmann

Faculty Publications – Psychology

Latino fathers make meaningful contributions toward their children’s educational expectations. Cultural factors and structural barriers may shape unique parenting roles for Latino fathers and their influence on their children’s educational expectations. To explore the culturally nuanced roles of Latino fathers, we conducted a convergent mixed-methods study with 244 emerging adults to gain their perceptions of their fathers’ parenting roles and how those roles influenced the relation between the fathers’ and emerging adult children’s educational expectations. A content analysis of qualitative data identified positive (e.g. motivation and emotional support) and negative roles (e.g. family absence and overworking) that participants perceived their …

Body Image And Social Media In College Students, Elaine M. Kozmiuk, Sawyer Ellis, Mary Pritchard, Heather Schoenherr (Mentor)

Modern Psychological Studies

The current study assessed the relationship between social media appearance-related preoccupation (SMARP), body shame, body surveillance, and social physique anxiety (SPA). Data were collected from 1,049 participants, and a correlational analysis and a hierarchal regression were conducted. Significant relationships were found between body shame, body surveillance, SMARP, and SPA, supporting our hypotheses. Our results confirmed the relationship between SPA and SMARP, adding evidence to a mixed debate about the relationships between SPA and social media use. The researchers found that SPA moderated the relationship between body shame and SMARP. We can conclude that appearance anxieties and appearance-based social media use …

Identifying Patterns For Neurological Disabilities By Integrating Discrete Wavelet Transform And Visualization, Soo Yeon Ji, Sampath Jayarathna, Anne M. Perrotti, Katrina Kardiasmenos, Dong Hyun Jeong

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Neurological disabilities cause diverse health and mental challenges, impacting quality of life and imposing financial burdens on both the individuals diagnosed with these conditions and their caregivers. Abnormal brain activity, stemming from malfunctions in the human nervous system, characterizes neurological disorders. Therefore, the early identification of these abnormalities is crucial for devising suitable treatments and interventions aimed at promoting and sustaining quality of life. Electroencephalogram (EEG), a non-invasive method for monitoring brain activity, is frequently employed to detect abnormal brain activity in neurological and mental disorders. This study introduces an approach that extends the understanding and identification of neurological disabilities …

Making Something Out Of Nothing: Immobility As An Operant, KaʻAla K. Bajo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The tradition of research in the experimental analysis of behavior generally emphasizes the analysis of overt, discrete responses such as lever presses or key pecks. Reflecting this emphasis, definitions of behavior involve the observable action or movement of an organism through space. Although continuous responses involving little to no movement, such as “holding still” or “immobility”, fall outside these definitions, immobility is a form of continuous, operant responding that can be learned and experimentally controlled. Three experiments were conducted to investigate parameters surrounding immobility as an operant. In Experiment 1, immobility in the form of platform-standing bouts was shaped and …

Internal And Social Sources Shape Judgments About The Mental And Physical Nature Of An Experience, Jacinth Jia Xin Tan, Alexander Karan, Dolores Albarracin

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Although humans are intuitive dualists, little is known about whether they hold lay beliefs about the origins or sources of their intuitive perceptions of what is physical and what is mental. Drawing on theories of the sources of phenomenological experiences, we examined if people hold beliefs about the internal and social origins of judments that their experiences are physical or mental. In Study 1, participants provided physical or mental judgments about a range of personal experiences, and reported relying on both internal (i.e., examining own body and thoughts) and social (i.e., observing others) sources as information for their judgments. To …

The Transdiagnostic Role And Measurement Of Cognitive Inflexibility Across Understudied Eating Disorder Groups: A Multi-Method Investigation, Mckenzie Miller

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Cognitive inflexibility is an established transdiagnostic executive function deficit that maintains a wide array of psychiatric conditions. Eating disorders (ED) are serious, life-threatening conditions that remain underdiagnosed and understudied across diverse demographic groups. There is growing evidence for a role of cognitive inflexibility in driving hallmark ED symptoms, particularly in anorexia nervosa. Treatments targeting cognitive inflexibility may improve the currently poor outcomes of these conditions. To date, the role of cognitive inflexibility remains to be examined across demographically and diagnostically diverse ED groups. The first two studies presented here examine associations between cognitive inflexibility and symptom presentation in two relatively …

Lateralization Of Motor Behavior As A Measure Of Cognitive Functioning And Resting-State Electrocortical Activity, Alina Dillahunt

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background. Research has shown that the laterality between hands in self-report and motor measures maps onto hemispheric lateralization and this has important implications for psychopathology (e.g., depression) and cognition. The present study evaluates the relationship between performance on finger-tapping tasks (FTT), alpha power during resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), handedness, and relevant psychological outcomes. Methods. A sample of 48 individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 completed online assessments including a modified FTT paradigm, the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, and a common depression measure. A subset of 20 participants completed assessments of motor and executive functioning including a self-report executive functioning measure, …

Predictors Of Canadians’ Psychological Well-Being In Retirement: A Mixed Methods Approach, Jessica Miller

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In prior decades, retirement research focused on the negative effects of the life transition—such as negative psychological well-being caused by factors such as difficulties adjusting to retirement, feelings of a role loss, or the financial effects of retirement. However, there is considerable agreement across recent research studies that post-retirement years are marked by positive psychological well-being due to a variety of factors. For example, retirees often spend more time in roles (such as volunteer positions) that provide life satisfaction. The present study uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine factors related to well-being in retirement among individuals living in …

Language Acquisition, Mental Health, And Acculturation Among Migrants In Canada, Ali Jasemi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines the integration of first-generation migrants in Canada, focusing on the constructs of acculturation, language proficiency, and mental health. With nearly a quarter of Canada's population comprising migrants (Statistics Canada, 2022), understanding their adjustment is critical. Acculturation, language proficiency, and mental health can all have an impact on the success of migrants in their new country (Balidemaj et al. 2019; Brance et al. 2023; Iversen et al. 2014; Rousseau et al. 2019; Rashtchi et al. 2012; Salami et al. 2019). There are a limited number of studies examining these variables in relation to certain migrant groups, such as …

Social Interaction, Social Cognition, And Personality In Gartersnakes And Ball Pythons, Morgan Skinner

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Snakes are often considered non-social animals. However, this is mostly an untested assumption and the limited research that has been done has shown that snakes interact socially when given the opportunity. Here, the complexity of snake social interactions was explored through a social cognition and personality lens. Group and individual behavioural assays were used to explore flexibility and consistency in social interactions. The results provide evidence that elucidate the function, development, and evolution of these behaviours in snakes. In the first experimental chapter, chapter 2, social network analysis was used to provide a detailed description of aggregation behaviour in 4 …

Examination Of The Differences And Similarities In The Classification Of Multiple Homicide Perpetrators, Lucy M. Papp

Theses and Dissertations

The applied dissertation compares the lifestyle and behavioral characteristics of mass, serial, and spree murderers. Historically, studies have focused on serial murder according to the perpetrator's typology or indicators at the crime scene. The current topics of research lack a comparison of these classifications. While the classification and described typologies are essential for academic and investigative purposes, understanding the impactful lifestyle factors of these perpetrators may also serve as an essential factor in predictive analysis, victimology, and the motive behind their heinous crimes.

The researcher collected data on the classifications for each type of multiple homicide perpetrator: mass, serial, and …

Compassion Cartography: Mapping The Psychological Landscape Of Altruistic Equity And Effectiveness, Kyle Fiore Law

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Psychologists and philosophers have often championed deliberative reasoning over empathy as a better approach to overcoming parochial biases and guiding altruistic equity and effectiveness. Advocates of the effective altruism (EA) philosophy even advise philanthropists to downregulate empathic responses to maximize the impact of their donations. However, recent research reveals that extraordinary altruists (XAs), such as those who donate organs to strangers, are driven primarily by empathy. This dissertation explores whether empathy necessarily impedes altruistic equity (impartial regard for others’ welfare) and effectiveness (prioritizing impact), revealing a more nuanced reality that challenges this perspective. Across two phases of research involving three …

The Role Of Familial Support And Gender In Asian American Students’ Stem Career Development: A Test Of Social Cognitive Career Theory, Xiao Ting Wang

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This study, based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent et al., 1994, 2000), investigated the role of familial support in the STEM career development of Asian American college students. Participants included 446 first-year undergraduate students who identified as Asian or Asian American and had not declared an academic major. Due to multicollinearity, four initial familial support variables—instrumental assistance, career-related modeling, verbal encouragement, and emotional support—were regrouped into two: performance motivation (instrumental assistance and verbal encouragement) and career mentoring (career-related modeling and emotional support). Structural equation modeling showed acceptable fit for a modified model, and the results partially supported the …

Outcome-Based Patient-Therapist Matching Implementation: A Study Of Clinician Beliefs And Attitudes, Ashleigh Smith

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background. Implementation science aims to identify methods that support the adoption of evidence-based practices (EBPs), including measurement-based care (MBC) and MBC-informed patient-therapist matching. Examining clinician attitudes can elucidate potential barriers to implementing EBPs, and attitudinal differences may exist across groups of therapists. In the context of a patient-therapist matching implementation project, this multi-method study investigated the relationship between clinician characteristics, attitudes toward EBPs/MBC, and implementation climate. Method. A sample of N = 72 therapists completed measures of demographic and clinical characteristics, attitudes toward EBPs, perceptions of implementation climate, and attitudes toward monitoring and feedback. A subset of N …

Development Of A Measure Assessing Adolescent Aggression: The Aggressive Behavior Risk Assessment- Adolescent- Parent Report (Abra-A-Pr), Katherine Fallon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Although parent-report scales for general behavioral difficulties and aggression (e.g., verbal and physical aggression) exist, there are currently no measures assessing sexual behaviors in this context. Commonly, parent-report measures provide a few items relevant to behavioral aggression, and items encompassing sexually aggressive behaviors are frequently vague and non-specific in the actions being committed by the adolescent. The primary purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive and multifaceted parent-report measure for aggressive behavior in adolescents. Three separate studies were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the measure. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to investigate …