Digital Commons Network^™

Treatment Considerations For Adoption-Related Complex Trauma, Jessica Reyka

Dissertations

The western culture holds many assumptions related to adoption; however, it is clear based on the research provided that adoption and the circumstances leading up to being adopted often leave the child traumatized. Many adopted individuals and adoptive families seek mental health services in order to help address some of the symptoms that have manifested through traumatic events. However, the services they are receiving are reportedly lacking in basic knowledge related to adoption and have, at times, done more harm than good. As clinicians, it is important to acknowledge one's scope of clinical competence and to only treat individuals that …

Egyptian Media Policies To Protect Minors From Harmful Content And Promote Positive Media Use, Nour Hussien Abu-Seada

Theses and Dissertations

Children are by far the most important asset for the future of any nation. Hence, any investment in them will not only reflect positively or negatively on their homeland and society, but maybe even the whole world. With the understanding that early childhood is an extremely important and critical stage for mental, physical and psychological development, it is highly important to constantly provide a healthy environment for young children in order to nourish those seeds that will harvest the future. Media is on the forefront means influencing peoples lives nowadays, some even consider it a source of information. Children, being …

Social Work Student's Perception Of Canine Therapy For Children Of Trauma, Gia Valdez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The bond between animals and humans is one that has been consistent and unyielding since the beginning of time. Although animals have a long working history in assisting on battlefields and working for the police, it is only within recent decades that they have started expanding their job duties to include disaster relief, educational supports, and trauma care. This movement of training canines for specialty fields to work alongside their human companions comes at a time when the field of social work is also diversifying to a more expansive and accessible profession. This study will use interview style questions to …

Prevalence Of Ametropia, Amblyopia And Visual Impairment In Schoolchildren In Ireland, Siofra Harrington

Doctoral

Background: Uncorrected refractive error is an avoidable cause of visual impairment (Naidoo et al., 2016). Currently, there is a lack of adequate data on eye and vision disorders in schoolchildren in Ireland. Accurate prevalence estimates of refractive error and vision disorders are necessary to determine their impact on public health and to assess the need for interventions (McCarty and Taylor, 2000). Purpose: This study reports the prevalence of ametropia, presenting visual impairment, amblyopia and provides population norms for ocular biometric measures in schoolchildren in Ireland. Links between refractive error and demographic and lifestyle factors were investigated. The impact of poor …

The Influence Of Perceived Parenting On Substance Initiation Among Mexican Children, Alejandro L. Vázquez, Melanie M. Domenech-Rodriguez, Nancy G. Amador Buenabad, Marycarmen N. Bustos Gamiño, María De Lourdes Gutierrez López, Jorge A. Villatoro Velázquez

Psychology Faculty Publications

Parents shape their children's behaviors and impact their developmental trajectories. Despite this, few studies have examined the potential relationship between child reported parenting factors and lifetime substance use and use intentions. The current study examined the potential impact of parenting factors (i.e., positive parenting, supervision, parental illicit substance use, substance-specific communication) on early substance use and intentions among Latinx children. Data for the present study utilized a representative sample of Mexican children (n = 52,171; 5th and 6th grades) who participated in a national survey on substance use. Children reported their demographics, lifetime substance use/intentions, and perceived parenting characteristic …

Propofol Administration For The Prevention Of Emergence Agitation In Pediatric Anesthesia, Casey L. Pesch

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Protecting Internally Displaced Children In Armed Conflicts: Nigeria In Focus, Olaitan O. Olusegun Dr. (Mrs.), Adedokun Ogunfolu Dr.

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

Internal displacement, especially of children, is a common consequence of armed conflict. Children who become internally displaced as a result of armed conflict face significant trauma due to their vulnerability, in addition to the fact that many of them lose their parents before being moved to internal displacement camps. Moreover, the conditions of some of these camps are not favorable and may affect children’s health and wellbeing. Internally displaced children therefore need protection and care by the national governments of affected countries, with support from the international community. However, Nigeria has not effectively protected children who have been displaced by …

A Time To Play: A Literature Review On Trauma-Informed Play And Expressive Arts Therapy Approaches For Low-Income Children, Leila Hashimi Malone

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Low-income children are often subjected to stressors and traumas such as hunger, abuse, neglect, and mental illness among caretakers. These stressors are a known source of debilitating stress and long-term dysfunction. Stress has been shown to adversely affect the body’s immune system, incapacitates one’s focus, and cause neurobiological transformation in the human brain. This reaction is particularly pronounced in children during a vulnerable time in their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. These changes have been known to manifest as cognitive deficits, emotional disorders, and learning disabilities, along poor physical health outcomes. Managing stress in low-income children is a critical …

Existential Art Therapy In Children’S Bereavement Groups: Development Of A Method, Catherine Johnson

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Children and adolescents who have experienced the death of a family member are faced with the emotional journey of grieving their loss, which may be accompanied with existential concerns about life and death in general. Bereavement programs serve to connect children with others who know what losing a family member is like. Art therapy can be used in these bereavement groups to express and give shape to the emotions and memories the participants have. It is a non-verbal way to reflect and find meaning that can come from post-traumatic growth. This capstone thesis project explores an art therapy method for …

Beyond Regression: An Investigation Of Art Material Choice For Children With Trauma, Natalie Lane

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Choice in art materials and the artistic process are arguably two of the primary facets of how art making can be therapeutic. The purpose of the present inquiry was to investigate the impacts of art material choice in children who have experienced trauma. Using the expressive therapies continuum (ETC) as a foundation for choosing art materials in a therapeutic context, this inquiry sought to introduce art materials in the kinesthetic/sensory component of the ETC (e.g., clay, paint, large paint brushes, etc.). As a mediating consideration, this inquiry articulated the responsibilities and obligations that the art therapist possesses in working with …

Connecting Etc And Arc: The Beginnings Of An Integrative Framework For Working With Children With Relational Trauma, A Literature Review, Melissa Taylor

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Relational trauma is an impactful experience, affecting a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Children with relational trauma experiences are particularly vulnerable due to being in a stage of active development. Relational trauma can have a lasting impact on a child’s psychosocial, cognitive, and neurological development. This literature review explores the current research concerning children who have experienced relational trauma, the developmental impact of relational trauma, the treatment needs of this population, and a current, evidence-based treatment option for this population—the Attachment, Self-Regulation, Competency (ARC) framework. On the basis of this research, this literature review will outline how expressive arts …

Digital Music Making: Developing A Method For Using Technology In Music Psychotherapy, Sangeetha Kavety

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The use of technology, specifically digital songwriting and music making, in the context of psychotherapy is a subject that is not yet as well researched or practiced in the field of music therapy. The majority of the existing literature acknowledges the assistive function that technology such as tablets, smartphones, and computers can play in treatment of populations with cognitive and motor difficulties. However, there is little regarding the use of technology as the main means of creating music, and even less in the context of treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in family settings. For this capstone project, …

Mindful Mandala Art Therapy In Partial Hospitalization With Children: Development Of A Method, Kristen Sampson

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper discusses an art therapy mindfulness mandala group method created for use within a partial hospitalization program (PHP) setting with children in Boston, MA. Literature regarding partial hospitalization population, therapeutic needs, and treatment was reviewed in order to develop a method to therapeutically benefit child clients aged nine-thirteen at the PHP. Due to the symptomology of clients within the program, much of which was due to frequent histories of trauma among clients, research into therapeutic treatment involved a review of mindfulness interventions for those who have experienced trauma. The writer then created a mindfulness mandala art therapy group, aiming …

Sensory Art Therapy With Students In Public Schools: Development Of A Method, Sarah Como

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Art therapy is an effective service for students in public schools that struggle with academic, social, emotional, behavioral and other issues. Art therapy is widely used with school-aged children and adolescents; however, it is not commonly provided as a service in public schools. Research shows that when art therapy is provided in schools, students experience a wide-range of benefits including but not limited to communication development, decrease in disruptive behaviors, feelings of empowerment, belonging, safety and confidence, improved mood, an increase in coping strategies and stress reduction. Art therapists working in schools report difficulties resulting from a lack of understanding …

Auditory Distraction Does More Than Disrupt Rehearsal Processes In Children’S Serial Recall, Angela M. Aubuchon, Corey I. Mcgill, Emily M. Elliott

Faculty Publications

As children mature, their ability to remember information improves. This improvement has been linked to changes in verbal control processes such as rehearsal. Rehearsal processes are thought to undergo a quantitative shift around 7 years of age; however, direct measurement of rehearsal is difficult. We investigated a measure of rehearsal ability in children and compared this measurement to serial recall performance in the presence of auditory distractors. Theories of auditory distraction effects in children rely upon a combination of attentionally based and serial-order-based processes (Elliott et al. in Journal of Memory and Language, 88, 39–50, 2016); the present work contributes …

The Effect Of Retrieval Practice On Vocabulary Learning For Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Casey Krauss Reimer

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The goal of the current study was to determine if students who are deaf or hard of hearing (d/hh) would learn more new vocabulary words through the use of retrieval practice than repeated exposure (repeated study). No studies to date have used this cognitive strategy—retrieval practice—with children who are d/hh. Previous studies have shown that children with hearing loss struggle with learning vocabulary words. This deficit can negatively affect language development, reading outcomes, and overall academic success. Few studies have investigated specific interventions to address the poor vocabulary development for children with hearing loss. The current study investigated retrieval practice …

Mental Health Of Children With Chronic Illness, Courtney B. Hoster

Honors Capstones

The purpose of this literature review is to examine the current trends in research surrounding pediatric physical chronic illness and mental health outcomes. The rate of children in the United States living with a chronic illness continues to increase and oftentimes, healthcare providers may not recognize the mental health implications associated with living with a chronic physical condition. All articles utilized in this literature review were found using CINAHL Complete. Each article was published within the last five years and has been peer reviewed. The review of literature showed that children living with a chronic physical condition are more likely …

Exercise Program At Seacoast Youth Academy, Mamie R. Henshaw, Justin Guilkey

Honors Theses

Worldwide the prevalence of child obesity is increasing, this affects many aspect of their daily lives, including their overall health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to discuss different options to prevent and combat adolescent obesity in children at an impatient health facility. This study included children living in an inpatient health facility, The Seacoast Youth center. A majority of these patients are on atypical medications for various reasons including psychiatric illnesses. An unfortunate side effect from atypical medications is weight gain. This study used a variety of different methods including muscular endurance and cardiovascular training …

Understanding The Comorbidity Of Asthma And Anxiety In Childhood: Characteristics, Vulnerabilities, And Treatment Implications, Nicole Fleischer, Elizabeth Gosch, Phil Kendall

Research Day

Introduction: Given the high incidence of asthma and anxiety comorbidity, clinicians should be informed of the unique presentation of these clients in clinical practice. Although much is known about the development and characteristics of childhood anxiety, less is known about children with anxiety and comorbid asthma.

Methods: This study, using archival data, examined the potential differences in children with comorbid asthma and anxiety compared to children with anxiety from a random controlled trial. These two groups were compared on negative self-talk, number of physical symptoms, parent anxiety, content of their worries, and presence of panic, generalized anxiety, and …

Arkansas Principal Preparedness To Identify And Assist Students With Mental Health Needs, Candra Leigh Brasel

Theses and Dissertations from 2019

There is a growing need for children’s mental health services. With the majority of their time spent at school, educators are often the first adults in a child’s life to identify and assist students with mental health needs. However, oftentimes educators do not have the education and training needed to assist students with accessing quality mental health services. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the preparedness of Arkansas public school principals to assist students with mental health needs in this rapidly changing era of education. The participant sample of the study consisted of 133 Arkansas public school …

Gender Stereotyping In Children And Adults, Isis V. Hernandez

Honors Capstones

Gender stereotyping can have a big impact on the development of children, which can impact many aspects of an individual's life, even into adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine age-related changes in gender stereotyping. The sample consisted of forty-four children and adults between the ages of 3 and 60 years old. Participants were interviewed using gender stereotyping scripts and presentations of images. They were shown two images of either a toy, activity, occupation, or a personality trait, and a boy and girl. Then they were told to point to one picture or both pictures of the boy …

Children Of Milagros: Bringing Aid To A Community Center In Need, Matthew Ashley

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Children of Milagros, Inc. (COM) was organized for the charitable purposes of providing tuition for educational and developmental services to underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic. Currently COM offers aid to a sole beneficiary, Espacio Infantil Madison (EIM). EIM is a community center in Gurabo, Dominican Republic that provides a safe, educational environment for young children of low-income families. To establish a rationale for funding the space, this project explores the needs of the community as well as the present and future benefits of early childhood education and socialization for individuals. The remainder of this project discusses the founding of …

Development Of A School Boredom Proneness Scale For Children, Taylor Carrington

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

One common phrase heard from students is, “I’m bored.” However, there is no real understanding of what this actually means. In this study, elementary-age students were asked to respond to a newly developed School Boredom Proneness Scale (SBPS) including questions relating to a five-factor model of boredom. Students were also asked to rate how often they become bored at school and how bored they seem compared to classmates. In addition to student responses, parents and teachers were asked to rate how bored they thought the student was, and teachers were additionally asked to rate students’ level of work completion. The …

Resilience And Coping In Mothers Of Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Holly Carter

Dissertations

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prominent chronic illness in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) estimated that one child out of every 365 African-American births will have SCD, affecting approximately 100,000 Americans. Supporting and promoting the integrity of the family and its’ members when a child has SCD is important for each family member’s well-being. Specific family characteristics, such as resilience and coping are important to understand because they can mitigate stress and create positive family outcomes (Brown et al., 1993; Cousino & Hazen, 2013; Hildenbrand, Barakat, Alderfer, & Marsac, 2015; O’Hanlon, Camic, & …

Puffing Away Parental Rights: A Survey And Analysis Of Whether Secondhand Smoke Exposure Is Child Abuse, Karly Huml

Journal of Law and Health

The steps taken thus far to protect children in public areas, custody cases, and in vehicles show the legislature's awareness of the chemical harms of secondhand smoke for children. This article will analyze those steps and discuss what they mean for both parents' and children's constitutional rights. This article proposes that the legislature take a vital fourth step by including secondhand smoke exposure in child abuse laws. Section II of this article provides the history of smoking tobacco and its transition from a trendy social status to an unpopular, harmful habit. Section II also introduces the steps that have been …

The Practice Of Children’S Ministry: Developing A Cohesive Vision Of Practice With Church Leaders, Shannon Clarkson Rains

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to create a congregational workshop for church leaders that leads to the development of a cohesive vision for the practice of children’s ministry. In order to do this, I began by presenting the evolution of children’s ministry in the Churches of Christ along with the current tensions that exist between ministers and church leadership created by a lack of cohesive vision for the practice of children’s ministry. This foundational understanding of the origins of this tension supports my discussion of a vision for children’s ministry that includes attention to the spiritual formation of children—an …

Poverty In The School Setting, Brienna Wolf

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Poverty effects nearly every school district in the United States to some degree. This literature review explores the impacts poverty has on children in the school setting. This paper examined studies that looked at children ages six months through eighteen years of all socio-economic statuses and compared them specifically to children living below the poverty line. Through examining the significance and detriment of poverty in schools, I explain the different forms of poverty, myths and misconceptions about people living in poverty, the effects poverty has on brain development, barriers to accessing education, barriers within the educational system, and strategies to …

The Role Of Antecedent-Focused Emotion Regulatory Strategies On Emotionally Dysregulated Behavior Above And Beyond The Influence Of Adhd., Skyler C. Vanmeter

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Emotion dysregulation in children may contribute to poor interpersonal relationships and a variety of internalizing and externalizing psychopathological outcomes in children both with and without ADHD. This study serves to provide an examination of how emotional self-awareness and situationally appropriate emotional expression may affect an individual's ability to broadly regulate emotion and additionally provides an exploratory investigation of how these attributes may affect specific emotion regulation. The present study found that emotional self-awareness and emotion recognition may both contribute to emotion regulation through shared variance with each other rather than unique variance of either one. Exploratory analyses of regulation of …

Differentiating Cognitive Deficits Between Adhd And In Utero Polysubstance Exposure, Dylan J. Seitz

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

ADHD is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in children, affecting their executive and overall well-being as a result (Barkley, 2014; Shaw, Gogtay, & Rapoport, 2010). A rampant increase in new diagnoses of ADHD suggests the potential for misdiagnosis. Stimulants are the first line of treatment and associated with a number of deleterious long-term consequences for those misdiagnosed (Urban & Gao, 2014a). This is of particular concern for children prenatally exposed to substances as in utero use acts on similar neural mechanisms impacted by ADHD – leaving the children vulnerable to misdiagnosis and contraindicated intervention (Derauf, Kekatpure, Neyzi, Lester, & Kosofsky, …

Healthy Life Choice: Using The School-Based Program To Facilitate Change, Jennifer Shaheed

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Research highlights the multiple determinants of weight including poverty, nutrition, and physical activity (Miguel-Berges, 2018). Children and adolescents living in rural areas are at greater risk than their urban counterparts. Regarding physical activity, there are often fewer recreational resources and the high poverty rate precludes transportation or additional fees associated with many extracurricular activities. In response to this problem, research has shown the educational environment is a point of access to reinforce health education and behavior. One evidenced-based program showing significant outcome in improving health behavior is the Healthy Lifestyle Choices (HLC) which is designed to be delivered in an …