Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Views Of Feminist Family Therapy: A Q-Methodological Inquiry, Bronwen Cheek

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The feminist critique of family therapy has had a growing impact on theory and practice for almost two decades (Hare-Mustin, 1978; Bograd, 1990). Writings on feminist family therapy (FFT) reveal both common and diverse opinions about what FFT is. The present study examined how views of FFT are segmented using Q-methodology (Stephenson, 1953; Brown, 1980; McKeown & Thomas, 1988), a small-sample empirical technique for identifying emergent viewpoints and studying their similarities and differences. A Q-sort instrument of 60 statements was constructed to sample diverse discourse on FFT. Magraw's (1992) interviews with leading experts in FFT served as a primary source …

Mmpi And Rorschach Findings Of Individuals Approved For Gender Reassignment Surgery, Gregory Ralph Caron

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Both clinical experience and empirical data from psychological tests present a picture of extreme clinical variation among those individuals who request gender reassignment surgery. Results of past empirical studies utilizing the MMPI and the Rorschach Test have tended to be equivocal regarding the level and nature of psychopathology associated with samples of gender dysphorics. These past studies are considered limited particularly in terms of methodological problems related to statistical power. This present study examined the nature and degree of psychopathology in a sample of candidates approved for gender reassignment surgery as reflected on their MMPI-2 clinical scale values and scores …

The Association Between Perceived Family Support And Psychological Well-Being In Infertile Couples, Linda Marquardt Mintle

Health Services Research Dissertations

A correlational research design utilizing a cross-sectional survey methodology was used to investigate the association between perceived family support and psychological well-being in infertile couples. Family stress theory and the construct of boundary ambiguity were conceptual frameworks applied to the developmental family life cycle. Respondents were 35 married infertile couples with primary infertility recruited from a private For-profit infertility clinic located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Responses on the Moos and Moos (1984) Family Environment Scale and from the SCL-90-R developed by Derogatis (1977) measured perceived family support and psychological distress respectively. Major findings indicated that infertile couples rated their families …

Crisis Of Infertility: Effects Of Length Of Treatment On Emotional And Marital Adjustment, Christie L. Markestad

Graduate Theses

Twenty infertile couples participated in the present study to investigate whether infertile couples receiving medical treatment experience changes in their emotional, marital and sexual adjustment as a result of the length of time they have been in treatment. The couples were divided into three groups based on how long they had been seeking medical attention for infertility. The instruments administered were: SCL-90-R (Symptom Checklist), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS). It was predicted couples who were in the initial stages of treatment would experience increased levels of emotional, marital and sexual distress, however those levels would …

Development Of A K-Correction Factor For The Mmpi-A, Jody Jacobson Alperin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

In 1992, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Adolescent (MMPI-A) was developed to meet the unique experiences and needs of adolescents. Despite evidence that adolescents often demonstrate response biases in taking the MMPI-A, currently there is no method to systematically "correct" for the effect of test-taking attitude on profile configuration with this age group. The K-correction factor has been widely used to correct for defensiveness or underreporting of symptomatology on the MMPI among adult respondents, although results of cross-validation research on the effectiveness of the K-correction factor have been inconclusive. The present study derived age-appropriate K-weights to determine the degree …

Psychosocial Predictors Of Health Risk Factors In Adolescents, Steve Sussman, Clyde W. Dent, Alan W. Stacy, Dee Burton, Brian R. Flay

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Previous research has confirmed the role of problem-behavior theory constructs as predictors of nonconventional behaviors such as adolescent drug abuse. No prospective study, however, has examined this theory's relevance to less extreme nonconventional adolescent behaviors, such as poor health practices. In the present study, an attempt was made to predict an index composed of seven health risk factor items measured in 8th grade from numerous variables measured in 7th grade selected to reflect personality, perceived environment, and behavior systems of problem-behavior theory. In addition, problem-behavior theory was compared in predictive efficacy to a wellness notion. Factor analysis did not support …

A Biopsychosocial Perspective On Alcohol Use And Abuse On The College Campus, Carol Ann Davis

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Personality Variables Of Adult Children Of Alcoholics In A Treatment Sample As Measured By The Personality Research Form-E, Tamara K. Young

Masters Theses

There has been much personality research in the area of Adult Children of Alcoholics with varying results. This study examines personality variables in archival data of alcoholic clients in a residential treatment center with the use of the Personality Research Form-E (Jackson, 1984). A comparison was made between groups of non-ACOA clients and those with alcoholic parents in the areas of aggression, defendence, dominance and desirability. No significant differences were found between groups. Two other hypotheses were generated concerning male participants only. No significant differences were found for the trait of autonomy; however, male ACOA alcoholic participants were found to …

Personality Variables In Weeping Propensity, Michelle C. Lamb

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Until recently, few empirical studies have explored crying reactivity in normal adults. The present study investigated adult weeping by first developing the Weeping Propensity Scale (WPS) and then by comparing scores on that scale to traits which had been hypothesized to be related to weeping propensity. The WPS is a self-report, 22 item, Likert-type scale designed to measure an individual's tendency to react to emotional stimuli with tears. Factor analysis results and internal consistency are reported for the WPS. In order to investigate traits hypothesized to be related to the WPS, 173 university students completed the WPS, the Questionnaire Measure …

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Sexually Abused Children And Implications For Therapy, Robbie Jones

Graduate Theses

This study examined the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in sexually abused children. Sixty-seven children volunteered to participate in this study. Of the 67 children, 33 (26 female and 7 male) were sexually abused and 34 (22 female and 12 male) were non-sexually abused. Several instruments were employed to assess the severity of the symptoms of PTSD including the Children's PTSD Inventory, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Children's Depression Inventory, as well as others. The results of this study showed that sexually abused children have more symptoms of PTSD than non-sexually abused children. Early diagnosis and treatment of …

Psychosocial Variables As Prospective Predictors Of Violent Events Among Adolescents, Alan W. Stacy, Steve Sussman, Clyde W. Dent, Dee Burton, Brian R. Flay

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Violent events are main causes of mortality among children and include intentional (e.g., homicide) and unintentional (e.g., accidents) circumstances. This study investigated the prediction of the self-reported occurrence of 14 violent events among eighth-grade youth from psychosocial variables measured in these same youth in seventh grade. Psychosocial variables ineluded tobacco and alcohol use, demographic variables, interpersonal variables such as family conflict, and intrapersonal variables such as risk taking. An iterative procedure, involving selection of a set of predictors and a test of the correlation of the set of predictors to the set of events, provided support for an extension of …

The Influence Of Parental Alcohol Abuse On Later Adult Functioning, Jeanne Randle Hogan

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of Pre-Intake Attention On Kept Intake Appointments In An Outpatient Setting, Lauren Roberts

Masters Theses

The present study attempted to reduce the no-show rate for scheduled intake appointments at a local CMHC through the use of two interventions. Thirty-seven subjects who called for an intake appointment were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: an Orientation and Standard Intake Procedure or an Orientation and Modified Intake Procedure. Both treatment groups were compared to a Base Group consisting of intake appointments scheduled during the same time period the previous year. Individuals assigned to OMIP revealed a reduction in the no-show rate from 51% during baseline to 36%. Individuals assigned to OSIP did not reveal similar …

Personality Disorders In Mothers Of Children With An Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Dennis E. Bowman Jr.

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This investigation examined the presence of personality disorders in the mothers of children with an Attention- Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). This was accomplished by examining 60 male subjects ages 6 to 12. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) was administered to 20 mothers of children with ADHD, 20 mothers of children with ADHD and CD and a matched comparison group who did not meet the criteria for ADHD or CD. Repeated analysis of variance (ANOVAS) and Chi Square analyses were calculated on each MCMI-II scale and the Duncan's multiple range test was utilized to determine statistical significance. Data analyses revealed …

The Occurrence Of Alexithymia In Children And Adolescents With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Michael S. Routh

Graduate Theses

Previous studies of the relationship between alexithymia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have utilized samples of combat veterans with PTSD. However, children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and are diagnosed with PTSD exhibit similar or identical symptomology. The current study examined alexithymia in a sample of children and adolescents diagnosed with PTSD. It was hypothesized that the sample, when compared to non-PTSD and control samples, would reveal a significantly greater severity of alexithymia and PTSD. Although overall results were not consistent with previous research, trends of group means supported a relationship between alexithymia and PTSD. 1

Dependency Autonomy Stress And Depression: A Test Of An Interactive Model, Kathryn Kern Drury

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Two diathesis-stress models were used to predict depression. The additive model combined dependency and autonomy (dependency-autonomy) as the diathesis and also combined dependent and autonomous hassles or life events as stressors. The congruent model used either dependency and dependent stressors or autonomy and autonomous stressors. Ninety-seven female and 42 male undergraduate students completed self-report measures of dependency and autonomy, hassles and life events, and depression at three testing sessions one week apart. Hierarchical multiple regressions — with prior depression entered first and followed by dependency and/or autonomy, stress, and their interaction — indicated that additive models with a significant interaction …

The Identification And Magnitude Estimation Of Stressors In A Selected Military Population At One Training Command, Susan W. Miller

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the most stressful aspects of being a student at a military training command. ·Forty students listed the significant stressors that they encounter at the training command. This list was reviewed and consolidated into a stressor rating questionnaire with 16 stressors. A convenience sample of 86 students rated the stressors. In the second part of the study, the students rated the stressors on a scale of "0 to 1000". The study revealed that the most significant stressors for students were absence of family and friends, uncertainty about their future, dealing with instructor's attitudes, …

The Use Of Music Therapy To Influence The Self-Confidence And Hostility Of Adolescents Who Are Sexually Abused, Joy Clendenon-Wallen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether music therapy would be an effective therapeutic medium for reducing hostility and increasing the self-confidence of sexually abused adolescents. The study utilized an experimental and control group which is unique in the sexual abuse literature. Most studies are descriptive or quasi-experimental in nature. Some of the subjects increased their self-confidence and decreased their hostility although no statistical significance was achieved for either group. This study describes the treatment problems of sexually abused adolescents and offers examples of non-confrontational and goal directed treatment strategies which can be achieved through music therapy. Music …

Project Towards No Tobacco Use: Implementation, Process And Post-Test Knowledge Evaluation, Steve Sussman, Clyde W. Dent, Alan W. Stacy, Carol S. Hodgson, Dee Burton, Brian R. Flay

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

This paper describes the curricula contents, and presents data to evaluate the implementation, process and immediate post-test knowledge of Project Towards No Tobacco Use (Project TNT). Four different school-based tobacco use prevention curricula were developed to counteract the effects of three types of tobacco use acquisition variables typically addressed within a comprehensive social influences program: (1) peer approval for using tobacco (normative social influence), (2) incorrect social informational provided about tobacco use (information social influence) and (3) lack of knowledge or misperceptions about physical consequences resulting from tobacco use. Three curricula were designed to counteract the effects of single acquisition …

Refusal Assertion Versus Conversational Skill Role-Play Competence: Relevance To Prevention Of Tobacco Use, Steve Sussman, Alan W. Stacy, Clyde W. Dent, Catherine Burciaga, Dee Burton, Brian R. Flay

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Conversational and refusal assertion skills of 768 seventh grade youth were assessed through ratings of global (for example, effectiveness) and non-verbal (for example, eye contact) behaviour performed in two role-play scenarios. The ratings were completed after each scenario by the subjects themselves, as well as by classmate and trained adult observers. Use of the Hays and Hayashi multitrait scaling method to interpret these data revealed two results. First, the items used to measure role-play behaviour did not achieve sufficient internal consistency to create global and non-verbal composites. Second, inter-rater agreement and discriminant validity were obtained only for ratings of the …

Identification Of Which High Risk Youth Smoke Cigarettes Regularly, Alan W. Stacy, Steve Sussman, Clyde W. Dent, Thomas R. Simon, Dee Burton, Brian R. Flay

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

This study investigated which variables distinguish high school-aged adolescents who identify themselves as members of a high-risk group and, among them, those who report regular (weekly) vs. light levels of cigarette smoking. Youth who identified with a high-risk group were most likely to report problem-prone characteristics, such as a preference to take risks and smoke cigarettes. Yet, only half of them reported regular levels of smoking. Two variables delineated light smoking among these youth: not having a close friend who smoked and placing an importance on health as a value. Development of new tobacco-use prevention strategies to impart health values …

Cognitive Motivations And Sensation Seeking As Long-Term Predictors Of Drinking Problems, Alan W. Stacy, Michael D. Newcomb, Peter M. Bentler

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

The development of comprehensive theories regarding the determinants of
vulnerability toward drinking problems depends in part on longitudinal evidence
linking psychosocial precursors to clinically-relevant problem consequences. In
an investigation of some of the more promising psychosocial precursors of
problem vulnerability, we evaluated the long-term predictive effects of adolescent
cognitive motivations for alcohol use and sensation seeking on a wide variety of
adult drinking-problem consequences including driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Results indicated that the Cognitive Motivation factor was a significant, independent, nine-year predictor of a factor of Drinking-Problem Consequences. Over this same period, certain cognitive motivation and sensation seeking indicators independently …

Acceptance Of Persons With Mental Illnesses: Labeling Effects And Sex Differences, Laura J. Anderson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a label per se on the acceptance of persons with mental illnesses. The design was a two (Sex of Subject) by two (Sex of Vignette Character) by two (Label of Mental Illness versus Label of No Mental Illness) factorial design. Sixty male and 72 female undergraduates participated. Each subject read one of four vignettes which provided a mildly positive description of an individual who was either male or female and who either had or did not have a label of mental illness. The vignettes were identical except for manipulation …

Symptoms Of Stress And Social Support In Wives Of State Legislators, Kimberly Montgomery

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine if wives of politicians differ from other wives in terms of symptoms of stress and social support. There were N = 50 political wives and N = 68 nonpolitical wives who served as subjects. Using the General Health Questionnaire-28, the two groups were compared on aspects of stress (e.g., somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression) and coping (e.g., emotional and practical support as measured by the Significant Others Scale). The results indicated that political wives report more stress symptoms than nonpolitical wives. Significant differences were also found between …

Examination Of Community Mental Health Services For Persons With Serious Mental Illness: A Descriptive Study Of 31 Counties In Michigan, Pamela C. Werner

Masters Theses

Thirty-one out of 55 Community Mental Health Boards participated in a survey conducted by the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Michigan. This study examined a number of variables in the questionnaire using a product-moment correlational analysis.

Results indicated that family and consumer input is modestly correlated with comprehensive service delivery and staff/consumer education and training. Budget and the active number of mentally ill cases had a low correlation with comprehensive service delivery and staff/consumer education and training. Interagency collaboration was modestly correlated with program evaluation, and comprehensive services available to consumers. Weaknesses were noted in the management structure of …

Gender And Age Differences In Self-Generated Coping Strategies For Depression, Joan R. Hudson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined coping strategies generated by a community sample of 527 adult men and women in response to three vignettes that described various presentations of depression. Analyses revealed quantitative differences by vignette and by subject variables. Results indicated that women gave more coping strategies than men. Social support was the most frequently suggested method of coping, and younger subjects mentioned it significantly more than older adults. Younger subjects also suggested ~ore inactive coping strategies in general. situational context was a strong determinant of type of strategy suggested, although beliefs about depression also influenced coping strategies. Results of multiple regression …

Relationship Satisfaction As A Function Of The Discrepancy Between Experienced And Desired Levels Of Intimacy, Joan I. Malcolm

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the effect of discrepancies between experienced versus desired levels ·of intimacy on relationship satisfaction using data from 13§ undergraduate students. Subjects completed the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (PAIR), the Dyaqic Relationship Questionnaire (DRQ), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and a Background Questionnaire (BQ). Correlation and multiple regression analyses indicated that discrepancies between Desired and Experienced Intimacy, as measured by the PAIR and DRQ, was highly predictive of relationship satisfaction, as measured by the DAS. However, Experienced Intimacy was a better predictor of relationship satisfaction. Both males and females ranked Emotional Intimacy as most important …

Characteristics Of Habitual Dysfunctional Behaviors, Carole Ryan Serena

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The suggestion that habitual dysfunctional behavior disorders (HDBs) have a common underlying cluster of addictive characteristics and dynamics is new. A broad research base which would support this theory has not kept current with clinical In order successes. In order to address the need for relevant research, an anonymous cross sectional study was designed to identify, describe and compare variables associated with 15 habitual dysfunctional behaviors (HDBs) in a sample (N =176) from a broad spectrum of socioeconomic groups.

People reporting two different HDBs (alcohol and food-related behaviors) were compared to those not reporting any HDBs on levels of four …

The Mmpi-2 Clinical Scales And Clinical Diagnosis: Differentiating Between Schizophrenic And Bipolar-Manic Disorders, Laura M. Volkmann

Graduate Theses

The validity of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) clinical scales in differentiating schizophrenia and bipolar-manic disorders was evaluated in terms of MMPI-2 congruence with psychiatric hospital treatment team diagnoses. From a pool of 286 MMPI-2 profiles, valid profiles were obtained on 5 schizophrenia (paranoid type) inpatients and 5 bipolar-manic disordered psychiatric inpatients and were assessed by using each of four MMPI profile classification methods. Overall, the rate of agreement between treatment team diagnosis and the MMPI profile classification methods for both the schizophrenia (paranoid type) and bipolar-manic disordered groups was inconclusive. The results suggest that the MMPI-2 is of …

Social Support For Family Caretakers Of The Chronically Mentally Ill, Gina L. Bankes

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the relation between coping style, social support, family member symptom severity, and negative affect. Fifty-one caretakers of chronically mentally ill family members completed a demographic questionnaire, a general appraisal questionnaire, a family member symptom severity questionnaire, the Coping Strategy Indicator, the Social Support Questionnaire, and the Multiple Affect Anxiety Checklist. Caretakers with family members living at home were different than caretakers with family members living away from home (HOME) in several respects. Controlling for HOME, family member symptom severity was related to negative affect, coping strategies were related to negative affect and the Social Support Questionnaire …