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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Family Cohesion And Perceived Stress As Predictors Of Quality Of Life In Maternal Caregivers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emily Henry Jan 2019

Family Cohesion And Perceived Stress As Predictors Of Quality Of Life In Maternal Caregivers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emily Henry

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study investigated factors that predict maternal caregivers’ quality of life in 115 mothers (25 - 55 years old) who had a child aged 5 to 12 years old with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Caregivers’ perceived stress and family cohesion were assessed to determine each factor’s predictive ability in predicting four domains of quality of life: physical health, psychological health, relationships, and environment. Results indicate that perceived stress significantly predicted all four quality-of-life domains. When adding in family cohesion, modest increases in predictive strength were observed for two domains of caregiver quality of life (i.e., psychological health and relationships). …


A Survey Of Teacher Receptiveness Regarding Inclusive Education Within A New Jersey Urban School District, Tammy Hobbs-Ginsberg Jan 2019

A Survey Of Teacher Receptiveness Regarding Inclusive Education Within A New Jersey Urban School District, Tammy Hobbs-Ginsberg

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The inclusion model is being implemented on a national scale in response to the United States Department of Education’s mandate that all pupils with special needs be integrated into the general education classroom. For the inclusion model to yield adequate yearly progress for all pupils, it must be appropriately applied. Research has indicated that an important factor in adequate implementation is an understanding of teachers’ initial attitudes concerning inclusion. The propose of this study is to survey the receptiveness of kindergarten through high school special and general education teachers in an urban New Jersey school district concerning inclusion. More specifically, …


Sleep, Communicative Ability, And Diet As Predictors Of Aggression In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rafat Omar Jan 2019

Sleep, Communicative Ability, And Diet As Predictors Of Aggression In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rafat Omar

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Aggression is a common behavioral issue in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Aggression is often treated with evidence-based behavioral treatments, such as applied behavioral analysis and functional communication training. Another form of intervention that has grown in popularity is to alter the child’s diet. The most popular dietary intervention, the autism diet, has been used as a form of behavior management by parents and guardians for children diagnosed with ASD to address aggressive behavior; however, its use has not been strongly supported by research. The authors proposed that a more beneficial way of understanding aggression in ASD is to …


Long-Term Use Of Beta-Blocker Medication In Pediatric Long Qt Syndrome Patients: Neuropsychological Profiles, Kara J. Rudisill Jan 2019

Long-Term Use Of Beta-Blocker Medication In Pediatric Long Qt Syndrome Patients: Neuropsychological Profiles, Kara J. Rudisill

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a heart rhythm disorder characterized by a disruption of the heart’s electrical activity that may cause accelerated and uncontrolled heartbeats referred to as ventricular fibrillation. LQTS is primarily treated with beta-blocker medications, which reduce the risk of experiencing an arrhythmia through regulating the heart rate. However, the potential neuropsychological side-effects associated with the use of beta-blocker medication may impact the executive functioning skills, mental health, and behavior of the affected pediatric population at home. As a result, a child’s academic performance and emotional regulation etiology may be misunderstood by his or her parents, caregivers, and …


Exploring Relationships Between Parenting Style, Perceived Stress, Coping Efficacy And Coping Strategies In Foster Parents, Jason Coleman Jan 2019

Exploring Relationships Between Parenting Style, Perceived Stress, Coping Efficacy And Coping Strategies In Foster Parents, Jason Coleman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Removing a youth from the care of their biological family can place them at heightened risk for behavioral, emotional, social, and academic problems, and contribute to parenting stress. Foster caregivers with a high burden level may be impeded in their ability to function effectively. Our study investigated relationships between foster parent stress, coping efficacy, coping strategies, and parenting style to identify effective coping strategies in 178 foster parents. Current foster parents completed self-report measures assessing parenting styles, Coping Self Efficacy Scale (CSE), Brief COPE, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results indicated foster parents with more than three years of experience …


Medical Students' Knowledge, Confidence, And Empathy Towards Dementia And Caregiver Stress, Courtney Williamson Jan 2019

Medical Students' Knowledge, Confidence, And Empathy Towards Dementia And Caregiver Stress, Courtney Williamson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Early diagnosis of dementia and dementia-related illnesses provides increased time for treatment, which is aimed at maintaining patient function and delaying decline (Teel, 2004). Empirical studies have shown a decline in empathy during undergraduate and graduate medical education (Hojat et al., 2009). This study examines differences between 2nd and 4th year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students’ knowledge, empathy and confidence in working with individuals diagnosed with dementia and addressing caregiver stress. Students from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine completed an online survey which included the Knowledge in Dementia Scale (KIDE), Jefferson Scale …


Predictors Of Quality Of Life In Lupus Patients: A Study Of Coping, Cognitive Distortions, And Social Support, Kyle Osbourne Jan 2019

Predictors Of Quality Of Life In Lupus Patients: A Study Of Coping, Cognitive Distortions, And Social Support, Kyle Osbourne

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cognitive distortions, social support, and/or levels of coping skills predict quality of life (QOL) for women with SLE. The total sample consisted of 62 women ranging in age from 18 to 55 years. This study was conducted online via SurveyMonkey in an effort to reach the specialized SLE female population and recruit individuals who otherwise may not have been able to participate due to limitations in mobility and/or lack of transportation. The measures consisted of the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD), the WHOQOL-BREF (WHOQOL), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support …


Assessing The Validity Of The Quotient Adhd System And Its Value In A Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment Battery For Adult Adhd, Hillary Ammon Scharf Jan 2019

Assessing The Validity Of The Quotient Adhd System And Its Value In A Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment Battery For Adult Adhd, Hillary Ammon Scharf

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Quotient ADHD System (the Quotient) as a tool for the assessment of adult ADHD. At the time of this study, the Quotient was a widely accepted measure, yet there was a paucity of empirical evidence for its use with adults. This study reviewed the relationship between adult participants’ (N = 151) scores on two self-reported measures, the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) and the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale – IV (BAARS-IV), and the Quotient at a university-based ADHD-specialty outpatient clinic in a large …


The Relationship Between Personal Values And Personality Traits In Inpatient Behavioral Patients, Chelsea M. Frank Jan 2019

The Relationship Between Personal Values And Personality Traits In Inpatient Behavioral Patients, Chelsea M. Frank

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Inpatient behavioral-health hospital admission has become an important therapeutic option for severely ill psychiatric patients and accounts for one third of the national mental-healthcare costs. After discharge, approximately 40% of patients with psychiatric problems are rehospitalized within 1 year of release from an inpatient behavioral-health hospital. Currently, no clear agreement exists within the psychology field as to which variables predict readmission. Identifying personal values and personality traits in assessment may be beneficial to help understand individual’s better, thereby informing treatment planning to help reduce the rate of readmission. The present study examined the relationship between personal values and personality traits …


The Effects Of A Guided Imagery Intervention On The Working Memory Of Primary Aged Students, Monica D. Addison-Walker Jan 2019

The Effects Of A Guided Imagery Intervention On The Working Memory Of Primary Aged Students, Monica D. Addison-Walker

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Many practitioners view working memory as the temporary capacity to store and manipulate information. Current findings suggest a developmental trajectory of working memory and other executive functions. Limited research has been effective in improving working memory using short term methods; however, recent findings suggest guided imagery and mindfulness meditation improves working memory in children. This study examined whether or not a 30 day guided imagery intervention affected the working memory of students in the primary grades of an elementary school. Participants from a sample of convenience were randomly assigned to a guided imagery intervention (n = 12) or to a …


Teachers’ Perception Of A Cooking Intervention To Increase Social Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Behavioral Disabilities, Jennifer Malik Jan 2019

Teachers’ Perception Of A Cooking Intervention To Increase Social Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Behavioral Disabilities, Jennifer Malik

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study explored teachers and school staff’s perceptions of the impact of participation in a food-based social skills intervention for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and behavioral challenges. 1st-5th grade students who received special education and related services and were placed in self-contained programs in a suburban school district in New Jersey were eligible to participate in the intervention. The intervention consisted of a food-based social skills intervention in which students prepared food ordered by staff members. The students’ job duties included taking orders over the phone and in person, preparing requested food items, taking payments and counting change, and …


The Effect Of Social Problem-Solving, Health Anxiety, And Psychological Distress On Breast Cancer Genetic Testing Decisions In A Sample Of Healthy Women, Alexandria Muench Jan 2019

The Effect Of Social Problem-Solving, Health Anxiety, And Psychological Distress On Breast Cancer Genetic Testing Decisions In A Sample Of Healthy Women, Alexandria Muench

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women in the United States, with hereditary breast cancers accounting for approximately 10% of the diagnoses. Nevertheless, women can decrease their risk by obtaining genetic testing and are often referred for the test if one or more of their relatives has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has the BRCA/BRCA2 cancer mutation. The purpose of the current study was to examine predictors of healthy women’s (ages 18 to 35) hypothetical decisions about genetic testing and prophylactic treatments for the BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic mutations by measuring social problem solving (SPS) variables, health anxiety, …


Sensory Processing Patterns And Emotion Regulation In Children Presenting With Externalizing Behaviors, Melanie Levitt Jan 2019

Sensory Processing Patterns And Emotion Regulation In Children Presenting With Externalizing Behaviors, Melanie Levitt

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Sensory processing is a neurological process that involves a child’s perception, organization, and reaction to sensory stimuli. Certain groups of people, such as children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), experience more intense sensory processing patterns (Dunn, 2007). Researchers have also observed that children presenting with ASD and ADHD exhibit more externalizing scores as their sensory processing patterns become more intense or problematic (Gourley et al., 2013). However, researchers have not examined the relationship between sensory processing and externalizing behaviors in those not diagnosed with ASD and ADHD. Additionally, there are overlapping neural mechanisms between sensory …


Predictability Of Curriculum-Based Reading Measures For Statewide Test Performance, Rebecca Sarah Mark Jan 2019

Predictability Of Curriculum-Based Reading Measures For Statewide Test Performance, Rebecca Sarah Mark

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

National legislation has led to an increasing need for school districts to demonstrate student reading progress using performance on statewide achievement tests as indicators of growth. This study added to previous research on the effectiveness of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) in predicting success on statewide reading achievement tests and determining whether a student is at-risk for poor performance on statewide tests. The current study analyzed the relationship between a CBM tool for assessing reading progress, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), and a statewide reading assessment, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). This study compared the predictive …


How African American Men From Challenging Backgrounds Beat The Odds And Graduated From College, Valisha Terry Jan 2019

How African American Men From Challenging Backgrounds Beat The Odds And Graduated From College, Valisha Terry

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

While Bettis and Sternod (2009) asserted the notion of boys being in crisis as not a new phenomenon but a historically cyclical one, present research contends that African American men are one of the most at-risk groups in the United States. School and criminal-justice systems show similar results. African American men continue to lag in terms of graduation rates and college enrollment, while being overrepresented in victim violence and the criminal justice system. They also lead the nation in homicides as both victims and perpetrators. Despite these obstacles, many at-risk African American men graduate from college and excel in life. …


Attitudes And Knowledge About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Ibs) Among Family Medicine Physicians And Ibs Patients, Shana Brown-Lieberson Jan 2019

Attitudes And Knowledge About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Ibs) Among Family Medicine Physicians And Ibs Patients, Shana Brown-Lieberson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), which is biopsychosocial in nature, with a gut-brain interaction. IBS has no biological marker and is often diagnosed through exclusion of other diagnostic possibilities, making it challenging to treat and often frustrating for individuals who suffer from it. Most IBS patients will first present at their family medicine physicians’ offices, as it is the most common FGID. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in knowledge about IBS and whether there were negative attitudes toward IBS among family medicine physicians and among patients diagnosed …


Comparison Of The Executive Function Profiles Of Child And Adolescent Groups Diagnosed With Adhd And Matched Controls, Jenna Inglese Jan 2019

Comparison Of The Executive Function Profiles Of Child And Adolescent Groups Diagnosed With Adhd And Matched Controls, Jenna Inglese

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The current study examined teacher ratings of the executive capacities of child and adolescent groups of ADHD-diagnosed students and matched controls. Teacher ratings of each clinical group were compared with the teacher ratings of a group of matched nonclinical peers, then the teacher ratings of the child and the adolescent clinical groups were compared. The data for both clinical groups and their respective matched control groups were part of the data collected during the standardization of the McCloskey Executive Functions Scale – Teacher Report Form (MEFS-TR). It was hypothesized that when compared to their matched control groups, teacher ratings of …