Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Return With Trauma: Understanding The Experiences Of Early Returned Missionaries, Kristine J. Doty, S. Zachary Bullock, Harmony Packer, Russell T. Warner, James Westwood, Thomas Ash, Heather Hirsch

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

No abstract provided.

Marital Quality In Remarriage, Dr. Kevin Shafer

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There were four goals of this MEG project. Unlike most MEG projects, I employed graduate students because the School of Social Work lacks undergraduate students. Below I outline the four goals of the project and discuss how each goal was met. Notably, we found some interesting effects related to relationship self-regulation in remarriage, which has led us to work in other areas, as well.

A Study On The Cultural Influences Involved In The Decision To Place Children For International Adoption, Heather Hintze, Jini Roby

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), international adoption is very common. The RMI has one of the highest international adoption rates per capita in the world. This research project was designed to learn and understand the reasons behind this high international adoption rate in the RMI. The research project focused on investigating the cultural influences that cause Marshallese women to relinquish their child for international adoption. Currently, the work is still in progress. All of the information was obtained from Marshallese birth mothers living in the Marshall Islands. Now the data entry needs to be done at Brigham …

“Giver Of Light”: The Influence Of A Mexican Midwife On Community Development, Karen Sandberg, Jini Roby

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dar a luz, meaning “to give light,” is the Mexican phrase for giving birth. The equation of light with the birth process reveals its significance to the Mexican people. Internationally, female midwives educated and assisted women in the birth process, making it a specific sphere of women’s influence. Midwives played an important role in the development and well being of their communities as well: they “served as healers,” using herbs and other medical treatment’s to promote general health (Sapiro 206). As such, health care has been one of the few areas historically where women have, in addition to their …

Scrupulosity: Practical Treatment Considerations Drawn From Clinical And Ecclesiastical Experiences With Latter-Day Saint Persons Struggling With Religiously-Oriented Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Kyle N. Weir, Mandy Greaves, Christopher Kelm, Rahul Ragu, Rick Denno

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

Scrupulosity, a religiously-oriented form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), is both a clinical matter for treatment and can be an ecclesiastical concern for members, therapists, and priesthood leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints. Just as some people of all faiths suffer from scrupulosity, Latter-day Saints (LDS) persons are not immune. This article addresses the issues pertaining to scrupulosity and provides practical treatment considerations for working with LDS persons struggling with scrupulosity from both a clinical and ecclesiastical perspective. A treatment approach, including consultation with priesthood leaders, is outlined.

Religious Acculturation And Spirituality In Latter-Day Saint Committed Converts, Kristin L. Hansen, Laurie Page, Lane Fischer, Marleen Williams

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

This study examines religious acculturation and spirituality in committed Latter-day Saint (LDS) converts living in Utah. We conducted a qualitative analysis using interviews from a sample of 20 North American and 20 International Latter-day Saint converts attending or working at Brigham Young University (BYU)—a western LDS private university—of varying age, time since baptism, and country of origin. Of the 40 converts, 39 were classified as committed in their LDS religious affiliation using Henri Gooren’s (2007) Conversion Career Model. Based on our analysis of the interviews, several pertinent themes emerged: converts (1) recognize and choose to acculturate; (2) report positive changes …

Value Conflicts In Psychotherapy, Aaron P. Jackson, Jamie Hansen, Juliann M. Cook-Ly

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy has historically been viewed as value neutral; however, over the last half-century, developments have led many scholars to conclude that we can no longer dismiss the role of values in therapy. Our position is that therapists and clients will inevitably encounter value conflicts during the course of psychotherapy. This article postulates how such conflicts can be addressed so as to preserve and promote the integrity and well-being of both client and clinician. We review challenges to value neutrality and summarize ethical considerations. We discuss strategies to manage values in psychotherapy and conclude by recommending areas for consideration in professional …

Longitudinal Course Of Female Eating Disorder Risk At Brigham Young University, Lane Fischer, Jacob Fischer, Lanae Valentine, Erin Winters, Joy Wiechmann, Karen Gochnour, Kristina Hansen, Maren Kanekoa

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

Three cohorts of entering freshman women were assessed over the course of four years at Brigham Young University (BYU). The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) were administered at the beginning of each fall and winter semester. Results showed (a) steadily decreasing average levels of eating disorder risk and body shape dissatisfaction over time, which was mirrored in each cohort; (b) significantly lower eating disorder risk than other college samples; (c) a typically high percentage of women with clinically significant body shape dissatisfaction; (d) significant correlation between the EAT-26 and the BSQ; and (e) notable subgroups …

Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" As An Allegory Of Tolerance: Understanding, Acceptance, And Invitation, Kristina Hansen

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

Lane Fischer’s discussion of the nature of law in Turning Freud Upside Down (2005) describes tolerance as the combination of understanding, acceptance, and invitation to do better. This conceptualization of tolerance is equated to love for the other. The poem “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost is analyzed as an allegory of tolerance so defined.

Understanding The Gendered Patterns Of Substance Use Initiation Among Adolescents Living In Rural, Central Mexico, Stephanie Ayers, Flavio Marsiglia, Steven Hoffman, Zhyldyz Urbaeva

Faculty Publications

Background: Little is known about the age of initiation and gender differences in substance use among adolescents in rural, central Mexico.

Methods: The cross-sectional data were collected from students enrolled in the Videobachillerato (VIBA) (video high school) programme in Guanajuato, Mexico. Questionnaires asked students about the age at which they had used alcohol, cigarettes, or cannabis for the first time. Kaplan–Meier Survival Functions were used to estimate if males and females were significantly different in their cumulative probabilities of initiating substances over time.

Results: On average, alcohol is initiated at 14.7 years of age, cigarettes at 15.1 years of age, …

Mexican Adolescents' Risky Sexual Behavior And Migration Intentions, Stephanie L. Ayers, Flavio F. Marsiglia, Steven Hoffman, Jildyz Urbaeva, Jaime Booth

Faculty Publications

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to identify the association between risky sexual behaviors and migration intentions among adolescents living in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires to students enrolled in an alternative schooling system in Guanajuato, Mexico, during the school year of 2006-2007. The sample size for this study includes 538 unmarried students, 35 percent male, ages 14-19. Ordinal logistic regression is used to estimate the odds of engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

Findings - The results reveal that male adolescents with higher intentions to migrate have significantly higher odds of engaging in …

Critical Thinking In Applied Psychology: Toward An Edifying View Of Critial Thinking In Applied Psychology, Aaron Jackson, Steve Yanchar, Kristin L. Hansen, Jamie Hansen

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

A gospel-centered approach to critical thinking that can facilitate psychotherapeutic work and be edifying to faithful counselors and clients would be very beneficial. This article examines what a defensible approach to gospel-centered critical thinking about psychotherapy would look like, how it would differ from secular scholarly disciplines and practices, and whether it should differ at all. Because all critical thinking strategies are framed by a theoretical background of assumptions and values and because not all assumptions and values are true or useful, approaches to critical thinking must be carefully examined by those who would employ them. Latter-day Saint counselors and …

Kin Care And Perceptions Of Equity Among Ugandan Youth, Laurel George, Jini Roby

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Children receiving kin care in Sub-Saharan Africa are at risk for differential treatment, especially where household resources are scarce. Using Pearson χ2 and multinomial logistic regression, we investigated whether such disparity exists within households receiving agency oversight and services designed to protect such children and preserve family households. We use existing data from face-to-face interviews with Ugandan youth age 8 to 18 (N = 518) and their caregivers to examine whether differences exist in child-perceived equity of food distribution and work requirements by type of family relatedness to caregiver. Income, but not relatedness, was negatively associated with food inequity, but …

Human Trafficking And Prostitution: A Comparative Review Of Swedish And Dutch Policy, Emilie Davidson, Kelsey Perry, Jini Roby

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

1.2 million children are trafficked every year (UNICEF), and and the total number of prostituted children could be as high as 10 million (The Lancet). Trafficking is the second largest source of illegal income worldwide, exceded only by the sale of illegal drugs (Belser, 2005). A study of women trafficked to the European Union found that 95% of victims had been violently assaulted or coerced into a sexual act, and over 60% of victims reported fatigue, neurological symptoms... back pain, vaginal discharges, and gynecological infections (Zimmerman, 2006). Definitions: Trafficking refers to “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, …

Neither Foster Nor Orphanages, Tami Thayne, Judy Norman

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Clearly, there are circumstances requiring out-of family placement for children. Foster care in the U. S. and orphanages in numerous countries remain available or the only alternative for care of some children at-risk. The mental status of children while in alternative care has received little research attention while much research has focused on the post-care, long-term negative consequences of such care, including developmental delays or impairment (Norman & Park, 2009; Pearce & Pearce, 2001). Research suggests a significant negative psychological impact for children raised in orphanages. While foster care has been viewed as an improvement in the care of vulnerable …

Measuring Father Involvement With Adolescents In Botswana, Kerianne Dyer, Jini Roby

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Emerging research suggests that father involvement is a multifaceted concept, often driven by cultural mandates. In this study, survey data were collected from 704 adolescents aged 14-16 in Botswana. Fathers who provided both co-residence and financial support were perceived at the highest level of involvement. When considered separately, financial support rather than co-residence was associated with higher levels of perceived father involvement. Maternal gate keeping was also found to be a significant influence on perceived levels of father involvement. Implications for policy, practice and research are discussed.

Predictors Of Caregiver Burden Of Parents Of Children With Disabilities, Richard Alboroto, Susanne O. Roper

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Parents of children with disabilities experience elevated stress, which may contribute to their caregiver burden. Factors related to caregiver burden may be child or parent related. In this study, we investigated how income, economic hardship, age of the child with a disability, number of children in the family, and family cohesion were associated with mothers’ and fathers’ caregiver burden. Participants consisted of parents of 192 children; 155 of the children had some form of disability. The results show that family cohesion was negatively related to mothers’ and fathers’ burden. Economic hardship was also strongly associated with burden. Results suggest that …

Rio Drug Factions And The Children Of The Favelas, Melanie Davies, Jini Roby

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Rio de Janeiro, among other major cities in Brazil, has been surrounded with slums for over a hundred years. These slums, called favelasby the natives, began springing up in the 1850’s (Gay, 1994). Many people migrated to the city in search of a better life. Unable to afford a home, they built shelters on the illegally claimed hillsides of Rio de Janeiro, intending to improve their situation from there (Villareal & Silva, 2006). Instead, the number of favelas has drastically increased over the years. In Rio de Janeiro alone, there are currently over 1800 favelas housing about 2 million people, …

Stealing Babies, Making Families: Does Corruption In Government Lead To More Adoptions Into The Us?, Tisah Quarnberg, Chelsea Mazar, Jini Roby

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

On March 26, 2007 Ana Escobar reported her baby Esther Zulamitawas stolen. Ana was locked in a storage closet at the family’s shoe store, north of Guatemala City, while armed men took her daughter. Two months later, Ana was sitting in the National Adoption Council’s offices when she spotted her baby. Esther was being adopted by an unidentified US couple. DNA tests had been falsified and Esther was given all new papers. Convinced that the child was hers, Ana got a new DNA tests ordered. These tests confirmed that the baby was Esther and she has since been reunited with …

The Mental Health Of Afghan Children Residing In Pakistani Refugee Camps, Kelli Child, Jini Roby

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

There have been several different events in Afghanistan's history that have forced its citizens to find refuge amongst its neighbors, the largest amount settling in Pakistan. As one of the largest groups of refugees currently, there are countless hardships that these individuals face. While struggling to find a place to meet their basic necessities, they meet untold hardships even within themselves--‐ coping with the stress, trauma and inevitable effects of being drenched in war--‐torn surroundings. There are political, economic, familial, cultural and individual contributing factors that inevitably have an effect upon their mental health. As with any population, the children …

Helping Child Welfare Workers Improve Cultural Competence By Utilizing Spiritual Genograms With Native American Families And Children, Gordon E. Limb, David R. Hodge

Faculty Publications

This study represents an initial step at giving child welfare workers an important assessment tool as they seek to provide culturally and spiritually competent services to Native American families and children. In order to determine the relevancy and consistency of utilizing a modified spiritual genogram assessment tool with Native Americans, 50 Native American experts reviewed, rated, and gave feedback on its use. Results showed that while there were limitations in utilizing spiritual genograms, this assessment tool could help child welfare workers become more culturally competent as they develop interventions with Native American families and children.

A Matter Of Perspective, Kristin L. Hansen

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

No abstract provided.

Issues In Religion And Psychotherapy, Volume 32, Issue 1, 2008, Issues In Religion And Psychotherapy

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

No abstract provided.

Meditation, Christian Values And Psychotherapy, Kristin L. Hansen, Dianne Nielsen, Mitchell Harris

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

In recent decades meditation has been studied in the psychotherapy literature and incorporated into psychotherapy treatments (see Walsh & Shapiro, 2006, for review). As therapists who find meditation compatible with our Christian-based treatment approach, we have struggled to describe the integration of meditation and psychotherapy. In this article we first describe what meditation is, then consider its mechanisms of change, use in therapy or as a complement to therapy, and utility for therapists. The authors believe, consistent with Richards and Bergin’s (1997) view, that meditation is a spiritual intervention that can be used in theistically framed therapy. Ongoing research continues …

An Empirical Examination Of The Indian Child Welfare Act And Its Impact On Cultural And Familial Preservation For American Indian Children, Gordon E. Limb, Toni Chance, Eddie F. Brown

Faculty Publications

Cultural and familial ties are crucial for the overall well-being of children. Extant research and permanency planning practices support the reunification of children with their families when possible. In 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was enacted to promote cultural and familial preservation for Indian children, but sparse empirical research has examined the implementation and outcomes associated with this landmark legislation. This article examines the relationship between compliance with ICWA in one Southwestern state and the rate of reunification of Indian children with family or tribal members following out-of-home placement.

Using Tribal/State Title Iv-E Agreements To Help American Indian Tribes Access Foster Care And Adoption Funding, Eddie F. Brown, Gordon E. Limb, Chey A. Clifford, Ric Munoz, Leslie Schueler Whitaker

Faculty Publications

Funding under Title IV-E has historically not been available to American Indian communities, therefore, tribes have had to develop agreements with states to access these funds for child care services. This study analyzes Title IV-E intergovernmental provisions to help tribes and states strengthen Title IV-E agreements. A nationwide content analysis of existing Title IV-E documents, phone interviews, and focus groups revealed that Title IV-E tribal/state agreements vary widely, with most tribes not receiving full access to state services. These agreements focus on foster care maintenance payments and services. This article includes recommendations to help facilitate tribal access to Title IV-E …

Ethnic/Racial Matching Of Clients And Social Workers In Public Child Welfare, Robin Perry, Gordon E. Limb

Faculty Publications

Although considerable debate exists throughout the human-service literature regarding the potential benefits and limitations associated with ethnic/racial matching of clients and workers, there are few studies that examine the prevalence of this practice with large representative samples. This study utilizes a secondary analysis of data collected from 4813 public-child-welfare workers throughout California. Using census data to control for county-specific population demographics, American-Indian, Hispanic/Latino(a), Caucasian, and Asian-American child-welfare workers are more than two times more likely to have caseloads with a high percentage of clients who match their race/ethnicity than workers self-identified as another race/ethnicity. African-American workers are 1.28 times more …

Public Child Welfare And The American Indian: A California Profile, Gordon E. Limb, Robin Perry

Faculty Publications

Historically, American Indians have been disproportionately represented in public child welfare services. This article reports findings from a survey of all public child welfare workers in California (N= 5,741) in 1998. A descriptive profile of American Indian clients (where they reside and who works with them) and American Indian child welfare workers ( n= 1 71) is detailed. Attempts are made to identify counties with a disproportionately high number of American Indians represented on public child welfare caseloads and to estimate the probability that an American Indian worker would have a higher proportion of American Indians on his or her …

From The Individual To Individualism: A Critique Of The Helping Professions, Timothy B. Smith, Matthew R. Draper

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

Individualistic values characterize contemporary society and many popular approaches to mental health treatment. This paper critiques the individualistic values embedded in the helping professions that implicity contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ, the surest foundation for mental health interventions. Members of AMCAP are encouraged to search out and replace problematic values that contradict gospel teachings which have been integrated into contemporary mental health practice.

The Role Of Amcap And The Amcap Journal: Past, Present And Future: A Conversation With Burton C. Kelly, Phd, Carrie M. Wrigley

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

Burton C. Kelly, PhD, has been one of AMCAP's most faithful and fruitful contributors since its earliest years. He served from 1977-1978 as AMCAP's third President, and from 1982- 1987, as Journal Editor, during the journal's most prolific season to date. He has also served in a number of leadership capacities in other professional organizations. He earned a PhD in Human Development and Psychology from the University of Chicago and has served in many Church capacities over the years, including Bishop and Stake Mission President, and has served four full-time missions. Dr. Kelly retired ten years ago from BYU after …