Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Looking For Ghosts Everywhere : The Effects Of Vicarious Traumatization On Mental Health Interpreters Who Work With Refugees, Sophie Anna Lembeck

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study aimed to add to the available literature on vicarious traumatization among mental healthcare interpreters who work with refugees. I attempted to further this research by interviewing 12 mental health interpreters who work with refugee clients in order to ascertain their experiences with vicarious traumatization. All participants interviewed presented with physical and/or psychological symptoms associated with vicarious traumatization, although they were unfamiliar with the concept of vicarious traumatization itself. Participants’ reactions to working with traumatized clients manifested in various physical and psychological ways and ranged in severity. Previous literature suggests that symptoms of vicarious traumatization are exacerbated when interpreters …

Alexithymia And Comparison Of Alternative Treatments To Talk Therapy For People Who Have A Mental Health Diagnosis, Rebekah Milhoan

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research study was a quantitative, descriptive investigation of the relationship between the rate of alexithymia in the mental health population and exploring the helpfulness of alternative treatments compared to traditional talk therapy.

An online based questionnaire, using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), a Likert scale used to measure the presence of alexithymia, and an open-ended comment section, was administer anonymously to fifty-four people with a mental health diagnosis. The major areas of interest were levels of alexithymia in the mental health population and finding out about the helpfulness of alternative treatments.

Participants had higher than average scores on the …

The Retrospective Narratives Of Young Adults With Adhd : How Self-Concept Development Impacts Psychosocial Functioning, Malcolm B. Miller

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explores how young adults with ADHD construct self-concept, and how their self-concept impacts psychosocial functioning. Research shows that those with ADHD are more likely to experience significant setbacks across the lifespan due to impairments that negatively impact functioning in multiple life domains. Several studies note high comorbidity between ADHD and internalizing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Although existing research suggests neurobiological correlations, there has been little investigation into other causal relationships. This researcher interviewed eight young adults with ADHD hoping to illuminate other possible pathways between ADHD and the presentation of comorbid internalizing symptoms and …

From Yellow Peril To Model Minority : ǂB Deconstruction Of The Model Minority Myth And Implications For The Invisibility Of Asian American Mental Health Needs, Lynda Anne Moy

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The model minority myth is a racial stereotype imposed upon Asian Americans, often depicting them as a successful and high-achieving monolithic group in the United States. This paper examines sociopolitical functions of the term “model minority” and implications for this broad and diverse racial group by reviewing existing literature and conducting an analysis of qualitative interviews with 12 Asian Americans. The findings of this study suggest that while the model minority myth appears to be a positive stereotype, it may lead Asian Americans to experience distress through (a.) a sense of confinement, (b.) treatment as foreigners, and (c.) …

The Translation Of Anti-Racism Values From The Professional Into The Personal For White Social Workers Who Have Lived In North Or West Philadelphia, Lauren Hope Newman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research explores how white social workers who were exposed to anti-racism values during their social work education, execute these values while living in the gentrifying neighborhoods of North or West Philadelphia. Twelve white social workers participated in semistructured interviews in which they described their anti-racism education/training, their motivation for moving to North or West Philadelphia, and how they felt they translated the antiracism values that were learned or reinforced for them in their education into their lives in their gentrifying communities. The findings display the importance in equipping people with the tools to engage within their community and guide …

Innocent Until Proven Guilty : ǂB Not For The Families Vicarious Incarceration Within A County Jail, Molly O'Connor

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

When an individual goes to jail, family members are often left in the shadow of the incarceration.This qualitative research study contributes to the incarceration literature by focusing on caregivers’ experiences at county jails, and by suggesting the usage of the term vicarious incarceration to fully encompass the levels of impact that incarceration has on the family. Caregivers in the present study engaged in a semi-structured interview modeled after Megan Comfort’s (2009) examination of secondary prisonization at San Quentin. Findings indicate that caregivers visiting a county jail do experience secondary prisonization, both at the jail and within the home. However the …

Clinician Vulnerability : Openness To Influence In Relational Therapy, Christine Powers

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The current study examined how clinicians practicing relational psychotherapy experience their own vulnerability in the therapeutic relationship with clients. The study followed a qualitative, phenomenological research methodology. The researcher interviewed ten experienced clinicians who practice relational psychotherapy. Four major themes emerged as significant findings. First, vulnerability was described as a quality of engagement in the therapeutic relationship that is open, engaged, and resonant. Second, participants expressed a sense of risk associated with mutual vulnerability. Third, participants emphasized the importance of mutual vulnerability for client’s healing. Fourth, participants described vulnerability as a developmental capacity. These findings have significance for the field …

Feedback Informed Care : Co-Creating Treatment Success, Eve Sandler

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative research was conducted in order to answer the question: What factors do patients think are most useful in therapy? Feedback was collected from a sample of 630 participants from The Community Psychiatry Program (CPP) at Johns Hopkins. Respondents were asked to complete a written survey answering two questions: 1. How do you know when you are getting better? and 2. What are the most important aspects of (CPP)?

This study collected data from both patients and caregivers. Brief responses for each question were coded using a general inductive approach, which revealed multiple themes and subthemes. One significant finding …

Workout Your Burnout : An Exploratory Look At The Role Of Perceived Barriers And Benefits To Physical Activity In Social Workers, Samuel Shapiro

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This mixed-methods exploratory study aimed to develop better understanding of the relationship between social workers’ participation in physical activities and their perceptions of potential barriers and benefits to participating in exercise. Sixty-four individuals completed an online survey, disclosing their physical activity habits as while growing up as well as those of their parents and/or caregivers. Quantitative questions asked participants to measure: their recent physical activity rates, defining them as light, moderate or vigorous; their perceived potential benefits of and barriers to physical activity, and, finally, their contentedness with aspects of their body and their work. Participants reported few barriers and …

The Construction Of Religion In Social Work Education, Michael Waldon

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This social work master's thesis used a qualitative study design involving non-random sampling of syllabi at accredited master's level social work programs around the United States in order to address the question, "How is religion constructed in social work education?" Materials addressing religion were extracted from syllabi used in first year required practice classes at 15 schools in five different geographic regions around the country. The texts were then analyzed using the techniques of discourse analysis (Carbó, Ahumada, Caballero, & Argüelles, 2016), an approach that considers the active function of language, tending to structure our thinking about abstract concepts and …

Respect, It Goes Both Ways : Exploring School Connectedness And Students' Experiences Of Microaggressions From Teachers : A Project Based Upon A Joint Project, Laura J. Wesely

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This mixed-method study explores what kind of microaggressions high school students of various ethnicities and racial identities experience from their teachers, and if type and responses to microaggressions vary according to the levels of perceived school climate. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to find out what types of microaggressions were experienced. Using quantitative measures of school connectedness and teacher support as well as qualitative thematic analysis, the study analyzed differences in the ways in which students who experience low and high levels of school connectedness responded to these microaggressions. Twenty-one participants were interviewed, and nine were further sampled using quantitative …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms And Traumatic Experiences In Adult Clients, Sasha Pansovoy

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative research study explored clinicians’ perspectives on the association between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and trauma in the treatment of adult clients. Using both content and narrative analysis, the study examined whether OCD symptoms are reminiscent of the clients’ traumas. Nine clinicians were interviewed and presented narratives of clients who have experienced traumatic events and OCD. Key findings revealed that (1) 10 out of the 12 clients presented were abused as children; (2) OCD symptoms were perceived as coping strategies; (3) the majority of discussed clients were cisgender males; and (4) OCD symptoms of the clients reflected past traumas. Treatment …

And Fetus Makes Three: A Theoretical Exploration Of Clinician Pregnancy In Psychoanalytic And Relational Frameworks, Christian Anne Mccarroll

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This paper explores the risks, dilemmas, and opportunities for therapeutic work during and following clinician pregnancy. A therapist’s pregnancy can pose enormous challenges as identities shift, treatment is disrupted, and the therapist’s changing body and role spark new associations and conflicts. This theoretical thesis draws on psychoanalytic and relational theory to explore how clinician pregnancy has been viewed—and overlooked—in the past, and how therapists might contend with the challenges and dynamism of this time. In bringing relational theory to bear on clinician pregnancy, this paper wrestles with ideas of embodiment, with Aron’s (1999) concept of the patient’s experience of the …

Patient Perspectives On Mental Health Therapy For Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (Me) And Chronic Fatique Syndrome (Cfs), Brooke Denmark

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored perspectives on mental health therapy of individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). ME/CFS can lead to major reduction in quality of life; however, due to limited knowledge about etiologies or effective medical treatments, symptoms may be deemed psychosomatic and patients are referred to mental health treatment. This mixed methods study gathered responses from 169 individuals who identified as having ME, CFS, and/or ME/CFS from ten reported countries. Some of the common themes for what participants found most helpful from therapy were validation, help adjusting to the changes in their lives, and processing grief …

Social Climate In Social Work Training : The Influence Of The Learning Environment On The Emerging Social Worker's Professional Identity As An Agent Of Social Justice, Tatiana MartíNez

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

In Master of Social Work programs, one of the objectives of the field practicum is the development of a professional self. A field placement agency may encourage, discourage, and/or limit the student’s ability to implement social justice interventions in their work with clients which may impact their development of a professional identity as it relates to social justice. In this exploratory study, qualitative data was obtained through eight semi-structured interviews. The findings confirm that the social climate of a field placement agency influences the student’s ability to develop aspects of their professional identity dedicated to engaging in social action activities. …

"A Whole Lot Of Conscious Effort" : Exploring How Protective Factors Contribute To Resiliency In Parents Who Have Experienced Traumatic Events In Childhood, Annelies J. Spykman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this research project is to address the multiple variables that contribute to trauma exposure in childhood and how it manifests in the traumatized person’s later parenting styles. The over-arching research question is: do protective factors provide sufficient supports to parents who were subjected to traumatic experiences in childhood in order to lessen the transmission of trauma to their own children? This qualitative study is an assessment of interviews with 18 participants who identify as parents who have experienced at least one traumatic event in childhood. Findings of this study implicate a high level of resilience that has …

Patients' Perceptions Of Stressors In The Intensive Care Unit : A Meta-Analysis, Nancy Sohier Welch

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study reveals what intensive care unit (ICU) patients from different countries consider most stressful about the ICU experience. A review of 16 independent studies on patients’ perceptions of ICU stressors yielded 10 data sets from seven countries that met criteria for inclusion in a meta-analysis. Stressors were categorized according to three types – bodily, psychological, and physical environmental – and were selected for comparison based on their frequent appearance among the top 20 stressors in each study selected. Findings showed considerable agreement between studies. Being in pain, Having tubes in the nose and mouth, and Being thirsty were …

The Problem Of Evidence : Philosophy Of Science And Evidence Based Practice In Clinical Social Work, Bronwyn DepréS

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Evidence Based Practice is one of the most prevalent concepts in social work today, guiding social workers across the world. This theoretical thesis examines Evidence Based Practice, its theoretic foundations, and its application in social work, using the theories of Logical Positivism and Critical Rationalism from Philosophy of Science. Philosophy of Science is a branch in Philosophy that studies and theorizes about precisely what science is, how science works, the implications of science, and the logic behind it. This thesis argues that Logical Positivism is the scientific foundation that Evidence Based Practice rests on, and uses Critical rationalism to dispute …

[Social Work] Newsletter, 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Social Work.

Social Work Newsletter

Inside This Issue:
--2017 Year In Review
--Professor Spotlights
--Professor Highlights
--Alumni Highlights
--Student Highlights
--Student Services
--Awards Ceremony
--In the Field
--Agency Highlights

Experiences Of First Generation College Students, Eleanor Grace Stulting Bradley

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The fact that a significant number of first-generation students drop out of college within the first year speaks to the unique struggle that these students face. Although previous studies have looked at this phenomenon, not many have purposefully explored the experiences of the students themselves. This study sought to change that by interviewing 12 first-generation students on their experiences of college and what they believe has helped them to thrive. Several themes emerged throughout the study, including: 1) the idea of shared experiences and peer contact providing a sense of understanding as well as community; and 2) the idea of …

The Impact Of Islamophobia On The Muslim American Community : Accounts Of Psychological Suffering, Identity Negotiation, And Collective Trauma, Areeza Ali

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The rise of Islamophobia has undoubtedly disrupted the identity and way of life of Muslim Americans in the last decade and half. This study centers the voices of eight Muslim Americans discussing the mental health impact of anti-Muslim discrimination and prejudice, the pervasiveness of xenophobic and Islamophobic perspectives in the U.S., and the normalization and acceptance of discrimination as evidenced by the presidential victory of Donald Trump.

The major findings of this study indicate that the marginalization and othering of Muslim Americans have manifested in adverse psychological symptoms including fear, stress, worry, isolation, numbness, desensitization and insecurity. In addition, this …

"They Don't Say It Up Front" : Immigrant-Origin High School Students' Experiences Of Disrespect And Racial Microaggressions By Teachers : A Project Based Upon A Group Research Investigation, Leah A. Gold

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study used counter-storytelling methodology from Critical Race Theory to explore 15 racial and ethnic minority immigrant-origin high school students’ experiences of racial microaggressions by teachers. Previous research focuses on overt racism with youth or microaggressions with adults, but has not addressed subtle racism experienced by high school students. The findings suggest immigrant-origin experience teacher disrespect as racial microaggressions, including those that are related to immigrant identity. Though not conclusive, the results indicate that experiences of racial microaggressions and responses may differ for immigrant-origin youth with different generation status. Teachers’ racial sensitivity and school climate were demonstrated to be …

Gender Identity And Childhood Experiences : An Introductory Quantitative Study Of The Relationship Between Gender Identity And Adverse Childhood Experiences, Liam P. Malone

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

It has been established that individuals with transgender* identities experience abuse and trauma at higher frequencies than individuals with non-transgender identities (Mascis, 2011). Gender dysphoria currently exists as a mental health diagnosis, perpetuating stigma as well as pathologizing gender variance. Clinical social workers have preserved a harmful formulation that gender dysphoria is a disorder caused by trauma. There has been scarce quantitative research to date exploring a relationship between transgender identities and adverse childhood experiences. This study aims to: (1) contribute to a foundation of introductory quantitative research on how childhood experiences interact with gender identity, (2) examine the frequency …

An Exploration Of The Relationships Between Self Compassion And Burnout : Secondary Traumatic Stress And Compassion Satisfaction Among Providers Who Work With Children And Families Who Have Experienced Trauma, Binlin Xia

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The field of social work education has witnessed a soaring need to help providers cope with the negative emotional impact of working with clients who have experienced trauma. This study explored the association between self compassion and the experience of burn out (BO), secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion satisfaction (CS) among mental health providers who specifically work with children and youth who have experienced trauma. This quantitative study employed a survey in addition to two open-ended questions in a sample of 60 participants using a convenience sampling process.

The findings suggest that self compassion serves as a strongly correlated …

There Is A Monster In My House, Cultura Cura Uncovering 11 Milliones De Sueños: Understanding The Emotional And Psychological Experiences Of Undocumented And Mixed-Status Youth And Finding Healing Spaces, Belinda Marie Hernandez-Arriaga

Doctoral Dissertations

This research gives voice to the emotional experiences of mixed-status and undocumented youth, and explores the Mexican cultural arts as a healing space for this community of children. This research expands our mental health understanding of undocumented and mixed status children, capturing the undocu-trauma these participants describe in narrating the chronic fear they live with. Their stories speak to the monster of fear, la migra, witches in the field, Trump, racism, societal violence and trauma that is invisible in their home but alive in their daily lives. The participants in this study narrate the power of the cultural arts to …

The Risk Of Risk: An Exploration Of The Impact Of “Risk” On Child Welfare Decision-Making, Jill K. Stoddart

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective: In this paper, child welfare decision-making is critically assessed in relation to Beck’s (1992) concept of ‘risk society’. Three key decisions made by child welfare workers during the initial investigation are examined in order to illustrate how risk influences the type of investigative approach used, the determinations about child maltreatment, and the services provided to children and families and to link theory with policy and practice.

Methods: The three exploratory studies all utilize secondary data from several cycles of the Ontario Incidence Study, which collects information directly from frontline child protection workers about incidence of reported maltreatment. Two studies …

Students' Experiences Of The Scent-Free Initiative At The Faculty Of Social Work, Tanya Marie Smith

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research project sought to explore how students experienced the introduction of a scent-free initiative within the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. An intersectional, critical disability approach is used to understand participants' experiences and to identify gaps in implementation, as well as recommendations for future policy development. Working from a transformative paradigm, this study used a mixed methods design, including an online survey and in-person focus groups. Findings indicate that social work students felt well-informed about the initiative, however they did not feel adequately knowledgeable about how to embody the initiative via scent-free practices. Participants expressed stigmatizing …

Child Support Collections To Offset Out Of Home Placement Costs: A Study Of Cost Effectiveness, Trish Skophammer

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Families experiencing out-of-home placement (OHP) are in crisis. The fact that a child has been removed from the home means the family has become involved with the child welfare or juvenile justice system. Families that experience OHP are disproportionately poor, and the reasons for OHP often stem from poverty. Because OHP is expensive, and society values parental responsibility, federal and state laws require that parents be referred to the child support system to help offset the cost of OHP through child support collections. This study explores practices around OHP cases in the child support system and adds to the small …

The Influence Of Social Support And Mental Illness On Punishment For Rule Violations Among Male Prisoners, Missy T. Malone

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Mental illness among prisoners is higher than the general population (James & Glaze, 2006). The purpose of this exploratory-descriptive study was to investigate the social support and mental health factors that best predict punishment severity for institutional rule violations among prisoners. I conducted a secondary data analysis on 2004 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The survey participants in this study consisted of a sample of 11,569 male prisoners. Bivariate analyses of interrelationships were conducted to assess whether significant relationships exist between the severity of punishment …

Social Work Practitioners Working In End Of Life Care:Learning To Provide Culturally Appropriate Care To Clients Of Middle Eastern Descent, Laura Shafica Meiki

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study utilized an interpretive qualitative methodological approach to learn about the experiences of individuals with a Master of Social Work degree (MSWs) working in end-of-life (EOL) care with patients of Middle Eastern descent and their families. Specifically, it examined (1) how a sample of social workers obtained the skills necessary to provide culturally appropriate EOL care to clients and families of Middle Eastern descent; (2) the common intervention strategies social workers employ while providing this care; and (3) the recommendations they offer to others who anticipate encountering this population in their own practice. Data collection consisted of in-depth, semi-structured …