Psychology Commons^™

Cultural And Psychological Predictors Of Exercise-Treatment Adherence And Hba1c For People With Type 2 Diabetes, Connor M. Nance

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Guided by the theoretical framework of Betancourt’s integrative model The aim of this study is to examine the relations among sociodemographic, cultural beliefs (i.e., cultural inhibitors of exercise), diabetes social support, and psychological factors (i.e., exercise self-efficacy, diabetes distress), as predictors of treatment adherence (biological and self-reported frequency) in a diverse population with Type-II Diabetes. It was hypothesized that: (1) cultural inhibitors of exercise and diabetes social support would predict exercise treatment adherence directly and/or indirectly via exercise self-efficacy; and (2) diabetes social support would predict HbA1c via the direct and/or indirect effect of diabetes distress. Findings suggest that both …

The Language-Dream Relationship In Multilinguals, Brittany Dishaun Burkes

Dissertations

According to the United States Census Bureau, the United States alone is host to around 350 languages. When it comes to investigating languages in dreams by multilinguals, some studies have focused heavily on only two languages—Spanish and English. The purpose of this study was to add to the understanding of how language use relates to the dream content of multilinguals. This study recruited the assistance of nine polylingual individuals. The participants were instructed to record their dreams in the languages in which they occurred for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, the participants translated their dreams into English in order for …

The Relationship Between Adolescent Exposure To Community Violence, Depression, And Resilience, Nieves A. Esquivel

Dissertations

The present study experimentally investigated the development of depressive symptoms in adolescents who have been exposed to community violence. Participants (N=334) were asked to take a survey of 81 questions addressing one’s exposure to neighborhood violence, resilience, and depressive symptoms. Participants exposed to community violence reported more depressive symptoms in every category except Ineffectiveness. Participants who were exposed to community violence also reported higher resilience levels. Given the results, more research is needed to understand the specific factors of resilience that may prevent adolescents exposed to community violence from developing depressive symptoms.

Uniting African Philosophy With Traditional African Dance Rituals To Help Heal Mental Health Symptoms From The Impact Of The African Diaspora, Brittnea Jones

Dissertations

The mental health challenges of members of the African diaspora have been a worldwide occurrence for centuries, initially beginning with the transatlantic slave trade. Africans were scattered abroad to different countries and subjected to the severe psychological impact of enslavement. Despite the considerable financial systemic pressure of profit in the slave trade, it caused significant harm to the enslaved Africans and their descendants by erasing Africa's memory and their healing traditions from the hearts and minds of the population. Severe mental health symptoms can arise from oppression and the impact of the African diaspora. This dispersion has left many African …

Stigma Related To Criminal Justice History: The Role Of Offense Type, Mental Health Treatment, Mental Illness, And Race From Formerly Incarcerated Persons’ Perspective, Lindsey Ryan-Jones

Student Theses

Research has shown that offenders perceive stigma and anticipate stigma once they are released from incarceration, especially regarding employment and housing (LeBel et al., 2012). However, there is limited information about offense type, mental health treatment, mental illness and race affect how formerly incarcerated persons perceive, anticipate and experience stigma. While research has shown that those with mental illness are more likely to have recidivate and sex offenders are viewed negatively by the public, there are gaps in understanding reasons why this occurs (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2017; Sample & Bray, 2006; Levinson et al., 2007; Rade, Desmarais & Mitchell, …

Female Sex Offenders: Double Standards, Sofia Enes

Kean Quest

This paper will discuss female pedophiles, rapists, and sex offenders, also known as female sex criminals, the double standards, of how they are viewed in the criminal justice system, how the medical fields view them, the psychological effects of their actions on their victims, and how the public views them. Unlike male pedophiles, rapists, and sex offenders of that gender; female pedophiles are not as readily identified as male pedophiles. Since female sex criminals do not always conform and fit the stereotypes that are more commonly found in male sex criminals, it is much more difficult for authorities to detain …

Relations Of Eeg And Perceived Response To Methylphenidate Among Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Tara M. Rutter

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Methylphenidate (MPH) is a common stimulant medication that has demonstrated efficacy in treatment among individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as those with co-occurring oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms (Connor et al., 2002, Cortese et al., 2018). However, there are currently no known reliable markers to predict response to MPH (Kim et al., 2015) and current approaches rely on trial-and-error by patients. Electroencephalographic (EEG) methods show promise as one tool to identify and predict MPH response. The current study examined relations between EEG frequencies and perceived response to MPH across both ADHD and ODD symptoms utilizing caregiver …

Applying Expressive Arts Therapy Interventions With Chinese Adolescents With Academic Maladjustment, Huaxin Wang

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis first explores the relationship between several concepts related to academic stress (academic burnout, academic weariness or school weariness, and school refusal) and their influencing factors, which are collectively referred to as academic maladjustment. It then reviews the empirical intervention research on academic maladjustment among Chinese adolescents. Study review has found that effective talk therapy interventions for Chinese adolescents with academic maladjustment often adopt a systematic perspective of family therapy and related techniques. Researchers worked with adolescents on their personal factors that contribute to academic maladjustment and work on the interpersonal level and obtained the cooperation of parents and …

Toward Holistic Mental Wellness: A Literature Review Of Mindfulness-Based And Focusing-Oriented Art Therapies, Lesley Vernon

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Modern day living, for all its benefits, is synonymous with record levels of stress. The mental health clinician’s role is to assist clients in accessing the skills and tools necessary to reduce and alleviate the symptoms of stress-induced anxiety. Mindfulness is emerging as a potent and effective tool to restore one’s state of well-being. Likewise, engaging in art therapy has been shown to reduce stress and foster resilience. Grounded in humanistic and existential theories, this literature review aimed to assess the impact and effectiveness of two intermodal holistic therapies, specifically mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) and focusing-oriented art therapy (FOAT). A …

Creative And Expressive Arts Therapy In Motivational Interviewing, Mary Hunt

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The practices of Creative Arts Therapies (CATs), Expressive Arts Therapy (EATs), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) are regarded as profoundly impactful for use in mental health professions. While there is extensive literature supporting the benefits of the practices individually, research to date on combining CATs or EATs with MI is limited. This Capstone investigates the combination of the fields, including research linking MI to the fields under the CATs umbrella of art, dance/movement, drama, and music therapies. The key elements of each practice are defined, and their overlapping similarities are identified, examples of complementary CATs interventions to the practice of MI …

Combining Non-Traditional Therapeutic Competencies With Dance/Movement Therapy In Response To Client Reactivity: The Development Of A Method, Nicole Koontz

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Individuals with reactive attachment disorder present as guarded towards therapeutic care and respond passively to treatment or become combative and aggressive. Previous body-based interventions for individuals with reactive attachment disorder included dangerous and unethical approaches that led to traumatization, distrust, and even death. Historical attachment therapies focused on making the client feel powerless and hopeless to accept care rather than practitioners adjusting to individualized client-centered care. A dance/movement therapy-informed method was developed to provide a nonthreatening therapeutic space to foster genuine participation for clients who present with reactivity towards treatment. The method was implemented over the course of seven weeks …

How Geek Therapy Plays Into Expressive Arts Therapy: A Literature Review, Caroline Bryan

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Within this paper, I explore how geek therapy plays well with the methods of expressive arts therapy. The combination of geek therapy and expressive arts therapy can assist clinicians in immediately connecting with their clients and identifying strength-oriented narratives that honor the client’s preferences, modes of expression, and pop culture affinities. This engagement with expressive approaches utilizing affinity-based interventions can lead to a deeper sense of understanding of the client’s intra-, inter-, and extra-personal relationships. Through this literature review of expressive arts therapy and geek therapy, primarily focusing on video games in therapy, clinicians from all walks of life can …

Boredom, Interoceptive Ability, And Emotional Eating, Erica Ahlich

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Emotional eating is a commonly described phenomenon reported by individuals across the weight spectrum. Not only does existing evidence suggest it is not an effective emotion regulation strategy, but emotional eating is also associated with difficulty losing weight during weight loss interventions and other negative health outcomes. The majority of existing work in the area of emotional eating has focused on the broad dimensions of negative and positive affect. Yet, there are data suggesting that different emotions appear to produce different changes in eating behaviors, suggesting the importance of investigating the influence of discrete emotions on eating. The lack of …

Borderline Personality Disorder Stigmatization: Bias, Discrimination, And Prejudice In The Healthcare Field, Briana L. Kunstman

Psychology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder characterized by patterns of unstable moods, impulsive behaviors, and insecure relationships. Often misdiagnosed as Bipolar Disorder, BPD is difficult to diagnose due to its symptoms overlapping with many other conditions. There has been a reluctance to work with individuals who have BPD due to the surrounding stigma. In fact, healthcare workers tend to misunderstand BPD, and assume that those who have it are manipulative, aggressive, violent, and unable to be helped. This stigmatization has a profound impact on how BPD clients are seen in the healthcare field and furthermore how they receive …

The Relationship Between Perceived Stress And Disordered Eating In Undergraduate Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Caroline G. Martin

Gettysburg College Headquarters

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected and imposed challenges on nearly everyone, including college students. Despite their already stressful situations, previous research has demonstrated increased stress levels among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, research has also shown an increase in disordered eating for college students during the pandemic. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between both perceived stress and disordered eating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study used a correlational design to investigate a potential association between perceived stress and disordered eating among undergraduate college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. By administering the EAT-26, the CSSEC, …

Breaching Weird Psychology: Brujería As Mental Health Treatment, Emily Greenslit

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

Through this project, I am proposing that the psychology field look to brujería in order to make the field, which has been historically WEIRD-centric, more inclusive and widely applicable. However, I would like to make it clear that I am not advocating for the removal of more traditional methods of therapy and medication that have long been established in the field of psychology. These methods work effectively for many people, and there is no reason that they should not continue to be used as mental health treatment. With this being said, the limited lens through which psychologists tend to view …

Parental Help-Seeking Intentions For Childhood Adhd In Asian Indian American Parents: Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Nandini Jhawar

Theses - ALL

Background: Pediatric attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent, impairing disorder with significant public health burden. Unfortunately, there is considerable delay to treatment and a low rate of lifetime treatment contact for individuals with ADHD, especially among ethnic minorities. The Asian Indian American (AIA) population, one of the fastest growing minority populations in the United States, has been ignored completely in ADHD help-seeking research. To fill this void, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework was used to examine how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control affect help-seeking intentions for ADHD in AIAs. Method: 191 parents (53% …

Self-Control Depletion, Frustration Tolerance, Irritability, And Engagement In Risky Behaviors In College Students With And Without Adhd Risk, Catherine L. Montgomery

Theses - ALL

Background: ADHD prevalence rates in college students are increasing, with approximately 8.7% of college students reporting current ADHD diagnoses. College students with ADHD often have poor self-control, low frustration tolerance, and associated irritability. These associated features of ADHD are, in turn, associated with engagement in risky behaviors and social impairments.

Method: The present study used the Self-Control Strength Model as a theoretical framework to experimentally examine (a) relationships between ADHD symptoms, frustration tolerance, irritability, and self-control resource depletion and (b) associations between these variables, social functioning, and engagement in risky behaviors. College student participants (n=247) completed state and trait baseline …

Fear Of Failure, Mindfulness, And Procrastination, Jose M. Parlade

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Procrastination is a complex behavior with often negative consequences. Prior studies have found a positive correlation between procrastination and various negative emotional states, such as fear of failure. Conversely, specific mindfulness techniques, have been negatively associated with procrastination in prior research. The current study set out to examine the correlations of fear of failure and procrastination as well as those of mindfulness and procrastination. A sample of university students (n=310) were assessed using three scales: the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI), the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS), and the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS). Results indicated a significant positive correlation …

Identifying Transient States That Influence Dependability: An Empirical Examination Of Transient Measurement Error, Mayson Trujillo

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Transient error is a type of measurement error caused by fluctuations in psychological states and assessed using short-term test-retest (dependability) studies. Although transient error can hinder the advancement of psychological research, the states contributing transient error have not been identified. The present study examined the extent to which eleven states associated with cognitive processes involved in the completion of self-report measures (positive affect, negative affect, attentiveness, fatigue, pain, stress, hunger, sleepiness, health, substance intoxication, and recovery from effects of substances) influence the dependability of related trait measures containing different amounts of transient error (BFI and PANAS-X). 305 MTurkers completed self-report …

Rethinking Binge Eating Disorder: Is Resource Depletion The Missing Link?, Laura Fewell

Dissertations

Binge eating disorder (BED), the most prevalent of the eating disorders, is associated with significant mental health impairments, high healthcare costs and utilization, and increased mortality. Yet little is known about the mechanisms involved in binge eating, and existing BED theories are incomplete. Scholars have recently suggested that resource depletion, or the state of reduced self-regulation abilities, may apply to BED, but no identified studies have experimentally examined this relationship. The purpose of the current study was to examine the role of resource depletion in binge eating behaviors. Ego anxiety, discomfort anxiety, and dietary restraint were also examined as potential …

A Life Lived With Schizophrenia: When Mother’S Love Is Kept In The Dark Exploring Maternal Communication And Attachment Organization In Families With Schizophrenia, Myrsini Stefanidou Marini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, research into the transgenerational transmission of attachment styles has shown that a mother’sattachment style often predicts the attachment style of her infant. Fearsome parental behavior has been found to predict disorganized attachment in infants, which is further associated with a range of mental health disturbances in adolescence. Furthermore, regular patterns of disturbed communication between mother and child have also been found to lead to ‘schizophrenic’ thinking and behavior in the child’s life. While acknowledging that genetic and other biological factors contribute to the emergence of schizophrenia, this study focused on disorganized attachment and disturbed communication between mother …

Borderline Personality Disorder And Suicide Risk: The Role Of Emotional Vulnerability, Parental Invalidation, And Adverse Childhood Experiences, Chandler Jayne Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood adversity is linked with a variety of negative outcomes including suicide attempts and personality disorders, most commonly Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A core feature of BPD, emotion dysregulation is often reported following early childhood adversity and contributes to both suicidal ideation and attempts. One explanation for the development of emotion dysregulation within BPD, is the biosocial model, which states that there must be an interaction between childhood emotional vulnerability and parental invalidation. Recent literature suggests that this interaction may not be necessary. Thus, the current study extended previous literature by examining childhood risk factors (i.e., ACES, parental invalidation, and …

Perfectionism, Alcohol Intoxication, And Deliberate Self-Harm In Men And Women, Lissa N. Mandell

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has demonstrated associations between deliberate self-harm (DSH) and perfectionism, although most of that research used retrospective self-report measures of DSH, which are prone to various cognitive biases. Although perfectionism has been associated with alcohol abuse, no research has examined how alcohol intoxication may moderate the relation between perfectionism and DSH. The aims of this experimental study were to determine if perfectionism is associated with a laboratory analogue of DSH (the Self-Aggression Paradigm) and examine the role of alcohol intoxication as a potential moderator. Using archival data, blood alcohol content (BAC) was manipulated by randomly assigning participants to reach …

Asian Immigrant Parents And Their Asian/Asian-American Children: Bridging The Emotional Gap, Natalie Vergara Realubit

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

This manuscript explores and examines Asian/Asian-American identity and values. A brief discussion of Asian immigration history, intergenerational trauma, and the impacts of COVID-19 will be linked to Asian identity. Eastern values are explored in conjunction with Western values to highlight the differences and contradictions Asians/Asian-Americans navigate. Biculturalism is explained, as well as how the navigation of values results in individuals living in their ethnic and host cultures simultaneously. Acculturation and enculturation, the model minority myth, education and the American Dream, and bicultural stress experienced by Asian-Americans and Asian international students are explored to highlight the various ways in which biculturalism …

Trauma Healing With The Neurosequential Model Of Therapy And Bal-A-Vis-X, Becky Johnston

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Stigma related to childhood trauma is shifting with the help of advancements in the understanding of neurobiology and interventions that are proving to be effective for healing. There are immense costs and consequences for survivors of childhood trauma and their loved ones that were not so long ago considered irrelevant and the notion that kids bounce back from adversity was previously popular in the psychological community (Perry & Szalavitz, 2017). The broad strokes of Dr. Bruce Perry’s clinical intervention model, The Neurosequential Model of Therapy (NMT) describes a trauma-sensitive, sequential approach to changing the stress response within mental health counseling. …

Delivery Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy In A Telehealth Format: Reducing Disruptive Behaviors In Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury, Emily D. Pogue

Dissertations, 2020-current

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in childhood have been associated with disruptive behaviors and attentional problems that may worsen over time and are often experienced as challenging for those in caregiving roles. Parents of children with TBI may evoke negative interactions to manage their child’s behavior through reliance on ineffective parenting practices. This results in increasingly maladaptive parent-child interactions that maintain or worsen problem behaviors of the child and further disrupt family functioning. Despite the importance of family functioning on child post-injury outcomes, the availability of family-based treatments for children with TBI is extremely limited. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an …

Links Between Peer Relationships And Social Anxiety Across Adolescence: The Moderating Effects Of Interpersonal Competence, Self-Worth, And Gender, Emily N. Shah

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Links between interpersonal relationships and psychological functioning have been well established in the literature. Specifically, during adolescence, success or distress in peer relationships may have distinct effects on psychological functioning, especially with regard to the development of later social anxiety. The present study aims to examine the ways in which different adolescent peer relationships (i.e., close friendship quality and social acceptance) can predict later social anxiety development. Further, the study considers how different developmental stages of adolescence may impact these relationships, in addition to considering possible conditional effects of interpersonal competence, self-worth, and gender. Early adolescents (age 14) and late …

An Examination Of Working Memory In Subtle And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kara Eversole

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is abnormal cognitive decline that may be indicative of an insidious process such as dementia. Individuals with MCI are largely independent in their daily functioning but are at risk of further decline. To more deeply understand the working memory deficits associated with age-related cognitive decline, Lamar and colleagues developed a working memory task with no discontinuation rule: the Backwards Digit Task (BDT). Prior BDT research has demonstrated that individuals with mild cognitive impairment have lower overall scores on this task, and that different subtypes of MCI are more prone to certain errors. Research has not been …

The Effects Of Cannabidiol Isolate On Menstrual-Related Symptoms, Morgan L. Ferretti

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The current study aimed to examine the potential effects of CBD isolate for alleviating menstrual-related symptoms (MRS). Participants (N = 33, M_AGE = 20.50, M_BMI = 23.02)were assigned randomly to two open-label dosing groups (160mg, n = 17; 320mg, n = 16) and completed monthly surveys for four months that included MRS-related measures. We examined differences in MRS and related outcomes between baseline and three months of CBD administration. Results revealed reductions in MRS, irritability, anxiety, global impression, stress, and subjective severity scores with a small effect when comparing baseline to all three months of CBD administration. …