Psychology Commons^™

Statistical Fit And Factor Structure Of The Food-Life Questionnaire In Emerging Adult Undergraduate Students, Arielle Wolinsky

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Food-Life Questionnaire (FLQ) is a psychometrically sound measure of beliefs and attitudes towards food that was initially developed and validated for use with a general adult population; however, the psychometric properties of the measure have yet to be examined in an emerging adult population. The constructs captured by the FLQ are particularly relevant in emerging adulthood, because it is a time of increased risk for the development of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Using data from a large, demographically diverse sample of emerging adult undergraduate students (n = 679), the current study evaluated the fit of the original five-factor …

Developing A Clinician Self-Report Fidelity Measure For A Transdiagnostic, Evidence-Based Protocol At A Residential Eating Disorders Treatment Center, Jennifer M. Oswald

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Objective: Fidelity monitoring is a vital component of successful evidence-based practice implementation in routine treatment settings. However, resource-intensiveness and low clinician buy-in pose barriers to traditional observer-report monitoring, highlighting a need to explore the practical utility of self-report approaches. This study used a mixed-methods approach to (a) develop a self-report fidelity measure of a transdiagnostic evidence-based protocol in a residential eating disorders treatment center; (b) tailor the measure for optimal accuracy, acceptability, and ease of use; and (c) assess measure validity via convergence with observer ratings. Methods: N = 10 clinicians participated in cognitive interviewing to refine an initial draft …

The Evocative Effects Of Child Temperament On Parenting Stress And Behaviors, Laura Welch

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Despite recognition that parents contribute to child development, much remains to be clarified about ways child characteristics shape parents’ behaviors. For example, temperamental characteristics such as negative affectivity elicit more parenting stress (Oddi, Murdock, Vadnais, Bridgett, & Gartstein, 2013) and less effective parenting behaviors (Laukkanen, Ojansuu, Tolvanen, Alatupa, & Aunola, 2014). On the other hand, children’s effortful control is known to reduce psychological risks associated with negative affectivity (Gartstein, Putnam, & Rothbart, 2012) yet no studies have investigated whether this may consequently reduce parenting stress. Furthermore, stressed parents are more likely to engage in harsh parenting strategies (Martorell & Bugental, …

Be Kind To Your Mind: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing The Benefits Of Mindfulness And Self-Compassion Vs. Social Skills Training Among Children And Adolescents, Lindsey Feltis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Childhood and adolescence can be difficult for young people as they navigate a variety of significant transitions. Thus, it is imperative that researchers focus on programs that support children and adolescents during this time. Mindfulness and self-compassion are two such programs that may promote positive youth development. Mindfulness and self-compassion have been explored in the adolescent context, and mindfulness has been explored with young children, however research on self-compassion for children is currently lacking. The present studies were designed to examine the feasibility, acceptability and potential benefits of a combined mindfulness + self-compassion program for children and adolescents in the …

Integrated Psychological Services In Pediatric Primary Care: A Program Evaluation, Kristen Laprade Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many children and youth experience emotional and/or behavioral health difficulties and lack appropriate access to care. Access to care limitations are particularly relevant to rural populations such as Mississippi. Integrated care models could serve as an innovative solution to increasing access to care for children and youth. In particular, the Three World View model of integrated care asserts that attention should be given to the clinical world (i.e., provision of evidence based services), operational world (i.e., charting, scheduling, referrals, etc.), and the financial world (i.e., funding and reimbursement). The current study utilized program evaluation tools to develop and evaluate a …

Exploring Whether Contextual Factors Relate To The Hoped-For And Feared Possible Selves Of Latinx Youth, Stephanie M. Romo

Theses and Dissertations

Youth’s hopes and fears for their future (i.e., hoped-for and feared possible selves) are related to their academic and health behavior outcomes. Much of the literature on possible selves focuses on African-American and European-American youth. In a sample of 132 Latinx youth, the present cross-sectional study utilized widely-used measures (i.e., Possible Selves Questionnaire, Beliefs about Education, Youth Risk Surveillance Survey) to identify the content and characteristics (e.g., strategies, balance) of their possible selves; investigate the relationship between contextual factors (e.g., sex, immigrant status) and possible selves; and, explore whether possible selves predicted youth’s beliefs about education and sexual risk behaviors. …

Effects Of Ethnicity And Type Of Crime On Juvenile Offenders’ Recidivism Risk, Larry E. Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile crime in the United States has been a persistent social problem that has reached epidemic proportions. The purpose of this between-subjects, comparative quantitative study was to examine the relationship between recidivism risk and the type of crime, ethnicity, and race of the juvenile. Social learning theory was used to guide the study. Archival data of 59,653 cases were collected from Inter-University Consortium Political and Social Research. Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions was used to assess the dependent variable recidivism risk. The independent variables were ethnicity and type of crime of the offender reported in the Transcript of …

Job Self-Efficacy, Alexithymia And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Correctional Officers, Paulette Andrea Gayle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional officers work in a volatile environment and are regularly exposed to inmates’ violence or cruelty. These factors negatively affect their job performance, contribute to physiological and mental health issues that could result in secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. Researchers have identified job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits as mitigating factors against elevated stress. Other researchers have identified the traits as strongly associated with mental health illnesses. The purpose of this quantitative study, using a convenience sampling strategy, was to determine whether job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits were predictors of STS among a sample of 79 correctional officers working for Her …

Mental Health Service Utilization Among Urban Adolescents: The Roles Of Perceived Mental Health Problems, Attitudes Towards Professional Help, And Stigma, Yi Tak Tsang

Wayne State University Dissertations

Mental health among adolescents is widely acknowledged as a significant concern in the United States. Based on a national survey, Merikangas et al. (2010) found that among 13-17 year olds, 42% to 48% reported experiencing mental health concerns. It is estimated that only half of adolescents with mental health problems utilize mental health services (Costello et al., 2014). An initial study found that caregivers of disadvantaged youth appeared to function as the “gatekeepers” to mental health services (Tsang et al., 2020). Also, the results suggested that positive attitude towards professional psychological help, but not stigma, predicted service enrollment. The current …

Treatment Of Comorbid Anxiety Disorders In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Melissa Trout

Capstone Showcase

The research question under investigation in this paper is in regard to the treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The investigation focuses on which treatment method is most effective in the treatment of the anxiety symptoms. While there are many methods to choose from, from psychosocial therapies to pharmacological therapies to alternative therapies, but the focus of this paper was on psychosocial therapy options. The research has shown that a modified version of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment program is the most effective in treating anxiety in children with ASD. Much of the …

Maladaptive Personality Traits And Acute Psychological Distress In Individuals With Head And Neck Cancer, Christopher Spencer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Personality disorders (PD) and related traits are associated with and predictive of medical outcomes. One mechanism whereby this may occur is through the interaction of PD traits and distress during treatment of chronic illness, especially in cancer. The majority of head and neck cancers (HNC) are caused by alcohol and tobacco, the disordered use of which is prevalent in those with PDs. This study examined how PD traits relate to distress for individuals during and after treatment of HNC (32.8% in active treatment). A sample of 137 individuals (70.8% male; median age 66) with a diagnosis of HNC from a …

Social Connectedness And College Student Alcohol Use: Understanding The Role Of Alcohol Expectancies, Social Anxiety, And Need To Belong, Mark Crisafulli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Despite recent decreases in college alcohol use, alcohol related harms continue to occur at high rates and currently available interventions do not work as well as previously thought. Research has found sociability expectancies to be particularly important in predicting risky alcohol use, and expectancy challenge programs that target these expectancies can be effective in reducing heavy drinking. Little is known, however, about how other social variables might contribute to the influence of expectancies in promoting alcohol use. The current study used structural equation modeling to test models of alcohol use examining how need to belong and social connectedness fit into …

Working Memory In Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An Investigation Of Short-Term And Central Executive Memory Components Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy, Samuel Eckrich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an early onset, highly heritable, chronic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by underdeveloped/deficient executive functions, particularly those entailing working memory (WM). Substantial research exists documenting WM deficits in pediatric age range ADHD and their relation with adverse learning outcomes; however, relatively little is known concerning the extent to which deficient WM processes reflect underlying deficiencies in hemodynamic functioning (OxyHb). This is the first study to use a movement-tolerant neuroimaging tool—functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)—to investigate hypothesized prefrontalOxyHb differences between children with ADHD and typically developing (TD) children while they complete memory tasks differing in cognitive processing demands (e.g., …

Association Of Working Therapeutic Alliance And Psychopathy In Civilly-Confined Sex Offenders, Kearie Ann Newman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past decade, researchers have focused attention on the therapeutic alliance (TA) and its impact in treatment outcomes. The literature on TA has been focused primarily on its impact on the client’s participation, the accomplishment of goals, and treatment completion. However, very little of this research includes individuals who have psychopathy. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative survey study was to explore the relation between the level of psychopathy (high versus low) and TA ratings of 16 therapists and 64 clients in the population of convicted civilly-confined male sex offenders. Bordin’s theory grounded the study. Data were gathered from …

Exploring The Dual Role Of Consumer And Provider In Substance Use Peer Support Workers, Christian Scannell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Peer support is built upon the premise that shared life experiences will benefit both the helper and the receiver. In the substance abuse field, this relationship has been linked to an increase in practical knowledge, empowerment, hope, and community connectedness. However, the research on peer support is primarily geared toward the effectiveness of the intervention for the consumer. Less is known about the role of this relationship in the recovery of the workers themselves. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experience of recovery in substance abuse peer support workers. A recovery framework and the helper …

The Effects Of A Cognitive Training Program For Healthy Older Adults: A Program Evaluation Study, Jacklyn Gehling

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

As one ages, some degree of cognitive decline is expected. Despite this, declines in cognitive abilities and the possibility of developing dementia are common concerns among older adults. In response to these concerns, a variety of cognitive training programs have been developed that aim to improve or maintain cognitive functioning. Previous literature has shown mixed or limited findings on cognitive changes after implementation of cognitive training. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive training program designed for older adults with no to minimal cognitive decline. The current study included 19 participants who engaged in two, one-hour long cognitive training …

Uncovering The Depression Treatment Gap: The Role Of Motivation To Change, God Image, And Religious Affiliation, Cyrus Chiasson

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Research analyzing factors that are indicative of treatment seeking for depression is warranted. In the United States, approximately 70% of individuals with depression do not receive treatment. The aim of the current study is to evaluate motivation to change, God image, and religious affiliation as predictors of current treatment engagement for depression. Motivation to change has previously been evaluated as a predictor of treatment outcome for depression but not as a predictor of current treatment engagement. Additionally, previous research indicates religious involvement is associated with less depressive symptomology but is in turn related to negative views towards mental health treatment …

Dear Mama, These Cops Don’T Understand Me: The Influence Of Mental Health Stigma On Youth Incarceration, Ashley Lockwood

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Youth within the juvenile justice system have a higher prevalence of mental illness when compared to the general population, with some literature revealing up to 80% of incarcerated youth possess a diagnosable disorder (Shufelt & Cocozza, 2006; Underwood & Washington, 2016). Today, mental health stigma is widely prevalent and results in prejudice, discrimination, lowered self-esteem, and other negative outcomes for individuals struggling with mental health related issues (Corrigan & Watson, 2002; Dalgin & Gilbride 2003). With this in mind, the role mental health stigma plays in the lives of youth in the juvenile justice system should not be overlooked. Although …

Do Cognitive Distortions And Coping Skills Predict Scar Acceptance And Body Esteem In Women With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Or Pacemakers?, Nora Brier

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether cognitions and coping skills predict scar acceptance and body esteem in women 18 years and older with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) or pacemakers. A convenience sample of 272 individuals responded to a Facebook post. The measures were a demographic questionnaire, the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised (Short) (SPSI-R:S), the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, the Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (PSAQ), the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey, and the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD). Pearson correlation coefficient results revealed a moderate negative correlation between Negative Problem Orientation (NPO) and Body Esteem (Weight), …

Self-Compassion As A Protective Factor Against Minority Stress For Lgbt Individuals, Morgan Christine Bowlen

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Objectives: Research has found that anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders are more prevalent in LGBT individuals than heterosexual individuals (Fergusson, Horwood, & Beautrais, 1999). An explanation for these differences has been put forward by Meyer (2003), the Minority Stress Model, which is a theoretical framework that proposes that individuals who occupy a stigmatized minority status, such as LGBT individuals, may experience increased stress on the basis of stigmatization associated with this status. Results from multiple studies support the relationship between mindfulness and coping skills, life satisfaction, and positive health outcomes for LGBT individuals (Crews & Crawford, 2015; Gayner …

Enhancing The Impact Of Behavioral Activation Via Prospection, Chelsey M. Maxson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Maternal Factors In The Disordered Eating Of Adolescent Girls: Proposing And Evaluating A New Model, Miriam Goldstein

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Disordered eating behaviors occur at high rates among adolescent girls of all ethnicities and are associated with increased risk of eating disorders. Maternal influences such as maternal disordered eating, childhood feeding practices, and the mother-teen relationship quality have been implicated as risk factors for disordered eating in adolescent girls, but few studies have examined the interplay of these influences within a single model, controlling for adolescent age. To address this gap, the current study proposed a theoretical model and tested a series of moderated mediation pathways from maternal disordered eating to disordered eating behaviors in female adolescents. The model was …

A Systematic Review Of Mindfulness Interventions’ Impact On Athlete Emotional Distress & Wellbeing, Trevor Nathan Tierney

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Mindfulness-based interventions’ (MBIs) effectiveness for improving wellbeing and reducing emotional distress is well-documented in both clinical and non-clinical sections of the general population (McAlarnen & Longshore, 2017). Although mindfulness has been shown to be effective with these populations, less is known about the specific effects for athletes. The effects of MBI’s for athletes may be different given that the intention for MBIs in the sport context is typically to improve performance, where in most other contexts it is not (Gardner & Moore, 2012). Furthermore, athletes are a distinct population who possess unique factors on which their wellbeing and mental health …

Cultural Humility And Grace In Explicitly Christian Programs, Tricha L. Weeks

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Cultural Humility is a vital component of healthy attitudes characterized by lack of superiority towards other’s cultural experiences (Hook, Davis, Owen, Worthington, & Utsey, 2013). To date, no published research has examined the impact of cultural competency training on the development of Cultural Humility and Grace among doctoral psychology students. Utilizing Hook et al.’s definition of Cultural Humility, this study examined how participation in an American Psychological Association accredited clinical psychology program affected the Cultural Humility and Grace of enrolled students.

Data were collected from students, faculty, and clinical supervisors across three training settings during the 2017-2018 academic year. Students …

Dissociation And Metacognition: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Richard E. Nalbandian

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Dissociation commonly occurs as a defense against trauma and can be understood as a breakdown in metacognition. The present research investigated the relationship between trauma, dissociation, and metacognition in subjects with PTSD, a trauma-related disorder. Specifically, we investigated a potential inverse relationship between metacognition and dissociation in participants who have undergone psychoanalytic therapy. Participants were patients admitted to the Austen Riggs Center, who consented to be a part of the Follow Along Study (FAS), a longitudinal investigation spanning 15 years. Quantitative and qualitative analyses examined differences in themes of dissociation across initial and follow-up-clinical interviews. Quantitatively, all subscales for metacognition …

Experiences Of Hope, Resilience And Spirituality In Kenyan Children And Adolescents, Anne King

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Resilience is a vital factor in overcoming adversity. The presence of hope and spiritual meaning have been demonstrated to contribute to resilience. Globally, there are millions of children and adolescents who have faced traumatic experiences including, but not limited to, the loss of their parents. The current study explored Kenyan children and adolescents’ experiences of resilience, hope and spirituality in the environment of a group home and school in Kenya. Mixed measures were utilized. Seventy-five participants ages 10-19 years old completed the quantitative measures including the CD-RISC, SEARS-C/A, the Children’s Hope scale, the Adult Hope scale, and a 1-item Spirituality …

Assessing Preferences For Montessori-Based Activities In Persons With Memory Impairment, Katelyn Danielle Smith

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The population of older adults in the U.S is continuously increasing. With this comes an increased number of individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementia related disease (ADRD), along with the need for quality care for these individuals. The use of activities to increase engagement has been shown to have a number of psychological benefits, especially when these activities are tailored to the abilities and preferences of the individual. However, individualizing activity programming is not always feasible for activity and care staff. The purpose of this study was to use a stimulus preference assessment to identify Montessori-based activities that persons with …

I’M Sexy And I Know It: The Impact Of Sexual Self-Esteem And Body Satisfaction On Disordered Eating Behavior, Marissa Parks

Scripps Senior Theses

Rates of dieting, disordered eating, and eating disorders are continuing to rise in the United States. Many factors influence decisions to engage in problematic eating, including body satisfaction and self-esteem. This paper outlines two studies that examined these relationships and proposed an intervention to reduce disordered eating. In the first study participants were primed to think about a time when they had negative thoughts about their intelligence, their body, or their sexual self-esteem and then measured body image avoidance, self-esteem, sexual self-esteem, disordered eating behaviors, well-being, and depressive symptoms. Consistent with previous research, it was found that having participants recall …

Patients' Expectations' Effects On Treatment Outcome In Major Depressive Disorder (Mdd) In Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (Istdp), Taylor Kahn

Scripps Senior Theses

Existing research has supported the influence of patients’ expectations on symptom reduction in both antidepressant trials and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) is effective in treating individuals with MDD, and its structured sessions, similar to the replicable format of CBT, offer a valid psychodynamic therapy that can be compared to past CBT research. This study will attempt to examine whether patients’ expectations will affect equal or greater symptom reduction when being treated with ISTDP than if treated with CBT. It will also examine whether patients’ expectations affect the …

The Use Of Postural Aggression In Intimate Partner Relationships: What Is It And Is It Being Recognized As "Abuse" By Intimate Partners, Elizabeth Gentry Myers

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The use of aggression towards an intimate partner has been an increasingly concerning topic in the violence literature over the last five decades; however, many dimensions continue to lack clarity. Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains the most common form of violence committed against women worldwide with about 30% of women reporting a lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence by a partner (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019), often accompanied by psychological aggression (Larsen, 2016; Williams et al., 2012). Postural aggression is defined as a subtype of psychological aggression which consists of both direct and indirect forms of non-physical abuse; although, …