Psychology Commons^™

Examining The Moderating Role Of Specific Coping Strategies On The Relationship Between Body Image And Eating Disorders In College-Age Women, Alexandra Calvert Kirsch

Master's Theses

A sample of college age women assessed at three time points (Time 1: Baseline, assessed before college, Time 2: End of first semester, Time 3: End of first year of college) completed measures of disordered eating, coping, and body image. Results indicated that neither adaptive (problem-focused coping or social support seeking) nor maladaptive coping styles (active emotional coping or avoidant coping) as measured at Time 1 or Time 2 moderated the significant predictive relationship between body dissatisfaction at Time 1 and disordered eating attitudes at Time 3, when adjusting for disordered eating attitudes and BMI at Time 1. However, significant …

Vascular Risk, Functional Connectivity, And Episodic Memory In Older Adults, Elizabeth Regina Tuminello Hartman

Dissertations

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and functional connectivity (FC) analyses are used to explore functional brain networks underlying a diverse array of abilities. Functional networks are composed of regions throughout the brain whose activity is closely linked to form a coherent network. One functional network, the "default mode network" (DMN), is thought to subserve self-referential thought and autobiographical memory. DMN regions include the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobe, hippocampus, and the primary "hub" of this network, the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). For reasons yet unknown, DMN FC declines in aging, which is associated with memory impairment. Vascular risk may …

Profiles Of Neuropsychological Functioning In Children And Adolescents With Spina Bifda, Rachel Wasserman

Dissertations

The current study examined neuropsychological performance among children with spina bifida (SB) to determine if there are distinct subgroups or "profiles" of cognitive functioning. 96 children with SB myelomeningocele (ages 8-15) completed a brief assessment battery. Hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses were used to identify and confirm a cluster solution. Hypothesized predictors of cluster membership included lesion level, number of shunt surgeries, history of seizures, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, family stress, and family environment. Outcomes included independence, academic success, expectations for the future, and quality of life.

Ward's cluster method indicated a 3-cluster solution, and was replicated with 2 other …

Child Sexual Abuse, Attachment, Dating Behaviors, And Sexual Assault, Lucie Holmgreen

Dissertations (1934 -)

The current study used survey methodology to investigate the relationships among child sexual abuse, adult attachment, risky dating behaviors, and sexual assault. Specifically, it tested a model whereby attachment mediates a hypothesized relationship between child sexual abuse and risky dating behaviors, thus partially explaining sexual abuse survivors' risk of sexual assault (or revictimization). Results indicate that child sexual abuse relates to attachment anxiety but not to avoidance or the dating behaviors studied. While risky dating behaviors are associated with increased rates of sexual assault, most of them were not predicted by attachment. Attachment avoidance does relate, however, to some key …

I Cheat Because I Can: Power, Sexism And Approval Of Infidelity, Teni Davoudian

Dissertations (1934 -)

This study examined the moderating role of ambivalent sexism in the relationship between power and approval of infidelity. College students were randomly assigned to high- and low-power conditions and completed measures assessing their perceived power, endorsed sexism toward men and women, and approval of their own possible infidelity. It was hypothesized that the association between perceived power and permissive attitudes toward infidelity would vary according to participants' endorsement of hostile and benevolent sexism. The hypotheses were partially supported, and the results revealed the importance of both participant gender and sexism as predictors of attitudes toward infidelity. Hostile sexism toward men …

Parent And Family Outcomes Of An Empirically Validated Social Skills Intervention For Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jeffrey Scott Karst

Dissertations (1934 -)

Past research has indicated that raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with increased parenting stress, decreased parenting self-efficacy, and increased family distress. While ASD therapies often include significant parental involvement and are typically time-intensive and expensive, studies of ASD treatment have not widely evaluated the impact of treatment on caregivers or the family. There is evidence that successful long-term treatment outcomes are dependent on healthy systemic functioning, and thus it is important to understand how any particular treatment adjunctively affects parents and the family system. The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills …

Anorexia Nervosa: Benefits Of Recovery-Oriented Websites, Sarah L. Hersey

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a mental illness with serious physical, psychological, interpersonal, social, and economic consequences. AN is difficult to treat, with affected individuals experiencing symptoms after treatment completion. Recovery-oriented AN discussion boards are online forums on which individuals with AN can communicate with the goal of promoting their recovery. Using inclusion criteria, the author selected Mirasol, Something Fishy, Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), and PsychForums. The research questions asked were: (a) What are the themes of recovery-oriented AN Internet discussion boards? (b) What types of support can be found on the boards? (c) How frequently are potentially 'triggering' …

Development And Preliminary Validation Of The Youth Therapist Observational Cultural Competence Scale, Carrie Tully

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing diversity of the United States creates a pressing public health need to investigate methods to increase the engagement, retention, and efficacy of mental health services for racial/ethnic minority (REM) youth. Evidence from the adult psychotherapy treatment literature suggests that enhancing therapist cultural competence leads to increases in client satisfaction, alliance, and retention (Constantine, 2002; Sodowsky, Kuo-Jackson, Richardson, & Corey, 1998; Worthington, Soth-McNett, & Moreno, 2007). However, this relationship has not been adequately explored in youth mental health services, due in part, to a lack of valid and reliable measurement. This research project included measure development and initial validation …

Parenting Practices And Parenting Stress In African American Families Of Children With And Without Adhd, Annie Rabinovitch

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined differences in parenting practices and parenting stress between 44 African American maternal caregivers of children ages 6-10 with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 25 caregivers of children without ADHD. Results indicated significant group differences on inconsistent discipline, as child ADHD significantly predicted this parenting construct. There were no mean group differences in positive parenting. Parenting stress was related to parenting practices for the caregivers of children without ADHD, but was unrelated to parenting practices among control caregivers. Child ADHD predicted several subscales of the Parenting Stress Index. However, child ADHD failed to be a significant predictor when a …

Longitudinal Relations Between Peer Victimization And Delinquency: The Mediating Roles Of Sadness, Fear, And Anger, Lisa J. Ulmer

Theses and Dissertations

Peer victimization is a common occurrence among youth, and it has been linked to a number of negative outcomes, including delinquent behaviors (e.g., physical aggression, theft/property damage, and substance use). Several studies examined relations between peer victimization and delinquency, though few have done so longitudinally or examined whether negative emotions are underlying processes that explain associations between these constructs. The current study’s purpose is to examine whether several negative emotions (i.e., anger, fear, and sadness) mediate relations between several types of peer victimization and delinquency among middle and high school youths. The study’s sample of 318 youths was predominately African …

The Contribution Of Parent Psychosocial Functioning To Parental Monitoring, Youth Adherence, And Glycemic Control During Adolescence, Elizabeth M. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common pediatric chronic illnesses. Adolescents are at risk for poorer adherence and in turn, poorer glycemic control; however, youth whose parents remain involved in diabetes care are in better control. A parent’s level of involvement is dependent in part upon his or her own social and emotional functioning. Much is known about the link between separate aspects of parent psychosocial functioning (e.g., depressive symptoms, parental stress) and parent involvement in diabetes care, adherence, and glycemic control. However, no study to our knowledge has examined these constructs simultaneously as they interrelate …

Todo En La Familia: Examining The Relationships Among Ms Impairments, Family Needs, And Caregiver Mental Health In Guadalajara, Mexico, Melody N. Mickens

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially those living in Latin America, often require assistance from family caregivers throughout the duration of disease. Previous findings suggest that family caregivers may experience positive and negative effects from providing care to individuals with MS, but few studies have examined the impact of MS caregiving on caregivers from Latin America. The current study examined the relationships between MS impairments (functional, neurological, cognitive, behavioral and emotional), unmet family needs (household, informational, financial, social support, health), and caregiver psychosocial functioning (satisfaction with life, anxiety, burden, and depression) in a sample of 81 MS caregivers from Guadalajara, …

Spiritual Practices Among Northern Plains Tribal Members As A Protective Factor In The Relationship Between Unexpected Deaths And Traumatic Grief, Ciara D. Hansen

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Background: Grief is an important and potentially misunderstood construct in Indian country. Past research has shown that the experience of unexpected deaths has been associated with intense and maladaptive grief responses. Active participation in religion or spirituality has been shown to buffer against the negative effects of bereavement. Given the well-documented premature mortality rates and generally lowered life expectancy in American Indian communities, this study examined the relationships between spirituality, unexpected deaths, and traumatic grief, as measured by the Inventory of Traumatic Grief – Revised (ITG-R). Method: A secondary multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis that …

Enchanted: A Qualitative Examination Of Fairy-Tales And Women's Intimate Relational Patterns, Amanda Schnibben

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Fairy-tales and myth have long been held as ways of communicating what is happening in society and within a culture. This dissertation study examined the interview narratives of 10 women regarding the impact of fairy-tales and myth on female identity in the context of intimate relationship patterns. This study utilized definitions of fairy-tale and myth derived from Biechonski's (2005) framework, while augmenting these conceptualizations with depth psychology perspectives. The study's findings were produced using qualitative, phenomenological research methods (Merriam, 2009). Results of the study demonstrated that some of the female participants identified with fairy-tales during their youth; however, all participants …

Psychotherapy And The Embodiment Of The Neuronal Identity: A Hermeneutic Study Of Louis Cozolino's (2010) The Neuroscience Of Psychotherapy: Healing The Social Brain , Ari Simon Natinsky

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In recent years, there have been several ways in which researchers have attempted to integrate psychotherapy and neuroscience research. Neuroscience has been proposed as a method of addressing lingering questions about how best to integrate psychotherapy theories and explain their efficacy. For example, some psychotherapy outcome studies have included neuroimaging of participants in order to propose neurobiological bases of effective psychological interventions (e.g., Paquette et al., 2003). Other theorists have used cognitive neuroscience research to suggest neurobiological correlates of various psychotherapy theories and concepts (e.g., Schore, 2012). These efforts seem to embody broader historical trends, including the hope that neuroscience …

Asian Indian College Students: Relationship Between Parent–Child Communication Difficulties And Internalization, Sheeba P. Thomas

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Children of Asian Indian immigrants in the United States vary in their acculturation from their parents to American culture and society. The U.S.-born second-generation and those who immigrate at an early age may be at risk for emotional and behavioral difficulties. The present study investigated whether certain sociocultural factors related to the negative adjustment of second-generation Asian Indian college students. A survey method measured acculturation, acculturative family distancing, perceived prejudice, and internalization difficulties (i.e., depression, trait anxiety, somatic symptoms, and self-critical perfectionism) of second-generation Asian Indian college students (N = 60), ages 19–25. The sample was primarily Keralite (64.5%) with …

Social Networking Dilemmas For Psychologists: Privacy, Professionalism, Boundary Issues, And Policies, Afshan Afsahi

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Technological advancements have had positive and negative effects on the clinical practice of psychology. Increasing use of social networking websites has created new ethical issues concerning privacy and confidentiality, professionalism, and therapeutic boundaries. Due to the ever-changing nature of social media, there are no clear practice rules or guidelines set by the American Psychological Association (APA) for psychologists’ use of the Internet and social networks. This research took a closer look at psychology graduate students and psychologists’ use of privacy settings; their awareness, beliefs, and practices as they relate to their own and others’ online behaviors; their preparedness to have …

Campus Tails: An On-Campus Therapy-Dog Pilot Program And Feasibility Study, Maureen D. Sanford

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

College counseling centers are treating more cases of depression and anxiety than ever. Yet, despite endorsing symptoms, many students are disinclined to engage in counseling. Research shows that interacting with a therapy dog has positive psychological effects, including decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. I developed an on campus therapy dog pilot program (Campus Tails) as an alternative to counseling for students suffering from symptoms of depression and/or anxiety as measured by subscales of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms 34 (CCAPS 34) Version 2009. I implemented Campus Tails at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine during the spring of …

Understanding The Changing Landscape Of Client Perspectives Of Recovery From Anorexia Nervosa, Jennifer Leslie

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Current research exposes the lack of a universal definition of recovery from Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Discrepancies in how the term is defined and used have created problems for clients, clinicians, and families; particularly around how insurance providers allot financial coverage for treatment. Additionally, there is a gap in the literature regarding the length of time clients consider appropriate for symptom abatement prior to being considered recovered. This dissertation utilized a mixed-methods approach to investigate how the term recovery had different meanings over the course of treatment for women previously treated for AN. Seventy-nine adult women participated in the web-based survey. …

Childhood Sexual Behavior: An Integrated Developmental Ecological Assessment Approach, Kelley Simmons Jones

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative, theoretical review and analysis of extant literature explored the sociocultural influences effecting conceptualization of childhood sexual behavior problems. Themes emerged from analysis of peer-reviewed journals that illustrated the complex, multidimensional, and ecological factors influencing child sexual development and problematic sexual behavior. These included major themes of Child Sexuality: Ecological Context, Developmental Context, Complex Trauma, and Ecological Interventions. Specific factors associated with childhood sexual behavior problems included trauma, domestic violence, sexual and physical abuse, psychological and emotional distress, impaired attachment, and the effects of diverse ecological systems such as the family, parents, and sociocultural influences of the greater community. …

Supporting Families With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Encouraging Whole Family Health, Kathryn A. Kraft

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In this dissertation, I discuss the medical and psychological needs of families with children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). Due to these needs, I have designed and described a program of social support and psychoeducation to be offered to parents and families. Specifically, I discuss the difficulty that parents have when finding out that their child has CAH, the emotional toll this takes on a parent, on their relationship, and on their family. Using a Family Systems Illness Model, I designed a program that takes into account family functioning, organization, structure, and communication when determining what would be most helpful …

Service Engagement And Serious Mental Illness: The Obstacles And Barriers To Attendance In A Post-Treatment Recovery Outpatient Setting, Marisa Jeanne Friedman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the factors that affect treatment adherence and service engagement in individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI). A semistructured interview was used to collect data from treatment adherent and treatment nonadherent adults with SMI. What factors make one more or less likely to disengage from treatment? What boundaries stand in the way of quality mental-health care, and how do adults with SMI overcome these barriers? Service engagement in the population with SMI in the study was explained according to three healthcare behavioral models, the health belief model, the network episode model, and the demoralization framework model. Data …

Improving Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Homework Adherence With Change Talk And Commitment Language: A Cognitive Dissonance Perspective Of Behavioral Change, Robert J. Brecher

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Adherence to homework assigned during cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an important factor contributing to positive outcomes. However, rates of adherence are poor, limited evidence supporting methods to improve adherence is limited. The current study aimed to develop and test an intervention designed to promote CBT homework adherence based on cognitive dissonance theory. Patients participating in outpatient CBT were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control condition. In the experimental condition, participants engaged in an induced-compliance procedure eliciting change talk targeting the recommended homework activity. The control condition consisted of treatment as usual. Owing to limited sample size (n …

In Their Own Words: Perceived Experiences And Family Functioning Of Suicide Survivors Before And After Suicide Loss, Wendy Shallcross Lam

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This research explored the unique experiences of relatives of individuals who have died by suicide, termed suicide survivors, in an in-depth fashion using qualitative methods. Through a semi-structured interview, the present study explored how families dealt with general stress prior to the experience of suicide loss, how they handled the loss of a family member to suicide, and what has been used to cope in the aftermath. A major focus was to explore whether or not the event of suicide dramatically altered family dynamics or if families continued a pre-existing interaction pattern established prior to the loss. The results revealed …

Children's Cognitive Processing Of Abuse As Described In Investigative Interviews., Kayleen A. Willemsen, Kim P. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A great deal of research has examined ways in which investigative interviewers can elicit accurate information from children. More recently, research has studied children’s own thoughts or comprehension of abuse, and how these types of statements relate to disclosure, others’ perceptions of child witnesses, and psychological trauma. However, little research has investigated multiple types of children’s thoughts about abuse as they occur in an actual investigative interview. The current study examined seven types of statements children made about their abuse in a sample of 86 transcripts of investigative interviews conducted by Child Protective Services and a police department in a …

Mental Health Care In Mcallen Texas: Utilization, Expenditure, And Continuum Of Care, Josefina Irigoyen

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In 2009, Gawande published an article in The New Yorker that put the unknown mid-sized South Texas city of McAllen on the map. The article stated that McAllen was one of the most expensive health care markets in the country; it caused such media-frenzy that in a few days President Barack Obama (2009) began citing McAllen in his speeches for health care reform. Gawande concluded that overspending in the area was due to overutilization of medical services. The present study examined whether mental health services are overutilized based on archival data on McAllen's mental health services collected from Medicaid, Tropical …

How Young Adults Make Meaning Of Their Family Intergenerational Solidarity Through The Use Of Music, Keri B. Petrone

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative research project explores how young adults make meaning of their family intergenerational solidarity through the use of music. The project employed a type of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to unlock meaning-making themes among young adults. Data collection consisted of interviewing ten young adults whose family had unintentionally or intentionally used music to increase their family intergenerational solidarity. The interviews were semi-structured. This study attempted to capture the depth of each young adult’s meaning-making. Seven general themes emerged: (a) I have experienced bonding with my family members through the use of music; (b) I have experienced emotional and/or psychological …

Enhancing Coping Skills In Adolescents: A Program Evaluation Of The Middletip Program, Melody Bongiorno Frank

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In the last decade of the 20th century, several large-scale studies suggested that the developmental trajectory for students diagnosed with emotional disturbance is bleak. Middletip School (MTS) is an alternative day treatment program that serves emotionally disturbed (ED) students (ages 12-19) through a daily offering of academic classes, and counseling and treatment groups. Using individually tailored, strength-based programming, MTS is designed to help ED youth in the areas of emotion regulation and behavior management, with a focus on building coping, relational, social, and communication skills. This dissertation project was a program evaluation in a natural setting examining the processes of …

The Effects Of Nesting Environment On Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury, Laura Grace Rollins

Graduate Masters Theses

Term neonates with hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury are at risk for devastating neurological sequelae. The objective of this study is to determine if altering the early environment for maternal care-taking impacts the immediate and long-term sequelae of HI offspring. The Rice-Vannucci model was used to induce HI in postnatal day (PND) 7 Long-Evans pups. Litters were assigned to a closed nest (CN) or normal standard housing (SH) condition. Neurobehavioral development, cognitive ability, and stress response were assessed to establish any benefits of the CN condition. Finally, postmortem brain tissue was analyzed for morphometric markers of injury.

Maternal Self-Efficacy And Perceived Stigma Among Mothers Of Children With Asd, Adhd, And Typically Developing Children, Sara D. Rosenblum-Fishman

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Maternal self-efficacy (a mother's beliefs about her parenting competence) is an important area of mothers' wellbeing and overall family functioning. This study examined environmental factors that are related maternal self-efficacy among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD group), mothers of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD group), and mothers of typically developing children (Typical group). Environmental factors included (a) messages of criticism or blame about one's parenting competence (parenting-related perceived stigma), (b) child problem behaviors, (c) maternal stress, and (d) social support. One hundred eighty mothers of school-age children living in the United States completed the measures on-line. Results …