Psychology Commons^™

Exploring The Impact Of Internalized Negative Stereotypes On Black Women's Identity Development, Mental Health, And Resilience, Angela Nicole Clarke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stereotypes affect Black women’s self-concept, psychological well-being, and overall mental health, influencing how they perceive themselves and are perceived by others. This descriptive phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Black women who have internalized negative stereotypes, such as the angry Black woman and strong Black woman, and explored their impact on identity development and mental health. Intersectionality theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 15 Black women from the Southeast and Southwest United States. Thematic analysis revealed key patterns of resilience such as community support, code-switching, and self-affirmation. Findings also highlighted the …

Racial Trauma, Psychosis, And Double Consciousness, Brianna A. Baker

Publications and Research

Key Points

• Black distress is often misdiagnosed as psychosis instead of recognized as a response to racial trauma.
• Double consciousness may explain how racism causes cognitive and emotional strain in Black individuals.
• Racial discrimination is linked to paranoia, dissociation, and hallucinations in Black communities.

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Nurses' Feelings, Stress, Coping, And Motivation In Palestinian Treatment Centers Of Corona, † Wafaa Menawi, Shatha Mari, Ahmad Adel Hanani

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Background: Frontline nurses of COVID-19 found themselves in an unfamiliar new disease work environment, fighting to adapt and control the stress while working at covid-19 centers in Palestine. Aim: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on nurses' feelings, stress, coping, and motivation in COVID-19 Palestinian treatment Centers. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted between Mid of July to the end of October 2021 by recruiting a purposive sample of 390 nurses who worked at the Ministry of Health during COVID-19 pandemic treatment centers. The nurses filled out the COVID-19 Health Personnel Questionnaire with Cronbach's Alpha > 0.9. Results: Palestinian frontline …

Contingency Management For Opioid Use Disorder Buprenorphine Treatment Engagement: 3-Month Outcomes, Shelby Renee Goodwin

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with opioid use disorder exhibit difficulty sustaining prolonged buprenorphine treatment engagement. Contingency management (CM; incentives) may serve to increase the reinforcing value of treatment itself, but most buprenorphine CM studies delivered incentives more frequently than in typical outpatient practice. This study sought to compare CM with treatment as usual (TAU; regular clinic procedures) in visit attendance and adherence (defined as urine samples positive for buprenorphine and negative for other opioids) in new outpatients at a hospital opioid treatment clinic. Participants (46 per group) were randomized to either CM or TAU and monitored by medical record for 12 weeks; for …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Mitigation Through Education: A Brain-Based Learning Approach, Marisa S. Paglino

PhD in Education

Prior research has indicated a noteworthy relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), working memory (WM) function, and quality of life (QOL) among individuals who have experienced traumatic events within their lifetime. Despite much prior research focusing primarily on adult combat veterans of war, minimal data exists evaluating the effects of traumatic events in civilians who have yet to pass the age of complete neurological development (25 years or age). The present study aimed to evaluate the differences in trauma perception, perception of WM function, and perception of QOL among college students in Florida. Using descriptive statistics, based on the type …

Supervisees’ Responsiveness In Supervision With Doctoral Student Supervisors, Zübeyde Akpakır

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the factors that influence the responsiveness of master’s-level counselors-in-training (CITs) to university-based supervision with doctoral student supervisors. Supervision is an important element and the requirement of CITs' professional development (Bernard & Goodyear, 2019; CACREP, 2024), and many counselor education programs educate their doctoral student to supervise master’s-level CITs (Luke, 2019). Despite its significance, there is no empirical data on how CITs engage with feedback and guidance, particularly in supervision led by novice doctoral supervisors. The study employed an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, Q methodology (McKeown & Thomas, 2013), to analyze CITs' subjective perspectives and identify factors …

Intimate Partner Violence Among College Students: The Influence Of Gender, Sexual Orientation, Race/Ethnicity On Bystander Intention, Brooke M. Puharic

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students is an issue across gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. The present study highlights the sociodemographic characteristics that influence physical IPV involvement among college students by reporting past year prevalence and frequency rates of physical IPV involvement by gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. Additionally, the current study builds on research about bystander intention to intervene by exploring the influence of these sociodemographic characteristics on participants intentions to intervene, as well as their preferred type of intervention.

Participants were 525 university students recruited from the psychology research pool. They were presented with eight hypothetical vignettes …

Transgender And Gender Diverse Young Adults’ Navigation Of Sexuality: What Mental Health Providers Need To Know, Sage A. Volk

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Though literature has documented that TGD individuals may face unique challenges when attempting to develop healthy romantic and sexual relationships (Hill-Meyer & Scarborough, 2014), research has also identified that intimate partners can serve as an immeasurable source of support and resilience for their TGD partners (Coppola et al., 2021; Galupo et al., 2019). While there is strong evidence to support the importance of TGD individuals developing healthy intimate relationships, there is little guidance in the literature for mental health providers wanting to discuss these domains with TGD clients in psychotherapy (Spencer and Vencill, 2017).

The present study addresses this gap …

Transgender And Gender Diverse Youth Navigating Relationships And Sexuality: Recommendations For Affirming Clinical Practice, Hannah Marie Coffey

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Healthy relationship development is critical for adolescents’ social-emotional wellbeing, and shifting social expectations and identity development in adolescence can be challenging (Kenny et al., 2013; Roach, 2018). This can be particularly complex for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth given the occurrence of identity development alongside navigating safety, access to affirming spaces, and limited availability of queer-inclusive education (Levitt and Ippolito, 2014; Xing et al., 2015). The positive psychosocial impacts of comprehensive sex education and the relevance of discussing relationships in therapy with adolescents situate mental health providers well to address some of the gaps in knowledge and access to …

The Effects Of Internalizing Symptoms And Attentional Difficulties On Adolescent Outcomes Of The Peers Intervention, Madeleine Kathleen Guell

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) is effective at improving the social skills of autistic youth. However, few studies have examined the suitability of PEERS for youth with comorbid mental health concerns. Research suggests that autistic youth are highly likely to have co-occurring disorders such as internalizing and attentional disorders, which are linked with poorer social skills in autistic youth. The current study explores the effects of internalizing symptoms and attentional difficulties on outcomes of the PEERS intervention by examining the relationship between these symptoms and 3 composite outcome variables (i.e., social awareness, social interaction, …

Gender Differences In Perceived Organizational Support Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Elizabeth Gomez

Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well-studied issue within the U.S. military, with data showing military personnel face a higher risk of trauma than the civilian population. Many veterans and service members suffer from PTSD related to their military experiences (Renshaw, 2011). As research has largely focused on protective factors such as social and familial support, little attention has been given to organizational support (Meredith et al., 2011). Perceived organizational support (POS) refers to how individuals perceive the support they receive from their employers, with the military as the primary employer for veterans. This study was designed to explore whether …

Social Support As A Buffer Of The Association Between Intimate Partner Violence And Anxiety Among Sexual And Gender Minorities Assigned Female At Birth, Shariell T. Crosby

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience similar to higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to the general population (Basile et al., 2020; Whitfield et al., 2021). Additionally, exposure to IPV has been linked to negative mental health outcomes including anxiety (Charak et al., 2019; Henry et al., 2021; Reuter et al., 2017; Strauss et al., 2020). One possible factor that may buffer against the negative effects of IPV on anxiety is social support. The theoretical model of the buffering effect of social support suggests that social support may “buffer” against the harmful mental health effects of stressful/traumatic …

Between Healing And Harm: An Analysis Of Residential Treatment Centers For Youth, Virginia B. Finch

Senior Theses

Residential treatment for children and adolescents has evolved greatly. Today, a therapeutic individualized treatment approach is standard. Despite past and present improvements in care, this paper examines the persistent challenges faced by residential treatment centers (RTCs) serving youth with mental health issues. This paper argues that residential treatment, while sometimes necessary, has the potential to cause more harm than good due to systemic issues like overdiagnosis, inappropriate medication, and the troubled teen industry’s (TTI) profit-focused approach.

A Factor Analytic Investigation Of The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory - Second Edition In Justice Involved Youth, Mary Alicia Tait

Dissertations (1934 -)

The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory – Second Edition (MACI-II; Millon et al., 2020) is an adolescent self-report measure of personality and psychopathology. Its predecessor, the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI; Millon et al., 1993) is one of the most frequently used measures in forensic evaluation of justice involved youth (Archer et al., 2006; Baum et al., 2009; Viljoen et al., 2010). The factor structure of the MACI has been evaluated in diverse psychiatric and juvenile justice samples (e.g., Adkisson et al., 2002; Newman et al., 2015; Romm et al., 1999, Salekin, 2002; Woodland et al., 2014) and inconsistent findings have …

Positive Illusions And Their Mental Health Implications, Caleb L. Ashley

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Positive illusions, defined as overly optimistic self-evaluations, exaggerated perceptions of control, and unrealistically favorable outlooks on the future have been the subject of a breadth of research due to their implications in mental health and resilience. Empirical evidence suggests that, in moderate amounts, positive illusions can help support resilience and persistence and are correlated with overall well-being. However, their benefits may become detrimental if they are absent or excessively pronounced. By synthesizing existing research, this presentation seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of positive illusions and to offer insights into how their existence may inform treatment in clinical settings.

Up From The Ashes: The Role Of Posttraumatic Growth In The Decision To Become A Clinical Psychologist, Richard Warmke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical psychologists report experiencing higher levels of trauma than other professionals, potentially impacting their ability to provide effective mental healthcare services. Although trauma can result in psychological problems, it can also result in posttraumatic growth (PTG). The purpose of this research was to explore the role of PTG in the decision to become a clinical psychologist to help inform the recruitment and training of clinical psychologists. The theoretical foundations of this study were PTG, vocational choice theory (VCT), and career construction theory (CCT). The key research question of this study was, “What is the role of PTG in the decision …

Anhedonic Features In Effort-Related Reward Processing, Harold Alexander Rocha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Emerging evidence suggests that distinct stages of reward processing uniquely contribute to psychological traits linked to anhedonia, a core mood-disorder symptom characterized by diminished enjoyment of pleasure. However, the relationship between reward-processing stages and dispositional traits related to mood and anhedonia remains unclear. The present study investigated interindividual reward processing differences in a healthy college sample (n = 83) using self-report measures and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) indexing anticipatory and consummatory subprocesses across high- and low-effort conditions using a recently developed effort-doors task. The goal of the study was first to replicate the original ERP experimental effects of the task …

Fostering Interconnectedness And Belonging Within Diverse Communities Through Humanistic And Afro-Centered Perspectives, Courtney Cabell, Jasmine Perin

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

In today’s increasingly diverse yet fragmented society, individuals with traditionally marginalized identities face pervasive disconnection that profoundly affects psychological well-being. This roundtable explores culturally relevant therapeutic interventions rooted in Humanistic and Afro-centered principles, underscoring the critical need for community-oriented strategies that promote belonging and resilience by examining barriers to connection.

The Role Of Coping Strategies On Acculturative Stress, Depression, And Anxiety In An Arab Community, Laura Torio, Khadeja Najjar, Ilya Yaroslavsky

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study explores acculturative stress (AS), coping strategies (CS), and mental health in Arab immigrants (N=68). Results show that avoidant-CS are linked to depression and anxiety, while problem-focused-CS are protective. Age correlated with CS and mental health outcomes. Interventions addressing avoidant-CS could improve mental health in minority populations.

Embodiment As Activism: Movement-Based Approaches To Collective Healing, Devon Kardel, Courtney Cabell

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This session introduces somatic and movement-based approaches to foster community healing and critical consciousness. Presenters will explore embodiment practices that enhance connection, resilience, and social awareness, offering practical strategies to integrate body-centered techniques into therapeutic and communal settings for transformative healing and empowerment.

An Examination Of Early Termination From Trauma-Focused Treatment For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Literature Review And Mixed Methods Study Proposal, Laura M. Lathrop

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The high rate of early termination from evidence-based, trauma-focused psychotherapy treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impedes maximum benefit from trauma-focused treatment, making it an on-going concern for clinicians. This paper consists of a literature review regarding the problem of early termination from evidence-based, trauma-focused treatment for PTSD in adults. It then proposes a mixed methods study to investigate re-engaging veterans in trauma-focused PTSD treatment, analyzing completion rates, and evaluating participants’ experience using qualitative interviews.

Emotion Regulation, Stress, And Negative And Positive Affect In Minority Populations, Laura Torio, Khadeja Najjar, Ilya Yaroslavsky

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study examines perceived stress (PS), emotion regulation (ER), and emotional outcomes in a diverse sample (N=282). Results show PS correlates with negative (NA) and positive affect (PA), with adaptive emotion regulation (AMR) linked to PA and maladaptive regulation (MMR) linked to NA. Culture predicted MMR, highlighting the importance of cultural considerations in interventions.

The Moderating Role Of Loneliness In The Relation Between Perceived Pressure To Be Thin, Perfectionism, And Internalizing Problems Among Latina Girls, Melissa Lopez

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Latina girls are at a high risk of depressive symptoms and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. This study builds on the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model to identify factors that may influence the development of these internalizing problems (Hewitt et al., 2006). Perceived pressure to be thin, perfectionistic self-presentation, and loneliness have all been linked to internalizing problems, including depressive symptoms in youth. This study focuses on Latina girls, specifically, and the ways that these variables combine to affect their well-being. This study highlights the relation between pressure to be thin and both depressive symptoms and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and explores …

Examining The Role Of Cognition And Late-Life Treatment Resistant Depression On Everyday Functioning, Ashlyn Runk

LSU Master's Theses

The capacity to complete instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) is essential to older adults maintaining their ability to age in place and is influenced by factors including depression and cognition. There is evidence to suggest that depression and cognition influence each other in their relationship with everyday functioning. However, much of this work has been done in samples with low overall levels of depressive symptoms. The goal of the current study was to examine these relationships in older adults with a history of moderate to severe treatment resistant depression and determine if the relationship between executive functioning and everyday …

A Creative Introduction To Narrative Therapy: Harnessing The Power Of Stories, Art, And The Person-Of-The-Therapist, Marissa Mueller

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper describes a proposed graduate-level academic elective course for mental health practitioners in training. The course content is organized across a total of 10 class sessions. Topic areas include introductions to the theory and techniques of narrative therapy, including expressive art approaches, the importance of social justice work through collective narrative practice and liberation psychology, the construction and analysis of stories of self and personal myths, and a focus on developing the person-of-the-therapist. Each class session will review that week's lecture content, assigned readings, small and large group discussion prompts, and in-class activities. The course prioritizes centering student experiences …

Mental Health Literacy, Education, And Implications For Mental Disorder, Robert Louis Sims Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health literacy (MHL) improves the recognition and treatment of mental disorders. The completion of a bachelor’s degree has been correlated with higher levels of MHL, and higher levels of MHL are reported to improve mental health status (MHS). While educational attainment has a significant positive relationship with MHL, the strength and significance of education in predicting MHL level remains unclear. A health literacy conceptualization and self-efficacy theory underpinned further examination of these variables in this study. A survey was administered to a sample of 105 university graduates in Georgia enrolled in one of five bachelor’s degree disciplines: education, humanities, …

Stress As A Means Of Success: Investigating The Effect Of Stress Appraisals On Willpower, Ego Depletion, And Physiological Responses In College Students, Anna Minor

Honors College Theses

Stress impacts our emotions, cognition, behavior, and health. Although stress is abundant and unavoidable, recent research suggests our perception of stress can strongly influence its outcomes. The Biopsychosocial Model of Challenge and Threat (BPS) states that we appraise a stressful scenario in one of two ways: challenge or threat. A challenge appraisal involves a positive perception of stress and is associated with lower physiological output while a threat appraisal involves a negative perception of stress and increased physiological arousal. The current research seeks to apply the BPS to a cognitive task and consider its relation to willpower, ego depletion, and …

A Qualitative Approach To Identifying Obstacles To Mental Healthcare In The Rio Grande Valley From The Perspective Of Mental Healthcare Professionals., Shania M. Linder, Cristian Botello, Raquel Villarreal, Nelda Rodriguez, Mario Gil, Dayana Zamora

Research Symposium

Background: There are many factors that prevent members of the Hispanic/Latino community from accessing mental health resources. This is important to investigate because there is a lack of knowledge on why residents of the Rio Grande Valley, an underserved region of South Texas, are unable to access and/or utilize mental health resources.

Methods: A focus group session was held at a mental health counseling clinic in Cameron County, Texas on February 1, 2024. The participants consisted of mental health professionals, such as two mental health clinicians, a clinical counselor, two school counselors, a licensed professional counselor supervisor, and a …

The Athletes’ Plate: Understanding Influences Of Athletes’ Eating Attitudes, Exercise Behaviors, And Body Image Satisfaction, Delanie Patterson, Brooklynn Raacke, Ryssa Schlaefli

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Delanie Patterson¹, Brooklynn Raacke¹, and Ryssa Schlaefli²

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Faculty Sponsors: Brooke Mann¹, Ph.D. and Jessica Phelan², Ph.D.

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas

Introduction: Disordered eating (DE), compulsive exercise (CE), and body image satisfaction (BIS) negatively affect male and female athletes. These variables each have a core symptomology but continue to evolve with the increased usage of social …

Perceptions Of Using Exercise As A Self-Determining Motivational Strategy For Gen Z Females With Depression Since Covid-19., Andrea Menhennet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted individuals' daily routines, which amplified mental health challenges worldwide. A demographic highly prone to depression is Gen Z females. They faced unique struggles during this period, specifically managing their well-being. This study explored the perceptions of Gen Z females with depression regarding the use of exercise as a motivational strategy based on self-determination theory (SDT). The study aimed to understand how physical activity and ways to cope were allocated to manage mental health struggles, focusing on autonomy, competence, and relatedness as pertinent psychological needs. Using the generic qualitative approach, eight female Gen Z participants shared …