Psychology Commons^™

Why Patients Miss Appointments At An Integrated Primary Care Clinic, Katherine Lambos Wilsey

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Missed appointments in primary care clinics is of import given the significant impact not only on patients’ continuity of care, but also on the larger healthcare system. Missed appointments indicate that there are barriers to patients’ access of health care and these contribute to poor health outcomes. Further, missed appointments lead to financial and capacity issues for primary care clinics while also contributing towards higher patient utilization of emergency department services, for medical problems traditionally treated by primary care. Integrated primary care clinics offer both medical and mental health services to patients by way of employing behavioral health consultants to …

Emotional Response To Climate Change Learning: An Existential Inquiry, Jennifer Hutchinson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study aims to explore and explain the existential underpinnings of learning about climate change and potential emotional responses to climate change learning. Undergraduate students in environmental sciences and studies classes at the University of Washingrounded theory on in Seattle, WA participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked about their experiences learning about climate change and how they responded emotionally to the learning. This dissertation examines the responses from those interviews and builds a theory out of the data analyzed. Constructivist Grounded theory as outlined by Kathy Charmaz (2014) was used to analyze the interviews. Codes were created and …

Examining Optimism And Caregiver Strain In Parents With Youth And Young Adults Diagnosed With Anxiety And Unipolar Mood Disorders, Jennifer M. Gross

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

An anonymous online survey investigated optimism and caregiver strain in parents of youth and young adults diagnosed with anxiety and unipolar depression. Caregiver strain is a

well-researched phenomenon where the experience of parenting youth with serious psychological disorders has a potentially negative impact on parents and caregivers. Optimism is a trait that confers resiliency and improved coping to the individual. The relationship between caregiver strain and optimism is not well understood. This inquiry utilized the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CGSQ) to measure caregiver strain and the Life Orientation Test, Revised

(LOT-R) to measure optimism. Participants endorsed significantly higher scores on the …

Client Perceptions Of The Therapy Room: Effects Of Homely Therapeutic Landscapes, Amanda Knapp

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

There is very limited research exploring the effects of a homely therapeutic landscape design on the psychological wellbeing of clients attending outpatient psychotherapy. In particular, very little is known about the impact of office design on client perceptions of their therapist and the quality of care they anticipate receiving. Ample data support the idea of healing environments; this has important implications for the field of clinical psychology. The theoretical framework underlying this study is the Tripartite Model, which states that people view spaces as most meaningful when they promote positive feelings of comfort, belonging, and security. Focusing on college students …

Police Officer Trauma In Rural Minnesota: A Narrative Study, John J. Littlewolf

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

We call on police officers to respond to all of society’s tragedies. Whether in our metropolitan areas or our rural communities, law enforcement will respond when called upon. The culture of law enforcement is laden with traits of masculinity. These cultural traits can inhibit the processing of traumatic experiences in the individual. While the nature of law enforcement has remained the same, our scientific knowledge regarding trauma has grown. Trauma has a biological impact which can manifest as stress symptomology or PTSD. Our systematic response to trauma in law enforcement has not kept pace with the body of knowledge on …

An Exploration Of Factors Influencing First-Generation College Students' Ability To Graduate College: A Delphi Study, Ashley C. Gray Benson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation serves as a counter-narrative to the standard deficiency model in published research that characterizes most first-generation college students as feeble and unequipped when it comes to thriving in, persisting in, and graduating from college. This is one of the few studies that examines the success of first-generation college students from the students’ perspective. First-generation college students who graduated from college participated in a Delphi study that addressed this question: What factors influence first-generation college students' ability to graduate college? Three rounds of data collection resulted in ten themes, roughly in order of importance based on feedback from study …

The Role And Effect Of Mindfulness In Intimate Relationships, Mazyar Karandish

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Mindfulness practice, a present-centered approach to experience, has been shown to effectively enhance various dimensions of the human experience. Recent literature has explored how the practice of mindfulness meditation has provided benefits to practitioners seeking to enhance relationship dynamics. There are multiple examples of mindfulness-based relationship enhancement programs aiming to enhance the quality of intimate relationships in adults. This study utilizes a repeated-measures design to address whether a neutral mindfulness-based program, not geared at enhancing relationships, can significantly alter the quality of intimate relationships. The research will further examine the central mechanisms of action through which mindfulness can enhance relationships. …

Childhood Witnessing Of Domestic Violence And Its Impact On Character Development Across Time And Adulthood Relationships, Zena Ouzounian

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This phenomenological research study explored the experiences of five adult participants who reported witnessing domestic violence between their parents during childhood. Through the process of open-ended interviews, this work added further support to the existing understanding of the impact that childhood witnessing of parental violence can have on one’s adult behavior and relationships. Thus far, child witnesses to parental violence receive little attention, perhaps due to the lack of tangible evidence that they have been harmed. Existing studies in the field primarily make use of quantitative methods to examine negative outcomes of such experiences. This study identified similar themes among …

Mothering The Aggressive Child, Katja Ermann

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (Seattle)

This qualitative study explores the experience of mothers parenting significantly aggressive children, ages five to 10. Little has been known previously about how women experience this aggression or the social and psychological impacts it has on them. This dissertation highlights the women’s understandings to provide a solid basis for theoretical explication using a Constructivist Ground Theory approach. Significant findings include the invisibility and stigma the women feel and the ways in which the experience is similar and dissimilar to other forms of family violence, particularly adolescent-on-parent violence (APV). Differences were found in social stigma between women whose child has a …

Mothers’ Religious Influence On Children Experiencing Trauma: Haiti Community Clinic Focus Groups, Ashland C. Thompson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale hit Haiti on January 10th, 2010. The earthquake, an urgent crisis, occurred in the context of persistent social dysfunctions, amplifying both the chronic poor living conditions and adversities for children and families. The purpose of the study was to enquire into the possible ways children in Haiti are socialized by the religiousness and other coping ways of their mothers and caretakers in the childhood contexts of societal and continuous trauma. Participants were Haitian mothers (N = 27) who participated in three focus groups that were conducted in their location of residence: Canaan-Damien …

Internalized Homophobia Of Lgb Emerging Adults: Identity Complexities And Mental Health, Emily Christine Newbury

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Meyer’s (2003) minority stress model explores the relationship between the social stress of sexual minorities and mental health. Internalized homophobia is linked to feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness, and contributes to the development of mental health problems (Ramirez-Valles, Molina, & Dirkes, 2013). The present study examined the relationship between internalized homophobia and mental health in young adults who identify as LGB. Participants (N =130) were recruited from universities in Connecticut and Georgia, as well as from the Amazon Mechanical Turk website. It was hypothesized that higher levels of internalized homophobia would be related to higher levels of self-reported anxiety, …

Evaluation Of The Veteran Resilience Project, Shon Powell

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a daunting concern among the majority of organizations with diverse, or tangential, affiliations to the United States Military and/or its personnel. Unquestionably, the 21 million service-connected individuals, at the time of this writing, (i.e., Active-Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Veterans) afflicted with this disorder are the catalyst for the intense public and private sector interest and involvement in eradication of this disorder. Prevalence rates of PTSD among this complex classification of persons vary across the relevant literature. Some estimates suggest anywhere from 11 to 20 percent, while other sources indicate that upwards of 40 percent …

Caregivers' Experience In Wraparound: A Qualitative Study, Mackenzie Soniak

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

A large number of youth in the United States suffer from a severe emotional disturbance (SED). Due to a number of factors (e.g., lack of access to services, siloed service providers), many of these children have unmet severe emotional and behavioral health needs. Wraparound has been identified as a care philosophy and intervention to meet the needs of these youth. Wraparound programs aim to provide individualized, comprehensive, community-based care for children and their families. Although this intervention is widely spread across the United States, research findings on the efficacy of the approach are mixed. Previous research aimed to identify and …

Aces Wild: Making Meaning Out Of Trauma Through Altruism Born Of Suffering, Jessica Gibson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Childhood exposure to early adverse experiences is prevalent—affecting almost one-half of children from birth to 17 years old—and brings with it the potential for the long-lasting detrimental effects of traumatization. At the same time, a growing body of compelling evidence also suggests that many survivors of trauma exhibit more resilience and prosocial behaviors than individuals who have never experienced a traumatic event. This phenomenon has been coined altruism born of suffering (ABS); it is a relatively new concept in trauma research that seeks to better understand the possible positive outcomes of trauma. Building further beyond the concepts of resilience and …

Sexually Objectifying Microaggressions In Film: Using Entertainment For Clinical And Educational Purposes, Jackie M. Nelson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Our culture is steadily becoming more aware, and less tolerant, of sexual harassment and misconduct. This is particularly evident in the wake of the viral Me Too movement beginning in 2017 which highlighted the breadth of personal experiences of sexual harassment on various social media platforms. Often the focus of these experiences is on overt sexual harassment and assault, but less attention is paid to the buildup that can lead to these terrible events. What is more, is that often these events are attributed to character flaws of the perpetrator without taking covert social norms into perspective. This dissertation takes …

The Rorschach’S (R-Pas) Capacity To Predict Quality Of The Working Alliance, Jordan G. Stewart

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The aim of this study was to explore the Rorschach’s ability to predict the working alliance by investigating associations between specific Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) variables and the Goals, Tasks, and Bonds dimensions of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI). Specific R-PAS variables were chosen based their theoretical relatedness to the three dimensions of the WAI. The linear multiple regression results trended toward significance within the Goals domain, with the Human Movement Proportion score (M/MC) significantly predicting individual’s initial WAI Goals scores, indicating that individuals who possibly have difficulty modulating their emotions and tend to be more reactive in their …

Striving For Credibility In The Face Of Ambiguity: A Grounded Theory Study Of Extreme Hardship Immigration Psychological Evaluations, Susan M. Burke

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Psychological evaluations are frequently used in extreme hardship immigration cases in the United States. These evaluations are complex; they are inherently ambiguous, and they require extensive training and specialized knowledge. General guidance for mental health professionals is available from professional organizations, the federal government, and articles in the legal and mental health literature. However, there is a lack of detailed guidance, best practices, training, and supervision so many evaluators learn on their own. Unfortunately, this has resulted in assessment processes and evaluation reports that vary widely in terms of professionalism and quality which negatively impacts the vulnerable families seeking these …

The Role Of Emotional Overcontrol In The Acceptance Of Counselor Training Feedback, R. Erin W. Berzins

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Feedback is an essential component of counselor training, making it crucial that students receive and utilize this information effectively. This research was conducted to address the problem of counseling students experiencing difficulty with accepting feedback during the training process. Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the concept of emotional overcontrol were used as a lens for exploring the possible correlation between measures of overcontrol and difficulty with accepting feedback within counselor training programs. This research contributed to the literature—much of which has focused on the behaviors of instructors and supervisors in the feedback process—by providing support for the perspective that …

Sexual Desire As Experienced By South Asian Women Living In British Columbia, Seema M. Buksh

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Cultural beliefs and values play a significant role in the conceptualization, expression, and experience of sexual desire and functioning. Previous studies have found higher mainstream acculturation was associated with higher sexual desire and arousal. Many of these studies have also linked the cultural effects on sexual functioning to culture-differences in sexual conservatism. Within South Asian culture there is a propensity towards sexual conservatism, especially in relation to female sexual desire, yet research with regards to sexual desire and South Asian women is absent from the literature. Given the dearth of research related to this topic, further research in this area …

Diabetes Management For Low-Income Patients: Within-Case Analyses In Primary Care, Samuel Collier

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The study evaluated the effectiveness of a diabetes management program in a co-located mental health and primary care setting in Nashua, New Hampshire. The patient-participants were primarily underserved, low-income, working-class or homeless patients from the surrounding region. A few participants were also older adults. Examination of the literature highlighted the growing diabetes epidemic at local, state, and national levels. A review of past clinical trials of diabetes programs indicated further investigation into diabetes self-management education programs that integrate medical and behavioral health components under the biopsychosocial model. Thus, for the present study, the Stanford Diabetes Self-Management Program (SDSMP; Lorig, Ritter, …

Computer Multitasking In The Classroom: Training To Attend Or Wander?, Elizabeth A. Rogers

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study aimed to examine the phenomenon of Psy.D. students’ multitasking on the computer while in the classroom. Using an online survey of 45 questions, the study invited Psy.D. students from across the US to answer questions pertaining to their non-class-related use of computers in the classroom, including an exploration of their relationship with computers and the internet, feelings and judgments regarding multitasking in the classroom, and opinions on the behavior and its potential impact on their profession. A total of 166 people visited the survey with 145 respondents who answered it to completion. Of the 145 participants, 86% (125) …

Therapist Attachment And Meaning-Making In Adolescent Residential Treatment, Lisa J. Milone

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study explores therapist views of the therapeutic relationship in adolescent residential treatment from an attachment perspective. The therapeutic relationship is a strong predictor of outcomes in adult psychotherapy and a significant body of research has relied on the attachment literature to understand its importance. Research yields comparable results when examining the significance of the therapeutic relationship with children and adolescents; however, there is virtually no literature exploring it from the attachment lens. This is particularly notable for children and adolescents in residential treatment. As treatment intensity increases from outpatient to inpatient to residential, challenges and opportunities within the …

Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis Of Influences To Death Anxiety, Michelle M. Ehle

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

There are two certainties in life: we are born, and we will die. Everything in between birth and death is our life. This truth leads many individuals to existential questions: What is the meaning of life? How do we become satisfied with life, knowing that death is impending? Does awareness of death motivate how we live? Death anxiety is a well-studied subject; well over 500 studies provide information on who is the most fearful of death among a variety of groups (women versus men, religious verses secular, youth verses elderly, et cetera). These studies also use presuppositions to explain fear …

The Experience Of Relapse After Long-Term Sobriety And Subsequent Return To Sobriety, Bahram Edward Kaikhosrow Shahrokh

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

While psychiatric medications have been categorized as the same as substances of abuse in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), medications for common medical disorders were not affected by this disapproval of medication. It may be time for a new dialogue (Woody, 2015). According to Gjersing and Bretteville (2018), there has been a concerning increase in overdose deaths in the last decade. This includes a threefold increase in overdose deaths from prescription narcotics and six-fold increase in overdose deaths from heroin in the United States. When prescription opioid users find difficulty in obtaining pills, they may move on to heroin, which is much …

The Lived Experience Of Low-Income Single Mothers In The U.S. And The Effects Of Nature As A Psychotherapeutic Tool In Their Treatment, Suzanne L. Frost

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation describes current research on the lived experience of low-income single mothers and explores the potential validity of utilizing exposure to natural settings as a psychotherapeutic intervention for this population. In 2014, 4,764,000 single mothers in the U.S. were living in poverty. A large percentage of this population suffers from poverty, hunger, social stigma, as well as mental illnesses associated with these conditions, such as anxiety, stress, and depression. A qualitative influential research study was performed that included interviews with eight low income White single mothers and one Biracial Turkish and Chaktau Native American low-income single mother in predominantly …

Growth After Developmental Trauma: A Co-Constructed Story, Naydine Johney

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In this study, I explored post-traumatic growth as embedded in a co-constructed healing relationship between a trauma survivor and a “mentor” who has been instrumental to their recovery. It is widely known that people who are resilient in overcoming early adverse childhood experiences have had someone in their corner who believed in them. In a separate, but related body of literature, there are similarly well-documented benefits for those who have the chance to make a difference in a survivor’s life, including for example: relatives, educators, and therapists. To date, we still don’t know if survivors and their mentors hold the …

Residential Needs Of Adolescent Females: A Feminist Perspective, Elizabeth Manley

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

With approximately 20,000 adolescent females living in residential treatment centers (RTCs) in the United States (Warner & Pottick, 2003), the need for RTCs that focus on meeting the unique developmental, psychological, and emotional needs of adolescent females is clear. Current research on the subject of adolescent females in residential treatment is largely focused on the overall efficacy of RTCs, rather than examining specific programmatic components offered to adolescent females in this treatment setting. While some research has been conducted that examines how to improve gender-specific RTCs, much of this research builds on socially constructed ideas of gender differences and often …

Linguistic Issues In Culturally Sensitive Assessment: A Rorschach Case Study, Lauren M. Weisberg

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The Rorschach Inkblot Test (“Rorschach”) has historically been viewed as a culturally sensitive assessment instrument because it utilizes nonverbal stimulus cards (Meyer, Viglione, Mihura, Erard, & Erdberg, 2011). As a result, it has been considered a more appropriate assessment tool for bilingual and multilingual patients than assessments which rely heavily on verbal language. However, there are no evidence-based practice recommendations for Rorschach assessment of bi- and multilingual patients, despite the incredible linguistic diversity in the United States and the widespread use of the Rorschach. This dissertation includes a case study of a multilingual French–Israeli immigrant who was admitted to an …

Forgotten Victims: Understanding Latino/A Non-Offending Parents Of Sexually Abused Children, Alba Rocio Andrade

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Childhood sexual abuse is widely condemned by society and religion (Roesler & Wind, 1994; McCallum, 2001). Nevertheless, it is estimated that approximately one in three girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by the time they turn 18 years old (Stauffer and Deblinger, 1996). This trauma affects the victim as well as other members of the family including the non-offending parent(s). However, services are often provided only to the victimized child, which overlooks the needs of the non-offending parents. The existing body of research into the stressors experienced by non-offending parents typically is focused on non-offending parents of …

Integrated Primary Care: Development Of A Patient Satisfaction Measure, Sarah C. Pearson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Primary care is often the first stop for individuals seeking services for a variety of behavioral health concerns including mental health and substance use disorders. However, many such patients are inadequately treated in these settings. Integrated primary care addresses this issue by adding a behavioral health provider to the primary care team to improve care and patient outcomes. A growing body of evidence suggests that increased integration of behavioral health and primary care yields a variety of significant outcomes including improved patient care, increased access to mental health treatment, and increased patient and provider satisfaction. When thinking about healthcare improvement …