Psychology Commons^™

Impact Of Having A Sibling With A Mental Disorder On Relationships, Sabrina C. Kluvers

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

When a family member has a mental disorder, such as schizophrenia, depression, or autism spectrum disorder, family dynamics and expectations often shift and change. This can influence how the siblings of these individuals, known as well siblings, interact with and experience their relationships with family members and peers. However, few studies have examined how well siblings perceive their relationships during the developmental period of emerging adulthood, which represents a time of increased differentiation and identity development. The present study explored the ways in which relationships with family and close friends differ between well siblings and their peers with typically developing …

Military Chaplains’ Provision Of Psychological Assistance To Soldiers In Ukraine, Artem Makovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article presents the results of a theoretical analysis of and the author's personal practical experience with the work of military chaplains in providing psychological assistance to Ukrainian servicemen. Researchers in the field of psychology of religion have identified a number of functions of religion,--namely communicative, regulatory, integrating, ideological and compensatory--on which the pastoral activity of a military chaplain can be analyzed in their provision of psychological assistance to combatants. A comparison of the tasks facing military psychologists and military chaplains is carried out based on legal documents. Emphasis is placed on those moments where they can functionally complement each …

Racial Healing In The Church: The Usefulness Of The Interpersonal Process In Therapy Model, Winston Seegobin

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Racial disunity is a major challenge facing the Christian church. This article examines psychological factors that contribute to and maintain both racial disunity and racial unity through the lens of the Interpersonal Process in Therapy model (Sullivan, 1968; Teyber & Teyber, 2017). It looks at how early interpersonal relationships in childhood influence interpersonal relationships as adults and how the therapeutic relationship as a healing influence can be applied to racial healing as adults. Spiritual factors that contribute to and maintain racial disunity and racial unity are also discussed. Understanding that it is the relationship that heals, specific strategies such as …

Spiritually Oriented Trauma Healing In Nigeria: A Program Evaluation To Assess Trauma-Symptom Reduction And Spiritual Growth, Emily Hervey

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

There is a significant gap in the need for and provision of treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in low- to middle-income countries such as Nigeria. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a faith-based program in the reduction of PTSD symptoms and the improvement of relationship with God. Participants were all Nigerians living in the middle and northern parts of Nigeria, selected by a local church and a local Christian non-profit organization. Three 5-day workshops were completed in two locations with a total of 41 participants. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of …

Personality Predictors Of Sexual Offense Treatment Completion, Jessica Cantley Ms, Kaylee Bartnes Ma, Jaycee Hallford Ms, B. Cameron Stumpf Ma, Nicholas Rodgers Ma, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

We sought to investigate the predictive utility of personality characteristics for sexual offense treatment outcomes. We aimed to provide a basis for future research on why individuals with higher psychopathology, substance use, and antisocial characteristics are less likely to complete sex offender treatment.

Personality And Flourishing In Seminarians: A Single Case Study, Kylee M. Peterson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This research study utilized a single case design to meet the dual need of applying personality research to clinical populations (Costa Jr, 1991) and the necessity of creating a formative assessment for first-year master and doctoral students to facilitate flourishing in a complex profession. This was done with the primary aim of evaluating the effectiveness of the formative assessment program pilot across stake holders including the executive dean of a Portland seminary, psychologist consultant, and ministry students. The method for this pursuit was an explanatory single case study which includes reviewing quantitative & qualitative student feedback survey data and interviews …

Cook's "The Asperkid’S Secret Book Of Social Rules:The Handbook Of (Not-So-Obvious) Neurotypical Social Guidelines For Autistic Teens (10th Anniversary Edition)" (Book Review), Amber C. Wessies

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Checking In On "Check-Ins": A Phenomenological Look At Personal Disclosures In Quasi-Supervision Groups, Aaron Stusser

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how clinical psychologist trainees experience personal disclosures within an academic, clinical supervision-style groups (labeled quasi-supervision). Centering around an initial call-for-disclosure present in supervision environments colloquially called a check-in, this two-phase qualitative study utilized interviews and a member-checking survey with sixteen 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-year doctoral psychology students attending quasi-supervision groups. These groups, structured like group clinical supervision settings but differing in primary focus (practitioner versus client) and lack of access to client records, offered valuable insight into the purpose of personal disclosure within supervisory settings. Questioning centered around obtaining phenomenological …

The Wisdom In Questions, Dane C. Joseph

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This essay reflects an educational psychologist's thoughts on pursuing wisdom during a pandemic and multiple social and economic justice crises through their lived experiences. These experiences eventually place people, circumstances, and faith at the center of wisdom while embracing questioning over certainty and answers.

The Influence Of Personality And Trauma On The Outcomes Of Sex Offender Treatment In An Outpatient Setting, Nicholas R. Rogers

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Sex offenders in the United States invoke a negative reaction in a majority of people. Often, there is a stigma about the character and personality of an individual who would commit such acts. These perceptions have largely kept the development of treatment modalities limited when compared to other psychological problems. One area that continues to need research is in the factors that contribute to the outcomes of treatment for sex offenders. The present study investigated the relationships between perceived historical trauma, personality, and treatment completion in an outpatient group of sexual offenders. We hypothesized that (1) sexual offenders who completed …

Agenesis Of The Corpus Callosum: Developmental Trajectories Through Childhood, Kristin Eddy

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC) is a congenital brain malformation that affects the area of the brain responsible for interhemispheric transfer of information (Paul, 2011). Individuals with AgCC tend to have specific deficits resulting from reduced interhemispheric transfer for sensory-motor information, cognitive processing speed, and deficits in complex reasoning and novel problem-solving (Brown & Paul, 2019; Mangum, 2018; Miller et al., 2018). There are indications that those with AgCC also struggle with communication skills during early stages of life (Badderudin et al., 2007) and social interactions during adolescence (Paul et al., 2007). The purpose of this study is to …

Impact Of A Recreational Outdoor And Adventure Program On Adolescent Well-Being, Mitchell J. Fritz

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study used an archival dataset to investigate the effects of a recreational outdoor and adventure program (ROAP) on overall adolescent well-being. Successful ROAPs have been found to increase overall well-being as well as other factors such as increased self-efficacy, peer involvement, connectedness to nature, and decreased stress. This study examined 34 high school to college age individuals who participated in a summer ROAP. Five crews completed a 28-day canoe trip in northern Minnesota, and one crew completed a 37-day canoe trip near the Brooks Range in Alaska. Participants completed pre-trip, post-trip, and 45-day follow-up surveys measuring overall well-being, self-efficacy, …

Emotional Cpr (Connect, Partner Respond): Outcome Evaluation Of A School-Based Intervention For Child And Adolescent Suicidality, Elisabeth Wise

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Introduction. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a universal, school-based program (Emotionally- Connect, Partner, Respond [E-CPR]) that seeks to improve adolescent attitude, confidence in ability to respond to a peer in crisis and ability to identify adequate crisis intervention skills. Methods. E-CPR includes a didactic portion with emphasis on knowledge and attitudinal components and role play activities to enhance skill-building. To test the effectiveness of E-CPR a comparison group was gathered using an online survey platform. Results. There was a significant difference in pre-test to post-test scores for the participants such that attending E-CPR increased …

Mental Health Literacy Among University Educators, Danni Ewing

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Mental health literacy is a term originally coined the in 1990s that refers to the recognition, prevention, and management of mental illness. Poor mental health literacy can delay or prevent treatment (Godfrey Born et al., 2019; Tay et al., 2018). Higher mental health literacy increases help-seeking behaviors, positive attitudes towards treatments, and improves health outcomes (Jorm, 2012; Rüsch et al., 2011). The current study aimed to explore the mental health literacy of university educators to support student mental health. The study used an electronic survey to collect demographic data, information related to teaching and mental health experience, and responses to …

The Acute, Systemic Effects Of Aerobic Exercise In Recently Concussed Adolescent Student-Athletes: Preliminary Findings, Scott Burkhart

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Objectives

Examine the acute effects (pre-, during, post-intervention) of two different intensities of aerobic exercise or rest on autonomic, oculomotor, and vestibular function and symptom burden in patients with a recent sport-related concussion (SRC) and compare their responses to sex-matched, age-stratified, non-concussed (HEALTHY) student-athletes.

Methods

Student-athletes between the ages of 13 and 18 that presented to the sports medicine clinic within Day 3–7 post-SRC and from local schools were recruited for a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The participants were administered the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS), King-Devick (K-D), and Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) before and after the intervention. Heart rate variability …

Comparing Cognitive And Behavioral Profiles In School-Aged Children With Specific Learning Disorder And Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Anna Van Asselt

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Two of the most common childhood disorders are Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), frequently co-occurring, and both impacting academic performance. Given the overlap between these disorders on cognitive and behavioral/emotional factors, assessment research has explored how they are differentiated on standardized tests. The present study investigated cognitive functioning and behavioral/emotional functioning in school-aged children with SLD (n = 31), ADHD (n = 17), and ADHD + SLD (n = 18). The archival data for this study consisted of 66 students from a rural community. Results indicated that students with SLD demonstrated more difficulty with auditory processing …

Shaul's "The Asd And Me Picture Book: A Visual Guide To Understanding Challenges And Strengths For Children On The Autism Spectrum" (Book Review), Susanah J. Wilson Hanson

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Relational Variables Associated With Self-Reported Political Idealogy, Dalton Young

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This dissertation examined the relationship between self-reported political ideology and the relational variables of attachment, shame, and grace. Previous research on political ideology has focused on conservatism, as well as morality and personality differences across the political spectrum. This study combined two samples of 155 adult participants gathered through Qualtrics and 79 undergraduate students. Each participant completed a demographics questionnaire, Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Feeney et al., 1994), Dimensions of Grace Scale (DGS; Bufford et al., 2017), Duke University Religion Index (DUREL; Koenig et al., 1997), and Internalized Shame Scale (ISS; Cook, 1988). Additionally, 19 of the undergraduate students completed …

The Relationship Between Therapist Adverse Childhood Experiences, Personal Therapy, Resilience, And Treatment Outcomes, Elizabeth J. Nunez

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

With the development of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire, Felitti et al. (1998) established that childhood trauma has a wide-ranging impact on adult health. Subsequent studies have identified a myriad of relationships between childhood adversity and negative physical, psychological, social, vocational, educational, and developmental outcomes in adulthood (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020; Hughes et al., 2017; Kalmakis & Chandler, 2015). New research has uncovered higher rates of ACEs among those in helping professions (Butler et al., 2018; Harris, 2019; Thomas, 2016), but it is unclear how these experiences impact their work as helpers. This study investigated the …

Impact Of Covid-19 Quarantine On U.S. Adults, Shelby Rubino

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

In 2019 a novel virus spread quickly and vastly throughout the world. The coronavirus was transmitted easily, resulting in a sudden increase in infection and death rates and overwhelmed hospitals. This sudden pandemic resulted in government and health officials mandating physical and social quarantines. These mandates were initially implemented to separate the ill from the healthy, and significantly limit physical contact between healthy and ill persons to decrease the spread of Covid-19. All these unexpected factors induced traumatic stress in populations across the world. The impact of this trauma is seen to date, as many studies reported adverse mental health …

Vicarious Trauma And Doctoral-Level Trainees: Self-Care Practices, Elisabeth B. Gibson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Research reflects correlations between trauma history and motivation to pursue a career in clinical psychology and mental health professions. Professional longevity is a concern for clinicians in general, especially for clinicians with a trauma history who work with people suffering with trauma conditions. Trauma histories measured by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are likely to be present within students of doctor of psychology training programs, and may influence doctoral trainee readiness and ability to engage clients in clinical work. Self-care is thought to not only support overall well-being, but to also mitigate the negative consequences of stress associated with clinical work. …

Resilience, Spirituality And Cultural Connectiveness Within The Native American/American Indian Indigenous Population, Lindsay Price

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Native Americans, also known as the American Indian or Indigenous population, were colonized over four centuries ago by Europeans who brought many diseases which decimated this population. This immense trauma continued for generations as the settlers continued to violate Native American life and identity on every level. Hundreds of indigenous tribes endured massacre, annihilation of traditional culture, forced religious assimilation, stolen land, broken treaties, betrayal of rights, removal of identity, neglect, and constant abuse without any recompense. These violations still widely occur, yet the strength and flourishing of Native Americans remain ever-present. Their deep-rooted protective factors within resilience, like cultural …

Personality And Behavioral Characteristics: A Study Of Court Populations, Markayla Shattuck

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Despite the growing body of research for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) within adults, there remains a lack of research addressing the prevalence of FASD in the legal system. Over the last several decades it has become apparent that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have devastating long term impacts on the developing fetus including facial abnormalities, cognitive deficits, adverse life outcomes, and behavioral challenges (Brintnell et al., 2019; O’Neil, 2011; Sarman, 2018; Streissguth et al., 2004). Within the legal system, FASD is about 30 times higher than the general population (Lange et al., 2017). Initially, the prevalence of FASD was …

The Relationship Of Medical Provider Humility, Empathy, And Competency On Patient Satisfaction, Stephanie Burkhard

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Previous research has shown that provider humility, empathy, and competency all impact patient satisfaction. However, the research lacks in examining how all three elements, when examined together, impact patient care. This study surveyed patients and providers from two primary care clinics to examine the relationship between provider humility, empathy, and perceived competency and patient satisfaction. The brief HEXACO Inventory humility measure, the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, and a single question to identify providers perceived competence were used in this study. It was hypothesized that providers with the highest levels of all three characteristics (humility, empathy, and perceived competence) would …

Lazarus's "Adhd Is Our Superpower: The Amazing Talents And Skills Of Children With Adhd" (Book Review), Amber C. Wessies

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Psychological Factors That Interfere With Provider Use Of Medication Assisted Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Courtney Spencer

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Since the implementation of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), providers have struggled to obtain the necessary waiver (X-waiver) due to required federal applications, training, and guidelines around prescribing. Nevertheless, prescribers have gone through this arduous process to gain their X-waiver, but a unique phenomenon has occurred where some providers with an X-waiver are not utilizing their ability to prescribe MAT. The current study sought to uncover trends in providers prescribing practices while assessing possible factors involved including personality, compassion, compassion fatigue, personal connection, and confidence factors that may be associated with a willingness to …

Nature And Perspective On God: The Differential Impact Of Long Versus Short Adventure Programming For College Students, Alexandra Heinle

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This clinical dissertation focused on the shift in one’s perception of God after time spent in nature in the context of a spiritual adventure program. There are studies that find spiritual adventure programs increase a participant’s spirituality (Bobilya, 2011). However, there is a gap in the literature surrounding how spiritual outdoor programs, specifically the one in this study, influences a person’s God-image. This dissertation aims to close the gap in research regarding spiritual adventure programs and shift in God-image by studying if a person’s image of God shifts after time spent in nature, and if it shifts differently depending on …

Physiological Coregulation Intervention Over Video Call In New Relational Dyads, Zachary G. Buckles

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Physiological linkage, the degree to which physiological behavior of one partner in a relationship is related to the physiological behavior of the other partner, is a well-documented process. Electrodermal activity (EDA) and heart rate variability (HRV) are two physiological measures for which physiological linkage has been observed (Timmons, et al., 2015). A more specific term, coregulation, has been proposed to specify a process of mutual physiological regulation within a relational dyad towards a homeostatic set point (Butler & Randall, 2013). While an important construct, there is a present lack of intervention studies seeking to increase the capacity for coregulation in …

A Meta-Analysis: The Relationship Between Connectedness To Nature And Well-Being, Naomi Wu

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Ecotherapy and nature-based interventions have been shown to be evidence-based treatment for physical and mental health. The rekindling of the human and nature relationship helps cultivate a bi-directional, reciprocal circle of healing. The resulting benefit is the increased well-being of individuals, society, and the earth. This study is a meta-analytic review of 13 articles (22 studies) to examine the relationship between connection to nature and various domains of well-being, including emotional, psychological, social, and overall. Eligibility criteria for the study were the inclusion of at least one measure of connectedness to nature, one measure of well-being or life satisfaction, and …

Growing In Grace, Rodger K. Bufford, Kenneth Logan, Michael Vogel, Marshal George

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.