Psychology Commons^™

Exploring The Effect Of Personal Mental Health Disclosures On Perceptions Of Doctoral Psychology Applicants, Hunter C. Schow

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

While some research exists discussing the attitudes around personal mental health disclosures as they pertain to both professional decorum and admission to doctoral psychology training programs, little research has analyzed the actual impact of such disclosures on how applicants are perceived. This study aimed to assess whether personal mental health disclosures in admissions essays ultimately affect how applicants are perceived by doctoral faculty determining whether or not to admit them to their program. The hypothesis was that ambiguous disclosures do have an impact, and especially those showing unaddressed or ongoing struggles. An electronic survey utilizing a mixed-methods approach was distributed …

Reducing Burnout In Healthcare Professional Training Programs, Michaela Lillie

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There is an immense need for behavioral health clinicians in the United States, with an estimated 43.4 million people having behavioral concerns in 2015. An estimated 37% of counties in the United States are facing a shortage of behavioral health workers, which means many people are going without treatment. It also means caseloads will be elevated for current behavioral health clinicians. Research consistently shows that these workers face high burnout rates every year. Though burnout is typically studied at the organizational level, there are elevated rates of burnout at the academic training level. Because research has focused on the organization …

Creating The I-Ace: A Revised Ace Measure Incorporating Perceived Impact And Broader Adversity Experiences, Katherine M. Adams

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) survey is a widely used, evidence-based tool that assesses the number of adverse events an individual experienced before the age of 18 years. Research has shown that total ACE scores are associated with physical and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. The original ACE survey—often referred to as the conventional, standard, or primary version—consists of 10 items measuring adverse experiences across categories of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. However, it does not fully capture experiences that are increasingly relevant when assessing childhood adversity and trauma, particularly among historically marginalized minority and socio-economic populations. One area …

A Psychometric Investigation Of The Consumption Of Pornography Scale (Cops-G) In Undergraduate Students At A Private Christian University, Liberty Jedidiah Lillibridge

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Pornography is a multidimensional and complex topic that provokes feelings of shame, curiosity, and anxiety. In recent times, pornographic searches on the internet amounted to 25% of total search engine requests (Cooper et al., 2000). In a Canadian study on college students’ problematic pornography use, a higher level of pornography use was associated with negative psychosocial functioning and maladaptive use of cannabis, alcohol, gambling, and video games (Harper & Hodgins, 2016). Many researchers have attempted to mitigate the inconsistent measurement of pornography usage (Mckee et al., 2020; Short et al., 2012). Hatch et al. (2020) addressed these measurement issues and …

Self-Compassion And Shame: The Role Of Socioeconomic Status, Amanda Louie

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Undergraduate student mental health concerns are a growing issue on a global scale. One proposed intervention to support student well-being is to increase student self-compassion. Previous research has found that self-compassion can decrease negative affect and shame, and improve well-being and resilience, which in turn may reduce stress. A lesser area of study concerning self-compassion is what effect, if any, socioeconomic status may have on the development of self-compassion in individuals. To address this gap in the literature, this study collected data from college students on the West Coast and used a correlational design to explore the relationships between self-compassion, …

Utilization Of Assessment Results To Improve Identification Of Prenatal Substance Exposure, Whitney R. Mendenhall

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Prenatal substance exposure (PSE) significantly increases the risk of behavioral, emotional, and neurological challenges in children (Eiden et al., 2023). Children with PSE present similarly to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and are often diagnosed with ADHD due to shared symptomatology (Garrison-Desany et al., 2022). However, PSE has a greater association with long-term cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral deficits (Eiden et al., 2023). While PSE and ADHD share similar symptomologies, treatment and outcomes vary substantially, where early identification and treatment is a critical protective factor against the development of other psychological conditions in children with PSE. PSE can …

Exploring The Relationship Between Individual Value Priorities And Pathological Psychological Traits, Dennis Kurtz

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Values are central to the ways that humans evaluate the world and make decisions, and they play an important role in individual psychological functioning and well-being. Although human values are frequently used in psycho-therapeutic interventions in clinical practice, the precise nature of their relationship to psychopathology is unclear. This research explored the relationship between human values and psychopathology using the Schwartz basic theory of human values and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–3. Participants were recruited from a community mental health clinic. Data were analyzed to determine relationships between value priorities and clinical scales.

The study hypothesized positive associations between self-enhancement …

Sport-Related Concussions In Division Iii Athletes: A 10-Year Prospective Analysis Of Trends And Incidence, Shaylyn R. Thorne

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Sports-related concussions (SRCs) among college athletes remain a growing area of concern due to a myriad of potential short and long-term implications. Understanding concussion trends and incidence in collegiate sports is critical for guiding prevention and management strategies. This study examined concussion injuries among NCAA Division III collegiate athletes at a single institution over a 10-year period. Analyses focused on trends in concussion incidence across sports, genders, and changes associated with institutional and NCAA policy updates. Results indicated that concussion incidence varied across sports and time, with higher rates in contact sports such as football and soccer. Significant differences occurred …

An Exploratory Study On The Impact Of Vicarious Trauma On Physician’S Psychological Flexibility, Distress Tolerance, Perceived Social Support, And Self-Care, Ramya Kantharaj

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There have been increased rates of depression, suicide, and burnout over the last several years among medical physicians. In fact, in most healthcare systems, physicians report greater incidences of depression and anxiety compared to the broader population, as well as compared to others within the medical field (Gerada, 2018). Their rigorous work style and various risk factors predispose this population to worse mental health outcomes. Additionally, societal stigmas may cause many physicians to avoid mental health treatments (Mehta & Edwards, 2018). Ultimately, poor mental health outcomes can impact physicians' clinical work with patients. On the other hand, when physicians can …

You’Ve Got To Admit It: An Evaluation Of Holistic Admissions Ratings To Predict Successful Outcomes In A Doctoral Program Of Clinical Psychology, Lauren Kidd

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Graduate admissions teams analyze student applications to decide which applicants to invite for postgraduate work. Historically, graduate admissions teams have attended to cognitive measures, including undergraduate GPA and standardized test scores. While these items have some predictive validity for cognitive outcomes like graduate GPA, admissions teams consider other admissions data to discern whom to invite for enrollment. Clinical psychology admissions teams consider written application materials, letters of reference, and curricula vitae to create a more holistic view of applicants. Research has yet to discern how the integrated evaluation of admissions data might predict the success of future professionals and serve …

Sex Differences In The Association Between Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein And Cognitive Performance In Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’S Disease, Taryn Gordon

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The rising incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease and its disproportionate prevalence in the female sex has led to a growth in research focused on preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease and the histopathological brain changes. However, limited research has focused on preclinical changes in Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’s Disease populations and sex differences within these unique populations. This study aimed to address gaps in the literature by examining biological markers of neuroinflammation, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in preclinical Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’s Disease mutation carriers and non-carriers, and its relationship with cognitive function and sex. Archival data was utilized from the Colombia-Boston biomarker study of …

The Relationship Between The Clinical Scales Of The Personality Assessment Inventory And Bmi Reduction In Bariatric Surgery Patients, Douglas Lytz

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Since the National Institute of Health recommendation in 1991, most bariatric clinics and insurance companies across the United States now require psychological evaluations for patients before receiving bariatric surgery (Marek & Heinberg, 2016). Clinicians are now using various objective personality measures and other assessment tools during comprehensive evaluations to help make recommendations to surgeons and clinical staff about patient suitability for weight loss surgery. Previous studies suggest that specific demographics and clinical elevations on objective personality assessments may predict the reduction of body mass index (BMI) in patients after bariatric surgery (Oltmanns et al., 2020; Hoyt & Walter, 2022a). This …

The Effectiveness Of An Anxiety Intervention On Decreasing State And Trait Anxiety Among University Students, Lea D. Hart

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Anxiety is the most common rising public health concern for college students (Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2023; Haikalis et al., 2022). In 2022–2023, 65% of college students seeking counseling noted anxiety as their primary concern, rising 10% in the last 10 years (Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2023). As a result, higher education institutions are seeking proactive solutions that are efficacious, evidence-based, and proactive for non-clinical university populations to reduce rising rates of anxiety. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore if a population-based intervention could reduce state and trait anxiety immediately and over time. The results …

Navigating Neuropsychology: Unraveling Anxiety’S Impact On Virtual Assessment With Older Adults, Hannah Henderson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Digital technology plays a large role in our society and has for decades. Most recently, the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 jumpstarted more integrated use in daily living (Brem et al., 2021). The older adult population represents a minority of internet users; however, they are one of the fastest growing populations in their internet use (Gitlow, 2014) despite their hesitancy and related anxiety surrounding integration of technology into their daily lives. One facet of integration includes healthcare, particularly mental health and cognitive assessment. Cognitive assessments, also referred to as neuropsychological assessments, are particularly useful with older adult populations, as they can …

Law Enforcement Variables Inquiry (Levi): Evaluation Of Stress And Burnout For Law Enforcement Officers In Today's Chaotic Political Environment, Christina M. Golovanoff

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Tensions have been heating up nationwide in response to police-involved shootings-particularly in the wake of the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. For the last few years, riots and violence have been flooding the streets of major cities across the United States. Portland, Oregon in particular has had a significant amount of turbulence. Though some peaceful protests have taken place, many violent events have flooded the city and spilled into surrounding areas. Local businesses and residents have been affected. Crime data shows an increase in violent crimes, over the last 2 years, and law enforcement officer numbers dramatically …

Relational Changes In A Study Of Youth Diagnosed With Cancer, Emily C. Larsen Avnet

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This dissertation explores the relational experiences of youth with cancer within a metropolitan hospital. Through archival interviews with 10 participants, the study identifies seven themes that encompass the youths’ experiences of how a life-limiting illness impacts their relationships and the role it plays. The findings reflect the complexity of a life-limiting illness, particularly during the adolescence and/or pediatric phases of life. The study highlights the importance of relationships, perceived support, and the impact of a cancer diagnosis in youth’s lives and the lives of their loved ones. The results can inform caregivers, loved ones, medical teams, and mental health care …

Length Of Time Differences Between Genders In Factors Of Movement From Suicidal Ideation To Suicidal Action, Carina Anderson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

While women are more likely to take suicidal action, men are more likely to die of it. This difference has been partially, but not completely explained by the methods of suicide generally chosen by men and women. While this and other factors have been explored, there is no conclusive answer for the difference in death rates. Research suggests that men and women make decisions differently, and if these differences contribute to variations in their movement from suicidal ideation to suicidal action, we might expect to see these differences reflected in the amount of time it takes men and women to …

Nature’S Relationship To Psychological Flexibility, Jake K. Sanders

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Acceptance and commitment therapy has defined and successfully discovered methods of increasing psychological flexibility. Various methods of increasing psychological flexibility could be used as interventions. Contact with nature, in various forms, has been shown to increase and be related to many physical and mental health benefits. These benefits include things like mindfulness and other aspects of psychological flexibility. The question arises whether or not contact with nature is related to increases in overall psychological flexibility. The current study involved administering a questionnaire comprised of multiple existing measures, to primarily a college sample of 349 students. The answers were statistically analyzed …

The Effects Of Resilience On Bipoc Graduate Students' Mental And Physical Health, Shelby N. Wilson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Graduate school can be a challenging and demanding experience, with many students facing considerable stress and adversity throughout their academic journey. For BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) graduate students, the challenges may be amplified due to systemic and social factors, which can increase stress levels, potentially affecting their mental and physical health. This study explored the role of resilience as a protective factor for BIPOC graduate students, examining the correlation between resilience, mental health, and physical health, and the importance of religion. The sample consisted of 132 BIPOC participants and 242 White participants. Regarding their academic status, 63.6% …

God Attachment, Health Locus Of Control, Anxiety, And Health Behaviors During Covid-19 Among College Undergraduates At A Religious University, Jessica K. Wilbur

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study investigated the relationship between attachment to God, health locus of control (HLOC), perceived stress, and COVID-19-related attitudes and health behaviors among undergraduate students. Undergraduates from George Fox University were sampled, and data were collected from December 2021 to May 2022. Participants ranged from ages 18 to 36 years old (M = 19.1, SD = 2.1). The majority identified as female (68.3%) and European-American (70.2%). A K-cluster analysis revealed two groups utilizing attachment to God and HLOC scores: 81 healthy (43%) and 109 distressed (57%) individuals. The healthy group reported lower scores on anxious and avoidant attachment to God …

Spilling The T: Transmasculine Experiences With Testosterone Therapy, Kathryn Reinhart

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This dissertation utilizes a critical health psychology lens to document the experiences of transmasculine individuals with testosterone and gender-affirming healthcare. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven transmasculine participants who had participated in hormone replacement therapy for at least 6 months. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a recursive qualitative approach, resulting in nine themes: gaps in information about hormone replacement therapy; individual variability in hormone replacement therapy effects; complexity of nonbinary identity; barriers in the transition process; necessity and burden of self-advocacy; importance of community support; significance of sociopolitical context; impact of provider attitudes and education; and the need for holistic, …

Antisocial Personality Disorder And Trauma In Females, Marissa Lange

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a diagnosis reserved for individuals who feature deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggressiveness, recklessness, and irresponsibility. Evidence suggests that experiencing trauma is an etiological factor in developing antisocial traits in males. The prevalence of ASPD in the U.S. is three to one, male to female. However, research indicates females are substantially underdiagnosed due to exclusionary diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.-Text Revised; DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is a personality measure that features a conceptualization of ASPD that differs from the DSM-5-TR and includes more personality-specific …

Examining A Virtual Neuropsychological Battery For Older Adults, Robert W. Kessler

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The restructuring of clinical service provision during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted neuropsychologists to reconsider telehealth options for patient care. Subsequent advances in teleneuropsychology (Tele-NP) research and practice have demonstrated that virtual assessment is not only practical, but also increases accessibility to neuropsychological services for the elderly, medically at-risk, and rural patients. In order to ensure services are in-line with professional standards of evidence-based practice, it is incumbent on research to demonstrate the validity of virtual assessment, as well as patient acceptability of Tele-NP findings. The objectives of this research project were three-fold. First, I aimed to determine the reliability of …

Interrater Reliability Between Parents And Teachers Based On The Child’S Grade Level In A Rural Community: Behavior Assessment System For Children, Third Edition, Samantha B. Godoy

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The process of conducting child and adolescent psychoeducational assessments has changed over the past 2 decades (Shapiro & Heick, 2004). In the past, the school psychologists commonly concentrated on behavioral, achievement, and projective assessments and usually did not include systematic multi-rater observation rating scales of behavior. There is now consensus within the professional community that an assessment should meet three criteria including data from multiple methods, data from multiple sources, and data in multiple settings (Alfonso et al., 2020). Multimodal assessment provides a more in-depth perspective and creates less administrator biases, as multiple views of the child’s functioning across contexts …

Sense Of Purpose And Sustaining Attention, Jiayi Yu

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The dissertation investigated the interplay between an elevated sense of purpose moderated by heightened altruistic motivation and sustained attention in a college undergraduate population. Drawing on existing literature highlighting the positive effects of purpose on well-being and cognitive abilities, the study introduced an experimental design to explore the causal relationship between purpose and attention. Participants were recruited from the undergraduate population of a Christian liberal arts university in the Pacific Northwest. A continuous performance test (CPT) —the AX-CPT paradigm—was utilized to assess sustained attention. The experimental group was prompted with the opportunity to earn a monetary donation for a humanitarian …

Impact Of Head Injuries On Executive Functioning And Emotional Regulation, Kaitlin Allison

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Growing interest in diagnosed and undiagnosed head injuries has led to a growth in research focused on mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs). However, limited research has focused on the impact of undiagnosed head injuries on executive functioning and self-report measures of executive functioning and self-regulation in individuals' everyday environments. This study aimed to determine the impact of the number of head injuries sustained on executive functioning, emotional regulation, and psychological functioning in current and former athletes. Current and former student-athletes were recruited at a private university. Intake interview, psychological distress measures and measures of executive functioning were completed while undergoing …

Impacts Of Stigma On Female Service Members, Alisha Weatherly-Kershaw

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There are a variety of factors that prevent people from seeking mental health treatment. The stigma associated with mental health disorders or seeking treatment is a primary deterrent. This stigma is particularly impactful within the armed forces when they are assessed for fitness for duty. Because most research examines stigma’s impact on male military members, this study aims to identify the type of stigma that creates the most significant barrier to female service members seeking mental health treatment. Results indicate that stigmatizing perceptions of service members significantly impact female service members holding negative views towards seeking treatment.

The Impact Of Nature Exposure On The Perceived Relationship Satisfaction Of Adults With Adhd Symptomology, Chloe Sohl

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The present study investigated the impact of nature exposure on the perceived relationship satisfaction of adults with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) symptoms. In addition, researchers were interested in looking at how emotion regulation was influenced as well as what factors a participant's age, gender, ethnicity, education level, relationship type, relationship orientation, frequency in nature, nature setting, and formal diagnosis of ADHD, played into this. Upon completing a questionnaire, participants (N = 101) were asked to complete 120 min a week of a nature activity for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, participants completed the same questionnaire to …

Vicarious Trauma And Doctoral Graduate Trainees: The Physiological Impact Of High-Acuity Patient Care, Alicia M. Mann

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There is comprehensive literature regarding vicarious traumatization in mental health providers. Previous research identifies underlying mental health conditions and limited clinical exposure as increased risk factors for vicarious traumatization. Graduate student mental health has recently been described as a significant public health problem. Although some research exists on the impact of high-acuity clinical work on psychology graduate students, there has been limited attention on the physical impact of vicarious traumatization. The current study assessed the relationship between graduate trainees’ subjective anxiety levels and heart rate variability in response to high-acuity client work. Results indicated that doctoral trainees with high levels …

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy For The Houseless Population, Michelle Franke

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is currently a practical, empirically based treatment used by researchers and clinicians to treat a variety of mental health concerns. However, its ability to meet the needs of financially vulnerable and underserved populations, such as the houseless community, is still unknown. This study addresses the knowledge and treatment gap by offering VRET to the houseless adult population in the Pacific Northwest area, hypothesizing that exposure to VRET would decrease participant symptomology while increasing overall well-being and affinity for the method. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that attrition rates will be the same or lower while retention …