Psychology Commons^™

Modern Parents And Postmodern Adolescents Conflicts And Solutions: A Theoretical Model, Benjamin R. Dobbeck

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The past 30 years has witnessed a dramatic shift in worldview from [he modern m the postmodern. This can be seen everyday in an, architecture, teaching, music- virtually any expressive medium and recent philosophy. The underpinnings for the postmodern shift in culture revolve around 1.hc Lack of absolutes, non-representative language, a new tolerance and diversity for different ideas and beliefs, and a belief that individuals create their own reality in the social context of community. The family is not immune to these culture shifts and is reflecting them in many ways. Parents of the modem era, the era defined by …

Parental Death And The Impact On Grieving Children: A Comparison Of Homicide Or Suicide And Natural Or Accidental Deaths, Brandy Liebscher

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study examined the impact of parental death by homicide or suicide on child survivors. Two groups representing grieving children who experienced a parental death by homicide or suicide (N = 19) and children who experienced a natural or accidental parental death (N = 19) were compared. Children in the two groups were matched for age and gender. Scores from a screening instrument, developed by William Worden (1996) to identify grieving children at risk for emotional and behavioral difficulties, were used to compare these groups. No significant differences were found between the two groups for the total screener score and …

A Brief Intervention For Promoting Health And Wellness: A Holistic (Multidimensional) Approach Based Upon Principles Of Individual Systems Theory, Wayne Chappelle

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study examined the effects of a 12-week holistic (mult1dimensional) group intervention for promoting health and wellness. A total of 42 young adults (21 males and 21 females) with an average of 18.63 (ill= 1.03) years of age participated in the study. Participants were from a private university in the Pacific Northwest and randomly assigned to: a health-wellness group, a self-help group, and a no-treatment control group. Participants in the self-help group were encouraged to monitor and improve their health in various life dimensions on their own, utilize existing health care resources if necessary, and to report to the researcher …

Hardiness & Spiritual Well-Being As Moderators Of Burnout In Professional Nurses, Kathleen Marie Eichner Sims

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of hardiness and spiritual well-being as moderators of burnout in a random sample of professional nurses in Oregon. The first hypothesis stated that higher levels of hardiness and spiritual well-being would be related to lower levels of burnout. A second hypothesis stated that existential well-being would be positively correlated with hardiness. The third hypothesis stated that age, years of experience, spiritual well-being and hardiness would be related to lower burnout. Hardiness and its components of commitment, challenge and control were measured by the Personal Views Survey II. Spiritual well-being, existential …

Childhood Sexual Abuse And Substance Abuse In Female Inmates, Phyllis M. Martin

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study examined the relationship of childhood sexual abuse and substance abuse in female jail inmates residing in a Multnomah County Correctional facility. Consistent with prior research, this population was found lo be emotionally, mentally and socioeconomically disadvantaged. Specifically, the results of this study are compatible with previous studies which show the effects of childhood sexual abuse to involve a higher rate of substance use and other antisocial behaviors including promiscuity and prostitution. One-hundred and six (53.2%) respondents reported a history of childhood sexual abuse. This finding is higher than recent National Justice Bureau of Statistics surveys which found that …

Posttraumatic Stress In Light Rail Operators, Nancy L. Garrison

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of light rail operators who report rail-related traumatic events which result in fear, helplessness or horror. Completed surveys were returned by 69 (64%) of 112 eligible operators. Seventy-four percent of the surveys were returned by men while 23% were returned by women. Thirty-two ( 46%) operators reported having experienced an actual traumatic event while 12 (17%) indicated having experienced a threatened traumatic event. The most frequently occurring and stressful events reported by light rail operators included: hitting and killing, hitting, or nearly hitting pedestrians and vehicles while operating the train. …

The Factor Structure Of Tests Of Attention, Memory, And General Intellectual Function In Mild-To-Moderate Brain-Injured Patients, William D. Ruwe

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Mild-to-moderate brain-injured patients often report a variety of persisting neurocognitive deficits, including both verbal and visual/visuospatial memory dysfunction. To enhance the theoretical understanding of cognitive/intellectual and memory functions and appropriately apply such knowledge clinically, it is important to elucidate more fully the nature of these deficits. Historically, investigations of the construct validity of intellectual and memory tests have been characterized by inconsistency and controversy. Previous factor-analytic studies, especially those in which the subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scales have been evaluated, have provided discrepant results with regard to the identification of the critical factors underlying various neurocognitivc abilities. Such analyses …

Short Term Mission Trips : A Vehicle For Developing Personal And Spiritual Well-Being, David L. Manitsas

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Self-Care Of Gestalt Therapists, Rebecca Brownell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The primary objective of this study was to assess the self-care practices of Gestalt therapists. The first part of this study included a review of the literature on therapist self-care practices. Next, a theoretical connection was developed between Gestalt therapy theory, including its theoretical foundations, and therapist self-care research. A review of the literature on Gestalt therapist self-care practices found it to be an area with limited anecdotal data and no formal research. Subsequently, methods were developed to assess the self-care practices of Gestalt therapists. In the process of developing such methods, the literature was reviewed for any quantitative measures …

Correlates Of Health And Success Among Psychology Graduate Students: Stress, Distress, Coping, Well Being, And Social Support, Nancy G. Nelson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study was designed to examine factors associated with academic success among graduate students i n clinical psychology. Success was defined as higher GPA's, higher scores on the G R E (total, verbal and quantitative) and the acquisition of a "special commendation" from psychology faculty members. After a careful review of the literature, it was hypothesized that graduate students in clinical psychology who were more successful would be likely to have lower resting heart rates and lower blood pressure, and to report less stress, less distress, higher levels of social support , use of more " positive" and fewer " …

Mentor Relationships In Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training: Experiences Of Midlife Female Students, Kelley Dickson Carmichael

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The literature is clear that mentoring can be an important element in the professional development of clinical psychology trainees. In this qualitative study of female graduate students between the ages of 40 and 55, it was discovered !hat mentoring was a rare occurrence. Eleven advanced psychology students and graduates offered perspectives on graduate training through the lens of their life experiences. This study informs us that although women in midlife value education and enjoy relationships, they are unlikely to engage with faculty in traditional mentor relationships. Many women noted that faculty did not appear available or invested in mentoring. This …

Mentoring Across Stages Of Psychology Graduate Student Development: A Theoretical Model, Laura L. Zorich

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Developmental stage theories have often been used to explain human behavior during the last century They became especially popular following Erikson's ( 1968) theory of psychosocial development, which was viewed as a comprehensive model of psychosocial development Throughout the last thirty years, developmental theories have become increasingly specific as researchers have focused more narrowly on limited and focused dimensions of human development. The focus of this dissertation will be on graduate student development and the impact of the mentoring relationship on this development. Specifically, the question of how mentors impact and promote the development of graduate students is addressed. A …

Mentoring As A Manifestation Of Generativity Among University Faculty, Jeffery L. Lucas

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study examined the relationship between both generative concern and behaviors and satisfaction with life among university professors who mentor and those who do not_ Generative concern is an attitude or personality tendency to want to help others. Generative behavior are helping acts that generative individuals provide to others. A total of 75 university faculty completed surveys which consisted of demographic questionnaire, the Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS). Generative Behavior Checklist-Revised (GBC-R). and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Pearson correlations were conducted between generativity and satisfaction with life_ Mentors consistently scored higher on measures of generativity. As predicted, significant positive …

Mentor Experiences Among Navy Flag Officers: A Survey Of Retired Navy Admirals, Jennifer M. Huwe

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study offered an exploratory investigation of the extent to which the Navy's most successful officers have been mentored. The frequency, duration, nature, and significance of mentor relationships in the careers ofretired U.S. Navy admirals was assessed. A survey instrument concerning mentor relationships was mailed to a sample of 1350 retired admirals. A response rate of 51 % was achieved. Results indicate that 66.8% of respondents had been mentored at some point during their military career. Respondents reported an average of 3.35 mentors who were most likely to be male military officers, most often older than the protege, and in …

Mentoring Experiences Among Navy Flag Officers: A Narrative Survey Approach, Anne M. Fallow

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The literature has shown that mentoring can play an important role in leadership development, yet very little has been written concerning the phenomenon of mentoring within the military. This study serves to strengthen the data base concerning the role of mentoring, specifically within the leadership of the United States Navy. The sample frame for this study consisted of all U.S. Navy Admirals who were retired from active duty by 1996. A survey instrument concerning mentor relationships was mailed to 1479 retired admirals, where the nature and function of mentoring in their careers was assessed. Admiral's descriptions of how mentor relationships …

A Revision Of The Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Peter D. Endyke

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Research results indicated the Spiritual Well-being Scale, developed by Ellison and Paloutzian (Paloutzian & Ellison, 1982; Ellison, 1983) suffered from ceiling effects (Ledbetter, et al, 1991). This suggested the Spiritual Well-being Scale might not adequately measure the construct of spiritual well-being, which has implications for the usefulness of the instrument. The purpose of this study was to show that spiritual disciplines are an essential part of spiritual health. Thus, the inclusion of aspects of the spiritual disciplines in the Spiritual Well-being Scale would: 1) reduce the ceiling effects of the scale, 2) increase the variability of the scale, and 3) …

Male Sexual Orientation Among Religious Men: A Discriminant Function Analysis, James L. Born

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The ecological changes of human society especially in Western civilization via scientific, industrial, and technological revolutions have altered the foundations of what "masculinity" means in the l.990's. This study was designed to discriminate and predict three masculine sexual orientation groups based upon father-son relations, gender, religious spirituality, psychological maltreatment/abuse, and shame. Data were obtained from 92 male volunteer participants (gay=32, heterosexual=32, x-gay=28) who identify as Christians or who affiliate with a Christian organization. Instruments used were the Boyhood Gender conformity Scale (BGCS), the Father Forgiveness Perception Scale (FFPS), the Home Environment Questionnaire (HEQ) (i.e., Child Abuse Trauma Scale), Internalized Shame …

Developmental Changes Among Beginning Psychotherapy Supervisors, Mark D. Nordlund

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study investigated changes among beginning supervisors as they gained experience. Over three administrations in the course of an academic year, beginning supervisors (N = 14, 57% female) and their supervisees (N = 36, 58% female) provided ratings that offered mixed support for developmental changes among beginning supervisors. Significant increases were noted on the Supervisor Evaluation Ratings (SER) for satisfaction with supervision, supervisor competence, and efficacy of supervisor interventions. On the Level of Supervision Scale (LSS), supervisors reported a mild preference for offering case conceptualizations in supervision and a mild preference against using didactic instruction. Supervisors strongly preferred a collaborative …

Professional Outpatient Mental Health Service Delivery To The Church: An Analysis Of Conservative Evangelical Attitudes In The Pacific Northwest United States, Daniel D. Carpenter

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Over the years. various models have been developed for optimal mental health service delivery to various populations. The Christian community is not exempt from this evolutionary process which is affected by culture, technology, economics and research_ This study investigated attitudes of Conservative Evangelical Christians coward professional outpatient mental health service delivery. and examined six research questions which investigated {a) perception of antagonism between Christianity and psychology: (b) utilization of mental health services in the past; (c) perceived degree of pastoral influence on views toward psychology; (d) factors thought to be significant in shaping present attitudes toward psychology; (e) differences between …

Condensing The Field: Internet Communication And Gestalt Community, Philip Brownell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This article examines the influence of internet communication on the Gestalt community from the standpoint of the field. Drawing on current internet sources, field theorists, and Gestalt therapists, the work describes the internet. explaining key field dynamics, and it concludes that the global community of Gestalt therapy is undergoing rapid change due to internet influence. That community is being enriched; it is becoming more aware of itself, and consequently its individual members are experiencing a professional camaraderie made more complex and more richly connected. At the same time, because of this increasing connectedness, it is also condensing. lnternet communication is …

Mentor Relationships In Psychology Graduate Training: Gender Differences And Ethical Concerns, Sherry L. Harden

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The business literature regarding mentor relationships has quantitatively shown them to be beneficial for both mentor and protege. Most of the mentoring literature in the field of psychology has been theoretical, with a few sporadic attempts to quantify the concept. This study is the first comprehensive survey of mentoring experiences among students from psychology graduate programs across the nation. National survey data was collected and analyzed using descriptive and correlational statistics. Essential components of the mentor-protege relationship were explored, and respondents were asked to evaluate their experiences as proteges. The primary focus of this research was the comparison of the …

The Effects Of Pretherapy Information On The Client's Perception Of A Counselor's Values And Receptiveness To Treatment, James C. Thomas

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Over the past thirty years there has been a growing awareness in the psychological community that a counselor's personal values, including religious values, influences the therapy relationship. Despite this awareness, few counselors have made it a practice of sharing their value orientation with their clients. One way of helping clients make informed choices about whether they want to enter therapy with a certain counselor is to give them information before therapy begins about a counselor's personal values that may influence the therapy relationship. This study partially replicates the work of Lewis and Epperson ( l 991) and shows that pre …

Principled Mentoring: Identifying Core Values For The Practice Of Mentoring, Peter F. Wilson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This theoretical study was done to promote additional research in mentoring, A great deal has been written about mentoring relationships and research has built a strong case for their value across a wide variety of settings. Mentoring is a centuries old practice in which younger or more inexperienced individuals are trained in a relational context by a more experienced, usually older individual. In more recent times mentoring has been most prominent in academic and business settings. Most often, mentoring takes the form of an unstructured relationship but many businesses and some universities have developed formal mentoring programs. The mentoring research …

Acculturation In Relation To Somatization And Mental Health Attitudes Among Asian Americans, Natasha A. E. Wong

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

A total of 98 Asian Americans completed surveys which consisted of a demographic questionnaire, the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA), the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Pearson correlations were conducted between acculturation and the four subscales of the ATSPPHS, acculturation and somatization as indicated by the somatic items on the SCL-90-R, and somatization and the four subscales of the ATSPPHS. Significant negative correlations were found between acculturation and somatization, and somatization and the interpersonal openness subscale of the ATSPPHS. A significant positive correlation was also found between acculturation and the interpersonal …

The Relationship Between Adult Attachment Styles And Masterson's Delineation Of Personality Disorders, Kristina K. Roberts

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The present study addresses the degree of relationship between adult attachment styles, as assigned by attachment theory, and personality disorders, as delineated by Masterson's developmental self and object relations theory. Relationships between the avoidant-dismissive attachment style and characteristics of the exhibiting narcissistic personality disorder, between the preoccupied attachment style and the borderline personality disorder, and between the avoidantfearful attachment style and the schizoid and avoidant personality disorders were anticipated. Eighty-six individuals involved in the Access Program in Spokane, Washington participated in the study. Thirty-four psychology students at George Fox University also participated in the study as a control group. Participants …

Sources Of Gain In Christian Counseling And Psychotherapy: A National Survey, Barbara M. Houston

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This exploratory survey is an attempt to examine assumptions that shape and direct Christian psychologists' professional thoughts and actions in order to further the research on the efficacy of Christian psychotherapy. Major assumptions about change sustaining Christian counseling have been expounded without much empirical support. The Christian Psychologist Survey, concerning the assumptions about the sources of gain in Christian counseling and psychotherapy, was completed by 164 Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) members, 112 males and 52 females. This study endeavors to discover practicing therapists' beliefs of what makes Christian therapy effective, and what aspects make counseling "Christian." Regarding critical …

A Spanish Translation Of The Spiritual Well-Being Scale: Preliminary Validation, Kay Colleen Bruce

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Recent attention has focused on the need for effective mental health services to minority populations in the United States. The Hispanic community is the second largest minority in the U.S. and continues to grow rapidly. Mental health services may be facilitated by translation and validation of assessment instruments which are psychometrically sound and easy to administer.

Measures of subjective well-being were developed in the United States in the 1970s. An interest in spiritual well-being, as related to one's general sense of health and well-being, led to development of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) by Paloutzian & Ellison (1982). Since that …

A Spanish Translation Of The Spiritual Well-Being Scale: Preliminary Validation, Kay Colleen Bruce

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Recent attention has focused on the need for effective mental health services to minority populations in the United States. The Hispanic community is the second largest minority in the U.S. and continues to grow rapidly. Mental health services may be facilitated by translation and validation of assessment instruments which are psychometrically sound and easy to administer. Measures of subjective well-being were developed in the United States in the 1970s. An interest in spiritual well-being, as related to one's general sense of health and well-being, led to development of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) by Paloutzian & Ellison (1982). Since that …

Predictors Of Estrangement From God Among Evangelical Christians, Kathryn S. Wurtz

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study's purpose was to develop linear equations which predict the subjective experience of estrangement from God among Evangelical Christians. Six multiple linear regressions were generated using scores from the God Image Questionnaire as the dependent variables. The regression equations suggest that the following variables were the most powerful available predictors of the subjective experience of estrangement from God. Among the objective test score variables, empathy deficits, low assertiveness scores, social incompetence, unforgiveness, and poor ability to access spiritual resources were significant. Demographic variables that predicted estrangement from God were: failure to identify oneself as a Christian; having felt harmed …

Graduate Students' Perceptions Of Formative Faculty Characteristics: A Look At What Facilitates Integrative Development In A Christian Psychology Program, Kimberly Rene Derflinger

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Little has been done to assess how students learn integration except by grading them on how well they memorize and echo back their professors' views. The present study sought to ask students what they find helpful from professors, rather than presuming that faculty already know what is best. Following the research protocol of Sorenson (1995), the present study measured graduate students' perceptions of what faculty characteristics are helpful in their integrative pursuit at George Fox College's Graduate School of Clinical Psychology. This research sought to (a) determine if students at George Fox College employ particular latent dimensions for evaluating faculty …