Psychology Commons^™

The Contributions Of Body Awareness To “Choking Under Pressure”, Wagner Larson, Cody Larson

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

“Choking under pressure” is a well-known phenomenon and occurs when performance is negatively affected because of perceived pressure. Many researchers have studied this topic, mainly verifying the key theories involved: the explicit monitoring theory and distraction theory. The current study adds to the literature by measuring the contributions of body-awareness to choking under pressure. There has been previous research on the concept of overthinking body movements that supports the hypothesis of the more self-aware an individual is of their body, the more they are subject to choking in a pressure induced situation. The current study aims to expand this idea …

Identifying The Trauma Recovery Needs Of Maltreated Children: An Examination Of Child Welfare Workers' Effectiveness In Screening For Traumatic Stress, Adrienne Whitt-Woosley

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Children in the child welfare system comprise a group characterized by their exposure to trauma via experiences of maltreatment, under circumstances presenting multiple risk factors for traumatic stress. High rates of posttraumatic stress have been observed in this population. However, there is currently no standard for the universal screening of children in child welfare for trauma exposure and traumatic stress. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trauma experiences of a sample of maltreated children and examine whether child welfare workers are effective screeners of traumatic stress symptoms with children from their caseloads. Method: A sample of children …

Characteristics And Ethics Of E-Therapy Websites With Marriage And Family Therapists, Zuzana Gassova

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The current survey of 83 e-therapy websites with marriage and family therapists examined what consumers seeking online therapy or therapy over the phone might find on the Internet. The study explored how e-therapy websites characterize their services and comply with the ethical guidelines of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Furthermore, differences in compliance with ethical guidelines among the three types of the websites (individual practice websites, group practice websites, and independent contractor websites) were analyzed. Results indicated that a majority of the websites lack information regarding several major areas (e.g., crisis resources, terms of service, procedures to …

Attachment Quality And Sexual Satisfaction And Sexual Functioning In Romantic Relationships For Combat Veterans, Ilana S. Pinsky

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Previous literature has shown that combat veteran posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects attachment quality, as well as sexual satisfaction and functioning. This study used internet survey methods from 253 male combat veterans in committed relationships to analyze the correlations between PTSD symptoms, attachment quality, sexual satisfaction, and sexual functioning in romantic relationships. The results indicate that PTSD symptoms from combat veterans are correlated with attachment quality, sexual satisfaction, and sexual functioning in romantic relationships. Implications for professionals and future research are explored.

A Formative Evaluation Of A Smartphone Application For Couples: The Affectionate Gesture Planner, Patrick Robert Bortz

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The Affectionate Gesture Planner (AGP) is a smartphone application (i.e., “app”) that aims to increase relationship satisfaction for couples in long-term relationships by prompting couples to complete loving acts for each other on a daily basis. The AGP app is informed by concepts from social exchange theory and the investment model (Rusbult, 1983), which predict that increasing the mutual exchange of beneficial investments to the relationship improves the quality and stability of the relationship. The present study is a formative evaluation on the prototype of the AGP app. Based on participant feedback, the AGP app will be improved prior to …

Secrecy In The Context Of Romantic Relationships, Kristyn Marie Jackson

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The studies included in this dissertation investigated the experiences of individual romantic partners as secret keepers and couples as collective secret keepers. Study 1 investigated the topics of secrets kept by individual romantic partners and public perception of secret keeping in the context of romantic relationships via qualitative content analysis. The analysis of secret topics resulted in the following themes: (1) secrets about the Redditors’ relationship, (2) secrets about the Redditor, and (3) a discussion of secrecy. The analysis of public perception resulted in the following themes: (1) normalization, (2) advice, (3) comfort, (4) personal reactions, and (5) a request …

Do Beliefs About Sex Behaviors Mediate The Link Between Parent-Adolescent Communication About Sex And Risky Sexual Behaviors?, Guangyi Cui

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The current study examined the protective effect of parenting-adolescent communication about sex on four risky sexual behaviors (age of onset of sex, number of sex partners, condom use, and STDs) among youth, framed by the Theory of Planned Behavior. It also tested for potential mediation effects between parent-adolescent communication and risky sex measures by sexual cues, date rape attitudes, and acceptance of dating violence in a sample of 2,245 college students from Japan, Slovenia, Spain, and the United States. Results provided evidence of a weak effect of parent-adolescent communication about sex on risky sexual behaviors across samples. A number of …

How Therapists Use And Choose Mindfulness To Treat Trauma, Jessica M. King

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This qualitative study used the phenomenological method to examine how therapists use mindfulness therapies and interventions to address trauma-salient issues with their clients. Specifically, it explored therapists’ use of and choices about mindfulness-based treatments when addressing post-traumatic stress symptoms, and trauma-relevant emotion dysregulation and attachment injury. Informants were associate and fully-licensed local therapists, recruited using convenience sampling and snowball sampling by word-of-mouth referrals. Data was collected by semi-structured interviewing. Interview data was analyzed with Moustakas’ (1994) recommended procedures for analysis of phenomenological data. Results, Discussion, Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research are described at the end.

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Self-Management Program For Hispanics In Lexington Kentucky: A Pilot Study, Miguel A. Gamboa Oropeza

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Hispanics are more affected by diabetes than non-Hispanic whites and they tend to experience more severe complications. Research shows that although self-management is poor among ethnic minorities, it is even more so among Hispanics. The “Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes” (TOYD) program has been shown to be successful in helping individuals manage their diabetes. However, no work has been conducted with Hispanic audiences in Kentucky. TOYD program allows individuals to modify lifestyle risks and solve problems related to diabetes management. The program was translated from English to Spanish. Hispanics males and females between ages 19 to 75 years …

Online Usage Among College Students: A Comparison Of Online Gaming And Facebook Users, Jonathan M. Ingram

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study is to investigate undergraduate students' patterns of use and perceived consequences of online gaming and Facebook. In Study 1, 38 male and 31 female participants completed measures examining online gaming usage, whereas Study 2 included 24 male and 75 female participants who were asked to complete measures examining Facebook usage. Study 1 results indicated online gaming participants identified time loss (78.3%) and playing longer than planned (91.3%) as common consequences of use. In contrast, Facebook users in Study 2 were less likely to report time loss (20.6%) but were more likely (91.8%) to visit …

African American Women In Leadership Positions: A Qualitative Study, Carl Harrison Jr.

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In today’s society, an accurate representation of female minority leadership is needed. This study explored the (a) leadership development of African American women, (b) means and hindrances that African American women leaders met on their pathway to success, and (c) role of resilience among African American women. The current research was guided by the Smith (2010) study; Smith completed research on this subject matter using African American males. The current research used women rather than men but maintained the same methodology. The Consensual Qualitative Research Method (CQR; Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997; Hill et al., 2005) was used to analyze …

The Drive To Write: Inside The Writing Lives Of Five Fiction Authors, Emily S. Fine

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Authors of fiction often describe writing as a psychologically meaningful and emotionally charged process. While ample research has provided evidence for the mental and physical health benefits of writing (e.g., Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999), few studies have methodically examined the inner life of the fiction writer. This study explored two primary questions: (a) Why do authors write? and (b) How does the act of writing affect them in turn? This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as a guiding methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five authors of fiction, then transcribed and analyzed to generate a rich interpretative account. The …

Does Teaching Parents Emotion-Coaching Strategies Change Parental Perception Of Children's Negative Emotions?, Eric Labass

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore if parental perception of children's negative emotions changes after participating in the parenting program How to Talk to Kids So Kids Will Listen-Video Series (HTK) (Faber & Mazlish, 2002). The HTK workshop comprises six sessions designed to teach parents to identify and empathize with children's feelings and learn emotional communication skills that facilitate a respectful relationship between parent and child. The Coping with Children's Negative Emotions Scale (CCNES) (Fabes, Eisenberg, & Bernzweig, 1990) was given to parents before and after participation in the HTK workshop. The CCNES revealed that a total of …

An Analysis Of Psychologist Postdoctoral Psychopharmacology Training Materials For Critiques Of Neurobiological Hypotheses Of Depression's Etiology, Critical Analyses Of The Dsm's Rigor, And For Consumer/Survivor/Ex-Patient Content., Chris William Nicholas Rowe

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

There is widespread agreement that neurobiology plays a role in psychological distress and that psychiatric diagnosis and associated psychopharmacological interventions can be helpful. However, there are also unresolved issues surrounding the limits of empirical support for current diagnostic criteria, shortcomings in neurobiological explanations of psychopathology, and unanswered questions about the mechanism, safety, and efficacy of psychiatric medications. This has implications for treatment errors which can precipitate negative socio-economic and health consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups like the Consumer/Survivor/Ex-Patient (c/s/x) population. It is for these reasons that the training psychologists receive to prescribe should, in addition to integrating the critiques of …

Distress Among Psychologists: Prevalence, Barriers, And Remedies For Accessing Mental Health Care, Kimberly Patterson-Hyatt

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study completed a critical review of psychologists’ mental health by developing a conceptual analysis based on the current empirical literature of the mental health needs of clinical psychologists. Distress among psychologists was explored by examining the following domains: (a) examining the prevalence of mental illness and psychological distress that exist among them, (b) examining the barriers they encounter to seeking treatment when experiencing this distress, and (c) reviewing current interventions and integrating remedies for access to mental health care that best meets psychologists’ needs. Results included several themes within each domain shaping a contextual picture of some of the …

Identifying Therapeutic Alliance Patterns Among A Feasible Clinical Measure To Improve Treatment Outcome, Tara Marie Staehlin

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Background: Research has shown a link between therapeutic alliance and treatment outcome, but the definition of alliance and the focus of research has varied across studies. The present study evaluated a possible association between the alliance strength and treatment outcome, which is operationalized by participants’ outcome scores and the difference between their first and last self-reported alliance scores, in a sample of children and adolescents seeking treatment at a community mental health facility. Method: 96 children and 239 adolescents who received mental health treatment at a local community clinic were asked to complete two feasible self-reported measures during each therapeutic …

Black And White Multiracial Adult Womens' Experience Of Their Physical Appearance: A Qualitative Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis, Vanessa Geissler

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

According to the 2010 United States Census 1.8 million people self-identified as multiracial Black, and of that 1.8 million, 45% self-identified as Black and White. Multiracial individuals are a growing population in the United States, and by year 2050 an estimated 21% of the entire population will be multiracial. Irrespective of these statistics, research among this population is limited. Further research is warranted because existing literature has identified an increased emphasis on multiracial individual’s physical appearance. Questions such as, “What are you?” or labels such as exotic, beautiful, fascinating, or other, are a few examples of how this population is …

Distribution Of And Relationship Between Medically Classified Weight And Self-Perceived Body Size Across Sexual Orientation: An Add Health Analysis, Ashley J. Strauss

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Rates of overweight and obesity have reached epidemic status in the United States and better understanding and treatment of obesity is vital to our success in ending this national trend. Current understanding of special populations informs us sexual minority women are at a higher risk of overweight and obesity. This study sets out to verify this using a nationally representative sample population in a fixed factor blocked ANOVA, controlling for common confounding variables shown to be strong influences of overweight and obesity. Next, the relationship between self-perceived body size and medically classified body size will be compared across sexual orientation …

A Culture That Fosters Concussions: Does Increased Education Lead To More Accurate Reporting Of Concussions?, Michael Heptig

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

With over 1.7 million incidents reported annually, concussion has become the most common class of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States (Bazarian, Zhu, Blyth, Borrino, & Zhong, 2012). As staggering a statistic as this may be, many believe it fails to represent the true number of concussions because the non-reporting of symptoms has been commonplace among athletes (Khurana & Kaye, 2012; Williamson & Goodman, 2006). The aim of this study was to determine those factors that influence the reporting of concussion symptoms. Specific variables that were examined include the amount of concussion education provided (determined by requisite amount …

Medical Students' Recognition Of Patients' Behavioral Health Needs, Jason J. Jaegly

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This dissertation study is designed to add to the knowledge base about physician training in the integrated primary care environment by examining if relationships exist between students’ years of training in an osteopathic medical school, empathy in patient-care situations, stigma toward people with mental illness, and attitudes toward collaborative care for behavioral health. In addition, the relationships between medical students’ attitudes toward collaborative care for behavioral health, factors that influence their referral decision making, recognition of a hypothetical patient in need of a potential behavioral health referral, current year in medical training, and demographic characteristics were explored. This is important …

Attachment And Social Competence Of Children With A Mother Coping With Bipolar Disorder, Jennifer Forster

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of the attachment between a mother diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her child and the subsequent social competence of the child. A descriptive survey design was chosen due to the lack of existent literature in this area and the need to identify problematic areas of attachment and social competence in this identified population. A sample of ten mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder with at least one school-aged child (between kindergarten and sixth grades), to whom the mother is the primary caregiver, participated in this study. Each participant was given …

Relationships Between Different Types And Modes Of Arts-Related Experiences, Motivation, And Civic Engagement, Donald J. Polzella, Jeremy S. Forbis

Psychology Faculty Publications

We successfully replicated our previous findings and can now conclude with a high level of confidence that individuals who attend traditional live musical performances are more likely to engage in pro-social behaviors, e.g., making charitable donations or volunteering, attending community meetings or voting.

Individuals who attended other live arts-related events, e.g., dance, theater, art exhibitions, and nontraditional music performances, were also more likely to engage in pro-social behavior.This finding suggests that the relationship holds irrespective of the artistic domain.

The findings suggested that the link between exposure to the arts and pro-social behavior is based primarily on the social characteristics …

Weight Discrimination Through Social Networking Sites: The Moderating Effects Of Gender, Stereotype-Consistent Behavior, And Occupational Setting, Bridget Mchugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the use of social networking sites (SNSs) in hiring increases, human resources professionals have become concerned with the increased probability of discriminatory hiring decisions. At the same time, there is increasing evidence that discrimination towards overweight and obese applicants has risen in the past decade. The present study addressed these concerns by examining the impact of an applicant's weight in a SNS profile picture on the decision to hire the applicant for a sales position. The impact of the applicant's gender, body mass index, and stereotype-consistent behaviors on hiring intentions were examined. In addition, the type of sales position …

Efficacy Of Concreteness Training With Persons Qualifying For Palliative Care: Piloting An Ios Application, Diana Zarb

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Palliative care services (PCS) seek to increase quality of life and manage symptoms of persons with chronic illnesses. Depression and anxiety are common concerns for persons receiving PCS. One intervention that has demonstrated some effectiveness and requires further research is a brief concreteness training (CT) intervention based on cognitive-behavioral techniques. This study piloted the implementation of a brief CT intervention via an iOS application for persons qualifying for PCS. Forty-one people completed all of the pretest measures, and 9 participants completed the entire study. Variables measured were anxiety, depression, spiritual well-being, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and patient activation. Participants …

Using Big Data In Psychotherapy Research: Possibilites And Perils, Timofey S. Galuza

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Traditionally, psychotherapy research has used efficacy and effectiveness studies. Efficacy studies have been considered the gold standard for studying clinical interventions and effects due to their stringent controls. While not as scientifically rigorous as efficacy studies, effectiveness studies examine clinical interventions with larger and more diverse populations and more real-tolife treatment protocols. Unfortunately, effectiveness studies tend to be based on retrospective report, sometimes many months or even years after the conclusion of psychotherapy. The growth of technology, in particular smartphone applications (apps) has opened the door to a form of effectiveness study that allows for real-time data collection. The Therapy …

Trauma, Resilience, Hope, And Religious Coping In Haiti, Deborah L. Galindo

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Trauma is an international area of research, specifically in countries that have experienced natural disasters and political unrest (Bolton, Surkan, Gray, & Desmousseaux, 2012; Derivois, Merisier, Cenat, & Castelot, 2014; Desrosiers & Fleurose, 2002; Hobfoll, 1989, 2012, 2014; Hobfoll et al., 2007; Kira, 2001, 2010; Kira et al., 2008). Haiti has endured an immense amount of trauma, including the 2010 earthquake and daily traumas resulting from poverty, economic disparity, and political unrest. This study explored the experiences of trauma, resilience, hope, and religious coping of 51 Haitian individuals through a mixed methods design. Quantitative data was gathered through the following …

Working Memory And Long-Term Abstinence From Substance Use, Larry E. Jasper

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Cognitive impairment is a well-established consequence of long-term substance abuse, with stimulant and polysubstance abuse leading to the most detrimental deficits, especially in the area of executive function. The extent of brain function recovery with long-term abstinence from substance use is less understood. Is cognitive impairment permanent after longstanding abstinence, or does near full recovery occur? The current study assessed working memory function and attention differences between addicts reporting long-term abstinence and individuals reporting no history of substance use. Volunteers were recruited from both Narcotics Anonymous meetings and the community; addicts reporting long-term abstinence and individuals reporting no substance abuse …

The Benefits Of Gratitude In Spiritual Formation: Collaborative Of Gratefulness In A Christian Church Community, Jens Uhder

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This field experiment examined the effects of a gratefulness intervention in the context of a Christian church congregation. Two Evangelical congregations with comparable demographic and socio-economic characteristics were enrolled and assigned to the experimental and comparison conditions. In an effort to integrate psychological intervention techniques with established spiritual formation practices, the intervention was developed collaboratively with church leaders. In addition to examining the well-known benefits of gratefulness – strengthening of interpersonal relationships, increased life satisfaction, psychological well-being (PWB), and enhanced spiritual well-being (SWB), this research considered whether the practice of gratitude mobilized participants to engage others inside and outside the …

Life After Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Method Analysis On Social Support And Quality Of Life, Caitlin M. Speck

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Obesity is often described as a national epidemic; bariatric surgery is one form of treatment that has become increasingly popular. Bariatric surgery is successful and many patients experience significant weight loss; however, many patients struggle to maintain their new weight. In an attempt to respond to the problem of weight loss maintenance, bariatric surgery programs are incorporating behavioral management-strategies in addition to typical program support. Support groups are often offered by bariatric surgery programs and are commonly focused around psychoeducation, behavioral strategies, and community support. This study provides a mixedmethod quantitative and qualitative analysis on life after bariatric surgery, primarily …

Building Social Resilience: The Effect Of A Coping Skills Training Intervention In An Educational Setting On Adolescent Victims Of Bullying, Daniel T. Moshofsky

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Despite the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs, there remains a significant portion of individuals who develop short and long-term difficulties as a result of bullying victimization. While most bullying programs are “preventative,” there is a dearth of research examining treatment effects on students who already self identify as having been victims of bullying. The most efficient way of implementing interventions to meet the needs of this population is within the educational system. This study attempted to adapt an existing evidence based intervention to the specific needs of a school setting. The adapted intervention and subsequent pilot study examined the effects …