Psychology Commons^™

The Relationship Between Parasocial Relationships And Chronic Ostracism Among Differing Belongingness Needs, Kaitlin M. Mitchell

Undergraduate Research Awards

Some media consumers are prone to developing parasocial relationships (PSRs)—one-sided attachments viewed as a reciprocal bond—with fictional characters. Study of parasocial relationships has linked this tendency to heightened belongingness needs. However, there is a lack of exploration of how chronic ostracism, a threat to belongingness, relates to PSRs. Thus, the current study examined whether belongingness needs moderated the relationship between forming PSRs and feelings of chronic ostracism. One hundred and eleven participants from a small historically women’s university and the Twitter book community participated in a study which included a survey on tendency to form parasocial relationships, feelings of chronic …

Barriers To Sex Offender Reintegration, Brittney Wolf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Barriers to successful offender reintegration are important to address in treatment approach, and most of the information known about risk to reoffend is created by researchers, treatment providers, and victim experiences. Exploring and learning about the barriers experienced by sex offenders during the reintegration process can provide additional insight into sex offender treatment approaches, reentry processes, community beliefs, and legislation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify barriers that sex offenders experience during the reintegration process that may lead them to reoffending. The risk-need-responsivity framework was used to guide the interpretation of identified barriers. The sample consisted of …

Adapting The Collaborative Assessment And Management Of Suicidality (Cams) To Correctional Settings, Sydney A. Mims

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Inmate suicide is an increasing problem in prisons and jails across the United States of America. This Doctoral Specialty Project highlights the current protocols in place for inmates experiencing suicidal ideation in various correctional settings, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP), several state prisons and local jails across the U.S. This project introduces the entirety of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) framework as a possible suicide assessment and intervention tool that could streamline suicide focused evaluation and treatment across correctional settings, thus increasing continuity of care. Specifically, this project focuses on the effectiveness of existing adaptations …

Child Abuse Reporting By Mandated Reporters In Schools, Kliche Adebanjo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child maltreatment has proven to be a mainstream issue in the United States, with millions of children being referred to state welfare systems for investigation or alternative response intervention. Research has identified mandated reporters as being responsible for reporting the majority of these cases. Amongst those identified as mandated reporters, education personnel refer the greatest number of children for suspicion of child abuse or neglect, partly because of their ongoing contact daily; however, many of the cases they report are unsubstantiated. Past research findings have concluded that mandated reporters in schools lacked proper child abuse training. The purpose of this …

Invariant Structural Features Of Retrograde Amnesia Affected Memory, Daniel K. Burch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Traumatized individuals may use one or several emotional defensive strategies to cope with their experience; one method is via autobiographical amnesia which may influence the efficacy of amnesiac patients’ psychological adjustment during a sensitive period. Little research has addressed the potential of how emotionally invariant structural features may impact the reconsolidation of autobiographical memory, which in turn may support patients to complete successfully psychotherapeutic treatment or intervention. This phenomenological study addressed how lived experiences (i.e., invariant emotional and behavioral conscious states) may play into patients’ transformational memory of some or all of the traumatizing event details. To answer these questions, …

Reflections On The Bgj Anti-Racism Seminar, Michelle Billies

Publications and Research

In this Letter to the Editor, Billies (2021) responds to critical and supportive opinion pieces in the British Gestalt Journal (BGJ) following their plenary presentation at BGJ’s 2018 annual seminar (see Asherson Bartram, 2019; O’Malley, 2019). As author of the companion article "How/ Can Gestalt Therapy Promote Liberation from Anti-Black Racism?” (Billies, 2021), Billies, who identifies as white, discusses the intent at the seminar to support white people to increase accountability and reduce harm in dialogue with people of color, while supporting the work and needs of people of color on their terms from a Gestalt perspective. Describing a fishbowl …

Relationship Between Social Support And Childhood Trauma On Resilience, Carol Krieger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People who have not overcome childhood trauma and who have developed mental illnesses have difficulties dealing with life challenges. The purpose of this quantitative study used a correlational design to test any relationship between childhood trauma experience levels and resilience against life challenges in adulthood. The theoretical framework used for this study was Barnes’ social support theory. Data were collected from 104 participants over a 7-week period. Participants voluntarily answered the ACE questionnaire, 2-way support scale, and resilience scale. Key results indicate that people with mental illness who receive social support are positive impacted by that support. Receiving adequate levels …

The Use Of Social Media In Moderating Feelings Of Belongingness And Suicidal Ideation Among Women, Latasha Davidson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide among women in the United States increased significantly over the last decade, now accounting for six suicides per 100,000 population. Concurrently, there has been an increase in social media use, with women exhibiting elevated presence on social networking platforms. Grounded in the theoretical framework of the theory of suicide and the interpersonal theory of suicide, the purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to evaluate the association between social media use, feelings of belongingness, and suicidal ideation to address the increased suicide rate among adult women in the United States. One research question focused on how social media use …

Coping Strategies And Relationship Satisfaction Among Dual-Military Married Army Couples, Leila Powell-Disola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 2001, millions of U.S. military personnel have deployed overseas. Military deployment can be a tremendous stressor on military families and negatively impact the marital relationship. Few previous studies and interventions have considered the effects deployment can have on dual-military married couples. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine what coping strategies dual-military couples used during deployment and whether use of these strategies affected their relationship satisfaction (RS). The theoretical framework for this study consisted of the social exchange theory and the exchange-based dual-military marriage model. A sample of 103 dual-military Army spouses, male or female, was recruited …

The Relationships Between Personality Characteristics Of Hardiness And Resilient Grief Outcomes In An Aging Female Population, Meryle J. Vinje

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThere is increasing empirical evidence that bereaved individuals vary considerably in their reactions to loss and that individuals experience varying pathways through the grief process. This quantitative correlational study advanced understanding of Bonanno’s pathways to resilient grief theory and contributed to the strengths-based grief and bereavement literature by examining if hardiness commitment, control, and challenge were significantly related to grief resolution and posttraumatic growth (PTG), controlling for participant age, depression, religiosity, and time since the death of a spouse, in a sample of 218 widowed women aged 50 or older. Descriptive findings revealed that study participants were in their mid-60s, …

Reaction Time And Verbal Working Memory Differences In Ncaa Concussed Female Athletes, Kelly Delph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Empirical evidence suggests that female collegiate athletes participating in soccer are likely to suffer from TBI and subsequent concussion syndrome. Studies further indicate that TBI adversely affects the quality of life of athletes both on an academic level and social life. This study examined data with the intent to fill existing gaps in the current literature and focused on the experiences of NCAA female collegiate soccer athletes who have suffered TBI and neurocognitive deficit symptoms in verbal memory and reactional time. This quantitative research method relied on the theory of mind (ToM) as the theoretical basis to investigate research questions …

Secret Keeping And Subjective Well-Being In Nurses, Augustina Marie Frazier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies suggest that “secret-keeping,” the act of maintaining confidences or personal information, is a problem in the nursing population. Secret keeping may cause depression and anxiety, which might bring about isolation and reduce the ability to provide patient care. The purpose of this study was to address the gap in the literature concerning the relationship between secret-keeping and subjective well-being among early- and late-career nurses. Nurses are those who primarily work at the bedside and who supply the nursing labor force in health cares. I used Seligman's well-being theory to focus on the nurses’ happiness based on positive psychology. The …

Hiring Manager Perceptions Of The Emotional Intelligence Skills Of Urban Community College Graduates, Janice Moore English

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEmotional intelligence (EI) skills are an important factor in the successful entry in the labor market of the fresh graduates of urban community colleges. Even though previous studies provided substantial evidence to the importance of these skills, these studies also recognized a lack of preparedness for the newly community college graduates and add to the voices of local business communities who manifest concern in this regard. The purpose of this basic qualitative research project was to explore local hiring manager perceptions of the EI skills of community college graduates they have hired for knowledge work roles. Goleman’s theory of EI …

Expectations And Outcomes Of Choosing Reiki For Rheumatoid Arthritis, Theresa Jimenez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about the use of Reiki as an alternative medical treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) symptoms and/or side effects. The current study addressed how sufferers of RA made their decision to use Reiki, their experiences using Reiki to treat their symptoms, and changes in their symptoms or side effects from RA. Two sets of in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 participants. The first interview addressed how decisions to use Reiki were made and the second interview addressed participants’ experiences with Reiki to treat their symptoms and side effects. Psychological attribution theory and the covariation attribution model were used …

Coping Strategies Among Disciplined Psychologists Working High-Conflict Custody Cases, Stephanie Joy Norris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychologists who work with high conflict custody cases have one of the highest risks of receiving a board complaint against their license. There is no qualitative research specific to psychologists who have been disciplined from their state licensing board because of their work with high conflict custody cases. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the meaning of the experiences of psychologists who have worked or are currently working on high-conflict custody cases and have received discipline from their state licensing board. The transactional theory of stress and coping was used as the foundation for which …

Stress, Coping, And Adjustment Of Young Adults Who Have Transitioned Out Of Foster Care, Helen S. Hogin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current research lacked information on the stress, coping, and adjustment of individuals transitioning to adulthood from foster care. Transitioning out of foster care when adulthood is reached can be challenging, resulting in mental and physical health problems, decline in overall wellbeing, and poor outcomes. Elevated stress can make coping and adjusting to social life more difficult. The purpose of this study was to explore former foster youths’ perspectives and experiences of stress and what coping strategies were effective as they adjusted to society. The transactional model of stress and coping served as the study’s framework. The research questions focused on …

Time Spent Gaming And Marital Quality: The Effect Of Mmorpgs, Kimberly J. Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is not known if, or to what degree, time spent playing massive multi online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) and adult attachment style affect marital quality. This study attempts to deliver a clearer image about the statistical links between MMORPGs and marital quality to better understand how MMORPGs can affect this relational area. Attachment theory is the theoretical model used in this study. The Hayes mediation analysis was used to answer the research questions. However, correlations were performed initially, to evaluate the suitability of the mediation analysis. The 240 respondents were selected using a convenience sampling approach, through the use of …

Attitudes Toward The Electability Of Atheist And Nontraditional Religious Candidates, Brittany Escobedo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Atheists are underrepresented in political office compared to their numbers in the general population. In the United States, anti-atheist prejudice is prevalent, likely contributing to the disparity in atheist representation. Informed by social identity theory and the sociofunctional approach to prejudice, the purpose of this study was to examine the comparative electability of atheists compared to other minority religious identities, as well as one nonminority option for a baseline reference of attitudes. Using the voter likelihood scale and three 7-point semantic differential scales, 579 participants rated their intention to vote for and their feelings of trust, disgust, and fear toward …

The Experience Of Conflicting Identities Amongst African American Law Enforcement Officers, Jeremy R. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement’s unjust treatment of African Americans is a worldwide concern but impacts the African American community in different ways, particularly African American law enforcement officers who are placed in conflicting positions. They aspire to see change and more conforming police treatment, compared to other racial populations, but work for the same organization that exhibits the biased treatment they desire to have abolished. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore African American law enforcement officers’ experiences of conflicting identities. The theoretical foundation was based on Turner’s theory of self-categorization (SCT). The key research questions addressed African American …

Educators’ Perspectives Regarding The Influence Of Prison Education Programs On Recidivism, Deana Payton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several factors impact whether inmates are successful upon release. Lack of education and job skills are critical reasons for unsuccessful reintegration. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and observations of prison educators regarding inmate participation and motivation in prison education programs. Cloward and Ohlin’s opportunity theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight prison educators. Results of axial coding and thematic analysis resulted in four themes: time commitment, access to programs, negative interaction, and incentives. Findings indicated that from the educator’s perspective, inmates who were motivated and …

Predictors Of Co-Rumination In Adolescent Friendships, Rebecca Emily Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Co-rumination is talking excessively about problems with another person such as a same-sex best friend. Co-rumination is found to impact adjustment, such that co-rumination is related to an increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms but also an increase in friendship quality. The consequences of co-rumination have been studied, but predictors of co-rumination over time have yet to be studied. The study investigated factors that may predict co-rumination such as attachment style (secure, dismissing, preoccupied), expectations of rejection (angry, anxious), and gender orientation (masculinity and femininity) over a 9-month period. Theoretical frameworks included response styles theory, maternal deprivation theory, and rejection …

Adults’ Reflections On Their Lived Experiences With Adolescent Social Anxiety Disorder, Shelley Marie Skelton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health disorders for children and youths, and social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the third most common anxiety disorder. SAD can negatively impact school performance, mental health, and healthy social development. In comparison to other forms of anxiety, current treatments for SAD have not been as efficacious. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore other factors of adolescent SAD, such as the role of resilience. The two research questions addressed the lived experiences of adolescents with SAD and how they developed resilience in relation to their SAD. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of …

Volunteer Motivation Of Individuals In Rural Pacific Northwest, Lenea Kindred Pierzchanowski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Volunteering is a selfless social action in which an individual chooses to participate through personal motivations. These actions of public service are a combination of need-based vacancies within organizations and unpaid compensation for filling those needs. The purpose of this research was to identify motivational attributes of individuals who volunteer in the identified rural area using one-on-one semi-structured interviews through the lens of the volunteer process model, in addition to the social identity, ecological, and social capital theories. The 15 participants for this study were over the age of 18, fluently spoke and read English, and had been a volunteer …

Exploring Postsurgical Decision Attitudes Among Young Women Electing Hysterectomy, Mary Esther Webb-Tafoya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over half a million women undergo a hysterectomy procedure for reproductive issues each year. For over a decade, researchers have explored the impact of a hysterectomy on women over age 35 with a diagnosis of malignancy. Much less is known on the impact of an elected hysterectomy over alternative treatments for younger women with benign reproductive issues. The purpose of this study was to understand women’s postsurgical attitude towards an elected hysterectomy. A qualitative phenomenological design was used with purposive sampling to interview 15 women between 18-40 years of age who had a hysterectomy for a benign reproductive issue using …

The Effects Of A Strengths Based Faculty Coaching Intervention On First-Year Undergraduate Student Academic Confidence: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, Conrad Alfred Davies Sr.

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Deficiency remediation models of education imply that students may enter the university with deficiencies, problems, or needs that imply the student needs to be “fixed” before they can proceed in their academic studies. In contrast, strengths-based education models infer that students come to the university with inherent talents, natural propensities, and behaviors that can be leveraged to overcome their challenges. These differing perspectives can influence the effectiveness of university policies designed to improve student retention. This mixed methods action research study, undergirded by student development theories, examined the effects of a strengths-based, faculty-led coaching intervention on first-year undergraduate students’ academic …

Helping The Have-Nots: Examining The Relationship Between Rehabilitation Adherence And Self-Efficacy Beliefs In Acl Reconstructed Naia And Ncaa Dii And Diii Female Athletes, Myles Tutin Englis

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are among the most common and traumatic sport-related injuries, and often negatively impact one’s quality of life during and post-rehabilitation. For many NCAA Division I and professional female athletes, rehabilitation is streamlined with a multidisciplinary team, including sport psychology. For others (e.g., NAIA, NCAA Division II, III athletes) this may not always be the case, as many of these athletic programs may not have the resources to meet the various needs of injured and rehabilitating female student-athletes. In these instances, rehabilitation motivation, adherence, and success may be more dependent on the athletes’ individual resources and personalities, …

Important Attributes Of A Behaviorally-Based Coaching Culture, Sarah M. Eustice

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Professional coaching is still considered an emerging field. Over the past 30 years, professional coaches and researchers have worked to further this profession by developing coaching competencies, exploring the nuances between various coaching modalities, and developing models to explain the role of coaching in organizations. There remains, however, a dearth of literature on coaching culture, including limited agreement on what it is and how it should look in an organization.

This study aims to establish agreement by investigating the confluence of coaching culture definitions and models present in industry and scholarly literature, and garnering input from a sample of professionals …

A Qualitative Examination Of The Agency Of Women In Their 30s And 40s Who Use Dating Applications, Tera Buerkle

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The use of dating applications (apps) to find romantic and sexual partners is widespread across age groups, however, there is a paucity of research on dating apps with those in middle adulthood. Sexual script theory suggests that women’s agency (i.e. the ability to act in one’s own best interest) may be impacted by expectations from an inherently sexualized context, such as dating apps. Feminist theory contends that women’s agency is complicated by gender socialization due to the imbalance of power in society that greatly favors men. In this study seventeen women aged 30 to 49 completed in-depth semi-structured interviews, and …

Psychological Distress And Relationship Satisfaction Among Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Alyssa Campbell

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The World Health Organization (WHO; 2002) has indicated that sexual violence is a serious public health concern, and both the WHO and the United Nations (UN) have declared that violence against women, in particular, is a profound violation of human rights (UN General Assembly, 1993; WHO, 2017). Although the systemic and negative impact of trauma on family and intimate relationships have been well documented, the empirical literature regarding the effects of adult sexual trauma on relationship satisfaction is less robust. These studies are designed to address this gap and will do so with analyses centered on an understudied population: the …

Gender Role Beliefs, Household Chores, And Modern Marriages, Jaquoya Carreiro

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

A primary change in modern marriages is the shift from traditional marriages to modern dual-earner marriages. With this change comes significantly higher divorce rates with traditional marriages averaging over forty years and modern marriages averaging seven years. This paper reviews research studies conducted from the 1980s to present day on heterosexual dual-earner couples and marital satisfaction, particularly in regards to gender role beliefs and household chore division. The social construction of gender remains virtually unaltered and resistant to change; therefore, it follows that individual beliefs regarding gender roles remain unchanged. While dual-earner marriages contributed significantly to changing gender roles external …