Psychology Commons^™

Focusing On Friendship: Online Supported Activities For Adolescents On The Autism Spectrum, Molly King

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

A core feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is social skills differences. Social skills groups have received support as an intervention that fosters social skills of those with ASD. However, there is limited information about the use of telehealth-based social skills groups. The proposed ASD adolescent social group design is formatted for telehealth services, and has been conducted virtually since 2020. This ASD social group program features unique virtual teaching and recreational activity curriculum as well as some program evaluation data methods and responses from participants.

A Clinician-Created Art And Activity Workbook For Children And Adolescents Used During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Gabriella R. Martin

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

The Covid-19 Pandemic provided a unique need for telepsychology services. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach applicable to a variety of populations and referral concerns, applicable both for in-person or telehealth settings. In the literature review presented here, the development and use of CBT as well as the advantages, challenges, and considerations of teletherapy with children and adolescents is examined. After, a proposed supplemental intervention material is explored: an adaptable art and activity workbook for children and adolescents that is rooted in CBT. Designed for use during telehealth sessions, but adaptable for in-person sessions as well, this workbook …

Pride: A Review Of Lgbtq+ Affirming Therapy Techniques And Recommendations For Clinical Practice, Stephen Lemon

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Despite recent advances in legal protections for and increases in social acceptability towards LGBTQ+ individuals, they continue to experience widespread prejudice and discrimination and seek therapy more often than their heterosexual counterparts as a result. As more and more LGBTQ+ people sought out therapeutic services, psychological research in the field of LGBTQ+ affirming therapy began to develop in order to meet these needs. Although the number of articles and studies conducted in this field has grown exponentially since the start of the 21^st century, a sizeable gap between research and application remains. Research often provides vague suggestions without discussing …

Finding Confidence, Balance, And Self-Acceptance: A Clinician’S Guide To Treating Involuntary Celibates, Brian Keller

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Involuntary Celibates (incels) are a new and poorly understood population. In the field of psychology, very little research has been done on the population, and even fewer clinicians have successfully worked with clients from this group. This handbook was created in an attempt to outline the history, belief system, terminology, and common mental health problems of incels and their related groups. This information is distilled down and presented as a primer for anyone looking to understand this new population. Also, possible treatment recommendations are suggested and discussed in detail based on the particular psychological difficulties that incels often face.

Child Pain Matters: A Training Protocol For General Nursing Staff In An Infusion Center On Procedural Anxiety In Pediatric Patients With Crohn's Disease And Ulcerative Colitis., Mera El Ramahi

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Procedural anxiety is a broad concept that encompasses fear, distress, and pain. Anxiety is the most critical factor affecting pain perception. There is a growing body of literature suggesting that early pain might have long-term consequences. There is also research evidence that has linked inadequately managed pain in the pediatric population to negative behavioral and physiological consequences later in life. Pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These chronic conditions often require multiple and repeated medical procedures that may cause pediatric patients to experience procedural anxiety. Needle related procedures are any procedures involving …

Human Connection As A Treatment For Addiction, Andrea D. Clements, Human-Friedrich Unterrainer, Christopher C.H. Cook

ETSU Authors Bookshelf

Research supports that social connection is important in both humans and animals. In humans, having a cohesive support/social network system and healthy attachments in childhood predict low risk of later addiction (i.e. substance use disorder), as does perceived support from a religious or other cohesive community. Moreover, personal characteristics such as identifying as religious or spiritual can predict low risk for addiction, but little is known about the intersection of neuroscience and religion/spirituality in this regard. Conversely, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have repeatedly been shown to predict later addiction. However, the role of the body’s neuro-hormonal responses, such as the …

Social Exclusion And Negative Affect: The Impact Of Mentalized Affectivity, Anna Voicu

Honors Program Theses

Social exclusion has been widely associated with feelings of anxiety, depressed mood, anger, and hostility. Previous literature indicates that mentalized affectivity (MA), a sophisticated form of emotional regulation, may be effective in mitigating emotional experience after social exclusion. In light of this research, our study sought to examine the predictive value of mentalized affectivity and inclusion/exclusion on emotion. Participants (N = 170) completed measures of mentalized affectivity and positive and negative affect, in addition to playing a virtual ball-tossing game that would randomly assign them to an inclusion or exclusion condition. Multiple regression analyses revealed that mentalized affectivity predicted both …

Exploring Third Party Moral Transgressions In Preschool-Age Children, Courtney Trohn

Honors Program Theses

The present study investigates agent-neutral application of moral norms in preschool-age children and seeks to replicate a previous study that found children as young as 3 to actively intervene in third-party moral transgressions. The relationship between verbal ability and moral intervention is also explored. In an experimental research design, 3, 4, and 5-year-olds and two puppets each created their own drawing together, after which one confederate puppet left the room. The participants were randomly assigned to either a Harm condition (in which the absent puppet’s drawing was destroyed by the remaining puppet) or a Control condition (in which an extra …

Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Across All Occupational Therapy Settings, Scout Hutchinson, Kristin Domville, Pam Kasyan-Howe

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A quantitative research design was utilized to analyze the effectiveness of an educational seminar on trauma- informed disseminated to occupational therapy practitioners, determining their previous knowledge on trauma-informed care. The research conducted has provided a more comprehensive understanding of this population and where services are needed. There is still much work to be done with this topic and the cultural shift towards providing trauma sensitive resources to occupational therapy practitioners. The future of trauma-informed care being incorporated into occupational therapy practice settings is up to the motivation and heart of future occupational therapists in hopes to strengthen the resources offered …

How College Professors Perceive The Managements Of Deliberate Acts Of Classroom Incivility Among Students, Sara Bengsch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the negative consequences of incivility, there is a lack of research on how professors handle intentional student-to-student incivility. To address this gap, this study used qualitative, interpretative phenomenological research design to explore the experiences of 14 professors who have been teaching for five or more years at the university level in Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties in southeastern Wisconsin. The lens of facework and politeness theory was utilized. The data collected were analyzed using NVivo software, which identified five themes based on patterns within the interviews: intervention strategies, motivations, policies, participant worldview, and skills. These themes provided valuable …

Place Conditioning In Humans: Opportunities For Translational Research, Seetha Krishnan, Rick A. Bevins, Harriet De Wit

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Rationale Translational research, especially research that bridges studies with humans and nonhuman species, is critical to advancing our understanding of human disorders such as addiction. This advancement requires reliable and rigorous models to study the underlying constructs contributing to the maladaptive behavior.

Objective In this commentary, we address some of the challenges of conducting translational research by examining a single procedure, place conditioning. Place conditioning is commonly used with laboratory animals to study the conditioned rewarding effects of drugs, and recent studies indicate that a similar procedure can be used in humans.

Results We discuss the opportunities and challenges of …

Student Experiences Reporting Sexual And Gender-Based Misconduct To The Title Ix Office At A Public State University, Aliya R. Webermann, Kathryn Holland, Christopher M. Murphy

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Twenty-five survivors completed anonymous surveys about reporting sexual and gender-based misconduct to their public university’s Title IX office, including case characteristics, perceptions of the reporting and response process (e.g., helpfulness, respect), and experiences of institutional betrayal and support. Measures and open-ended responses described varied misconduct incidents, reporting behaviors, case outcomes, process issues, and negative process consequences. Additionally, process perceptions correlated with institutional betrayal and support. Findings illuminate how survivors’ Title IX process perceptions relate to experiencing harm or support from larger institutions, and offer insights into developing a Title IX process which maintains student rights and dignity regardless of outcome.

Abortion Decisions As Humanizing Acts: The Application Of Ambivalent Sexism And Objectification To Women-Centered Anti-Abortion Rhetoric, Rachel L. Dyer, Olivia R. Checkalski, Sarah Gervais

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Women-centered anti-abortion rhetoric, grounded in ostensibly positive beliefs that pregnant people are precious objects who must be protected from having abortions, has proliferated anti-abortion activism and legislation. However, abortion stigma, marked by negative perceptions of people who terminate pregnancies, is the most widely used theoretical tool for understanding the social and psychological implications of abortion. In this article, we first integrate these two seemingly contradictory perspectives on abortion through the lens of ambivalent sexism theory. We then argue that ambivalent sexism paves the way for objectifying perceptions and treatment of pregnant people; specifically, our typology of reproductive objectification provides a …

Adult Learners With Learning Disabilities’ Motivation To Succeed In Higher Education Online Learning During Covid19, Sara Michelle Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many students had to transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic while other students were already enrolled in online education. Online study may hold additional struggles for students with learning disabilities. The problem addressed in this qualitative, phenomenological study was the motivating factors of online higher education students who have a learning disability during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theoretical foundation was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Data were gathered through 10 semistructured interviews and then analyzed through the thematic analysis yielding five themes: (a) lack of professional support, (b) resources, (c) support system, (d) consistent motivation, and (e) low …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Academic Mediation And Modifiability: The Progression From Ged® To Phd, Heather E. Hoyt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have identified the importance of academic mediation and modification within a student’s thought process as it encourages academic achievement in early education, college, and advanced degrees. However, there is a gap in the research regarding the academic mediation and modification in individuals who have progressed from GED to PhD. The purpose of this study was to (a) explore the personal experiences of doctoral alumni on their achievement during the progression from GED to PhD; (b) to understand what experiences, if any, related to receiving academic mediation and modification which led to doctoral success; and (c) to contribute to the …

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Call Center Workers’ Organizational Commitment, Andrea L. Lamar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The call center industry is instrumental in servicing the consumer in many facets of service-oriented presales and aftersales support. Little is known about the relationship between leadership styles, call center workers, and organizational commitment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between leadership styles transformational, transactional, laissez-faire, and outcomes of leadership with organizational commitment in a call center environment. Using Survey Monkey, a data collection agency, a nonprobability convenience sampling procedure was used to select the 350 call center workers' samples. The analysis used was Pearson's correlation and multiple regression. The study used multifactor leadership and organizational …

The Impact Of Staffing Level On Patient Care In Behavioral Health Care Settings, Sheuness Cuthbertson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In many behavioral health care organizations, adequate staffing represents a key challenge that can compromise the workforce and cause detrimental outcomes for patients. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how inadequate staffing shapes the environment of one behavioral health care organization. A case study design was used, with the Baldrige Excellence Framework serving as the conceptual guide to understand how the organization's leadership performed and addressed important organizational challenges. The participant, a leader in the organization who oversaw program services, operations, policies, and procedures, answered interview questions about inadequate staffing and its impact on patient care and …

Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes) Skin Temperature During Resting Behavior At Different Ambient Temperatures, Benjamin Lake

All Master's Theses

Thermal imaging, as a tool in psychological research, has been used to distinguish mental states evoked by different environmental and social cues, with prior research across several species. Ambient temperature can affect the precision of the measures of body temperature, however, so we investigated a methodology for recording thermal imaging data in sanctuary-housed chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) while they engaged in resting behavior across different ambient temperatures. Data were collected on 30 adult chimpanzees (16 females and 14 males) ranging in age from 21 to 53 years (Mage = 33.4 years, SD = 8.0). The chimpanzees lived in nine social groups …

College Students' Perceptions Of Autistic Peers: A Study Of Gender And Stigma, Elise Larue

All Master's Theses

Due to the increased prevalence of both the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and academic support for it, it is more likely than ever before for young adults on the spectrum to attend some form of post-secondary education. While previous research has been conducted on college students’ openness to and willingness to interact with an autistic peer, there have been no examinations on whether the gender of the peer influences these factors. This study examined the potential impact of both gender (male, female, non-binary) and stated diagnosis (ASD, social anxiety, no diagnosis) on participant perceptions of a vignette character. …

Predictors Of Trust Between The Southern Baptist Pastor And Congregation, Jared Thompson

Dissertations

Trust is at a low point in American life regarding institutions in general but particularly the church. This study examined the relationship between a Southern Baptist pastor and the congregants that he serves. Specifically, a model was proposed in which perceived consistency between words and actions, perceived warmth, and perceived competence predict trust in the pastor from the congregation. To test this model, a quantitative study with a survey design was performed. A survey was created using a combination of instruments for authentic leadership, behavioral integrity, competence, warmth, and trust. The survey was distributed through digital mediums to Southern Baptist …

Types Of Questions Teachers Ask To Engage Students In Making Sense Of A Student Contribution, Nishat B. Alam

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

In the student-centered classroom, a teacher’s interpretation and response to student mathematical contributions plays an important role to shape and direct students’ opportunities for sense-making. This research used a scenario-based survey questionnaire to examine what types of questions middle and high school mathematics teachers indicate they would ask to engage students in making sense of a high-leverage student mathematical contribution and their reasoning about why particular questions are or are not productive. From the results, it could be concluded that teachers asked more productive questions after seeing a set of possible questions. Their beliefs about the productivity of the questions …

Altering The Environment: The Effects Of Light And Music On Vigilance Performance And Affective State, Lauren Sprague

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Vigilance, otherwise known as a state of alert watchfulness, is a phenomenon that occurs when someone is sustaining their attention on a particular task or environment. Largely, tasks that require a state of vigilance induce negative mood outcomes, result in loss of performance over time, and cause increased disengagement from the task. These tasks involve detecting critical signals which are buried among more frequently occurring neutral signals. While little can be done to change the base nature of the vigilance task, altering the physical environment of the operator may improve working conditions to a point where there are fewer losses …

All Along The Ivory Tower: Black American Identity As Voiced By Poetic Youths, Jeremy D. Greene

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to help amplify and analyze Black American elementary student voice in a post-2020 world. Discussions and writings were conducted at the students’ charter school in spaces where students voiced what it meant to be a Black American youth through both verbal and written means. The current qualitative study focused on using discussions and creative writing to help participants make sense of their identity in their school, community, and the United States. This research provided students’ counternarratives regarding stereotypes associated with being Black American students and focused on how such spaces can positively impact …

ประสบการณ์ของนักจิตวิทยาการปรึกษาแนวพุทธผู้เชี่ยวชาญ ในการทำความเข้าใจปัญหาของผู้มารับบริการ, จักรา วีรกุล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาประสบการณ์ของนักจิตวิทยาการปรึกษาแนวพุทธผู้เชี่ยวชาญในการทำความเข้าใจปัญหาของผู้มารับบริการ โดยใช้ระเบียบวิธีวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพแนวปรากฏการณ์วิทยาแบบตีความ ผู้ให้ข้อมูลหลัก 6 ราย เป็นนักจิตวิทยาการปรึกษาผู้เชี่ยวชาญที่ปฏิบัติงานโดยใช้การปรึกษาเชิงจิตวิทยาแนวพุทธเป็นฐาน เก็บข้อมูลด้วยการสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึก ใช้คำถามสัมภาษณ์แบบกึ่งโครงสร้าง ผลการวิเคราะห์ข้อมูลพบประสบการณ์สำคัญ 3 ประเด็น กล่าวคือ (1) การเตรียมความพร้อมโดยคำนึงถึงบริบทของผู้มารับบริการ และเอื้อให้ตระหนักถึงปัญหา (2) การทำความเข้าใจปัญหาโดยอาศัยการเชื่อมสมาน การเห็นปัญหาที่เกิดขึ้นต่อเนื่องสัมพันธ์กัน และการเห็นลักษณะร่วมของปัญหา (3) การใช้หลักพุทธธรรมในการเข้าถึงต้นเหตุของปัญหา ตระหนักถึงทิฏฐิที่อยู่เบื้องหลัง ตลอดจนแยกแยะในสภาวะที่ปรากฏว่าส่วนใดเป็นคุณส่วนใดเป็นโทษ

ปัจจัยที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการรับรู้ความสามารถในการเป็นแม่ของแม่มือใหม่ในบริบทของการรับข้อมูลจากแม่ที่เป็นออนไลน์อินฟลูเอนเซอร์, กฤติยา อนันตกุล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มุ่งเน้นศึกษาถึง การรับรู้ความสามารถในการเป็นแม่ของแม่มือใหม่ โดยศึกษาตัวแปรทำนาย 4 ตัว คือ ปริมาณเวลาที่แม่มือใหม่ใช้เข้าถึงเนื้อหาบนโซเชียลมีเดียที่สร้างโดยแม่ออนไลน์อินฟลูเอนเซอร์ พฤติกรรมในการชอบเปรียบเทียบตนเองกับแม่ออนไลน์อินฟลูเอนเซอร์ ความเชื่อมั่นในตัวแม่ออนไลน์อินฟลูเอนเซอร์ และประสบการณ์การประสบความสำเร็จของแม่มือใหม่ในการเลี้ยงลูกช่วงขวบปีแรก กลุ่มตัวอย่างเป็นแม่มือใหม่จำนวน 81 คน ที่มีลูกคนแรกและคนเดียวอายุระหว่าง 1-3 ปี และติดตามแม่ที่เป็นออนไลน์อินฟลูเอนเซอร์เป็นประจำ เครื่องมือที่ใช้ในการวิจัยประกอบด้วยแบบสอบถาม และมาตรวัดตัวแปรต่าง ๆ ในการวิจัย วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลโดยใช้สถิติการถดถอยเชิงขั้น (hierarchical regression analysis) ผลการวิจัยพบว่า ตัวแปรที่มีความสัมพันธ์กับการรับรู้ความสามารถในการเป็นแม่ของแม่มือใหม่อย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติ ได้แก่ ประสบการณ์การประสบความสำเร็จในอดีต (ß = .522, p

Predictors Of Bullying Behaviors Among Adolescents In Saudi Arabia: The Role Of Self-Esteem, Emotional Intelligence And Moral Disengagement, Ayat Hamzah

Dissertations

Problem

Bullying issues are increasing among school-age children worldwide. Children and adolescents involved in bullying as victims, perpetrators, or both are likely to experience negative consequences on their emotional, social, and academic levels (Espelage & Holt, 2001). In spite of the increasing research on bullying in Saudi Arabia, there exists gaps in the literature, especially in the role of individual traits (self-esteem, emotional intelligence) and cognitive processes (moral disengagement) on bullying behavior. Additionally, using modeling analysis to understand the predictive factors affecting bullying involvement processes also filled in some of the gaps in the literature. The current study investigated the …

Examining Social Media Use, Connectedness, And Depression In Graduate Students, Marisa Gretz

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between social media use, sense of connectedness, and depression among graduate students. Graduate students are at risk of depression and often disconnect from their social supports due to their program's demands. Literature on the impact of social media on depression is discrepant. The relationship between a sense of connection, the use of social media, and depression in a graduate student population is a novel area of research. Graduate students at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and other universities, including healthcare and non-healthcare-related disciplines, were included. Participants were recruited via social media or email. …

Critical Literacy: Meeting Twenty-First Century Literacy Demands For Adolescent Learners, Molly Blew

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Adolescents’ critical text interpretation skills are important to college, career, and citizenship demands. At present, the literature reflects concerns with adolescents’ ability to interpret academic and internet-based texts critically. The pedagogical framework of critical literacy is presented as an instructional approach that may support the development of adolescents’ critical text interpretation skills. The objective of this study was to understand the perceptions of secondary teachers concerning student proficiency in critical text interpretation, teachers’ current level of implementation of instructional practices consistent with the critical literacy framework, and perceived barriers to implementation. Three hundred thirty four (334) high school teachers were …

Participation In A Positive Education Curriculum And Symptoms Of Anxiety In Students, Aleida Silva-Garcia

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Anxiety is among the most common mental health problems in children and adolescents in the United States (Bhatia & Goyal, 2018). Children and adolescents spend most of their day in the educational setting (Slemp et al., 2017). Positive education curricula may help students increase their well-being while increasing academic performance. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of a positive education curriculum in lowering anxiety levels in high school students. In addition, this study investigated the relationship among anxiety, happiness, optimism, perseverance, and academic outcomes. Through an independent samples t-test, archival data were utilized to determine the relationship between participation …

School Guidance Counselor Perceptions On Reintegrating Students To School After Mental Health Treatment, Maddie Roxandich

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study examined the perspectives of school guidance counselors to determine current and best practices in planning and supporting student returns to school after absences for mental health reasons. The literature review highlights the sharp decline in adolescent mental health over the years, the rise in hospitalizations for mental health concerns, and the need for attention to school practices that support student mental health when a student requires hospitalization. The intent of this study was to build upon previous literature that examined practices existing in schools to help reintegrate students after absences. It sought to investigate whether schools have a …