Psychology Commons^™

Lived Experiences Of Postdoctoral And Licensed Psychologists Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents, Kim Colleen Anaya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted to explore the lived experiences of licensed psychologists in diagnosing adolescents with bipolar disorder, aiming to answer two key questions: How do psychologists make sense of diagnosing bipolar disorder in adolescents? And do they rely on their education and lived experience in the diagnostic process? Drawing from developmental psychology, clinical decision-making theories, and ethical considerations, the study highlights the complexities and challenges of diagnosing bipolar disorder in youth. Semi-structured interviews with four psychologists were transcribed and analyzed to identify recurring themes, which emphasized the importance of collateral information, developmental context, and professional judgment. …

Towards A Standard Assessment And Treatment Protocol For Firefighters: A Delphi Study, Amy K Gearhard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Firefighters are 5 times more likely than civilians to experience depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Firefighters have suicidal ideation and attempt rates that are 2 to 3 times higher than the general population, yet most do not seek treatment. The purpose of this qualitative Delphi study was to develop an expert consensus on psychological assessment and treatment practices with firefighters through the lens of an expert panel of 19 psychologists who work with this population. Siebert’s normative theory was used with the assumption that the panelists would provide feedback based on their clients’ best interests. The expert panel was recruited …

Clinicians’ Perceptions Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resiliency, And Treatment Engagement With Criminal Offenders, Aaron Pena

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the pervasive impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on clinicians, particularly those who provide services to criminal offenders. ACEs contribute to a range of mental and physical health issues that can extend into adulthood, affecting not only individuals who experienced these adversities, but also clinicians who treat them. Despite the growing body of research on the consequences of ACEs, there remained a significant gap in terms of understanding how clinicians’ own histories influence their professional resilience and treatment efficacy. Garmezy’s resiliency theory, the framework for the study, emphasizes the role of positive contextual, social, and individual factors …

Additive Mindfulness: A Systematic Review And Thematic Analysis, Whitney M. Crawford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mindfulness is a state of present moment-focused non-judgmental awareness, the purposeful practice of which has been shown to promote psychological well-being by alleviating past-oriented rumination, future-focused worry, and experiential avoidance. Because the most widely adopted mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) were developed based on Buddhist meditation practices, there have also been developed various religiously modified iterations of mindfulness–especially those tailored to Christian clients who are wary of engaging with Buddhist-derived practices. While secular and Buddhist MBIs promote non-judgmental awareness for the sake of mere nonattachment to external and internal experiences, Christian mindfulness promotes detachment from these things in order that one may …

Psychologist-Federal Agent Approaches To Supporting Veterans And Police With Mental Health Challenges, Ismith Bocaille

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored how federal agents and psychologists collaborate to assist veterans and police officers receive offer mental health care. The study paid attention to the potential interplay of artificial intelligence and faith-informed models. Following IPA-based qualitative interviews with federal agents and psychologists and an extensive literature review, the study pointed out some barriers to seeking mental health services, including stigma, rigidity inside organizations, and less peer support. Intervention models that involve patients intensely have emerged as more effective ideas, which are used sparingly. The results indicate that peer support should be incorporated into departmental policies, and closer contact and …

Stress And Psychological Capital: Exploring The Link Between Psychological Capital And Occupational Stress, Andrew Regalado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The objective for this quantitative correlational study was to investigate how positive psychological factors, such as grit, resilience, and mental toughness, are related to employee perceptions of occupational stress. In this study, 115 full-time employees across various levels of occupational stress and risk, completed online surveys utilizing the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), the Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC-10), the Mental Toughness Questionnaire 10 (MTQ10), and the Perceived Occupational Stress Scale (POS). The results indicated that grit, resilience, and mental toughness do not relate to perceptions of occupational stress. Additionally, grit, resilience, or mental toughness were not related to perceptions of …

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Organizational Effectiveness In U.S Military Major Combat Units, Jason A. Chizek

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study examined the predictive relationship between leadership and organizational effectiveness (EO) and the predictive relationship within Major Combat Units (MCUs) of the United States Military. Using archival data from the Defense Equal Opportunity Climate Survey (DEOCS) 4.1, a large cross-sectional sample of active-duty personnel was analyzed to evaluate how five leadership styles, Democratic/Participative, Transactional, Authoritative/Autocratic, Transformational, and Delegative/Laissez-Faire—predicted nine OE outcomes, including Job Satisfaction, Trust in Leadership, Group Cohesion, Connectedness, Engagement, Organizational Process, Organizational Performance, Perceptions of Senior Leadership, and organizational Commitment. General Linear Models, a non-parametric analysis, demonstrated that Transactional Leadership was the strongest predictor of Job Satisfaction, …

Telehealth Therapist’S Satisfaction And Commitment, Justin C. Trout

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Job satisfaction and commitment have been important topics for Industrial-Organizational psychologists for decades. However, little research has examined these concepts within the world of telehealth therapists. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, the mental health field has expanded over into remote platforms, giving therapists the opportunity to work from home. The impact of COVID-19 on remote work was significant, and when in-person services resumed, therapists expressed continuing to work remotely, valuing flexibility and autonomy. Recognizing the importance of understanding this phenomenon from the perspective of the individuals who have experienced it, this study used a phenomenological approach to explore the …

The Impact Of Religious Faith On The Relationships Between Negative Affect, Work-Family Conflict, And Emotional Intelligence In Adult Online Learners, Alexander A. Priel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Emotional intelligence has been well researched in traditional environments as a trait that positively influences employees and the culture of organizations of numerous industries This study served to fill a gap in the psychological literature in assessing adult online learners, a population that is both increasing in number and vastly understudied. The primary goal of this dissertation was to assess variables that impact emotional intelligence in a virtual environment. NA has been identified with an inverse relationship with EI, increasing counterproductive work behaviors, while WFC has been negatively associated with EI, potentially leading to stress and burnout for organizational employees. …

The Lived Experience Of Bereaved Parents Of Children Who Committed Suicide Who Were Treated With Faith-Based Cbt: A Phenomenological Study, Ryan Macpherson Harmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A qualitative approach with a phenomenological research design was used to explore the lived experiences of parents regarding the application of faith-based CBT methods in response to feelings of failure, guilt, and the loss of a child due to suicide. This purpose addressed the problem of the lack of exploration of specific types of guilt, such as failure guilt, and their impact on post-traumatic stress symptoms among parents who have experienced the suicide of an adolescent. Fifteen parents who have experienced the loss of a child to suicide participated in semi-structured interview questions through a Zoom conference call platform. The …

An Academia-Community Partnership Aiming To Benefit The Well-Being Of Shelter Cats And Promote The Learning Outcomes Of College Students, Shlomit Flaisher-Grinberg

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

More than three million cats enter U.S. animal care and control facilities annually. Although many are adopted, others spend a prolonged amount of time at the animal shelter while facing a variety of stressors. The current project explored the possibility of creating an academia–community partnership aiming to establish a college-based foster program that will allow undergraduate students to socialize and train shelter cats as a part of an academic course. It was hypothesized that the program will positively impact the well-being of shelter cats, improve their adoption outcomes, and support students’ learning outcomes. Students enrolled in the Learning course at …

Can Shame And Guilt Be Used As A Deterrent For Drug Use And Drug Crime Recidivism?, Megan Elizabeth Pesek, Lindsay S. Ham

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Introduction: The present study focuses on how shame and guilt can be used as a deterrent for substance use and substance-related crime recidivism. This research is significant because of on-going alcohol and other drug crime recidivism in the United States. About 68% of drug-involved offenders have been found to recidivate within three years of their release from prison. Understanding how guilt and shame affect one's drug use and crime recidivism is important in recovery. This study was influenced by Braithwaite's theory of reintegrative shaming: using shame and guilt as the specific deterrent for recidivism. Methods: Based on this theory, we …

Factors In The Relationship Between Rural Cancer Patients And Mental Health, Jordan B. King

Theses and Graduate Projects

Cancer patients frequently experience psychological distress, yet many do not access mental health services, particularly those residing in rural areas. The present study examines what factors contribute to utilization of mental health services and attitudes toward seeking mental health services in rural cancer patients who are actively receiving cancer treatments. Participants (N = 102) completed a paper and pencil survey. A logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between five predictor variables (anxiety, depression, social support, geographic location, and number of barriers) on the outcome variable (utilization of services). The model was statistically significant, X²(4) = …

Therapeutic Outcomes Of Racially Matched Families And Clinicians In Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With Toddlers, Emily B. Frey, Julia L. Kiefer, Lauren B. Quetsch, Rebecca S. Bradley, Emma I. Girard

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Abstract

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based therapy for children aged 2.5-7 with disruptive behavioral problems. In recent years, the PCIT protocol has been adapted for use as a preventative model with toddlers (PCIT-T) aged 12-24 months. Given the recency of the PCIT-T adaptation, research has not yet examined the similarity of PCIT-T attrition rates compared to PCIT, though it is speculated rates are similar (between 30-69%; Ufford et al., 2022). Previous research suggests that racial dissimilarity between a treatment provider and the family may influence treatment dropout. Therefore, the current study explored the effect of racial matching between …

Justice Impacted Mothers: An Autoethnographic Study Exploring The Impacts Of Quality Prison Visitation With Children, Sarah E. Gore

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

This study explores the impacts of in-person visitation at correctional facilities and how the quality of this contact affects relationships between justice impacted mothers and their children. Little is known about these nuanced lived experiences as revealed by qualitative data and from someone who is mothering during incarceration. The literature on maternal incarceration is vast, but relies heavily on quantitative data. Existing research indicates facility visits, particularly those of high quality, offer constructive benefits such as reductions in maternal recidivism rates. However, separation during incarceration has shown higher risks for adolescent substance abuse, behavioral, and academic struggles. This study expands …

Incorporating An Innovative Kennel In A Guide Dog Program Based On The Health And Welfare Of Dogs And Humans, Naoko Koda, Miwa Murata, Sakura Mizuta

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

During guide dog training, dogs live in kennels and lack house training. The demand for guide dogs that can live easily with their users who are visually impaired is increasing. The Kansai Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (KGBDA) in Japan built an innovative wooden kennel (Mokka Terrace) that is more similar to homes than general kennels and that efficiently controlled dogs and reviewed their operations. This study conducted a literature survey, participant observations, and semi-structured interviews with staff to clarify the background and consensus-building process involved in creating the Mokka Terrace, corresponding efforts, and its strengths, issues, and prospects. …

The Academic, Psychological, And Physical Impact Of Motor Skills Difficulties On College Students: A Scoping Review, David Gaul Phd, Suzanne Mccarthy Wolf

Articles

Purpose of Review

This scoping review examines the extent and quality of research literature to determine the impact of motor skills difficulties on college or university students. It assesses the adequacy of current institutional supports and identifies opportunities for more inclusive educational practices.

Recent Findings

Four databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched for English-language studies published since 1970. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria: 12 empirical, 4 descriptive, and 2 program evaluations. Six papers from the UK addressed support, social isolation, and academic confidence; six Israeli studies focused on handwriting, dysgraphia, and accommodations; three US studies examined …

Reintegration Experiences Of Male Victims Of Human Trafficking, Thomas Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking continues to be a world-wide problem, despite attempts to mitigate it. Many human trafficking victims are saved each year, but many more do not make it out. When rescued, the victims of human trafficking need to be reintegrated back into society. Research on human trafficking survivors is mostly focused on female victims; there is little research focused on male victims. Due to this, the purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of men who have been through the reintegration process as children in America after they have been rescued from human trafficking. A phenomenological approach was …

Enhancing Urban Transit Oriented Development: Investigating Passenger Loyalty, Attitudes, And Perceived Usefulness On Jabodetabek Kai Commuter, Hermeilia Megawati, Roza Alifia Aegista, Liza Yudhita Widyastuti, Alifa Syamantha Putri

Psychological Research on Urban Society

This study explores the psychological factors that influence applying a technology acceptance model to KAI Commuter Jabodetabek. The model focuses on the primary variables of perceived usefulness and attitude toward the service, with passenger loyalty serving as the key indicator of successful public transportation acceptance. Data was collected via surveys from 352 purposively selected commuter workers in the Greater Jakarta area using a cross-sectional, quantitative design. The measurement tools used are adaptations of the Passenger Loyalty Measure to Public Transportation Modes, the Attitude Measure to Public Transportation, and the Perceived Usefulness Measure. The results indicate that attitude toward KAI Commuter …

The Scent Of Beer And Rubbing Alcohol On Behavioral Risk Intentions In College Students, Christina A. Moore, Terry F. Pettijohn Ii

Psychology

To determine if olfactory primes have an influence on risky behavioral intentions, a study was conducted on college students. Participants (N=64) were primed with the smell of either beer, rubbing alcohol, or a control condition followed by a survey that asked questions related to risk-taking behavior intentions with 5 subscales (ethical, financial, health/safety, recreational, social) as well as sexual risks. It was predicted that college students who are exposed to the smell of beer are more likely to report intentions of engaging in risky behaviors, including unprotected sexual activity. When participants are exposed to the smell of rubbing alcohol, they …

Sleeping To Support? The Interactive Effects Of Leader Sleep Quantity And Quality On Leader- And Employee-Reported Support Behaviors, Jordyn J. Leslie, Tori Crain, Rebecca M. Brossoit, Leslie B. Hammer, Todd Bodner, Cynthia D. Mohr

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Although research has documented the relationship between sleep and work outcomes among employees, less research has focused on the role of sleep among workplace leaders. We investigate the link between leader self-reported and actigraphic sleep quantity and outcomes of positive leader support behaviors (i.e., family supportive supervisor behaviors [FSSB], and sleep leadership supportive behaviors [SLSB]) reported by both the leader (N = 178) and their direct reports (N = 393). Additionally, we examine the interaction between leader sleep quantity and sleep quality indicators (i.e., insomnia symptoms, sleep dissatisfaction, and actigraphic wake after sleep onset [WASO]) on FSSB and SLSB. No …

Rape Myth Acceptance, Pretrial Publicity, And Decision-Making: An Examination Of Perceptions Of Victim Credibility And Perpetrator Guilt In A Real-World Sexual Assault Case, Lindsey Strouse

Student Theses

This study explores how the media narratives and political perspective of pretrial publicity (PTP) can influence jurors’ perceptions in sexual assault cases, raising significant concerns about justice in courtrooms. Specifically, it examines whether media framing of a real-life sexual assault case — through varying media narratives, with media that either challenges or endorses rape myths, and media source (liberal vs. conservative) — affects mock jurors’ rape myth acceptance (RMA), views of victim credibility, and judgements of perpetrator guilt. Participants first completed a RMA scale, then read mock news articles varying in media narrative and political affiliations (media source), followed by …

Strategies To Prevent Employee Turnover And Revenue Losses Resulting From Workplace Bullying, Sylvester Doby Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace bullying is a serious issue that can lead to high employee turnover and significant revenue loss. To maintain a healthy work environment and support their employees, business leaders need to develop and implement effective strategies to prevent bullying. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore the successful strategies that U.S. business leaders used to prevent workplace bullying. Six business leaders who have successfully implemented strategies to combat workplace bullying were purposively recruited and interviewed using semistructured interviews. The reflexive six-step thematic analysis of the interview transcripts and …

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teaching Effectiveness When Working With Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Ernest J. Fruge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined how special education teachers perceived their teaching effectiveness in supporting students identified with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The study addressed a gap in the literature by examining the factors that influence special educators’ sense of self-efficacy when working with this population. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy served as the conceptual framework. A generic qualitative research design was employed, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight participants from two central Texas school districts. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis guided the coding and interpretation process, supported by MAXQDA software. Analysis of the data revealed seven key …

Treatments Of Ordinal Scales In Latent Profile Analyses: A Comparison With Monte Carlo Simulations, Chongming Yang, Joseph Olsen, Caleb Carlyle

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

Person-centered approaches to analysis/modeling provide certain advantages and methodological possibilities. Ordinal psychological scales have been used differently in latent profile analysis (LPA), including sums, means, standardized scores, and factor/latent scores, meanwhile it was uncertain to what extent these treatments would yield equivalent class proportions and univariate differences. This study simulated LPA of different treatments of ordinal scales (unweighted and weighted means, sums, standardized sums, and latent factor scores) with different response options (2, 3, 5, and 7) at different sample sizes (N = 240/300 or 600) under maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian estimations. Compared to other treatments of ordinal …

9th Gsep Research Symposium - 2025

GSEP Research Symposium

The Ninth Annual GSEP Research Symposium, themed "Building Bridges to Elevate Humanity: Innovations and Insights in Education and Psychology", was hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) on June 19–20, 2025, at the historic Château d’Hauteville in Switzerland and virtually via Zoom.

This hybrid symposium convened a vibrant global community of students, alumni, faculty, and scholars to share research that addresses real-world challenges, advances scholarly inquiry, and builds pathways for inclusive collaboration and leadership. Spanning a wide array of topics—from artificial intelligence and mental health to trauma-informed practices, educational equity, social justice, and cross-cultural leadership—the …

Are Mice A Bad Model For Successive Negative Contrast?, Alan M. Daniel

All Faculty Scholarship (Archived)

Successive negative contrast (SNC) is a procedure in which animals trained with a large reward consume less of a subsequent smaller reward than animals always trained with the small reward. Studies of SNC in rats have emerged as an important tool in understanding the affective neuroscience of unexpected loss. Establishing a similar procedure in a murine model would allow access to a greater toolbox of neuroscience techniques (e.g., optogenetics, transgenics) that are more readily available in mice than rats. While the rat SNC literature has been thriving for decades, only a few studies report SNC effects in mice. This paper …

Scientific Authority In The Public Sphere: The Heroic Legacies Of Carl Sagan And Philip Zimbardo, Scott T. Allison

Heroism Science

This article examines the parallel trajectories of Carl Sagan and Philip Zimbardo as scientists who assumed the role of public intellectuals. Their careers highlighted the tensions and opportunities inherent in bridging scholarly research and public engagement. Sagan, an astronomer, popularized the cosmic perspective to promote planetary stewardship, while Zimbardo, a social psychologist, used compelling methodologies to explore the psychological underpinnings of cruelty and heroism. Both were, in their own ways, heroic in their commitment to making science accessible, employing storytelling and mass media to render complex concepts understandable and relevant, thereby expanding the societal relevance of their disciplines. However, their …

Top-Down Instruction Outweighs Emotional Salience: Nocturnal Sleep Physiology Indicates Selective Memory Consolidation, Laura B.F. Kurdziel, Carie Fiedler, Alex Gajewski, Caroline Pongratz

Psychology Faculty Publications

Introduction:

Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, not only stabilizing newly encoded information but also potentially supporting forgetting. Yet it remains unclear how sleep prioritizes what is retained or discarded when multiple salience cues, such as emotional valence and top-down instructional goals, compete for consolidation.

Methods:

In two studies, we examined how emotional content and intentional memory instruction interact to shape memory performance across a 12 h interval that included either nocturnal sleep or wakefulness. Participants completed a directed forgetting paradigm with neutral and negatively valenced words, followed by immediate recognition and delayed free recall.

Results:

In both …

Consciousness Below Scuba Depths, Michael Vecchione

Animal Sentience

Abstract: Jennifer Mather has nicely summarized what is known about consciousness in shallow water octopods as well as what is known about shallow water squids and cuttlefish. However, once she gets below SCUBA depths, she misses out on most of cephalopod diversity. I have attempted to add this aspect and perhaps some evolutionary biology to this target article.