Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Trauma Presentation Among Latinx/Hispanic Subgroups, Ana Paula Leao De Camargo

Theses and Dissertations

Hispanics/Latinos are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States and are estimated to compose half of the American population by 2060 if growing trends follow current levels. It has been suggested that Latinx/Hispanics perceive and react to adverse experiences with somatization, which is highly comorbid with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms (van der Kolk, et al 1996). This study surveyed 451 participants from which 88% identified as being Hispanic or Latinas, 2.7% identified as being Black Hispanic/Black Latina, and 9.3% identified as having mixed ethnicities including Hispanic/Latina. Regarding place of birth, 431 respondents (95.6%) identified being born in Continental …

Call The Doctor! A Study Of Parental Medical Nonadherence Within Child Custody Proceedings, Karissa Lynn Cummons

Theses and Dissertations

Medical nonadherence is a common and formidable problem that many pediatric healthcare providers face when treating children with acute and chronic medical conditions because adhering to a physicians’ treatment recommendations is beneficial for successful treatment, disease prevention, and healthy promotion (Dawood et al., 2010). It was estimated that at least one third of patients are unable to complete or adhere to relatively short treatment regimens (Dawood et al., 2010). Reasons for nonadherence to a physicians’ recommendations range from extended duration of treatment, multiple prescribed medications, and periods of symptom remission (Dawood et al., 2010). Despite a parent’s or family’s reason …

How Well Do Your Family Members Know You? The Relationship Between Informant Report And Cognitive Performance Of Older Adults, Mairy Yousif

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Given the clear impact and prevalence of dementia on the aging population, there is a need for greater research and understanding in this area. As the dementia progresses, medical providers rely heavily on caregiver and family member reports of the patient’s functioning and other aspects of their care. Therefore, it is important to know how accurate caregivers and family members are in judging their loved ones’ cognitive and physical strengths and weaknesses. This study aims to expand upon these previous studies by comparing caregiver/collateral reports of cognitive and functional status on the DSRS to neuropsychological tests and an objective …

Headache Disorders And Neurocognitive Performance Pre- And Post-Concussive Injury, Kaci Gorres

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between pre-existing headache disorders, such as headache or migraine, and neurocognitive testing obtained before and after college-athletes sustain a concussion. Method: A total of 1129 NCAA Division II college athletes from Florida Tech were included in the present study. Participants were included in this study if they completed baseline and/or post-trauma neuropsychological evaluations that included the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool – Fifth Edition (SCAT-5) and Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Tool (ImPACT). Athletes’ headache and/or migraine history was self-reported at baseline and indicated their position in headache history or …

The Effects Of Neuroticism And Treatment Delivery Modality On Therapeutic Outcomes In A Community Mental Health Training Clinic, Michelle Elizabeth Sibol

Theses and Dissertations

The onset of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) two and a half years prior to this writing resulted in shifts in everyday life, as individuals worldwide were required to shelter-in-place and abide by social distancing guidelines to slow the spread of the disease. This resulted in a marked increase in the utilization of virtual platforms (“teletherapy”) by mental health care providers, including training clinics, to continue providing therapy services to the community at large. Although the pandemic restrictions have lifted, adaptations made during shelter-in-place mandates remain, including provision of services via teletherapy platforms. The pandemic shed light on the …

The Relationship Between Hallucinations And Visuospatial Impairment Among Individuals With Dementia, Ruta Sohoni

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: This study examines the neuropsychological functioning, specifically using the Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT), to understand the impact of hallucinations on the level of impairment in the visuospatial domain.

Method: Archival data obtained over three years from a total of 73 patients from the Health First Memory Disorder Clinic was used in this study. Participants were included in the study if they endorsed experiencing hallucinations, were given the VOT during their brief neuropsychological evaluation, and were diagnosed with dementia or unspecified neurocognitive disorder. The patient’s electronic medical record was used to retrospectively gather additional details regarding their hallucinations and …

The Influence Of Language On Thematic Apperception Test Assessment Of Defenses In International Spanish-Speaking College Students, Ilenia Perez-Palen

Theses and Dissertations

Cultural influences, including the use of language, have been shown to affect personality development and are also likely to impact personality assessment results. The influence of language is particularly relevant in story-telling measures such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT; Morgan & Murray, 1935). The purpose of this study was to analyze TAT narratives delivered in English and Spanish to assess the application of defense mechanisms based on the Defense Mechanism Manual (DMM; Cramer, 1991) among Hispanic international students. No study to date has provided insight into Hispanic individuals’ use of language with the TAT, specifically on scores for the …

Helpful Or Harmful: The Impact Of Shame And Guilt On Concealment In Adulthood Following Childhood Trauma, Xiomara Vanessa Senior

Theses and Dissertations

The current study aimed to examine the moderating role of shame and guilt in the associations between types of childhood maltreatment and levels of self-concealment. Childhood maltreatment has been linked to emotions such as shame and guilt that elicit schemas of self-doubt, incompetence, and failure (Cohen et al., (2011). When an individual internalizes these thoughts and emotions, they may act in maladaptive ways such as avoidance, fear, dissociation, and possible concealment within adulthood (Dorahy & Clearwater, 2012, Smetana et al., 2019). De Seve et al. (2020) recently found that shame proved to be a mediator in the relationship between self-concealment …

What's Hope Got To Do With It? The Role Of Hope In Sexual Abuse Treatment, Marian Kay Amundsen

Theses and Dissertations

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach for children suffering from trauma-related symptoms (; Cohen et al., 2018 Cohen et al., 2022; de Arellano et al., 2014; Slalom et al., 2022). Throughout treatment, the primary focus is to reduce the negative symptoms after experiencing a traumatic life event (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). The role of hope in the aftermath of trauma survivors has been supported as a strength contributing to the well-being of the individual (Munoz et al., 2020). However, research has not yet examined the role of hope as a predictor of completing trauma-focused treatment. …

The Role Of Internalized Homophobia On Conflict Resolution In Same-Sex Couples, Micaela Dawn Magee

Theses and Dissertations

A majority of LGBTQ+ members experience sexual minority stress on a near daily basis (Sue et al., 2007). These stressors may foster higher rates of internalized shame towards one’s sexual orientation, commonly known as internalized homophobia (Frost & Meyer, 2009; Khaddouma et al., 2015; Meyer, 2013). Internalized homophobia has been found to negatively impact both mental health outcomes and relationship satisfaction in same-sex couples (Frost & Meyer, 2009; Totenhagen et al., 2018). Higher rates of internalized shame about one’s sexuality may in turn increase relational conflict (Frost & Meyer, 2009; Mohr & Fassinger, 2006). Despite the growing amount of research …

An Examination Of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (Mmpi-3) Profiles Of International Saudi Arabian College Students, Emily Alyssa Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that culture can contribute to differences in personality and shape the way individuals perceive and function in the world. International students are among those affected by cultural differences as they arrive in a new country and go through a period of adjustment. Saudi Arabian students currently make up a large proportion of international students in the United States. Due to wide-spread prejudiced American beliefs about Middle Easterners, they may be exposed to higher levels of discrimination, which can contribute to adjustment problems and increased levels of distress. As a result, some of these students may seek out …

The Impact Of Arrest History And Unemployment On Depression And Anxiety, Jennifer Alexis Beard

Theses and Dissertations

Literature has shown that individuals who have been incarcerated have difficulty in obtaining jobs after incarceration; therefore, ex-convicts are predicted to have an increased rate of depression and anxiety symptoms as opposed to the overall general public. However, little literature supports this theory, and little to no literature has been published with regards to individuals who have been apprehended. This study investigates the depression and anxiety levels of those who have an arrest record and have difficulty maintaining or finding employment. The sample’s arrest history and unemployment history were measured through self-reporting measures. Additionally, depression was measured through Beck’s Depression …

Examining Executive Dysfunction In Dementia: Vascular Etiology As A Contributor To Greater Impairment, Julianne Szemko

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The present study examines executive functioning and overall neuropsychological functioning within a memory disorder clinic population with a specific focus on examining performance on the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST) among individuals with and without cerebrovascular disease. Method: This study utilized test data collected between 2018-2022 from the research database at the Health First Memory Disorder Clinic (HFMDC) in Melbourne, Florida. Participants were included if they completed a brief neuropsychological evaluation (BNE) at the HFMDC with the M-WCST, Trail Making Test - Form B (TMT-B), and Color/Word subtest of the Golden Stroop as part of their battery and …

Use Of The Social Cognition And Object Relations Scale-Global To Evaluate The Impact Of Parental Divorce On College Students’ Interpersonal Functioning, Rachel Davenport

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown parental divorce to have long-term impacts on various domains of children’s interpersonal functioning, extending into young adulthood and beyond. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential impacts of parental divorce in college students using the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale-Global (SCORS-G) with narratives derived from the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). SCORS-G variables of interest included composite, factor, and dimension scores. Two additional measures of rejection sensitivity, which has been shown to be impacted by parental divorce, and perceived social support, which may mitigate maladaptive outcomes in interpersonal functioning, were also examined. The primary …

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Women Interpersonal Violence Survivors, Melissa Fernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Women have a significant risk of experiencing interpersonal violence over the course of their lifetime. There has been some suggestion that this risk has been exacerbated by the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed study will evaluate levels of stress associated with interpersonal violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression, coronavirus anxiety, Posttraumatic symptoms, and COVID-19 stress levels will be evaluated. It is hypothesized that participants who experienced interpersonal violence (childhood abuse, physical assault, unwanted sexual experiences, and/or intimate partner violence) will endorse higher levels of COVID-19 stress, Posttraumatic symptoms, depression. These outcomes would be mediated by experiential avoidance. …

Differences In List Learning Performance On The Moca Wordlist And Shepherd Verbal Learning Test In Cognitively Normal, Mci, And Ad Individuals, Gabrielle Montgomery Gavitt

Theses and Dissertations

Title: Differences in List Learning Performance on the MoCA wordlist and Shepherd Verbal Learning Test in Cognitively Normal, MCI, and AD Individuals Author: Gabrielle Montgomery Gavitt, M.S. Major Advisor: Anthony LoGalbo, Ph.D. Objective: The present study examines performance on the MoCA wordlist and SVLT wordlist and their association with the outcomes of healthy, MCI, and AD in a memory disorder clinic sample and community sample. Method: Archival data form 125 Health First Memory Disorder Clinic patients was utilized. Data from a community sample of geriatric individuals was also utilized. Participants were included if they were administered both the MoCA and …

Marital Satisfaction, Parental Stress, & Perceived Social Support Of Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Miriam Khiari Millan

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the effects of both formal and informal social supports on mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder’s marital satisfaction and parental stress. To our knowledge, no other study has examined the relationship between various formal support types and marital satisfaction. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the effects of both formal and informal social supports on mothers of children with ASD’s marital satisfaction and maternal stress. A sample of 151 mothers of children with ASD completed the online survey, assessing their use of formal and informal supports, their perceived effectiveness of said social …

Combined Effects Of Depression And Sport-Related Concussion On Neuropsychological Test Performance, Morgan Amanda Davies

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which the combination of depression and sport-related concussion (SRC) impact cognitive functioning and recovery time. Neuropsychological test-score differences between concussed athletes with and without pre-existing or post-concussive depression were examined. Participants included 2238 collegiate athletes who completed baseline testing between 2015 and 2019. Of those participants, 152 sustained concussions and were further investigated. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to screen for depression at both baseline and post-concussion. Total scores of 5 or greater on the PHQ-9 resulted in classification as depressed. Cognitive functioning …

Comparison Of The Gad-7 And Impact Symptom Cluster Scores In Measuring Anxiety Among College Athletes, Robert Steven Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Assessing the needs of mental health among college athletes is important given the prevalence rates, stigma, and complications that may arise after experiencing a concussion. Utilizing the General Anxiety Disorder- 7 (GAD-7) as an independent measure of anxiety at concussion baseline evaluation was explored among Division II collegiate athletes (n=568), which also included the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) symptom clusters. ImPACT symptom clusters can be divided into four cluster (affective, cognitive, physical/somatic, and sleep) encompassing a 22-item self-report questionnaire. Simple linear regressions revealed that GAD-7 total score was significantly predicted by all four ImPACT symptom clusters. The …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Psychological Stress And Academic Motivation On Psychology Graduate Students, Symone Kierra Calhoun

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate students experience significant amounts of psychological stress in terms of academic and professional settings. In addition, academic performance can fluctuate depending on the circumstance. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant challenges for mental health, academic motivation, substance use, and other related domains. However, the research specific to psychology graduate students and the impact of COVID-19 is limited, specifically related to performance. Therefore, the current study examined the relationship between the pandemic and its impact on psychology graduate students' psychological health related to depression, anxiety, stress, and experiential avoidance. In addition, the study examined academic motivation related to degree specific requirements …

Effects Of Cumulative Trauma, Discrimination, And Racial Trauma Among African Americans, Brittany Renee Clayton

Theses and Dissertations

In the current study, we examined the impact of cumulative trauma, racial trauma, and everyday discrimination experiences within the African American community on psychological outcomes. One hundred and nineteen participants completed a series of self-report measures that analyzed their experiences of lifetime stressors, racial trauma, frequency of everyday discrimination, current posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive symptoms, and experiential avoidance levels. It was hypothesized that increased exposure to lifetime stressors, racial trauma events or experiences, and everyday discrimination would be associated with increased psychological distress. Correlations were conducted to identify and examine these relationships. This hypothesis was supported for lifetime stressor exposure …

Trauma Survivors And Perceptions Of Tobacco-Related Health Risks, Alyssa Ann Barsky

Theses and Dissertations

Given the established relationship between trauma and tobacco use, the increased use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), and the research identifying numerous health risks to users of ENDS, examining the relationship between trauma and the use of these products is critical. This study examined trauma survivors’ health risk perceptions of ENDS use on their smoking and vaping behaviors. A total of 126 trauma survivors were included in the study and ranged in age from 18-64 years and were primarily male. In this study’s sample, the majority of participants were “current dual users” of both cigarettes and ENDS products (n …

Health Risk-Related Outcomes Associated With Academic Burnout And Engagement, Madeline Blair Trahan

Theses and Dissertations

Research has demonstrated a connection between burnout and self-rated health and health risk behaviors, specifically substance use, mental health problems, low physical activity, and sleep difficulties. However, studies have focused primarily on job-related burnout, rather than academic burnout. Additionally, engagement (the conceptual opposite of burnout) has not been well examined in relation to behavioral health outcomes. The goal of this study was to examine the association between both academic burnout and engagement concurrently to health-risk behaviors, perceived health status, and perceived academic stress among college students. Participants were recruited through requests to professors and/or social media. Students were asked to …

Health Risk Perceptions Regarding Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends) Among Individuals With Respiratory Illnes, Sarah Ann Sebban

Theses and Dissertations

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also known as electronic cigarettes, are portable battery-powered devices used to smoke or “vape” a flavored solution which usually contains nicotine. Many national organizations (CDC, AMA, AAFP, ALA, AHA) have recognized the alarmingly increased rates of ENDS use in the United States, especially among certain populations. Those most likely to engage in ENDS use are youth and young adults, and adults who already smoke combustible cigarettes. Many people perceive ENDS use as a healthier alternative to smoking regular cigarettes and thus, are more willing to initiate ENDS use. However, research has indicated that ENDS use …

Perceptions Of Naloxone Training And Administration Among Law Enforcement Officers, Katelyn Rae Goodall

Theses and Dissertations

The opioid epidemic was officially declared a public health emergency in 2017 when the rate of deaths per day from opioid overdoses was steadily increasing (CMS, n.d.). As of 2019 – 2020, 61,297 of the 83,544 reported drug overdose deaths were attributed to opioids in general, with 48,729 accounted for by synthetic opioids (CDC, 2021). Due to the significant impact on public health and safety, law enforcement departments have been tasked with developing and implementing naloxone policies and trainings. Law enforcement officers are often the first on the scene of an overdose outnumber fire rescue and emergency medical responders across …

Development Of A Correction For Defensiveness In The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition-Restructured Form (Mmpi-2-Rf) Profiles Of Adult Male Sex Offenders, Katie Marie Glauner

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical and forensic psychologists often evaluate sex offenders to determine the level of risk they pose to the community and identify their treatment needs to reduce the risk of future recidivism. Personality assessments are administered in sex offender evaluations to aid in answering these referral questions, while also providing information regarding the evaluees’ response style to the test and descriptions of their personality functioning. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and its revisions have been the most widely used personality assessments in sex offender evaluations, with previous research demonstrating that sex offenders often respond defensively to the test by minimizing …

Development And Evaluation Of An Object Relations Measure For The Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank, John Thomas Rucker Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Personality assessment measures provide useful insight into the characteristic dispositions and psychological makeup of clinical populations and are routinely utilized by mental health professionals to guide treatment and case conceptualizations. Most widely used psychological measures include indicators of interpersonal functioning. Personality presentations with dysfunctional interpersonal styles may include underlying maladaptive object relations, which serve as the mental templates for social interchange and interpersonal dynamics. The Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) is the most widely used sentence completion method and is often included in personality assessment batteries in evaluating an examinee’s level of adjustment and/or maladjustment. This study sought to develop …

Vaping, Smoking, Dual Use, And Stealth Vaping/Smoking Among First Responders: Law Enforcement, Firefighters, And Paramedics/Emergency Medical Technicians (Emt), Shifra Leah Gross

Theses and Dissertations

First Responders to emergencies, such as those within the fields of law enforcement, firefighting, and/or emergency medical services, have a higher use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS)than the population in general due to the intense job-related stressors they often encounter as part of their work and the well documented relationship between stress and use of these products. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of First Responders who utilize ENDS and engage in stealth vaping, and the association between these behaviors and self-perceived level of job stress, health risk perceptions, and other factors. A total of …

Medication Assisted Treatment: Examining Enrollment And Demographic Factors Of Treatment, Antwana Letoya Drayton

Theses and Dissertations

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has been a long-standing epidemic concern related to the continuous growth of variations of the substance and its’ potency. Due to the versatility of the substance to be both an illicit drug and also a prescription medication, the interest in controlling and monitoring its’ use creates a greater public health concern. Treatment overtime has been revitalized to directly address the social, biological, and physiological difficulties of patients with OUDs. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) has been explored and has become one of the most widely used plans for treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) related to pain …

Adaptability As A Moderator On The Impact Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And The Development Of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Courtney Marie Kalmanson

Theses and Dissertations

Globally, it is estimated that 11.8% children experience Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) prior to the age of 18 (Stoltenborgh et al., 2011). However, the current prevalence rate of CSA is far underestimated due to the fear, shame, and denial that the victim experiences. Similarly, many survivors of CSA experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) following the experience of CSA, which may develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over time. Furthermore, some children may adjust well despite the traumatic experience, suggesting resiliency. Much of the research on CSA focuses on the link between CSA and development of psychopathology, including but not limited …