Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Religiosity, Trauma, And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In A Sample Of East African Refugees, Jamie Layton, Mattie O'Boyle, Leanne Zaire, Jake Bentley

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Somali refugees have been found to experience more exposure to traumatic events than other refugees and asylum seekers (Gerritsen et al, 2006). Culturally, religious beliefs are key to Somali perceptions mental health and well-being (Abu-Raiya & Pargament, 2011; Mulatu, 1999). This study examined organizational religious activity (ORA), non-organizational religious activity (NORA), and intrinsic religiosity as potential moderators of PTSD symptom clusters among a sample of Somali refugees in the United States. Participants were 59 Somali refugees in the Pacific Northwest (Mage = 39 years, 66% male). Results indicated ORA and NORA moderated the relationship between trauma exposure and re-experiencing symptoms …

A Literature Review Of Suicide Research And Practices In Taiwan., Yu-Chin Lin, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Suicide reflects social values and is strongly influenced by the local culture (Farberow, 1975). Some researchers adopt an indigenous psychology approach to analyzing constructs of interest, in which the content and context of the local culture are explicitly considered (Yang, 2000). Suicide in Taiwan is associated with expectations, experiences, and consequences unique to the community. A literature review is conducted to provide an overview of the current status of suicide research and practices in Taiwan, and to assess the extent it is influenced by the indigenous psychology approach.

A Review Of Suicide In The Correctional System, Rocky Marks, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

In the United States of America, suicide is the leading cause of death in jails and the second highest in prisons, with inmates being nine times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, and it is a consistent finding worldwide that suicide rates in custody exceed those in the general population. Contributory factors have been suggested, such as the deinstitutionalization of mental health treatment facilities, and the establishment of correctional liability. This review traces the development of the history of correctional suicide, notable contributing factors and suggest next steps to address this rising issue.

The Impact Of Parenting Stress On Parental Synchronization In Children With Asd, Chloe Quinnett, Miles Feller

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Parental synchronization is associated with positive child outcomes and social competencies in early childhood. This study investigated if total parenting stress moderated the relationship between child developmental status: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus typical development (TD) and parental synchronization. Participants were 43 children (Mage = 4.85 years, 34.9% female, 13 ASD). Results indicated as parenting stress decreased parental synchronization increased for both ASD and TD parent-child dyads. Furthermore, developmental status did not predict parental synchronization scores and parenting stress did not moderate these effects. This research provides evidence for the effect of parenting stress on parental synchronization.

A Pilot Study On Executive Functioning In Mainland Chinese Autistic Preschoolers, Vanessa Zhou, John Strom, Kaitlyn Drafton, Beverly Wilson

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

There is a robust literature on the positive benefits of executive functions (EFs) on academic and social-emotional development in neurotypical Western preschool- and school-aged children. However, there is mixed evidence regarding EF dysfunction in autism and very few studies have investigated EF skills in East Asian autistic children. The purpose of this study was to compare whether preschool-aged, autistic children (n = 21) and neurotypical peers (n=28) in mainland China differed on iPad-delivered measures of EF. Neurotypical children outperformed autistic children on all EF tasks. This study provides preliminary evidence for EF difficulty in Chinese autistic preschoolers compared to neurotypical …

Spfc Virtual Research Conference Program 2020, Seattle Pacific University

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Full 2020 conference guide with descriptions of each poster or paper presented by students in Seattle Pacific University's School of Psychology, Family, and Community's annual research conference.

Effects Of The Supervisory Relationship On Counselors Development Of Self-Efficacy, Carolyn A. Russo

Education Dissertations

Abstract

The growing need and use of mental health services illustrates how critical the development of competent counselors is to the nation’s health. Level of counselor self-efficacy is suggested to strongly influence counselor development and competency in practice. Several supervisory factors have been identified in the literature as significantly influencing counselors’ level of self-efficacy. However, the effect of the supervisory relationship and its impact on post-graduate counselor-in-training self-efficacy is unknown. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the construct of counselor self-efficacy in relation to the supervisory relationship and the development of counseling skills in a post-graduate sample. …

The Missing Moral Dimension: Perceptions Of Transgressions And The Moderating Role Of Moral Foundations On Psychological Distress, Hannah Reas

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Anxiety and depression can be represented on a dimensional spectrum of negative affect, broadly termed psychological distress. Research has identified several factors that maintain negative emotion, but have neglected the possibility that individuals’ interpretations of moral issues in the larger macro-system affects their level of distress. Thus, the current study investigated the role of perceptions of moral transgressions, or cognitive interpretations of stimuli (“transgressions”) that violate beliefs about right and wrong, as a predictor of psychological distress. Furthermore, this study tested how perceptions of moral transgressions vary as a function of individuals’ own moral intuitions, or moral foundations. Participants ( …

What Happens When Youth Talk About Their Problems? Co-Rumination As A Mechanism Of Stress Generation, Jaclyn T. Aldrich

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

During adolescence, rates of depression increase significantly, necessitating understanding of interpersonal and intrapersonal factors that contribute to the occurrence of depressive symptoms. Prominent theories of depression, such as stress generation theory, suggest that depressed individuals experience more interpersonal stress that is dependent on their own actions or behavior. The current study sought to examine the role of co-rumination in the generation of stress and development of depression over the course of a year. Participants were 150 adolescents (48.7% female, 77.5% Caucasian) ages 11 to 14 years old (M = 13.03, SD = 0.93). Three models assessed the directional relationship …

Emotional Clarity In Young Adults: Operationalization, Measurement, And Associations With Mental Health Outcomes, Madeline D W Noland

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Emotional clarity (EC) refers to the ability to identify, understand, and distinguish one’s emotions (Gohm & Clore, 2000). The literature suggests that EC is highly related to emotion regulation (ER), such that individuals with higher EC are more likely to use adaptive ER strategies and individuals with lower EC are more likely to use maladaptive ER strategies (Vine & Aldao, 2014). EC has been measured with both self-report measures and physiological tasks. Due to the limitations of both self-report measures and physiological tasks, I aimed to develop a behavioral measure of EC using the concordance between change in individuals’ physiological …

How Music Therapy Effects The Traumatized Brain: Neurorehabilitation For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Through Music Therapy, Jordan Winter Payne

Honors Projects

This review discusses the neurological components of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how both structures and processes in the brain are altered in individuals with the disorder, specifically the neural network that includes the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. This impacts awareness and responsiveness to stimuli. After examining these aspects, invasive and non-invasive treatment approaches are examined, with a specific emphasis on the treatment approach of music therapy. Musical stimuli are processed in many areas of the brain, so it has therapeutic potential for modulating neurological changes. Music therapy applies music clinically to address a variety of goals …

The Impact Of Trauma Experience, Adverse Early Circumstances And Unit Cohesion On Posttraumatic Growth In Active Duty Service Members, John Charleson

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Active duty service members are regularly exposed to highly traumatic events. Commonly, individuals exposed to trauma experience positive changes as a result of the trauma they experienced. The likelihood of these changes occurring can be positively or negatively influenced by characteristics of the event itself, the biopsychosocial history of the service member, and the availability of internal and external coping resources. The present study aimed to evaluate how threat to life during a traumatic event influences posttraumatic growth using a sample of active duty service members (N = 818). Participant’s ranged in age from 19 to 54 (M …

The Roles Of Pragmatic Language And Theory Of Mind In The Adaptive Communication Skills Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Taja Estrada

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit marked social communication impairments. Research suggests that these deficits often lead to delays in adaptive behavior, such as adaptive communication. In this study, I examined the roles of two social constructs, pragmatic language and theory of mind (ToM), in the adaptive communication abilities of young children with and without ASD. Thirteen children with ASD (31% female; M age = 58.08 months) and 24 children with typical development (58% female; M age = 52.42 months) between the ages of 3:0 and 6:5 were assessed. Adaptive communication was measured by the Functional Communication subscale of …

Cognitive Functioning, Depression, And Strengths As Predictors Of Quality Of Life In Multiple Sclerosis, Tara Annthea Crouch

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at significant risk for decreased quality of life, partly due to associated cognitive impairment (Højsgaard Chow et al., 2018). A discrepancy often exists between objective and perceived measures of cognitive impairment (Middleton et al., 2006); the paths through which they predict quality of life for MS patients remain unclear (Baumstarck-Barrau, et al., 2011). Objective cognitive functioning as well as one’s perceptions of it may differentially impact quality of life, and therefore may or may not act through the same mechanisms to impact quality of life. Depression is one possible mediator known to impact quality …

The Effect Of Substance Use On The Relationship Between Ptsd Symptom Clusters And Suicide In Adolescents, Lindsay S. Moore

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Adolescent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a multifaceted, debilitating disorder that if left untreated has been shown to lead to problematic internalizing and externalizing behaviors including suicidal ideation and substance use. Little is known about the course of PTSD in adolescents and less is known about the individual effects of PTSD symptom clusters. Furthermore, there is a dearth in the literature studying the predictive effects of PTSD, substance use and suicidality in adolescent samples. Participants were a clinical sample of adolescents referred from inpatient and outpatient clinics in the Pacific Northwest as part of a larger study. Ages of participants …

Attachment And Internalizing And Externalizing Problems In Adolescence: Exploring The Mediating Role Of Physiological Self-Regulation Capacity, Michelle A. Kuhn

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Internalizing and externalizing problems impact functioning and health in adolescence. Therefore, understanding risk and protective factors related to these behaviors is of practical interest. The proposed study examined the relationship between parent-adolescent attachment security, self-regulation capacity, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Previous studies have supported prospective links between parent-child attachment security and self-regulation capacities. Similarly, self-regulation is as a protective factor from internalizing and externalizing problems. This study proposed a mediation model combining these findings. It was hypothesized that youth with stronger parent-adolescent attachment security would demonstrate fewer internalizing and externalizing problems, and that this relationship would be mediated by …

Examining Depression Symptoms, Parental Stress, And Dispositional Mindfulness In Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tracey Ward

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

The current study explored depression symptoms, parental stress and dispositional mindfulness in mothers of children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study sought to clarify whether parental stress was a risk factor for maternal depression symptomology and if dispositional mindfulness explained the variation in parental stress and depressive symptoms in this population. Participants included 32 mothers of children with typical development (n=21; TD) and ASD (n=11) between the ages of 3:0 and 6:11. Groups differed significantly by child sex (ASD = 81.1% male; TD = 42.9% male). No additional group differences were present for …

The Effect Of A Substance Use Intervention On Co-Occurring Adolescent Depression Symptoms, Elizabeth Ann Lehinger Phd

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

The comorbidity of substance use and depression among adolescents has been strongly established but less is known about their reciprocal impact over time. Examining these variables in the context of an intervention provides information about how changes in one effect the other. The current study examines the effect of a school-based Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention, Project READY, on co-occurring substance use and depressive symptoms in adolescents (N = 103; ages 13-18, mean = 16) from the greater Seattle area. We hypothesized: (a) the quantity and frequency of substance use will decrease from pre-treatment to post-treatment follow up; (b) the …

Rsa In Young Adults: Identifying Naturally-Occurring Response Patterns And Correlates, Brittany K. Willey

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Few studies have focused on the joint contributions of baseline and stress-responsive RSA on mental health outcomes, and no research to date has examined naturally-occurring profiles of RSA, which may be more predictive of emotion regulation ability and mental health outcomes than looking at either component of RSA alone. Participants were 235 (87.1% female, 73.6% Caucasian) undergraduates ages 18-39 (M = 19.62, SD = 2.12). In Part 1, latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) was used to identify naturally-occurring physiological profiles accounting for both resting and stress-reactive RSA among young adults. In Part 2, multivariate ANCOVAs were used to predict …

Campus Shootings: Does Religious Faith And Relationship With Victims Affect Psychological Well-Being?, Melissa J. Gowen

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Active shooting incidents have become an increasing public safety concern and have a large impact on the communities in which these traumatic events take place. However, while understanding outcomes following these incidents is relevant for mental health providers, first responders, and policy creators, little is known about outcome trajectories and coping best practices due to practical and ethical research limitations. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we examined longitudinal psychological well-being (PWB; MHI; Veit & Ware, 1983) trajectories of students before and after an active shooting incident (N = 35). Furthermore, this study focused on examining the moderating effects of strength …

Physiological Activation As A Mediator In The Relationship Between Perseverative Cognition And Somatic Symptoms, Karly M. Murphy

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Somatic symptoms are a significant medical and mental health concern that affects healthy adults and places a significant burden on healthcare systems. The perseverative cognition hypothesis posits that perseverative cognition results in prolonged physiological activation that may be interpreted as somatic symptoms. The purpose of this study was to further examine this hypothesis in a sample of young adults. First, I hypothesized that perseverative cognition would prospectively predict somatic symptoms after controlling for anxiety and depression. Second, I hypothesized that parasympathetic nervous system functioning, measured as respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and sympathetic nervous system functioning, measured as electrodermal responding (EDR) …

A Grounded Theory Qualitative Research Approach To Understanding Enduring Marriage, Heather Lucas

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Serial monogamy developed as the salient pair bond form in earlier times due to environmental pressures of disease, famine, and death that led to relationships organized around the instrumental tasks of procreation and child-rearing. Contemporary advancements in longevity, gender equality, and contraception have shifted the culture, but the serial monogamy paradigm remains the prominent relationship paradigm in the United States today with relationships primarily ending in divorce instead of death. The negative effects of divorce on individuals, children and families suggest the need for a new paradigm for marriage, a shift from instrumentally driven serial monogamy to enduring marriage organized …

The Impact Of Bully Victimization And Substance Use On Suicidal Behavior In Sexual Minority Youth, Ashley Christine Estoup

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Bully victimization has been shown to be associated with a variety of problems in adolescence. Adolescent bully victims endorse higher rates of substance use, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. One possible explanation is that adolescents who are bullied use substances to cope with victimization and turn to suicidal behaviors when this coping mechanism proves ineffective. Sexual orientation is one variable that is believed to moderate these relationships. Non-heterosexual youth are more likely to be victimized by peers, engage in substance use, and experience suicidality. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between bully victimization, substance use, suicidality, …

A Review Of Collaborative Biopsychosocial Healthcare Worldwide, Sadie Teal, John Charleson, Jyssica Seebeck, John Thoburn

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This review calls attention to the importance of collaborative care in international settings and highlight advances in models of care that are emerging globally. As our understanding of physical and mental health increases, healthcare continues to move towards a systemic approach to the mind-body dichotomy. This shift has resulted in increased provider collaboration and formation of multidisciplinary healthcare organizations. We propose that collaborative care is an effective way for providers to meet the physical and mental healthcare needs of patients across cultures. We further propose categorizing collaborative care models on a continuum of the degree of physical and functional integration.

Learning To Have A Voice: The Spouse's Experience Of Clergy Sexual Misconduct, Samuel Rennebohm, Fiona Kurtz, Jessa Carlile, Heather Lucas, John Thoburn

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

In the present study, researchers utilized a systemic approach to examine the qualitative experiences of the spouses of religious leaders who engaged in sexual misconduct. Data was collected and analyzed through a process of narrative inquiry using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Multiple rounds of consensus-based coding led to an eco-systemic framework for organizing and analyzing data. Participant descriptions of their experience were organized according to chronology and bio-psycho-social systemic level: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual. These findings highlight the systemic risk factors for sexual misconduct and the need for interventions that extend beyond individuals to address marital, familial, and communal distress.

Mindful Marriage: Exploring The Interaction Between Mindfulness And Length Of Marriage, Honey Williams, Melissa Caris, John Thoburn

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The purpose of this study was to explore the interaction between length of marriage and trait mindfulness on marital satisfaction. Although previous research has demonstrated that both length of marriage and trait mindfulness positively predict marital satisfaction, research has yet to explore the interaction between the two. Thus, our study adds to the existing literature by exploring the relationship between length of marriage and marital satisfaction, moderated by mindfulness. Because mindfulness has been shown to both act as a buffer against stress and to have a positive relationship with marital satisfaction, we hypothesized that trait mindfulness would moderate the relationship …

Determining The Temporal Direction Of Psychological Distress And Substance Use In Female Expatriate Spouses In Turkey, Lauren Hirsch, Thomas Pankau, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Expatriation has been associated with a number of negative mental health issues within the expats themselves (e.g., depression, substance use). However, expatriate spouses can often face unique stressors, and by gaining a better understanding of the impact expatriation has on these spouses, organizations can more easily plan for the challenges. The purpose of our study is to further explore the direction of the relationship between alcohol use and psychological distress in a sample of female expatriate spouses during their first year assignment in Turkey. By using hierarchical linear modeling and conducting a cross-lead analysis, we will analyze the change over …

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Sexual Assault Coping Self-Efficacy Scale, Desta Gebregiorgis, Caitlin Coyer, Lauren Hirsch, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center's (KCSARC) legal advocacy program assists sexual assault victims through their legal prosecution to hopefully influence their client's coping self-efficacy. We chose 19 items from the Modified Domestic Violence Coping Self-Efficacy Measure (Benight et al., 2004) and modified these items to reflect coping self-efficacy after a sexual assault (Gibbs et al., 2011). The purpose of this study was to analyze the structural validity of the Sexual Assault Coping Self-Efficacy Measure using confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. The results provided strong psychometric support for this instrument to be used for continued evaluation of this program.

Firefighters: The Emotional Processing Of Physiological Risks, Beth Larson, John Thoburn

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This presentation acknowledges the deficiency and necessity for research regarding emotional processing of firefighters at risk of developing cancer due to occupational risk. The developing research project will use qualitative methodology to gather and investigate subjective detailed descriptions of firefighters' psychological experiences regarding occupational risk. Because the goal of this project is to identify explanatory concepts of emotional processing, we will follow a grounded theory approach. Participants, a minimum of six firefighters, will undergo in-person interviews based on three open-ended questions. All interviews will be audio recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed for similar themes and patterns.

Effects Of Participation In An Online Course On Undergraduate Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, Caitlin Coyer, Megan Fox, Elena Cantorna, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Career decision-making self-efficacy (CDSE) describes beliefs in ability to engage in activities necessary for career decisions (Betz, Klein, & Taylor, 1996). This study assessed the effects of a vocational career development (VCD) online interactive course on students' CDSE. Participants (n = 129) were sophomore undergraduate students at Seattle Pacific University. Participants completed a pretest, posttest, and online VCD modules with three randomly assigned conditions: (ADJ) Adjust to college, (TRAD) ADJ plus traditional career development, (CALL) ADJ plus TRAD plus spiritual discernment. Results indicated participants in all conditions increased in CDSE significantly; no differences between groups were found.