Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Clinicians’ Attitudes Towards Using Cognitive Restructuring With Individuals At The End-Of-Life, Daniel H. Lydon

Theses and Dissertations

This cross-sectional study involving 156 clinicians explores the influence of personal factors on psychotherapy interventions and clinicians’ decisions to engage with individuals at the end-of-life (EOL) in psychotherapy. Extending qualitative research on perceived barriers to applying CBT in cancer care, this quantitative investigation delves into death anxiety, attitudes toward Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and clinician distress tolerance in predicting the use, comfort, and confidence in applying cognitive restructuring (CR) with individuals at the EOL. Clinicians read a vignette of a terminally ill patient who is presenting as distressed and reporting several different irrational beliefs. Clinicians were then asked about their …

Does Dbt-Informed Treatment Address Comorbid Symptoms Of Social Anxiety For Adolescent Eating Disorder Patients In A Day Program? Exploring Emotion Regulation As A Mechanism For Change, Megan Bisanzo

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN), often begin in adolescence and can be extremely challenging to treat effectively (Dawson, 2018; Martin & Golden 2014; Robatto et al., 2024). Eating disorder behaviors such as acute caloric restriction, excessive exercise, binging and purging can cause dangerous medical complications, while comorbid psychological conditions can lead to suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2022; Dancyger & Fornari, 2005; Martin & Golden, 2014). Social anxiety is one such comorbid disorder that can be a barrier to patients fully engaging in treatment (Goodwin & Fitzgibbon, 2002; Smith, 2018). Deficits …

Modeling The Burden Of Racial Discrimination And Its Effects On Anger Coping: A Latent Profile Analysis, Brandon Dial

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Perceived racial discrimination (PRD) is defined as unfair treatment received because of one’s race. Although prior research has established that PRD is a chronic psycho-social stressor with various subdimensions, there is less research exploring whether unique profiles or clusters of discriminatory experiences exist. Further, although research has identified positive relations between discrimination and anger suppression and expression, it is not known if profiles of discriminatory experiences are differentially linked to patterns of anger expression (i.e., anger suppression, outward anger expression, or anger control). Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify profiles of discriminatory experiences in a sample …

Transitions In Patterns Of Substance Use During Early Adolescence: Bidirectional Associations With Externalizing Behaviors, Courtney B. Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

Early adolescents who engage in polysubstance use, defined as the use of three or more different substances, are at particularly high risk of future substance use disorders and adverse psychosocial outcomes. However, little is known about the development of substance use patterns during early adolescence, particularly among youth living in urban settings. Although theory and research suggest that youth with greater externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression, delinquent behavior) may be more likely to escalate to polysubstance use at an early age, few studies have examined bidirectional relations between externalizing symptoms and polysubstance use. The goal of this study was to (a) …

Identifying Mechanistic Pathways To Rigidity Associated With Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Traits Using A Novel Decision-Making Paradigm, Hannah L. Heintz

Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive and behavioral rigidity is observed across several mental disorders and is a defining characteristic of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), a highly prevalent and debilitating, yet understudied, disorder. In particular, treatments for OCPD are underdeveloped due to our poor understanding of the mechanisms leading to the disorder’s key feature of rigidity. Two related disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), have shown distinct mechanistic pathways leading to symptoms of rigidity, indicating that this trait can arise as a result of a number of differentially impaired cognitive processes, each requiring unique interventions. To examine the relationship between symptoms of OCPD …

The Cultural Adaptation Of An Eating Disorders Assessment Tool For South Asian American Women, Neha J. Goel

Theses and Dissertations

South Asians (SAs) are less likely to be screened, referred, and treated for eating disorders (EDs), although they experience these serious health conditions at rates similar to those of their White counterparts. Available ED assessment tools do not adequately capture cultural nuances in the presentation of eating psychopathology in SAs. Thus, the current study culturally adapted the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) to enhance its validity, applicability, and cultural relevance for SA women living in the US. During the cultural adaptation phase, the principal investigator consulted with participant experts (N=24) and research experts (n=4) to create the …

Observed Parent And Child Differences In Black Mothers Of Children With And Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Sydney E. Padgett

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is childhood's most common neuro- developmental disorder, mainly distinguished by a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. Compared to the plethora of research on White children with ADHD, the research on Black children with ADHD is limited. Looking more closely at the functions related to parenting children with ADHD, there is even less information known on the interactions between Black children and their parents compared to White children and their parents. The primary aim of the thesis study was to compare observed parenting and child behaviors between Black mother/child dyads of children with and without ADHD. This …

Veterans, Providers, Moral Injury, And The Integration Of Spirituality In Clinical Care, Claire Muldrew

Theses and Dissertations

Moral Injury (MI) is known to be prevalent among military populations, however, the integration of spirituality into the treatment of veterans with trauma/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an understudied topic. This systematic review sought to explore how mental health clinicians and chaplains view the integration of spirituality in the course of clinical care with traumatized veterans who experience MI. Utilizing qualitative methodology, the existing knowledge base was studied to shed light on this topic and to also identify the similarities and differences between these types of providers. The meta-aggregation approach was applied to analysis of the available data and a …

Using Natural Language Processing To Understand The Lived Experiences Of People Identifying With Adhd: What Themes Emerge In Social Media Posts?, Gabby C. Scalzo

Theses and Dissertations

Compared to the amount of research conducted on how to identify and understand children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), there has been relatively little work done to understand the lived experiences of adults with ADHD. Increased understanding of how adults with ADHD conceptualize themselves in the context of their diagnosis would help clinical experts tailor research and treatments to better serve these communities. However, there are several barriers towards conducting high-quality qualitative research, including time- and labor-intensity. This study, informed by qualitative research traditions, used innovative data sources (i.e., social media) and analytic techniques (i.e., machine learning) to reduce these …

On The Rebound: Resilience And Subjective Cognitive Symptoms In Cancer, Giuliana V. Zarrella

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies have shown a strong connection between resilience and subjective cognitive symptoms in clinical populations. However, there is limited understanding of this relationship in cancer survivors, and no studies examine whether resilience training could alleviate subjective cognitive symptoms in these patients. This study examined the relationship between subjective cognitive function and resilience in non-CNS cancer survivors who participated in a resiliency training intervention, at baseline and from pre- to post-intervention, as well as investigated potential influences of change in subjective cognition. Adult cancer survivors (N=275) participated in the Stress Management and Resilience Training-Relaxation Response Resilience Program (SMART-3RP) …

Fitbit Engagement In An Health Physical Activity Intervention For Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Analysis Of The Impact Randomized Controlled Trial, Jessica Gomez Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Wearable devices allow for objective remote and real-time data collection and have been increasingly popular among the general public and in mHealth activity (PA) interventions. Despite this, our knowledge of feasibility and efficacy for using wearable devices to increase PA among a particularly vulnerable population—young adult cancer survivors age 18-39 (YACS)—is limited. Engaging in physical activity while undergoing cancer treatment contributes to reduced risk for recurrence and secondary cancers, and can also help to manage treatment side effects. However, there are a multitude of barriers to PA engagement among cancer survivors, with YACS in particular demonstrating low rates of PA. …

Development Of A Validity Scale For The Icd-11 Personality Disorder Measure (Psi-11), Rae Lutz

Theses and Dissertations

Invalid responding is a significant issue in the utilization of self-report information. Invalid responding can be assessed by stand-alone validity measures or embedded validity scales. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is one of two major diagnostic systems which provide guidance on diagnosing personality disorder, with the most recent version (ICD-11) providing a fully dimensional model for personality disorders. No existing measures aimed at assessing dimensional personality pathology have addressed the combination of PD severity and trait qualifiers that were based upon ICD-11 guidelines. To address this gap, Clark et al. (2021) developed the ICD-11 Personality Disorder Measure (PSI-11). However, …

Community Informant And Mental Health Provider Perspectives On Access To Mental Healthcare For Lgbtqia+ Communities In Virginia, Chariz Seijo

Theses and Dissertations

The existing literature on mental health disparities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) populations suggests members of LGBTQIA+ populations are at greater risk of mental health disorders than cisgender and heterosexual individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated mental health disparities for many, including LGBTQIA+ populations. Combined with mental health provider shortages and anti- LGBTQIA+ bills across the country, inequities in mental healthcare are a significant concern. This qualitative study was designed to gather unique perspectives of key community informants and mental health providers on their experiences with mental healthcare provision to LGBTQIA+ communities in Virginia. …

Effect Of Social Anxiety On Trial-By-Trial Changes In Attentional Biases To Emotional Faces, Nina Plotnikov

Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive research suggests that many anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, are associated with an increased attentional bias toward potentially threat-related stimuli. However, inconsistent findings suggest the effect of anxiety on attentional bias to threat is not direct and that other factors, including emotion, perceptual load, and time on-task, impact the relationship between social anxiety and attentional biases to facial stimuli. In the present study, 157 undergraduate students completed a computerized letter search task identifying one of two target letters (N or X) from a circular arrangement of different letters (high load) or dots (low load). In 20% of trials, …

The Many Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Latinx College Students’ Mental Health: Exploring The Role Of Sleep, Social Support, And Familismo, Mayra S. Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

College students experienced a multitude of disruptions to their daily life, and changes to their physical (i.e., sleep quality) and mental health (e.g., anxiety and depressive symptoms) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the field has identified the factors that have contributed to negative physical and mental health changes, there remains much to be known about social and cultural protective factors that could buffer the negative role of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx college students. The current study contributed to the literature on the mental health outcomes of Latinx college students by identifying a possible mediator and moderators between the …

Life After Discharge: Predicting Longitudinal Trajectories Of Community Integration And Global Functioning In Black Individual With Traumatic Brain Injury, Chimdindu Ohayagha

Theses and Dissertations

The onset of traumatic brain injury (TBI) begins a chronic health pathway that contributes to various impairments and comorbidities across the lifespan. Common consequences of TBI include mental health issues, cognitive impairments, and reduced functional independence, all of which impact how an individual integrates into their community. Community integration is a primary goal for rehabilitation after TBI. Studies show that racially/ethnically minoritized individuals have a higher incidence of TBI, higher rates of mortality, and report poorer functional and community integration outcomes. Limited studies have explored longitudinal outcomes of community integration in a Black-only sample of individuals with TBI. Additionally, no …

Polyvictimization In Context: Identifying Patterns Of Peer, Dating, And Community Violence Among Black Early Adolescents, Carine Leslie

Theses and Dissertations

Early adolescents exposed to multiple forms of victimization (“polyvictimization”) may experience a number of detrimental psychosocial outcomes. Some person-centered research has identified victimization subgroups among adolescents but have not examined the overlap of peer, dating, and community victimization among Black early adolescents living in economically disadvantaged urban communities. Thus, this study empirically identifies victimization profiles in a sample of Black early adolescents to ascertain the patterns and correlates of polyvictimization. The present study aimed to (a) identify subgroups of Black early adolescents based on their frequency of peer, dating, and community victimization using latent profile analyses, and (b) evaluate the …

Repeated-Measures Latent Profile Analyses Of Intervention Fidelity To A Teacher-Delivered Intervention Program For Children At Elevated Risk For Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Katrina A. Markowicz

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers have difficulty delivering Tier-2 intervention programs for preschoolers at elevated risk for socioemotional and behavioral disorders with high intervention fidelity (Durlak, 2010; Sutherland et al., 2018). Several proximal factors that impact program fidelity have been identified, which may undermine program effects (Domitrovich et al., 2008; McLeod et al., 2022; Sutherland et al., 2018). Therefore, researchers have identified strategies, such as practice-based coaching, to improve intervention fidelity and support teachers (Hemmeter et al., 2015; Synder et al., 2015). Most of the field's knowledge of these topics is limited to variable-centered approaches (Fettig et al., 2022; Low et al., 2016). However, …

Burnout In Forensic Psychology Related To Personal Traits And Vicarious Trauma, Olivia Shae Bruno

Theses and Dissertations

Burnout is described as having three components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of ineffectiveness (Maslach et al., 1997). Burnout is considered a major occupational hazard due to the consequences for the afflicted and the population they work with (Leka & Jain, 2012) including low quality care, job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, and high turnover rates (Maslach et al., 2001). Previous research has identified some occupations and settings which are linked to high rates of burnout, including psychologists (Rodriguez & Carlotta, 2017) and those working in a high stress field, such as police officers (Vazquez et al., 2021), corrections officers (Herlickson, 2010) or …

Examining Nonadherence To Family Values And Anxiety In College Latinas, Veronica Paola Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the rapidly growing rate of the Latinx population, mental health professionals must concentrate on finding the best treatments for this population. The group of interest for this study is young Latinas in college with anxiety symptoms. There is some research on how anxiety levels are influenced by one important factor: non-adherence to family values, however, it is important to understand what may direct this relationship. What makes this research study different is that we attempted to use family conflict as a mediator in the relationship. Furthermore, we attempted to see if levels of autonomy and emotion dysregulation …

Does What Doesn’T Kill You Make You Stronger? Examining The Effects Of Resilience And Functional Outcomes On Post-Traumatic Growth In Adults With Acquired Disability, Dominique Renee Ghirardi M.S.

Theses and Dissertations

Disabilities acquired in adulthood are often unexpected and disruptive because a loss of functioning can affect one’s ability to maintain employment, pursue their interests, and participate in social activity without assistance or accommodation. This is especially true for those who experience a life-altering injury or develop a chronic health condition between the ages of 18 and 64, as they likely have not planned for the financial and social adjustments that life with a disability involves. However, factors such as post-traumatic growth can reveal the extent to which someone experiences personal growth and improvement in the wake of a traumatic and …

The Effect Of Parent-Child Relationships On Healthcare Utilization Among Children With Chronic Medical Health Concerns, Karina Guerra-Guzman

Theses and Dissertations

Parents of children with chronic health complaints are more likely to utilize healthcare services for their child, and are prone to experiencing increased stress and anxiety related to their child’s compromised health status. As these parents navigate managing their child’s health and integrating parenting behaviors, they are dealt with unique stressors that are likely to impact their parenting styles, anxiety, and use of healthcare services. However, most studies that have examined HCU in the context of parent-child relationships have neglected children with chronic health concerns (CHCs). This study examined the relationship between parenting styles across parents of children with a …

The Relationship Between Parental Trauma History And Perceptions Regarding Their Child’S Healthcare And Utilization Of Healthcare Services, Krishna Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

TITLE: The Relationship Between Parental Trauma History and Perceptions Regarding Their Child’s Healthcare and Utilization of Healthcare Services

Adverse child events (ACEs) have been associated with a number of physical and mental health problems and have also been linked to increased health care utilization. While parents who have an ACE history may tend to seek healthcare services for themselves, limited studies have examined the impact of their trauma history on seeking healthcare services for their child. Healthcare utilization may also depend on the parents’ level of health anxiety, as well as their anxiety about their child’s health status. This …

Sun Protection Behaviors And Skin Cancer Risk Among Children Of Color, Williana Magloire

Theses and Dissertations

Sun protection is beneficial for children of color as it decreases the risk for sunburns, hyperpigmentation, and most importantly, skin cancer. Invasive melanoma is commonly seen in children of color due to inadequate sun protection. Parental and caregiver modeling of sun protection behaviors may decrease the likelihood of skin cancer among children of color. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, 2011) has suggested that pediatricians adopt the role of informing parents about the benefits of using sun protection products for their young children. They recommended that providers discuss sun protection behaviors with both the parent/child beginning at the age of …

Development Of Optimal Cut Scores For Within-Normal-Limits Mmpi-2-Rf Profiles Of Sex Offenders, Ilona Iikhtman

Theses and Dissertations

Alleged and convicted sex offenders are generally required to undergo forensic evaluations that frequently include a psychological assessment to answer a wide range of psycho-legal questions. A critical component of the psychological assessment of sex offenders is the evaluation of personality and psychopathology. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and its subsequent editions have been the most widely used personality assessment measures in forensic evaluations, including sex offender evaluations, and in research conducted with sex offenders. The previous literature demonstrates that a subgroup of sex offenders often produce test scores reflective of the general population, which is referred to as …

A Comparison Of Defensiveness In Mmpi-2-Rf Profiles Of Male Sex Offenders And Child Custody Litigants, Kyla M. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical evaluations have had a long-standing role in criminal and civil legal proceedings due to the intersection between various legal criteria and aspects of psychological functioning. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI; Hathaway & McKinley, 1943) and its subsequent versions have been among the most commonly utilized and empirically supported measures of personality and psychopathology in assessing forensic populations. One application for which MMPI instruments have been particularly useful is in the evaluation of sex offenders. This is in part due to the tests’ built-in validity scales, as MMPI underreporting scales are found to be effective in assessing sex offenders’ …

An Examination Of Mmpi-3 Score Patterns Of Sex-Trafficked Women, Edleen De Jesus-Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

Sex trafficking is a hidden crime that affects many vulnerable groups such as women and children. Prior research has demonstrated that individuals currently or formerly engaged in sex trafficking experience heightened levels of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health concerns. Most of these studies relied on structured interviews and, to date, no empirical studies have evaluated the psychological difficulties of sex trafficking victims with an empirically valid measure. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2020a) is a personality assessment measure widely used to assess sexual abuse survivors, substance abusers, and various inpatient and …

The Association Between Symptoms Of Adhd And Alcohol Use And Related Consequences In College Students: Social And Environmental Protective And Risk Factors As Moderators Of This Relation, Cameron Shepard Massey

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use, while common in college student populations, can bring about significant mental health and educational problems that have negative consequences (Harris et al., 2017; White & Hingson, 2013). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can also result in significant impairment in academic settings (Kuriyan et al., 2012; Blase et al., 2009, Barbaresi et al., 2007), and those with ADHD often show increased rates of alcohol consumption and related problems, which can greatly increase the risk for students to struggle in college (Barbaresi et al., 2013; Baker et al., 2012). Examining the impact that specific risk and protective factors play in this relation …

The Impact Of Withdrawing From War: Veteran Attitudes Toward The Afghanistan Withdrawal And Implications On Healthcare Utilization, Mental Health Distress, And Motivation To Serve Again, Delaney J. Bennett Granko M.S.

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined veteran service members from all eras, ranks, branches, and time of service to evaluate the mental and physical health impact of the Afghanistan Withdrawal on their functioning and utilization of healthcare services. To our knowledge, this is the first scientific study examining the Afghanistan Withdrawal's impact on veterans. The researchers aimed to better understand service member attitudes about the withdrawal and their motivation to serve again based on their experience. Qualitative responses were requested to further understand veteran opinions on the withdrawal.

The study sample consisted of 112 veterans from one or more of the United States …

What's Your Type? The Relationship Between Enneagram Personality Style And Psychiatric Diagnosis, Danielle Augusta Huber

Theses and Dissertations

Despite its long history and ever-growing popularity amongst mental health providers and laypeople, the Enneagram model of personality has seen limited empirical support regarding its clinical relevance and efficacy. The present study sought to contribute to the literature supporting the Enneagram’s use in psychotherapy. As a majority of therapeutic services aim for the reduction and/or resolution of psychopathology, often in terms of one or more diagnoses, and as previous research has theorized how the Enneagram model and psychiatric diagnoses might be related (Palmer, 1988), it was the researchers’ intention to analyze whether these theoretical associations could be statistically supported. This …