Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Out Of Left Screen: Factors Impacting Well-Being In Digital And Physical Collegiate Athletes, Jessica Poskus

Theses and Dissertations

Competitive video gaming, or “esports,” has quickly become a popular college extracurricular. Its classification as a varsity sport on many campuses reflects a broader shift in cultural conceptualizations and perceptions of athleticism. As esports continue to evolve in today’s increasingly digital world, new professional leagues emerge, and viewership rivals that of traditional physical sports. Esports can be a gateway for unique opportunities for college students; however, it may also pose some challenges. This study explored differences between digital and physical athletes, who must balance their chosen activity with other collegiate responsibilities, including academic, social, and physical health. Physical sports and …

Associations Between Infant Vagal Regulation, Early Social Communication, And Socidemographic Risk, Tessa Djiko

Theses and Dissertations

Respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA), a measure of parasympathetic nervous system activation, has been linked to socioemotional and language development (Porges, 2007; Thayer & Lane, 2000). Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show lower RSA (Patriquin et al., 2011) while both children with ASD and children from lower SES backgrounds show differences in early social-communication development (Jones-Mason et al., 2018). However, little is known about interactions between sociodemographic risk and physiological regulation within the context of ASD and social-communication development. The present study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between RSA (as indexed by RSA suppression and resting-state RSA), …

A Social Ecology Model For Social Determinants Of Health As Psychosis Risk Factors, Katie Beck-Felts

Theses and Dissertations

Social determinants of health (SDOHs) significantly impact psychosis risk beyond heritability. However, there is a need for an organizing framework to observe how these diverse elements concurrently predict psychosis risk. This study examines SDOHs as psychosis risk factors using a four-level model, aligned with Bronfenbrenner's social ecology theory. The study aims to assess the proposed model’s ability to predict psychosis risk. Specifically, it is hypothesized that each socioecological level of the model would predict psychosis risk with more proximal SDOHs (e.g., individual level vs community) exhibiting stronger predictive power, aligning with Social Ecology theory. College students (N = 210) completed …

Associations Between Coping Style And Perceptions Of Web-Delivered Physical Activity Messages Among Women In Midlife With Cardiovascular Health Risks, Kristen Pasko

Theses and Dissertations

Midlife women are at unique risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and benefit from increasing physical activity (PA). Many PA interventions involve social support, though fail to address related processes such as social comparison. Desire for specific types of social support and comparison may represent emotion-focused versus problem-solving coping, though little is known about women’s preferences for/responses to these coping opportunities. The present study examined women’s selections of PA content in a digital environment. Over 7 days, women in midlife ≥1 CVD risk factor (N = 60, MAge = 50.70, SD = 5.89) wore a PA monitor and visited a proprietary …

Investigating The Role Of Betrayal Blindness Between High Betrayal Trauma And Dating Violence Among Young Mothers Maltreated As Children, Lauren Catherine Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Young mothers experience greater rates of dating violence (DV) victimization and perpetration compared to their non-parenting, female peers as well as older mothers (Joly & Connolly, 2016). Child maltreatment is a salient predictor of DV victimization and perpetration (Li et al., 2019; Murphy et al., 2020). According to Betrayal Trauma Theory (BTT), child maltreatment perpetrated by a close loved one, such as a parent or primary caregiver, is defined as a high betrayal trauma (Freyd, 1996). Young mothers who experienced a high betrayal trauma may endorse betrayal blindness as a way to cope with abuse from their caregiver (Freyd & …

Students Speak: A Qualitative Examination Of The Intersection Of Identity And Sexual Violence In A University Setting, Danika M. Charles

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual violence remains a public health concern in the United States. Much of the research has focused on gender-binary individuals, despite the heightened vulnerability of Black, transgender, and nonbinary (BTN) individuals due to societal stigma and discrimination. Campus climate surveys have been recommended by the Obama Administration to address sexual violence, though they often underrepresent BTN students, failing to capture their unique experiences. This study aims to bridge this gap by focusing on the intersection of gender and racial identities, using an intersectional stigma framework to explore the prevalence and impact of sexual violence on BTN students and advocate for …

Initial Evaluation Of A Peer Supervision Program For Health Service Psychology Doctoral Students, William Bradley

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical supervision has long been utilized as the primary method of clinical training and evaluation for health service psychology doctoral students. Despite the central role that supervision has played and continues to play in the training of psychologists, little scholarly attention has been given to identifying effective methods for fostering competency in providing supervision. The lack of research in this area is concerning, given the accumulating evidence that negative supervision experiences, such as ineffective or inadequate supervision, are reported by a substantial proportion of trainees (21-92% across studies). Moreover, these experiences are associated with important proximal and distal training outcomes, …

Measuring Evidence Application In Routine Mental Health Settings: Testing A Coding System And Providing A Proof Of Concept, Eleanor Wu

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 25 years, there have been increasing calls to advance the application of evidence in routine mental health settings for youth and families. Methods in the field for characterizing evidence application have played a critical role in shaping these efforts, which, to-date, have largely focused on measuring providers’ adherence to practices from evidence-based programs in treatment sessions. While this program-centric paradigm for characterizing evidence application has supported the widespread implementation of evidence-based programs in public mental health settings, it is limited in scope and applicability for characterizing all the ways that evidence may be applied across a service …

Using Youth Participatory Action Research To Scale Up Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) In The Southern United States, Mariajose Jhamira Paton

Theses and Dissertations

The recently launched initiative, Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE), provides a targeted plan to end HIV in the United States (US) by 2030, and prioritizes key demographic groups and geographic areas that are disproportionately burdened by HIV. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth, especially Black and Latiné youth (SGMBLY), are a key population for EHE as they have experienced the largest increase in new HIV rates in recent decades. States identified by EHE are disproportionately located in the Southern US, where increasing the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV has been a challenge. Though proven effective, youth participatory action …

Altered Sensory Processing And Pain In Youth With Sickle Cell Disease: Risk Factors And Moderators, Julia Johnston

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience recurrent pain and increased risk for chronic pain. Neuropathic pain, characterized by alterations to the central and/or peripheral nervous systems, is not well understood among youth with SCD. Based on our current understanding of pain systems and existing literature on pain in SCD, this study aimed to elucidate psychosocial correlates of altered sensory processing (ASP) and neuropathic pain, determine biomedical risk factors contributing to the development of ASP among youth with SCD, and identify how sensory processing and biopsychosocial factors collectively influence pain experiences by assessing two plausible models. Methods: Thirty-five youth …

The Psychological Significance Of Cultural And Religious Values Among The Arab Population, Michel Sherif Mikhail

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Values, which are the guiding principles and beliefs of our lives, have an influence over one’s psychological health. This study aims to investigate how Schwartz’s four higher-order values (conservation, openness to change, self-transcendence, and self-enhancement) and religious values influence psychological health among the Arab population. Methods: A total of 1,023 respondent from nine Arab countries aged 18 to 71 filled an online survey with measures of the following constructs: Schwartz’s four higher-order values (Portrait Value Questionnaire-21), religious values (Sahin’s Index of Islamic Moral Values), and general psychological health (General Health Questionnaire-28). Results: Two models of multiple regression were …

Repetitive Thinking, Social Connectedness, And Distressing Sexual Experiences In Autistic And Non-Autistic Students: Examining Social-Cognitive Risk Factors And Mental Health During The College Transition, Erin Elizabeth Mckenney

Theses and Dissertations

The prevention and treatment of mental health concerns are consistently named among autistic adults’ highest clinical and research priorities. While several theories have been proposed to explain the high prevalence of depression and anxiety in autistic populations, virtually no longitudinal research has evaluated causal mechanisms. The first study in this dissertation aims to explore how known contributors to depression and anxiety identified by general population research – namely, rumination, dissatisfaction with social connectedness, and distressing sexual experiences – relate to the development of internalizing symptoms in autistic individuals during the transition to college. The second study explores potential contributors to …

Implementing The Reconsolidation Paradigm In Treating Misophonia, Angel Prats

Theses and Dissertations

Misophonic patients experience extreme sense of disgust when exposed to acoustic and/or visual triggers. In this longitudinal study, the reconsolidation paradigm was applied to treat 25 patients during a month. The findings reveal that reminders in a control setting did not improve maladaptive memories, but counterconditioning update ameliorated symptoms.

Trajectories Of Depression Severity In The First Semester Of College, Nicole A. Kelso

Theses and Dissertations

Depression is a major public health concern among students in higher education. Prior work suggests that depressive symptoms increase during the transition to college. Transfer students face unique challenges during the transition to a new academic institution that may make them particularly vulnerable. There is a critical need to expand prevention efforts. Research that improves identification of students at greatest risk for developing impairing depressive symptoms, and etiological processes contributing to depressive symptoms could aid in the provision of limited prevention resources. Furthermore, longitudinal research tracking symptom trajectories during the transition to college could help inform the timing of preventive …

The Evaluation Of Non-Specific Risk Indicators In Improving Detection Of Psychosis-Spectrum Liability, Thomas W. O'Kane

Theses and Dissertations

Psychosis-spectrum disorders remain a leading cause of disability for both individuals and society, with early identification and prevention efforts representing a promising avenue of research for addressing these concerns. One potential impediment to improving early risk identification is the historical focus on indicators thought to be exclusive to the psychosis-spectrum. This focus often comes at the expense of non-specific risk factors (e.g., disrupted sleep, adverse childhood experiences) which contribute to the risk of developing psychosis as well as other mental illnesses. Research suggests the inclusion of these non-specific factors may improve our ability to identify those at risk. The present …

The Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment In Psychiatric Patients And Readmission Rate To An Inpatient Facility, Cherilyn Isis Schuff

Theses and Dissertations

The primary intention of this study was to further understand the impact of assessing cognitive impairment in psychiatric patients, as a mediating factor on readmission rates. Mild cognitive dysfunction impacts a patient’s functional outcomes (Bowie & Harvey, 2006; Davis et al., 2012; Marcantonio, et al., 2001). Little information exists to guide best practices in the treatment of adults with cognitive impairment who are hospitalized for acute conditions (Davis et al., 2012). A cognitive impairment may impact patient prognosis and ability to function outside of a setting focused on stabilization. Neuropsychological testing is a valuable tool in predicting a patient’s cognitive …

Resisting Internalized Stigma (Ris): Acceptability And Feasibility Of A Cognitive Behavioral Stigma Intervention For Early Psychosis, Francesca Maria Crump

Theses and Dissertations

The clinical high-risk state for psychosis (CHR-P) was created to help identify individuals experiencing early signs of psychosis to help forestall worsening symptoms. CHR-P individuals may experience stigma that may stem from internal or external processes, including from receiving specialized care. Research has demonstrated associations between internalized stigma and psychosocial and functional outcomes, which underscores the need for interventions to help mitigate the impact of stigma while balancing the need for treatment. To date, there is only one stigma intervention specifically designed for individuals designated as CHR-P, which is psychoeducational in nature. Based on the recent call to action that …

Determining The More Effective Behavior Analytic Intervention For Children With Autism Who Exhibit Pica Behaviors, Jennifer J. Lanham

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Determining the More Effective Behavior Analytic Intervention for Children With Autism Who Exhibit Pica Behaviors. Jennifer J. Lanham, 2024: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: autism, pica, eating disorders, intervention, applied behavior analysis

This dissertation was designed to determine which behavior analytic intervention was more effective in the treatment and reduction of mouthing non-nutritive substances in children diagnosed with autism. This study included four participants in an A-B-A reversal design with a component analysis across four intervention phases. The study participants were enrolled in a center-based treatment environment …

Examining The Relationship Between Anger At The Self And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) Symptoms, Dina M. Cottone

Theses and Dissertations

The emotion concept of "self-anger" is ill-defined and under-researched. While self-anger bears similarities to traditional anger ("other-anger"), it also retains features of shame and guilt. In addition, self-anger shares ruminative qualities and self-condemning thoughts with depression. As a result, self-anger can become maladaptive at persistent and unhealthy levels. Furthermore, individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be at an increased risk for dysfunctional self-anger, considering their proneness to increased anger and depressive tendencies compared to non-ADHD counterparts. However, the relationship between ADHD and self-anger has not yet been explored in the literature. The purpose of this study was to examine the …

The Relationship Between Clinician-Perceived Competency And Expert-Rated Competency In Rebt Using Anxiety-Focused Simulated-Based Practice, Morgan Klein Schall

Theses and Dissertations

Though competency is of utmost importance to clinical practice (Muse et al., 2022), there have been minimal studies that have explored the relationship between clinician-perceived competency and expert-rated competency with the REBT framework. Competency in the delivery of psychotherapy is expected, but not well-defined (Fairburn & Cooper, 2011). Differences between perceived competency and expert-rated competency (Paunov et al., 2023) create further challenges in defining competency. While clinical competency in psychotherapy provision has been linked to client outcomes, this relationship varies depending on clinical model of psychotherapy as well as clinical problem (Collyer et al., 2020). Most of the competency in …

How Do Mindfulness And Self-Compassion Elicit Unfavorable Outcomes? No Moderating Effect Detected, Jason T. Katz

Theses and Dissertations

This work investigated the interaction of mindfulness and self-compassion when predicting flourishing. Mindfulness and self-compassion have become increasingly popular for their benefits, but there is much to uncover about how these variables elicit favorable and unfavorable outcomes. We hypothesized that having high levels of mindfulness and self-compassion would elicit the strongest relationships with flourishing. We also hypothesized that having high levels of both mindfulness and self-compassion would prevent either variable from having negative relationships with flourishing. Our survey gauged the mindfulness, self-compassion, and flourishing levels of 180 participants from a large, urban, parochial university undergraduate pool. We used hierarchical linear …

The Association Between Cognitive Flexibility, Childhood Adversity Exposure, And Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms, Emilie Paul

Theses and Dissertations

Adversity exposure in childhood is associated with greater risk for developing internalizing and externalizing problems throughout childhood and adolescence (Henry et al., 2021). Adversity exposure may confer risk by impacting executive function, including reduced cognitive flexibility, due to the neurobiological consequences of increased stress hormone exposure (Kavanaugh et al., 2017). Previous research has linked adversity exposure to reduced cognitive flexibility in youth (Kavanaugh et al., 2017). Lower cognitive flexibility is also associated with internalizing and externalizing problems including depression, anxiety, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder in youth and adults (Patwardhan et al., 2021; Stange et al., 2017; Braenden et al., …

Deliberate Practice To Improve Behavioral Parent Training Skills Among Clinical Trainees, Olivia Anne Walsh

Theses and Dissertations

Deliberate practice (DP) is a method in which structured activities are done to specifically improve performance in a given domain. Training programs, like DP, can incorporate different learning experiences to assist trainees in developing not only competency but improving client outcomes in specific therapies, like behavioral parent training (BPT). The current study examined the impact of an online-simulated DP training component on the competency among trainees, and parent-reported child outcomes after brief, virtual BPT. Eight trainees/parents were randomly assigned to the intervention group or comparison group. All trainees received didactics in BPT, with the intervention group receiving additional DP training …

A Longitudinal Examination Of The Relations Between Racial Discrimination And Executive Function, Aldona Chorzepa

Theses and Dissertations

Discrimination has been linked to changes in executive function. This relationship may explain links between discrimination and adverse health and mental health outcomes, including depression, substance use, and health behavior. To date, the research examining this question has been limited, as the majority of studies reviewed employed experimental manipulations for discrimination exposure and tested acute same-day effects in the lab. Clarifying the extent to which exposure to discrimination impacts executive function over time in young adults is crucial to identifying opportunities for intervention. The current study evaluates the relations of both recent and lifetime exposure to racial discrimination to three …

Change In Rape Myth Acceptance As A Function Of Sexual Assault Experiences: A Prospective Analysis, Danielle Suzanne Citera

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, one in five women reports experiencing sexual assault while in college. Rape myths, or stereotypical beliefs that serve to blame survivors (i.e., “She Asked For It” and “She Lied”) and exonerate sexual assault perpetrators (“He Didn’t Mean To”), may influence how women conceptualize their own sexual assault experiences and relatedly, their post-assault functioning. Several demographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity, generational status, education level, sexual orientation, and religiosity, have been found to be associated with rape myth acceptance (RMA). Researchers have reported mixed findings, however, regarding the association between sexual assault history and RMA. This study …

Coping With The Covid-19 Pandemic: Examining Meaning-Making In A Socioecological Framework, Emilia Eva Mikrut

Theses and Dissertations

During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a threatening, unpredictable, and uncontrollable stressor. Meaning-making, or one’s ability to make sense of a stressful life event, integrate the event into one’s narrative of the world and meaning in life, and accordingly revise life goals, is a salient intrapsychic process contributing to psychological adjustment in the face of very stressful or traumatic experiences such as chronic health issues, interpersonal grief, and natural and man-made disasters. Early findings provide evidence for the critical role of meaning-making in coping with stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Though meaning-making is a universal process, one’s capacity …

Association Between Caregiver And Child Symptom Change In Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Tohar Scheininger

Theses and Dissertations

Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is one of the most empirically supported interventions for treating children’s posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and other behavior problems. Caregivers are involved in treatment and improve in their own symptoms during TF-CBT. Research suggests that caregivers’ and children’s outcomes may be interrelated in trauma-focused interventions, and that children’s posttraumatic stress is mediated by decreases in caregivers internalizing symptomatology. There are numerous limitations to existing literature, including the limited direction of the mediations and the consideration of only internalizing symptoms in mediations. This study aimed to prospectively examine how changes in caregivers’ negative affectivity mediate changes in …

Comparison Of Professional Impressions Of Hikikomori Across Cultures: A Secondary Data Analysis, Marko Lamela

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impressions of two hikikomori vignettes by professionals across different countries to determine possible similarities or differences across countries. Originally viewed as a cultural disorder, hikikomori has been observed in different countries. This study used an existing data set of a 2010 study to review diagnostic impressions using the ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR coding systems, as well as a free response. Additionally, this study reviewed professional impressions on the best treatment for hikikomori. This study reviewed these responses based on country of origin and cultural type. A correlation was found between ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR diagnosis, country, and cultural …

Change In Blame Attributions As A Mediator Of Symptom Reduction In Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Michelle Cusumano

Theses and Dissertations

Youth exposed to interpersonal violence often develop maladaptive posttraumatic cognitions about the event(s), the world, and themselves. These maladaptive cognitions have robust associations with onset and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and internalizing symptoms (Mitchell et al., 2017). Growing literature suggests changes in cognitions, particularly appraisals about control, vulnerability, and personal change following trauma exposure, serve as a mechanism of change in trauma-specific psychotherapy interventions for youth (Meiser-Stedman et al., 2017; Smith et al., 2007). Little research has examined change in blame attributions as a mediator of treatment outcome, despite their importance in understanding how youth process their trauma …

A Meta-Analysis Of Grief-Focused Interventions For Bereaved Children And Adolescents: Examining The State Of The Literature And Moderators Of Treatment Effect, Emily C. Hockenberry

Theses and Dissertations

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents face a greater need than ever for effective mental healthcare to address distressing and disabling emotional and behavioral reactions that can occur following the death of a significant person in their lives. However, current evaluations of grief-focused interventions for bereaved youth are limited by a lack of consensus regarding how to define and measure grief symptoms in children and adolescents, a lack of clarity regarding grief-specific effects compared with effects on other forms of psychopathology, and limited power to detect moderators of intervention effect. The present meta-analysis evaluated the pooled …