Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Association Of Autistic Traits And Psychiatric Symptoms In Children With A Fragile X Premutation Allele: The Neurodevelopmental Profile, Ariel Zucker

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Throughout the lifespan, approximately 14% of males and 5% of females with a fragile X premutation (PM) (defined as 55-200 CGG repeats on the X-linked FMR1 gene) are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For individuals that do not meet diagnostic criteria for ASD, autistic traits (ATs) are often present in this population and have been shown to have a subtle and sub-clinical presentation of social communication and interaction deficits. While less is known about the phenotype of children with a PM, studies have found increased rates of ASD and ATs in adults with a PM allele compared to controls. …

Measuring Intersectional Strength And Stigma Among Racially Minoritized Gender Diverse Young Adults, Joseph Carter

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Racially minoritized transgender and gender expansive young adults (RMTGEYA; aged 18-26) experience mental health inequities due to intersectional, multilevel stigma. RMTGEYA communities embody intersectional strength and resilience that can mitigate the impact of stigma. Understanding and capturing strength and stigma factors to address these inequities has significant implications for clinical science research and practice. There is, however, a complete absence of instruments that are validated to do so. Objective: The goal of this study is to conduct a three-phase, mixed methods study that centers intersectional and community engaged methods of psychometric development for a measure that captures daily experiences …

Enhancing The Accuracy Of The Mild Cognitive Impairment Diagnosis In Community-Based, Racially/Ethnically Diverse Older Adults, Katherine H. Chang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is thought to represent an intermediate stage of cognitive impairment that is often, but not always, a transitional phase between normal aging and dementia. Diagnostic criteria for “MCI” and international consensus criteria have been developed and refined over decades beginning in the 1990s, but the definition is still debated. Moreover, the operationalization and measurement of one of the criteria for MCI (i.e., subjective cognitive concerns, SCC), which is included in most classification approaches, is highly variable and there is great inconsistency across the literature. Some research efforts even support the removal of this criterion on the …

The Effect Of Working Memory Performance Under Stress On The Relationship Between Trauma History, Ptsd Symptoms, And Intimate Partner Violence, Gabriella Robinson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Over 12 million people annually experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in the United States. Emerging adulthood has the highest rates of IPV across the lifespan. While many theories attempt to explain why IPV rates are markedly increased during this age period, researchers call for more empirical studies to understand processes occurring during this period that result in increased IPV perpetration. Of the studies that assess IPV perpetration, samples generally consisted of male batterers that perpetrated severe IPV. Trauma history and PTSD symptoms have been seen as risk factors for IPV perpetration. Cognitive risk factors for IPV perpetration, such as …

Intimate Partner Violence And Negotiation During Covid-19: Stressors, Resources, And Perception, Victoria P. Diamond

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health concern that affects millions across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic created unforeseen stress, and necessitated safety policies that required social isolation, often extended exposure to one’s intimate partner, and an inability to access stress-reduction resources. These factors, along with many others, lead to an abrupt increase in IPV in many couples. Using the couple-adapted family stress model (ABCX), the current study examines both previously defined (e.g., emotional dysregulation, stress, unemployment, communication issues) and COVID-19 specific risk (e.g., quarantine, unprecedented social isolation, fear of contracting COVID-19) and protective factors (e.g., meaning in …

Reclaiming Healing Spaces: A Phenomenological Study On The Transformative Power Of Outdoor Therapy From The Lived Experiences Of Black Clinicians Working With Black Clients, Lynn Murphy

Dissertations

This phenomenological study involved assessing the experiences of Black therapists who engaged Black clients in outdoor therapeutic contexts. The study was founded on the existing literature that shows the quality of the therapeutic relationship is pivotal for client retention and the Western standards that have historically favored treatment within indoor environments. To contextualize this research, a comprehensive literature review was commenced, covering topics such as the decolonization of therapy, the historical and present-day relationship between Blacks and the outdoors in the United States, sedentary lifestyles, the psychological benefits of time spent in nature, various types of outdoor therapy, and the …

Health Behaviors And Physical Health Among Young Adults With Varying Psychometric Schizotypy, Christopher Liong

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Schizophrenia has consistently been associated with increased rates of physical illness and early mortality. One explanation for this association might be poor health behaviors, as people with schizophrenia are more sedentary, less physically active, and more likely to engage in substance use compared to the general population. Schizotypy may be conceptualized as the phenotypic expression of increased risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and dimensional models of schizotypy suggest that it varies on a continuum ranging from non-clinical (i.e. low schizotypy) to clinical (i.e. high schizotypy and dysfunction, as in schizophrenia). Though schizotypy and schizophrenia appear to share similar deficits and …

An Exploration Of Adult Children’S Attachment To Their Parents Across Two Cultural Groups: Indians In India And Indians Who Immigrated To The United States, Vilasini Meenakshi Arun

Doctoral Dissertations

Typically, attachment theory has been studied and explored with western populations. Individuals seeking mental health treatment within the United States include western and nonwestern cultural groups and research, theories and interventions that apply to diverse populations are necessary. Attachment relationships are often a part of, or reasons for clients to seek therapy either overtly or covertly, thus allowing research on attachment to better inform treatment plans and practice. An attachment relationship between a parent and child can be influenced by several factors and may change over the course of development, but little is known about this process among Indians …

Inevitable Or Preventable? A Pilot Intervention To Reduce Burnout Risk In Acute Care Nurses, Emily R. Kelly

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Purpose: Burnout among healthcare workers is widespread and costly, resulting in calls for action to reduce the experience and impact of this work-related phenomenon. Burnout among nurses has been associated with impaired patient safety, decreased quality of care, lower levels of patient satisfaction, decreased productivity, and higher levels of intent-to-leave the profession. Aim: The aims of this study are to assess whether sleep problems mediate the relationship between recovery and burnout and to examine the feasibility of a pilot intervention to enhance recovery, improve sleep quality, and reduce burnout among inpatient nurses. Method: Eligible participants included registered nurses who worked …

Optimistic Biases On E-Cigarette Cessation: Examining Competing Theoretical Models For Young Adults With And Without Chronic Health Conditions, Eleanor Steffens

Dissertations

The dramatic increase in youth nicotine initiation is an ongoing public health concern and heightens risk for morbidity and mortality, especially among young adults with chronic health conditions. Consequently, there is an urgent need for research exploring potential psychological mechanisms for continued e-cigarette use to aid in the development of targeted cessation interventions and combat the re-emerging nicotine epidemic. Utilizing the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, the present study modeled the impact of optimistic biases for e-cigarette use on e-cigarette cessation interest among young adults with and without chronic health conditions (n=1,827). Results showed that, regardless of …

High Beta Brainwaves And Emotion Dysregulation In A Sample Of Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Rebecca Carr

Theses and Graduate Projects

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The current study investigated the relationship between high beta brain wave activity, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and comorbid mental health diagnoses in children with ADHD. Utilizing archival data from the Clinic for Attention, Learning, and Memory (CALM) in Minneapolis, MN, the study included 184 participants aged 6-14 years who underwent quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) assessments. The study utilized linear and logistic regressions to test three hypotheses: whether high beta activity predicted (1) increased anxiety symptoms, (2) emotion dysregulation, and (3) the likelihood of comorbid mental health …

Reproductive Coercion And Intergenerational Trauma: The Role Of Reproductive, Sex, And Relationship Education And Family Messaging, Maria-Ernestina Christl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women’s knowledge of reproductive choices as well as ability to decide and implement those choices are critical to promoting healthy parent-child relationships and avoiding potentially harmful family dynamics. Reproductive coercion (RC) is a form of intimate partner violence in which abusive partners control reproductive outcomes of their partners. The field of RC is a relatively new field of study compared to the literature on IPV, and this study is one of the first to examine the role of formal and informal messaging women received in childhood related to sex, dating, and relationships in relation to RC. Furthermore, parenting attitudes were …

Examining The Effects Of Post-Traumatic Self-Blame And Shame On Response To Laboratory-Induced Pain, Adi Rosenthal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Extant research has made clear the link between self-criticism and engagement in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). As posited by the Defective Self Model of NSSI, individuals who experience feelings of self-hatred may perceive pain as deserved and engage in NSSI (Burke et al., 2021). Individuals exposed to interpersonal trauma are at higher risk of engaging in NSSI, and also frequently experience trauma-related self criticism, namely shame and self-blame. More work is needed; however, to understand how self-critical post-traumatic cognitions contribute to risk for NSSI engagement for interpersonal trauma survivors. The current study uses a combination of lab-induced pain and self-report measures …

A Phenomenological Examination Of The Perception Of Psychopathological Misdiagnosis In Gifted Men, Tina Glass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While the exact prevalence of psychopathological misdiagnosis in gifted children is unknown, it is an occurrence within the gifted population (Amend & Beljan, 2009; Batstra et al., 2012; Bishop & Rinn, 2019; Bishop & Rinn, 2020; Coon, 2014; Webb et al., 2016). However, there is a gap in the literature related to psychopathological misdiagnosis specific to gifted males. (Desmet & Pereira, 2021; Ecklund et al., 2014; Eren et al., 2018; Neu & Weinfeld, 2007; OECD, 2015; Preckel et al., 2015; Watts, 2022). This transcendental phenomenological study leveraged Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model for Human Development (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006) as a theoretical …

Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (Fap) For Sport Psychology: Enhancing Performance Enhancement, Blake Pindyck

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The field of applied sport and performance psychology has seen remarkable growth and innovation over its relatively short history. Current sport psychology models have shown promising outcomes, but largely focus on addressing performance from an intrapersonal perspective. Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is part of a third wave of behavioral therapies that has been found to be effective in ideographically addressing client issues through an interpersonal lens utilizing the client-therapist relationship. FAP has been deployed as both a standalone intervention and as an enhancement to several existing theoretical orientations, including those most commonly used by sport psychology professionals. This paper proposes …

Therapist Self-Disclosure With Children And Adolescents: A Guide, Katia Goga

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Therapist self-disclosure is a multifaceted aspect of psychotherapy that holds significant implications for therapeutic rapport, alliance, and client outcomes. The use of self-disclosure by therapists in working with children and adolescents has received little attention in the literature. This paper examines the theoretical underpinnings and therapeutic rationale behind therapist self-disclosure, highlighting its potential benefits and risks in the context of child and adolescent therapy. It delves into developmental considerations, exploring different factors that may influence the appropriateness and effectiveness of self-disclosure interventions. Building upon this foundation, the paper offers a practical guide to assist clinicians in judiciously incorporating self-disclosure into …

Sport And Performance Psychology Service Provision Needs And Preferences Of Division-I Student-Athletes, Coaches, And Program Stakeholders At A Private University, Ellie Brown

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

In response to increased reports of mental health concerns among NCAA Division I collegiate student-athletes (Wong, 2017), investigators examined the Sport and Performance Psychology (SPP) service provision needs and preferences of Division I student-athletes, coaches, and program stakeholders within a Division I athletic program. A survey-based needs analysis was employed to provide a comprehensive analysis of: (a) the needs of student-athletes receiving SPP services; (b) help-seeking attitudes of student-athletes receiving SPP services; (c) key stakeholder (i.e., athletic administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches) attitudes toward SPP services; (d) key stakeholder perceptions of the SPP needs of their …

Considerations For Interviewing And Intervening With Suicidal Gender Expansive Individuals, Abigail Herrold

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

It has been well documented that transgender individuals are at a higher risk for death by suicide compared to their cisgender peers. However, limited consideration has been given to studying suicidality in individuals who identify outside of the gender binary (non-binary, gender queer, gender fluid, etc.). Additionally, while there is considerable evidence for risk factors for suicide and protective factors against suicide, there is a lack of guidance on how to implement this information. The aim of this paper is to expand upon the literature of research that is inclusive of all gender identities and propose guidelines working with gender …

Me, Myself, And High: Momentary Precipitants And Consequences Of Solitary Cannabis Use Among Emerging Adults, Amelia Wedel

Dissertations - ALL

Objective: Social discomfort, including loneliness and adverse interpersonal experiences, is associated with greater solitary cannabis use, and in turn with worse cannabis consequences, among emerging adults. Temporality of this relationship, however, remains unknown due to largely cross-sectional findings. This 15-day experience sampling study tested the relationship of (a) social discomfort with proximal solitary cannabis use, (b) solitary cannabis use with next-day cannabis consequences, and (c) solitary cannabis use as a potential mediator for the relationship of social discomfort with cannabis consequences. Methods: Momentary assessment data were drawn from 59 emerging adult solitary cannabis users (Mage= 22.88 [SD=1.79]; 61% female; 66% …

Sexual Assault History And Alcohol-Aggression Expectancies As Barriers To Sexual Refusal Assertiveness In College Women, Madison Kristine Firkey

Dissertations - ALL

Background: Alcohol-related sexual assault is a pressing health concern on U.S. college campuses. The unrelenting prevalence of campus sexual assault has led to a greater focus on how to empower college women to resist unwanted sexual advances within alcohol-infused contexts. Alcohol-aggression expectancies have emerged as one potential barrier to women’s utilization of sexual refusal strategies. The present study sought to test this hypothesized barrier using a vignette-based experimental design. Specifically, the proposed model examined the relationships between perceived perpetrator intoxication level, expectations of perpetrator reaction to sexual refusal, and willingness to refuse unwanted sexual advances. The moderating effects of prior …

Factors That Predict Immune Function Resilience Among Adult Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Samantha Dewey Colombo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Not long ago, researchers and providers learned about the negative impacts that adverse childhood experiences have on not only the psychological health of the survivor but also the physical. Adverse physical health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, and more were identified as a risk for this population. These adverse outcomes occur largely due to immune dysfunction through systemic inflammation. One group within those who have adverse childhood experiences is those who have survived childhood sexual abuse. This group has experienced profound trauma that can impact them many years later psychologically, physically, and spiritually. Resilience factors …

Differences In Race And Gender Of Retired Servicemembers In The Decision To Reenlist, Samantha R. Loeza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of the study was to examine the race and gender differences among retired enlisted service members in work self-determination regarding the decision to reenlist. Existing research indicated little to no information regarding these factors. The independent variables are race and gender, and the dependent variable is work self-determination in the decision-making to re-enlist. This research utilized an adapted version of the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale, an 18-item assessment of work motivation theoretically grounded in self-determination theory. Only retired active-duty enlisted service members between the ranks of E-5 through E-9 were surveyed. Regarding race, this study only …

Investigating Veterinarians' Interest In Mental Health, Loren C. Beggs, Jisook Park

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

Stress affects all individuals though individuals’ response to stressors can be different. When stress is not managed effectively, it can lead to severe physiological concerns as well as psychological damages such as depressive symptoms and even suicidal ideations. Veterinarians are known to have a higher depression level and suicide rate than the general population which could be attributed to higher occupational stress. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the mental health state of veterinarians and the relationship between psychological distress and pursuit of mental health resources. We also explored the relationship between psychological distress and perceived importance …

Development Of An Examiner-Examinee Rapport Scale For Neuropsychological Testing: The Barnett Rapport Questionnaire – 2, Jenna Moore

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Rapport in the context of neuropsychological testing refers to the interpersonal interaction between the examinee and examiner. The purpose of this study was to improve upon the original Barnett Rapport Questionnaire. Participants consisted of college students (n = 55), middle-aged adults (n = 30), and older adults (n = 99) at a university-affiliated neuropsychology clinic, who were administered a brief neuropsychological battery. After testing, both examinees (n = 184) and examiners (n = 24) completed items regarding the nature of the interpersonal interaction. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-factor model consisting of 13 items found on both the examinee 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), …

Clinical Evaluation Approach To School Counseling Programs In Light Of Evidence-Based Practice نهج التقييم الاكلينيكي لبرامج الإرشاد المدرسي في ضوء الممارسة القائمة على الأدلة, Reyad Alaasemy Professor Of Psychotherapy

Association of Arab Universities Journal for Education and Psychology

The field of psychological assessment is undergoing radical change, perhaps even a distinct paradigm shift in the psychological literature. Traditionally, evaluation has focused on collecting accurate data for use in clarifying diagnoses and developing treatment plans. While these goals are largely retained, the new approaches also emphasize the therapeutic impact that affects assessment can have on clients and other important people in their lives. Accumulated Evidence over the past 20 years suggests that this effect could be significant based on a meta-analysis or meta-analysis study of outcomes that investigates the therapeutic effect that evaluation can have. Psychology also needs to …

Psychosocial And Spiritual Predictors Of Mental Health Among Protestant Christian Latino Clergy, Ingrid M. Granados Ms

Doctoral Dissertations

Research relating to the experiences of Protestant Christian Latino clergy in the United States is scarce. This study sought to explore the role of religion and spirituality on depression, burnout, and suicidality in Protestant Christian Latino clergy using multiple regression analysis. The study consisted of 212 Protestant Christian Latino clergy participants who completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire online that included measures for religious commitment and spiritual well-being, burnout, depression, and suicidality. Participants also completed a measure of ethnic/cultural identity and self-reported gender that were used as moderators in this study. The study revealed that stronger spiritual well-being-Daily (CSWS-Daily) and lower …

Themes In Help-Seeking Of Female Military Sexual Assault Survivors, Priscilla Phan

Doctoral Dissertations

While large efforts have been made to address military sexual assault, there are still barriers in the help-seeking journey that need attention. This study aimed to examine barriers and facilitators to formal and informal help-seeking behaviors and to understand the role of stigma in survivors' help-seeking behaviors for female military sexual assault survivors. Through semi-structured interviews, the study explored the help-seeking experiences and mental health sequela of fourteen female military sexual assault survivors. This study focused on cis-gender women over the age of eighteen who experienced a military sexual assault, by another military service member, while on active-duty. Women shared …

Gender Differences In Relations Between Social Comparison, Social Support, And Sleep Disturbance Among Midlife And Older Adults., Iris Bercovitz, Gabrielle M Salvatore, Jacqueline A Mogle, Danielle Arigo

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between sleep disturbance, social support, and social comparison among midlife and older adults, including the moderating role of gender.

METHODS: Adults ages ≥40 years (N = 557, MAge = 57, 53% men) completed a cross-sectional survey including validated measures of sleep disturbance, perceptions of social support, and social comparison orientation.

RESULTS: Sleep disturbance was negatively associated with social support (rs = −0.42 to–0.33, ps = 0.001) and associations were stronger for men than women–particularly perceived support from friends (η 2= 0.01). Sleep disturbance was also associated with upward comparison orientation (r = 0.12, p = 0.003), …

Factors In Understanding Students Who Want To Become Psychology Professionals And Choose Not To Attend Graduate School, Katie Rubedor-Green

Theses and Graduate Projects

Due to the worsening mental health crisis in America, there is a need for more psychology professionals. Becoming a psychology professional requires a graduate-level education. Past research has explored the college and graduate school choice process for individuals enrolled in undergraduate and graduate education programs. This research project aims to understand individuals who aspire to become psychology professionals but have decided not to apply to graduate school. Eight undergraduate psychology seniors were interviewed about the factors they considered in their decision not to pursue graduate education in psychology, their knowledge about their education options, and their preferred program factors. The …