Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Does Resilience Moderate The Relation Between Caregiver Behaviors And Post-Traumatic Symptoms In Young Adults?, Akila Uma Gopalkrishnan

Master's Theses

Exposure to a potentially traumatic event (PTE) is not an uncommon experience for children and adolescents. After exposure to adverse events, youth may experience significant maladjustment and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). As such, researchers continue investigating potential risk and protective factors contributing to youth post-trauma adjustment. Considering their critical role in children’s development, caregivers likely play a key role in youth post-trauma adjustment. However, the field lacks studies on caregiver behaviors following youth PTE exposure and on factors, such as resilience, that could influence how children respond to stress and caregiver environments. I aimed to evaluate: (a) how perceived caregiver …

Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior In Higher Education: Examining Its Prevalence And Correlates, Kacie N. Lancaster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSIB) among college students has notably escalated despite advancements in mental health treatment. NSSIB is defined as intentional destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent. There is a growing need to understand NSSIB in the context of college students who experience unique stressors that influence their mental health. This study (1) determined the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior among an undergraduate college student sample, (2) examined the relationship between NSSIB and sociodemographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status), (3) examined the relationship between NSSIB and the variables of psychiatric comorbidity, history of trauma, and …

The Impact Of Sibling Sexual Abuse On Parenting Stress, Giuliana Berry

Theses and Dissertations

Sibling sexual abuse is the most common yet least reported, treated, and studied manifestation of child sexual abuse (Bertele & Talmon, 2023; Caffaro & Conn-Caffaro, 2005; Krienert & Walsh, 2011; O’Brien, 1991). It is a particularly challenging form of intrafamilial sexual abuse for parents and caregivers because their children are both the victim and the perpetrator of the abuse. They struggle to balance the needs of both children (Duane et al., 2002; Tener et al., 2020) and may experience heightened stress and associated psychological difficulties. Parenting stress is linked to child and adolescent posttraumatic stress and internalizing and externalizing problem …

Effective Interventions For Women With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kathryn Antoinette Gonzales

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Women diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often undergo powerless treatment interventions according to research. Institutionalized inequalities among service systems challenge women to receive access, begin, engage, and complete mental health services for PTSD. This mixed-methods systematic review sought to determine interventions that are effective for treating this client population. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) tool was used to screen four different electronic databases: PsycINFO, Google Scholar, EBSCO, and OneSearch to identify peer-reviewed articles under a purposive sampling method strategy. Of the 159 studies screened, 15 met the inclusion criteria for this review (n =15). …

Racial Trauma, Psychosis, And Double Consciousness, Brianna A. Baker

Publications and Research

Key Points

• Black distress is often misdiagnosed as psychosis instead of recognized as a response to racial trauma.
• Double consciousness may explain how racism causes cognitive and emotional strain in Black individuals.
• Racial discrimination is linked to paranoia, dissociation, and hallucinations in Black communities.

Gender Differences In Perceived Organizational Support Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Elizabeth Gomez

Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well-studied issue within the U.S. military, with data showing military personnel face a higher risk of trauma than the civilian population. Many veterans and service members suffer from PTSD related to their military experiences (Renshaw, 2011). As research has largely focused on protective factors such as social and familial support, little attention has been given to organizational support (Meredith et al., 2011). Perceived organizational support (POS) refers to how individuals perceive the support they receive from their employers, with the military as the primary employer for veterans. This study was designed to explore whether …

Examining Risk Factors For Comorbidity Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder In A Sample Of Trauma-Exposed Transgender Adults, Dylan Seeley

Theses and Dissertations

Comorbid PTSD-OCD post trauma exposure is understudied. Little research examines specific risk factors and marginalized populations. This study examined gender-based victimization, emotional avoidance, and executive functioning as risk factors. Findings suggest gender-based victimization is a unique gender minority stressor that may pose significant risk for transgender populations.

How Therapists’ Perceptions Impact Disseminating And Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Maddi R. Gervasio

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, 60% of youth experience a traumatic event before the age of 18 (Lawrence-Sidebottom et al., 2024) and childhood trauma is associated with a range of psychopathology. Although evidence-based therapies like Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT; Cohen et al., 2017) are available, only 14-22% of traumatized youth receive trauma-specific practices during treatment (Borntrager et al., 2013). Barriers to disseminating and implementing TF-CBT and similar interventions exist at the micro (e.g., therapist and client) and macro (e.g., systemic) levels (e.g., Gervasio & Herren, 2020). Emerging research focused on training in trauma therapists found that therapists’ negative perceptions about the …

Psychological Techniques For Athletes With Orthopedic Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review, Nicole L. Williams

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Musculoskeletal injuries and recovery from them play a vital role in both the physical and psychological wellbeing of the public. Existing research has been conducted primarily within the athlete population with rehabilitation from these injuries having a profound impact on the physical and mental health. One of the most frequent psychological responses related to sports injuries is a trauma response, which has been shown to hinder the rehabilitation process and to increase the likelihood for reinjury upon return to play. Embedded within the many inputs to trauma responses to these injuries are psychological distress reactions, in particular fear connected to …

Examining Trauma And Substance Use Co-Morbidity In African Americans, Breanne Maray Sande Russell

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a profound public health crisis that significantly elevates the risk for substance use disorders (SUDs), including alcohol and opioid misuse. Adolescents exposed to CM are especially vulnerable, often turning to substances as maladaptive coping mechanisms during critical developmental periods. African American youth bear this disproportionate burden, yet research addressing their unique experiences remains strikingly limited. Furthermore, while the co-occurrence of trauma-related disorders and substance use is well documented, racial and ethnic minority groups continue to be underrepresented in this literature. Emotion regulation difficulties are increasingly recognized as a mechanism linking PTSD symptoms with substance use, yet …

Global Sleep Quality, Emotion Regulation Difficulties, And Ptsd Symptom Severity In Trauma-Exposed College Women, Grace M. Seymour

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Sleep problems are common among college women and may contribute to PTSD symptoms. Those with emotion regulation difficulties may have increased difficulty managing distress worsened by poor sleep, though it is unclear which specific facets of emotion regulation are most relevant. This study examined interactions between sleep quality and facets of emotion regulation difficulties on PTSD symptoms among college women (N = 1,037) using self-report measures: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18). Two significant interactions emerged. Sleep disturbance interacted with difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior (b …

Does Self-Care Moderate The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma Symptoms, And Parental Reflective Functioning?, Vinaya Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unresolved adverse and traumatic experiences in parents can amplify the risk of perpetuating intergenerational transmission of trauma. Parents’ positive and adaptive practices such as self-care might act as a protective factor against this ripple effect. This study investigated whether self-care moderated the relationship between parental ACEs, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and parental reflective functioning in mothers who are experiencing high psychosocial stress (n = 59) residing in rural Appalachia. Within our sample, there was no statistically significant linear relationship between our predictors, ACE score and PTSD symptoms, and our outcome of interest, maternal pre-mentalizing. We did not find empirical support for …

Gsep Research Symposium Proceedings - 2024

GSEP Research Symposium

The 8th Annual GSEP Research Symposium, was themed "Dismantling Barriers between Research and Practice: Shining a Light on Global Interdisciplinary Solutions," took place on July 18-19, 2024, at the picturesque Château d'Hauteville in Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Switzerland.

The annual symposium is hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). The symposium served as a dynamic platform for students, faculty, alums, and staff to come together and explore innovative ideas across multiple disciplines. Featuring 69 selected presentations under five distinct tracks, the proceedings showcase groundbreaking research, foster meaningful discussions, and promote professional development.

The symposium aimed to bridge …

Brain Injury And Psychosocial Trauma: Outcomes Among Justice-Involved Individuals, Mahathi D. Kosuri

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Justice-involved individuals experience disproportionately high rates of both traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and psychosocial traumas. However, these traumas have yet to be conceptualized together, leaving a chasm of research on how they interact and influence this population. The current study was the first to measure the effects of TBIs as well as psychosocial trauma among justice-involved men, within the context of executive functioning, history of justice involvement, and recidivism. A sample of men (N=95) from a private correctional facility were given the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire (OSU-TBI-ID), the Lifetime Stressor Checklist- Revised (LSC-R), along with …

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 …

Divine Retribution, Anna Payne

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Sexual abuse has always been an issue in all cultures throughout the world and history. Easton et al. delved into the problems of barriers to disclosing child sexual abuse with 460 male participants which showed that 61.7% of them reported CSA at the hands of a priest. As that study was conducted, Helsel and McCormack tackled the effects of CSA on the nervous system and psyche. While religion is used as a coping mechanism, it is also a tool for maltreatment from clergy sexually abusing children to parents seeking ways to rid the child of demons. There have been over …

Intense, Repeated, And Ever-Present: An Initial Investigation Of Traumatic Invalidation Among Sexual Minorities, Zane Browning Ballard

Dissertations (1934 -)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer individuals have been shown to experience significantly more negative health outcomes than do heterosexuals, commonly attributed to sexual minority stress. Research to date has insufficiently explained the processes by which stigma exposure becomes felt, internalized stigma and has not accounted for resemblance between presentation of mental health effects of sexual minority stress and of post-traumatic responses. Researchers have posited traumatic invalidation may partially explain the development and manifestations of reactions to sexual minority stress. The current study proposed and tested a measure of traumatic invalidation, conceptualized as instances of interpersonal, identity-based invalidation among sexual minorities. …

Regulation Through Rhythm: A Literature Review On Dance/Movement Therapy Approaches To Facilitating Nervous System Regulation, Elizabeth Barbera

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

The mental health field has started to pay attention to how trauma plays into a person’s overall mental and physical well-being. Because of this more research has shown the connection between mind and body. Yet the clinical implications and literature on theories of how to treat trauma and trauma related disorders do not always connect. This review of literature seeks to analyze the literature on Porges’, Polyvagal Theory and Amighi’s, Kestenberg Movement Profiles. An investigation of the current literature makes a connection between the phylogenetic order of both the nervous system and developmental movement. Considerations of how trauma, in …

Effectiveness Of A Peer-Supported Digital Brief Intervention: Reducing Alcohol Use & Related Harms In Young Adults With Histories Of Interpersonal Trauma, Caitlin Mcgettrick

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Alcohol is the most frequently used substance in the United States, and young adults ages 18-25 have the highest rates of heavy alcohol use. Heavy and persistent alcohol use is associated with a host of negative outcomes in young adults, including poor mental health, lower life satisfaction, cognitive impairments, poor academic performance, increased risk for motor vehicle accidents, and substance use disorders. Brief interventions (BI) are low-resource, short-term interventions designed to reduce problematic substance use and mitigate the substantial harms posed by heavy and persistent use of substances such as alcohol. BIs have limited effectiveness in trauma survivors despite trauma …

Moderating Effect Of Secondary Victimization On The Relationship Between Resilience And Sexual Assault Coping Self-Efficacy, Jamie Layton

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Sexual assault is a prevalent public health concern that effects thousands of people every year. How each of these individuals responds is different. There are multiple factors that can impact someone’s response to sexual assault, one of which is resilience, and another is secondary victimization. Legal advocacy programs can be used to help reduce secondary victimization and increase sexual assault coping self-efficacy, while controlling for age and race. This dissertation examines the way that secondary victimization moderates the relationship between resilience and sexual assault coping self-efficacy. Participants were at least 18 years old, a cisgender woman, English speaking, and a …

Trauma Is A Wound: Demonstrating The Use Of Character Analysis To Practice Clinical Analysis, Madisyn Beare

Honors Projects

Evidence-based treatments of trauma require clinicians to base their treatments on the client’s specific and individual needs, experiences, cognitions, and place in recovery. Essentially, each new client is a new and unique case, and the practice of understanding how trauma may affect an individual only comes from clinical exposure.Literature provides the public with somewhat of an aid in these circumstances: fictional characters are not real people, and therefore can undergo limitless character analyses. Analyzing a fictional character allows clinicians the ability to practice their exploration of various behavioral indicators of mental health concerns while honoring the ethical code of non-maleficence, …

Examining The Effects Of Social Group Persecution And Traumatic Humiliation In Survivors Of Torture, Tilda Cvrkel

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Refugees and asylum seekers account for 34.4 million people worldwide (UNHCR, 2021), and up to 40% of this population are survivors of torture (UNHCR, 2017). The Istanbul Protocol (United Nations, 2022) describes one of the explicit ends of torture as the severing of a person from their community, a breaking of their dignity and humanity. This may be done explicitly, through acts of traumatic humiliation. Traumatic humiliation includes acts such as forcing victims to eat religiously forbidden food, forced posing or touching others in culturally taboo sexual ways, forced nudity or clothing that reflects misgendering (such as “emasculating” clothing), widespread …

Cultural Betrayal Trauma Theory In A Sexual Orientation Minority Context, Zenaida Rivera

Wayne State University Dissertations

Sexual orientation and gender minority groups experience trauma at higher rates than their heterosexual peers (Brown & Pantalone, 2011). Additionally, studies of sexual minority individuals have shown that they experience more severe posttraumatic stress relative to heterosexual counterparts (Roberts et al., 2010). To date, efforts to explain these disparities have centered on: (1) trauma theories concerned with characteristics of the individual or their relation to the perpetrator or (2) the broader repercussions of discrimination, stigmatization, and oppression on sexual minorities. Several LGB scholars have argued that more careful and culturally competent research on the relationships between trauma exposure, LGB identity …

Antisocial Personality Disorder And Trauma In Females, Marissa Lange

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a diagnosis reserved for individuals who feature deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggressiveness, recklessness, and irresponsibility. Evidence suggests that experiencing trauma is an etiological factor in developing antisocial traits in males. The prevalence of ASPD in the U.S. is three to one, male to female. However, research indicates females are substantially underdiagnosed due to exclusionary diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.-Text Revised; DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is a personality measure that features a conceptualization of ASPD that differs from the DSM-5-TR and includes more personality-specific …

The Effect Of Completing The Ace Questionnaire On Electrodermal Activity, Nicholas P. Cherry

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The adverse childhood experience (ACE) questionnaire assesses the number of traumatic experiences during childhood and has been shown to predict negative health outcomes associated with more adverse events during childhood (Felitti et al., 1998; Mersky et al., 2013). While studies have examined the immediate impact of recent traumas on the individual’s physiology, few have examined the effect of administering questionnaires about past adverse events. This study utilized electrodermal activity to measure sympathetic nervous system activity while participants completed the ACE questionnaire compared to participants who completed a benign survey. Half of the ACE questionnaire participants were given a verbal prompt …

Waking The Nightmare: Understanding The Relationship Between Trauma And Sleep In Children, Jacklyn Ewald

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This clinical dissertation expands upon previous research investigating the impact of trauma on children’s sleep quality. Prior research utilized subjective reports of trauma’s impact on sleep in children or objective measures which studied a specific traumatic event. This study used objective measures through cardiopulmonary coupling to study sleep in children with trauma exposure. Participants completed a questionnaire which included the Pediatric Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Related Life Events Screener (PEARLS) or Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire, Pediatric quality of life scale, the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and demographic information. Trauma was defined by endorsement of any items on the …

The Examination Of Suicidal Ideation And Ptsd Among First Responders, Amanda Catalan

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

First responders are vital to our safety and protection, but this does not come without a price. First responders are often exposed to life threatening situations that put them at risk, and are exposed to those in critical condition, and unfortuantely, those who have died. This makes first responders more at risk to develop mental health conditions, particulalrly Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. (PTSD). First Responders were found to be more likely compared to civilians to develop PTSD. They were also more likely to experience suicidal ideation. First responders who met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis were also more likely to have …

Loss Of Mooring And Acculturational Resilience: Understanding Resilience, Adversity, And Trauma Among Female Muslim Arab Refugees In The United States: A Qualitative Study, Norah Fahad Aldawsari

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The phenomenon of resilience is found in the literature reviews of trauma and is considered an important element in overcoming adversity and traumas (Brown, 2015; Civan Kahve et al., 2021; Saul, 2022). Resilience is considered to be a cultural, contextual, and historical concept, and its conceptualization, illumination of influential factors, and identification of coping strategies can be considered unique from one culture to another (Saul, 2022). Many research studies highlight the importance of resilience when coping with adversity and trauma, as well as incorporating a strength-based therapeutic approach. This approach incorporates one’s social and communal interventions and elements and cultural …

An Exploration Of The Lived Experiences And Psychological States Of Migrants And Refugees, Zainab Akef, Senel Poyrazli, Isabel Quintero

The Qualitative Report

UNHCR reports that about 82.4 million individuals were forcibly displaced as they attempted to avoid persecution, conflict, or human rights violations in their home countries. In addition to traumatic experiences, refugees encounter stressors such as low income, reduced social support, and language barriers. This qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of pre-migration trauma and political detainment on mental health outcomes and living conditions. A total of eight interviewees participated in video conferencing interviews. A non-probability convenience sampling using the snowballing technique was utilized to identify participants. Data were analyzed using an inductive approach for thematic analysis. The software Dedoose …

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 …