Clinical Psychology Commons^™

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 …

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 …

When East Meets West: Filial Modes And Family Functioning In Second-Generation Chinese-Americans, Johnny Kay Wong

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Due to the global trend of population aging and the growing issue of elder care, research on filial norms are being conducted around the world (e.g., Lowenstein & Daatland, 2006). The current study is the first to examine filial piety in a sample of second-generation Chinese-Americans and added to the filial piety literature in four ways. First, the study confirmed both the two-factor structure of the Dual Filial Piety Scale (DFPS) with second-generation Chinese-Americans using a confirmatory factor analysis, with four items representing Reciprocal Filial Piety (RFP) and four items representing Authoritarian Filial Piety (AFP). Second, the study confirmed the …

Associations Of Blood Gas And Acid-Base Values With Motor And Language Outcomes In Preterm-Born Preschoolers, Christina Marie Dandar

Wayne State University Dissertations

Hypoxia and ischemia are of the most common causes of acquired brain injury in preterm infants and often results in damage to the periventricular areas of the preterm brain. Several biochemical indices are commonly associated with hypoxic-ischemic injury, including blood pH, base deficit (BD), oxygen, and carbon dioxide (pCO2). The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of early biochemical indexes of hypoxic-ischemic risk, particularly blood gas measures and acid-base balance measures, to neuropsychological outcome in preterm preschool-age children. I was particularly interested in the link between measures obtained either at birth, immediately after birth, or within the …

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 …

The Impact Of Body Image On Self-Confidence In Elite Dancers, Carissa Bethel

Applied Sport & Performance Psychology | Literature Reviews

In athletics and the performing arts, athletes and performers are expected to maintain a healthy, strong, and athletic physique. Specific professions foster a thin body image amongst athletes, which are expected to be maintained. Pressure to maintain low weight or an athletic body has been considered a risk factor for developing body image dissatisfaction (Nascimento, Luna, Fontenelle, 2012). Previous research has shown that from a health perspective body satisfaction is one of the crucial factors in the prevention of unhealthy, weight related behaviors, especially in female athletes (Kantanista et al., 2018). The research addresses body image concerns in elite performance …

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 …

Physiological Indices Of Anxiety And Self-Regulation Under Task Demands And Talk Aloud, Zachary Gerber

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Anxiety shows differential reactions to stress across two distinct constructs: anxious apprehension and anxious arousal. Differences are related to bilateral resting state activity differences as measured by ECG and MRI studies, cognitive coping strategies measure via mismatch between anticipated and actual outcomes and across behavioral performance measures. Of note is the lack of extension of these terms to physiological domains other than measures of brain activity. It has been posited that the brain interacts in a top-down regulatory fashion with the autonomic nervous system to coordinate bodily reactions with environmental information to bring about changes in behavior. Given brain and …

Proteomic Profiles Of Cytokines And Chemokines In Moderate To Severe Depression: Implications For Comorbidities And Biomarker Discovery, Kathleen T. Watson, Jennifer Keller, Caleb M. Spiro, Isaac B. Satz, Samantha V. Goncalves, Heather Pankow, Idit Kosti, Benoit Lehallier, Adolfo Sequeira, William E. Bunney, Natalie L. Rasgon, Alan F. Schatzberg

Psychology Division Scholarship

Objective: This study assessed the proteomic profiles of cytokines and chemokines in individuals with moderate to severe depression, with or without comorbid medical disorders, compared to healthy controls. Two proteomic multiplex platforms were employed for this purpose. Metods: An immunofluorescent multiplex platform and an aptamer-based method were used to evaluate 32 protein analytes from 153 individuals with moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HCs). The study focused on determining the level of agreement between the two platforms and evaluating the ability of individual analytes and principal components (PCs) to differentiate between the MDD and HC groups. …

The Role Of Medical Cannabis Use In Pain, Sleep, And Mental Health Outcomes Among Older Adults, Madison H. Maynard

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Older adults represent the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users, and they endorse cannabis use for a variety of reasons including modulation of chronic pain, mental health symptoms, and sleep concerns. Despite escalating patterns of use, current evidence leaves questions of efficacy unanswered among these groups of users. Goals of the present study were to examine the role of medicinal cannabis within subjects at the daily level on the interrelated symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep, and pain. A final sample of 106 medical cannabis users were recruited nationwide, ranging from 55 to 74 years of age (66.67% female, 82.86% white). …

The Effects Of Sexual Assault On Identity And Interpersonal Relationships Among Male And Female Victims, Ishara Jean-Francois

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The current study aimed to examine the effect of sexual assault on identity and interpersonal relationships. Although previous studies have examined the connection between sexual assault and interpersonal relationships following assault, there is a lack of research that examines possible gender differences. Further, the effect of sexual assault on identity has been understudied. Male victims are less likely to report their assault for various reasons. Therefore, it is important to focus on this demographic so their stories and experience do not go untold, and they can get the proper help and resources. College students (N= 505) completed an anonymous online …

A Meta-Analysis Of Cannabis Research: Is There Evidence Of Lasting Neurocognitive Effects?, Mark J. Crisafulli

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Cannabis use in the United States has generally increased over the past decade as more States have legalized recreational use. In conjunction with changes to the chemical makeup, which has made available cannabis more potent, the long-term effects experienced by cannabis users may have changed, and more individuals may be effected. The current study replicated the methods used in Schreiner & Dunn (2012) and Grant et al. (2003) to conduct a meta-analysis examining the neurocognitive effects of cannabis after abstinence lasting a period of at least 25 days. Previous research has found mixed results, with some studies finding significant differences …

Age-Related Microaggressions: A Semi-Replication, Stephanie Patt

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The aim of this study was to expand the literature on age-related microaggressions by replicating a previous study on this topic. Participants (n = 303) were asked for examples of daily interactions where they were treated differently because of their age. Participants described experiences of age-related microaggressions and were prompted through a series of questions via an online survey to determine the topography of the age-related microaggressions, emotional and behavioral reactions to being victimized, which aspects of the interaction were most bothersome, perpetrators and settings of the attacks, and perceived intent. A thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) was conducted …

Integrating Higher Order Fear-Based Psychopathology And Rdoc’S Acute Threat Subconstruct, Travis Cole

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Fear-based psychopathology consistently pushes the categorical boundaries established by current diagnostic systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition text revision. While classified by their differing phenotypic symptoms, physiological processes such as fear potentiated startle (FPS) and fear load are common, well-established underlying mechanisms of fear-based psychopathology and represent a prominent target for intervention. The shared mechanisms and symptom overlap among fear-based disorders lend evidence to the examination of symptoms based on a dimensional classification system. One such system, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a quantitative, bottom-up approach to mental illness classification that …

Childhood Betrayal Trauma And Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration And Victimization: The Role Of Attachment Insecurity And Affective Instability, Emma Shaughnessy

Dissertations and Theses

The present study examined the joint roles of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) and affective instability in the association between childhood betrayal trauma and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization severity. Two major societal concerns are IPV and childhood maltreatment. Childhood betrayal trauma is a particularly damaging trauma perpetrated by someone the child trusts and depends upon (e.g., parents). Childhood betrayal trauma has been associated with an increased risk of later IPV, both victimization (e.g., Babcock & DePrince, 2013) and perpetration (e.g., Linder & Collins, 2005; Zurbriggen et al., 2010). Childhood betrayal trauma also impairs the development of a secure …

Social Problem-Solving, Stress, Social Support As Predictors Of Distress Among First-Generation Students, Marisa Leib

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

First-generation students are steadily increasing in the United States, and currently comprise one third of today’s college undergraduate population (Stebleton & Jehangir, 2020). First-generation students are more likely to face various academic, social, economic, and cultural challenges when transitioning to higher education. The culmination of these stressors put first-generation students at risk for developing mental health conditions. Social problem-solving (SPS) is one variable that has been shown to buffer against the negative effects of stress among the general college student population. The purpose of the current study was to examine how specific variables contribute to psychological distress among the population …

Predictors Of Depression And Life Satisfaction Among Asian Indians Living In The United States Of America, Ramanjot Kaur Basanti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study assessed the statistical contribution of gender, acculturation, Asian values, coping self-efficacy and discrimination in the prediction of depression and life satisfaction with Asian Indian American adults. The increasing number of Asian Indians in the United States has prompted psychologists and other clinicians to seek understanding of the unique mental health needs of this population. However, previous studies on predictors of depression and life satisfaction among Asian Indians living in the United States had been scarce and inconclusive. The current study, grounded in Berry’s multidimensional theory of acculturation, used a cross-sectional correlational survey design to examine if gender, acculturation, …

Differences In Personality Pathology Among Non-Suicidal Self- Injury And Suicidal Behavior Patterns: A Latent Class Analysis, Rachel Chavin

Dissertations and Theses

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is present among a range of personality disorders (PDs) and, though distinct from suicide (Whitlock et al., 2015). Individuals who engage in NSSI and/or suicidal behavior, tend to have similar symptomology consistent with PDs, like rumination (Bowen et al., 2019), impulsivity (Hamza et al., 2015), and greater sensitivity and emotional reactivity within social situations (Selby et al., 2012). Similarly, maladaptive personality traits have shown to positively relate to NSSI and suicide (Jimenez-Treviño et al., 2011; Turner et al., 2018). Yet, research also indicates that NSSI is a heterogenous behavior that varies in severity related to frequency, age …

Traumatic Stress, Sexual Abuse-Related Shame Severity, And Participation In Commercialized Sex Based On Childhood Sexual Abuse, Barbara Ann Bailey

Dissertations and Theses

Any sexual act performed under the condition that one person will receive or provide something of value to another in exchange for the sexual act is referred to as commercial sex. Some research suggests that those who engage in commercial sex are more likely to be victimized or physically assaulted. Moreover, a frequently cited risk associated with engaging in commercial sex is a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Because commercial sex and CSA are often unreported, there is limited understanding regarding symptom severity experienced by survivors of both. It was hypothesized that individuals who had experiences of both CSA …

Is The Virtual Therapy Experience A Sufficient Means For Person-Centered Therapy? A Systematic Review, Aaron Feibush

Social Work Theses - Archive

Background: American psychologist Carl Rogers is considered the main originator of person-centered therapy (PCT), a psychotherapeutic approach which focuses on self-actualizing abilities of the client which emerge when engaged in an environment of three core conditions established by the therapist: unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence. Over the last several decades there have been thousands of studies that demonstrate support for these three core conditions as necessary features of effective therapy. However, with the emergence of psychotherapy being conducted via telehealth in the last several years, in particular since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it remains unknown …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Inhibitory Control Among Emerging Adults, Lindsay Zavislak

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include household dysfunction, abuse, and neglect, which can significantly impact mental, emotional, and physical health. 61% of the US population have experienced at least one ACE, and one in five adults have endured at least three or more ACEs before the age of 18 (Felitti et al., 1998, CDC, 2021). ACEs may also impact cognitive processes such as executive functions, attention, problem-solving, and language (Dye, 2018). Inhibition as an executive function supports self-control and impulse control, which can range from blocking an unwanted thought, to stopping oneself from engaging in a risky, potentially dangerous behavior (Diamond, …

Cognitive Functioning In Well-Controlled Asthma, Erin Walsh

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Asthma is a common lung disease that impacts lung functioning through inflammatory based mechanisms. Past research suggests that decreased blood oxygenation due to asthma attacks may impair cognitive capabilities (Irani et al., 2017). Moreover, the observed differences in cognition between those with and without asthma may be associated with disease severity or asthma control respectively in asthma populations. The current study explored differences in cognitive functioning between college students with and without self-reported asthma. Sociodemographic data, self-reported asthma severity, and measures of asthma control were collected. The current study did not find significant differences in measures of cognitive efficiency between …

Cortisol And Executive Functioning For Young Children Attending Head Start Preschool, Zachary Weaver

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Poverty circumstances impact the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal or HPA axis. Early childhood dysfunction in the HPA axis, marked by irregularities in cortisol, poses risk for the development of key executive functioning (EF) abilities. No studies have investigated the relation between cortisol and performance-based measures of EF in settings such as Head Start preschool that aim to promote positive outcomes for children facing economic hardship. This pilot study examined EF and cortisol for 50 children ages 3 to 5 years, who attended a Head Start preschool. This study was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a sample size less than half …

Exploring Perceptions Of Self-Compassion In Individuals With Complex Trauma Symptomology: A Qualitative Approach, Brooke Roseman

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The aim of the present study sought to explore the perceptions of self-compassion through the perspectives of individuals who experience complex trauma symptomology and low rates of self-compassion to inform and enhance trauma treatment. Despite a growing accumulation of studies implicating self-compassion as an integral construct for alleviating symptoms associated with complex trauma, most research designs were quantitative and did not investigate the internal processes occurring within the individual. Based on this gap, the current study expanded the scope of the current literature to include a qualitative thematic analytic approach to better understand the nuances of how this population relates …

The Role Of Reward Probability And Dispositional Mindfulness On Substance Use In Trauma-Exposed Individuals, Sam Wayne

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Background: In 2020, 93,331 people died from drug overdoses (CDC, 2021), a 32% increase from the year prior and the largest figure recorded in a single year. Understanding the risk and resilience factors are crucial to taking steps towards slowing this trend. Robust research identifies trauma exposure as a risk factor for substance use. Emerging research suggests that dispositional mindfulness and reward probability as risk-resilience factors for substance use. The current study examines two of these potential factors: dispositional mindfulness and reward probability. Method: In a cross-sectional design, residents of a drug rehabilitation program who endorsed opioid use (n …

Neuroticism And Rumination As Mechanisms By Which Adverse Childhood Experiences Increase Vulnerability To Depression In College Students, Christopher Popielarz

West Chester University Master’s Theses

There is a high prevalence of depression among college students, and the consequences of untreated depression negatively impact those students’ academic and life outcomes. The following study analyzes the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the development of depression in college years as potentially mediated by neuroticism and rumination factors. The purpose of this research is to fill a gap in the current literature to determine whether neuroticism and rumination act together as mechanisms in conferring depression in college students following ACEs. Data from four questionnaires administered to undergraduate students at West Chester University (n = 127, 55.5% female, …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Perspectives Of Elderspeak, Katelynn Shimanski

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Compared to other forms of discrimination, ageism, and specific forms of ageism such as elderspeak are understudied. Despite the fact that the majority of older adults are community-dwelling, much of the existing literature on elderspeak focuses on caregiver perceptions on elderspeak occurring in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The present study analyzed community dwelling older adult’s perceptions of elderspeak using their personal examples of experiences of elderspeak. Results indicated that the majority of participants had negative perceptions of elderspeak that would likely not be influenced by changes in contextual factors such as setting, relationship to the speaker, and gender …

Thought Control Mediates The Relation Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms In Undergraduates, Alex Elnashar

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Purpose: Body dysmorphia (BDD) has been shown to possibly result from multiple environmental factors. However, the exact mechanism by which these environmental factors play a role has yet to be examined. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and body dysmorphia symptoms through maladaptive thought control as a mediator.

Method: The current study collected data from 127 undergraduate students aged 18-25. A survey was given with questionnaires assessing demographics such as age, sex, and gender, as well as the frequency of ACEs, BDD symptoms, and obsessional beliefs. Pearson’s correlation analysis was …

Analysis Of Research On The Effects Of Auditory Stimulation On Anxiety And Stress In Clinical And General Populations, Rebecca Lee

CMC Senior Theses

The use of auditory stimulation may be a useful method in treating clinical anxiety disorders, as well as aiding in coping with daily stress among general populations. The understanding of how certain forms of auditory stimulation can increase anxiety and stress is also critical so clinicians and the general population can approach decreasing anxiety and stress in the most effective way possible. The following paper will provide a literature review on studies published after the year 2000, analyzing the various impacts of different types of auditory stimulation, including impacts of music-therapy, music and noise at different frequencies, binaural beat stimulation, …