Child Psychology Commons^™

Childhood Adversity's Impact On Criminal Behavior, Isobel Marie Avento

Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, and family criminal history, have been identified as potential risk factors for negative physical, psychological, and behavioral health outcomes. Emerging literature suggests that ACEs are also among the primary factors leading to delinquency and adult criminal behavior. However, there is limited applied research that provides practitioners with appropriate insight to intervene when ACEs are identified among juvenile delinquents to reduce recidivism risk. This study adds to the existing literature by examining how cumulative ACEs shape criminal behavior of individuals from the onset until its desistance over the span of twenty years. Using …

Do Parents Know Best: The Impact Of Parental Sleep Knowledge And Related Factors On Sleep In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Rachel Nicole Chavez

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep problems are a common concern reported by parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The prevalence of sleep disorders in those with NDD have been reported as high as 86% compared to 25% of typically developing children (Horwood et al., 2019, Robin-Shelton, 2016). These sleep problems can have detrimental effects on cognition, development, behavior, emotion regulation, and physical health. Existing research demonstrates a significant relationship between a child’s sleep disturbances and their parents’ sleep quality and level of parenting stress. This study aimed to identify the gaps in parental sleep knowledge and examined how parent sleep quality and parental …

Early Intervention System Contextual Factors Contributing To Treatment Attendance And Clinical Outcomes, Anthony Eldridge

Theses and Dissertations

Early Intervention Programs (EI) are an established method of addressing and treating earlier childhood developmental problems that involves a system of complex processes which families must navigate to secure and maintain care. Extensive wait times and multiple service providers burdensome caregivers which may impact treatment engagement. Telehealth offers some clinical utility for improving EI service provision. However, little is known how system contextual factors predict a child’s Part B Eligibility and level of engagement with treatment. The primary aim of this study is to describe the effect that wait time, number of service providers, number of treatment services, and treatment …

Integrating Computer Science Education And Ethnic-Racial Identity Exploration Within A Social Justice Youth Development Framework, Steven Worker, Fe Moncloa, Vernelle Mitchell-Hawkins

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Assessing Staff-Youth Interaction Quality: Using The Class To Evaluate Afterschool Programs, Joel M. Hektner, Debarati Kole, Vimbayi Chinopfuktwa, Shawn L. Carlson

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Development Amidst Psychological Difficulties: Parents As Developmental Assets, Kimia Shirzad, Sunhye Bai, Jennifer P. Agans

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Newfound Belonging: Reimagining Youth Development Through Culturally Relevant Physical Activity And Literacies, Brittany Pinkerton, Christine L. Craddock

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Understanding Why Youth Depart Early From Summer Camp, Victoria Povilaitis, Robert P. Lubeznik-Warner, Katie Mcgregor-Wheatley

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Life-Skill Transfer From Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Programs, Travis R. Scheadler, Dawn Anderson Butcher, Samantha Bates

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Helpful Intentions? Impact Of Intentionality On Children's Memory For Forensically-Relevant Information, Ella P. Merriwether

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Rationale: When a child is a witness or victim of a crime, they are often asked a barrage of questions regarding when the crime took place, how many times it occurred, and how the abuse unfolded (Cross & Whitcomb, 2017; Sullivan et al., 2022). These questions can be problematic because they rely on concepts for which children may lack memory or linguistic ability to answer (Fenson et al., 2000; Friedman, 1993). One fundamental element missing from the copious research (e.g., Brubacher et al., 2012; Stolzenberg et al., 2017a; Wylie et al., 2021) on children’s ability to recount forensically-relevant information is …

Leveraging The Science Of Early Life Predictability To Inform Policies Promoting Child Health, Laura M. Glynn, Sabrina R. Liu, Candice Taylor Lucas, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Addressing the tremendous burden of early-life adversity requires constructive dialogues between scientists and policy makers to improve population health. Whereas dialogues focused on several aspects of early-life adversity have been initiated, discussion of an underrecognized form of adversity that has been observed across multiple contexts and cultures is only now emerging. Here we provide evidence for “why unpredictability?”, including: 1. Evidence that exposures to unpredictability affect child neurodevelopment, with influences that persist into adulthood. 2. The existence of a translational non-human animal model of exposure to early life unpredictability that can be capitalized upon to causally probe neurobiological mechanisms. 3. …

Subjective And Objective Sleep Quality Assessment In Adolescent Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Holly Breeden, Elizabeth Mcdonough, Amanda Glinky, Rebecca Wallace, Robbie Beyl, Colleen Leblanc

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives: There is a link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and poor sleep quality that is presumed to be multifactorial. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that impact sleep quality in this group including clinical disease activity, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and disordered social media use through questionnaires. Methods: This prospective study analyzed sleep quality in adolescent patients ages 13 to 18 with a diagnosis of IBD using objective data from wrist actigraphy and subjective report from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Additional screeners including the Short Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index or Pediatric Ulcerative …

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 …

Promoting Community Responsive, Trauma-Informed Consultation Practices In Rural School Communities: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Sequential Approach, Elly Q. Maras

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rural youth are placed at greater risk for experiencing adverse childhood experiences, developing mental health disorders, and dying by suicide when compared with the general population. Due to a widespread need for better access to mental health treatment, many are left untreated. These concerns are often exacerbated by individual and systemic risk factors that are endemic to rural communities. Rural school districts are being asked to deliver mental health services to students, with school psychologists as key stakeholders. Though school psychologists are uniquely qualified to support this need, graduate programs typically do not provide adequate coursework and training on consultation …

The Joint Impact Of Parent Health Efficacy And Child Temperament On Child Health Outcomes, Emma F. Kruis

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Children and adolescents in the United States have high rates of obesity due to several factors including low rates of physical exercise. Parents greatly impact children's short and long-term health behaviors through multiple mechanisms. The role of parental factors such as health self-efficacy in interaction with child temperament is underexplored. This present study had two primary aims: 1) to examine the main effects of parent health efficacy on child physical activity and body mass index (BMI) percentile; 2) to explore the impact of parent health efficacy as a function of child temperament and the main effects of temperament on children's …

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 …

Oral History Interview With Sharon Carnahan And Wenxian Zhang, Sharon Carnahan, Wenxian Zhang

Oral Histories

Sharon Carnahan, Ph.D. (UNC Chapel Hill 1991) is Professor of Psychology at Rollins College, where she was the Executive Director of the Hume House Child Development & Student Research Center, a laboratory preschool, from 1992-2024.

Dr. Carnahan was born in Chicago and reared in upstate NY. Her father, grandmother and 2 sisters were all teachers. The Carnahan family ran a summertime wilderness outfitting business in the Adirondacks, leading groups though weeks of primitive camping and canoeing, and she has held instructor certificates from the American National Red Cross in canoeing, boating, CPR, First Aid, and Adaptive Aquatics.

Dr. Carnahan graduated …

When Pushback Comes To Emotional Shove: Examining The Impact Of Harsh Parenting On Children’S Behavior, Elyse Christian

Master of Arts in Human Services

As parents are a child’s first teachers, high-quality information about parenting techniques is vital. Parents should have the opportunity to make informed, evidence-based decisions about the best parenting styles for each child through an understanding of appropriate developmental implications. Many parents are not aware of the adverse effects some techniques can have, even if outcomes appear positive on the surface. This research paper aimed to illustrate how harsh parenting methods can negatively impact a child’s behavior. To accomplish this, a collection of peer-reviewed articles was thoroughly reviewed. Following an introduction to the existing knowledge, 18 articles were presented. The articles …

Parent & Child Aces: How They Impact Parenting Practices & Child Development, Gracie Lenz

Master of Arts in Human Services

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are adverse events that occur in childhood and can have a profound impact on an individual’s health and development. Recent trends in literature surrounding ACEs have sought to explore the relationship between parental adversity and the intergenerational transmission of risk for adversity to the child. The aims of this review are as follows: 1) to examine current literature on how adversity impacts parenting, whether that be stemming from childhood or current in the family. 2) how parenting practices and adversity impact children’s health and development. To accomplish these objectives, research was conducted primarily by using …

Strategies For Addressing Substance Abuse And Gambling Among Youth, Kevin T. Wolff

Publications and Research

This keynote address opens with a description of recent trends in substance use and gambling among youth, sharing insights from relevant research. I highlight that while some global trends indicate a decline in adolescent substance use, other areas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, have seen increases. I emphasize the importance of comprehensive prevention strategies, such as school-based, community-based, and family-based programs, and effective treatment approaches like behavioral interventions and integrated mental health services.

On the topic of youth gambling, I highlight the rising normalization and accessibility of gambling, particularly through the internet. I describe specific challenges in regions like South …