Child Psychology Commons^™

Early Childhood Educators' Experiences With Autistic Students: A Qualitative Study Of Challenges And Strategies, Sarah Yang

Graduate Masters Theses

Early childhood education is a vital early learning context for children ages 2-5 years old, encompassing some of their most formative years of life. Autistic children, however, are expelled from early childhood education programs at disproportionately high rates—a troubling trend that points to a broader picture of how early education environments lack the support and structure that young autistic children need to succeed. Early childhood educators (ECEs) are fundamental in shaping these early education environments and autistic children’s experiences within them. However, while most ECEs want to include autistic children in their classrooms, past research indicates they feel like they …

How What We Feel Is Associated With What We Hear Early In Development: The Role Of Vision In Audio-Tactile Association, Shibo Cao

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Sound-shape correspondences, also known as bouba-kiki effect, is the preferential mapping of nonsense sound like “baluma” to rounded abstract shapes while mapping nonsense sound like “takete” to spiky abstract shapes. Such association was seen for auditory and visual stimuli (AV), and auditory and tactile stimuli, which are touched but not seen (AT). Literature comparing typically-developing and early-blind adults showed AT association differ as a function of level of visual experience, and similar finding was also found comparing typically-developing adult and children. Specifically, typically-developing younger children benefited from prior AV experience of abstract shapes and nonsense sounds. While these findings suggest …

“She’S Not A Regular Mom, She’S A Cool Mom”: A Phenomenological Study Of Permissive Maternal Parenting On An Adolescent Daughter’S Interpersonal And Intrapersonal Relationships, Chloe Anne D. Gallardo, Williana Erich R. Balane, Ailesgreis Rinoah C. Lim, Juriel Elpiz B. Lumabi, Anna Margarita E. San Juan

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Within the context of Filipino gender and cultural norms, mothers often navigate both conservative and liberal approaches in raising their daughters. Among these, permissive parenting, which emphasizes freedom and minimal control, shapes adolescent development in unique ways. Therefore, this study explores how adolescent daughters perceive their permissive mothers’ influence on intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Grounded in the Self-Determination Theory, the study examines how autonomy, relatedness, and competence emerge in their daughters’ lived experiences and mother-daughter relationships. This research addresses the lack of local literature by shedding light on mother-daughter dynamics through an interpretative phenomenological approach. This study explores the lived …

Assessing Education And Training Of Developmental Screening Tools Among Residents In A Southern Academic Medical Center, Paige Seabrook, Dustin E. Sarver, Susan Buttross

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Developmental disabilities are highly common. Early identification of developmental disabilities is critical, but many practitioners, including those in Southern U.S. states like Mississippi, do not utilize developmental screening tools.

Purpose: We aimed to identify modifiable targets within resident training experiences and their correlates using a quality improvement approach to serve as a baseline for intervention efforts.

Methods: Medical residents (N = 57) in pediatrics (n = 26), combined medicine-pediatrics (n = 12), and family medicine (n = 19) completed a survey assessing training, attitudes, practices, and perceived barriers regarding using screening tools. Perceived barriers were …

The Other Side Of The Wall: A Study On The Impact Of Paternal Incarceration On African American Children, Chance M. Wideman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the long-term psychological, relational, and systemic impacts of paternal incarceration on adult children. Guided by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Theory, Attachment Theory, and Family Process Theory, this study examines two research questions:

(1) What types of childhood trauma are associated with paternal incarceration?

(2) How does the childhood trauma associated with paternal incarceration impact one in adulthood?

The study draws on three in-depth narrative interviews with adults who experienced paternal incarceration in childhood. These interviews, framed as dialogic and reflexive spaces, illuminate the deep and layered consequences of incarceration across the lifespan.

Five central findings emerged: …

Does Legal Cynicism Mediate The Relationship Between Parental Incarceration And Child Delinquency?, Elizabeth Rose Bishop, Theresa Moore

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Research has explored the extent of the prison boom from its origin in the 1970s to the present where the issue of high prison populations remains today. However, the inmates are suffering a multifaceted array of consequences to their actions. Directly they are serving a legal sentence but indirectly families that are left behind also suffer unforeseen aftermaths. Literature diving into the prison boom and wide array of implications of incarceration has only recently begun and, as it has increased over time, has begun to turn the lens to this vulnerable population that has been left behind. Families that are …

Exploring The Impact Of Inpatient Mental Health Care On Adolescents, Alexandria M. Mckahan

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Adolescent psychiatric hospitalizations continue to rise, yet there is limited research on which daily practices inside inpatient units genuinely support engagement and recovery. This project examined how structure, staff tone, and therapeutic programming influence adolescents’ participation and emotional stability within a real inpatient setting. The study focused on three questions: how structured routines affect recovery, what challenges staff face when supporting adolescents with complex needs, and how adolescents’ engagement patterns reflect their perception of care. Using a mixed-methods case study at Mesa Springs Behavioral Health Hospital, I conducted approximately twenty field observations, semi-structured staff interviews, and descriptive engagement tracking across …

Socially Interfering Sexual Behaviors In Autistic Adolescents And Treatments As Reported By Behavior Analysts, Steven Pai

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Caregivers often express concern regarding socially interfering sexual behaviors (SISB) in autistic adolescents, yet recent literature offers limited updates on this topic. Existing survey studies have primarily relied on parent, caregiver, or educator reports, with little focus from the perspective of healthcare professionals. To address this gap, the present study surveyed Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) about the SISB they encounter, commonly utilized interventions employed, and their perceived effectiveness. Of 120 respondents, 74 qualified BCBAs provided data on behaviors such as socially interfering comments, public masturbation, touching others, and public disrobing. Public arousal, verbal remarks/comments, and sexualized gestures were the …

Assessing The Relationship Between Treatment Quality, Matching And Dosage And Juvenile Justice Outcomes Among Youth With Co-Occurring Substance Abuse And Mental Health Disorders, Kevin T. Wolff, Michael T. Baglivio, Joshua A. Lang

Publications and Research

This study examined differences among youth in deep-end juvenile justice residential placement who did, and did not, present with co-occurring disorders. The prevalence of cooccurring mental health and substance use/abuse issues was found to be 19%, far lower than that of prior work. Researchers demonstrated more similarities than differences between youth with and without co-occurring disorders, both in terms of their criminal histories and the prevalence of their criminogenic needs. Additionally, the residential programs across Florida appear to provide treatment at similarly high levels of integrity, as measured by 1) matching treatment services to the highest three dynamic risk assessed …

Behind Closed Doors, Beyond The Cell: Supporting Children Of Incarcerated Parents, Averi R. Amaro

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

This study examines the overlooked population of children affected by parental incarceration and evaluates intervention programs designed to support them. Grounded in Labeling Theory (Becker, 1963), Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (Merton, 1948), and the Restorative Justice framework (Zehr, 2002), this study explores how stigma, expectation, and repair shape the outcomes for the youth affected by parental incarceration. Drawing from qualitative and quantitative research, it analyzes the emotional, social, and educational effects of incarceration on families, identifying protective factors such as attachment, mentoring, and community support that mitigate delinquency risks. Program evaluations of Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, Parenting Inside Out, Project Avary, and …

Exiting Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Jeanne L. Allert, Sherri L. Wyatt

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This study presents one of the largest qualitative samples of exited female survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in the United States to date. One hundred and eighty-nine female survivors participated in a national survey. The participants described their motivations for exiting commercial sexual exploitation, the pathways they followed, the forces that hindered their exit and increased their recidivism, and the assistance they received that ensured a permanent exit. Some of the findings challenge popular narratives on recidivism rates and what keeps women in exploitation, revealing complex relational, behavioral, economic, and systemic influences. Participants spoke about the unanticipated value of incarceration, …

Ignite The Spark: A Multi-State Collaboration For Engaging And Retaining 4-H Volunteers, Meggan Franks, Ken Culp, Karla Knoepfli, T. Ashley Burns, Breanna Wade

Journal of Youth Development

Volunteers are critical to 4-H program delivery; however, volunteer retention remains a persistent challenge within youth development organizations. To address this concern, a coalition of 4-H volunteer specialists from the Southern region designed and delivered a five-part webinar series titled Ignite the Spark: Strategies for Engaging and Retaining 4-H Volunteers. This series provided professional development on volunteer engagement and retention for 4-H youth development professionals across the United States. Topics included personal and program readiness, recruitment, engagement, and retention strategies. More than 450 extension professionals from 12 states participated in the live sessions, with an additional 228 completing asynchronous, …

Pathways To Aggression: Understanding Peer Victimization In Adolescence, Makenzie H. Clarken

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Insight into aggression among early adolescents is important to understanding its predictors and consequences. In adolescence, aggression is typically related to underlying issues. Addressing this is important, as unmanageable aggression progressing past early adolescence can result in involvement in the criminal justice system. Studies show that peer victimization is associated with increased levels of aggression. Aggressive adolescents may attract victimization from their peers, or those who are victimized may respond with aggression. The current study followed a sample of 182 fifth and sixth graders over the course of the school year. Constructs such as aggression, peer victimization, and social withdrawal …

A Quantitative Exploration Of Risk And Protective Factors Affecting The Mental Health Of Chitimacha Tribal Youth, Daphnie Vilcan-Tanner

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationships between demographics, risk factors, and protective factors with mental distress among Chitimacha Tribal adolescents aged 12 to 18. Using a Positive Youth Development framework, the research aimed to identify the prevalence of mental distress, trauma, discrimination, and protective factors, as well as their collective and individual impacts on mental health. Data were collected through online surveys completed by 73 participants residing on or near the Chitimacha Tribal Reservation. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. Results revealed that while trauma and discrimination collectively predicted mental distress, family and community …

Motor And Phonic Tic Severity And Its Relationship To Social, Emotional, And School Functioning In Children With Tourette Syndrome From The Caregivers’ Perspective, Courtney C. Thompson

Dissertations

Abstract

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and phonic tics that is frequently associated with functional impairments. The present study examined the relationship between motor and phonic tic severity, comorbid conditions, academic accommodations, and the social, emotional, and school functioning of children with TS. Caregiver data were collected on tic severity, comorbid conditions, social, emotional, and school functioning, academic accommodations, and grades. Overall, social, emotional, and school functioning fell within the moderate range, with school functioning positively associated with social and emotional functioning. Phonic tics were linked to social functioning, whereas both motor and overall tic …

Does Training Volume Affect The Quality Of Life, Emotional Intelligence, And Performance Of Shooting Athletes With Physical Disabilities?, Farzad Rezavandzayeri, José María Cancela Carral, Helena Vila Suarez

Journal of Youth Development

This study examines that does training volume affect the quality of life, emotional intelligence, and performance of shooting athletes with physical disabilities? Ninety participants were randomly assigned to three groups based on weekly shooting durations of 2, 4, and 6 hours, maintaining a 1:1 female-tomale ratio until the total sample size reached 90 (30 per group). Quality of life, emotional intelligence, and performance were measured using the WHOQOL-BREF, SSEIT, and the Navak analysis system with an electronic scoreboard, respectively. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient identified positive correlations between shooting hours and the variables. However, the Tukeys-b test revealed no significant difference …

From 4-H To Higher Education: College Enrollment Among Indiana 4-H Alumni By Demographics, Favour C. Ojike, Casey Mull

Journal of Youth Development

Evaluating the long-term impact of college readiness programs on diverse youth presents unique challenges, particularly as youth navigate the complex and often transient path of postsecondary education. Instrumentation limitations and resource constraints can further blur the positive contributions of such programs. In an inaugural study, Indiana 4-H leveraged the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to assess the postsecondary educational journeys of its alumni across diverse demographic groups. Data from the NSC were analyzed using descriptive frequency test, chi-square tests, and correlation analysis. Key findings reveal that Indiana 4-H alumni enroll in postsecondary institutions at significantly higher rates than the state average, …

Full Issue, Volume 20, Issue 4

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Assessing Statewide Programming In Wisconsin Environmental Education: The Role Of Culture And Community In Youth Development Programming, Jody Bauer, Robert Justin Hougham, Lily Gruenewald

Journal of Youth Development

Environmental education has the potential to serve as an accessible pathway for diverse learners to improve science achievement, but environmental education (EE) institutions must strive to create spaces that welcome and provide equitable learning outcomes for all students. Embedding cultural and community input, values, and relevancy can be an important component to supporting equity in educational spaces for diverse students. This research aims to identify the status and needs of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across environmental education institutions in the state of Wisconsin, and to identify areas of strength or improvement relating to pedagogy, process, and practice. A survey …

Sport Participation, Academic Engagement, And Well-Being Among Adolescents Impacted By Parental Incarceration, Sarah Kaja, Amy L. Gower Ph.D., Frederique Corcoran, Ingie Osman, Elizabeth Shaver, Samantha J. Adler, Rebecca Shlafer

Journal of Youth Development

Millions of American adolescents have experienced the developmental consequences associated with parental incarceration. Positive youth development activities, including sports team participation, could buffer some of the risks of parental incarceration. Research on sports involvement among adolescents impacted by parental incarceration is scant and suggests their participation may be limited, though a significant body of research among adolescents in general demonstrates sports team participation is associated with better outcomes. We addressed important gaps in research by 1) estimating the prevalence of sports team participation among adolescents impacted by parental incarceration, 2) examining whether sports team participation differed by socioeconomic status in …