Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Differences In Characteristics Of Criminal Behavior Between Solo And Team Serial Killers, Matthew Woster

Dissertations

Criminal Profiling and classification of serial killers has been an expanding area of research for decades. Recent research has called into question the accuracy and utility of these systems, and calls for further research and development. This study aims to use the Serial Killer Database (SKDB) to examine and classify differences in criminal behavior between serial killers who act alone versus those who act in pairs, groups, or teams. The specific aim of this study is to examine whether there are significant differences between Solo Serial Killers and Team Serial Killers in the Number of Victims, Length of Career, Method …

The Impact Of Contact Experiences On Personality And Mental Illness Stigma In The Uae, Michelle Maria Antonia Tomas Smigura

Psychology Theses

Mental health illness is one of the most stigmatized diseases globally. Mental illness stigma continues to play an important role that shapes societal responses to individuals with mental illness. Owing to the negative consequences of stigma endorsed by the public and thereby internalized by the individual, better understanding is required to identify how these public negative attitudes develop towards people with mental illness. This study examined whether one’s contact experiences with mental illness influenced the role that their personality plays on mental illness stigma. Participants (N = 203) completed the Social Distance Scale, 20-item short form of the International Personality …

Mediators Of The Relationship Between Mindfulness And E-Cigarette Use, Denise Dao Tran

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

E-cigarettes have increased in popularity and production over the years. Although many individuals believe that e-cigarettes are safe for use, there is increasing evidence that e-cigarette use is associated with negative health consequences. Mindfulness is negatively associated with substance use including traditional cigarette smoking. Although there is limited research on the relationship between mindfulness and e-cigarette use, research on the relationship between mindfulness and traditional cigarette smoking may serve as a guide for e-cigarette use research. The objective of the present study is to test whether mindfulness is a protective factor against e-cigarette use through its effect on variables that …

Dementia And Competency In United States Courtrooms: A Case Law Review, Dana Miller

Student Theses

The number of older adults in the United States is rising, as is the incidence of dementia. Older adults are coming into contact with the criminal justice system at greater rates than previously encountered. As such, individuals with dementia are likely appearing in courts at an unprecedented rate. While many civil competencies commonly related to older adults are well researched, competency in the criminal legal system has not received the same level of recognition in this population. This is particularly concerning given the growing awareness of the relevance of dementia in some criminal competencies (e.g., Madison v. Alabama, 2019). Of …

16pf Couples Counseling Report: Predictors Of Marital Satisfaction, Personality Similarity, And Relationship Adjustment Among Spouses Of Female Combat Veterans Following Deployment, Julian Enrique Vives

Theses and Dissertations

The current literature regarding military populations often neglects the difficulties the spouses of service members face with less emphasis on male spouses of female service members. The current research project utilized the 16 Personality Factor Couple’s Counseling Report (16PF CCR) variables to aid in expounding the factors that influence relationship functioning among male spouses of female combat veterans post-deployment. The results of the present study demonstrated a significant correlation between the nine satisfaction scores and the Overall Marital Satisfaction score, whereby Caring and Affection accounted for the majority of the variance explained in Overall Marital Satisfaction. Tension (Factor Q4) significantly …

Psychoanalytic Determinates Of The Love/Work Balance In A Cohort Of African-American Men, Joseph Ellison Brown

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

With the data derived from the life-narratives of a cohort of six African-American men, this study is an attempt to discern the effect that racial discrimination may have had on the love/work balance that developed as each participant progressed through his life-arc. The varying degrees of love/work imbalance, in the lives of the participants, are examined using a psychoanalytic framework. Through the use of this framework, each participant’s work environment becomes derivative of the aggressive aspects of the id and the family, friends and community environment (love) becomes derivative of the narcissistic aspects of the id. Although the participants, to …

The Impact Of Social Media On Mental Health: A Mixed-Methods Research Of Service Providers’ Awareness, Sarah Nichole Koehler, Bobbie Rose Parrell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The relationship between heavy use of social media and an increase in mental health disorders has long been established. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding mental health practitioners/providers’ responses to this issue. This mixed-methods research embraced two theoretical perspectives—Ecological Model and Generalist Intervention Model—toward determining the extent to which mental health practitioners/providers assess for the impact of heightened use of social media on mental health. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 95 mental health practitioners (N = 95) via Qualtrics.

Non-parametric tests and descriptive statistics showed that prior training, agency’s values, and credentials impact mental health …

Developmental Implications Of Parentification: An Examination Of Ethnic Variation And Loneliness, Bertha Preciado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Parentification is a parent-child role reversal wherein the parent abdicates their parental responsibilities towards the child and the child responds by performing caretaking behaviors towards their parent. Parentification has previously been examined using a Western theoretical framework and with European/White Americans samples. Within the parentification literature, feelings of loneliness have been mentioned as an outcome of parentified individuals; however, the topic had yet to be examined empirically and with an ethnically diverse sample. The current study investigated parentification and feelings of loneliness across African/Black, Latinx, and European/White American individuals. It was found that ethnic minorities experienced higher levels of parentification …

The Role Of Emotional Acceptance And Awareness In The Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms And Posttraumatic Growth Among Survivors Of Sexual Assault, Cecilia Maria Melendez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (Morgan & Oudekerk, 2019), sexual assault is defined as an act or attempted act of unwanted sexual violence. The psychological consequences following an assault can lead to a number of negative mental health outcomes, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reported that 22.2% of survivors experience symptoms of PTSD following exposure to sexual victimization (Black et al., 2011). However, recent research suggests positive outcomes can also result following trauma, such as enhanced meaning making or clarification of values. Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) refers to a transformation …

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms As A Moderator Of Affective Reactions To Perceived Interpersonal Behaviors, Narayan B. Singh

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms often struggle with heightened sensitivity and arousal in response to perceived threats. Moreover, interpersonal dysfunction in GAD has become increasingly a focus of empirical investigation and treatment, given the possibility that responses to social interactions may contribute to GAD symptom maintenance. Laboratory studies and cross-sectional trait assessments of interpersonal problems comprise most of our understanding of interpersonal dysfunction in GAD. However, how GAD symptoms interact with perceived interpersonal threats to predict affective responses (increased arousal, lower valence) within daily life remains poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine …

16pf Couples Counseling Report: Predictors Of Marital Satisfaction, Personality Similarity And Relationship Adjustment Of Clinical Vs. Non-Clinical Male Spouses, Jovany Avendano

Theses and Dissertations

The present study utilized the 16 Personality Factor Couple’s Counseling Report (16PF-CCR) to contribute to the current paucity of research evaluating group differences between males receiving marital therapy and non-clinical males on personality factors which may influence marital satisfaction and relationship adjustment. Results were obtained from a total of 107 heterosexual males who have either received marital counseling or not (53 Non-Clinical and 54 Clinical). Statistically significant group membership differences were found in the Primary Personality Factors, including Warmth and Vigilance; however, there were no significant findings in the Global Personality Factors. Group differences were similarly observed when evaluating the …

Exploration Of Physician Attitudes About Self-Care And Personal Mental Health: Possible Barriers To Physician Well Being, Candich Farrar

Dissertations

The present study was designed to examine physicians’ mental health, attitudes, and behaviors toward self-care and the utilization of mental health services. As the medical field can be very demanding and exhausting, it is believed that many physicians suffer from mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. However, it was theorized that many physicians do not engage in adequate self-care regimes or seek support and suppress their symptoms, which may further exacerbate their illnesses. A thorough literature review was performed to explore the following: possible barriers to physicians seeking mental health services to address high rates of mental illnesses, physicians …

Body Image Role On Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Maria Ceja, Stephani Aguiar-Vasquez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the association between adolescents body image concerns and self-injurious behaviors among students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. The study is exploratory in nature and uses a quantitative design. The study collected archival data from counseling services provided through alocal school district’s counseling program. More specifically, the archival data was retrieved from initial assessments gathered from students participating in the local school district’s counseling program. Additionally, this research is a call for action that seeks to examine and support the further development of programs geared towards students. This study seeks to expand on the research that guides …

Women's Experiences Of Internalized Sexism, Syeda Rahmani

Dissertations

This study involved exploring the lived experiences of women with sexism and its internalization. Ten women participated in the study to share their experiences through personal narratives. The study was qualitative in nature and results yielded coded phenomenological themes related to the experiences of sexism and how it can become internalized. The study’s results are divided into themes and subthemes and supported by direct quotes from the participants. Themes included development & socialization across a range of environments, gender expectations, family of origin, intergenerational sexism, relationship conflict, sexism at work, career expectations, loss of income, intersectional experience of discrimination, appearance …

An Interoperative Phenomenological Analysis Of Hindu Psychologists And The Impact Of Hinduism On Their Clinical Work, Kinjal Panchal

Dissertations

This study was an exploration of spirituality, cultural upbringing, and deeply rooted Eastern philosophy and their conscious and unconscious impact on the way Hindu psychologists practice in the field. The purpose was to take into consideration the four major theories of Hinduism and to assess whether psychologists of Hindu origin integrated them into their clinical work. The study used qualitative methods, specifically interpretative phenomenological analysis, as the main strategy of inquiry for data collection and analysis. The goal was to broaden the understanding of how spiritual beliefs can inform a psychologist’s clinical approach and lead to a better understanding of …

Predictors Of Quality Of Life Among An International Sample Of Mothers Of Children 12 And Under With Corpus Callosum Disorders, Peggy Henninger, Donna M. L. Heretick

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Previous research supports application of the Double ABCX model of family adaptation of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders. This is the first study to consider processes of adaptation among parents of children with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC). Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, an international sample of 266 mothers of children, aged 12 or under, with ACC completed an online survey. Parental reports of stress, resources, coping, and sense of coherence were evaluated as predictors of four subdimensions of parental quality of life for 178 mothers. In general, findings support the Double …

Help-Seeking Behaviors In Asian American Adolescents And College Students, Janelle Wee, Jingyan Gu, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The aim of this review is to examine Asian American (ASA) adolescents’ and college students’ help-seeking behaviors, to understand specific barriers to mental health service utilization. Despite a decreased likelihood of seeking treatment (SAMHSA, 2014), even those who sought treatment reported a greater severity of symptoms compared to their White counterparts (U.S. DHHS, 2001). ASA adolescents were less inclined to use school-based mental health services (SBMHS) compared to their peers (Wang et al., 2018), with parents reporting several barriers to utilizing SBMHS. ASA college students with a greater sense of ethnic identity also avoided seeking help (Tummala-Narra et al., 2018).

Affective Reactivity To Positive Daily Events In Adolescence, Katherine Benjamin, Sarah Chun, Amy Mezulis

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The experience of positive events is associated with increased positive affect (PA), which can beneficially impact physical and mental health outcomes of adolescents. This study investigated whether different types of positive events elicit different amounts of PA, and whether sex would moderate these effects. Participants were 136 adolescents (Mage = 13.03 years, 51.3% female). Results indicated that interpersonal and independent events predicted greater PA reactivity than non-interpersonal and dependent events, respectively. Sex did not moderate these effects. Furthermore, results indicated that interpersonal, dependent events were associated with the highest adolescent mean PA compared to any other combination of event types.

Evaluating The Relation Between Adhd Symptoms And Externalizing Behaviors In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Miles Feller, Quinnett Chloe, Kaitlyn Drafton, Tara Rutter, Beverly Wilson, Anna Shaarda, Nicky Navarro, Indy Hall, Devon Yamane, Jennifer Carron

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The risk for externalizing behaviors (Bos et al., 2018) complicates the comorbidity between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To investigate whether the relation between ASD status (ASD vs typical development, TD) and externalizing behaviors would vary by differences in ADHD symptoms, parent-child dyads (3-7yo), 127 TD (47.7% female) and 81 children with ASD (16.7% female), participated. The linear regression tested model with significant main and interaction effects explained 43.3% of variance, overall. Consistent with research, externalizing problems were higher for both groups when ADHD symptoms were also high compared to low, an effect stronger for TD children.

Maskmaker, Maskmaker, Make Me A Mask: A Study Of The Effect Of Resilient Coping Behavior On Positive And Negative Affect During Covid-19., Linda Montano, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

During times of crisis, resilient coping behavior may be an important pathway for improving positive and negative affect. This relationship is explored via a moderated mediation model using data from a survey administered to volunteer maskmaskers during COVID-19. We hypothesize there will be a significant effect of resilient coping on affect, mediated through mask making hours. Change to employment is likely to moderate this indirect effect as well as interact directly with the coping to affect relationship. If supported, our hypotheses support the notion that engaging in a prosocial behavior such as Maskmaking may contribute positively to mental health outcomes.