Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Psychopathic Traits And Substance Use In The Context Of Erotic Services And Sex Exchange Among College Students, Bethany Edwards

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With increasing education expenses and characterization of our culture as “sexualized”, scholars have begun to explore student engagement in erotic services, but most research has been done outside the United States. This study tested personality correlates, prevalence and type of erotic service involvement in men and women college students in the United States. Specifically, the present study examined gender differences and whether substance use and psychopathic traits exhibit unique and/or interactive associations with both provision and consumption of erotic services among students. A total of 820 undergraduate students (54.3% women) took part in a study on personality and sexual behavior, …

Can We Talk?: Synergistic Effects Of Cognitive And Behavioral Frameworks To Address Substance Use And Abuse, Lauren Jaye Adams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral economic accounts of substance use have provided a novel framework to examine constraints that affect behaviorally driven outcomes. Several behavioral studies support the application of such frameworks to examine impulsive decision-making processes as well as how subjective reward influences substance use. Based on stimulus-response models, behavioral economic research often applies mathematical formulas to draw conclusions about behavioral outcomes. These mathematical formulas, while useful, largely ignore decades of cognitive psychology research that have examined state-based influences (e.g., mood, environment, motivational processes, etc.) on behavioral sequelae. To address this issue, the present study merged a cognitive framework into two behavioral economic …

Modifiable Characteristics Associated With Fear Of Cancer Recurrence Among Colorectal Cancer Survivors, Julie M. Cessna Palas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is regarded as one of the most common and distressing issues affecting cancer survivors. Observational studies have identified several modifiable characteristics associated with FCR. However, many of the findings are based on post-hoc analyses and come from studies in which FCR was not identified as a primary outcome. This study sought to overcome these limitations by using a model comprised of cognitive, behavioral, and social characteristics as a framework for examining modifiable characteristics associated with FCR. A sample of 120 patients who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and completed cancer treatment in the past …

Experience And Knowledge Of Elementary School Teachers Of Emotionally And Behaviorally Disordered Students, Ashley Lynn Higginbotham

Theses and Dissertations

There is very little and out dated research concerning effective teacher methods for managing emotionally and behaviorally disordered children in educational settings. With growing rates of EBD children, it is important that this population gets the attention of researchers to ensure success for them. This study attempted to evaluate the relationship between experience and knowledge of teachers in regards to managing emotionally and behaviorally disordered students. Variables included number of years of teaching, number of EBD students each teacher had in the past five years, and participation in courses or workshops on EBD students. Seventeen teachers of EBD students responded …

Nonresident Paternal Factors And The Psychosocial Adjustment Of Black Adolescents From Single-Mother Households, Erica Elizabeth Coates

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the role of nonresidential, Black fathers in the psychosocial adjustment of Black adolescents from single-mother households. Participants included 107 noncohabiting Black parental dyads with children between the ages of 12 and 18 years. Participants completed measures of positive parenting, parent-child relationship quality, depressive symptoms, coparenting relationship quality, and adolescents’ emotional and behavioral functioning. Results of hierarchical multiple regressions found that father factors contributed unique variance to adolescent outcomes when using father-reported and combined father- and mother-reported adolescent functioning. Coparenting relationship quality mediated the relationship between father-child relationship quality and adolescent behavioral problems when using mother-reported and combined …

The Relationships Among Emotion, Cognitive Dysfunction And Anosognosia In Huntington’S Disease, Danielle C. Hergert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic, neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric disturbances. Anosognosia, or lack of awareness of symptoms, is commonly observed in neurodegenerative disorders, including HD. Most theories suggest that emotion, executive functioning, and memory play important roles in self-awareness. There is limited research of anosognosia in HD and no theoretical model of how it manifests in the disease. The purpose of this study was to examine Metacognitive Knowledge, or overall beliefs about the self, and Online Awareness, or the ability to predict (Anticipatory Awareness) and evaluate (Emergent Awareness) task performance, in …

A Video Intervention For Professionals Working With Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Older Adults, Allison R. Warren

Dissertations

Abstract

There is consensus that providers who work with transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) older adults should use the language preferred by the older adult; however, self-efficacy in this particular context is unexplored. The current study compared the efficacy of three online interventions for aging-focused professionals designed to increase knowledge of TGNC-related terminology, decrease self-reported negative attitudes towards TGNC individuals, and increase self-efficacy for affirmative interactions. Employees and volunteers of area agencies on aging across the United States (N = 155) were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: written educational information, a video demonstration, or both the written educational …

Risky Sex And Alcohol-Related Behaviors And Cognitions In Adolescents: Evaluating A Values-Based Intervention, Meredith K. Chapman

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

The co-occurrence of alcohol use and risky sexual behavior is prevalent among underage drinkers and causes numerous psychosocial and health related consequences. There is a need for interventions to target these risk-taking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a values-based intervention to decrease risky sex, problematic alcohol behaviors and related expectancies. These risk-taking behaviors were also examined in the context of an acquired preparedness model (APM). Thirty-eight youth from a high school and university setting completed both time points. Participants were randomly assigned into one of two treatment conditions: a treatment as usual group …

The Effectiveness Of Text Coaching On Substance Use Treatment Outcomes In Adolescence, Emily Hu

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of text coaching on reducing substance use in adolescents participating in a school-based manualized intervention that utilizes Motivational Interviewing (MI) and motivational enhancement principles. A further aim of this study was to examine how perceived treatment satisfaction and self-efficacy mediate this relationship. Participants included 76 adolescents (62% male, 65% ethnic minority), ages 14-19 (M = 16), referred for substance use assessment and intervention by school administrators at large suburban public high schools. It was hypothesized that individuals who received the addition of text coaching would evidence a greater reduction in …

The Relationship Between Trauma And Well-Being: Moral Emotions In Sex-Trafficked Women, Gina M. Scarsella

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Cognitive models of PTSD implicate attention to threat, negative social cognition, and behavioral avoidance in perpetuating symptoms. In contrast, moral elevation and gratitude are positive socio-moral emotions theorized to facilitate attention to positive features of one’s social context and prosocial approach behavior. No research has examined the relevance of positive moral emotions in the well-being of sex-trafficked women, who may be prone to PTSD symptoms and low positive socio-moral emotions. I tested trait gratitude, elevation, and moral purity as predictors of well-being and moderators of PTSD symptoms on well-being. Participants included sex-trafficked (n = 16) and college (n …

Spatial-Relational Learning And Memory Deficits Associated With Nmdar Autoantibodies In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Brittany L. Bascetta

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Individuals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) experience inflammation that may target any organ within the body, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. Additionally, these individuals often demonstrate psychological dysfunctions including emotional and cognitive deficits; however, research is inconsistent as to the nature and cause of these dysfunctions. While there are multiple factors that may increase risk for variability in cognitive function, such as population differences, socioeconomic status (SES), mood disorders (depression and anxiety), medication effects, and disease activity, these factors do not reliably predict the severity and extent of cognitive deficits. A growing body of animal research associates autoantibodies …

Intimate Partner Violence, Perception Of Safety, And Faith Among Female College Students Attending Faith-Based Institutions, Liliya Anatolyevna Rudneva

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Many women experience intimate partner violence (IPV), and research shows this violence significantly impacts their mental health, physical health, and substance abuse. The experience of IPV may also impact other areas of life. This study aims to explore the relationship between the experiences of IPV, perception of safety, and perception of faith, among female college students attending Christian universities. Archival data from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) was used to explore this relationship among female students who experienced physical, sexual, or psychological IPV in the past twelve months. Results indicate students who experienced IPV endorsed lower perceptions of safety …

Treatment, Supervision, And Recidivism Of Individuals Convicted Of A Sex Offense In The United States: A Pilot Study, Gabriele F. Trupp

Student Theses

Although, previous research has shown that treatment programs for individuals convicted of a sex offense have the potential to lower sexual recidivism rates (Hanson & Bussiere, 1998; Hanson et al., 2002; Losel & Schmucker, 2005), there is some pause as to the methodological strength of these studies (Furby, Weinrott, & Blackshaw, 1989; Rice & Harris, 2003). Additionally, the literature is mixed regarding which elements of supervision for individuals convicted of a sex offense contribute to lower sexual recidivism (Aos, Miller, & Drake, 2006; Aytes, Olsen, Zakrajsek, Murry, & Ireson, 2001; Buttars, Huss, & Brack, 2016; McGrath, Cumming, Hoke, & Bonn-Miller, …

Camp-Based Intervention For Overweight Children With Developmental Disabilities, Allyson Davis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic and results in negative health and psychosocial outcomes. Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience increased rates of obesity compared to typically developing children, but interventions targeting health behaviors in this population have been limited. We examined the feasibility and efficacy of a health behaviors camp for children and adolescents with IDD. We also tested the correlation of child behavior problems and social skills with baseline weight status and health behaviors. Furthermore, we examined these psychosocial risk factors as moderators of camp outcomes. The camp included participants aged 9 – 15 years who …

Church Member Reactions To Religious Disaffiliation, Alexander Daniel Larson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Religious disaffiliation is a growing trend in the United States, with estimates of between 15% through 20% of Americans identifying that they have no religion and this rate is growing by roughly 1% each year. Nearly all research concerning religious disaffiliation has focused on the individuals who leave their faith, but little research has empirically explored how church members themselves react to the religious disaffiliation of individuals from their own religious community, as well as what factors potentially contribute to the formation of their attitudes and attributions towards religious disaffiliates. This study utilizes a Seventh-day Adventist sample’s reactions to a …

An Examination Of The Moderating Effect Of Proactive Coping In Nicu Nurses, Britan M. Moore

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The NICU environment is unique in that the patient population consists of critically ill neonates. Research has revealed that there are increased levels of depression, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout in nurses. Problem solving and support seeking coping strategies have been shown to be associated with lower levels of burnout and increased patient and job satisfaction in general staff nurses. Multiple linear regression and a hierarchical stepwise technique was used to conduct moderator analyses assessing whether the use of problem solving or support seeking strategies moderated the relationship between secondary traumatic stress levels and burnout as well as between depressive …

Am Happy Scale: Reliability And Validity Of A Single-Item Measure Of Happiness, Christina P. Moldovan

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Research on happiness has been abundant over the last few decades and findings have repeatedly shown that people who are happier have better life outcomes in terms of health and in nearly all other aspects of functioning. Thus, it is crucial to continue studying the construct using valid and reliable measurements. Single-item rating scales have been shown to be psychometrically sound and more convenient in comparison to multiple-item measures designed to measure certain constructs. The aim of the present study was to test the reliability and convergent and divergent validity of a single-item happiness scale, the Aréchiga-Moldovan Happy Scale (AM …

Preliminary Validation Of The Pediatric Rating Of Chronic Illness Self-Efficacy, Natacha Donoghue Emerson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Tracking self-efficacy may be useful for identifying children at risk for medical noncompliance. We created the Pediatric Rating of Chronic Illness Self-Efficacy (PRCISE) to measure self-efficacy in children and adolescents dealing with a chronic illness (CI). Method: Data were collected from 217 families where one child aged 7-20 (Mage = 13.62, SDage = 2.92; 62.7% Latino, 58.1% female) had a CI. Parent participants provided demographic information. Youth completed a depression measure, the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A), and the PRCISE. To determine the underlying latent structure of the scale, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted using parallel analysis. …

The Influence Of Health Framing On Weight Stigma And Health Knowledge, Serena D. Stevens

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With increasing rates of obesity and obesity-related health problems, recent years have seen a great deal of effort exerted to improve physical health by reducing obesity. While information about health is frequently communicated through news media, research has shown that news articles do not increase knowledge of physical health behaviors and instead increase weight stigma, which predicts decreased physical and mental health. Given that this method of presenting health information is ineffective and harmful, it is important to examine alternative ways to frame information on physical health behaviors. This study examined differential effects of three article types, Health Improvement, Weight …

Coping As A Mediator Between Symptom Burden And Distress In Lung Cancer Patients, Spring F. Gehring

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Lung cancer is considered the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. An estimated 224,390 new cases of lung cancer are expected to be diagnosed and 158,080 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer in 2016 (National Institutes of Health, 2016; Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2016). Lung cancer patients also report the highest levels of psychological distress and symptom burden than any other forms of cancer (Linden, Vodermaier, MacKenzie, & Greig, 2012). Given the prevalence and impact of lung cancer, it is imperative to address the emotional toll this diagnosis can have on those suffering with the disease to develop …