Clinical Psychology Commons^™

The Use Of A Gambling Accelerator To Reduce Risky Wagering In Problem Gamblers, James Broussard

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

We evaluated an intervention based on a digital gambling accelerator to ascertain whether the accelerator is equally effective as brief Motivational Interviewing (MI) to change gambling behavior compared to a control group. Frequent scratch-off lottery gamblers recruited from the community (42 at-risk and 45 probable pathological gamblers) were randomly assigned to either a digital gambling accelerator intervention, brief MI, or a control task. After the interventions, participants were offered the opportunity to purchase authentic scratch-off tickets using a portion or all of their participant remuneration ($30). Neither of the two active interventions reduced the purchasing of scratch-off tickets. However, changes …

Repetitive Negative Thinking And The Maintenance Of Social Appearance Anxiety : An Experimental Manipulation Using Psychophysiological And Subjective Measurement, Erin Elizabeth Reilly

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Social appearance anxiety (SAA), which refers to fear of having one’s appearance negatively evaluated by others, has been posited to be a risk factor for the development of both eating pathology and social anxiety, but the processes through which this factor is maintained over time remain unclear. The current study aims to evaluate repetitive negative thinking (RNT) as a process through which SAA is maintained over time. Undergraduate females (N = 126) attended an appointment during which they were asked to complete self-report measurements, make an impromptu speech task related to appearance to induce SAA, were randomized to either engage …

Intra-Exposure Levels Of Anxious Arousal In A Lab-Based Exposure Intervention For Fear Of Public Speaking, Matteo Bugatti

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background. Exposure therapy is effective for addressing social anxiety and public speaking fears, yet there are differences in suggested exposure strategies among empirically supported, manualized treatments. Manualized exposure strategies differ in the relative theoretical emphasis that underpins the specific procedural approach. Some approaches rely more heavily on the principle of habituation and formal cognitive restructuring; alternative approaches emphasize inhibitory learning and the individual's response to his/her own negative emotions, while promoting present-focused awareness. Innovative process methods can shed light on the similarities and differences between these approaches. Objectives. The goal of this study was to examine differences in anxious arousal …

Does What You Think You Feel, Impact What You Actually Eat? : An Examination Of Alexithymia, Interoceptive Awareness, And Loss Of Control Eating In Young Women, Lisa Marie Anderson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Affect regulation theories posit that loss of control (LOC) and binge eating are maintained via an emotion regulation process, through which eating relieves negative affect and aversive mood states. LOC has been identified as a key binge eating characteristic associated with psychopathology and poor psychological outcomes. As such, maladaptive emotion regulation has been identified as a central risk factor for binge eating, as theories posit that individuals binge eat in response to negative mood states. However, empirical studies testing the link between induced negative mood and subsequent food intake in people with LOC and binge eating have yielded inconsistent findings. …

Eating Pathology In Sexual Minority Men : Evaluating An Objectification Theory Framework And The Role Of Identity Acceptance Concerns, Joseph Michael Donahue

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Research supports objectification theory as providing a framework for understanding how eating disturbances can develop in females. However, research among men—specifically sexual minority men who are disproportionally affected by such issues—is deficient. The current study sought to further assess whether the relations hypothesized by objectification theory were significant among sexual minority males. In addition, the current study explored the role of sexual orientation acceptance concerns as a moderating variable. To evaluate the current study’s aims, sexual minority males (N=208) were recruited online and asked to complete self-report measurements related to the objectification theory, eating pathology, and sexual orientation identity. Results …

A Brief Motivational Intervention For Marijuana Use In College Students, Vivian S. Hwang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The prevalence of marijuana use has risen among young adults, and marijuana is

Sexism Makes Me Sick : An Examination Of Potential Mediators In The Link Between Sexism And Women's Mental Health, Kristin L. Mclaughlin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

It has been well established in the literature that discrimination is related to negative mental health outcomes. Consistent with this research, studies have found women’s exposure to sexist discrimination is associated with a host of mental health problems. Moreover, research on women’s exposure to a specific form of sexism called sexual objectification suggests links with specific psychological outcomes related to poor body image and eating problems. Based on a theoretical framework informed by system justification theory, this study attempted to unify and extend research on perceived sexism and objectification theory by investigating benevolent sexism and self-objectification as potential mediators of …

The Impact Of Stress On Steroid Hormones And Cue Reactivity In Smokers And Gamblers, Stephanie Elaine Wemm

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Addictions, both substance and behavioral, have been conceptualized as having similar biopsychosocial processes with different opportunistic expressions (Shaffer et al., 2004). Biological processes such as the hormonal response to stress as measured by cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and the ratio of the DHEA/cortisol may be among the variables underlying the disposition to develop an addictive disorder, regardless of whether it is a substance-based or a so-called behavioral addiction. The current study aimed to examine whether physiological and psychological reactions to stress are similar in high-frequency smokers and gamblers. The subjective (urges, cravings) and physiological responses (skin conductance and heart rate) of …

Meaning In Life As A Moderator Of Resilience And Traumatic Stress: A Study Of Protective Factors And Sex Differences In A Sample Of Mississippi Coastal Residents Seeking Mental Health Services After The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Bethany Jane Aiena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In April of 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded, releasing millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, becoming the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Disasters often lead to a decrease in psychological well-being for those affected by the disaster. Positive psychological constructs such as resilience and perceived meaning in life have been shown to be significant protective factors against the negative psychological effects of a disaster. Utilizing a sample of 1119 adults seeking mental health services along the coast of Mississippi after the spill, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between these …

On The Relationship Between Meaning And Prejudice: Examining Self-Transcendence And Value-Behavior Consistency In A Sample Of College Students, Ivonne Andrea Florez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined whether the value of self-transcendence and the degree to which individuals report behaving consistently with their values (value-behavior consistency) impact the association of meaning and racial prejudice against White and Black individuals. The study was conducted with a college population from a university located in the southern United States. The final sample was composed of 362 people, 281 females and 81 males, with a majority of participants self-identifying as White (73.8%). To assess meaning, the Purpose in Life test – Short Form (PIL-SF) and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire Presence subscale (MLQ-Presence) were administered. Social judgment …

Predictors Of Obesity, Acculturation, And Perceived Stress In Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) Immigrants In The United States, Zekeriya Temircan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases among the ethnic minorities for adult immigrants in the United States. There have been many research studies conducted to examine the relationship between the predictors and obesity in minority groups in the United States, that relationship was unknown in Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) immigrant populations. Guided by social ecological model and acculturation theory, this study examined the predictors of obesity in the Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) immigrant population in the western United States. Data were collected from 109 participants using CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. …

The Effect Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Chiropractic Care On Stress Reduction, Tracee Felice Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Decreasing the impact of stressors on the body remains an important area of study for the affected population. While there is evidence showing that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a psychotherapy approach, results in decreased stress, little was found about the effects of chiropractic treatment (CC) on stress. The purpose of this quantitative archival study was to determine whether the combination therapy of CC and CBT was more effective in decreasing stress than CBT independently. Cognitive neuropsychology served as the theoretical lens. Client data from a mental health and chiropractic care center on the West coast (N = 112) were divided …

The Lived Experiences Of Men Attracted To Minors And Their Therapy-Seeking Behaviors, Heather Cacciatori

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the lived experiences of men attracted to minors who believed they would benefit from therapy but did not seek out or attend therapeutic services; and sought to gain an understanding of how the decision to seek help or not impacted their well-being. Participants included 7 men who were recruited through the B4U-ACT online forum, which provides peer support for the minor attracted community. Participants were interviewed over Skype. Data from these interviews was analyzed and coded according to the interpretative phenomenological method as outlined by Smith et al. (2012). Five main themes emerged, providing insight as to …

Static-99, Mnsost-R, And Pcl-R In Predicting Recidivism Among Texas' Sexual Violent Predators, Diana Jefferson Jefferson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recidivism within the sexually violent predator (SVP) population has gained worldwide attention because of the lack of protection offered to the victims that may lead to loss of life. Behavioral theory suggests that accuracy of predictive behaviors based on empirical judgement is more reliable than that based on clinical judgement. The purpose of this research was to see whether three actuarial assessment tools, Static-99, PCL-R, and MnSOST-R, could predict recidivism and whether the combination of the three-increased predictive value in the Texas SVP population. As yet, the literature provides no evidence. The Texas Open Record System provided assessment scores and …

The Relationship Between Emerging Adulthood And Communication Patterns, Eli Felt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults who have not developed effective communication skills are at an increased risk of

having unsuccessful relationships. Children of divorce are less likely to have communication behaviors modeled to them, resulting in undeveloped communication and therefore a higher likelihood to get divorced themselves. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to determine if there was an association between the successful transition to emerging adulthood and the development of communication behaviors among adults. The research question focused on whether successful transition through emerging adulthood positively discriminates communication patterns among adults, specifically using Gottman's framework of the Four Horsemen of the …

Rumination And Self-Medication Among Women With Posttraumatic Stress And Alcohol Use Disorders, Deeann Dawn Lizarraga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often develop alcohol use disorders (AUD) resulting from the use of alcohol to self-medicate from negative affect. Research supports the relationship between comorbid PTSD and AUD, and studies with women additionally identify the role of rumination, or excessive thinking about distress and its causes, as a precipitating aspect leading to self-medication. Female-based data is sparse, however, regarding specific thought patterns and factors which trigger the need to self-medicate with alcohol. Numerous researchers have studied the relationship between stress, anxiety, and alcohol use, although, there exists a need for qualitative studies providing thick, rich information. …

Symptom Changes In Children And Adolescents With Internalizing Conditions During Treatment, Rachel Samantha Bertelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health conditions, such as internalizing disorders, in children and adolescents have been attributed to higher than expected levels of high school dropouts, juvenile crimes, and suicide. Previous research studies provide limited information on factors influencing treatment success for children and adolescents diagnosed with internalizing disorders. This study utilized a nonequivalent comparison group design gathered from an archived data set from a sample of children and adolescents (N = 215) who participated in an intensive outpatient managed mental health care treatment program. Self-report data were retrieved from previous responses to the Children's Depression Inventory and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale …

The Relationships Among Kindergarten Entrance Age, Preschool Experience, And Reading Achievement, Courtney Lynne Kowalczyk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children participating in kindergarten programming across the United States are expected to perform at a higher level than ever before. Many of these children are unprepared and developmentally unready for the academic tasks that await them. Researchers have shown that an older age at the start of kindergarten is a predictor of academic achievement. Researchers have also shown that prior preschool experience impacts academic achievement. What has been unknown though is how the relationship between both beginning kindergarten at an older age and attending preschool prior to beginning kindergarten impacts academic success. Using Piaget's theory of development as a foundation, …

Mental Health Service Utilization Among At-Risk Urban Adolescents: The Relative Contributions Of Perceived Need, Attitude, And Spirituality/Religiosity, Yi Tak Tsang

Wayne State University Theses

Adolescence has been described as “a time of storm and stress” (Arnett, 1999; Hall, 1904). In fact, a national survey in the United States estimated that adolescents were twice as likely than adults to report at least one major depressive episode in the past 12 months (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2016). In particular, adolescents who are poor, who belong to ethnic minority groups, and who live in urban neighborhoods are more vulnerable to mood and behavioral symptoms than their White/Caucasian counterparts who grow up in relatively affluent suburban and rural areas (Beyers, Bates, Pettit, & Dodge, 2003; …

Comparing Brief Acceptance And Control-Based Interventions: Evaluating Public Speaking Performance In Socially-Anxious Individuals, Samuel Spencer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Social anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders in our society today. Although Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered a gold standard for the treatment of anxiety disorders, some individuals do not respond to CBT, and other approaches to treatment continue to be investigated. One alternative approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which has been used successfully to treat social anxiety, and has also tentatively been shown to be effective for increasing public speaking performance. The current study compared the effects of brief acceptance- and cognitive-control-based intervention protocols on public speaking performance in socially-anxious college students …