Examining The Measurement Invariance Of The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form Internalizing Specific Problem Scales In African- American And Caucasian Men,
2015
Old Dominion University
Examining The Measurement Invariance Of The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form Internalizing Specific Problem Scales In African- American And Caucasian Men, Megan Anne Brokenbourgh
Psychology Theses & Dissertations
Test bias has long been an area of investigation in the personality assessment literature, including the MMPI-2-RF. Research on previous versions of the MMPI and MMPI-2-RF has pointed to mixed results. The current study aims to examine test bias on the MMPI-2-RF’s nine Internalizing Specific Problem Scales by examining measurement invariance using MIMIC modeling and investigating differential item functioning (DIF). After removal of invalid protocols, the first sample consisted of 2,980 protocols from various settings requested from Pearson (255 African American and 2,755 Caucasian protocols). The second sample consisted of 1,379 valid protocols from psychiatric inpatient settings (1,245 Caucasian and …
Effects Of Varying Degrees Of Fixed And Random Responding On The Validity Of Score Interpretation For The Sp And Psy-5 Scales Of The Mmpi-2-Rf,
2015
Old Dominion University
Effects Of Varying Degrees Of Fixed And Random Responding On The Validity Of Score Interpretation For The Sp And Psy-5 Scales Of The Mmpi-2-Rf, Joseph Brooks Minifie
Psychology Theses & Dissertations
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – 2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2- RF; Tellegen & Ben-Porath, 2008/2011) is a widely used self-report measure of psychopathology and personality. However, the self-report format of the MMPI-2-RF suggests that interpretation of its scales and the clinical recommendations that follow are vulnerable to invalid response styles. This dissertation builds upon previous research (Handel, Ben-Porath, Tellegen, & Archer, 2010) to examine the effect of random and fixed responding, as measured by the VRIN-r and TRIN-r Scales, on the 28 SP and PSY-5 Scales. A computer simulation procedure was used to insert increasing degrees of inconsistent responding into …
Students' Perspectives After Participation In A Mandated College Level Alcohol Intervention Program: A Phenomenological Study,
2015
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Students' Perspectives After Participation In A Mandated College Level Alcohol Intervention Program: A Phenomenological Study, Suzanna L. Guizar
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Alcohol abuse among college students continues to be a significant problem by which the consequences impact the student, their peers, and the university. Although quantitative research with volunteer participants supports the use of enhanced brief motivational interventions and cognitive behavioral skills training in reducing risky drinking behavior (binge drinking), research with mandated students has shown inconsistent findings. The current study is a phenomenological qualitative study exploring the students’ perspectives after attending a mandated college-level alcohol intervention program. Mandated students are students who have been referred to an alcohol intervention as a result of violating an alcohol related policy on campus. …
Neural Plasticity In Response To Intervention In Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders,
2015
Marquette University
Neural Plasticity In Response To Intervention In Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sheryl Jayne Stevens
Dissertations (1934 -)
Current theories of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) suggest that they may develop from the transactional interaction between biological risk factors and environmental processes (Dawson et al., 2009). Due to the brain’s experience-expectant nature, one’s degree of social exposure may have a significant impact on their brain development and behavioral presentation. In addition to the primary critical neurodevelopmental period identified in early childhood, recent research has demonstrated a second period of substantial neurodevelopment during the adolescent period (Sisk & Foster, 2004). This study investigated the neural and behavioral impact of participation in an empirically validated behavioral intervention (The Program for the …
Primary And Family Stigma Of Mental Illness: Comparing Perceptions Of African Americans And European Americans,
2015
Marquette University
Primary And Family Stigma Of Mental Illness: Comparing Perceptions Of African Americans And European Americans, Julia Rubinshteyn
Dissertations (1934 -)
Research has shown that stigma is a significant barrier to mental health treatment seeking, and that African Americans tend to have significantly lower rates of treatment seeking compared to European Americans (Wang et al., 2005). Stigma affecting the individual directly is called primary stigma (Corrigan & Kleinlein, 2005), whereas stigma affecting the individual’s family members is referred to as family stigma. In the present study, a vignette was presented to 287 undergraduate students at Marquette University. The study examined attitudes of primary and family stigma toward a target based on race (European American or African American) and type of mental …
Examination Of A Parent-Assisted, Friendship-Building Program For Adolescents With Adhd,
2015
Marquette University
Examination Of A Parent-Assisted, Friendship-Building Program For Adolescents With Adhd, Denise Marie Gardner
Dissertations (1934 -)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder that often contributes to impairment in multiple domains, including peer functioning. Specifically, youth with ADHD tend to have fewer friends and lower quality friendships, experience greater peer victimization, and engage in more inappropriate social behaviors than typically developing peers. Researchers have highlighted the need for long-term interventions that directly address peer difficulties, emphasize dyadic friendship-building, and include a parent component. Thus, the current pilot study will examine the effectiveness of PEERS, a parent-assisted, friendship-building program, at establishing mutual friendships and improving current peer relationships in adolescents with ADHD. Participants in the study …
A Daily Diary Investigation Of Discrimination And Binge Eating Among Lesbian Women,
2015
Old Dominion University
A Daily Diary Investigation Of Discrimination And Binge Eating Among Lesbian Women, Tyler Mason
Psychology Theses & Dissertations
Lesbian women may experience discrimination because of their gender and their sexual orientation termed sexism and heterosexism, respectively. Both sexism and heterosexism are associated with increased psychological distress and negative affect among lesbian women. Furthermore, preliminary evidence suggests that heterosexism is associated with binge eating among lesbian women. However, the relationship between discrimination and binge eating has received limited empirical examination. This study examined associations between sexism and heterosexism, negative affect, and binge eating using a daily diary methodology. Participants were recruited online through social media and LGBT organizations after completing an online eligibility survey with measures of demographics, binge …
The Effects Of Alcohol On The Interpretation Of Social And Emotional Cues: A Field Study Of College Student Drinking, Emotion Recognition, And Perceptions Of A Hypothetical Sexual Assault,
2015
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Effects Of Alcohol On The Interpretation Of Social And Emotional Cues: A Field Study Of College Student Drinking, Emotion Recognition, And Perceptions Of A Hypothetical Sexual Assault, Alexander James Melkonian
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Alcohol use and abuse among emerging adults is highly correlated with increased risk for sexual victimization. Alcohol myopia theory has been used to explain impairments in Social information processing resulting in decreased attention to environmental Social cues including risk factors for sexual assault as well as facial emotional recognition. Those with deficits in Social information processing may be at particular risk for the misperception of salient risk factors for sexual assault by victims, perpetrators, and bystanders when intoxicated. In this naturalistic field study, participants who had been consuming alcohol were recruited to engage in tasks of facial emotion recognition and …
Child Appraisals Of Interparental Conflict: The Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence And The Quality Of Parent-Child Relationships,
2015
DePaul University
Child Appraisals Of Interparental Conflict: The Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence And The Quality Of Parent-Child Relationships, Caleb J. Figge
College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations
Children’s appraisals of parental conflict, particularly perceived levels of threat, self-blame, and coping efficacy, have consistently been shown to mediate the association between conflict exposure and maladaptive outcomes. However, few studies have examined factors that may contribute to children’s use of these maladaptive appraisals, particularly among children exposed to more severe forms of interparental conflict. The current study will examine the influence of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and parent-child relationship quality on children’s appraisals of conflict, evaluating if these factors have independent effects, if they interact (i.e., parent-child relationship quality buffers the effect of IPV) or if parent-child relationship …
The Importance Of Family Meals And Sedentary Behavior In Understanding Childhood Depression And Obesity,
2015
DePaul University
The Importance Of Family Meals And Sedentary Behavior In Understanding Childhood Depression And Obesity, Draycen D. Decator
College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations
The ongoing obesity epidemic within the United States is a problem that has received a lot of attention, but is still inadequately understood. Understanding the epidemic requires examining BMI from a larger perspective, with an ecological mindset (Rosenkranz & Dzewaltowski, 2008). A bidirectional relationship between depression and obesity, which has been found in the past, might be due to family meals. Sedentary behaviors has been linked to both outcomes, and is predicted by family meal frequency, suggesting that it may play a mediational role. In order to help clarify the relationship between depressive symptoms and obesity, a sample of 120 …
The Role Of Guilt, Shame, And Self-Compassion In Promoting Racial Justice Engagement For White Students,
2015
DePaul University
The Role Of Guilt, Shame, And Self-Compassion In Promoting Racial Justice Engagement For White Students, Elizabeth A. Mcconnell
College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations
Diversity courses and activities are a part of the multicultural mission of many institutions of higher education. However, universities, colleges, and diversity educators continue to grapple with how to increase participation and student engagement in these courses. The lens of privilege studies provides an important perspective for thinking about how to achieve this goal for White students learning about systems of racial inequity. In the current study, we conducted four studies to better understand how to decrease resistance to reflecting on White privilege (e.g., defensive affect or withdrawal) and to promote racial justice engagement (e.g., willingness to take diversity courses …
Exploring Mindfulness As A Culturally Sensitive Intervention For The Deaf Community,
2015
University of Denver
Exploring Mindfulness As A Culturally Sensitive Intervention For The Deaf Community, Barrymore R. Rosellini
Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects
Mental health issues are as prevalent in the deaf community as the hearing community, if not more. Yet, Deaf individuals are often treated by mental health professionals less frequently and less effectively. Many systemic barriers exist that influence the lack of services provided to the Deaf community, primarily related to a lack of cultural understanding rooted in perceptions of Deaf individuals. However, the Deaf community may be best understood as a cultural minority, a unique community sharing a distinct culture, history, and language. This paper investigates the effects of systematic barriers and cultural misunderstanding among mental health professions regarding the …
Development Of A Psychological Assessment Battery To Measure Client Beliefs About The Effectiveness Of Psychotherapy,
2015
University of Denver
Development Of A Psychological Assessment Battery To Measure Client Beliefs About The Effectiveness Of Psychotherapy, Christopher Peavey
Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects
The author attempted to develop a brief scale to measure clients' beliefs about the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The study is an early pilot study to determine if the scale can predict therapy outcomes. While the scale did differ significantly between clients who were active in therapy and those who were not, higher scores on the instrument were not indicative of greater involvement. Possibilities for future research to refine the instrument are discussed.
Health Coaching For Chronic Disease Management: A Program Evaluation Conducted At Denver Health Managed Care,
2015
University of Denver
Health Coaching For Chronic Disease Management: A Program Evaluation Conducted At Denver Health Managed Care, Adam Altschuh
Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects
The purpose of this study is to evaluate health coaching at Denver Health Managed Care Center. We evaluated patients with diabetes and obesity who received a telephonic, motivational-interviewing intervention. Our hypothesis was that patients who received health coaching would have improved health outcomes compared to patients who received standard medical care alone. This research benefits this specific program in clarifying effectiveness (i.e. improvement in health and efficiency, indicated by length of treatment). Health coaching is a growing area of study. This research also adds to a broader conversation about what professionals best serve in the role of health coaches, what …
Understanding Change In A Therapeutic Community For People With Severe Mental Illness: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study,
2015
University of Denver
Understanding Change In A Therapeutic Community For People With Severe Mental Illness: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Julie Caroline Keys
Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects
In order to gain better understanding of how therapeutic communities instigate change, this interpretative phenomenological study explores the recognized agents of change as reported by current and recent community members of a particular therapeutic community. Four superordinate themes were discovered: the structure of the program, engagement in the community, intentionality/mindfulness, and applied knowledge. While the results from this study are similar in several ways to the current literature, they also expand the literature about therapeutic communities in one important way. The change agents reported as leading to healing strongly resemble current best practice for the treatment of trauma. Limitations and …
The Effects Of Inclusion Classrooms On Students With And Without Developmental Disabilities: Teachers’ Perspectives On The Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Development Of All Students In Inclusion Classrooms,
2015
University of Denver
The Effects Of Inclusion Classrooms On Students With And Without Developmental Disabilities: Teachers’ Perspectives On The Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Development Of All Students In Inclusion Classrooms, Allison E. Evins
Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects
In education settings, inclusive or mainstream classes are resisted at the secondary level and there is little research about the possible positive aspects of including students with and without disabilities or an Individualized Education Plan in classes together. In order to better understand the potential benefits of mainstream classrooms, it is important to understand the perspectives of teachers who work within these high school settings. The purpose of this study was to tell the stories of teachers and describe the development that teachers see in inclusive classrooms. Interviews with four teachers revealed insights on mutual learning between the two groups …
The Clinical Utility Of The Adult Attachment Projective Picture System: A Clinician's Perspective,
2015
University of Denver
The Clinical Utility Of The Adult Attachment Projective Picture System: A Clinician's Perspective, Ashley Gunterman
Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects
The Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) is the first performance-based measure of adult attachment to be developed. The purpose of the measure is to provide a clinical understanding of an adult client's attachment status and associated coping mechanisms. The AAP is a relatively new measure that has yet to be examined from a utility perspective. In the current study, seven psychologists completed a structured survey in order to identify their perspectives of the AAP and its utility as a clinical instrument. A phenomenological qualitative analysis of the data was conducted to derive themes about the AAP and its clinical …
Four Lessons Learned From Treatingcatholic Priest Sex Offenders,
2015
Santa Clara University
Four Lessons Learned From Treatingcatholic Priest Sex Offenders, Thomas G. Plante
Psychology
Perhaps there is no one in our society more despised and vilified than sex offenders, especially those who sexually violate young children. And during the past decade perhaps no particular subgroup of sex offender has been more despised than those who are Roman Catholic priests. We need to be attentive to the state-of-the-art facts, best practices, and create policies and procedures to keep those who might harm children away from children. To do otherwise is foolish and harmful. Yet strong opinions, advocacy, and hysteria sometimes gets more attention than actual evidence-based quality research and practice which is not ultimately in …
Weight Stigma As A Mediator Among Bmi, Childhood Overweight, Body Image And Depression,
2015
Loma Linda University
Weight Stigma As A Mediator Among Bmi, Childhood Overweight, Body Image And Depression, Serena D. Stevens
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects
Higher body mass index (BMI), childhood overweight, and weight stigmatization are correlated with depression and body dissatisfaction. Given that overweight/obese individuals are likely to experience significant weight stigma, the goal of the current study was to examine the effects of current weight and childhood overweight on depression and body dissatisfaction, and to examine weight stigmatization as a mediator in these relationships. Participants were 380 undergraduate students from the University of South Florida (84.5% female) with a mean age of 21.18 (SD = 4.32) and a mean BMI of 23.86 (SD = 5.03). Of these students, 53.4% were White, 24.7% were …
Relationship Among Psychotherapy Measurements: Predictors Of Ors And Oq-45 Scores,
2015
Loma Linda University
Relationship Among Psychotherapy Measurements: Predictors Of Ors And Oq-45 Scores, Evan Lima
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects
Psychological services have become increasingly important and accepted. The increase in the utilization of services has led to third party payers (e.g., insurance companies) paying more in reimbursement to providers of psychological services and therefore tightening parameters regarding how many sessions will be reimbursed. With the pressure from third party payers, a standardized means of monitoring client’s progress in treatment has become necessary. The goal of the current study was to determine whether (1) the trajectories of Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) and Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) scores are the same over time, and if the Session Rating Scale (SRS) predicts …
