Vascular Risk, Functional Connectivity, And Episodic Memory In Older Adults,
2014
Loyola University Chicago
Vascular Risk, Functional Connectivity, And Episodic Memory In Older Adults, Elizabeth Regina Tuminello Hartman
Dissertations
Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and functional connectivity (FC) analyses are used to explore functional brain networks underlying a diverse array of abilities. Functional networks are composed of regions throughout the brain whose activity is closely linked to form a coherent network. One functional network, the "default mode network" (DMN), is thought to subserve self-referential thought and autobiographical memory. DMN regions include the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobe, hippocampus, and the primary "hub" of this network, the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). For reasons yet unknown, DMN FC declines in aging, which is associated with memory impairment. Vascular risk may …
Development And Preliminary Validation Of The Youth Therapist Observational Cultural Competence Scale,
2014
Virginia Commonwealth University
Development And Preliminary Validation Of The Youth Therapist Observational Cultural Competence Scale, Carrie Tully
Theses and Dissertations
The increasing diversity of the United States creates a pressing public health need to investigate methods to increase the engagement, retention, and efficacy of mental health services for racial/ethnic minority (REM) youth. Evidence from the adult psychotherapy treatment literature suggests that enhancing therapist cultural competence leads to increases in client satisfaction, alliance, and retention (Constantine, 2002; Sodowsky, Kuo-Jackson, Richardson, & Corey, 1998; Worthington, Soth-McNett, & Moreno, 2007). However, this relationship has not been adequately explored in youth mental health services, due in part, to a lack of valid and reliable measurement. This research project included measure development and initial validation …
Parenting Practices And Parenting Stress In African American Families Of Children With And Without Adhd,
2014
Virginia Commonwealth University
Parenting Practices And Parenting Stress In African American Families Of Children With And Without Adhd, Annie Rabinovitch
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined differences in parenting practices and parenting stress between 44 African American maternal caregivers of children ages 6-10 with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 25 caregivers of children without ADHD. Results indicated significant group differences on inconsistent discipline, as child ADHD significantly predicted this parenting construct. There were no mean group differences in positive parenting. Parenting stress was related to parenting practices for the caregivers of children without ADHD, but was unrelated to parenting practices among control caregivers. Child ADHD predicted several subscales of the Parenting Stress Index. However, child ADHD failed to be a significant predictor when a …
Longitudinal Relations Between Peer Victimization And Delinquency: The Mediating Roles Of Sadness, Fear, And Anger,
2014
Virginia Commonwealth University
Longitudinal Relations Between Peer Victimization And Delinquency: The Mediating Roles Of Sadness, Fear, And Anger, Lisa J. Ulmer
Theses and Dissertations
Peer victimization is a common occurrence among youth, and it has been linked to a number of negative outcomes, including delinquent behaviors (e.g., physical aggression, theft/property damage, and substance use). Several studies examined relations between peer victimization and delinquency, though few have done so longitudinally or examined whether negative emotions are underlying processes that explain associations between these constructs. The current study’s purpose is to examine whether several negative emotions (i.e., anger, fear, and sadness) mediate relations between several types of peer victimization and delinquency among middle and high school youths. The study’s sample of 318 youths was predominately African …
The Contribution Of Parent Psychosocial Functioning To Parental Monitoring, Youth Adherence, And Glycemic Control During Adolescence,
2014
Virginia Commonwealth University
The Contribution Of Parent Psychosocial Functioning To Parental Monitoring, Youth Adherence, And Glycemic Control During Adolescence, Elizabeth M. Robinson
Theses and Dissertations
Objective: Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common pediatric chronic illnesses. Adolescents are at risk for poorer adherence and in turn, poorer glycemic control; however, youth whose parents remain involved in diabetes care are in better control. A parent’s level of involvement is dependent in part upon his or her own social and emotional functioning. Much is known about the link between separate aspects of parent psychosocial functioning (e.g., depressive symptoms, parental stress) and parent involvement in diabetes care, adherence, and glycemic control. However, no study to our knowledge has examined these constructs simultaneously as they interrelate …
Todo En La Familia: Examining The Relationships Among Ms Impairments, Family Needs, And Caregiver Mental Health In Guadalajara, Mexico,
2014
Virginia Commonwealth University
Todo En La Familia: Examining The Relationships Among Ms Impairments, Family Needs, And Caregiver Mental Health In Guadalajara, Mexico, Melody N. Mickens
Theses and Dissertations
Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially those living in Latin America, often require assistance from family caregivers throughout the duration of disease. Previous findings suggest that family caregivers may experience positive and negative effects from providing care to individuals with MS, but few studies have examined the impact of MS caregiving on caregivers from Latin America. The current study examined the relationships between MS impairments (functional, neurological, cognitive, behavioral and emotional), unmet family needs (household, informational, financial, social support, health), and caregiver psychosocial functioning (satisfaction with life, anxiety, burden, and depression) in a sample of 81 MS caregivers from Guadalajara, …
Spiritual Practices Among Northern Plains Tribal Members As A Protective Factor In The Relationship Between Unexpected Deaths And Traumatic Grief,
2014
University of Montana - Missoula
Spiritual Practices Among Northern Plains Tribal Members As A Protective Factor In The Relationship Between Unexpected Deaths And Traumatic Grief, Ciara D. Hansen
Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers
Background: Grief is an important and potentially misunderstood construct in Indian country. Past research has shown that the experience of unexpected deaths has been associated with intense and maladaptive grief responses. Active participation in religion or spirituality has been shown to buffer against the negative effects of bereavement. Given the well-documented premature mortality rates and generally lowered life expectancy in American Indian communities, this study examined the relationships between spirituality, unexpected deaths, and traumatic grief, as measured by the Inventory of Traumatic Grief – Revised (ITG-R). Method: A secondary multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis that …
Service Engagement And Serious Mental Illness: The Obstacles And Barriers To Attendance In A Post-Treatment Recovery Outpatient Setting,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Service Engagement And Serious Mental Illness: The Obstacles And Barriers To Attendance In A Post-Treatment Recovery Outpatient Setting, Marisa Jeanne Friedman
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This qualitative study examined the factors that affect treatment adherence and service engagement in individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI). A semistructured interview was used to collect data from treatment adherent and treatment nonadherent adults with SMI. What factors make one more or less likely to disengage from treatment? What boundaries stand in the way of quality mental-health care, and how do adults with SMI overcome these barriers? Service engagement in the population with SMI in the study was explained according to three healthcare behavioral models, the health belief model, the network episode model, and the demoralization framework model. Data …
Improving Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Homework Adherence With Change Talk And Commitment Language: A Cognitive Dissonance Perspective Of Behavioral Change,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Improving Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Homework Adherence With Change Talk And Commitment Language: A Cognitive Dissonance Perspective Of Behavioral Change, Robert J. Brecher
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Adherence to homework assigned during cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an important factor contributing to positive outcomes. However, rates of adherence are poor, limited evidence supporting methods to improve adherence is limited. The current study aimed to develop and test an intervention designed to promote CBT homework adherence based on cognitive dissonance theory. Patients participating in outpatient CBT were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control condition. In the experimental condition, participants engaged in an induced-compliance procedure eliciting change talk targeting the recommended homework activity. The control condition consisted of treatment as usual. Owing to limited sample size (n …
In Their Own Words: Perceived Experiences And Family Functioning Of Suicide Survivors Before And After Suicide Loss,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
In Their Own Words: Perceived Experiences And Family Functioning Of Suicide Survivors Before And After Suicide Loss, Wendy Shallcross Lam
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This research explored the unique experiences of relatives of individuals who have died by suicide, termed suicide survivors, in an in-depth fashion using qualitative methods. Through a semi-structured interview, the present study explored how families dealt with general stress prior to the experience of suicide loss, how they handled the loss of a family member to suicide, and what has been used to cope in the aftermath. A major focus was to explore whether or not the event of suicide dramatically altered family dynamics or if families continued a pre-existing interaction pattern established prior to the loss. The results revealed …
The Relationships Between Attachment Style And Boundary Thickness,
2014
Antioch University - Santa Barbara
The Relationships Between Attachment Style And Boundary Thickness, Dore Lavering
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Despite the multitudes of research on attachment and many different aspects of relational structures, only one study to date has researched the relationship of adult attachment to boundary thickness. The possible benefits to understanding this relationship would provide therapists and clients a better conceptualization of individual's internal working model of attachment. This study investigated the relationship between the Hartmann Boundary Questionnaire (HBQ), a measure of boundary thickness, and an adult romantic attachment measure, the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-Revised (ECR-R) two dimensions of attachment. This study theorized that attachment anxiety would be related to thinner boundaries and conversely attachment avoidance …
Wild Minds: Adventure Therapy, Ecopsychology, And The Rewilding Of Humanity,
2014
Antioch University - New England
Wild Minds: Adventure Therapy, Ecopsychology, And The Rewilding Of Humanity, William Hafford
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This dissertation sits at the intersection of ecopsychology and adventure therapy. It explores humankind’s relationship with nature and wilderness, as well as the co-evolution of ecopsychology and adventure therapy within the field of psychology. The primary aim of this dissertation is to lay the groundwork for rewilding humanity with the specific focus of providing practitioners with a compelling case for intentionally integrating ecopsychology with their adventure therapy practice. This theoretical paper concludes with a suggested expansion of ethics and competencies for adventure therapists.
Campus Tails: An On-Campus Therapy-Dog Pilot Program And Feasibility Study,
2014
Antioch University - New England
Campus Tails: An On-Campus Therapy-Dog Pilot Program And Feasibility Study, Maureen D. Sanford
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
College counseling centers are treating more cases of depression and anxiety than ever. Yet, despite endorsing symptoms, many students are disinclined to engage in counseling. Research shows that interacting with a therapy dog has positive psychological effects, including decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. I developed an on campus therapy dog pilot program (Campus Tails) as an alternative to counseling for students suffering from symptoms of depression and/or anxiety as measured by subscales of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms 34 (CCAPS 34) Version 2009. I implemented Campus Tails at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine during the spring of …
Substance-Abusing Mothers And Fathers' Willingness To Allow Their Children To Receive Mental Health Treatment,
2014
Old Dominion University
Substance-Abusing Mothers And Fathers' Willingness To Allow Their Children To Receive Mental Health Treatment, Michelle L. Kelley, Gabrielle M. D'Lima, James M. Henson, Cayla Cotton
Psychology Faculty Publications
The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes of substance-abusing mothers and fathers entering outpatient treatment toward allowing their children to participate in individual- or family-based interventions. Data were collected from a brief anonymous survey completed by adults at intake into a large substance abuse treatment program in western New York. Only one-third of parents reported that they would be willing to allow their children to participate in any form of mental health treatment. Results of chi-square analyses revealed that a significantly greater proportion of mothers reported that they would allow their children to participate in mental health treatment …
Profiles Of Binge Eating: The Interaction Of Depressive Symptoms, Eating Styles, And Body Mass Index,
2014
Old Dominion University
Profiles Of Binge Eating: The Interaction Of Depressive Symptoms, Eating Styles, And Body Mass Index, Tyler B. Mason, Robin J. Lewis
Psychology Faculty Publications
Binge eating is associated with depressive symptoms, eating styles, and obesity. However, less is known about interactions between these variables and binge eating. This study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms, eating styles, body mass index, and binge eating. Individuals with a higher body mass index, who reported more depressive symptoms and more external eating, reported the greatest binge eating. Similarly, individuals with a higher body mass index who reported more depressive symptoms and more emotional eating reported the greatest binge eating. These findings demonstrate possible profiles of individuals most at risk for binge eating and associated eating disorders. Copyright …
Benevolent Sexism, Perceived Fairness, Decision-Making, And Marital Satisfaction: Covert Power Influences,
2014
Antioch University - Seattle
Benevolent Sexism, Perceived Fairness, Decision-Making, And Marital Satisfaction: Covert Power Influences, Monique Brown
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study examined the association between endorsement of benevolent sexism and marital satisfaction in heterosexual marriages, which are perceived as being egalitarian. The goal was to explore how covert power dynamics like those involved in benevolent sexism affect marital satisfaction, and how perceived fairness and decision-making outcomes interact with this relationship. Men and women who have cohabitated with their spouses at least five years were asked to complete measures assessing their endorsement of benevolent sexism and their perceived global marital satisfaction. Participants were also asked to fill out measures examining the mediating effect of perceived fairness and decision-making outcomes. Previous …
Understanding Peritraumatic Dissociation: Evolution-Prepared Dissociation, Tonic Immobility, And Clinical Dissociation,
2014
Antioch University - New England
Understanding Peritraumatic Dissociation: Evolution-Prepared Dissociation, Tonic Immobility, And Clinical Dissociation, Laura A. Halvorsen
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Current literature on the relationship between posttraumatic symptoms and dissociation that occurs during the time of a trauma, or peritraumatic dissociation, appears to be contradictory and inconclusive. Conflicting findings in the empirical literature that disagree on the nature of this association (whether peritraumatic dissociation is a risk factor for PTSD or a neutral or even protective evolutionarily-derived phenomenon) may originate from the lack of conceptual clarity regarding the construct of dissociation, and lack of differentiation between peritraumatic dissociation and dissociation that persists after a traumatic event. This dissertation details a theory for differentiating clusters of peritraumatic dissociation based on distinct …
Juvenile Psychopathy: Instrumental Versus Reactive Aggression In Male And Female Juvenile Offenders,
2014
Antioch University - New England
Juvenile Psychopathy: Instrumental Versus Reactive Aggression In Male And Female Juvenile Offenders, Marielena P. Tecce
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Over the past decade, the profusion of literature examining the downward extension of psychopathy to juvenile populations has been met with much debate and controversy. The focus remains on the accuracy of assessment and the negative effects from the premature application of labeling a juvenile a psychopath. The current study investigated the relationship between psychopathy and aggression by exploring the relationship between types of aggression (instrumental and reactive) and psychopathic traits in juvenile offenders. This study examined archived file information for male and female (N = 134) juvenile offenders (ages 13-17) referred for diagnostic and psychological evaluation services by …
The Dimensions Of Hardiness And Resiliency For Combat Ptsd,
2014
Antioch University - New England
The Dimensions Of Hardiness And Resiliency For Combat Ptsd, Warren Joseph Avery
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Research suggests that the personality factor hardiness may aid in resilience to combat PTSD. The need to understand resiliency factors like hardiness becomes more urgent as the depth of the epidemic of combat PTSD among veterans becomes more evident. Hardiness consists of three dimensions: (a) commitment, (b) control, and (c) challenge. This study was designed to explore the relationship between the dimensions of hardiness and combat PTSD in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans. Participants were contacted through college veterans offices across the nation, and measures were anonymously completed online. Veterans who participated in the study …
Serving Clients With Intellectual Disabilities: Clinical Psychology Training In Apa-Accredited Doctoral Programs,
2014
Antioch University - New England
Serving Clients With Intellectual Disabilities: Clinical Psychology Training In Apa-Accredited Doctoral Programs, Emily J. Graesser
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience mental health problems at a higher rate than the general population, yet encounter significant barriers in accessing quality mental health services and have poorer mental health outcomes. Disparities in both psychology research and practice contribute to these barriers, and few mental health practitioners are willing and competent to treat people with ID. Lack of training availability has been suspected as an underlying factor, yet no previous investigation of training has been conducted in the United States. This study utilized a 20-question self-administered internet survey to explore the quantity, quality, and types of training APA-accredited …
