Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Using The Unmatched Count Technique To Increase The Accuracy Of Base Rate Estimates Of Psychosocial Problems In Returning Active Duty Service Members, Sean C. Sheppard

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan represent the most extensive conflicts since the Vietnam War, and a large body of research has focused on identifying base rates of PTSD, depression, and alcohol abuse and related behaviors in returning service members.

Development And Validation Of An Assessment For Longitudinal Symptom Fluctuation In The Eating Disorders And The Relationship Between Motivation To Change And Naturalistic Fluctuations In Body Weight And Eating Disorder Symptom Frequencies, Kyle Patrick De Young

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The frequencies of behavioral symptoms of eating disorders (e.g., binge eating and purging) are highly variable across and within individuals. The presence and severity of these symptoms define both diagnostic boundaries and outcome states, but validated tools to retrospectively assess symptom frequencies that capture variability at the week-level do not exist. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of an assessment designed for this purpose in a mixed eating disorder sample of 113 individuals recruited from the community who provided symptom frequency data once weekly for 12 weeks and completed the Interactive, Graphical Assessment Tool for Eating Disorders (IGAT-ED) on …

The Evaluation Of A Parent-Implemented Behavioral Intervention For The Treatment Of Food Selectivity And Mealtime Behavior Problems In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Suzanne Michelle Milnes

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of the current study was to extend and replicate the procedures used by Gentry and Luiselli (2008) and evaluate whether their parent-implemented treatment package was effective in increasing food acceptance in children with an autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, this study evaluated whether food acceptance generalized to foods and mealtimes not targeted during intervention. A secondary purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of the same treatment package on each child's inappropriate mealtime behavior. Parents conducted all sessions in a naturalistic setting (i.e., the home) and parent training took place via a consultative model. The primary …

A Comparative Evaluation Of Acceptance And Cognitive Restructuring Techniques For Coping With Acute Panicogenic Distress : An Experimental Evaluation In An Anxious Non-Clinical Sample, Erica Moses

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an approach that emphasizes increasing perceptions of control and cognitive change through cognitive restructuring, has proven to be an efficacious treatment for panic disorder. However, significant proportions of patients fail to achieve clinically significant improvement. Acceptance, an alternative contextually-based approach to content- and change-based cognitive strategies, has gained popularity within the field. Research on the utility of acceptance-based strategies for anxiety is promising, particularly in comparison to control-based emotion regulation strategies, such as suppression and distraction. Yet, to date, no studies have rigorously compared acceptance-based strategies to analogs of cognitive-behavioral techniques. The present study is the first …

Cardiovascular Reactivity And Recovery To Stressful Tasks Following A Mindfulness-Analog In College Students With A Family History Of Hypertension, Christoffer Grant

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Ninety-seven undergraduate students with a family history of hypertension participated in a study that evaluated the effects of a brief mindfulness-induction on cardiovascular reactivity and recovery to two stressors. Participants were randomized to either a mindfulness-induction or control condition and were then exposed to the cold pressor task (CPT) followed by the mirror-tracing task (MT). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at baseline, post-induction, as well as during and immediately following each stressor. There were no group differences in reactivity to either stressor. Participants in the mindfulness-analog condition experienced significantly greater latency to systolic blood pressure recovery following the …

Exploring Curvilinear Effects And Gender Differences In Posttraumatic Growth And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms In College Students, Vivian S. Hwang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Posttraumatic growth following stressful and traumatic experiences has been associated with positive psychological and physical outcomes. In addition, distress-related variables, such as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, have been related to growth. Some studies suggest that a curvilinear relation may exist between distress and growth, although literature in this area is sparse. This study examined how distress, as measured by the civilian version of the PTSD Checklist, and posttraumatic growth are related. Results demonstrated both linear and curvilinear effects of PTSD symptom severity on growth. Data for men were significantly explained by a linear effect only, whereas data for women …

Examining The Role Of Ethnicity In The Nature And Assessment Of Body Image In Men, Jason Matthew Lavender

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Although body image research has historically focused on dissatisfaction among women, studies within the past decade have begun to focus on body dissatisfaction among men, revealing important gender differences in the nature, conceptualization, and assessment of this construct. Despite recent advances in the research literature in this area, few studies have examined ethnic differences in male body image, and no information is available on the psychometric properties of many of the most widely used body image measures for samples of ethnic minority men. The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Drive for Muscularity …

Typically Developing Children's Attitudes Towards A Peer With Behaviors Indicative Of Autism, Lindsay A. Washington

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Although inclusive educational programming offers opportunities for increased contact between children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typically developing peers, research indicates that children with ASD continue to struggle socially in these settings. One possible contributing factor could be the type of attitudes that typically developing peers hold regarding children with ASD. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether typically developing first grade children express rejecting attitudes towards a hypothetical peer with behaviors indicative of autism. This study employed a between-groups design and included 89 participants. Participating children viewed a brief video that depicted either a child …

The Role Of Expectancy In Prescription Stimulant Misuse, Alison Looby

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Misuse of prescription stimulant medication such as methylphenidate (MPH) has increased among college students over the past several years. Common motivations for misuse include enhancements in cognitive function and subjective arousal. Researchers have recently cited a need to better understand and develop treatments for this behavior. Expectancy effects, which impact initiation and maintenance of substance use, may also be implicated in one's decision to engage in prescription stimulant misuse. This study first examined whether subjective mood and cognitive performance could be elevated solely by one's expectation to receive MPH. Additionally, this study examined the efficacy of an expectancy challenge in …

The Illusion Of Transparency And Public Speaking: A Study Of Social Anxiety, Chelsea Gloth

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine whether participants who are informed of a phenomenon termed "the illusion of transparency" (Gilovich, Savitsky & Medvec, 1998) give higher quality speeches, feel and appear less anxious while delivering the speech, and give longer speeches. Participants consisted of 543 students from a Midwestern university. First they completed the FNE (Watson & Friend, 1969), and 31 of those with the top quartile of scores returned to the lab to give a 3-minute speech. Participants in the illusion condition were informed about what the illusion of transparency is, while those in the reassured condition …

An Examination Of The Catch Nurture Program In The Treatment Of Children's Mental Health Disorders, Jessica Avart

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

School-based mental health services are in high demand due to the increased prevalence of diagnosable mental health disorders among the pediatric population, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) foremost among them. The majority of research examining school-based services has been conducted in highly controlled settings and there has been a lack of research investigating such services within the actual school environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Catch Nurture Program, a school-based intervention, in the treatment of school-aged children with behavioral and/or emotional disturbances in the real-world setting. This study also examined the impact of gender and diagnosis on …

Do Multicultural Experiences And Biculturalism Promote Creativity In International Students?, Patricia Ofili

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The 2009–2010 academic school year in the United States boasted a record number of enrolled international students. An estimated 690,923 students attended universities and colleges across the country (Open Doors, 2011). World markets and educational systems have become more connected and internationally focused. As a result, academic settings around the globe now encourage students to step beyond what is culturally familiar in order to become creative, knowledgeable, and competitive graduates. An empirical study by Maddux and Galinsky (2009) provides pioneering data that supports the connection of increased creativity through extended multicultural experiences. Individuals who are able to effectively incorporate customs …

Prospective Changes In Attributions Of Self-Blame And Social Reactions To Women’S Disclosures Of Adult Sexual Assault, Cynthia J. Najdowski, Sarah E. Ullman

Psychology Faculty Scholarship

The present longitudinal study examined relations between self-blame attributions and social reactions to disclosure in a community sample of adult sexual assault victims (N = 555). Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that neither characterological self-blame nor behavioral self-blame related to negative social reactions over the 1-year follow-up period. In contrast, characterological but not behavioral self-blame predicted fewer positive reactions over time. Although positive reactions did not reduce self-blame, negative reactions led to greater characterological, but not behavioral, self-blame during the course of the study. Thus, relations between self-blame and social reactions were not reciprocal but rather quite complex. The effects …

Vulnerability And Protective Factors For Sexual Assault, Sarah E. Ullman, Cynthia J. Najdowski

Psychology Faculty Scholarship

Approximately 1 in 5 women experience sexual assaults in adulthood during their lives (see Post, this volume, for review), including experiences of unwanted sexual contact, sexual coercion, attempted rape, and completed rape that result from threat, force, or incapacitation from alcohol or drugs (either willingly or unwillingly consumed).

The Multidimensional Measure Of Internalized Hiv Stigma In English And Spanish: Measurement Invariance And Other Psychometric Properties, Elsa Martin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Efforts to increase the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) as well as prevention efforts have recently focused on HIV-related stigma. Sayles et al. (2008) developed the Multidimensional Measure or Internalized HIV Stigma (MMIHS), a measure of HIV-related stigma that is sensitive to minorities, women, and people with limited income. This study evaluated the four-factor structure presented by Sayles et al. (2008) on data collected from 269 HIV–positive individuals, and also validated a Spanish translation of the measure using a measurement invariance method. In addition to stigma, this study also collected information regarding depressive symptoms, HIV …

Discriminating Emotions And Engaging Difficult Emotional Material: Implications For Process And Outcome In Written Disclosure, Stephanie L. Nassar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Written disclosure participants have experienced numerous psychological and physiological benefits, as compared to those who wrote about neutral topics (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005; Corter & Petrie, 2011; Frattaroli, 2006; Pennebaker & Chung, in press). Given the beneficial results of expressive writing commonly found among healthy participants, exploration of this method was expanded to broader populations with mixed results. Researchers have attempted to provide a rationale for why, when, and with whom written disclosure works. As emotional clarity and experiential avoidance have been linked to psychological well-being, this study examined their relative contributions to written disclosure benefits. Participants self-reported on measures …

Impact Of Relationship Context On Evaluations Of The Sexual Behavior Of Men And Women, Olga Vadymovna Berkout

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A number of gender differences have been found in early studies of human sexuality with males following more permissive norms for engagement in sexual behavior. More recently, male and female sexual behavior has become more similar, although literature examining attitudes towards sexual behavior has found mixed support for the idea that similar standards were used to evaluate men and women. This study examined the potential moderating roles of relationship context and traditional gender role adherence on evaluations of sexual behavior among 307 undergraduates at a public Southeastern university. Both men and women having sex within committed relationships were vieas more …

A National Study Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Multidisciplinary Clinic Utilization, Jared L. Young

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

There is no cure for the fatal progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Optimization of quality of life is the primary ALS treatment goal (Simmons, 2005). Consolidating multiple appointments into one visit is advantageous due to the severity of muscular deterioration and mobility problems associated with the disease. Multidisciplinary Clinics (MDC) provide improved care coordination, accessibility to health care professionals skilled in treating ALS, and improvements in symptom control for patients with ALS. The purpose of this study is to discuss the differences in quality of life, physical health status, and coping skills for individuals with ALS attending multidisciplinary clinics …

The Prevalence Of Adhd In Candidates For Gastric Bypass Surgery: Are Overeating And Obesity Accounted For By The Attention Deficits And Impulisivity Of Adhd?, Andrea M. Parry

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and general psychological characteristics in an adult, presurgery population of patients seeking Gastric Bypass (GB). An ADHD diagnosis was defined as clinically significant scores as measured by the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS). Other psychological characteristics were assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – Second Edition (MMPI-2). The sample was selected from a homogeneous adult outpatient population. Participants meeting inclusion criteria presented for psychological assessment preparatory to GB surgery at the office of Dr. Steven Walfish. Participants were excluded if they failed to …

Does The Quality Of The Patient-Physician Relationship Moderate Predictors Of Poor Adherence In Urban, Underserved And Vulnerable Patients With Chronic Illness?, Laura Russo-Innamorato

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Escalating prevalence rates and rising economic costs of chronic illnesses necessitate a better understanding of factors affecting patient adherence in the primary care setting. Despite technological advances and evidenced-based treatments, clinical outcomes are often poor. Data drawn from archival data of the “A Healthier You” wellness program designed to serve a predominately underserved population were examined to assess whether or not positive predictors of adherence could moderate the impact of negative predictors such as depression. Limitations of the study methodology precluded significant interpretations but suggested significant discrepancies between patient and physician perceptions of trust in the relationship and the satisfaction …