Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Perceived Credibility Of Allegations Of Sexual Assault Across Victim Race And Mental Health History, Liyah C. Morgan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Previous research examined the effect of victim gender and rape myth acceptance (RMA) on perceptions of victim credibility; however, little attention has been given to the impact of victim race and mental health history, and even fewer studies have explored the intersection of these two identities. The primary purpose of the current study was to identify factors affecting understanding of perceived credibility of victims of sexual assault, specifically in terms of victim race and mental health history. The study also examined the role of RMA on perceptions of credibility and explored participant attitudes related to color-blind racial attitudes and mental …

At The Table: Queer Identity And Exploration Through Tabletop Role-Playing Games, Seth Carroll

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explored the phenomenon of a growing queer subculture within the tabletop role-playing game community. Eight participants, all self-identified members of the LGBTQIA+ community with significant experience playing tabletop role-playing games, were interviewed to better understand their lived experience within this subculture, what draws them to playing tabletop role-playing games, and the personal impacts and meaning they draw from engaging in them. Participants identified as White, between the ages of 23 and 30, and represented a variety of queer identities in both sexuality and gender. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in order to derive six group …

Why Men Join The Incel Community: A Thematic Analysis, Aishwarya Lonikar

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Incels have gained mainstream attention in recent years because of increasing sexism and hatred that have manifested as violent acts committed towards women in the real world. This has led to growing research and discussion on social and political culture. The goal of this study is to understand why men join the incel community, to find ways to mitigate the need for men to join such communities. A theoretical thematic analysis was conducted using a survey to gain a deeper understanding of why men choose to join the incel community. A decolonial feminist interpretive framework was used to analyze the …

Pay Attention! A Comparative Analysis Of Psychological Assessments And Neurological Mechanisms For Adhd Within A Pediatric Population, Kristen E. Newberry

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study evaluated the predictiveness of the WISC-V, NEPSY-II, CPT-3, and CATA when compared to each other in a sample of 272 children aged 8–16. Archival data was analyzed using binary and multinomial logistic regression models to assess concurrent validity of specific subtests and indexes. Participants were grouped by ADHD subtype (inattentive, combined/hyperactive, or no diagnosis), with gender and executive functioning measures included in the models. Findings indicated that lower Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) and executive functioning scores (e.g., Animal Sorting, Response Set) predicted any ADHD diagnosis compared to the no diagnosis group, whereas higher CATA scores predicted lower Inattentive …

Facing The Tension: A Grounded Theory Of Perceptions Of Bias, Cultural Responsiveness, And Social Justice Advocacy Among Forensic Evaluators, Magen M. Hauser

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Forensic psychologists are held to culturally responsive standards by the American Psychological Association, which reflect the latest research calling for professionals to acknowledge and reflect on power, privilege, and biases within themselves, their practice, and other elements of their work. However, forensic psychology has not kept pace with this movement. Additionally, the credibility and livelihood of forensic evaluators and their professional judgments rely on their ability to be as objective and unbiased as possible. Often, the idea of focusing on one’s own identities and biases as the evaluator is conflated with a lack of objectivity. This perceived conflict of expectations …

Sensory Processing And Anxiety In Bipolar Disorder, Lyric Arvizu

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Past research suggests that individuals with bipolar disorder often experience differences in sensory gating and sensory processing, and similar patterns have been observed in anxiety disorders. Given that anxiety is highly comorbid with bipolar disorder, the present study examined how these conditions relate to self-reported sensory processing differences. A total of 132 participants (88 female), including 43 with bipolar disorder, were included in the final sample. Anxiety symptomatology was measured via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y. Sensory processing questionnaires included the Sensory Gating Inventory (SGI) and the Adult Sensory Processing Scale (ASPS). Correlations, t-tests, a multivariate analysis of …

The Effects Of Corporal Punishment In Childhood On Early Adulthood Cortisol And Aggression, Tyler Priest

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The current study aimed to see if experiencing corporal punishment led to more aggressive behaviors as well as higher cortisol levels than in those who did not experience corporal punishment. The study also examined whether self-regulation moderated the relationship between corporal punishment and levels of aggression. Morning cortisol levels were collected from participants, and they completed a demographics survey, an aggression index, a corporal punishment index, and a self-regulatory inventory index. A T-test found that there was not a significant difference in morning cortisol levels between those that experienced corporal punishment and those that had not experienced corporal punishment. A …

Psychological Techniques For Athletes With Orthopedic Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review, Nicole L. Williams

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Musculoskeletal injuries and recovery from them play a vital role in both the physical and psychological wellbeing of the public. Existing research has been conducted primarily within the athlete population with rehabilitation from these injuries having a profound impact on the physical and mental health. One of the most frequent psychological responses related to sports injuries is a trauma response, which has been shown to hinder the rehabilitation process and to increase the likelihood for reinjury upon return to play. Embedded within the many inputs to trauma responses to these injuries are psychological distress reactions, in particular fear connected to …

Outcomes Of Covid-19: Posttraumatic Growth And Emotion-Focused Coping Among U.S. Veterans, Jessica Paige Wilding-Belalcazar

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Female veterans are currently the fastest growing population of veterans in the United States (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2022) and have a higher prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than male veterans (Na et al., 2021), yet there has been limited research done on this population. Females have also been found to experience more posttraumatic growth (PTG) than males (Kalaitzaki, 2021; Prieto-Ursa & Jordar, 2020; Yildiz, 2021). Furthermore, women’s use of emotion-focused coping strategies has been shown to play a role in increasing experiences of PTG during the COVID-19 pandemic (Chu-Si & Yunhwan, 2022). Yet, while research has examined …

Subthreshold Depression In The National Epidemiologic Survey On Alcohol And Related Conditions Iii (Nesarc-Iii): A Quantitative Analysis Of Prevalence, Characteristics, And Burden In A Nationally Representative Sample, Scott T. Young

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

While subthreshold depression (subD) is relatively young for a diagnostic concept at a mere half century old, it has burdened individuals and societies for far longer. Research has established that it is a highly prevalent, clinically important entity with clear links to personal distress and impairment (including increased suicidal ideation and behavior), societal burden (e.g., increased reliance on public assistance programs), and economic costs (both personal and public). Research has also demonstrated that it represents a significant risk factor for incident major depression (MD) and that it likely represents both a prodromal and residual state in the normal course of …

Reply [To Burnout Reflections: Musings On Bianchi And Schonfeld’S Five Focal Areas], Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Contrary to what one might assume, the burnout construct did not emerge from systematic research. The definition of burnout was formulated in the 1970s based on prenotions and anecdotal evidence. No sound empirical studies, no in-depth theoretical reflections, not even a review of the stress literature underpinned the introduction of the construct. It is thus unsurprising that some observers regard the edifice of burnout research with scepticism. The pioneers of burnout research neglected basic scientific standards and, by overlooking the abundant work of contemporary stress researchers, deprived themselves of important safeguards against illusions of novelty making big claims based on …

Predictors Of Mental Health Services Use In Integrated Primary Care During Covid-19, Joseph D. Harrison

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the predisposing, need, and enabling factors that predict mental health services use before and during COVID-19 in an integrated primary care network in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. This retrospective observational study examined a sample of primary care patients from January 2018 to February 2020 (i.e., pre-COVID-19) and March 2020 to December 2022 (i.e., peri- COVID-19) using electronic health record data. Mental health services use was defined as the number of appointments attended by patients. A hierarchical regression was conducted to identify predictors of mental health services use by sequentially adding sociodemographic predisposing …

Acculturation, Self-Esteem, Family Norms, And Disordered Eating Behaviors In South Asian Women, Angela Abraham

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study investigated the relationships among acculturation, self-esteem, family norms, and disordered eating behaviors among South Asian women living in the United States. Although research suggests culture plays a role in the etiology of eating disorders, little information on the experiences of South Asian women exists. This study sought to fill this gap in the literature. Using a cross-sectional, quantitative survey-based design, 151 South Asian women provided insight into their experiences with family norms, acculturation, self-esteem, and eating behaviors. Results indicated that acculturation was not significantly associated with disordered eating. However, self-esteem was found to be negatively associated with disordered …

A Qualitative Study Of Euphemistic Language And Identity Development Involving Sexual Assault, Keena Stewart

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexual violence refers to a situation in which sexual activity occurs and consent is not obtained or freely given. Sexual violence is a worldwide epidemic that impacts individuals of all communities, genders, ages, and sexual orientations. When considering the impact of sexual violence, the use or misuse of language is fundamental. Furthermore, the recovery process following a sexual assault is directly related to the presence or absence of resiliency factors. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the effects of euphemized language on the identity development of individuals …

Pediatric Anxiety Disorders: Therapy Process Predictors Of Response To Cbt, Samantha Baker

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

CBT is moderately effective in the treatment of youth anxiety, yet there remains a sizeable number of youth who remain nonresponsive at posttreatment, and less than half achieve remission. Various patient-level variables have been examined concerning differential treatment outcomes for anxious youth, but fewer studies have examined therapy process variables. Using archival data, this study aimed to identify predictors of treatment response in youth with primary anxiety disorders who completed 16-weeks of CBT at a university-based clinic. Four samples of anxious youth, aged 7-17 were included in the analysis. Regression analyses revealed that increased skill acquisition and greater change in …

An Examination Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Post-Traumatic Growth (Ptg): A Quantitative Analysis Of The Variability Of Growth In Adulthood, Tasanya Rowe

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between childhood and adolescent trauma, specifically Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in adulthood. Particular attention was given to the role of demographic variables, including race, gender, and socioeconomic status, in shaping trauma responses and recovery outcomes. A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational, quasi-experimental design was employed. Participants (N = 132; aged 18–65 years) were recruited from general education classes at Fort Hays State University and the surrounding community. Participants completed a survey comprising the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire–Reduced Item Version and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations, ANOVAs, and multiple …

Not Strong Enough? The Role Of Resilience In The Development Of Big Five Personality In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Erica Treto

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Childhood trauma is a significant and increasing problem in the United States, with research showing that two-thirds of children have experienced at least one traumatic event before reaching the age of sixteen (SAMHSA, 2023). These events can have severe consequences in adulthood, including impacts on personality. However, there are protective factors, such as resilience, that can help mitigate the negative effects of childhood trauma. Extensive research and discussion have focused on the relationship between childhood trauma and personality, particularly in terms of mental health. However, research has been limited to investigating all Big Five personality traits and childhood traumas along …

Exploring The Connection Between Subclinical Autistic Traits And Dysfunction In The General Population, Victoria J. Carter

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been a disorder of increased interest in research and diagnostic referrals in recent years, especially within higher functioning populations. However, little is still known about subclinical presentations of ASD and subclinical autistic symptoms. Due to the lack of symptoms to meet a diagnostic level, individuals experiencing subclinical autistic symptoms often do not have access to services and are overlooked in clinical settings. It is often assumed that because an individual is not diagnosable that they are not suffering because of the same symptoms that caused them to be at a subclinical level. This study aimed …

Burnout, Employee Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, And The Big Five: A Healthcare Analysis, Courtney Molleker

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Previous research has demonstrated connections between job satisfaction, organizational commitment, burnout, and personality traits in healthcare workers. Understanding these relationships can allow for greater insight into the healthcare worker shortage. The current study is aimed to further assess these relationships in addition to targeting subdomains within these variables. A total of 67 participants employed in a combined long-term care and assisted living facility completed measures regarding their employee satisfaction, attitudes towards organizational commitment and burnout, and questions related to their personality. It was hypothesized that employee satisfaction would significantly predict organizational commitment and burnout. The subdomains of burnout were also …

An Exploratory Approach To Understanding Assessment Errors On Measures Of Executive Functioning, Gurjot Mondair

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The global risk of dementia due to longer lifespans and increased medical interventions necessitates accurate diagnosis of cognitive decline. Thus, the utilization of neuropsychological testing to diagnose disorders of cognitive decline should seek to ascertain multiple data, including success/failure of cognitive tasks and evaluation of error patterns. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of executive function (EF) errors across diagnoses of cognitive decline (age-related cognitive decline [ARCD], mild cognitive impairment [MCI], vascular dementia [VaD], frontotemporal dementia [FTD], Lewy body dementia [LBD], and Alzheimer’s disease [AD]) and to examine whether the specific types of EF errors (intrusion, …