Sexual Education, Sexual Self-Concept, And Behavior Of Adolescents: A Retrospective Study,
2025
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sexual Education, Sexual Self-Concept, And Behavior Of Adolescents: A Retrospective Study, Rachel Albanese
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Adolescence is a period within the lifespan of a human where sexuality is a key component of development; therefore, it is appropriate that adolescents are provided sexual education during this time. There continues to be a debate regarding sexual education; while some studies consider specific ways to provide sexual education, they do not compare the effect of differing sexual education (i.e., how and who provided sexual education) or lack of sexual education on risky sexual behavior and sexual selfconcept during adolescence. This study retrospectively examined the impact of sexual education on risky sexual behavior and sexual self-concept. It also explored …
Exploring The Relationship Among Postpartum Depression, Cognitive Distortions, And Relationship Satisfaction,
2025
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Exploring The Relationship Among Postpartum Depression, Cognitive Distortions, And Relationship Satisfaction, Kylie A. Hastings
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Postpartum depression is the most prevalent psychological disorder experienced following childbirth, impairs daily functioning, negatively impacts child growth and development, and is linked to maladaptive parent-child interactions. Previous research also suggests a link among distorted thinking, depression symptoms, and interpersonal tension. The current study explores the interplay among postpartum depression symptoms, cognitive distortions, and relationship satisfaction among postpartum individuals. Researchers examined how specific thinking errors, including catastrophizing, mindreading, and labeling, are associated with depression symptoms and relational experiences in the postpartum period. Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from 90 participants using validated instruments: the …
Facing The Tension: A Grounded Theory Of Perceptions Of Bias, Cultural Responsiveness, And Social Justice Advocacy Among Forensic Evaluators,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
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 …
Relating To Pain: Attachment As A Framework For Understanding Chronic Pain,
2025
Antioch University
Relating To Pain: Attachment As A Framework For Understanding Chronic Pain, Katie H. Brenner
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Despite contemporary Western healthcare’s emphasis on the biopsychosocial model of illness, there has been relatively limited attention given to the way that attachment relationships, as part of the social sphere of the model, impact individuals’ chronic pain experiences and management. Attachment influences help-seeking behaviors, sense of self-efficacy, coping skills, and communication abilities, all of which are implicated in pain experience and management. As such, this dissertation examines the question: Do attachment experiences influence how individuals perceive and manage chronic pain? This study expands on the existing research by conceptualizing attachment as a fluid experience that varies across relationships and circumstances, …
Pay Attention! A Comparative Analysis Of Psychological Assessments And Neurological Mechanisms For Adhd Within A Pediatric Population,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
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 …
At The Table: Queer Identity And Exploration Through Tabletop Role-Playing Games,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
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 …
Examining The Addictive Qualities Of Smartphone Usage,
2025
Antioch University
Examining The Addictive Qualities Of Smartphone Usage, Daniel J. Pasquini
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Individuals in today’s society, both nationally and globally, have become exceedingly reliant on their smartphones, i.e., cellular devices with the ability to perform many tasks similar to a traditional computer, for both recreational and productivity purposes. As smartphones become increasingly accessible and affordable for the general population, smartphone usage will continue to grow exponentially. As a result, a comprehensive investigation into the possible addictive properties of smartphone usage is warranted. The purpose of this study is to examine and highlight any possible addictive qualities of excessive smartphone usage. The research methodology that will be implemented within the study will be …
Distal Effects Of Teenage Pregnancy And Childbirth,
2025
Antioch University
Distal Effects Of Teenage Pregnancy And Childbirth, Amy M. Sutherland
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
While pregnancy during adolescence is declining, research on the topic continues, particularly regarding: the reasons teenagers become pregnant and choose parenthood; their experiences as teen parents; and near-term outcomes for themselves and their children. The focus of this dissertation has received little study: how the experience of having been a birthing parent in adolescence continues to affect the personal experiences of individuals in midlife, if it does at all. Eight individuals between the ages of 30 and 43 who gave birth as teens were interviewed, and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to identify how they interpreted and made meaning …
Psychological Techniques For Athletes With Orthopedic Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review,
2025
Antioch University
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 …
Memento Mori: A Photo-Elicit Narrative Analysis On Grief,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Memento Mori: A Photo-Elicit Narrative Analysis On Grief, Jared Becknell
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Training and education about grief counseling has been stagnant, stalling the creativity and novel practice when working with bereaved individuals. Counselors in Training often receive minimal education and training in grief, even though clients will ultimately experience this phenomenon. Qualitative research findings provide insights into how individuals actively engage in the grieving process, while promoting their own versions of healing and acceptance through the artifacts kept from deceased loved ones. These findings explore the lived experience of individuals who keep artifacts from a deceased loved one. Results show an active participation in reconnecting to the deceased versus addressing grief symptoms …
The Professional Impact Of Personal Therapy For Graduate Level Clinicians: A Pilot Study,
2025
Antioch University
The Professional Impact Of Personal Therapy For Graduate Level Clinicians: A Pilot Study, Rebecca L. Butler
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Graduate students in clinical and counseling psychology programs face an inordinate amount of stress: coursework, learning a new job, emotional challenges inherent to providing therapeutic services, and general life stressors. Some trainees seek personal therapy and usually describe their experience as positive for both personal and professional reasons. Psychologists working as researchers and clinicians generally advocate for therapists to engage in personal therapy. However, research into the impact of personal therapy on professional functioning remains scarce. The extant literature includes numerous critiques of the methodologies used to investigate the impact of personal therapy, such as small sample sizes, unclear methods, …
Outcomes Of Covid-19: Posttraumatic Growth And Emotion-Focused Coping Among U.S. Veterans,
2025
Antioch University
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 …
Geriatric Care In Corrections: An Exploratory Study Of Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives On The Needs Of An Aging Prison Population,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Geriatric Care In Corrections: An Exploratory Study Of Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives On The Needs Of An Aging Prison Population, Cynthia A. Scheiderer
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The incarcerated population in the United States is aging. The proportion of adults 55 or older in prison rose from 3% in 1993 to 16% at year-end 2022 (Carson & Sabol, 2016; Carson & Kluckow, 2024). Researchers have consistently found evidence that the prevalence of disabilities and functional impairment is higher among older adults who are incarcerated than among those in the community. As the incarcerated population ages, corrections professionals responsible for providing safety, housing, and health care must respond to the needs of the population. In this qualitative study, 21 corrections professionals from the disciplines of custody, classification, medical, …
“In The Name Of The Father:” Disclosure And Clergy Perpetrated Sexual Abuse,
2025
Antioch University
“In The Name Of The Father:” Disclosure And Clergy Perpetrated Sexual Abuse, Alexandra L. Frederick
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The current study offers a case study utilizing records from assessments conducted for civil suits by men who survived clergy perpetrated sexual abuse (CPSA) in their childhoods. The focus of this study is to contribute to our understanding of the disclosure process following the abuse. A qualitative analysis was conducted to highlight common themes, including experiences of disclosure, emotional experiences, the decision-making process, and potential feelings of regret toward disclosure. Research questions examined the time and age of disclosure, how close the survivor was to the priest at the time of the abuse and any trends that exist between that …
Why Men Join The Incel Community: A Thematic Analysis,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
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 …
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,
2025
Antioch University
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 …
Embracing The Suck: Overcoming Moral Injury-Related Attachment Trauma Through Outdoor Adventure,
2025
Antioch University
Embracing The Suck: Overcoming Moral Injury-Related Attachment Trauma Through Outdoor Adventure, Emerald D. Ralston
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Moral injury is increasingly recognized as a distinct and debilitating consequence of military service, arising when individuals engage in, witness, or are unable to prevent actions that transgress their deeply held moral beliefs. In this dissertation, I argue that this form of trauma can be experienced as an attachment rupture, particularly when the military—functioning as an institutional attachment figure—betrays the servicemember’s trust. Such experiences compromise internal working models (IWMs) of self, others, and the world, and may result in complex trauma symptoms, including dissociation, depersonalization, and profound relational disconnection. These injuries are frequently stored in the body, rendering traditional cognitive …
Psychedelic Minimalism: The Case Against Music In Psychedelic Therapy Settings,
2025
Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
Psychedelic Minimalism: The Case Against Music In Psychedelic Therapy Settings, Samir A. Nader
Department of Medicine Faculty Publications
[Introduction: reframing the role of setting] In recent years, renewed attention has been given to the centrality of set and setting in psychedelic-assisted therapy. The Reporting of Setting in Psychedelic Clinical Trials (ReSPCT) guidelines reflect an evolving consensus: therapeutic outcomes are not solely pharmacologically determined but are heavily shaped by both the environment and the psychological state of the participant (2). Within this evolving paradigm, music has assumed a privileged role, framed as a therapeutic constant, typically curated to be emotionally supportive or evocative, and especially emphasized during peak psychedelic states (3). The prevailing assumption is that music facilitates safety, …
Substance Misuse And Suicidal Behaviors In An Lgbtqia+ Sample: Examining The Buffering Effects Of Psychological Flexibility And Emotional Regulation,
2025
Georgia Southern University
Substance Misuse And Suicidal Behaviors In An Lgbtqia+ Sample: Examining The Buffering Effects Of Psychological Flexibility And Emotional Regulation, Mariano Ottone
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Suicidal behaviors among LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly in the context of substance misuse, present a significant area of exploration for mental health research and intervention. It is particularly important to evaluate factors capable of moderating this relationship, to promote more culturally affirming prevention models. This study aimed to explore the moderating roles of emotion regulation (ER) and psychological flexibility in the relationship between substance misuse and suicidal behaviors within the LGBTQIA+ community. Data were collected from 537 LGBTQIA+ adults through an online survey platform. Participants were asked to self-report on measures assessing the constructs of interest. The analysis focused on understanding …
How Does Psychopathology Impact The Trajectory From State To Trait Mindfulness?,
2025
Georgia Southern University
How Does Psychopathology Impact The Trajectory From State To Trait Mindfulness?, Veronica O'Brien
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Previous research has found that higher levels of trait mindfulness protect against psychopathology (e.g., Chiesa & Serretti, 2013; Desrosiers et al., 2013; Sevilla-Llewellyn-Jones et al., 2018); however, the research on state mindfulness and psychopathology is more mixed. These mixed findings suggest that some clients with higher levels of psychopathology may have greater difficulty engaging with mindfulness practice thereby hampering their progression towards trait mindfulness and its associated benefits. The present study sought to explore how psychopathology (i.e., anxiety, trauma, alcohol use, and depression) relates to the growth of state and trait mindfulness. The present study recruited 274 participants from a …
