Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Lived Experiences Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Helping Professionals, Shairee Lackey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals in helping professions. The goal of the research was to understand the challenges BIPOC helping professionals face due to systemic racism, burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. These factors significantly impact the well-being and effectiveness of BIPOC professionals and are often overlooked in existing literature. Grounded in critical race theory, the study used a phenomenological research design, gathering data through semistructured interviews with 13 participants. The findings revealed challenges such as microaggressions, stereotypes, discrimination, lack of representation, and cultural invalidation. Participants showed resilience …

A Grounded Theoretic Analysis Of College Students’ Attitudes Regarding Indoor Plants And Pets As Moderators Of Daily Stressors, Lydia Dill

Honors Projects

This study explores college students' attitudes toward indoor plants and pets, and how this may impact college students’ experience with stress. Through in-depth interviews and grounded theory methodology, three key themes emerged: Plant Ownership as a Method of Establishing Structure, Plants as Ornamentation, and Pets as a Source of Comfort. Plant ownership helps students create routines and emotional stability, while plants also enhance living spaces aesthetically. Pets provide emotional support, offering companionship and support, particularly during academic pressures. The study builds on previous research by examining both indoor plants and pets together, highlighting how each fulfills unique emotional, psychological, and …

How Sexual Assault Survivors Perceive Their Experiences With Victim Advocates, Stephanie Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Programs incorporating sexual assault victim advocates have become a prominent resource in assisting survivors gain access to necessary services to aid in their recovery. Although these efforts provide needed support to survivors, the programs are developed without the input of the survivors. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the relationship between victim advocates and survivors from the perspective of the survivor. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 sexual assault survivors regarding how they perceived their relationship with their advocates, what they experienced as helpful or not helpful in that relationship, and what they thought might improve that relationship. Thematic analysis was …

Nondisclosure Of Trans Group Status Among Transgender Individuals, Alexander Williams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the study was to investigate motivations for concealment of transgender group status beyond a qualitative scale. Additionally, the study aimed to identify the role one’s identity centrality, salience, and valence played in concealment behavior and attitudes. It was hypothesized that factors found in the extant literature (i.e., gender dysphoria, lack of connection, safety, stigma, and discrimination concerns) would apply presently. It was hypothesized that those individuals with low identity centrality, salience, and valence would be less likely to disclose their trans status. Results indicated that the previously named factors for concealment were present among participants with particularly …

The Effects Of Tiktok Use On Mental Health Outcomes And Stigma, Alecia Hatfield

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between TikTok use, mental health, and mental health stigma. There were three hypotheses for this study: TikTok use would be associated with decreased mental health stigma, TikTok use would be associated with increased anxiety, and TikTok use would be associated with increased depression. A total of 115 participants were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), and they completed an online Qualtrics survey. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between TikTok use and anxiety, depression, and mental health stigma. Results indicated that increased time spent on TikTok was associated with an …

Psychometric Properties And Use Of The Indonesian Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Christiana L. Ticoalu, Samsunuwijati Mar'at, P. Tommy Y. S. Suyasa, Eric A. Storch, Wayne K. Goodman, Steffi Hartanto, Riangga Novrianto, Edo S. Jaya

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Presently, in Indonesia, the lack of a validated measure for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) hinders diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The current study evaluated the reliability, validity, and optimal cut-off score of the Indonesian Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FOCI) in predicting OCD presence. The participants included 384 adults: 157 with OCD, 80 case controls with anxiety or mood disorders, and 147 healthy controls. Assessments were conducted using FOCI, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Test–retest reliability of the FOCI was evaluated for over 2 weeks in 30 OCD patients. The internal consistency within OCD samples for the FOCI …

Incorporating Meditation, Yoga, And Reiki Interventions To Reduce Stress, Anxiety, And Mood Symptoms Among The College Population, Kelly Wills

Dissertations

The purpose of this clinical research project is to examine the efficacy of mindfulness techniques and alternative therapeutic practices, specifically, meditation, yoga, and Reiki, in decreasing symptoms of anxiety among college students. The increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders among the college population warrants the need for identifying effective interventions for enhancing mental health outcomes. This review integrates findings from published studies that focus on the impact of these practices on anxiety-related symptoms within college settings. Reviewing these studies reveals consistent evidence to support the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation as it relates to anxiety reduction as well as improvements in emotional …

Examining The Impact Of Body Esteem And Cyberbullying Victimization On Mental Health Outcomes In College-Aged Women, Lorena Victoria Houghton

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the role of cyberbullying victimization, body image constructs, and social anxiety on depression and suicidal ideation among 396 college-aged women. The researcher hypothesized there would be an indirect relationship between various body image-related constructs and depression/ suicidality through cyberbullying victimization and that the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression/ suicidal ideation would be moderated by social anxiety. Moderated mediation analyses via bootstrapping revealed cyberbullying victimization significantly mediated the relationship between various body image-related constructs (appearance-related social media consciousness, body esteem, and internalization of body ideals) and suicidal ideation while social anxiety served as a moderator between cyberbullying …

Marianismo:Challenging Traditional Mexican-American Roles For Women, Clarissa Aileen Montalvo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

While plentiful research has examined Machismo as a gender role norm for Mexican men, little has examined the role of women’s traditional Marianismo roles. Research identifies 5 “pillars” of Marianismo: family, virtuosity, subordination, self-silencing, and spirituality. I was interested in whether adhering to some traditional pillars of Marianismo (e.g., family) allow women to break away from other, more oppressive pillars (e.g., subordination, self-silencing). I tested whether traditional Marianismo beliefs impact women’s general mental health, and whether differences in traditional beliefs influence the degree to which women can be challenged to push back against more negative pillars by focusing on the …

The Association Between Childhood Trauma And Adulthood Depression And Posttraumatic Symptoms. Mediated Through Emotion Regulation And Perceived Social Support., Josue David Luna Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Depression and posttraumatic stress are two psychological consequences commonly reported by adults exposed to adverse childhood experiences. High prevalence of childhood adversities in the United States is a significant concern. Despite this, the specific causal mechanisms connecting childhood adversity to adult psychopathology remain undiscovered and require further research. This research aimed to determine whether perceived social support, cognitive reappraisal, and expressive suppression, two alternate forms of emotion regulation, would independently mediate the link between adverse childhood experiences and psychopathology in adulthood among a sample of U.S. Hispanic students. A total of 814 undergraduate students completed an anonymous online battery of …

Does Self-Care Moderate The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma Symptoms, And Parental Reflective Functioning?, Vinaya Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unresolved adverse and traumatic experiences in parents can amplify the risk of perpetuating intergenerational transmission of trauma. Parents’ positive and adaptive practices such as self-care might act as a protective factor against this ripple effect. This study investigated whether self-care moderated the relationship between parental ACEs, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and parental reflective functioning in mothers who are experiencing high psychosocial stress (n = 59) residing in rural Appalachia. Within our sample, there was no statistically significant linear relationship between our predictors, ACE score and PTSD symptoms, and our outcome of interest, maternal pre-mentalizing. We did not find empirical support for …

Perceived Stigma's Influence On The Association Between Suicide Risk Severity And Help-Seeking For Suicidal Crises, Donna Zastrow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Unfortunately, research examining help-seeking for suicide is limited. This study examined age, race, gender, suicide risk severity, and perceived stigma as predictors of formal and informal help-seeking behaviors individuals engage in during suicidal crises, and explored perceived stigma as a moderator of the relationship between risk severity and help-seeking. Method: Data from 80 college students who had experienced a past suicidal crisis were analyzed using two moderation analyses. Results: Rates of formal (67.5%) and informal (86.2%) help-seeking were high in the study sample. Higher suicide risk severity was positively associated with formal help-seeking (b = …

The Lasting Psychological Effects Of Juvenile Arrests, Nadia Olivia Bortolin

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the enduring psychological consequences, specifically depression and anxiety, stemming from juvenile arrests and their influence on adulthood. Literature has demonstrated impacts on juvenile arrests from cultural, socioeconomic, family dynamics, and environmental elements. This study addresses a notable gap in understanding the long-term impact on mental health and employment. Research indicates a sensitivity to outcomes based on the age of arrest, with early adolescent arrests having profound effects on development and an increased likelihood of subsequent criminal activities. Developmental and risk factors, such as socioeconomic challenges and pubescent difficulties, contribute to persistent delinquent behaviors into adulthood. Some studies …

Symptom Network Comparisons Between Pre- And Post-Concussion, Christine Salva

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Increased awareness about the short and long-term negative outcomes associated with sport-related concussion has resulted in active monitoring of cognitive and symptom profiles of athletes using a variety of assessments. The traditional approach to interpretation of cognitive and symptom measures has been based on a latent construct framework where domain scores reflecting latent constructs representing cognitive or symptom domains are collected at baseline and then compared to those obtained after concussion during the acute injury phase, with repeated additional assessments to determine when cognitive and symptom alterations have resolved. More recently, network approaches have been used to examine changes in …

A Single Session Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In A Group Format To Promote Health-Related Behavior Change In Nutrition And Sleep: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Thi Anh Tran

Dissertations

Nutrition and sleep are important health-related behaviors for which only a small percentage of the population meet recommended guidelines. To impact population-health it is important to develop focused, flexible, efficient, and efficacious interventions. This study examined the efficacy of a 60-minute Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in a group presentation format to initiate change in nutrition and sleep related behaviors in college students. Thirty-two collegians (M age = 18.55 [.85], 66% female, 34% Hispanic, 25% white) were randomized to receive ACT focusing on nutrition (n = 18 participants across 4 groups) or sleep (n = 14 participants across 3 …

Study Abroad Angst: A Literature Review On The Mental Health Of International Students During Covid-19, Daisuke Akiba, Michael Perrone, Caterina Almendral

Publications and Research

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique and unprecedented challenges for international students, those studying at institutions of higher education outside of their home countries, due to their distinct circumstances and vulnerabilities. This literature review examines the multifaceted mental health burdens they experienced and highlights the need for targeted support and interventions. Methods: A rigorous search across three databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC) yielded 50 empirical studies for inclusion in this literature review. A six-phase thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and synthesize key themes. Results: Seven prominent themes emerged: (1) academic and professional disruptions; (2) challenges navigating international …

Exploring The Relationship Between Digital Homework Adherence And Eating Disorder Symptoms, Melanie Mcdonough

The Cardinal Edge

Given the high mortality and relapse rates associated with anorexia nervosa, and the limited efficacy of existing treatments, especially those utilized (Peterson, et al., 2016), recent research has highlighted the potential of digital programs to address these barriers and enhance treatment engagement (Stewart, et al., 2021). Purpose: To investigate whether higher engagement throughout treatment is related to less eating disorder behaviors though a digital treatment program. Hypothesis: Participants with higher levels of engagement in treatment will report fewer eating disorder behaviors posttreatment. Methods: Participants (N = 10; Mage = 32.3, SD = 2.78) were diagnosed with active anorexia nervosa (50%), …

Exploring The Relationship Between Digital Homework Adherence And Eating Disorder Symptoms., Melanie D. Mcdonough

The Cardinal Edge

Given the high mortality and relapse rates associated with anorexia nervosa, and the limited efficacy of existing treatments, especially those utilized (Peterson, et al., 2016), recent research has highlighted the potential of digital programs to address these barriers and enhance treatment engagement (Stewart, et al., 2021). Purpose: To investigate whether higher engagement throughout treatment is related to less eating disorder behaviors though a digital treatment program. Hypothesis: Participants with higher levels of engagement in treatment will report fewer eating disorder behaviors posttreatment. Methods: Participants (N = 10; Mage = 32.3, SD = 2.78) were diagnosed with active anorexia nervosa (50%), …

Developing Racial Centrality: Examining Impacts Of Neighborhood-Level Racial Composition, Malyah A. Spencer, Shequanna Belizaire, Yara Mekawi

The Cardinal Edge

Racial identity among Black Americans has been a topic of psychological study in the United States for decades (Sellers et al., 1997, Sellers & Shelton, 2003, Chin et al., 2023). However, there is not ample research on what factors are associated with racial identity. In the literature on racial identity, there is some evidence that the racial composition of a neighborhood may impact racial identity development (Banks, 1984, Franklin-Jackson et al., 2007, Hurd et al., 2013, Deangelis, 2022) however, few studies have attempted to examine this relationship across a broader national sample with a focus specifically on racial centrality. Racial …

The Psychological Effects Of Discriminations In Sexual And Gender Minority Individuals: A Qualitative Analysis, Kameryn S. Freeman, Konrad Bresin, Julia Nicholas

The Cardinal Edge

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience minority stressors (e.g., rejection, discrimination, and victimization) that may negatively impact their mental health. This study used a mixed-methods approach to identify common themes across minority stress experiences and explore whether reflecting on these themes elicits changes in effect.

N = 25 undergraduate students with an SGM identity completed the study for course credit. Participants wrote about an instance of SGM discrimination that they experienced, witnessed, or heard about. Participants self-reported their positive and negative effects before and after writing. Participants’ stories were analyzed qualitatively to identify common themes. Correlations were calculated between …