Comparing Online Versus In-Person Administration Of Cognitive Tasks And Evaluating Their Predictive Utility Of Inattention Symptoms And Related Behaviors,
2026
University of Southern Mississippi
Comparing Online Versus In-Person Administration Of Cognitive Tasks And Evaluating Their Predictive Utility Of Inattention Symptoms And Related Behaviors, Cameron Pothoven
Master's Theses
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with less developed working memory (WM) processes, theorized to be a core contributing factor in the development of ADHD and a predictor of ADHD symptom severity (Alderson et al., 2013; Rapport et al., 2008). Objective measures inclusive of working memory tasks, when used in conjunction with self-report measures, have been previously shown to increase the accuracy of diagnosing ADHD (Marshal et al., 2021. However, given that WM is typically assessed by a trained clinician, it is unclear how accurate and comparable online administration of adapted WM tasks are to their in-person counterparts. …
The Joint Effect Of Bilingualism And Sleep On Executive Functions Among Children And Adolescents With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd),
2026
The University of San Francisco
The Joint Effect Of Bilingualism And Sleep On Executive Functions Among Children And Adolescents With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Yirou Jiang
Doctoral Dissertations
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly impacts cognitive and behavioral functions, leading challenges for individuals across the lifespan. While extensive research has been conducted to understand the connection between executive functioning (EF) and ADHD, research findings related to the contributing factors of bilingualism and sleep still remains inconsistent (Bialystok et al., 2017). Investigating the joint effect between bilingualism and sleep on EF among children and adolescents with ADHD may help further clarify the connection between EF, language, and sleep, and facilitate the development of interventions from the perspective of these protective factors. EF encompasses cognitive processes …
Recovery Through Connection: The Role Of Positive Social Interactions In Early Alcohol And Opioid Recovery Outcomes,
2026
University of New Mexico - Main Campus
Recovery Through Connection: The Role Of Positive Social Interactions In Early Alcohol And Opioid Recovery Outcomes, Hannah Avery Carlon
Psychology ETDs
Recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is influenced by both positive emotional functioning and social connectedness. However, empirical research has yet to examine how these two protective factors interact to influence recovery. The present study aimed to address this gap by exploring positivity resonance, or the shared experience of positive emotions, in the first year of recovery. In Aim 1, we examined change trajectories of positivity resonance and recovery capital over the first year of recovery among adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD; n=470) and opioid use disorder (OUD; n=61), the associations between these change trajectories (1a), and …
Military Culture And The Student Veteran: A Mixed Methods Study Of Service Members Transition Into Higher Education,
2026
University of Texas at Tyler
Military Culture And The Student Veteran: A Mixed Methods Study Of Service Members Transition Into Higher Education, Joanna Fagan
Clinical Psychology Dissertations
Military veterans are entering higher education spaces at a steady rate. While their visibility on U.S. campuses is increasing, these veterans face various challenges in entering higher education. This mixed-methods study examined the relationships among military identity, trauma exposure, and psychological functioning in student veterans, with a focus on meaning in life, life satisfaction, and social engagement. Quantitative data was used to assess correlations and associations between meaning making, military identification, satisfaction with life, and college involvement, while qualitative data were used to contextualize and extend statistical findings. Results indicated that military identity was positively associated with meaning making but …
Ai Vs. Licensed Psychologists: A Comparative Analysis Of Treatment Plan Quality For Treating Psychological Distress,
2026
Walden University
Ai Vs. Licensed Psychologists: A Comparative Analysis Of Treatment Plan Quality For Treating Psychological Distress, Michael Edward Maloney
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The study was conducted to investigate whether statistically significant differences exist in the quality of treatment plans developed by artificial intelligence (AI) platforms versus treatment plans generated by licensed psychologists, with a focus on intervention specificity and clinical appropriateness. Given the rapid proliferation of digital mental health technologies and the persistent shortage of licensed mental health professionals, empirical evaluation of AI-driven clinical tools has become a critical area of inquiry. Grounded in dual process theory (DPT), which conceptualizes decision making as the product of both intuitive and analytical cognitive systems, the study employed a quantitative, between-groups design. Sixty-six licensed psychologists …
Lived Experiences Of Emotional Competence Development Among Online Doctoral Clinical Psychology Students During Clinical Training,
2026
Walden University
Lived Experiences Of Emotional Competence Development Among Online Doctoral Clinical Psychology Students During Clinical Training, Michelle Davis
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Emotional competence is essential for effective clinical practice, professional development, and client care. However, limited research has examined how emotional competence develops among students in fully online doctoral clinical psychology programs. This qualitative descriptive phenomenological study explored how students enrolled in online doctoral clinical psychology programs experience the development of emotional competence during clinical field training. Guided by Goleman’s emotional competence framework, the lived experiences of doctoral students as they developed emotional awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and relationship management skills was examined. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 purposively selected participants enrolled in online doctoral clinical psychology programs …
Screening And Treatment Protocols Used In Nicus Across Minnesota For Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Pmads),
2026
Bethel University
Screening And Treatment Protocols Used In Nicus Across Minnesota For Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Pmads), Rachael Witt
Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research
Parents of infants with prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalizations are a population that is overlooked in recommended routine screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), yet this population is at greater risk for developing diagnosable mental health disorders. Previous research shows that across the US, PMAD screening and treatment practices vary widely, with many NICUs not providing any routine PMAD screening, psychoeducation, or treatment options to parents. The objective of this study was to explore the current mental health screening and treatment protocols used in NICUs across the state of Minnesota to learn if there are areas …
Examining The Relationship Between Past Involvement In Sexual Violence, Gender, And Rape Myth Acceptance In College Student-Athletes,
2026
Rowan University
Examining The Relationship Between Past Involvement In Sexual Violence, Gender, And Rape Myth Acceptance In College Student-Athletes, Sarah Baker
Theses and Dissertations
Sexual violence (SV) is a persistent concern on U.S. college campuses, with student-athletes at higher risk for both perpetration and victimization. Rape myth acceptance (RMA) reflects beliefs that excuse or downplay SV, but it is unclear how these beliefs relate to student-athletes’ personal experiences with SV. This study examined RMA based on past SV involvement and gender, with attention to individuals reporting both perpetration and victimization. Participants were 350 NCAA Division III student-athletes who completed measures of SV perpetration and victimization, RMA, and sexism. Analyses evaluated differences in RMA by past involvement in sexual violence and gender while controlling for …
The Use Of Breathing Meditation With Bipoc Trauma Survivors,
2026
University of San Francisco
The Use Of Breathing Meditation With Bipoc Trauma Survivors, Keerthi Sundaramurthy
Doctoral Dissertations
There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of mindfulness-based practices to reduce psychological distress. Although interest in mindfulness-based care is growing, studies investigating virtual interventions for BIPOC trauma survivors remain limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a breathing meditation intervention on mental health outcomes in a sample of trauma-exposed BIPOC adults, using a randomized post-test only design. Participants in the intervention group were asked to complete a 10-minute box breathing meditation daily for four weeks. Quantitative analyses revealed that those in the intervention group reported significantly lower symptoms of anxiety and …
The Primary Care Brief Intervention Competency Assessment Tool (Bi-Cat): Examining Reliability And Validity,
2026
University of Missouri-St. Louis
The Primary Care Brief Intervention Competency Assessment Tool (Bi-Cat): Examining Reliability And Validity, Arielle Guillod
Dissertations
Within primary care, the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model integrates behavioral health services into medical settings through brief, population‑based interventions delivered by behavioral health consultants (BHCs). Although effective performance in this role requires competencies distinct from traditional mental health practice, few psychometrically sound tools exist to assess clinical skills in primary care. The Brief Intervention Competency Assessment Tool (BICAT) is commonly used for this purpose but lacks published evidence supporting its reliability and validity. This dissertation examined the psychometric properties of the BICAT across two studies. Study 1 evaluated factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity in a heterogeneous …
Emophilia: An Integrated Guide For Mental Health Professionals,
2026
Florida Institute of Technology
Emophilia: An Integrated Guide For Mental Health Professionals, Joseph H. Preckajlo, Erica Baer, Richard P. Conti
Forensic Scholars Today
Emophilia, the tendency to fall in love quickly and frequently, has emerged as a distinct, nonpathological relationship trait with implications for early-stage romance, sexual health, and relationship stability. This integrated guide synthesizes conceptual, psychometric, motivational, personality, and clinical findings to support assessment and intervention. Emophilia appears to be an approach-oriented, reward-sensitive construct (vs. anxiety-driven attachment needs), shows satisfactory measurement properties, modest associations with personality, and consistent links to rapid bonding, relational churn, and attraction to antisocial traits. We offer practical assessment strategies, pacing and screening interventions, and ethical/cultural considerations, while highlighting research gaps (e.g., longitudinal tests, neurohormonal mechanisms, and mediation …
The Relationship Between Autistic Traits And Depression Among Self-Reporting College-Aged Adults,
2026
Walden University
The Relationship Between Autistic Traits And Depression Among Self-Reporting College-Aged Adults, Tyler Michael Davis
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Depression is a prevalent mental health concern among emerging adults, particularly within college populations where academic, social, and developmental stressors are heightened. Autistic traits are increasingly understood as dimensional characteristics that exist across both clinical and non-clinical populations, yet their relationship to depressive symptoms in college-aged adults remains insufficiently understood. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study was to examine the relationship between self-reported autistic traits and depressive symptoms among non-clinical adults aged 18 to 25. The study was grounded in Beck’s cognitive theory of depression and the diathesis–stress model, which posit that cognitive vulnerabilities interact with environmental stressors …
How Young Mothers’ Interpersonal And Emotional Well-Being Impacts Parental Stress And Dating Violence,
2026
Rowan University
How Young Mothers’ Interpersonal And Emotional Well-Being Impacts Parental Stress And Dating Violence, Jonathan Jin
Theses and Dissertations
This two-part dissertation investigated two distinct, yet interconnected aspects of young mothers’ wellbeing which span individual and interpersonal factors. Study 1 examined how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are related to parental stress, and how symptoms of anxiety and depression might mediate this association. Within a sample 255 young mothers with an average age of 22.2 (SD = 2.3), the pooled results of a parallel mediation model across 10 imputed datasets indicated a significant average direct effect of ACEs on parental stress (0.25, p < .01), suggesting that experiencing a history of ACEs was significantly associated with more parental stress. Study 2 examined the relationship between young mothers’ romantic attachment, emotion regulation, and dating violence (DV) victimization. In a different sample of 256 young mothers with an average age of 19.8 years (SD = 1.1), more avoidant (less secure) romantic attachment styles (β = 0.26, SE = 0.1, p < 0.01) and more anxious romantic attachment styles (linear component β = 3.81, SE = 0.9, p < 0.001 and quadratic component β = -2.86, SE = 0.9, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with greater DV victimization. Future research may extend this work by using longitudinal designs to test bidirectional links between interpersonal and emotional wellbeing factors among young mothers.
Neural Correlates Of Anger Rumination To A Personal Event And Subsequent Changes In Working Memory,
2026
University of Southern Mississippi
Neural Correlates Of Anger Rumination To A Personal Event And Subsequent Changes In Working Memory, Mairin Claire Madison Cotter
Dissertations
Rumination is a maladaptive coping strategy that is associated with the emergence and maintenance of several psychological disorders and related symptomatology and thus has been proposed as a transdiagnostic risk factor. Recent work has focused on patterns of brain activation during rumination to sadness; however, less is known about brain activation patterns in response to anger-inducing events and how anger rumination may influence working memory. This study sought to identify potential neurophysiological correlates (through electroencephalography; EEG) of anger rumination, examine how anger rumination subsequently impacts working memory performance, and determine whether neurophysiological correlates of anger rumination are associated with working …
Values And Posttraumatic Resilience: Assessing The Moderating Impact Of Cultural Context,
2026
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Values And Posttraumatic Resilience: Assessing The Moderating Impact Of Cultural Context, Jeremy Brian Clift
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
People commonly experience a traumatic event during their lives, and many effectively cope with the experience, demonstrating psychological resiliency. However, this is not always the case; others may develop psychopathology in the wake of a traumatic event, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Why might some people experience clinically significant difficulty following a traumatic event while others do not? The current study examined this question by considering the role of values—cognitive representations of motivations that guide action—and testing predictions generated from the Contextual Model of Values-Based Responding to Traumatic Experiences (Clift & Veilleux, unpublished manuscript). It was predicted that greater growth …
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy For Toddlers In Japan: Comparing Outcomes For Children With And Without Autism And/Or Developmental Delays,
2026
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy For Toddlers In Japan: Comparing Outcomes For Children With And Without Autism And/Or Developmental Delays, Emily-Anne Sevilla Del Rosario
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Toddlers (PCIT-T) is a toddler adaptation of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy designed to improve social-emotional development and parenting practices among children under two years of age. This study evaluated the effectiveness of PCIT-T among Japanese families and explored whether treatment outcomes differed between neurotypical toddlers and autistic children and/or children with developmental delays. Data was analyzed from 83 parent-child dyads who received PCIT-T in community-based agencies across Japan between 2018 and 2023. Results indicated significant improvements in children’s protective developmental factors, caregiver use of PRIDE skills, and reductions in Avoid skills following treatment. CARES skills did not …
Effectiveness Of Pcit With Toddlers In A Community-Based Sample: Special Considerations For Youth With Neurodevelopmental Conditions,
2026
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Effectiveness Of Pcit With Toddlers In A Community-Based Sample: Special Considerations For Youth With Neurodevelopmental Conditions, Rebecca Scott Bradley
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
The early caregiving environment serves as the context in which young children develop emotional regulation abilities. While supportive, responsive caregiving is crucial for helping children regulate their own emotions in times of stress, disruptions to the parent-child relationship may set the stage for poor emotion regulation throughout childhood. Emotional and behavioral problems, particularly in children with neurodevelopmental conditions, may stem from early difficulties with emotion regulation. If left untreated, emotion dysregulation in children can mark a trajectory towards continued social-emotional concerns and family disruption; as such, the toddler years represent an ideal time for intervention. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Toddlers …
Strengthening The Shield: Exploring Post-Traumatic Growth In Law Enforcement,
2026
National Louis University
Strengthening The Shield: Exploring Post-Traumatic Growth In Law Enforcement, Aaleiyah C. Spaulding
Dissertations
Law enforcement officers are routinely exposed to traumatic incidents that can lead to psychological distress, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, emerging literature highlights the potential for posttraumatic growth (PTG), a positive psychological change following adversity. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of PTG in a sample of 33 police officers from a Midwestern department. Using validated self-report measures, the study assessed the role of trauma exposure, cognitive restructuring of core beliefs, and perceived organizational culture, particularly supervisor support. Results indicated that both internal (core belief reflection) and external (supervisory support) factors significantly predicted PTG. Additionally, involvement in a …
Coping With Uncertainty In Everyday Situations (Cues©): The U.S. Pilot Study,
2026
Marquette University
Coping With Uncertainty In Everyday Situations (Cues©): The U.S. Pilot Study, Sarah Lehman
Dissertations (1934 -)
Autistic youth experience anxiety at an increased rate compared to their neurotypical counterparts. The presence of anxiety often amplifies the social and functional difficulties faced by autistic youth, which can exacerbate poor outcomes. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), defined as negative beliefs and reactions to unpredictable or ambiguous situations, has been identified as a key factor to the manifestation of anxiety in autistic populations. The current study aimed to replicate the protocol and results from Rodgers et al. (2023) by conducting the first U.S. pilot study examining the feasibility and efficacy of Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations (CUES©); an 8-week …
Economic Background And The Role Of Self-Compassion,
2026
University of Texas at Tyler
Economic Background And The Role Of Self-Compassion, Dixy Melendez
Psychology and Counseling Theses
Although self-compassion is established as a buffer against psychological distress, few studies examine its protective role alongside socioeconomic discrimination. This study used hierarchical multiple regressions and a hierarchical logistic regression to examine subjective social status, downward classism, self-compassion, and internalized shame as predictors of distress, academic anxiety, and academic task choice among college students, controlling for demographic variables. Greater self-compassion predicted less internalized shame, and greater downward classism predicted greater shame and distress. Self-compassion showed only marginal protective effects against distress after accounting for other variables. Internalized shame was the strongest, most consistent predictor, robustly relating to academic anxiety and …
