Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Psy-7 Peer Effects Of Seeking Mental Health Help From A Professional, Devanshi Patel, Susan Ruppel

SC Upstate Research Symposium

How does peer support effect the ability of students to seek out mental health help from a professional? In this study, the experimenter investigates the type of support the students receive from their peers and how that affects their ability to seek out help from a professional. Accurate intention-seeking of students was recorded for both the behavioral concerns and their support types. A Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale was used to measure the data collected in this study. It was found that the behavioral concern (mental, physical) of a student does not matter in this study, nor did the type …

Cognitive Fusion, Self- And Other-Blame, And College Adjustment Outcomes, Olivia Tipton, Stephanie Weigel

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

A significant portion of college enrollees drop out of college before their degree is awarded, and college persistence is lower in students from challenging backgrounds. The college environment can bring increased academic workload, financial stress, and social stress for first-time enrollees. Several factors may contribute to difficulties in emotion regulation during this time, making it more difficult for college students to respond adaptively to novel stressors. Cognitive fusion is a concept proposed by acceptance and commitment therapy to describe a state in which one believes the literal content of their thoughts, even when those thoughts may be irrational or emotionally …

Efficacy Of Patient Education And Duloxetine, Alone And In Combination, For Patients With Multisystem Functional Somatic Disorder: Study Protocol For The Edulox Trial, Cecilia Pihl Jespersen, Heidi Frølund Pedersen, Maria Kleinstäuber, Per Fink, Kaare Bro Wellnitz, Eva Ørnbøl, Andreas Schröder, Johanne Liv Agger, Lene Vase, Nanna Brix Finnerup, Lise Kirstine Gormsen

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background

Multisystem functional somatic disorder is characterized by specific patterns of persistent physical symptoms with a complex biopsychosocial etiology. The disorder can lead to disability and personal suffering. Current treatment options require specialized settings, therefore patients often wait a long time to receive specific treatment.

Patient education is considered important in most treatment programs, but has only been investigated sparsely as a stand-alone treatment. Pharmacological treatment is limited to tricyclic antidepressants in low doses with not antidepressant properties. Duloxetine has been found effective in single organ functional disorders. As a treatment for multisystem functional somatic disorder, duloxetine could reduce symptoms …

Making Deception Fun: Teaching Autistic Individuals How To Playfriendly Tricks, Adel Naj, Megan St. Clair, Kacie Massoudie, Jonathan Tarbox, Lauri Simchoni, Marianne Jackson, Angela Persicke

Psychology Division Scholarship

Perspective taking is a critical repertoire for navigating social relationships and consists of a variety of complex verbalskills, including socially adaptive forms of deception. Detecting and being able to use socially adaptive deception likelyhas many practical uses, including defending oneself against bullying, telling white lies to avoid hurting others’ feelings,keeping secrets and bluffing during games, and playing friendly tricks on others. Previous research has documented thatsome Autistic1 children have challenges identifying deception and playfully deceiving others (Reinecke et al., 1997). Thecurrent study employed a multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate the use of multiple exemplar training, rules,modeling, practice, and …

Demographic Differences In Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire And The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, Victoria Carter, Janett Naylor-Tincknell

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Empathy and social masking are traits related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social masking, the act of camouflaging socially to appear closer to the social norm, is often utilized to conceal autistic traits, such that individuals with ASD mask more frequently than neurotypical individuals (Hull et al., 2017). However, neurotypical adults also use masking and camouflaging behaviors in routine social interactions, including actively attempting to mirror others’ moods, reflecting vocabulary and syntax, or matching facial expressions to respond appropriately (Pryke-Hobbes et al. 2023). Additionally, empathy is related to ASD traits; although, the findings are often mixed. Originally, it was thought …

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention For Tics Specialty Clinic Outcomes, Brandon Xavier Pitts

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Tics are abrupt, repetitive, and non-rhythmic movements (motor tics) and vocalizations (vocal tics). Persistent (Chronic) Tic Disorders (PTDs), which include conditions such as Tourette Disorder (TD), are characterized by involuntary motor and vocal tics. PTDs are associated with a myriad of adverse social repercussions, reduced quality of life, and concurrent psychiatric diagnoses, and occur in approximately 1.1% to 4.8% of the global population. Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) stands as the primary nonpharmacological therapeutic approach for tics. Although the efficacy of CBIT has been established in multiple large-scale randomized control trials (RCTs), there is a paucity of research scrutinizing …

Examining The Effects Of Social Group Persecution And Traumatic Humiliation In Survivors Of Torture, Tilda Cvrkel

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Refugees and asylum seekers account for 34.4 million people worldwide (UNHCR, 2021), and up to 40% of this population are survivors of torture (UNHCR, 2017). The Istanbul Protocol (United Nations, 2022) describes one of the explicit ends of torture as the severing of a person from their community, a breaking of their dignity and humanity. This may be done explicitly, through acts of traumatic humiliation. Traumatic humiliation includes acts such as forcing victims to eat religiously forbidden food, forced posing or touching others in culturally taboo sexual ways, forced nudity or clothing that reflects misgendering (such as “emasculating” clothing), widespread …

Music As A Coping Mechanism: Clinical Implications Of How College Students Utilize Music To Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And Daily Stressors, Karly Pikel

Senior Theses

Many college students face stress, anxiety, and/or depression in their daily lives which they cope with in their own ways. Listening to music or playing an instrument are particularly powerful forms of coping that can have a plethora of positive effects on an individual. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey amongst the University of South Carolina student body to determine how they utilize music to cope in their daily lives. Of 847 respondents, almost all of them reported experiencing some extent of anxiety and/or stress and listening to music to help them cope. Respondents agreed that …

The Impact Of Asian American Cultural Centers On Sense Of Belongingness For Asian American Undergraduate Students, Malina B. Maladore

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

This dissertation examines the role of cultural centers and experiences of microaggressions in shaping the ethnic identity of Asian American undergraduates in U.S. higher education institutions. Utilizing Phinney’s model of ethnic identity development, a study with 175 participants revealed a positive correlation between reported microaggressions and sense of ethnic belonging in students attending universities with cultural centers. The findings highlight the complexities of belongingness and the potential impact of cultural centers on ethnic identity and experiences of microaggressions. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of Asian American students’ experiences in higher education. This dissertation is available in open access …

In And Through The Body: A Quantitative Exploration Of Embodiment In Eating Disorders, Lauren Zaniboni

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

The field of clinical psychology has long privileged cognitive and affective experience and information over that which is stored in, and communicated by, the body (Caldwell, 2018; Young, 2006). Despite the profound and complex web of interactions between mind and body in EDs, this subspecialty has been no exception. The need for improvements in eating disorder (ED) treatment outcomes is well documented and transtheoretically accepted. Current practice guidelines for the treatment of adult EDs recommend the utilization of cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal strategies to target problematic thinking and deficits in emotion regulation that are thought to fuel ED behaviors (American …

Engaging In Art To Support Social-Emotional Learning (Eassel): A Classroom-Based Approach, Hailey Mcafee-Scimone

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

This dissertation describes a project to develop an art-based curriculum to teach young elementary school-age children social and emotional skills in the classroom based on the experiences of experts in the field of elementary education. Social-emotional learning (SEL) focuses on several key concepts including skills in interpersonal relationships, emotion regulation, and mindfulness (McClelland et al., 2017). By addressing SEL early within the education curriculum, children are exposed to resources that will help them to develop strong regulation skills, engage in identity exploration, and practice healthy relationship skills (Jones et al., 2017). The integration of SEL and art creates a learning …

Cold Medicine Abuse And Increased Odds Of Recreational Drug Use, Luis Barco

Posters - 2024

Over the counter (OTC) medications are frequently used to address the symptoms associated with common illnesses that affect the public. (SOURCE) Of these OTC medications, cold and cough medications are some of the most widely used. However, cold medications pose a risk in exhibiting different effects depending on which active ingredient is the most prevalent. Dextromethorphan (DXM), one of the most common ingredients in cough medicine, can lead to the development of symptoms that mirror psychosis associated with phencyclidine abuse (1). Though less common, abuse of codeine can also result in the formation of gastric ulcers, internal bleeding, and inflammation …

Equality In Times Of Uncertainty: Economic Downturn And Body Image Messaging Toward Women, Ritsa Giannakas

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

A vast body of literature indicates that the economy and the status of women are interlinked, with higher levels of economic well-being tending to correspond with advancements in women’s rights. However, little of this research has investigated the changes in the wellbeing of women as it pertains to their physical and mental health, especially as it pertains to exploring the impacts of economics on eating disorder rates and societal messaging toward women. This thesis investigates a novel theory linking economic uncertainty and downturn to the spread of pro-eating disorder content online, positing that economic uncertainty may coincide with a “conservative …

Relationships Between White Psychology Trainees’ Multicultural Competence And Racial Affect In The Pandemic, Daniella L. Colb

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In this dissertation, I used an exploratory research approach to examine White psychology trainees’ affective responses to race-related material and how they relate to trainees’ self-perceived levels of multicultural competence amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Participants completed self-report instruments about their experiences and identities, their affective responses to racial content, and their grasp of facets of multicultural competence. Significant correlations were found between affective responses—specifically White guilt and negation—and multicultural competence. The relationship found between White guilt and multicultural competence may speak to the power of guilt to motivate trainees’ pursuit of …

Repetitive Negative Thinking As A Prospective Predictor Of Depression And Anxiety Symptoms In Autistic And Non-Autistic Incoming College Students, Erin Kckenney

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Background: Improving the understanding and treatment of mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety, are significant priorities for autistic adults (Benevides et al., 2020; Crane et al., 2019; Pellicano et al., 2014). While several theories have been proposed to explain the high prevalence of internalizing symptoms in autistic people, little longitudinal research has been done to investigate potential causal mechanisms. One potentially fruitful area of investigation is to explore how well-known contributors to depression/anxiety in the general population predict and/or moderate the development of internalizing symptoms in autistic individuals. Objectives: The current study investigates the relation of one established risk …

Black Boys Om: A Case Study Of The Impacts Of Community And Culture On Wellness Practices, Khanh Pham

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Black men continue to face health disparities due to systemic oppression. Research indicates that mind-body-spirit practices (MBSPs) can effectively improve mental and physical health, thereby reducing health disparities among Black men. However, MBSPs are often White-female-dominated practices, thus putting Black male practitioners at continued risks of under-representation and marginalization in MBSP spaces. The culturally specific nature of MBSP spaces may then be an important factor in MBSPs’ influence on Black men’s health. Therefore, we aimed to explore how culturally specific MBSP spaces impact Black male practitioners’ MBSPs. We collaborated with Black Boys OM (BBO), a global community of Black male …

Family Obligation, School Climate, And The Academic Achievement Of Latinx Youth Living In One- And Two-Parent Households, Elizabeth Martinez Charleston

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Latinx youth are achieving lower levels of educational attainment when compared to their ethnic or racial peers from other backgrounds. Addressing these academic disparities is imperative, with the Latinx population in the U.S. experiencing substantial growth. Guided by the Positive Youth Development Model and the Integrative Model of Child Development, this study explored family obligation and school climate as factors associated with academic achievement. Participants included 268 Latinx youth, including 101 (37.7%) in one-parent households. Participants were 5th through 7th-grade students (56.7% female; M_age = 11.4), mainly 2nd generation (US-born with foreign-born parents; 77.2%), and primarily identified as Mexican …

The Impact Of Depression Screening On Mental Health Referrals For Pain Patients., Pamela Lynn Irrgang Metz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (Gaba) Neurons And Perineuronal Nets (Pnn) In The Monodelphis Domestica And Relevance To Psychiatric Disorders, Jatziry Z. Luna Escobedo, Mariela Garcia, John L. Vandeberg, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background/ Purpose: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that serves as the central nervous system’s (CNS) main inhibitory neurotransmitter. By inhibiting nerve transmission, it works to lower neuronal excitability. Altered GABA levels have been associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders, for example Epilepsies, Parkinson’s Disease, and Schizophrenia. Perineuronal nets (PNN) are extracellular molecules that are released by neurons and glial cells that modulate many neuronal and glial functions by encapsulating the inhibitory cells and neurites. Altered PNN levels serve as a potential trigger to synaptic imbalance. The purpose of this study is to quantify and analyze the presence, …

Moderating Role Of Momentary Social Anxiety In The Relationships Between Authenticity, Situational Appraisals, Expressivity, And Approach-Avoidance Motivation, Jessica A. Birg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Authenticity, the sense of being true to oneself, may be less sought out or rewarding whenconcerns with social approval and/or rejection take priority. The present study extends prior work by investigating the moderating role of momentary social anxiety in concurrent relationships between (1) perceptions of social interaction partner (i.e., feeling close to or judged by an interaction partner) and authenticity and (2) expressivity while socializing and authenticity. This study also aimed to identify (3) how momentary social anxiety moderates the prospective relationship between authenticity and social approach/avoidance motivation. Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), data was collected from 55 participants over …