Developmental Psychology Commons^™

Observed Parenting, Parent-Child Aggression, And Intimate Partner Violence As Predictive Of Family Dysfunction, Paige Munshell

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Family systems theories contextualize violence as occurring across multiple levels of the family, yet much of the existing literature focuses on a single family member’s outcome (i.e., the child) and neglects to include data collected from fathers. This study examined the associations between indicators of functioning at the dyadic-level in the family system—observed parenting, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) perpetration, and Parent-Child Aggression (PCA) risk—and later overall family dysfunction. Participants were 180 mothers and 144 of their male partners evaluated when their child was 18 months old and re-evaluated at 4 years old. Measures of observed parenting, IPV perpetration, and PCA …

Young Adults And Early-Onset Psychosis: A Grounded Theory Study Of Experiences Of Identity Development, Katherine Hayden-Lewis, Deborah Rubel

The Qualitative Report

While identity development is a crucial task for young individuals ages 15-25, current research inadequately centralizes identity development in the context of first-time psychosis related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study addresses the knowledge gap by exploring the grand research question, “How does a young person experience their identity development after the first episode of psychosis?”. Constructivist grounded theory methods influenced by critical frameworks were used to collect and analyze data with seven young adults engaged in first episode psychosis programs. Participants were young adults, between the ages of 19-24, that at the time of the study were enrolled in …

The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of German Volunteers Aged 55 Or Older In Development Service In Tanzania, Barbara Wohanka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As global aging trends and longer life expectancy encourage many seniors to seek meaningful engagement through volunteering, this research examined how such activities influence their perceptions and experiences. While much of the existing literature on volunteering in later life has concentrated on individuals involved in local community service, little research has addressed what motivates seniors to volunteer abroad. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions and lived experiences of German volunteers aged 55 or older in development service in Tanzania and the influence of these experiences on their lives. The theoretical framework examined the guiding approaches …

Three Good Things And Family Process, Julia Prouty

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

There is a need for adaptive and affordable prevention/intervention strategies to promote happiness, health, and well-being in families. Three Good Things (3GT) is a free exercise from the field of positive psychology meant to shift an individual’s focus and perceptions towards gratitude. 3GT promotes focusing on gratitude by reflecting on what an individual is grateful for from the past day/week. Persons are encouraged to write down and share their 3GT with another individual. A mindset of gratitude is closely associated with improved happiness, health, and well-being. The exercise of reflecting on 3GT is adaptive to most individuals/families. To date, most …

Exploring Cultural Perspectives On Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review, Carly A N Kuhlman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning. Despite its universal recognition, perceptions and responses to autism vary widely across different cultural contexts. This paper explores the impact of cultural perspectives on the diagnosis, intervention, and support for individuals with autism. It highlights how cultural beliefs, values, and societal norms shape the understanding and management of ASD, revealing significant differences in diagnostic practices and support systems around the world. The paper discusses how cultural factors influence the interpretation of autism, using case studies from diverse settings, including Africa, Southeast Asia, …

The Meaning Of Happiness Among Urban Children And Adolescents In Indonesia: A Qualitative Study Through Drawings, Eko Handayani, Dewi Maulina, Winarini W. Dahlan

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Urban children and adolescents face various stressors, including academic pressure, digital media exposure, and limited green spaces, which influence their happiness perception. This study aims to explore the meaning of happiness in children and adolescents living in Indonesia’s urban areas through qualitative research using a drawing-based approach. A total of 243 participants, aged 9-15, from elementary and junior high schools in Jakarta, were asked to draw "I am happy when..." with written brief explanations. Data were analyzed using visual and narrative-thematic approaches across children and adolescents from a developmental psychology perspective. The findings reveal that the images and explanations of …

Parental Ses And Geographic Location As Predictors Of Graduations In Southeastern High Schools Before And After Covid-19, Marcy J. Watkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American students in the United States have long faced systemic barriers to high school completion, which were further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational-predictive study was to examine the extent to which parental SES and school location predict graduation outcomes among African American students in southeastern public high schools from 2019 to 2024. Grounded in Bandura’s social learning theory, the study explored how environmental and socioeconomic contexts influence academic achievement. Three research questions guided the study: (1) To what extent do parental SES and location combined predict the number of African American graduates? (2) …

Strategies For Addressing Junior College Attrition Among Female African American Nontraditional Students, Antweshia Hawes-Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female African American nontraditional students (25+ years with family and work demands) have high attrition rates, they leave degree programs before graduating, worsening socioeconomic disparities. This phenomenological study described their experiences with support services, which shaped student self-efficacy related to completing programs, and identified what changes were needed to improve support for higher graduation rates among female African American nontraditional students participating in 2-year degree programs offered by junior colleges. Guided by Bean’s industrial model of student attrition and Fishbein and Aizen’s importance of intention model, the study posed two research questions: What are the lived experiences of female nontraditional …

Compassion Fatigue And Daily Spiritual Experience Among Mental Health Male Technicians In Locked Facilities, Felicia Mar'shae Davis Ramsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health provider’s ongoing exposure to clients’ traumatic experiences can cause increased compassion fatigue. Due to negative implications on mental health professionals’ work and personal life experiences, researchers have increasingly studied burnout, compassion fatigue, and stress. The study included a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to interview mental health providers across specialties and regulations to acquire understanding of professionals lived experiences of compassion within their personal lives, work lives, and spirituality. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of compassion fatigue in male mental health technician and how they use …

Therapeutic Outcomes Of Racially Matched Families And Clinicians In Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With Toddlers, Emily B. Frey, Julia L. Kiefer, Lauren B. Quetsch, Rebecca S. Bradley, Emma I. Girard

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Abstract

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based therapy for children aged 2.5-7 with disruptive behavioral problems. In recent years, the PCIT protocol has been adapted for use as a preventative model with toddlers (PCIT-T) aged 12-24 months. Given the recency of the PCIT-T adaptation, research has not yet examined the similarity of PCIT-T attrition rates compared to PCIT, though it is speculated rates are similar (between 30-69%; Ufford et al., 2022). Previous research suggests that racial dissimilarity between a treatment provider and the family may influence treatment dropout. Therefore, the current study explored the effect of racial matching between …

The Academic, Psychological, And Physical Impact Of Motor Skills Difficulties On College Students: A Scoping Review, David Gaul Phd, Suzanne Mccarthy Wolf

Articles

Purpose of Review

This scoping review examines the extent and quality of research literature to determine the impact of motor skills difficulties on college or university students. It assesses the adequacy of current institutional supports and identifies opportunities for more inclusive educational practices.

Recent Findings

Four databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched for English-language studies published since 1970. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria: 12 empirical, 4 descriptive, and 2 program evaluations. Six papers from the UK addressed support, social isolation, and academic confidence; six Israeli studies focused on handwriting, dysgraphia, and accommodations; three US studies examined …

9th Gsep Research Symposium - 2025

GSEP Research Symposium

The Ninth Annual GSEP Research Symposium, themed "Building Bridges to Elevate Humanity: Innovations and Insights in Education and Psychology", was hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) on June 19–20, 2025, at the historic Château d’Hauteville in Switzerland and virtually via Zoom.

This hybrid symposium convened a vibrant global community of students, alumni, faculty, and scholars to share research that addresses real-world challenges, advances scholarly inquiry, and builds pathways for inclusive collaboration and leadership. Spanning a wide array of topics—from artificial intelligence and mental health to trauma-informed practices, educational equity, social justice, and cross-cultural leadership—the …

Proactive Aging: A New Aging Programming Framework For Cooperative Extension, Jeong Eun Lee, Eunbea Kim, Yulri Kim, Eva Kahana

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Traditional Extension programs for older adults often adopt a reactive approach, focusing on addressing age-related challenges after they arise. While these programs can be beneficial, a proactive aging model offers a more comprehensive and empowering approach. The concept of proactive aging, emphasizing preventative strategies for maintaining and improving wellbeing, has been well-established in the literature (Kahana et al., 2014). By adopting this model, Cooperative Extension can significantly enhance its services for older adults. This paper proposes innovative program ideas grounded in the proactive aging framework. Such programs are more engaging as they foster self-efficacy and empowerment, encouraging participants to actively …

Theory Comparison, Chen Li

Open Educational Resources

This assignment invites students to critically compare two developmental theorists (the professor can choose which two theorists), reflecting on their similarities, differences, and personal evaluations. Students will explore where they agree or disagree with each theorist and connect their reflections to contemporary contexts, cultural perspectives, or personal experiences. The assignment also includes peer engagement, with thoughtful responses to two classmates to deepen discussion and understanding.

Personal Introduction & Learning Profile, Chen Li

Open Educational Resources

This assignment asks students to introduce themselves through a brief personal narrative that highlights key experiences, early influences, and goals for the course. Using any creative format, students reflect on how their background shapes their approach to learning and what they hope to gain moving forward. Students also engage with two peers’ introductions to help build a collaborative learning community.

The Natural Agent Of Change: The Therapeutic Power Of Play To Children Who Have Experienced Aces And Trauma, Jingyu Chen

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Senior Capstone

The power of play lies in its natural expression which children speak. When engaged in safe play, children are allowed to explore, comprehend, connect, and communicate in a developmentally appropriate way without criticism. Yet those who are impacted by ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experience) often find play foreign as they are stuck in survival mode, missing the developmental benefits of safe play. This paper examines the role of play in childhood development, explains the relationship between ACEs, trauma and play, and suggests that play is a natural agent of change that carries therapeutic power. The paper supports play as a medium …

Adolescent Executive Function As A Resilience Factor In The Family Stress Model Among Mexican-Origin Families, Su Yeong Kim, Yayu Du, Tianlu Zhang, Jingyi Shen, Kiera M. Coulter, Lester Sim, Wen Wen, Belem G. Lopez, Maria M. Arredondo, Shen Yishan, Hou Yang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Mexican-origin families often face economic hardship due to systemic oppression, increasing the likelihood of adolescent marijuana use. While the family stress model provides insight into the mechanism of the association between family economic hardship and adolescent marijuana use, resilience factors are relatively unknown. The present study uses a three-wave longitudinal data set of Mexican immigrant families in the United States (Wave 1—adolescents: Mage = 12.29, SD = 0.93; mothers: Mage = 38.57, SD = 5.71) to investigate the mechanism underlying the association between family income and adolescents’ likelihood of marijuana use, guided by the family stress model. The protective role …

Eeg And Media Multitasking: Adhd As A Moderating Factor, Xiaoying Guo

Theses and Dissertations

Media use has become an integral part of everyday life. It has risen dramatically over the past century with the advent of television, computers, and digital platforms, and more recently, it has been characterized by individuals using multiple devices simultaneously (Bushman & Anderson, 2001; Nielsen Media Research, 1998; Rideout & Robb, 2019, 2021). Media multitasking (MMT) has been linked to cognitive control challenges and attentional difficulties. This study examined EEG workload (Fz theta/Pz alpha ratio), survey accuracy, and ADHD traits (ASRS v1.1) in 33 adult participants across baseline and single-versus dual-media conditions. Results indicated that mental workload was significantly higher …

What Kinds Of Experiences And Activities Contribute To College Students' Sense Of Purpose? A Mixed-Methods Study, Katlyn Rochelle Viers

Dissertations and Theses

For many young people, attending college is a core marker of the transition to emerging adulthood. Some students thrive in college while others become lost, confused, or seem to be just marking their time. Some researchers have hypothesized that one thing that can help students take advantage of their college experience is if they are firmly anchored in their own life goals and sense of purpose. The primary goal of this study is to contribute to knowledge about the role of a sense of purpose in college students' development, including not only its potential benefits to their academic functioning and …

From Either-Or To All Together: Integrating Universal And Relativistic Approaches To Belonging And Engagement In The First Year Of Middle School, Kristina Shiann Tucker

Dissertations and Theses

Schools are designed to foster growth and learning while promoting positive educational outcomes for all students. Yet, there is some evidence that the education system is not meeting the needs of all students, nor are achievement outcomes the same for everyone. Some of the identified challenges seem to be developmentally based, whereas others are evident among different demographic subgroups. Developmental differences are apparent in many aspects of academic functioning, such as student motivation and engagement, which peak when students enter school and normatively decline, relatively steadily, throughout students' educational careers. Demographic disparities are even more pronounced, represented, for example, in …