Developmental Psychology Commons^™

Parent Perspectives On How The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Their Children, Desiree Marie Vanderlick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism is a disorder that is characterized by struggles with socialization anddevelopmental delays that often involve much guidance and support. The purpose of this study was to explain the experience of parents as they attempted to manage behaviors related to symptoms of autism during the worldwide quarantine prompted by COVID-19. This study aimed to close the gap in literature and explore to see if there were any concerns that could be addressed by future studies. The study was framed around Bowen’s theory, which addresses emotions within a family unit, and the interdependence theory, which addresses how humans thrive to be …

Co-Rumination In The Friendships Of Black And White Adolescents, Andrea Renee Gourdine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Co-rumination is the process of friends discussing challenges via a problem-focused dialogue that is excessive and involves dwelling on negative emotions. Co-rumination is related to higher friendship quality but also depression. The adjustment consequences of co-rumination have been studied, but racial differences in co-rumination have yet to be studied. The purpose of this non-experimental, correlational, quantitative study was to examine co-rumination among Black and White adolescents. Theoretical frameworks included the response styles theory and Africentric theory. Research questions included whether there were racial differences in the degree to which adolescents co-ruminate and in the relations of co-rumination with friendship quality …

Covid-19 Social Isolation And Young Adult Mental Well-Being And Socioeconomic Status As A Moderator, Falescia Ware Matlock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIt is not currently known how social distancing guidelines impact mental health for emerging adults and whether socioeconomic status moderates this relationship. The psychosocial development theory states that emerging adults experience a psychological conflict—intimacy versus isolation—where the goal is to seek connections. Without connection, emerging adults are likely to experience impaired psychological well-being, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of perceived social distancing guidelines on the mental health of emerging adults and if this relationship is moderated by socioeconomic status. This study followed a quantitative comparative design of emerging …

Adolescent Rejection Sensitivity And Anxiety: The Moderating Effects Of Problem-Solving Skills And Gender, Kathleen Naumann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractRejection sensitivity is the ongoing anxious or angry expectation of interpersonal rejection. Anxiety can potentially have a significant detrimental impact on the mental health of adolescents who are characterized as having rejection sensitivity. Although negative consequences of anxiety on mental health have been studied, there is a limited understanding regarding how rejection sensitive adolescents are at risk for anxiety. This study involved examining relations between adolescent rejection sensitivity and anxiety and whether they were moderated by problem-solving skills, an indicator of resiliency, as well as gender. Theoretical frameworks in this study were the rejection sensitivity model and resilience theory. This …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Academic Mediation And Modifiability: The Progression From Ged® To Phd, Heather E. Hoyt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have identified the importance of academic mediation and modification within a student’s thought process as it encourages academic achievement in early education, college, and advanced degrees. However, there is a gap in the research regarding the academic mediation and modification in individuals who have progressed from GED to PhD. The purpose of this study was to (a) explore the personal experiences of doctoral alumni on their achievement during the progression from GED to PhD; (b) to understand what experiences, if any, related to receiving academic mediation and modification which led to doctoral success; and (c) to contribute to the …

Adult Learners With Learning Disabilities’ Motivation To Succeed In Higher Education Online Learning During Covid19, Sara Michelle Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many students had to transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic while other students were already enrolled in online education. Online study may hold additional struggles for students with learning disabilities. The problem addressed in this qualitative, phenomenological study was the motivating factors of online higher education students who have a learning disability during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theoretical foundation was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Data were gathered through 10 semistructured interviews and then analyzed through the thematic analysis yielding five themes: (a) lack of professional support, (b) resources, (c) support system, (d) consistent motivation, and (e) low …

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy For Children With Disruptive Behaviors And Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Korrie Allen, John Harrington, Lauren B. Quetsch, Joshua Masse, Cathy Cooke, James F. Paulson

Psychology Faculty Publications

A relatively large number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit disruptive behavioral problems. While accumulating data have shown behavioral parent training programs to be efficacious in reducing disruptive behaviors for this population, there is a dearth of literature examining the impact of such programs across the range of ASD severity. To evaluate the effectiveness of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based treatment for children with problem behaviors and their families, in reducing disruptive behaviors among children (4–10 years) with ASD (without intellectual disabilities). Fifty-five children (85.5% male, 7.15 years; SD 1.72) were enrolled from pediatric offices and educational …

Navigating Identity Uncertainty: Identity Distress During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alan Meca, Kelsie K. Allison, Julia Passini, Taryn Veniegas, Bethany Cruz, Linda G. Castillo, Seth J. Schwartz, Byron L. Zamboanga, Minas Michikyan, Melissa Bessaha, Pamela C. Regan, Kaveri Subrahmanyam, John Bartholomew, Brandy Piña-Watson, Miguel Ángel Cano, Charles R. Martinez Jr.

Psychology Faculty Publications

The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have only recently begun to be explored. Among college students, who were faced with sudden and unprecedented changes and challenges, it is likely that COVID-19 detrimentally impacted the establishment of a sense of self, a key developmental task of the college years. However, no research has examined the relationships among COVID-19 related worries, identity distress, and psychological and academic adjustment. To address these gaps in the current study, we examined the prevalence of identity distress, the relationship between COVID-19 related worries and identity distress, and the direct and indirect associations between COVID-19 related …

What Is Your Why? A Qualitative Study About Motivational Differences Of Latinos/Hispanics And African American/Black In A Computerized Cognitive Training Program To Prevent Alzheimer’S Disease, Lizbeth C. Vera Murillo

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recruitment of diverse populations is a major barrier in advancing clinical research (Areán & Gallagher-Thompson, 1993; Areán & Alvidrez, 2003). The need to increase racial diversity is imperative due to the substantial growth of historically marginalized racial communities in the United States (Weinstein et al., 2017). Despite researchers’ efforts to increase racial/ethnic representation in clinical trials, there is still a lack of understanding of the best practices to recruit racial/ethnic minorities in clinical trials. The current study explores the qualitative motivations of why research participants (aged 65+ years old) volunteered for an Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) prevention clinical trial. Racial/ethnic differences …

This Is Who I Am: Identity Development And Importance Among Diverse Youth From Lgbtq+ Parent Families, Madison T. Diomede

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Although the literature on identity and related constructs among adolescents, emerging adults, and diverse populations is growing, little research has investigated identity among adolescents and emerging adults specifically in the context of LGBTQ+ parent families. The present study seeks to fill this gap in the literature by qualitatively investigating identity development and importance among diverse youth with LGBTQ+ parents. Participants are 51 youth (ages 12-25 years) with at least one LGBTQ+ parent. Trained personnel conducted remote, audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews from December 2018-February 2020. Interviews included questions about participants’ individual identities and conversations they have had with their parents about those …

Longitudinal Perspectives On Individual Outcomes, Family Functioning, And Social Support Among Diverse Adoptive Families, Emily Lapidus

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Given that family processes change when a child enters adolescence, it is imperative for research to utilize longitudinal analyses to capture a family unit’s development over time. This research is especially lacking amongst diverse families, such as those formed utilizing adoption or headed by same-gender parents. Utilizing both the Parenting Stress Model and Family Systems Theory, it has been shown that family dynamics are key indicators when predicting functioning within a family, opposed to family structure. Therefore, it is hypothesized that there will be no significant differences related to family processes (e.g., family functioning, parenting stress, adolescent adjustment, and social …

Seeing The System Vs Seeing The Individual: How Contextual Information And Framing Facilitate Perceptions Of Structural Inequality, Derek Kahng

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

The current study investigates factors that facilitate adolescents' structural attributions. Namely, we focus on two main factors. First, we investigate if contextual information such as intergroup/intragroup comparisons and group/individual level framing of inequalities affects the likelihood of making structural attributions to race-based inequalities in academic achievement. Second, we investigate if the likelihood of making structural attributions differs based on individual characteristics, such as the individuals’ race/ethnicity, subjective and objective social status, and belief in meritocracy and a just world. Results and its implications will be discussed in the paper.

Body-Based Harassment And Eating Disorder Symptomology In Cisgender, Transgender, And Gender Nonconforming Individuals, Sharla D. Biefield

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Past research estimates that over 60% of adolescents and young adults report eating disorder symptomology (EDS), increasing their risk for psychiatric and physical comorbidities, substance abuse, and self-harm. EDS rates are also higher among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals. TGNC individuals also experience higher rates of bias-based harassment, than their cisgender peers. Much of this harassment is body-based harassment (BBH), such that the harassment often targets aspects of an individual’s body. The current study utilized a pantheoretical framework, incorporating minority stress theory and objectification theory, and a multi-method approach to investigate (1) if BBH increases TGNC individuals’ risk for …

Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices Of Dominican Mothers With Their Young Children: Understanding Practices With A Sociohistorical Context Framework, Sabrina Altagracia Mendez-Escobar

Dissertations

Parents who self-identify as members of a community of color engage in practices aimed at teaching their children what it means to be a member of their ethnic-racial group which are called ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) practices. Promoting a positive sense of ethnic-racial identity through ERS contributes to balancing the negative effects of discrimination which can be helpful to children who are part of a marginalized group in the US including Latinx children. However, when the family practices of Latinx families are explored in the literature, various Latinx groups are lumped together. When studying ERS, research should aim to consider Latinx …

Physical Activity, Self-Determination, And Self-Conscious Emotions In Adolescents And Young Adults With And Without Autism Symptomatology, Dakota Morales

Master's Theses

Previous literature suggests that autistic individuals engage in physical activity less frequently compared to typically developing peers (Bandini et al., 2013; Jones et al., 2017). This is noteworthy because exercise interventions for autistic individuals have found that engaging in physical activity can improve motor, social, and behavioral skills (Anderson-Hanley et al., 2011; Duffy et al., 2017; Nicholson et al., 2011; Oriel et al., 2011). Thus, the present study seeks to understand what factors may promote physical activity engagement, such as self-determination motivation regulations and body-related self-conscious emotions, in adolescents and young adults with and without autism symptomatology. Participants included 51 …

Parental Autonomy Support And Children’S Stem Engagement During An At-Home Tinkering Activity, Bianca Martins Aldrich

Master's Theses

Parents play an important role guiding children’s learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in informal educational contexts. In this project, we considered the ways in which parents use autonomy supportive or controlling language to encourage or discourage children's independence in problem solving, as well as their feedback to children’s ideas and behaviors. We looked at the association between autonomy support and children’s behavioral, STEM, story, and emotional engagement during an at-home tinkering and storytelling activity. Parents and their 4- to 10- year old children were observed at home via Zoom. We coded parents’ and children’s behaviors using a …

Targeting Parental Behavior: Contingency Contracting To Increase Parental Competence And Adherence, Sara Clasky Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of using behavior contracts specifically targeting parental behavior and providing reinforcing consequences for the parent’s behavior on parental adherence in implementing behavior contracts to address their child’s behavior problems. Parents used identical procedures to implement behavior contracts with their children to address their child’s noncompliance and associated problem behavior. A secondary purpose of this study was to determine parent perceptions about the impact their use of behavior contracts had on the behavior of their children.

This study used a multiple baseline across participants design to measure the effectiveness of a …

Navigating Conflict During Periods Of Change In Higher Education: Deconstructing Academic Leaders’ Construction Of Meaning, Tyler Guy Olson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Navigating departmental and organizational conflict is an essential function and responsibility of an academic unit leader (dean, associate dean, director, or chair) in higher education institutions (HEIs). During periods of organizational change, conflict tends to increase in complexity and difficulty—in part due to resistance to change—making it more difficult to manage in a constructive manner (Marcus, 2014). Much of the literature that looks at the academic unit leader and conflict focuses on personal conflict styles (or modes), types of conflicts encountered, and training on techniques and skills for conflict resolution and management. Missing from the literature is research that examines …

Child Development And The Family Regulation System, Clare Huntington

Faculty Scholarship

Child abuse and neglect clearly harm children, but the risks that accompany involvement with the family regulation system (also known as the child welfare system), especially placement in foster care, also present considerable risks to child development. This chapter describes these competing risks to child development, the legal framework governing the family regulation system, and scholarly debates in the field. It then analyzes the system in the broader context of the legal regulation of children, showing that the family regulation system is out of step with other areas and in need of significant reform. A core problem with the system …

Distinctiveness And Similarity: How The Sub-Trait Facets Of The Big Five Self-Organize To Create Personality Types, Jonathan Thiessen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The belief that people can be placed within a personality typology has persisted for millennia. At least as far back as Hippocrates (ca. 460 BCE–370 BCE) people were believed to be of a kind based on the four humors—blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. Since then, there have been many conceptions of personality typologies. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram of Personality are likely the most well-known personality typologies among the general public. Despite their wide public usage, neither typology boasts strong empirical support. However, psychology continues to investigate personality for evidence of a typology of personality. In …