PHD, Kent State University, 2014, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Examining Associations between Coping with Stress and Personality and Psychopathology Assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form Ashley M. Holbert Kent State University Empirical research has demonstrated associations to be present between personality characteristics and dispositional and situational coping responses. For example, numerous researchers have linked Five Factor Model (FFM; Costa & McCrae, 1985) constructs to various dispositional coping strategies (McWilliams, Cox, & Enns, 2003) and situational coping responses (Bouchard, Guillemette, & Landry-Leger, 2004). Similarly, previous research has also demonstrated associations to be present between dispositional and situational coping and psychopathology. In particular, research findings have indicated that both dispositional and situational coping responses are linked to general psychological distress and specific psychological disorders (Punamaki, et al., 2008; Segal, Hook, & Coolidge, 2001; Vollrath, Alnaes, & Torgersen, 1996). However, much of the previous research has focused narrowly on particular personality traits (i.e., FFM) or certain psychological disorders (i.e., PTSD; depression). Thus, the current study aims to expand on previous empirical research by examining the univariate and multivariate associations between dispositional and situational coping responses and a wider array personality and psychopathology constructs, such as those assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011; Tellegen & Ben-Porath, 2008/2011). Participants included 116 men and 227 women, with ages ranging from 18 to 43 years (M = 19.4; SD = 2.3), and these individuals were enrolled in undergraduate courses at a large Midwestern university. Participants completed the MMPI-2, a demographic questionnaire, and a set of extra-test measures. Results of the univariate analyses demonstrated significant associati (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2024, Nursing

The consequences of stress in critical care nurses include physical and mental health consequences: altered coping, burnout, and turnover intention. The relationships between stress, coping, burnout, and turnover intention have been assessed outside of the United States; however, there remains a knowledge gap surrounding these relationships in critical care nurses in the U.S. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine these relationships guided by the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping. A cross-sectional, correlational design included 82 critical care nurses working at a level one trauma center in Midwest, United States. Participants completed an online Qualtrics survey with the following instruments: Expanded Nursing Stress Scale, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations – Short Form, Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel, and Turnover Intention Scale. There was a 55.4% response rate of those who met the inclusion criteria: registered nurse working full time in critical care for 6 months or greater. In this sample, 84.1% of participants reported moderate to high levels of stress, 96% reported moderate to high levels of burnout, and 65% indicated they were likely to leave their position. Multiple regression was utilized to assess the relationships between the variables and results revealed stress had the greatest impact on turnover intention (Beta = 0.378; p = 0.008), and emotion-focused coping had the greatest impact on burnout (Beta = 0.277; p = 0.04). Analyses using regression with mediation were utilized to determine if coping style mediated the transition of stress to burnout, and the researcher found emotion-focused coping fully mediated the transition from stress to burnout (p = 0.005). The results of this study indicate critical care nurses continue to have high rates of stress, burnout, and turnover intention. Future research can build on these findings to determine what intervention(s) may be effective t (open full item for complete abstract)

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2019, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

Childhood sexual abuse is widely condemned by society and religion (Roesler & Wind, 1994; McCallum, 2001). Nevertheless, it is estimated that approximately one in three girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by the time they turn 18 years old (Stauffer and Deblinger, 1996). This trauma affects the victim as well as other members of the family including the non-offending parent(s). However, services are often provided only to the victimized child, which overlooks the needs of the non-offending parents. The existing body of research into the stressors experienced by non-offending parents typically is focused on non-offending parents of all cultural backgrounds, this despite that fact that much psychological research has determined the need to apply culturally sensitive techniques when working with minorities as a result of differences in values, beliefs, and language barriers (Alaggia, 2001; Antshel, 2002). Thus, it is important to understand if Latino/a non-offending parents whose children have experienced sexual abuse are receiving adequate support themselves and so they can adequately attend to the needs of their child and family. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, this study aims to examine the challenges faced and coping mechanisms used by Latino/a non-offending parents and to assess the effectiveness of the services they are provided. This Dissertation is available in Open Access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu and OhioLink ETD Center, http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was once thought to be a disorder specific to childhood and adolescence, it is now accepted that ADHD symptomatology frequently persists into adulthood (Biederman et al., 2010). In addition to poorer social skills and more relationship problems, young adults with ADHD attain lower levels of educational and occupational achievement (Kuriyan et al., 2012). The overarching goal of this study was to understand how ADHD symptomatology impacted the academic functioning of female graduate students diagnosed with ADHD. This study also sought to understand how female graduate students with ADHD coped with the academically deleterious nature of ADHD symptoms. Additionally, this study focused on resilience; specifically, how female graduate students with ADHD experienced themselves as resilient, and how their resilience impacted the ways they coped with the academic challenges and stressors engendered by ADHD symptomatology. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview protocol. Participants' interview transcripts were coded, analyzed, and interpreted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results revealed five group experiential themes [GETs] and 25 individual themes. To increase the validity of the research findings, themes identified in the researcher's data analysis were audited by the researcher's chairperson. In addition to finding that participants used a wide variety of coping skills to manage their ADHD symptomatology, participants' resilience was found to protect against academic impairment and promote development and employment of coping skills and strategies. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2011, Psychology/Clinical

Despite an increasing interest in Buddhism in the West, the topic of Buddhist coping has been mostly neglected. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the frequency of Buddhist coping strategies, as well as the relationship between Buddhist coping practices and psychological functioning and well-being among end-of-life caregivers. Ninety-two caregivers were recruited primarily through contemplative end-of-life caregiver training programs to assess the relationships between Buddhist methods of coping and psychological outcomes. Subjects completed measures of spiritual well-being, burnout, depression and post-traumatic growth, as well as demographic questions. As hypothesized, end-of-life caregivers who made more use of positive Buddhist coping methods reported lower levels of negative outcomes such as depression and burnout and higher levels of positive outcomes such as spiritual well-being and stress-related growth. On the other hand, caregivers who made more use of negative Buddhist coping methods reported higher levels of negative outcomes and lower levels of positive outcomes. In addition, Buddhist coping methods were able to be categorized into positive and negative Buddhist coping subscales, which were also related to psychological outcomes in the hypothesized direction. The findings of this study add support to the initial validity of the BCOPE as a measure of Buddhist coping. The current study also provides support for the distinction between positive and negative styles of Buddhist coping, which differentially predict psychological outcomes. In addition, this study provides initial evidence for the benefits of specific Buddhist practices and ideas, specifically those that influence the ways in which Buddhists cope with stress. These findings suggest that coping theory, heavily researched in other religious traditions, is also a valuable concept which applies to Buddhism as well. Future research should further assess the differences between th (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Arts, Wittenberg University, 2021, Psychology

Rising rates of mental illness in the college student population are a cause of concern that needs to be addressed to effectively support students. One promising opportunity for intervention is facilitating emotional flexibility and reducing emotional inflexibility among college students. The present study examined the relationships between emotional flexibility and emotional inflexibility, and variables related to well-being and mental illness in a college population. Undergraduate students at Wittenberg University (N = 100) completed a brief online survey measuring emotional flexibility, emotional inflexibility, coping strategies, thriving, anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout. Participants were also invited to complete a follow-up survey four weeks after the original study to explore potential changes in these variables over time. Participants higher in emotional flexibility scored lower on anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout and scored higher in problem-focused coping strategies and thriving. Participants who were higher in emotional inflexibility scored higher in anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout and lower in problem-focused coping strategies. Emotional inflexibility was also positively correlated with emotion-focused coping strategies, avoidant-focused coping strategies, and thriving. These findings support a strong positive relationship between emotional flexibility and well-being in this population. Future experimental studies are needed to establish causal relationships, but the results of this study are consistent with the proposed benefits of interventions that promote emotional flexibility in a college student population.

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), University of Dayton, 2021, School Psychology

Anxiety is a normal and appropriate response to a variety of situations. However, long-term effects of anxiety can impede daily life activities and disrupt an individual's overall well-being; this can be amplified when the child is also academically or intellectually gifted. The present study examined the effectiveness of the Brief Coping Cat, implemented in a school setting with three students who were identified gifted and demonstrated elevated levels of anxiety. Students participated in an eight-week intervention designed to increase their understanding of anxiety and teach effective coping skills through cognitive strategies and exposure tasks. Each student completed the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children 2nd Edition Self Report before and after the intervention period and completed a Subject Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) during each session, to measure the efficacy of the intervention. Results indicated that the brief intervention was effective in reducing anxiety for students who were academically and intellectually gifted. Implications for school-based supports for students who are gifted and experience anxiety are discussed.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2021, Instructional Technology (Education)

As higher education institutions in the United States face challenging trends such as declining enrollments and competition among a growing number of online degree programs, there is a renewed focus on strategically investing in technology infrastructure, online program development, and alternative degree plans to attract new student markets and enhance revenue generation. To this end, understanding factors that influence faculty members' acceptance and adoption of technology are key to successful implementation and continued operationalization of these initiatives. Of the body of research involving technology acceptance and adoption in the past few decades, two constructs – perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use – have proven to be heavily influential of decisions involving technology uptake by users. However, a considerable number of these studies were conducted in voluntary settings – meaning, users have a choice to use a tool or not. Given that most institutions of higher education do not clearly fall under voluntary or mandatory settings by definition, results of these studies lack ecological validity. Recent research indicates that some users in predominantly mandatory settings view imposed technologies as a stressor that they must cope with. Therefore, coping may be a more appropriate lens to explore technology uptake among faculty members, where even when mandatoriness is not explicit, other factors such as pressure from peers, administrators, or students may compel faculty members to use certain enterprise-wide solutions. Building on the work of coping theory and theories of planned behavior, the current study explores potential influencing factors on faculty members' perceived ratings of their institution's learning management system as a means to determine whether different dimensions of coping, along with external pressure such as subjective norm from students or administrators (representing implicit mandatoriness) influence their perceptions. (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2018, Psychology/Clinical

To my knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study to examine how college students' use of religious/spiritual strategies to cope with being the target of verbal aggression by a romantic partner may change the frequency of verbal aggression by both partners over the following year and contribute to whether the couple split up or stayed together. Predictor variables included religious/spiritual resources to cope effectively with partner aggression as well as religious/spiritual struggles in response to being the target of verbal hostility by a partner. The sample was comprised of 60 college students who indicated at Time 1 (T1) that that they were in a current romantic relationship were they had been the target of at least once incident of verbal aggression from a romantic partner in the prior year and who then completed measures one year later at Time 2 (T2; 21% retention rate of eligible participants). At both T1 and T2, participants reported the frequency of verbal aggression by both partners and whether the relationship was intact. Correlational analyses did not yield any significant links between religious/spiritual strategies to cope with verbal aggression by the partner at T1 and subsequent verbal aggression by either partner or relationship status. Possible reasons for the non-significant results could be the very low base rates of verbal aggression among couples in this sample and low levels of religious coping. Follow-up analyses indicated that subjects who participated in both waves of data collection reported attending more religious services and praying more often, but utilizing collaborative R/S coping mechanisms less often at T1 to deal with verbal aggression from their partner compared to T1 subjects who did not participate in T2 data collection .

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2016, Psychology/Clinical

We examined the role of parent and peer coping socialization in predicting coping with cyber-victimization among 329 (49% male; 70% white) 7th and 8th grade adolescents. Adolescents self-reported their own strategies for coping with cyber-victimization, the strategies they said their parents/peers suggested they use to cope with cyber-victimization (“coaching”), and the quality of their relationships with parents/peers. For 81 of these adolescents, their parents completed a survey on the strategies that they coach their adolescents to use in response to the issue of cyberv-ictimization. Consistent with previous research, adolescents reported using positive coping strategies (e.g., problem solving, distraction) more than other strategies such as distancing and retaliation. Intraclass correlations between parents' reports of their own coaching and adolescents' perceptions of the strategies their parents coached were modest in magnitude, suggesting that adolescents are only somewhat accurate in identifying the strategies suggested by their parents. However, the types of coping strategies that adolescents reported being coached by both their parents and peers predicted the coping strategies that adolescents reported using. Multiple regression analysis, and follow-up comparison of regression coefficients, indicated that peer socialization was more strongly related to one's own coping than parent socialization for all coping strategies except for distancing and problem solving. Finally, when the child-parent relationship quality was highly positive, adolescents were more likely to use the coached family/adult social support strategies. However, relationship quality with peers and parents did not moderate the relation between coping socialization and adolescents' use of any other coping strategy. These results are promising because the strategies that adolescents report using for coping are positive coping strategies and the least reported coping strategies are d (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2015, International Development Studies (International Studies)

This study applied Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping framework and the concept of dyadic coping (Bodenmann, 1995, 1997) to explain why individuals with mental health conditions have less successful romantic relationships. I constructed a direct path model to test the extent to which: stress is negatively associated with relational quality, frequency of challenges is negatively associated with relational quality, and frequency of challenges moderates the negative association between stress and relational quality. I also constructed simple and multiple mediation models to show which coping strategies, and at which level of dyadic and individual coping, mediate the aforementioned associations. The models partially supported the study's hypotheses. Specifically, findings fully supported the hypotheses that stress and the frequency of challenges due to mental health conditions are negatively associated with relational quality, and partially supported the hypothesis that frequency of challenges moderates the negative association between stress and relational quality. Additionally, results showed that dyadic coping and several individual coping strategies (e.g., behavioral disengagement) mediate the association between stress and relational quality. Furthermore, findings from the simple mediation models suggest that frequency of challenges might exacerbate the negative association between stress and relational quality through strengthening the negative association between stress and dyadic coping.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2014, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

Coping responses develop throughout the lifespan of an individual. Unfortunately for some, difficult life circumstances may lead to the use of maladaptive forms of coping. This study investigated coping responses amongst male incarcerated juvenile offenders and examined which specific mental health symptoms may occur with specific coping responses. The goal of this study was to determine whether male incarcerated juvenile offenders utilize avoidant coping responses over approach coping responses. Also, this study investigated whether specific mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, anger, and disruptive behaviors, were more prevalent amongst those who utilize avoidant coping responses. De-identified, archival data for the Coping Responses Inventory-Youth and the Beck Youth Inventory-II, previously obtained during routine intake assessments collected from sixty-two (62) male incarcerated juvenile offenders placed in a probation camp, ages 12-18, were used in order to investigate coping and self-reported mental health symptoms. Results confirmed that incarcerated male juvenile offenders tend to utilize avoidant coping responses as opposed to approach coping responses. Furthermore, participants that utilized avoidant coping responses were more likely to endorse mental health symptoms of depression, anger, and disruptive behaviors, and were less likely to utilize approaching coping responses. The significance of these findings indicate that male incarcerated juvenile offenders are less likely to approach distress behaviorally and cognitively, and are less likely process distress in a manner that will produce emotional growth. The electronic version of this dissertation is available free at Ohiolink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2014, Higher Education Administration

The purpose of this collective case study was to explore how six college students described the influence of their study abroad experience on their spirituality. I situated this study in a constructivist research paradigm because the inquiry focused on how the participants constructed meaning about and understood the influence of study abroad on their spirituality. I utilized a staged, semi-structured interview protocol consisting of up to three separate interviews. Interviews took place before participants departed for their study abroad experience, while they were abroad, and after returning home from studying abroad. Students studied abroad for at least eight weeks during the summer of 2012. Through a better understanding of their described experience, I gained insight into the impact of study abroad, how study abroad affected specific spiritual practices, and which specific elements of study abroad ignited spiritual development. From the data, six major themes emerged to indicate how students described the influence of studying abroad on their spirituality. Students became more aware of their own and others' spirituality. Spiritual coping was utilized by many participants in reaction to feeling isolated, uncomfortable, and homesick. Participants enacted spiritual and religious practices while abroad to help cope with being abroad or to enact their spirituality. Participants engaged in dialogue about spirituality and spiritual questions. Finally, participants expressed that, after studying abroad, their spiritual identity was strengthened.

MA, Kent State University, 2014, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

This study examines factors that affect job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is an important measure in the workplace. A Salary.com article suggests that individuals are miserable because unsatisfying work makes them sick, they only work for money, they are stressed and overeating as a result, they are not committed to their work, and many workers feel as if they are being overworked. This study seeks to bring all components of job satisfaction together—under the lens of work-family conflict. Using data from the 2010 GSS, OLS regression was used to run four models separately for men and women: demographic, family, educational/occupational characteristics, and job characteristics. I find several significant differences between men and women including differences in the importance of income and part-time work status. More importantly however, were the similarities between men and women and the significance of job tenure, autonomy, security and social support. Men and women are more similar than one might expect in regards to the factors that affect their job satisfaction.

Master of Science, Miami University, 2013, Family and Child Studies

The purpose of this study explored the use of humor as a coping mechanism in the adult-daughter caregiver of older parents who are coping with chronic illnesses. Specifically, the aims of this study were to understand how the adult daughter sandwiched between caring for her chronically ill parent and her young dependent children uses humor to cope with caregiver stress as well as the ways in which they view humor as an effective means of coping in general. A qualitative approach was used to identify inherent concepts and to allow for an in-depth understanding of each participant's personal experience as a caregiver to a chronically ill parent. This study was guided by phenomenology, which afforded the researcher the opportunity to understand the lived experiences of each of the caregivers from their own perspective and in their own words.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2004, Nursing

Significance Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of adults aged 65 years and older. Over 55% of all coronary artery bypass surgeries (CABS) are on older adults. Older adults have more complications after CABS. Educational nursing interventions are important to facilitate coping, but nurses do not assess for patient preference for information. Given that older adults are known to have poorer outcomes after CABS, current nursing practices of providing detailed, intense information may be deterring coping and contributing to poorer outcomes. Method In this prospective descriptive study, older adult CABS patients were interviewed preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively. Instruments: Krantz Health Opinion Survey, Control Attitudes Scale, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12. Reliabilities ranged from 0.55 to 0.74. Results N = 70; age 71.97 years, White (94.3%) and male (65.7%); averaged 4.67 co-morbidities, 3.14 coronary artery bypasses, and 7.63 days of hospital stay (PLOS). Age was significantly related to postoperative physical function. Women had greater depression and poorer physical and mental function. Participants preferred moderate information, perceived moderate control, and used positive reappraisal to cope. Preference for information was related to better postoperative physical function. Seeking social support and positive reappraisal were related to shorter PLOS. Escape-avoidance was related to poorer postoperative mental function. Although depression was low overall, preoperative depression was significantly related to coping, functional status, and depression. Canonical relationships were not statistically significant. Conclusion The theoretical model did not effectively predict older adults' experiences. Reliable research instruments need to be developed for older adults. Nurses caring for CABS patients need to be aware of gender differences and need to assess for depress (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2003, Physical Activity and Educational Services

This study examined whether female FM patients with high scores on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), exhibiting low levels of coping and high levels of anxiety, experienced more trauma and abuse than those who scored lower. Adult females (n=115) completed the FIQ, as well as the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (Trait Form), and a demographic questionnaire. The study showed a correlation between high FIQ scores and high anxiety expanding previous findings outlining the significant impact of specific components of abuse and trauma prior to the age of 16 associated with higher impact of FM. The study did not reveal a relationship between the CSQ and FIQ. Longitudinal research of children both with and without documented cases of victimization is recommended to assess the impact of trauma and abuse on FM, and provide healthcare professionals with the tools to empower patients in management of the syndrome.

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2007, Social Welfare

The effects of illness-related stressors on family members of women with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders were examined, and the mediating or moderating role of family member adaptive or maladaptive coping strategies was assessed. 82 women in inpatient or outpatient treatment for substance use disorders in a Midwestern community were interviewed. Of these, 46 (56.1%) met diagnostic criteria for one or more additional psychiatric disorders: major depression, dysthymia, posttraumatic stress disorder, mania, hypomania, or generalized anxiety disorder. The women were predominantly African-American and of lower socioeconomic status. The women in treatment nominated the most supportive family member or a significant other for participation in the study. 82 family members, one for each woman in treatment, were also interviewed. Findings were that illness-related client behavioral problems and extent of client drug or alcohol use were significantly related to greater family member burden. At the bivariate level, greater client behavioral problems were also related to higher levels of family member depressive symptomatology. Family member maladaptive coping was found to completely mediate the relationship between client behavioral problems and the Stigma dimension of family member burden. Family member maladaptive coping was also found to partially mediate the relationships between client behavioral problems and family member burden (frequency of Impact subscale) and between extent of client drug or alcohol use and family member burden (frequency of Impact). Family member maladaptive coping functioned as both a moderator and a mediator in the relationship between extent of client drug or alcohol use and family member Impact. Adaptive coping was found to be a partial mediator between client behavioral problems and family member Worry, but increases in adaptive coping were associated with greater family member Worry, rather tha (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2010, Psychology/Clinical

Pregnancy is a time of heightened stress for husbands and wives undergoing the transition to parenthood for the first time. Working with a sample of 178 married couples, the present research examined how husbands'and wives'use of positive and negative religious coping strategies predicted pregnancy, psychological, and marital related adjustment variables. After controlling for demographic variables and secular coping methods in separate analyses for husbands and wives, hierarchical linear regression revealed that positive religious coping predicted positive outcomes such as increased stress related growth and spiritual emotions, while negative religious coping predicted negative outcomes such as increased depression, anxiety, and ambivalence in marriage for both husbands and wives. Pregnancy stressors moderated the relationship between positive religious coping and love in marriage for wives but not for any other outcomes for either husbands or wives.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2009, Psychology/Clinical

This study longitudinally examined the role of religious appraisals and religious coping for adults' psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual adjustment to divorce. Eighty-nine participants completed measures within six months of filing for divorce and one year later. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that participants' religious appraisals of divorce and religious coping methods predicted change in some measures of participants' psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual adjustment. In addition, regression analyses indicated that positive and negative religious coping methods offered some unique benefit and risk, respectively, to individuals' post-divorce adjustment over time, above similar non-religious coping methods. Finally, mediational analyses indicated that positive and negative religious coping methods mediated links between religious appraisals of divorce and post-divorce adjustment. This study is the first of its kind to provide longitudinal support that religion and spirituality are relevant to adults' adjustment to divorce.