Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2015, Psychology

Numerous studies suggest the possibility that early maladaptive schemas (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003) mediate the relation between childhood maltreatment and adult depression, although few studies test this explicitly. Moreover, there are no studies available that examine four early maladaptive schemas associated with both abuse and negative outcomes as mediators of of multiple types of childhood maltreatment (tested individually) and depression. This study of 830 college women examined whether the defectiveness, mistrust, emotional deprivation, and abandonment early maladaptive schemas mediate the relation between childhood maltreatment and adult depressive symptoms. Four forms of childhood maltreatment were individually assessed: emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, and witnessing interparental violence. In addition, the presence of any form of childhood maltreatment (regardless of type) as well as number of types of maltreatment experienced (i.e., polyvictimization) were examined in mediation analyses. Through use of the PROCESS macro, which tests conditional process models, these analyses showed that defectiveness, mistrust, and abandonment, but not emotional deprivation, mediated the relation between childhood maltreatment (i.e., each of the four forms of childhood maltreatment, the presence of any form of maltreatment, and the number of types of maltreatment experienced) and adult depressive symptoms. Clinical implications of the study findings are discussed.

Committee: Terri Messman-Moore Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Aaron Luebbe Ph.D. (Committee Member); Elizabeth Kiel Ph.D. (Committee Member); Rose Marie Ward Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Therapy; Mental Health; Psychotherapy

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

Although the co-occurrence rate of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse and neglect (CAN) is about 40% (Appel and Holden, 1998; Herrenkohl et al., 2008), little research currently exists on integrated treatment for these concerns. Furthermore, no known published studies investigate child protective services (CPS) workers' perspectives on such treatment. The present study explores the perspectives of CPS workers on treatment for co-occurring IPV and CAN, specifically focusing on Multisystemic Therapy for Intimate Partner Violence (MST-IPV). A total of 18 Connecticut CPS workers participated in semi-structured interviews. Seven participants had experience working with MST-IPV treatment providers, while 11 participants had no experience with MST-IPV. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, resulting in five main themes: “Complexity of IPV Cases,” “Recommending What's Available Rather Than What's Best,” “Varied Treatment Effectiveness,” “Importance of Digging Deep,” and “Above and Beyond.” The findings of this study highlight CPS worker satisfaction with MST-IPV and underscore the importance of developing, researching, and funding treatments for co-occurring IPV and CAN.

Committee: William Heusler PsyD (Committee Chair); Jude Bergkamp PsyD (Committee Member); Cynthia Cupit Swenson PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2021, Social Work

As two of the most prevalent developmental problems among American children, internalizing and externalizing symptoms are closely associated with negative outcomes (Bitsko, 2016). Although neighborhood factors strongly influence children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms, few studies have focused on understanding the influences of various neighborhood environment on such symptoms. To fill this research gap, this study systematically captures the influences of different types of neighborhood factors on behavioral problems in different developmental stages. Three research topics were examined in this dissertation: (1) the influences of two types of neighborhood factors (neighborhood structural and process factors) on internalizing and externalizing symptoms in early childhood; (2) the gender differences of the influences of neighborhood factors on adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms; and (3) how the two types of neighborhood factors affect the longitudinal development of internalizing and externalizing symptoms from early childhood to adolescent. Using the six-wave longitudinal dataset from Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, Structural Equation Model was conducted to answer the first two research questions and Latent Growth Curve Model was used to answer the third research question. Findings of this study extended the existing knowledge on child behavioral symptoms and help inform both macro- and micro-level interventions.

Committee: Susan Yoon (Committee Co-Chair); Kathryn Maguire-Jack (Committee Co-Chair); MoYee Lee (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2019, Social Work

Between 2005 and 2017, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths increased by 751% in the state of Ohio (Ohio Department of Health, 2018). The implications of opioid abuse reach beyond the person struggling with addiction, affecting their families and the systems that provide them with services as well. In the state of Ohio, the number of children entering foster care increased by 3,500 children between 2013 and 2018 (Public Children Services Association of Ohio [PCSAO], 2018b), many of whom have experienced the complex and traumatic after-effects of parental opioid abuse. Because of limited state child welfare funding in Ohio, children services agencies in different counties have had varying resources available to combat the effects of the opioid epidemic. To explore these differences, this qualitative study analyzes the results of 16 interviews with children services employees in eight Appalachian and Non-Appalachian counties. The purposes of this study are to explore 1) how parental opioid abuse affects child maltreatment, exposure to trauma, and families' involvement with children services; 2) the trends present in cases affected by parental opioid abuse and; 3) the differences in the implications of the opioid epidemic on public children services agencies in Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Ohio counties.

Committee: Terry Cluse-Tolar PhD (Advisor); Solveig Spjeldnes PhD (Other) Subjects: Social Work

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2014, Sociology

Past research has examined the phenomenon of intimate partner violence (IPV), with recent increased focus on IPV among adolescents and young adults. Moreover, prior work examining IPV among young adults often looks at familial factors such as child maltreatment, and current relationship dynamics such as jealousy and control, but does not consider these two domains simultaneously. This is potentially problematic, as individuals’ relationships in multiple domains are affected by their socialization experiences within the family. Relatedly, research examining family effects on IPV often focus solely on childhood maltreatment and interparental aggression, failing to include other meaningful aspects of family life, such as the parent-child relationship. Finally, while trajectory analyses have been conducted in the past, most are confined to IPV occurring among older adults. Given the highly fluid and complex nature of adolescence and young adulthood, the examination of IPV across time may be especially insightful during these stages of the life course. Using five waves of longitudinal data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS), the current project relies on social learning and life course theories to investigate the antecedents and trajectories of adolescent and young adult experiences with IPV perpetration and victimization. Results from fixed-effects, random-effects and growth-curve analyses indicate both parental violence (i.e. child maltreatment) and parentchild relationship quality (PCRQ) are significant and independent predictors of IPV reports. Interestingly, though, both parental violence and PCRQ are more predictive of males’ experiences with IPV than females’. Findings also demonstrate that as jealousy and control, cheating, verbal aggression, arguments, and partner mistrust increase in frequency or severity, so too does the likelihood of both IPV perpetration and victimization. However, contributing to previous research (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Alfred DeMaris (Committee Chair); Peggy Giordano (Committee Member); Wendy Manning (Committee Member); Monica Longmore (Committee Member); Sherri Horner (Other) Subjects: Social Research; Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2013, Psychology

The purpose of the current study was to investigate how various types of victimization and parental warmth and bonding experiences cluster together in young women's life histories in order to determine whether specific profiles of victimization relate to the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD) features. Seven hundred sixty-nine college women completed anonymous questionnaires related to their experiences with childhood maltreatment, adult sexual victimization, parental bonding and attachment, and features of BPD as well as related symptoms of general dysphoria and posttraumatic stress. A cluster analysis yielded a six-cluster solution which included a non-victimized control group, a group characterized by low paternal warmth/ bonding with moderate levels of childhood emotional abuse and little adult symptom distress, a group with no reported child maltreatment but adult sexual victimization, and three multi-type child maltreatment groups which generally evidenced the highest levels of BPD features and associated symptom distress (including a group characterized by physical and emotional abuse in addition to low parental warmth/ bonding, a group characterized by sexual re-victimization, and a group characterized by severe experiences with family violence). The current findings suggest that the co-occurrence of different types of maltreatment and poor parental bonding in childhood and adulthood may predict impairment in certain BPD feature domains and associated symptom domains of psychological distress.

Committee: Terri Messman-Moore Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Margaret O'Dougherty Wright Ph.D. (Committee Member); Aaron Luebbe Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sally Lloyd Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology; Psychotherapy

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2011, Sociology

The likelihood of being removed from the home following a substantiated case of maltreatment is much higher for black youth than for their white counterparts. There are two competing explanations in the literature. The first is that black children experience more serious forms of maltreatment and have fewer resources to remedy the maltreatment situation through informal means than do white children. The second is that there is an underlying bias within the child welfare system, where discriminatory beliefs about the perceived threat and dangerousness of certain groups and their abilities to care for their children may contribute to black children being disproportionately removed from their homes. The present study examines whether race has an effect on child placement within the child welfare system after taking into account various risk factors associated with race and placement. It also examines whether the factors influencing placement are the same for white and black youth. Findings illustrate a racial disparity in out-of-home placements supporting both of the competing explanations in the current literature. Parental mental illness and emotional abuse as the maltreatment type are identified as factors operating differently for black and white children within the child welfare system. Overall, the present study finds that two separate processes seem to be at play in the placement decisions of maltreated youth, and concludes with possible explanations for this differential treatment.

Committee: Stephen Demuth PhD (Advisor); Jorge Chavez PhD (Committee Member); Alfred DeMaris PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2024, Social Welfare

Each year in the United States, approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV), and 7.1 million children fall victim to child maltreatment, in their homes. Not only are these childhood violence exposures serious concerns alone, but they often co-occur, with child maltreatment happening in approximately 30-60% of households where IPV is taking place. Among several of their deleterious outcomes, both violence exposures have been linked with adolescent dating violence (ADV). However, despite the significance of these issues, several gaps exist in the literature, including inconsistent measurement IPV exposure and ADV research, with varying results specific to ADV perpetration, limited child maltreatment and ADV studies, and no existing studies assessing the impact of IPV exposure and child maltreatment co-occurrence on ADV. These limitations are exacerbated by a lack of theoretically grounded studies, particularly examining mechanisms explaining the relations between childhood IPV exposure, child maltreatment, and ADV. To address these gaps, this dissertation comprises three distinct yet connected studies within the fields of childhood IPV exposure, child maltreatment, and ADV. In studies one and two, theoretically driven conceptual models were tested using moderated mediation structural equation modeling with data from the National Survey of Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence (STRiV) to identify potential points of prevention and intervention in the relations between childhood IPV exposure, child maltreatment, co-occurrence of both, and ADV perpetration. In study three, a systematic review and evaluation of existing measurement approaches in the field of IPV exposure and ADV was conducted, resulting in recommendations for the field moving forward. In studies one and two, one theoretically driven, potential point of intervention was identified: youth mental health quality. Study three identified several recommendations for the (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Laura Voith (Committee Chair); Christopher Burant (Committee Member); Marjorie Edguer (Committee Member); Megan Holmes (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2023, Psychology

While child sexual abuse (CSA) has been widely studied in its relation to increased risk for adult sexual victimization, research now suggests a similar link between child psychological maltreatment (CPM) and adult sexual victimization. Of particular interest is the association between CPM and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV), and the way in which early maladaptive schemas (EMS) related to CPM can be linked to interpersonal behaviors that then increase vulnerability to later victimization. The current study examined how specific EMSs and maladaptive interpersonal behaviors contribute to risk for later IPSV. We hypothesized that CPM would indirectly predict IPSV serially via the shame schema and non-assertive behavior. Additionally, we hypothesized that CPM would indirectly predict IPSV serially via the subjugation schema and overly accommodating behavior. Hypotheses were tested with data collected from 547 college age women. Serial mediation analyses showed that CPM significantly predicted IPSV risk via the shame schema, and separately via the subjugation schema and overly accommodating behavior. A post-hoc serial mediation analysis showed that CPM significantly predicted IPSV via the shame schema, the subjugation schema, and overly accommodating behavior. These findings suggest that maladaptive interpersonal schemas and behaviors play a role in the relation between CPM and IPSV.

Committee: Terri Messman (Advisor); Elizabeth Kiel (Committee Member); Vrinda Kalia (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2023, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences)

Victims of child maltreatment have been shown to experience significant adverse outcomes including greater involvement with the criminal justice system and violent crime perpetration. However, the effects of child abuse and neglect victimization on parent risk for child maltreatment perpetration is lesser understood. Current research on the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment has failed to consistently identify risk factors that explain this phenomenon. The current investigation examined specific child maltreatment types as predictors of parent perpetration of child physical abuse, physical neglect, and multi-type maltreatment. Using a nationally representative dataset, the effect of childhood trauma type on parent perpetration of abuse and/or neglect was tested for 1,530 females. Additionally, parent age, child sex, and parent and child ADHD were included as risk factors of child abuse and neglect. Regression analyses revealed that history of child maltreatment by type significantly predicted parent perpetration of abuse and/or neglect. Those with histories of physical neglect and sexual abuse were at the greatest risk of perpetrating physical neglect. Further, physical abuse, physical neglect, and multi-type maltreatment were significantly associated with parent perpetration of multi-type maltreatment. Parent histories of multi-type maltreatment and physical abuse significantly predicted perpetration of physical abuse. Moreover, child sex was shown to moderate the association between multi-type maltreatment victimization and parent perpetration of multi-type maltreatment. Finally, parent age moderated the association between being a victim and perpetrator of physical neglect and being a victim and perpetrator of multi-type maltreatment. Parent age also moderated the association between parent physical neglect victimization and perpetration of multi-type maltreatment.

Committee: Brian Wymbs (Advisor); Darcey Allan (Committee Member); Jennifer Shadik (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Behavioral Sciences; Behaviorial Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2021, Psychology

Mindfulness is negatively associated with many of the same outcomes that child maltreatment is positively associated with, including emotion dysregulation, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, there is some evidence that adults who experienced child maltreatment report lower mindfulness. Thus, mindfulness interventions may be beneficial for this population. However, more information is needed to determine whether specific types of child maltreatment show stronger connections with mindfulness and whether individuals experiencing multiple types of child maltreatment are at increased risk for mindfulness deficits. The current study was designed to address this gap in the literature. The severity of five types of child maltreatment (emotional abuse and neglect, physical abuse and neglect, and sexual abuse) and the effects of cumulative childhood maltreatment (more than one type) were examined in relation to five mindfulness facets in a sample of 1,476 college women. In addition, this study considered the minimization and denial scale in the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, a component of the measure that is widely overlooked. After accounting for minimization and denial, only childhood emotional abuse, childhood emotional neglect, and cumulative maltreatment were negatively associated with mindfulness facets (primarily acting with awareness and nonjudgment). A severity effect emerged for emotional abuse and cumulative maltreatment only.

Committee: Terri Messman PhD (Advisor); Elise Clerkin PhD (Committee Member); Elizabeth Kiel PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2020, Psychology

Despite evidence indicating that psychological maltreatment (PM) has pernicious, long-lasting effects, research on this form of child maltreatment has been slow to progress. PM in childhood has been found to be a predictor of adult symptoms of anxiety and depression, substance use, and substance-related problems. Although a range of abusive and neglectful parenting behaviors can be considered psychological maltreatment, different subtypes of PM are rarely assessed. The available research examining subtypes of PM suggests that children experience distinct, and perhaps predictable, combinations of PM subtypes. Yet, research has not explored how subtypes of PM naturally co-occur or how these subtypes may differentially affect adult psychological functioning. Using latent profile analysis, the present study explored the natural co-occurrence of PM subtypes (i.e., terrorizing, spurning, exploiting/corrupting, isolating, and denying emotional responsiveness) and differences in adult psychological functioning in a community sample of 491 young women. Results indicated the best fit was a three-class model reflecting exposure to low, moderate, and high PM, across PM subtypes. Distinct PM groups were characterized by severity, but not subtype. Results also revealed statistically significant differences between the three PM groups on symptoms of anxiety and depression, substance use, and substance-related problems such that exposure to more severe PM tended to be associated with greater symptom severity. Importantly, PM did not occur in isolation as participants in the moderate and high PM groups reported high rates of child physical and sexual abuse. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

Committee: Terri Messman-Moore PhD (Committee Chair); Kevin Bush PhD (Committee Member); Elise Clerkin PhD (Committee Member); Aaron Luebbe PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2018, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences)

Child maltreatment has been found to increase the risk of psychopathology and maladaptive functioning such as relationship problems (e.g., Larsen, Sandberg, Harper, & Bean, 2011) across multiple developmental stages. Considering that not all individuals with histories of maltreatment develop negative outcomes (e.g., Howell & Miller-Graff, 2014), understanding the process by which factors beyond the experience of maltreatment contribute to the development of social difficulties in young adulthood can be critical for the design of prevention and intervention efforts. Social-cognitive theories point to mechanisms such as rejection sensitivity and emotion dysregulation as potential sources of interpersonal vulnerability. Furthermore, theories of normative development indicate that the timing of child maltreatment may determine the magnitude of deleterious effects. This study was an investigation of the developmental psychopathological pathway between child maltreatment and interpersonal conflict management in young adulthood. The mediating roles of both rejection sensitivity and emotion dysregulation were considered, with findings primarily supporting the former mediation. Additionally, the moderating role of age of onset of child maltreatment was examined within the context of the aforementioned mediation models. None of the moderated mediation hypotheses were confirmed. Research and clinical implications, as well as future directions are discussed.

Committee: Steven Evans (Advisor); Christine Gidycz (Committee Member); Brian Wymbs (Committee Member); Nicholas Allan (Committee Member); Thomas Vander Ven (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2017, Social Welfare

Although children can be maltreated at all ages, less is known about the educational effects of maltreatment on children in their adolescent years. This two-part study examined subsequent educational attainment for child welfare involved adolescents. Part one of the study explored the influence that maltreatment type and foster care placement had on educational attainment (n = 337). Part two examined the extent to which foster care exit (reunification or emancipation) influenced the subsequent educational attainment of maltreated adolescents (n = 154). Secondary data analysis was conducted using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). NSCAW is a nationally represented longitudinal study designed to assess outcomes and overall well-being of children and adolescents who were abused or neglected. Results for part one of the study indicated that there were no significant differences in educational attainment between youth who experienced the intervention of foster care and youth who remained with their families after experiencing maltreatment. Overall only 58% of the maltreated adolescents reported completing their education. That is about 15 percent less than the national average at the time Wave 5 data were collected (between 2005 and 2007). Results from part two of the study indicated that reunification with families after foster care placement were associated with lower odds of educational attainment for maltreated adolescents. The results, overall, suggest a need for educational supports and interventions for youth who experience maltreatment during their adolescent years, as maltreated adolescents are an educationally vulnerable population.

Committee: Victor Groza Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Megan Holmes Ph.D. (Committee Member); Elizabeth Tracy Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jill Korbin Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2016, Social Welfare

Youth in the child welfare system experience multiple risk factors for substance use and exhibit higher rates of substance use disorder (Pecora, White, Jackson, & Wiggins, 2009). However, although early substance use (i.e., by age 13) is a known risk factor for substance use disorder (Grant & Dawson 1997, 1998), scarce research has examined early substance use in child welfare youths. In this two-part study, a developmental psychopathology perspective is applied to examine pathways to early substance use with data from the first National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). In part 1, the prevalence of substance use, including alcohol, marijuana, and inhalant use, among child welfare (n = 896) and general population eighth graders from the Monitoring the Future Study was compared. Second, path analysis was used to examine demographic predictors (i.e., age, gender, race/ethnicity, and out-of-home placement) of substance use among child welfare eighth graders. Part 2 used path analysis with MPLUS in a sample of 11–13 year olds at Wave 1 (n = 796) to examine the relationships between physical and sexual abuse severity and early substance use, the mediating role of internal well-being problems (i.e., internalizing behavior problems and posttraumatic stress), and gender differences. Focal measures included the child-reported Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (physical abuse severity), the Trauma Symptom Checklist (posttraumatic stress), the Youth Self Report (internalizing behavior problems), and the NSCAW's caseworker-alleged abuse (sexual abuse severity) and child substance abuse module (any use of alcohol, marijuana, hard drugs, inhalants, or nonmedical prescription drugs). Findings indicated comparable or lower incidence of substances among NSCAW eighth graders overall than the general population, but higher past 30-day inhalant use among NSCAW eighth graders in out-of-home placement. Out-of-home placement was associated with higher inhalant use (life (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: David Hussey (Committee Chair); Megan Holmes (Committee Member); Sonia Minnes (Committee Member); Mark Singer (Committee Member); Adam Perzynski (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

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

The current research addresses the “nature versus nurture” question by examining interrelationships between socio-demographic variables, early childhood socialization, child temperament, and the outcomes of aggression and delinquency. Measures of parenting and child maltreatment were used to capture socialization. Measures of temperament were used as proxies for biological and genetic influences. The analysis contains three components: (1) an initial test of overlap between socialization and temperament measures to assess the extent to which they are analytically independent, (2) a comparative test of temperament versus socialization as mediators of effects of socio-demographic variables on child aggression and delinquency, and (3) a test of the interactive influences of temperament and socialization on these outcomes. Data come from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN). The analysis consists of a series of hierarchical linear models addressing the above research goals. Results of the overlap test show the socialization measures to account for approximately 15 percent of variation in child impulsivity, 10 percent of child emotionality, 2 percent of child activity level, and 1 percent of child sociability. Results of the mediation analysis show that, contrary to what was predicted, both the temperament and socialization factors mediate effects of many of the same socio-demographic variables on aggression and delinquency, including those of both the child and caregiver (e.g., child sex, caregiver income, caregiver age, intact family, hispanic). Results of the third stage of analysis show that effects of temperament traits conducive to aggression and delinquency (i.e., impulsivity) become stronger in response to negative socialization in households. Conversely, protective dimensions of socialization (i.e., supervision, punishment avoidance) were found to reduce the effects of negative temperament dimensions (i.e., impulsivity) on (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Richard Adams Dr. (Committee Chair) Subjects: Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2014, Psychology

The consistently high prevalence of child maltreatment in the United States is cause for great concern. It is particularly alarming given the serious negative medical and psychological outcomes found to be associated with child maltreatment. While the literature in the field of child maltreatment has successfully identified child populations most at risk, these children continue to be maltreated. Research pertaining to secondary and tertiary prevention has identified possible factors hindering mandated professionals from reporting. Few programs have been implemented with medical professionals to reduce suspected child maltreatment. The current study examined the efficacy of providing training for medical students to identify and report child maltreatment using the Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) program. Results were as expected and yielded large effect sizes, and indicated that the CAST program demonstrated statistically significant improvements in 1) students’ perceived preparedness to address child maltreatment, 2) knowledge (accuracy) pertaining to identification and reporting, 3) confidence and 4) attitudes toward child maltreatment issues. Implications of the current research include increased physician knowledge about child maltreatment, increased likelihood that physicians will report suspected maltreatment and more efficacious secondary and tertiary prevention of child maltreatment. The current study demonstrates that the CAST program is an effective method for training medical students on child maltreatment.

Committee: Jeanne Brockmyer PhD (Committee Co-Chair) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2014, Psychology

One specific area of revictimization research concerning intimate partner violence (IPV) has garnered increasing attention. Although researchers have recently begun to investigate mechanisms between child maltreatment and IPV victimization, interpersonal effects of child maltreatment, specifically on the development of self, have received little attention. Briere (1993) posited that interruption of normal childhood development, caused by trauma, draws attention away from the internal process of developing the self, which in turn leads to impaired self-functions in adulthood increasing risk for revictimization. The current study examined whether impairments in self accounted for the link between child maltreatment and IPV victimization among 546 college women. Impaired self-reference consistently mediated the relationship between all five forms of child maltreatment (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; physical and emotional neglect) and minor and severe forms of IPV victimization (psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion). Future directions for research and implications for intervention are discussed.

Committee: Terri Messman-Moore PhD (Advisor); April Smith PhD (Committee Member); Margaret O’Dougherty Wright PhD (Committee Member); Elizabeth Kiel PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2014, Psychology

The phenomenon of revictimization is well-documented among women, although factors such as interpersonal beliefs and expectations have received relatively little attention in the extant literature exploring the mechanisms responsible for revictimization. Given that sexual victimization is by definition an interpersonal trauma, such interpersonal beliefs are likely relevant to the understanding of revictimization. The current study examined childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in relation to adult revictimization in the forms of verbally coerced sexual assault, substance-facilitated sexual assault, and physically forced sexual assault among 781 female undergraduate students. The contributions of interpersonal beliefs in the form of early maladaptive schemas (abandonment/instability, mistrust/abuse, and defectiveness/shame) were examined as predictors of adult revictimization. Logistic regression analyses showed that the schemas, in addition to childhood maltreatment, predicted adult revictimization in the forms of verbally coerced and physically-forced sexual assault. However, no such relationship was found for substance-facilitated assault, suggesting differential risk factors may be relevant for this form of victimization in adulthood. Clinical implications are discussed.

Committee: Terri Messman-Moore Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Margaret O'Dougherty-Wright Ph.D. (Committee Member); Aaron Luebbe Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2014, Social Work

In the United States, 3.3 million child maltreatment reports are made annually involving 6 million children with non-biological males responsible for approximately 14% of the reported maltreatment cases. A primary prevention campaign called "Choose Your Partner Carefully" was introduced in Ohio to prevent and reduce the incidence of this problem by educating and raising the awareness of single mothers and the general public on how to prevent maltreatment by non-biological males. The campaign was designed to: 1. inform mothers that the partners they choose have an influence on their children's lives and 2. provide assessment criteria used to determine if the partner has the potential to abuse or is abusing her children. The campaign used various types of social marketing techniques to distribute the campaign, including radio, television, newspaper, billboards, brochures, social media, and public children's services websites to promote the campaign message. The campaign materials direct mothers to resources for childcare, parent education, social services, and abuse reporting. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Choose Your Partner Carefully campaign on reducing the incidence of non-biological male-perpetrated child maltreatment in the counties that implemented the program. County factors such as the strength and length of the program implementation, poverty rates, and the availability of social services and childcare availability were included in the analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the difference in in counties with and without the campaign on the incidence rates of non-biological male maltreatment. A negative binomial regression model controlling for covariates was used to provide a more detailed look at the impact of the Choose Your Partner Carefully campaign. The results indicated the strength of the campaign was related to an incidence rate increase in child maltreatment and the availability of child care funds was rel (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Denise Bronson Ph.D (Advisor) Subjects: Social Work