Master of Arts, Miami University, 2020, Psychology

One in six elementary school students experience emotional or behavioral difficulties that can impact their functioning at school and as they develop through adolescence and adulthood. Low academic achievement has been identified as a potential factor associated with increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, the link between academic achievement and internalizing or externalizing symptoms receives mixed support in the literature. The current study explored potential moderating factors that might account for these inconsistent findings among a sample of upper elementary school students. Results did not support the hypothesis that individual (gender and social emotional competence), social (peer problems), or environmental (classroom diversity acceptance) factors might moderate the relation from reading achievement to internalizing or externalizing symptoms. Baseline internalizing and externalizing symptoms were the strongest indicators of future increased symptoms in each respective domain. The findings emphasize the importance of screening children for early signs of symptoms and providing early prevention and intervention programs at elementary schools to help mitigate the development of internalizing and externalizing behaviors before they become well-established, increase, or become resistant to intervention.

Committee: Paul Flaspohler PhD (Advisor); Jennifer Green PhD (Committee Member); Elizabeth Kiel PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Early Childhood Education; Mental Health; Psychology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2013, Psychology/Clinical

Violence exposure is a serious threat to adolescents' psychological health. Previous research has examined many negative outcomes of violence exposure, including internalizing and externalizing symptoms (Ward et. al, 2006; Kennedy et al. 2009; Guerra, Huesmann, & Spindler, 2003; Jones, Foster, Forehand, & O'Connell, 2005). Based on these findings, it is important to identify specific factors that could protect adolescents who are exposed to violence. One way to safeguard against the negative effects of violence exposure may be adolescents' future expectations. Positive future expectations have been described as “expectations of attaining specific objectives (e.g. achieving in school, having close friends) in later developmental periods” (Wyman et al., 1993, p. 651). Adolescents ranging in age from 13 to 18 were recruited as part of a larger project on the needs of a semi-rural county in Northwest Ohio. The sample was comprised of 264 adolescents. Adolescents were administered self-report measures that assessed violence exposure, future expectations, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing symptoms. As hypothesized, higher levels of violence exposure were associated with higher levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents. In addition, as predicted, higher levels of future expectations were associated with lower levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents. An interaction between violence exposure and future expectations emerged. Adolescents who report low levels of violence exposure and high levels of future expectations had the lowest levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, but positive effects of future expectations diminished with greater exposure to violence. Implications for research and practice will be discussed.

Committee: Carolyn Tompsett PhD (Advisor); Eric Dubow PhD (Committee Member); Dara Musher-Eizenman PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Master of Arts, Case Western Reserve University, 0, Psychology

Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States and report experiencing high rates of discrimination. However, Asian Americans are inaccurately often considered to be “model minorities”. The combination of the model minority experience and associated cultural values of avoiding discord may be associated with variations in the ethnic-racial socialization of parents with their children. We recruited a sample of Asian American parents of children between the ages of 8 and 17 (N = 90) who completed questionnaires online. Results indicated that parental experience of racial microaggressions were positively associated with Preparation for Bias and Promotion of Mistrust of their child. Parental internalized model minority beliefs and internalizing symptoms were positively associated with child's Preparation for Bias and Cultural Socialization. Findings from this study suggest that the messages communicated to Asian American children through socialization play a role in the child's experiences of internalizing symptoms.

Committee: Amy Przeworski (Committee Chair); Sarah Hope Lincoln (Committee Member); Arin Connell (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2023, Psychology - Clinical

The present study sought to examine whether and how the Big Five traits moderate the relationship between psychologically controlling parenting and adolescent internalizing symptoms. Adolescent-parent dyads (N = 124) participated in an online, cross-sectional study and provided adolescent and parent reports of adolescent personality, perceptions of psychologically controlling parenting, and adolescent internalizing symptoms, as well as items assessing the burdensomeness of the COVID-19 pandemic and adolescent leisure-time screen time. Separate moderation analyses were conducted for adolescent- and parent-reported variables and for each Big Five trait for a total of 10 moderation models. Controlling parenting, a dimension of psychologically controlling parenting specified by the Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale (P-PASS), was significantly related to adolescent internalizing symptoms The relationships between controlling parenting and adolescent internalizing symptoms were moderated by low Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Open-Mindedness and high Negative Emotionality for all adolescent- and parent-reported models. The findings progress our understanding of trait-environment interactions that contribute to adolescent mental health outcomes and the personality-psychopathology relationship in a developmental context. Future directions include identifying personality trait facets that serve as specific personality risk factors for experiencing internalizing symptoms in the context of psychologically controlling parenting.

Committee: Sarah Francis (Committee Chair); Cin Cin Tan (Committee Co-Chair); Kamala London (Committee Co-Chair) Subjects: Psychology

PHD, Kent State University, 2022, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Adultification bias is the perception of Black youth as less innocent and more adult-like than their peers (Epstein, Blake & Gonzalez, 2017). This perception is based on racialized and gendered stereotypes held by the adults who view these children. Research on adultification bias thus far has shown implications of this social stereotype on the lived experiences of Black girls across public systems (e.g., education, juvenile justice). Despite the potential long-term effects that have been discussed in qualitative research, no prior study to our knowledge has examined the impact of adultification bias on the transition to adulthood. The present study sought to fill this gap in the literature through examining the psychological and behavioral consequences of experiencing adultification bias in childhood in early adulthood. To quantitatively examine the implications of adultification bias it was necessary to develop a questionnaire to measure retrospective experiences of adultification bias (Adultification Bias Scale). The first aim of this study was to examine the factor structure, validity, and reliability of this new measure. Factor analysis of the Adultification Bias Scale revealed a sound, valid measure of childhood adultification bias experiences that may continue to be used in future research building upon this phenomenon. Overall, our findings revealed that collegiate Black women overwhelmingly recall experiences of adultification bias throughout their childhood. The data revealed an association between childhood experiences of adultification bias and current internalizing symptoms in young adult Black women. Further, internalizing symptoms appeared to mediate the relationship between adultification bias experiences and risk-taking and weight-management behaviors. Limitations and implications of the current study as well as recommendations for future research are discussed.

Committee: Angela Neal-Barnett (Advisor); Josefina Grau (Committee Member); Carla Goar (Other); Kelly Cichy (Committee Member); John Updegraff (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Psychology

Approximately 11-20% of school aged US children are estimated to have mental health problems. Despite their impairment and associated societal cost, these concerns are largely untreated. Although it is known that children from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially those who have experienced adverse childhood events (ACEs), tend to have higher rates of psychological symptoms and lesser rates of treatment utilization, few models exist that consider the complex interplay of factors that to date have only been examined independently of one another. To address this knowledge gap, data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) regarding 5899 US children ages 6 though 17 were used in the present study through structural equation modeling to look at the interrelationships between income, ACEs, internalizing/externalizing symptoms, and mental health service use based on the Andersen Behavioral Model. The hypothesized model was first tested with an overall sample of all 5899 target children and then examined using multigroup comparison by race. Good model fit was observed across the entire sample as well as with three of the four racial/ethnicity groups, suggesting that the model generalizes across race and ethnicity. Nevertheless, differences in the magnitude of several hypothesized pathways were found during comparison of racial/ethnic groups, suggesting unique differences between certain racial/ethnic backgrounds, which are further discussed.

Committee: Amy Przeworski PhD (Committee Chair); Arin Connell PhD (Committee Member); Elizabeth Short PhD (Committee Member); Tom Swales PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Master of Arts, Case Western Reserve University, 2021, Psychology

Latinx youth in the United States report higher levels of internalizing symptoms than their White non-Latinx counterparts. Culturally unique factors and values such as language proficiency and use, respeto, familismo, religiosity and spirituality, gender role beliefs, and U.S.-centered acculturative gaps have been shown to be associated with internalizing symptomatology. However, intergenerational discrepancies in these culturally-based factors require further examination in Latinx adolescents. This study explored the relationship between cultural factors and intergenerational cultural differences on adolescent internalizing symptoms. An online survey (N = 91) included a racially and ethnically diverse sample of Latinx adolescents between the ages of 11 - 16 (mean = 14, SD = 1.27) and one of their parents.. Responses indicated that the association between cultural factors on internalizing symptoms may in part be explained by intergenerational differences in English language use and proficiency, intergenerational interpersonal religious struggles, and U.S.-centered acculturative gaps.

Committee: Amy Przeworski (Committee Chair); Arin Connell (Committee Co-Chair); Julie Exline (Committee Co-Chair) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Developmental Psychology; English As A Second Language; Gender; Hispanic American Studies; Hispanic Americans; Individual and Family Studies; Language; Latin American Studies; Psychology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2021, Psychology/Clinical

Exposure to ethnic-political violence (EPV) has been demonstrated to have serious effects on youth adjustment. Emotional and social-cognitive factors play a role in determining youth's development of internalizing symptoms and aggressive behaviours. Exploring levels of emotional and social-cognitive factors, such as emotional and cognitive desensitization to violence, may allow for discrimination between those youths who respond to EPV with internalizing symptoms or aggression. In this study, I examined emotional sensitivity to EPV and normative beliefs supporting aggression as moderators for the relation between exposure to ethnic-political violence and youth adjustment, as measured by internalizing symptoms and aggression. Results from a sample of Palestinian and Israeli youth found significant positive relations between exposure to EPV and internalizing symptoms and aggression; positive relations between emotional sensitivity to violence and internalizing symptoms and aggression; and positive relations between normative beliefs about aggression and internalizing symptoms and aggression. Emotional sensitivity to EPV did not moderate the relation between exposure to EPV and internalizing symptoms; but normative beliefs about aggression moderated the relation between exposure to EPV and aggression, such that the effect of exposure to EPV on aggression was weakened among youth at higher levels of normative beliefs about aggression (still, youth with higher levels of normative beliefs supporting aggression were higher in aggression across levels of exposure compared to youth with low levels of normative beliefs supporting aggression). Findings are discussed in relation to theory, previous studies, and implications on intervention.

Committee: Eric Dubow Dr. (Advisor); Carolyn Tompsett Dr. (Committee Member); Meagan Docherty Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2017, Psychology

Recent research suggests that cognitive complaints may be more reflective of affective health than of actual cognitive deficits. The current study examines whether affective health moderates the relationship between cognitive complaints and cognitive performance. A convenience sample of 194 patients with cognitive complaints referred to a neuropsychology clinic at a university-affiliated medical center was studied. Cognitive complaints were assessed via the Cognitive Complaints Scale (COG) of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Affective health was examined using the emotional/internalizing dysfunction, demoralization, somatic complaints, low positive emotions, and dysfunctional negative emotions scales of the MMPI-2-RF. Cognitive performance was measured via the California Verbal Learning Test-II, Trail Making Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV: Digit Span subtest and Wechsler Memory Scale-III: Logical Memory subtest. Outcomes were the presence/absence of cognitive impairment [with presence of cognitive impairment defined as one or more neuropsychological test z-scores greater than or equal to 1.5 standard deviations below the mean] and a general cognitive performance composite. Simple moderation analyses were used to examine the conditional effect of cognitive complaints on the outcomes. Higher scores on COG (i.e., more cognitive complaints) predicted lower cognitive performance composite scores only in individuals exhibiting elevated emotional/internalizing dysfunction, demoralization, low positive emotions, and dysfunctional negative emotions (ps < .05). Higher scores on COG predicted higher cognitive performance composite scores in individuals with low levels of somatic complaints (p < .05). Affective health did not moderate the relationship between COG and the presence/absence of cognitive impairment (ps > .05). The results of this study indicate that the effect of cognitive complaints on cognitive performa (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Barbara Andersen Ph.D. (Advisor); Jennifer Cheavens Ph.D. (Committee Member); Charles Emery Ph.D. (Committee Member); Laura Boxley Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2016, Psychology/Clinical

Previous research with community samples has demonstrated that adolescents with internalizing and externalizing symptoms have varying levels of impairment across different domains of functioning, such as social or school functioning. However, few studies examined the relationship of symptoms and functioning using a comprehensive measure of multiple domains of adaptive functioning, or examined these relationships in a clinical sample. The current study aimed to determine whether there are meaningful relationships between internalizing and externalizing symptoms and multiple domains of adaptive functioning in a clinical sample of adolescents. The sample consisted of approximately 1080 adolescents and their parents or guardians who were receiving services at a community mental health clinic in a semi-rural region of the Midwest. Youth- and parent-reported symptom severity and functional impairment were measured at intake appointments using the Ohio Scales. The study was designed to achieve the following goals: (1) To empirically determine whether the Functioning scale items from the Ohio Scales represent one construct or multiple dimensions of adaptive functioning; (2) to explore differences between internalizing and externalizing symptoms in terms of their relation to domains of adaptive functioning; and (3) to observe whether relationships between type of symptoms and level of adaptive functioning are similar for both youth- and parent-report measures. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to address the first goal. Following these analyses, the relationships between symptoms and functioning were explored using structural equation modeling. Results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that youth and parent measures of functioning tapped into five domains encompassing youths' school, social-emotional, recreation, self-care, and responsible behavior. Impaired responsible behavior and school functioning were more strongl (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Carolyn Tompsett Ph.D. (Advisor); Annette Mahoney Ph.D. (Committee Member); Dara Musher-Eizenman Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Mental Health

PHD, Kent State University, 2013, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Literature and research with adult mothers indicate a transactional relation between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior. Evidence also indicates that gender may moderate this relation, such that males may be more vulnerable to their mothers' depression early in life and may display higher levels of externalizing behavior than females. However, little research to date has investigated these relations in samples of adolescent mothers, specifically Latina adolescent mothers, and none, to the author's knowledge, have investigated the transactional nature of the relation. Latina adolescent mothers are important to study as they have the highest birthrate in the U. S. compared to other ethnic groups. Adolescent mothers also face negative risk factors that influence their own psychological adjustment; and their children already face high risk for negative outcomes. One potential protective factor for children of adolescent mothers is mothers' romantic partners whose involvement in child care has been shown to buffer children against the negative effects of maternal depressive symptoms and other maternal risk factors. Investigating these relations is imperative to inform intervention and prevention efforts for Latina adolescent mothers and their children. Using a sample of primarily Puerto Rican adolescent mothers and their toddlers for which data were collected at two time points, 6 months apart; the current study used a path analysis framework to test hypothesized models. First, the longitudinal, transactional relations between maternal depressive symptoms and two child behavior variables - internalizing and externalizing problems - were examined. Second, the current study examined the direct and moderating effects of gender in order to better understand the nature of the relation between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior in our sample. Lastly, the potential protective effect of partner child care involvement was investigated to test whether (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Josefina Grau Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Beth Wildman Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kathryn Kerns Ph.D. (Committee Member); Karla Anhalt Ph.D. (Committee Member); Rhonda Richardson Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2006, Arts and Sciences : Psychology

Internalizing difficulties have a profound effect on society in human suffering, treatment, and work-related costs. Parental overprotection has been identified as a possible risk factor for children's development of internalizing difficulties. Studies examining parental overprotection, children's internalizing symptoms, and the child's gender have shown inconsistent results that may be due to problems with methodology. The current study addressed previous methodological concerns by examining associations between parenting and internalizing symptoms for children with a prospective longitudinal design, utilizing multiple methods of gathering data (e.g., self-report questionnaires and a psychiatric interview), incorporating multiple informants (mother, father, and child), and examining how the parent's and the child's gender impacts the development of internalizing difficulties in young adults. This study examined the cross sectional and longitudinal associations between parental overprotection and internalizing symptoms for youth when they were school-aged and young adults. It was hypothesized that children's internalizing symptoms during the middle childhood would be associated with concurrent maternal and paternal overprotection. Additionally, maternal and paternal overprotection during middle childhood would predict internalizing symptoms for young adults. Exploratory analyses examined the interaction of parental overprotection, internalizing symptoms, and gender; changes in continuity of internalizing symptoms for low and high levels of parental overprotection; and differences in parental overprotection for young adults with and without a diagnosis of a mood and/or anxiety disorder. Secondary analyses were conducted from a longitudinal project investigating the social-emotional functioning of children with a chronic illness and comparison peers. Parents and children (N = 282) completed questionnaires and an interview assessing parenting and internalizing difficult (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Robert Noll (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology, Developmental

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2005, Arts and Sciences : Psychology

Successful peer relations are a critical component of positive psychological adjustment in childhood and adolescence and it has been suggested that they may be predictive of psychological adjustment well into adulthood. Two aspects of peer relations, social withdrawal and friendship, have been identified as risk and protective factors that are associated with concurrent emotional adjustment. Empirical and theoretical work suggests that socially withdrawn children are at risk for internalizing difficulties. Few studies have examined this association as children move into early adulthood. This longitudinal study evaluated social predictors of internalizing symptoms of young adults, after consideration of earlier symptoms of internalizing distress. Peer relations were assessed in children's classrooms, via peer report of socially withdrawn behaviors and via self and peer report of friendship. Internalizing symptoms were assessed using standardized questionnaires with well-established psychometrics during the summer following the school-based assessment and again in early adulthood. Although some evidence was found of concurrent and predictive associations between internalizing symptoms, passive social withdrawal, and reciprocated friendship, difficulties in peer relations were not associated with internalizing symptoms in early adulthood once childhood levels of emotional functioning were taken into account. Rather, children with higher levels of internalizing symptoms in childhood continued to be at risk for internalizing symptoms into early adulthood, regardless of their behavioral reputation as socially withdrawn, or their friendship status. Child variables (i.e., gender, race) and health status (i.e., chronically ill, healthy) were not significant moderators.

Committee: Dr. Kathryn Vannatta (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology, Developmental

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2010, Human Development and Family Science

This study examined the relationship between adolescents' problem behaviors and maternal depressive symptoms, and the moderating effect by adolescent gender on this relationship. The current study also assessed the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and the family environment, above and beyond adolescents' problem behaviors and the interactive effects of gender. Data were collected from 137 mothers of runaway adolescents. The mothers reported on their children's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, cohesion and conflict in the family environment, as well as their own depressive symptoms. Results showed that the problem behaviors of adolescent girls were significantly associated with maternal depressive symptoms, while boys' problem behaviors were not. Results also showed that family cohesion was significantly related to maternal depressive symptoms above and beyond adolescent problem behaviors, whereas family conflict was not. These findings indicate that adolescent children's problem behaviors and mothers' perceptions of family environment might jointly contribute to maternal depressive symptoms, highlighting the potential utility of the family systems theoretical framework for understanding mothers' emotional problems in the family context.

Committee: Natasha Slesnick (Advisor); Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Committee Member) Subjects:

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2010, Psychology

Depression and anxiety are common mental health concerns that occur at increased rates in girls, particularly during adolescence. Although prior research has established a variety of risk factors and correlates of internalizing disorders in girls, little research has been conducted in a single-sex educational setting where girls' risk for these problems may vary due to contextual factors. Moreover, the roles that domain-specific competencies, both perceived by girls and observed by teachers, play in self-reported internalizing symptoms has been minimally explored in the clinical psychology literature. Accordingly, the present study assessed internalizing symptoms and domain-specific competencies in a sample of 91 girls (ages 9-14) attending a single-sex, private middle school. Self-perceived and teacher-rated competencies were assessed in the following domains: scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, and behavioral conduct. Consistent with hypotheses, significant negative associations among internalizing symptoms and self-perceived competencies were found across all domains except athletics. Moreover, self-perceptions of appearance and social acceptance explained an additional 17% of the variance in internalizing symptoms after controlling for competence ratings in other domains. With regard to social/peer variables, ratings of close, supportive friendship and social competence were negatively associated with internalizing symptoms. Unexpectedly, friendship network size and popularity were not significantly associated with internalizing symptoms. The only teacher-rated domains negatively associated with internalizing symptoms were behavioral conduct for depressive symptoms and athletic competence for anxiety symptoms. Exploratory analyses regarding the subset of girls with at least subclinical levels of internalizing symptoms showed lower self-perceptions of appearance and behavioral conduct compared to girls with nonclini (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Norah Feeny PhD (Committee Chair); Kimberly Emmons PhD (Committee Member); Sandra Russ PhD (Committee Member); Julie Exline PhD (Committee Member); Lisa Damour PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2013, Psychology

Although developmental research continues to connect parenting behaviors with child outcomes, it is critical to examine how child behaviors influence parenting behaviors. Given the emotional, cognitive, and social costs of maladaptive parenting, it is vital to understand the factors that influence maternal socialization behaviors. The current study examines children's observed emotion regulatory behaviors as one influence. Mother-child dyads (n = 91) with toddlers around 24 months of age participated in novelty episodes from which toddler emotion regulation behaviors were coded, and mothers reported their use of emotion socialization strategies. The concurrent and predictive relation between emotion regulation and emotion socialization was examined in the context of several moderators. It was found that child gender, depressive, and worry symptoms individually moderated the relation between emotion regulation and emotion socialization. Results from the current study have the potential to inform the literature on when child-elicited effects are most salient in the parent-child relationship.

Committee: Elizabeth Kiel Ph.D. (Advisor); Aaron Luebbe Ph.D. (Committee Member); Vaishali Raval Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Developmental Psychology