PSY Theses and Dissertations
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Item Response to a positive mood induction procedure as a function of instructed and dispositional levels of experiential approach(Wichita State University, 2024-07) Quan, Huan; Zettle, Robert D.Efforts to regulate positive emotions via experiential approach can be assessed by the experience prolonging (EP) and anxious clinging (AC) subscales of the Experiential Approach Scale (EAS; Swails et al., 2016). EP represents the tendency to allow positive emotions to linger and be savored for as long as they naturally last, while AC refers to efforts to “capture” desired affective states, while simultaneously worrying that they will be lost. The moderating role of experiential approach was examined in two previous correlational studies with inconsistent findings. The current study provided a more extensive analysis of experiential approach by combining both correlational and experimental strategies. Specifically, the impact of dispositional and instructed levels of experiential approach on emotion regulation, both singly and interactively, were evaluated within a positive mood induction procedure. Dispositional levels of AC and EP were assessed with the EAS of participants (N = 168) randomly assigned to one of the three instructional conditions -- AC-focused, EP-focused, or control instructions – about how to respond to increases in positive affect while watching an amusing film clip. Self-reported levels of positive affect, negative affect, and the balance between the two were assessed at pre and postinduction as well as at follow-up. The overall effect of the film clip in inducing positive affect and reducing negative affect varied by the instructed and dispositional levels of experiential approach. The most pronounced immediate effect of watching the clip was a reduction of negative mood among participants who were both instructed and dispositionally inclined to engage in EP. By contrast, the greatest deterioration in induced positive mood during the follow-up period occurred among those with low dispositional levels of AC who also followed AC-focused instructions. Limitations of the study and implications of its findings for further research on experiential approach in positive emotion regulation are discussed.Item A true effectiveness study of comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy(Wichita State University, 2024-07) Pena, Marta; Burdsal, Charles A.; Clark, C. BrendanDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is considered the premier treatment for chronic suicidality, non-suicidal self-injury, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Despite extensive research through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) confirming DBT's efficacy, there's a significant gap in studies on its effectiveness in everyday clinical settings. This study evaluated DBT's real-world effectiveness with diverse patient populations to bridge the gap between controlled clinical research and practical application, focusing on crisis service use, parasuicidal behaviors, and other high-risk behaviors associated with emotional regulation issues. Additionally, changes in BPD symptoms, depression, and emotional regulation deficits were assessed. Another objective was to understand the motivations behind parasuicidal behaviors. Participation in the DBT program significantly reduced crisis service use, parasuicidal behaviors, and other high-risk behaviors. Parasuicidal behaviors were mainly employed to regulate emotions. The study did not show significant changes in BPD symptoms, depression, or emotional regulation deficits. Symptoms are more stable and take longer to change than behavioral improvements. Most participants completed only 10 to 30 weeks of treatment, likely remaining in stage one of DBT, which focuses on behavioral control. They had not yet addressed emotional experiencing and improving happiness, which could explain the findings. Data analysis involved both parametric and non-parametric statistics to identify significant patterns. The results highlight the practical benefits of DBT in reducing crisis service utilization, parasuicidality, and high-risk behaviors in community settings, suggesting its effectiveness beyond controlled clinical environments. The lack of significant changes in BPD symptoms, depression, and emotional regulation deficits calls for further research to explore the underlying mechanisms.Item Symptom profiles and service utilization among college students with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(Wichita State University, 2023-07) McGill, Sarah; Slade, SamanthaCollege students with ADHD symptoms and co-occurring difficulties, like functional impairments and mood disorders, have complex symptom profiles marked by unique combinations of comorbid presentations. College students with ADHD often underutilize support services on campus. Subgroups characterized by multiple dimensions may differ in their treatment utilization, and identifying such subgroups is an important first step in enhancing treatment-related selection, implementation, and effectiveness. The purpose of the present study was to identify subgroups of college students with symptoms of ADHD and co-occurring difficulties using latent class analysis (LCA) and understand how service utilization behavior varied among these groups. A sample of 327 adult college students completed an online survey composed of measures to assess ADHD and internalizing symptoms, functional impairment, alcohol use, and service utilization. Based on the LCA, a three-class model was identified as the final solution; the three latent classes that were identified varied both by impairment levels and ADHD symptoms. The results are important in the following ways: ADHD was frequently comorbid with other internalizing disorders; college students reported moderate to high levels of functional impairment particularly in regard to work/school functioning; and students with differing levels of impairment and ADHD symptoms utilized services differently—often those with higher levels of impairment were more likely to utilize services. Discussion of implications, limitations to the study, and future research directions were also included.Item Acceptability and usability of a therapeutic tabletop role-playing game approach to psychoeducation and interpersonal skills training(Wichita State University, 2024-07) Armstrong, Jacob D.; Clark, C. BrendanClinical training in the delivery of gamified psychotherapeutic interventions is increasingly available in the United States, despite the current lack of strong empirical evidence for this approach. These interventions are purported to be more acceptable, engaging, and intrinsically motivating than available alternatives. The present pilot and treatment development study proposed a theoretical approach to empirically evaluate the claim gamified psychotherapies represent an intrinsically motivating treatment approach, and to explore the outcome and acceptability of the therapeutic tabletop role-playing game (TTT-RPG) developed by the author for small group delivery of adapted dialectical behavioral therapy skills training (DBT-ST). A non-clinical sample of 287 university students seeking interpersonal skills training completed an online pre-screening survey, providing self-report data on baseline variables of interest (e.g., demographics, interpersonal distress, etc.) as well as the acceptability of both TTT-RPG and a more traditional group skills training alternative. Thirty-three students from this initial sample then participated in at least one session of TTT-RPG, with twenty-five completing the protocol over the course of three weekly sessions (approximately 3.5 hours each). Completers provided self-report data on changes in interpersonal distress and acceptability over time, as well as motivation, perceived progress in skills training, group positive bond, and usability/playability. At baseline, students found the TTT-RPG to be more acceptable than a more traditional alternative. Following participation significant changes were observed in TTT-RPG acceptability (increasing) and interpersonal distress (decreasing). Further, participants reported high levels of perceived progress, group positive bond, and usability/playability. These data provided evidence of the usability, acceptability, and potential for further development of TTT-RPG for therapeutic use.Item A new method of assessing bias in discriminatory decision-making(Wichita State University, 2024-07) Ballout, Mouhamad Houssein Naim; Clark, C. BrendanAn extensive amount of literature has been written to better understand the formulation and processes behind both decision-making and discrimination. Over the last few decades and charged by research on dual process models and cognitive biases, these two distinct areas of research have become intertwined. Currently, the culmination of this synthesis has been the study of implicit bias and the development of the Implicit Association Test (IAT). However, there is heavy disagreement amongst researchers regarding the validity and utility of the IAT, with more recent work displaying a number of deficits that may preclude its use. In response to these claims, this study sought to test a new method to better assess biased behavior in the form of racial and gender discrimination. The Bias in Appraisal/Selection (BIAS) task was developed in order to accomplish this goal. The BIAS task appears to show some promise; results broadly identified discriminatory appraisal and selection across primarily moderate and low qualified candidates, as well as the composite scores altogether. Interestingly, these results showed that preference existed for Black and female candidates, opposite of what was expected. Implications for these and other findings are discussed. Overall, the advances in understanding the interplay between decision-making processes and discriminatory behavior have contributed to exciting but lacking developments. While more research is certainly needed, the BIAS task shows some promise as a theoretically-sound alternative approach to assessing discriminatory behavior.