<p> Demand-withdraw is an ineffective communication pattern frequently experienced by distressed couples. Therapists often attempt to address this pattern by helping partners understand and regulate the emotions that underlie these behaviors. To date, there is a lack of research focusing on the emotional experiences underlying the demand-withdraw pattern of interaction in couples. Related lines of research focus on emotional arousal and the expression of hard and soft emotions, but this research does not specifically investigate demand-withdraw interactions. The purpose of this study is to identify what emotions underlie demanding behavior in both men and women during marital demand-withdraw conflict interactions. Six couples were chosen from a five-year longitudinal randomized clinical trial that compared Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) and Traditional Behavioral Couple Therapy (TBCT). Researchers viewed 10-minute pre-treatment problem-solving interactions to observe the demand-withdraw pattern in vivo among couples seeking therapy. The Behavioral Affective Rating Scale (BARS) was used to code the emotions observed during the interactions. The results indicated that the types of emotions varied not only depending on who initiated the problem-solving interaction (e.g., wife topic-husband topic) but also between the different couples, and when comparing gender. Anxiety (#2) and aggression (#4) were in the top four most commonly observed emotions for husbands, while they were two of the least observed emotions for wives. Moreover, frustration and hurt were the two most observed emotions for wives, while they were the least observed emotions for husbands.</p><p>

<p> Most incarcerated youth have experienced some form of trauma, which impacts their emotional and social development, preventing them from fostering self-compassion, positive self-schemas, attunement to and self-regulation. This in turn is hypothesized to preventing incarcerated youth from engaging in pro-social and positive manners. One intervention that has shown promise in fostering positive emotional development, improving self-regulation, attunement, and self-compassion in adults is mindfulness meditation. However, research has yet to examine the role of mindfulness in improving self-compassion, as it relates to mindfulness, with incarcerated youth.</p><p> Current study investigated the Mind Body Awareness Project 10-week mindfulness-based group intervention and it&rsquo;s impact on incarcerated youths&rsquo; levels of self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-esteem. Before and after completion of the 10-week intervention, 24 participants filled out self-report questionnaires on self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-esteem. I hypothesized that self-reported self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-esteem would significantly increase as a result of participation in the mindfulness-based treatment intervention. To test the hypotheses, a two-by-six mixed-method ANOVA was completed. No significant differences were found on self-reported self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-esteem. Although results were not statistically significant, this study contributes to the limited research and literature that exists on incarcerated youth and positive psychological components and further highlights the importance of culturally informed treatments for incarcerated youth. Limitations, research implications, and recommendations are discussed.</p>

<p>The current thesis evaluates the Body IMAGEination program implemented to improve body image and health behaviors of adolescent girls at the nonprofit organization Girls Incorporated. The program goals were to teach program participants to (1) deconstruct media messages, (2) navigate negative appearance messages (3) encourage a healthy lifestyle and (4)understand normal development and puberty. One Hundred and twenty-four adolescent girls (ages 12-15) participated in the evaluation and completed pre and post tests on body satisfaction.It was expected that participants who completed the program would display improvements ingoals from pre-test to post-test and show improved body satisfaction. As hypothesized, results indicated that participation in the program significantly predicted improved satisfaction in sexual attractiveness, physical condition, and weight concern. Additionally, regression analyses indicated that greater ability to navigate negative messages from friends, family and peers predicted positive changes in weight concern.

<p> While not all emerging adults engage in risky behavior, for those who do, there may be a pattern based on family structure, socioeconomic status, and religiosity. The goal of the present study was to investigate gender differences in addictive risk-taking behavior while examining the relation between family structure, socioeconomic status, religiosity and addictive risk-taking behavior in emerging adults. Although many risk-taking behaviors are not addictive in nature, the focus of the present study was of those which are. Addictive risk-taking behaviors, for the purposes of this study, were defined as alcohol use and smoking of cigarettes and e-cigarettes; also known as vaping. Participants filled out a self-report questionnaire measuring alcohol use and smoking habits. Religiosity was considered as a covariate of risky behavior. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) was used to examine alcohol use. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) was used to measure addiction. The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) was used to assess smoking behavior. The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) was used to measure dimensions of religious involvement and religiosity. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (M-C SDS) was used to assess response bias. The Family Affluence Scale II (FAS) was used to measure socioeconomic status. The Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-8) was used to measure sensation seeking. Analyses of data were conducted utilizing regression analysis, t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests of association. The results of the study confirmed several of the factors that have been identified in previous research as being related to increased involvement in risk-taking behavior by emerging adults, and identified further gaps in research. The key findings were that males smoke and use e-cigarettes more than females, that males are more likely than females to become problem drinkers, that coming from a single-parent or two-parent household is not significantly related to engaging in risky behaviors, that having a higher socioeconomic status correlates with higher drinking rates, that religiosity does not significantly correlate with engagement in risky behaviors, that sensation seeking is significantly correlated with risky behaviors, and that race/ethnicity is not significantly correlated with risky behaviors. The most unusual findings were those related to the relationship between family structure and engagement in risky behaviors and the correlation between higher SES and higher drinking rates, as they diverged from previous findings in the literature. Overall, the study also yielded a combined model of SES, gender, and family structure that was significantly predictive of both drinking and smoking. The results of the study were not significantly skewed by social desirability. This study has both academic and practical significance in that it can inform prevention and education programs which can target these youths so this population does not engage in addictive risk-taking behaviors such as using alcohol, and cigarettes, further validate the instruments utilized in this study, and add to the body of literature relating to the theory of emerging adults and engagement in addictive risky behavior.</p><p>

<p> Substance abuse is the source of significant financial cost to our society and of more indirect interpersonal costs. It is estimated that only about 18% of people classified with either substance abuse or dependence in 2012 received treatment (SAMHSA, 2013). Drawing from the existing theories of motivation to change, theories regarding the contribution of effective coping skills, and various explanations of what motivates substance abuse recovery, this study investigated the phenomenon of natural recovery. Klingemann, Sobell, and Sobell (2010) described natural recovery as being when a patient interrupts problematic behaviors or experiences improvement in his or her condition without formal intervention. Despite the existing body of research on many substance-abusing populations, there remains little research focusing on motivation to change for adolescent methamphetamine users who recover naturally. </p><p> This study utilized a grounded theory design, as outlined by Maykut and Morehouse (1994), to retrospectively examine the experiences of emerging adults (18&ndash;28) who recovered without the use of formal treatment in order to identify factors related to motivation to change. Participants were required to have been formally diagnosed or met criteria for methamphetamine abuse or dependence between the ages of 12&ndash;18. This study included 10 participants. By attempting to understand the experiences of emerging adults, this study hoped to expand upon the understanding of motivations for those who recover naturally from methamphetamine abuse. </p><p> Participants needed to have at least 12 months of sobriety from methamphetamine use. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with participants in order to highlight the factors motivating change in recovery and discover overarching themes as they relate to motivation to change and change behaviors. These themes were integrated to illustrate the complex interaction between participants&rsquo; motivation to change. The results were also compared with current relevant substance abuse treatment literature. This study will help to expand existing knowledge regarding motivation to change and methamphetamine abuse, as well as adolescent substance abuse treatment. Future investigations could attempt to apply these characteristics to adolescents who are at risk of or actively involved in a substance abuse treatment program. </p><p>

<p> Hoarding and scrupulous OCD are part of the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, which are characterized by obsessional preoccupation and ritualistic behavior. Prior research has found a statistical relationship between hoarding and scrupulosity after controlling for these common factors, suggesting the existence of other features shared by these two disorders. Clinical accounts and empirical research of hoarding and scrupulosity suggest three such shared factors: a tendency to experience intense guilt and shame, rigid moralistic thinking, and general cognitive rigidity. However, results of the current study show that, although both hoarding and scrupulosity were related to cognitive rigidity and a tendency to experience guilt and shame, they are not associated with rigid moralistic thinking. Instead, beliefs about the importance of emotions as moral guides were related to both disorders. These results are interpreted in terms of dual-process theories of moral reasoning. Additionally, implications for the conceptualization and treatment of hoarding and scrupulosity are discussed.</p><p>

<p> Many predictors of PTSD have been identified in the literature, and can include pre-trauma, peri-trauma, and post-trauma factors (Brewin, Andrews, &amp; Valentine, 2000). The PTSD-social support link has especially been well represented, and a large number of studies have examined the role of social support in predicting and buffering the effects of PTSD. Fewer studies to date have examined social support specific to child abuse experiences, as well as its relationship to disclosure and self-labeling abuse. This study aimed to understand the relationship between objective (i.e., participants were asked whether an experience had occurred) and subjective (i.e., participants were asked whether they applied the term <i>abuse</i> to their experience) experiences of childhood physical and sexual abuse, childhood social support, disclosure of abuse, and posttraumatic symptoms (i.e., PTSD, depression, and dissociation). This archival study was part of a larger study examining childhood experiences and adult psychopathology. Participants were 217 psychiatric inpatients, ages 30 to 45, from the northeast region of the United States. A combination of self-report questionnaires and structured interviews were used to gather demographics, childhood experiences, trauma histories, perceived social support, and posttraumatic symptoms. As expected, abuse severity was a strong predictor of psychopathology. Contrary to hypotheses, abuse severity was not related to perception of experiences as abusive. Also contrary to hypotheses, individuals who did not self-label sexual experiences as abuse were more likely to meet criteria for PTSD. Many participants in this study did not self-label abuse despite endorsing victimization of physical acts and sexual experiences. Furthermore, the majority of participants did not disclose abuse, and when it was disclosed, most perceived negative reactions to disclosure. As expected, negative reactions to disclosure of abuse were related to more severe PTSD and dissociation. Perceived childhood social support was related to fewer posttraumatic symptoms, however it did not moderate the relationship between abuse severity and posttraumatic symptoms. This study has implications for assessment of abuse in clinical and research settings, disclosure of abuse to family/friends and professionals, and the impact of early social support on adult psychiatric outcomes. Limitations to the study and areas for future research are also discussed.</p><p>

<p> Cognitive restructuring is a central component of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and thought records have for decades been a widely used method for helping clients to identify, evaluate, and modify dysfunctional thoughts. The widespread adoption of mobile technology along with changing habits and expectations of therapy clients have led to the development of numerous mobile apps aimed at replicating this core aspect of CBT. This review identifies, describes, and compares current CBT apps that include digitized versions of thought records. Searches of the Apple App Store, Android Google Play Store, published literature, and relevant websites yielded 19 apps that were reviewed and compared with respect to their representation and sequencing of common cognitive restructuring elements. The apps were also compared across a variety of variables of likely relevance to practicing clinicians, including cost, data security, empirical support, user reviews, provision of additional clinical tools, and the involvement of mental health professionals in their development. The review aims to be a resource for practicing clinicians interested in selecting a cognitive restructuring app that replicates paper-based thought records in digital form. Following a discussion of limitations of the current review, recommendations and future directions are described.</p><p>

<p> Emerging adulthood represents a turning point in the parent-offspring relationship. Despite parents&rsquo; continued involvement during this developmental period, research on parenting during emerging adulthood is lacking. The present study used observational data obtained from recordings of 10-minute phone calls between 50 parent-emerging adult dyads discussing the upcoming transition from college in order to determine whether specific parent communication behaviors are predictive of psychological distress (i.e., depression) and career search self-efficacy. Parents&rsquo; use of contingent reframes was inversely related to general parenting support (i.e., warmth, autonomy support, alienation) and positively related to depression. In addition, parent reframes explained the incremental variance in depression over and above the variance explained by general parenting support. Career search self-efficacy was not significantly related to parenting support, parent communication, or depression. </p><p> These results suggest that specific parent communication behaviors could be a potential target for intervention as a means of conveying overall supportiveness and facilitating better adjustment outcomes. Limitations of the study are acknowledged and recommendations are made for future research and clinical applications.</p><p>

<p> This study examined differences in meaning making and collective and transcendent well-being among first, one-and-a-half, and second generation immigrants to the United States. Given the unique challenges, stressors, and acculturation tasks each generation faces, this study aimed to broaden the scope of current research that often disregards nuances of the immigration experience to contribute to our understanding of generational differences in well-being and meaning making processes. A trend was identified in which first and second-generation immigrants to the United States felt a greater sense of national belonging; whereas one-and-a-half generation immigrants felt less well-being associated with national context. First-generation immigrants scored higher on overall posttraumatic growth compared to second-generation immigrants and it is approaching a trend. When age was accounted for, there was a trend towards significance, where first generation and 1.5 generation immigrants scored higher on posttraumatic growth compared to second generation immigrants. Though most hypotheses were not supported, the exploration of dimensions of collective and transcendent well-being and meaning making processes among immigrants are new areas of research that had yet to be explored. This study also has potential implications for the immigrant paradox, or findings suggesting that subsequent generations of immigrants are at risk for poorer outcomes compared to their first-generation counterparts. Implications for theory and practice, methodological limitations, and suggestions for future research are also discussed.</p><p>