<p> Aggression in adolescence is associated with many negative outcomes both during adolescence and later in adulthood. In order to properly prevent and treat aggression, it is important to understand what factors are associated with the development of aggression. This study examined how exposure to family violence, posttraumatic stress, and social skills were related to both parent- and adolescent-rated aggressive behavior. This study was comprised of two components. First, a series of mediation models were examined using structural equation modeling. Second, exploratory analyses of the moderating effects of adolescent race and gender were conducted using multiple regression. The sample consisted of 583 Black, Latino, and White adolescents aged 11 to 14 who participated in the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II) and were assessed with 3 waves of data over 36 months. Results from the first component of the study found that the base model that consisted of autoregressive effects and within-wave correlations provided a good fit to the data with important differences found between the parent and adolescent models. None of the mediation models were supported for either the parent or adolescent models. Results from the second component of the study found that race and gender substantially impacted the predictive relationships between the different factors and later aggression, and that these findings also differed based on whether the parent or adolescent was the informant. These findings further our understanding of how trauma-related factors and social skills relate to aggression longitudinally, which has important implications for interventions.</p>

This portfolio thesis consists of three parts: Part one - Systematic Literature Review The systematic literature explores and conceptualises the existing empirical literature relating to parent’s experiences of the transition to adulthood for their child with intellectual disabilities. A systematic search identified 16 studies relevant for this review. The transition process to adulthood is often accompanied by a number of processes, includes parental involvement and has psychological and financial impact on parents. The data was synthesised using a narrative synthesis approach, including the methodological critique of the studies. Conclusions from the evidence base are drawn, and implications for future research are considered. Part two - Empirical Paper The empirical paper explored the experiences of residential staff and healthcare professionals that have worked with young adults with intellectual disabilities who have been in the care of the Local Authority and transitioned to adult services. A qualitative approach was adopted, primarily a thematic analysis. Three superordinate and nine subordinate themes were identified. Participants’ experiences of the transition to adult services included what adulthood meant for young adults with intellectual disabilities once they departed from the care system, how transitions to adult services begin, and an absence of person-centred care occurs in adult services. The findings are discussed in the context of relevant theoretical and empirical literature, and the implications for services and future research are discussed. Part three - Appendices The appendices section provides a set of appendices relating to both the systematic literature review and the empirical paper. Also included in the appendices is an epistemological statement and a reflective statement, which consider the researcher’s experiences of conducting the empirical paper research.

This portfolio thesis consists of three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical paper and a set of appendices. The thesis as a whole considers the effects of meditation-based interventions for people living with dementia and age-related cognitive impairments, and their caregiver on wellbeing, including their experiences of meditation-based interventions and appropriate adaptations to these interventions. The first section is a systematic literature review that explores the domains of wellbeing which have been targeted and measured in studies of meditation-based interventions for people living with dementia and mild and subjective cognitive impairment, and the effects of these interventions. The review also considers the methodological quality of the evidence in this area. Fourteen papers were identified and synthesised using a narrative approach. The findings are discussed within the context of previous literature relating to meditation interventions for people living with dementia and age-related cognitive impairments. The clinical and research implications for these findings are also considered. The second section is an empirical study that explores how dementia dyads experience and engage with an adapted mindfulness-based intervention and what the impact of this is on subjective wellbeing. The research used a qualitative method, gathering data using a Grounded Theory approach, which due to not meeting data saturation was analysed using Thematic Analysis. Four superordinate and 11 subordinate themes emerged from the data. The results of this analysis are discussed in the context of previous literature relating to mindfulness-based interventions for people living with dementia and their caregivers, previous adaptations, the impact of these interventions on dyadic wellbeing and dyadic conceptualisations of mindfulness. The clinical and research implications for these findings are also discussed. The third section consists of a set of appendices which relate to the systematic literature review and empirical paper. Within these appendices are a reflective and epistemological statement, which includes the primary researcher’s reflections on the journey of these pieces of research, and the philosophical position and underlying assumptions of the research.

This portfolio thesis has three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical report and supporting appendices. Part One: A systematic literature review in which empirical papers utilising Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for people with neurological conditions and acquired brain injuries are reviewed for effectiveness for psychological flexibility and wellbeing. A systematic database search identified sixteen studies to be reviewed. Methodological considerations of studies were considered, and their findings were examined using narrative synthesis. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. Part Two: An empirical paper combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore the implications of feeling personally responsibility for a brain injury. The quantitative component aimed to examine the relationship between perceived responsibility for injury and shame, and whether self-compassion moderated this relationship. The qualitative data was analysed thematically to explore participants’ experiences of shame, responsibility and self-compassion. The findings are discussed in relation to theory and implications for clinical practice and future research. Part Three: Appendices supporting the systematic literature review and the empirical paper, and a reflective statement on the research process.

This portfolio thesis is comprised of three parts: 1) a systematic literature review, 2) an empirical report and, 3) supporting appendices. Part one is a systematic literature review which aimed to explore healthcare system factors that are related to self-care in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. A systematic search of four key databases identified nineteen empirical papers for review. A narrative analysis of the evidence is provided and key factors relating to self-care are identified and summarised. A review of methodological quality and standard of reporting of reviewed studies is also provided. Implications for the field of research and for clinical practice are discussed. Part two is an empirical report of an original piece of research exploring compassion and shame in relation to self-care in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Quantitative analysis aimed to investigate whether shame has a negative effect on self-care, and whether compassion has a role in buffering the impact of shame. In an additional qualitative element, experiences of shame in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes were explored. The findings of the study are discussed in relation to previous literature and theory, and implications for future research and clinical practice are considered. Part three contains the appendices relating to the systematic literature review and the empirical report. It additionally includes an epistemological statement, and a reflective statement focussing on the research process.

This portfolio thesis consists of three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical paper and appendices relating to both research projects. The first section is a systematic literature review which aimed to synthesise research into resilience in relation to people living with dementia, caregivers and dementia dyads to understand the factors which maintain resilience and the extent to which a dyadic perspective is taken. Ten papers met the inclusion criteria and were synthesised using narrative synthesis, with findings categorised into individual, community and social resources. The findings suggest that people living with dementia and their caregivers utilise resources in order to maintain their resilience; however, research has failed to consider the dyadic perspective. The findings from the review are discussed in relation to the wider context of literature, with implications for future research discussed. The empirical research aimed to develop a theory and understanding of shared resilience between people with dementia and their spouses. The research aimed to develop a definition of resilience, understand what helps couples to develop and maintain their resilience, as well as consider the impact that resilience has on their relationship and well-being. The research used a qualitative Constructivist Grounded Theory approach interviewing 12 couples. Findings indicate that resilience was understood as continuing with a ‘normal’ life and that a couple’s relationship and shared sense of resilience was essential to continue with a ‘normal’ life. The findings from the review are discussed in relation to the wider context of literature, with implications for future research discussed. The importance of dyadic research within dementia is emphasised and the significance of the relationship in living well.

This portfolio thesis consists of three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical paper and a set of appendices. The thesis as a whole considers the meaning and experience of hope for clinicians and clients in psychological therapy, with emphasis on the context of waiting times. The first section is a systematic literature review that explores the role, experience and effect of client hope in psychological therapy. The review also considers the methodological quality of the evidence in this area. Thirteen papers were included and synthesised using a narrative approach. The findings are discussed within the context of the wider literature, including existing theoretical models of hope. The clinical and research implications for these findings are also considered. The second section is an empirical study that explores the meaning and experience of hopeful therapeutic relationships for clinical and counselling psychologists, in relation to long waiting times for therapy. The research used a qualitative method, gathering data using semi structured interviews, and analysed the data using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate and twelve subordinate themes emerged from the data. The results of this analysis are linked to literature relating to client hope and systemic models. The clinical and research implications for these findings are also discussed. The third section consists of a set of appendices which relate to both the systematic literature review and empirical paper. Included in these appendices are a reflective and epistemological statement, describing the primary researcher’s reflections on the research journey, and the philosophical position and underlying assumptions of the research.

This portfolio thesis consist of three parts; a systematic literature review, an empirical report and supporting appendices. Part one is a systematic literature review in which empirical papers that study the relationship between identity in adolescents and self-harm is reviewed. A systematic search of databases identified eight studies. A narrative synthesis of the findings was produced alongside the methodological quality of the articles. The implications of the review and directions for future research are discussed. Part two is an empirical paper which used a qualitative methodology to explore possible continua which exist in the narratives of university students who have experiences of self-harm. The paper used a categorical-content and holistic-form analysis to investigate the narratives. The findings are discussed and implications for future research proposed. Part three consists of the appendices which support the systematic literature review and the empirical paper. The appendices also include a reflective statement which focuses on the research process.

This portfolio thesis consists of three parts; a systematic literature review, an empirical study and a set of related appendices. The thesis as a whole considers the experience of stigma and factors that affect community integration following an acquired brain injury (ABI). The first section is a systematic literature review that explores the factors that affect reintegrating into the community after an ABI. It explores the relationship between numerous different patient, injury, psychological and external factors and community integration. Twenty two papers were reviewed and their findings synthesised using a narrative synthesis approach. Review findings were combined and integrated to generate new perspectives and highlight commonalities and differences within the literature. The findings indicate the complex and multi-dimensional relationship between numerous different factors and levels of community integration following brain injury. The majority of findings were inconsistent and with small effect sizes. However, the review provided interesting points for discussion and highlighted age, severity of injury and ethnicity as predictive factors of community integration. The findings are discussed within the context of wider literature, and recommendations for additional support and targeted interventions post injury are discussed. The second section of the portfolio is an empirical study that explores the experience of stigma in an acquired brain injury population. A positive psychology framework is adopted and the study also aimed to explore the dialectical nature of experiencing stigma, in line with second wave positive psychology principles. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to obtain rich information and experiences regarding individuals experience of stigma. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Six participants between the ages of 37 and 67 were interviewed, 3 of which had sustained a traumatic brain injury, 2 had experienced a stroke and one had contracted encephalitis. Three super-ordinate themes and 10 sub-themes emerged from the data. The findings indicate that participants perceived to experience stigma and discrimination from society but also experience those with a good understanding of their injuries. Post-traumatic growth in terms of developing resilience, empathy and empowerment to create social change was also evident. The interaction between both good and bad experiences may have contributed to the development of PTG and also highlights the dialectical nature of experiencing stigma. The findings are discussed in the context of wider literature and the implications for strategies to increase public understanding of brain injury and facilitate social contact between those with and without injuries. The third section consists of a set of appendices relating to both the systematic literature review and the empirical paper. A reflective statement and an epistemological statement can also be found within the appendices. The statements consider the researcher’s motivation behind the research, the positions and assumptions underlying the research and their experience of conducting the research.

This portfolio thesis comprises three parts: a systematic literature review, a quantitative empirical paper and supporting appendices. Part One is a systematic review of the literature regarding the role that social comparison plays in the relationship of social networking site use and wellbeing. This review builds upon evidence suggesting that social network site use impacts positively and negatively upon well-being, aiming to understand possible underlying processes. The psychological impacts of social comparison on social networking sites are also considered in the empirical investigation presented in the paper in Part Two. The empirical study focuses specifically upon appearance comparisons made when using social networking sites and considers the impacts upon body satisfaction. Furthermore, the empirical paper considers whether compassion is protective against the negative impacts on body image of appearance comparison when social networking. The empirical study used quantitative methodology and questionnaire data from social network site users to explore these relationships. Part Three comprises of appendices, including reflective and epistemological statements.