Background. While a large body of research has examined eating disorders (EDs) from a pathological perspective, little is known about factors that facilitate the recovery process. Objective. The purpose of the current study is to determine whether six dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB) predict disparate aspects of recovery. Methods. Participants (N = 132; 93.2% female; µBMI = 23.91) with self-reported ED histories completed an online survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether Ryff's (1989) six dimensions of PWB—autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations with others, purpose in life, personal growth, and self-acceptance—alongside the ED subtypes participants had been diagnosed with throughout their lives, predict the following three aspects of recovery: 1) whether one subjectively classifies oneself as being fully recovered; 2) whether one meets objective criteria for full or partial recovery; 3) whether one's subjective perception of one's recovery status aligns with one's objective classification. Results. Evidence of multicollinearity prevented the incorporation of all six dimensions of PWB in the regression analyses, apart from self-acceptance and autonomy. Higher levels of self-acceptance were associated with an increased likelihood that participants: 1) subjectively believed that they were fully recovered; 2) met objective criteria for full or partial recovery. Lower levels of self-acceptance were associated with higher odds of accurately perceiving oneself to have an active ED. Conclusions. Self-acceptance upholds a pervasive impact on the recovery process. The necessity of targeting this construct in ED treatment is discussed. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester 2017. / February 23, 2017. / Eating Disorders, Perception, Psychological Well-Being, Psychotherapy, Recovery, Self-Acceptance / Includes bibliographical references. / Deborah Ebener, Professor Directing Thesis; Martin A. Swanbrow Becker, Committee Member; Shengli Dong, Committee Member.

Relationships have been previously established between trauma exposure and suicide, particularly when the trauma exposure occurs during childhood, and when the event results in symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Interpersonal types of trauma (i.e., trauma within a human relationship) have been found to exhibit stronger relationships with both suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) than noninterpersonal trauma (e.g., natural disaster). More specifically, interpersonal events that are physically assaultive exhibit stronger relationships with suicide-related outcomes than other types of trauma. Existing research has compared individual trauma events; however, there is a need to understand the differences between overarching types of trauma, and to explore the relationships between interpersonal trauma, age at time of exposure, PTSD, and suicide-related outcomes. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS; Joiner, 2005) theorizes that death by suicide occurs when an individual possesses perceived burdensomeness (PB), thwarted belongingness (TB), and acquired capability for suicide (AC). Empirical evidence for IPTS is emerging, and relationships have been established between PB, TB, and AC with suicide-related outcomes. While interpersonal trauma exposure has been speculated to increase risk for PB, TB, and AC, there is a need to examine these relationships further, and to identify the interactions between trauma type and IPTS constructs. The first aim of the present study was to explore the relationships between trauma type (i.e., interpersonal assaultive, interpersonal non-assaultive, and noninterpersonal), age at time of trauma exposure, PTSD symptomology, and suicide-related outcomes (i.e., SI, SA, and severity of suicide-related outcomes (SSRO; a single variable that encompasses both SI and SA)). Given the existing relationships noted in literature, it was hypothesized that all variables would be significantly related to all suicide-related outcomes, and predictive of SSRO. Specifically, it was hypothesized that interpersonal assaultive trauma would demonstrate a stronger relationship with SSRO than the other trauma types. The second goal of the present study was to explore the relationships between trauma type and the IPTS constructs of PB, TB, and AC (Joiner, 2005) with suicide-related outcomes, as well as to explore interactions between IPTS constructs and trauma type. It was hypothesized that each IPTS construct would be significantly related to all suicide-related outcomes, and predictive of SSRO. Based on the conceptual understanding that assaultive trauma events increase habituation to painful experiences (Joiner, 2005), it was further hypothesized that interactions would be found between interpersonal assaultive trauma and AC. The current sample included 515 individuals. Of this sample, 426 individuals (82.7%) endorsed a traumatic event that met the minimum threshold of stressfulness to be included in the primary analyses. Participants completed an online survey that included a Demographic Questionnaire, the Trauma Experience Questionnaire (TEQ), a Worst Event Sampling Questionnaire, an Event Stressfulness Rating item, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers, Litz, Keane, Palmieri, Marx & Schnurr, 2013), a questionnaire regarding history of SI and SA, an abbreviated form of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ; Van Orden, Witte, Gordon, Bender, & Joiner, 2008), and finally, an abbreviated form of the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale (ACSS; Van Orden et al., 2008). Participants’ qualitative reports of their “worst traumatic experience” were coded by a trauma-focused research team into one of the three trauma types: interpersonal assaultive, interpersonal non-assaultive, and noninterpersonal. Statistical analyses included bivariate correlational analyses and a series of hierarchical regression analyses. Regression analyses examined the relationships between trauma type, age at time of trauma exposure, PTSD symptomology, PB, TB, and AC with SSRO, as well as the interactions between trauma type and IPTS constructs. Results indicated that age at time of trauma exposure and PTSD symptomology were both significant predictors of SSRO, but that trauma type did not predict SSRO when the aforementioned variables were controlled for. In regard to IPTS constructs (Joiner, 2005), PB was determined to be a positive predictor of SSRO after controlling for age at time of exposure and PTSD, when interaction effects were also included in the model. However, TB and AC were both found to have significant interactions with interpersonal assaultive trauma. Implications of this study include the clinical focus on elevated PTSD symptomology, younger age at time of trauma exposure, and feelings of burdensomeness in the assessment and treatment of individuals with history of trauma exposure. Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of this research as well as limited generalizability due to characteristics of the participants. This study further contributes to empirical evidence for IPTS by supporting the relationship between constructs and suicide-related outcomes, and by being the first known study to explore the interactions between IPTS constructs and trauma type. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2018. / June 8, 2018. / Interpersonal Trauma, IPTS, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Suicide, Trauma / Includes bibliographical references. / Angela I. Canto, Professor Directing Dissertation; Stephen J. Tripodi, University Representative; Martin A. Swanbrow Becker, Committee Member; Debra S. Osborn, Committee Member.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This study was designed to test two hypotheses: I. Dominant and Deferent persons derive more satisfaction from working in a cooperative social climate than from working tn a competitive social climate. II. Dominant and Deferent subjects derive more satisfaction from working with co-workers whose needs are complementary to their own needs than from working with co-workers whose needs are similar to their own needs. These hypotheses were deductions from a conceptual framework based on Murray's need system. The task used in this experiment was a modified version of the Yerkes memory-reasoning task. It required the subjects to determine which switch positions on two switch boxes had to be selected in order to get all eight lights on identical panel boxes lighted once and only once. Ninety-six male college students were selected as subjects on the basis of scores they had obtained on a quasi-sociometric questionnaire designed to measure manifest needs Dominance and Deference. Forty-eight Dominant and forty-eight Deferent students were selected and assigned to groups so that three types of dyads were formed: one type composed of two Dominant persons, a second type composed of two Deferent persons, and a third type composed of one Dominant and one Deferent person. The first two types represent dyads where the needs of the co-workers are similar. The third type represents a dyad where the needs of the co-workers are complementary. For each type of dyad, half of the pairs were given cooperative and half were given competitive instructions. Thus six experimental conditions were formed. Assignment of subjects to conditions was determined by matching individuals and dyads on the basis of abstract-reasoning ability. Precautions were taken to prevent prior knowledge of co-worker, time when task was performed, and manner of administering instructions from affecting the results of this study. An end-of-session questionnaire was used to measure the dependent variable, satisfaction. Four types of satisfaction were measured: general satisfaction, satisfaction with the co-worker, satisfaction with the social climate, and satisfaction with the task. A 2 x 2 x 2 x 4 analysis of variance design was used to analyze the data collected. The first hypothesis was supported. The second hypothesis was not supported; in fact the relevant mean values were in a direction opposite to the one predicted. There were a number of significant findings which had not been predicted from the conceptual frame-work . It was discovered that Dominant persons consistently derive greater satisfaction than do Deferent persons and that the major contributors to the difference in level of satisfaction for these two groups are their reactions to the social climate and their reaction to the co-'trorkers. Dominant persons are more satisfied when they cooperate than when they compete regardless of whether the needs of the co--worker are similar to or complementary to their own. The Deferent person, however, derives more satisfaction from competition, but only if he is competing with another Deferent person; he prefers cooperation with either type co-worker to competition with a Dominant co-worker. In order to determine whether the unexpected findings occurred as a result of procedural shortcomings in the study, three procedural checks were made. These checks revealed that: (1) there were definite indications that subjects did interact during the experimental sessions in a manner consistent with their measured manifest needs, (2) one-third of the subjects indicated that they had not worked in a manner consistent with instructions given to establish the social climate and (3) over one-half of the subjects indicated that they had not correctly perceived these instructions. Findings two and three above led this writer to conclude that the results of this study can be accepted only if it is ascertained that the same results would have been obtained if the apparent misunderstandings and misperceptions of the social climate instructions had not existed. It was pointed out that such determination can be made only after future research had been conducted. Recommendations were made for such research where primary attention would be directed toward eliminating the procedural shortcomings of the present study. It was pointed out that specific theoretical modifications would be necessary in order to explain the results of future studies 'tvhich are consistent with the results of the present study. / 2031-01-01

<p> The purpose of this research study was to determine the effects of Fostering Resilience&trade; (FR), a new integrative relapse prevention group protocol for improving relapse risk, internalized shame, and psychological well-being in adults with substance use disorders (SUD). This study also sought to identify any relationship among relapse risk, internalized shame, and psychological well-being. It is the first study to investigate the new FR manualized program model compared to treatment as usual (TAU). The FR model was created based upon direct client experience, the supposition of the intrinsic role shame plays in SUD, and the corresponding belief in the essential value of implementing shame reduction techniques for improving treatment outcomes. Participants were 43 adults with SUD (19 FR and 24 TAU) seeking outpatient treatment. All participants received the 8-week intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment, with the FR group receiving 16 sessions of the manualized FR relapse prevention group protocol in lieu of other TAU group options. Assessments were administered pre and post-intervention. </p><p> Results indicated that the FR treatment group produced a significant reduction in relapse risk (<i>p</i> = .002, <i>ES</i> = .825), shame (<i>p</i> = .004, <i>ES</i> = .763), and psychological well-being (<i>p</i> = .008, <i>ES</i> = .679) from baseline to post-intervention, while the TAU comparison group produced a non-significant improvement in relapse risk (<i>p</i> = .209, <i> ES</i> = .264), shame (<i>p</i> = 055, <i>ES</i> = .409) and psychological well-being (<i>p</i> = .088, <i> ES</i> = .456). Correlation results indicated highly significant correlations between all the dependent variables. All correlations dropped post-intervention, although remained significant. The strongest relationship was found between shame and relapse risk at baseline: ALL (<i>n</i> = 43, <i> r</i> = .880), FR <i>n</i> = 19, <i>r</i> = .869), TAU <i>n</i> = 24, <i>r</i> = .908). This preliminary study establishes support for the new FR model as a beneficial treatment for significantly improving relapse risk, internalized shame, and psychological well-being in adults with SUD. It also provides important knowledge and insight regarding the critical nature of shame and its role relative to relapse risk and psychological well-being in those with SUD.</p><p>

<p> This thesis explores the evolution of consciousness through the lens of the relationship between masculine and feminine from the Neolithic era to the present and the impact on pregnancy and birth within the current patriarchy. Using heuristic and hermeneutic methodologies, the author"s experience through her pregnancy is explored as an example of the often dysfunctional and disempowering interplay between masculine and feminine in the modern era. The author specifies possible avenues of healing, integration, and awakening into a new state of consciousness. In an overarching traumatized collective culture that is characterized by the patriarchal system, how does the current medical model of childbirth, governed by the same rules of the patriarchal system in which it was born, distort the feminine experience? What is the impact of being pregnant and having a baby within this cultural paradigm on humanity at large as well as on individuals including mothers and babies? </p><p>

<p> Words are a human medium for relaying any and all psychic states, from mundane to profound, and as a medium of description language also is considered an archetype. In the practice of psychotherapy the practitioner and client must find common linguistic ground in order to collaborate effectively and facilitate the therapeutic process. This thesis utilizes hermeneutic, alchemical hermeneutic, and heuristic methodologies&mdash; interweaving mythology, philosophy, psychology, and literature&mdash;as a means of emphasizing the poetic nature of the soul and a multifaceted approach to what James Hillman referred to as "soul-making." The research is guided by the principal question: How does language shift the imaginative landscape and deepen experience? Hermes is present in this work as a mythological figure as well as the archetypal representation of shape-shifting, uncertainty, and the ability to move in and out of literal and nonliteral realms, emphasizing the importance of metaphor in the therapeutic encounter.</p><p>

<p> The cost of the misuse of drugs is significant. The impact is felt across multiple systems across America and is covered mostly by federal, state, and local governments. Women comprise a significant portion of the persons using illicit drugs. Treatment is an effective way of reducing substance misuse. However, research into the efficacy of treatment for women lag that of men. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that women receiving substance abuse treatment from a man had shorter stays in treatment and poorer outcomes than those who had a female counselor while in treatment. Phenomenological and relational-cultural theory (RCT) was used both as the design and conceptual lens to examine the experiences of 6 women, 18 and older, who had completed substance abuse treatment with a male as a primary counselor. Collection of data occurred through semistructured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Thematic analysis yielded five main ideas: (1) rapport-building skills, (2) genuineness, (3) empathy; (4) flexibility; and (5) acceptance. In addition to this, the women were questioned to whether they were offered a choice of a man or woman for a counselor. The result is that participants indicated that having a man as a counselor gave them an opportunity to interact with a positive role model, however, they suggested that women be offered a choice in the gender of counselor and accommodated whenever possible. The findings of this study will be made available to stakeholders of substance abuse treatment programs and in public health journals to serve as a basis for further research. The implication for social change is that the information contributes to sustaining women in treatment and improving treatment outcomes. </p><p>

Parental or caregiver death, especially in childhood, can have long lasting emotional ramifications in an individual's life. When this early loss is followed by significant life events such as pregnancy, and losses such as miscarriage, the bereaved woman experiences considerable emotional impact. The present study explores the relationship between parental or caregiver death and miscarriage on depressive symptoms and grief. Specifically, the study examines whether a history of parental or caregiver death affects depressive symptoms and grief following miscarriage such that miscarrying women with parental or caregiver death have higher levels of depressive symptoms and grief than their counterparts who have not experienced parental or caregiver death. The study further examines whether the difference in the level of depressive symptoms between miscarrying women with and without a history of parental or caregiver death is greater than the difference in the level of depressive symptoms between pregnant and non-pregnant/community women with and without a history of parental or caregiver death. Results indicate that miscarrying women who have suffered parental or caregiver death experience more depressive symptoms than miscarrying women who have not suffered parental or caregiver death; pregnant women who have suffered parental or caregiver death prior to age eighteen experience more depressive symptoms than pregnant women who have not suffered parental or caregiver death prior to age eighteen. However, the difference in the level of depressive symptoms in miscarrying women with and without as history of parental or caregiver death is not greater than the difference in the level of depressive symptoms in pregnant and non-pregnant/community women with and without a history of parental or caregiver death. No association was found between parental or caregiver death and grief in miscarrying women. Results are discussed in the context of psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-based explanatory models.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the lived experience of adult daughters whom had fathers incarcerated when they were in middle childhood as a result of a drug related offense. According to statistics, the United States criminal justice system currently houses nearly 2.3 million individuals, an increase of nearly 500 percent in the last 30 years. While African-Americans make up approximately 13 percent of the current population in the United States, they make up nearly half of the incarcerated population. Many believe that the War on Drugs has contributed to the increase in the numbers of individuals incarcerated and to the sentencing disparities which exist. In 1980, approximately 41,000 individuals were incarcerated due to a drug related offense and estimates indicate that this number is now nearly half a million. With the staggering numbers of individuals who are currently incarcerated, many have begun to examine the collateral consequence of incarceration which is the effect on family members. Research conducted relating to family members has focused on the physical, behavioral, as well as psychological effects of the incarceration on the family member. A primary area of study related to how incarceration impacts families has focused on children of incarcerated parents and statistics estimate that nearly ten million children have experienced having a parent incarcerated at some point in their lives. In addition, approximately 90 percent of incarcerated parents are fathers and Black children are eight or nine times more likely than White children to have an incarcerated parent. Minimal research exists which allows the child to share the experience in their own words and no research exists specifically examining the experience of children solely impacted by the War on Drugs. The current study was exploratory in nature and examined the experience of and effects of paternal incarceration as experienced by daughters whose fathers were incarcerated when they were in middle childhood as a result of a drug related offense. Interviews were conducted with 10 participants and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was utilized to analyze the collected data. IPA is a type of qualitative data analysis which provides in depth examination of human lived experience. During the analysis five superordinate themes were identified which included The Need for Transparency- “I just wanted to know the truth”, The Broken Family Unit- The Father’s Absence, The Stain of Incarceration – “Life was never the same”, Buffers and Barriers to Adjustment, and Becoming Independent – Fear of Relying on Others. In addition, subthemes were identified within the superordinate themes which captured the uniqueness of the participant experience of paternal incarceration. Results revealed some similarities in experience and also confirmed how different the experience of individuals can be who experience paternal incarceration. Implications for practice are also discussed.

<p> This phenomenological study examined first-generation Latina women who developed a bicultural strategy when choosing professional careers. A qualitative research methodology sought to analyze the participants&rsquo; academic and career planning journey, the challenges they encountered, the support they received from their families, and how utilizing a bicultural strategy aided them in attaining their career goals. Five Latina women were interviewed with ages ranging from 30 to 50. Several key findings were found to be congruent with research literature such as acculturation influence on ethnic identity, ethnic identity as protective factors from discrimination, and the influence of traditional cultural values in pursuing college careers. Data was analyzed through the lens of developmental and acculturation theories. The findings revealed the participants&rsquo; demonstrated bicultural competence in how they negotiated with their families for support, and how they separated from their families influence to support their own professional goals. Family support was a significant factor for the participants&rsquo; successful navigation of career goals. Minimal family support revealed participants compensating by achieving higher standards for themselves. Based on the results of this study it is recommended that academic counselors and psychotherapists recognize the difficulty of Latina women living between two worlds and make efforts to increase their sensitivity of cultural gender role pressures that influence their career decisions. </p><p>