Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Adviser: Lisa A. Dieker. Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-136).

Background Chronic physical illness (CPI) is a prolonged, rarely cured condition, which often causes impairment of activities of a child’s or adolescent’s daily living. This thesis encompasses three cohorts of patients with CPI – diagnosed with diabetes, asthma or epilepsy. Psychological disturbances and difficulties experienced by young patients with CPI are common, and changes in the family environment are inevitable. Hence, from a health care perspective, three cohorts of CPI can give a frame of reference to guide our understanding on the psychological health of adolescents with CPI, and the disease impact on their life; to determine target groups for psychological interventions, and to identify important directions for health care development. Objectives The overall aim of the study was to assess the psychological well-being of adolescents with CPI in Northern Russia, as well as to identify factors of potential risk or protective significance for adolescents’ well-being. Methods The questionnaires covering different aspects of psychological well-being as behavior-emotional problems, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as well as family functioning were answered by the adolescents with CPI and their mothers, including the Child Behavior Check-List (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; I think I am; Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory for Adolescents (QOLIE-AD-48); Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire for Youths (DQOLY); Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ); Self-report Family Inventory (SFI); and Socio-Economic Status (SES) questions. Disease related clinical information was withdrawn from the pediatric outpatient clinic. The sample consisted of 148 adolescents with CPI identified from Arkhangelsk pediatric outpatient clinic records and their mothers. Comparative data were obtained from a group of 301 schoolchildren and their mothers. Results Results in Paper I showed certain differences in mental health of adolescents with CPI compared to healthy counterparts indorsed by mother’s reports alone, while self-reports by adolescents with CPI didn’t show any discrepancy in the level of behavior/emotional problems and depression compared to healthy peers. Most pronounced symptoms were found in adolescents with asthma and epilepsy associated with disease severity and gender. In the results of Paper II there were no significant differences found in self/mother reported family functioning of the total group with CPI versus controls. The perception of family functioning differed between the CPI groups and was associated to certain disease-related and non-disease factors. Paper III showed that adolescents with diabetes and asthma maintain positive self-esteem similar to or even higher than that of their healthy counterparts. Adolescents with epilepsy reported lower self-esteem compared to other CPI groups or controls. A diversity of factors contributed to self-esteem variation within the CPI groups. Paper IV provides evidence that adolescents with CPI maintained relatively moderate to high levels of HRQoL. The domains affecting HRQoL were related to both disease-specific (severity) and non-disease factors (gender and SES). Conclusions In the scope of the present thesis we assessed and described psychological well-being and family functioning of adolescents with chronic illnesses. Our results demonstrate generally low levels of behavior-emotional problems, depressive symptoms, and relatively high self-esteem, positive health-related quality of life, and successful family functioning in adolescent with CPI in Northern Russia. However, we conclude that there is a risk of mental health problems, particularly of internalizing nature, in adolescents with asthma and epilepsy. The significant risk factors associated with psychological well-being mediated by family functioning in CPI groups were single-parent household, child age, disease severity, child gender, family SES, and changes in the family life. High family competence and successful family functioning are indisputable protective factors for psychological well-being in adolescents with CPI.

Este estudo procurou investigar as evidências de validade de estratégias globais de avaliação do Desenho da Figura Humana (DFH) na identificação de problemas emocionais em crianças. Foram considerados os aspectos de validade de construto a partir de diferentes fontes de evidências para as medidas de qualidade artística, normalidade e diferenciação sexual. Definições operacionais gerais e um conjunto de figuras ilustrativas, diferenciadas por sexo e faixas etárias das crianças que produziram o desenho, foram desenvolvidos para cada uma das escalas, segundo a avaliação de três juízes com ampla experiência na avaliação de desenhos. Além do DFH, os instrumentos utilizados foram as Matrizes Progressivas Coloridas de Raven, o Child Behavior Checklist, a Escala de Identificação de Problemas, a Escala Infantil de Indicadores Emocionais do DFH e um Questionário Sócio-demográfico. A amostra constituiu-se de 198 crianças de idades entre 6 e 12 anos, sendo 100 em atendimento psicológico e 98 que não estavam em atendimento. Os DFHs foram avaliados por quatro juízes segundo as três escalas globais estudadas. Os resultados foram obtidos através de correlações parciais de Pearson, análises multivariadas de covariância e análises de covariância. A variável inteligência foi controlada em todas as análises. Observaram-se bons índices de fidedignidade entre os juízes e escores significativamente diferentes nas três escalas para os dois grupos de crianças. Os achados forneceram indícios da validade do DFH como instrumento de triagem, sendo adequado para diferenciar grupos clínicos de crianças daqueles com desenvolvimento normal. Por fim, sugere-se que mais estudos sejam realizados para que o DFH possa ser considerado uma ferramenta útil no contexto clínico da Avaliação Psicológica. / This study investigated the evidence of validity of global assessments of the Draw-a-person test (DAP) to identify children’s emotional problems. The aspects of construct validity were considered from different sources of evidence for measures of artistic quality, normality, and sexual differentiation. Operational definitions and illustrative figures, separated by sex and age groups of children who produced the draw were developed for each of the scales, according to the evaluation of three judges with extensive experience with the test. In addition to the DAP, the Colored Progressive Matrices of Raven, the Child Behavior Checklist, the School Problem’s Identification Scale, the Child Scale of DAP Emotional Indicators, and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire were used. The sample comprised 198 children aged 6 to 12 years (100 in psychological treatment and 98 non-clinical children). Four judges evaluated the DAPs using the three global scales. Analyses included Pearson partial correlations, analysis of covariance and multivariate analysis of covariance. The variable intelligence was controlled in each test. Good levels of reliability were observed across raters and significant group differences were observed in the three scales. The findings provided evidence of validity for the DAP as a screening tool, showing that it was able to differentiate clinical groups of children from those with normal development. Finally, we suggest that more studies should be carried out so that the DAP could be considered a useful tool in the clinical context of Psychological Assessment.

Este estudo procurou investigar as evidências de validade de estratégias globais de avaliação do Desenho da Figura Humana (DFH) na identificação de problemas emocionais em crianças. Foram considerados os aspectos de validade de construto a partir de diferentes fontes de evidências para as medidas de qualidade artística, normalidade e diferenciação sexual. Definições operacionais gerais e um conjunto de figuras ilustrativas, diferenciadas por sexo e faixas etárias das crianças que produziram o desenho, foram desenvolvidos para cada uma das escalas, segundo a avaliação de três juízes com ampla experiência na avaliação de desenhos. Além do DFH, os instrumentos utilizados foram as Matrizes Progressivas Coloridas de Raven, o Child Behavior Checklist, a Escala de Identificação de Problemas, a Escala Infantil de Indicadores Emocionais do DFH e um Questionário Sócio-demográfico. A amostra constituiu-se de 198 crianças de idades entre 6 e 12 anos, sendo 100 em atendimento psicológico e 98 que não estavam em atendimento. Os DFHs foram avaliados por quatro juízes segundo as três escalas globais estudadas. Os resultados foram obtidos através de correlações parciais de Pearson, análises multivariadas de covariância e análises de covariância. A variável inteligência foi controlada em todas as análises. Observaram-se bons índices de fidedignidade entre os juízes e escores significativamente diferentes nas três escalas para os dois grupos de crianças. Os achados forneceram indícios da validade do DFH como instrumento de triagem, sendo adequado para diferenciar grupos clínicos de crianças daqueles com desenvolvimento normal. Por fim, sugere-se que mais estudos sejam realizados para que o DFH possa ser considerado uma ferramenta útil no contexto clínico da Avaliação Psicológica. / This study investigated the evidence of validity of global assessments of the Draw-a-person test (DAP) to identify children’s emotional problems. The aspects of construct validity were considered from different sources of evidence for measures of artistic quality, normality, and sexual differentiation. Operational definitions and illustrative figures, separated by sex and age groups of children who produced the draw were developed for each of the scales, according to the evaluation of three judges with extensive experience with the test. In addition to the DAP, the Colored Progressive Matrices of Raven, the Child Behavior Checklist, the School Problem’s Identification Scale, the Child Scale of DAP Emotional Indicators, and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire were used. The sample comprised 198 children aged 6 to 12 years (100 in psychological treatment and 98 non-clinical children). Four judges evaluated the DAPs using the three global scales. Analyses included Pearson partial correlations, analysis of covariance and multivariate analysis of covariance. The variable intelligence was controlled in each test. Good levels of reliability were observed across raters and significant group differences were observed in the three scales. The findings provided evidence of validity for the DAP as a screening tool, showing that it was able to differentiate clinical groups of children from those with normal development. Finally, we suggest that more studies should be carried out so that the DAP could be considered a useful tool in the clinical context of Psychological Assessment.

Este estudo procurou investigar as evidências de validade de estratégias globais de avaliação do Desenho da Figura Humana (DFH) na identificação de problemas emocionais em crianças. Foram considerados os aspectos de validade de construto a partir de diferentes fontes de evidências para as medidas de qualidade artística, normalidade e diferenciação sexual. Definições operacionais gerais e um conjunto de figuras ilustrativas, diferenciadas por sexo e faixas etárias das crianças que produziram o desenho, foram desenvolvidos para cada uma das escalas, segundo a avaliação de três juízes com ampla experiência na avaliação de desenhos. Além do DFH, os instrumentos utilizados foram as Matrizes Progressivas Coloridas de Raven, o Child Behavior Checklist, a Escala de Identificação de Problemas, a Escala Infantil de Indicadores Emocionais do DFH e um Questionário Sócio-demográfico. A amostra constituiu-se de 198 crianças de idades entre 6 e 12 anos, sendo 100 em atendimento psicológico e 98 que não estavam em atendimento. Os DFHs foram avaliados por quatro juízes segundo as três escalas globais estudadas. Os resultados foram obtidos através de correlações parciais de Pearson, análises multivariadas de covariância e análises de covariância. A variável inteligência foi controlada em todas as análises. Observaram-se bons índices de fidedignidade entre os juízes e escores significativamente diferentes nas três escalas para os dois grupos de crianças. Os achados forneceram indícios da validade do DFH como instrumento de triagem, sendo adequado para diferenciar grupos clínicos de crianças daqueles com desenvolvimento normal. Por fim, sugere-se que mais estudos sejam realizados para que o DFH possa ser considerado uma ferramenta útil no contexto clínico da Avaliação Psicológica. / This study investigated the evidence of validity of global assessments of the Draw-a-person test (DAP) to identify children’s emotional problems. The aspects of construct validity were considered from different sources of evidence for measures of artistic quality, normality, and sexual differentiation. Operational definitions and illustrative figures, separated by sex and age groups of children who produced the draw were developed for each of the scales, according to the evaluation of three judges with extensive experience with the test. In addition to the DAP, the Colored Progressive Matrices of Raven, the Child Behavior Checklist, the School Problem’s Identification Scale, the Child Scale of DAP Emotional Indicators, and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire were used. The sample comprised 198 children aged 6 to 12 years (100 in psychological treatment and 98 non-clinical children). Four judges evaluated the DAPs using the three global scales. Analyses included Pearson partial correlations, analysis of covariance and multivariate analysis of covariance. The variable intelligence was controlled in each test. Good levels of reliability were observed across raters and significant group differences were observed in the three scales. The findings provided evidence of validity for the DAP as a screening tool, showing that it was able to differentiate clinical groups of children from those with normal development. Finally, we suggest that more studies should be carried out so that the DAP could be considered a useful tool in the clinical context of Psychological Assessment.

M.Ed. / Unfortunately, many teachers seem not to be aware of the role played by emotions, especially the negative ones, in the teaching and learning situation. As a result, many teachers attribute poor scholastic performance indiscriminately to either laziness or stupidity ( Pringle, 1986: 77) and other factors that are exclusive of emotional problems. Because of these negative attitudes, children with emotional problems may find it difficult to learn effectively. If teachers are, therefore, not trained to teach children with emotional problems, children's learning and overall development may continue to suffer. A secure emotional base is a pre-requisite for effective learning (Winkley, 1996: 1-2 ). A learner whose emotional life is taken care of, stands a better chance of making academic progress over those who are emotionally deprived or abused.Teachers, therefore, need to be equipped with knowledge of the children's emotional life, especially the strategies for teaching children with emotional and behavioural problems. This knowledge is of vital importance if their attitudes towards children with emotional and behavioural problems is to be changed to the benefit of these children, because knowledge forms part of beliefs and beliefs are the cornerstone of attitudes ( Hewstone, Stroebe, Codol, & Stephen, 1988: 143 ). Successful learning may be enhanced by identifying the unproductive attitudes held by teachers and by inculcating positive ones by equipping them with knowledge about the emotional states of children with emotional and behavioural problems. Against this background, the problem to be researched in this study can be stated as follows : What knowledge do teachers have with regard to emotional and behavioural problems of learners? What are the perceived causes of emotional and behavioural problems in learners, and what are the attitudes of teachers with regard to these learners? What guidelines can be developed for teachers in order to enhance their teaching of these learners?

The behavioral and educational literature illustrate the effectiveness of frequency-based training, a procedure derived from Precision Teaching, in improving the reading skills of students with learning and developmental disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of frequency-based training versus accuracy training in the acquisition and retention of Dolch words (sight word vocabulary) in students with emotional/ behavioral disorders. The study accounted for practice effects by yoking the number of timings run in the frequency building condition with the accuracy-only condition by staggering the introduction of each condition. Results indicate that frequency-based training was a more effective and time-efficient approach in teaching reading skills to students with emotional/behavioral disorders.

The purpose of this study was to assess the stress, strain and coping levels of public school teachers of seriously emotionally disturbed students. A secondary purpose was to determine if relationships existed between dependent variables stress, strain and coping and teacher experience and teaching assignment variables. The sample consisted of five hundred teachers of seriously emotionally disturbed students in the southeast region of the United States. The usable return rate was 62% with N = 295. Respondents completed a demographic information survey which provided data for variables sex, year of birth, highest degree earned, degree area, experience in education, community size and present special education teaching setting. The Occupational Environment Scales, Personal Strain Questionnaire and Personal Resources Questionnaire developed by Samuel Osipow and Arnold Spokane (1981) were used to collect data on stress, strain and coping levels. Frequencies, means, standard deviations, medians and modes were computed for all variables. Pearson correlations and t-tests were calculated for teacher experience variables and stress, strain and coping. Chi-square and ANOVA procedures were completed for teacher assignment variables and the dependent variables. The major finding of the study was that the majority of public school teachers of the seriously emotionally disturbed had low to average stress and strain levels, and above average coping skills. The sample of teachers of seriously emotionally disturbed students who participated in this study do not appear to be as stressed and strained as samples reviewed in other recent studies. This may be due to the nature of the sample. Older teachers were found slightly less stressed, less strained and possessing slightly higher coping skill levels than younger teachers. There were no significant relationships found between teaching experience variables and dependent variables of stress, strain and coping. No significant relationship between stress and teaching assignment variables, community size and teaching setting resulted. A relationship was found between strain levels and community size and teaching setting. There was evidence of a relationship between coping skills and community size (urban, suburban, rural), but no relationship was found between coping skill levels and special education teaching setting (resource, self-contained, center, center with therapy). / Ed. D.

The aim of the qualitative study was to explore and describe the utilisation of Gestalt Play Therapy in Occupational Therapy intervention with traumatised children. An applied study was conducted and the case study strategy was used with a flexible design. Objectives for the study included conducting literature reviews regarding the profile of the traumatised child and Occupational Therapy and Gestalt Play Therapy intervention with the traumatised child. The empirical study included data collection and analysis, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews. The gathered data was analysed with the use of Creswell's Data Analysis Spiral. The empirical data showed that Occupational Therapists do utilise Gestalt Play Therapy in their intervention with traumatised children by drawing on their combined knowledge base of Gestalt Play Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapists then conduct a holistic assessment and treatment aims are set according to the assessment with a focus on providing holistic intervention. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Divorce is part of every society, it is a world-wide phenomena. Divorce touches the lives of many people by breaking up families, causing personal individual trauma and affecting our children – the next generation. Consequences of this phenomenon are important, as what we do today will affect negatively or positively, the youth of tomorrow. Taken this fact into consideration one would think it logical to minimise the impact of this phenomenon on all those involved. Firstly, this study will attempt to identify the most prominent emotional indicators of a child’s drawing in order to focus therapy in those areas in an attempt to minimise or lessen the negative impact the child experiences. Secondly, the intervention strategies/guidelines researched, will be made available to parents, professionals and lay helpers alike in order to understand, support and positively facilitate the healing process within the child who is experiencing a family divorce. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)