<p> The present study examined the influence of attachment style, social support, and family resiliency on levels of stress, depression, and anxiety in parents who have children with autism. The study concentrated on investigating the impact of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, social support from family and friends, and family resiliency on stress, depression, and anxiety in parents who have children with autism. One hundred and eighty-nine participants, who were parents of children with autism and belonged to various local and national parent support organizations, filled out an online survey provided to them via email, newsletter, or group forum. Results showed that attachment avoidance, social support from friends, and family resiliency are significant predictors of stress. Furthermore, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and family resiliency were indicated as being significant predictors of anxiety and depression. The findings from this study suggest that attachment style, family resiliency, and social support outside the family are important factors to consider in the psychological well-being of parents who have children with autism.</p>

<p> The aim of this study was to contribute to the literature on the relationship between client pretreatment expectations and psychotherapy attendance. It investigated the construct validity of the Milwaukee Psychotherapy Expectancy Questionnaire - Brief (MPEQ-B; Marsden, 2014) and the value of Therapeutic Relationship Expectations and Change Expectations as predictors of intake attendance and the number of therapy sessions attended. Adult clients (n = 102) calling to schedule an intake appointment at a local community mental health center completed a survey of pre-treatment expectations (MPEQ-B) and psychological distress (Outcome Rating Scale, Miller &amp; Duncan, 2000). Other variables (e.g., wait-time, previous therapy experience, number of sessions attended, and demographic variables) were collected from the clients' electronic medical record (EMR). Confirmatory factor analysis of the MPEQ-B supported a two-factor model, which was consistent with previous research (Marsden, 2013; 2014). Logistic regression revealed that client Change Expectations was the only variable to uniquely predict intake attendance. Pre-therapy attrition was more likely for clients with higher ratings of Change Expectations. Multiple regression results indicated that only previous therapy attendance was a statistically significant predictor of number of sessions attended. Overall, these findings advance the literature on client expectations as a multidimensional common factor related to client therapy attendance (intake session and total number of sessions attended). These results also highlight the need for programmatic research using the Milwaukee Psychotherapy Expectancy Questionnaire (MPEQ; Norberg, Wetterneck, Sass, &amp; Kanter, 2011) and MPEQ-B, as well as measures of other types of client expectations, to better understand the influence of client expectations on a range of clinical variables.</p>

Eating disorders and disturbed body image perceptions are becoming a growing problem in athletes. Similar to non-athletes, both female and male athletes have shown an upward trend in the development of eating disorders. The purpose of this research paper is to compile previous research on possible reasons why athletes develop eating disorders. Gender differences, outside influence, specific sports and certain personality characteristics are investigated more in depth to see the affects they have on athletes’ tendencies in developing eating disorders and negative body image.

<p> Mental health stigma, while common, leads to harmful consequences. There is some evidence to show that education reduces stigma. The reduction, however, is short term and only observed in those who are relatively open and flexible with their beliefs. Emerging research suggests that variables such as empathy, perspective taking, and psychological flexibility may be key processes in stigma reduction. Relational Frame Theory (RFT) provides a framework for understanding the development of stigma, the role of inflexibility in maintenance of stigma, and how education that targets flexibility might facilitate reduction in stigma. Applications of RFT have resulted in the development of the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure, a tool that can be applied for assessment of not only implicit stigmatizing attitudes, but also the flexibility with which they are held. The current study examined the impact of divergent educational experiences on mental health stigma using college students with various levels of formal education relevant to psychological difficulties both implicitly with self-report measures and explicitly with the IRAP. Also examined were empathy and psychological flexibility as moderators of the relationship between education and stigma. Data suggest that mental health bias is a function of education, but that didactic and experiential education may have differential effects. Increases in education and empathy factors were associated with reduced stigma measured explicitly; however, these variables did not correlate with the measure of implicit stigma. Additionally, when empathy moderated the relationship between education and implicit stigma, high levels of empathy were associated with increases in implicit stigma. Inconsistencies in results from implicit and explicit measures indicate a clear need for continued research in this area to more fully understand mental health stigma and to develop reduction interventions. </p>

<p> Psychological struggle seems to be an inherent part of the human experience. Unfortunately, the public attitude towards the obese focuses more on negative stereotypes (e.g., undisciplined, ugly, stupid, and lazy) than on the underlying psychological components that lie at the heart of the struggle. Negative stereotypes like these have an affect upon the way the obese think about themselves and may lead to self-stigmatization, which in turn may interfere with a person's attempt to gain control of their health and emotional well-being when eating is used to relieve the associated distress. Many people who struggle with their weight are found to be very rigid in their thought processes regarding food. Perhaps it is not the content of food and body-related cognitions that is important, but the inflexibility with which they are held.</p><p> The current study will investigate the relationships among avoidant eating behavior, perceived stigmatization, self-stigmatization, and psychological flexibility. Participants will be recruited from a population of obese individuals who are seeking help at a bariatric clinic, and from Facebook. Participants will initially complete a packet of questionnaires on psychological flexibility, perceived stigmatization, self-stigmatization, and eating behavior online. Then for seven days they will receive four text messages a day for seven days, three of which will provide them with a link to the Periodic Assessment of Stigmatizing Experiences, and one text message providing a link to the Daily Eating Survey. It is hypothesized that 1) Perceived stigmatizing experiences (i.e., a fear of enacted stigma from society) will predict disordered eating 2) Weight- and food-related psychological inflexibility will moderate the relationship between perceived stigmatizing experiences and disordered eating 3) Self-stigma (i.e., self-devaluation due to perceived stigmatization from society) will moderate the relationship between perceived stigmatizing experiences and disordered eating 4) Psychological inflexibility will predict increased perceived self-stigma.</p>

<p> Although researchers have focused a vast amount of research on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with diverse groups, few have addressed specific ethnic groups such as Puerto Ricans. This study explored the concerns of Puerto Rican mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD. This research addressed how factors such as acculturation and cultural beliefs within Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Model impacted the process that Puerto Rican mother experienced while obtaining treatment for their children diagnosed with ADHD. Utilizing a qualitative research method and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model, the narratives of ten mothers of Puerto Rican descent with children between the ages of 7&ndash;11 were questioned. The questions consisted of semi-structured interviews to assess how culture and acculturation within an ecological system impacted the process of obtaining mental health services by Puerto Rican mother's children for their children diagnosed with ADHD. </p><p> The results yielded eight themes that were embedded within Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System's theory that emphasized the importance of how Puerto Rican culture and acculturation level impacted the process of obtaining services. The mothers narratives exposed the barriers and the fears they faced as Puerto Rican mothers with children diagnosed with ADHD within the Unites States. Recommendation supported the need to address the barriers and fears that Puerto Rican mothers faced as they sought treatment for their children diagnosed with ADHD. Future research suggest further exploration of this research to empower this population and enhance the process to obtain treatment. </p><p> <i>KEYWORDS:</i> attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Puerto Ricans, acculturation,Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System Model, Latinos, treatment process, mothers</p>

<p> There is a limited amount of research in psychology regarding the impact of money on the therapeutic relationship. Although some research regarding clients&rsquo; transference vis-&agrave;- vis money exists, clinicians&rsquo; countertransference concerning money has been largely ignored. As money and discussion of fees often generate negative countertransference for clinicians, it is likely that this material will not be addressed in the clinicians&rsquo; personal work, and therefore it risks being harmful to the therapy process. The author&rsquo;s goal is to demystify the subject of money in the clinical setting and make it easier for clinicians to discuss money, fees, and the financial aspects of therapy with their clients, while minimizing the harmful impacts of therapists&rsquo; countertransference on the therapeutic frame. Using heuristic and hermeneutic methodologies, the author uses his own experiences as a nascent therapist to illustrate some ways for clinicians to address and minimize the negative impact of their money issues on their work. </p>

<p> The present study investigated the impact of intensity of Facebook use, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance on relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and self-esteem as perceived by individuals within heterosexual couples. One hundred and thirty-nine members of the social networking site, Facebook, who were currently involved in an exclusive, heterosexual relationship with a partner who was also a member of Facebook, completed an online survey in order to be included in the study. Results indicated that intensity of Facebook use was a significant predicator of sexual satisfaction, but did not significantly predict relationship satisfaction or self-esteem. In addition and consistent with previous literature, the current study found that attachment avoidance was a significant predictor of relationship satisfaction and attachment anxiety significantly predicted self-esteem. Given the lack of research in the area of Facebook use, the results from this study offer a platform for future researchers to investigate the complexities of the social networking site on face-to-face relationships.</p>

<p> The transcendent experience is a phenomenon that has long been studied and explored. First providing analysis of its researched content, triggers, and potential meaning, this thesis presents an alternative approach that examines the extent to which the transcendent experience is actually the invocation of an individual&rsquo;s unconscious. The author presents <i> aerobic green exercise,</i> or aerobic exercise within nature and the natural world, as a potential trigger for the transcendent experience, and investigates the concept of the runner&rsquo;s high as an expression of the transcendent experience. Through the author&rsquo;s personal examination, the methods of focusing and active imagination are presented as possible psychotherapeutic tools for clinical application. Using alchemical hermeneutics and heuristic methodologies, this thesis explores how aerobic green exercise might initiate a transcendent experience and also be utilized as a psychotherapeutic intervention. </p>

<p> The importance of reducing the use of psychiatric-mental health mechanical restraints has been the focus of clinical nursing practice. A hospital with two psychiatric-mental health units has demonstrated a sustained success related to reducing mechanical restraints. In this qualitative case study, nurses were interviewed to understand how the reduction of mechanical restraints on the psychiatric-mental health units impacts the practice culture and the perception of the psychiatric nurses toward a mechanical restraint-free practice. This study provided new knowledge related to evidence from the psychiatric-mental health nursing practice, themes of barriers, and facilitators toward a restraint-free practice. The participants describe the complexity of the nursing role, how the decision to use restraints is complex, the first hand experience of the nurse who was a part of the leather restraint process, that moving the restraints off the units did not make a difference, that the removal of the restraints from the building was not supported by the nurses. The barrier themes are current practice, medication, and patient acuity or behavior. The facilitator themes are philosophy, CPI implementation, practice or culture change, and medication. This is an innovative study on a restraint-free practice. The recommendations stem from the new information obtained from the evidence and themes and include further inquiry into the passion of nurses to avoid restraint, understanding personal style as well as interaction and bias, environmental alterations, and theme-based recommendations. The evidence and themes provide nursing and nursing leadership knowledge for application to other facilities that are considering a restraint-free environment.</p>