<p> Severely mentally ill adults are a historically underserved population that tends to be highly resistant to taking psychiatric medications. Although medications generally help to decrease the severity of symptoms and lower risk of relapse/hospital readmission, they also negatively impact sense of self and identity, and lead to unwanted side effects. Non adherence frequently leads to involuntary hospitalizations, where a medication adherence intervention is needed. In order to make a case for a medication adherence intervention, regression analyses were conducted on an inpatient psychiatric sample of 178 adults diagnosed with severe mental illnesses in order to determine predictive relationships between symptom severity upon admission, frequency of hospital readmission, medication adherence/non-adherence, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Results yielded insignificant findings, which is informative and even compelling due to medications being considered the gold standard in inpatient psychiatric care. Results were limited by medication adherence being measured dichotomously, and confounds related to ethnicity, family involvement, and substance abuse. Post-hoc analyses yielded significant relationships between pretest symptom severity and length of stay, as well as significance between medication non-adherence and elevations on the symptoms: Conceptual Disorganization, Grandiosity, Suspiciousness, and Motor Retardation, which indirectly support concerns about severely mentally ill adults not taking medications due to concerns related to autonomy and distrust of providers. Implications and future research and practice are also discussed.</p>

<p> Same-sex couples are affected by the social and political climates in which they live, as these create the difference between acceptance and legalization, and discrimination and prohibition, of their relationships. This contingence is made increasingly impactful by the privileges and protections afforded to married couples by the federal government; same-sex couples, along with other couples that choose not to, or cannot, marry, are excluded from these benefits. Following the June 26, 2013 ruling that Section Three of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, was unconstitutional, same-sex couples were given access to over 1,100 federal protections and benefits and supported legally for the first time. My research explored the lived experiences of same-sex couples following this milestone in order to develop an understanding of the psychological and relational effects of the DOMA repeal on same-sex couples. This understanding may assist therapists working with these couples by increasing comprehension of their context and the effects of the DOMA repeal on their internal and relationship functioning. By understanding these aspects, therapists may work more capably and sensitively with same-sex couples, and be more informed regarding potential problems these clients may bring to therapy. </p><p> Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed in order to gather comprehensive data on the topic, utilize the strengths of both methodologies, and enhance the results of each method with the other. A single instrument, an online survey, was utilized. The quantitative paradigm provided numerical data on the experiences of same-sex couples following the DOMA repeal, as well as differences in experiences based on variance in state laws. Under the qualitative paradigm, phenomenological methodology was utilized to explore and convey participants' experience of the repeal in their own words. Responses were collected via survey to allow for more anonymity for participants, as well as a more representative sample of same-sex couples across the country. Qualitative and quantitative questions were included on the survey; responses were analyzed separately, and then merged during interpretation. </p><p> Implications for clinical practice derived from this study are reviewed, as well as implications for advocacy work and directions for further research. It is hoped that this study will provide a better understanding of same-sex couples' lived experiences following the repeal of DOMA's Section Three, and provide implications for therapists working with these couples. </p>

<p> This exploratory repeated-measure study investigated the presence of stress reactions and coping mechanisms following traumatic upper limb injuries in 70 Arabic-speaking adults in Kuwait and the influence on hand impairment status. Data were collected twice, at the time of admittance to the hospital, and at the time of therapy conclusion. The presence of overall stress reaction, avoidance stress reaction, intrusive stress reaction, and the use of coping mechanisms have been confirmed at both admittance to the hospital and at the conclusion of therapy. The expression of overall stress reaction at the conclusion of therapy was slightly less than what the participants experienced at admittance to the hospital, though the difference was not significant. Use of coping mechanisms, on average, increased between the time of admittance to the hospital to the time of therapy conclusion. A positive correlation was established between hand impairment and each of the following: overall stress reaction, the avoidance and intrusion subscales, and problem solving-based coping. Furthermore, using baseline variables, problem solving-based coping and muscle/nerve tear diagnosis were related to how participants perceived their hand impairment at the time of therapy conclusion. This indicated that sustaining a muscle/nerve tear diagnosis is related to perceiving greater hand impairment than other types of injuries when patients are discharged from therapy. The findings also indicated that the higher the perception of hand impairment the more coping mechanisms participants had to use. A closer examination of the regression and correlation analyses revealed that when stress reaction increased, participants tended to report greater hand impairment and an increased use of coping mechanisms. Suggesting that subjects may have resorted to the use of problem-solving coping to manage the stress reaction they were experiencing. Giving rise to the possibility that problem-based coping may act as a mediator in the relationship between stress reaction and hand impairment. Thus, it is important for therapists to be aware of the presence and the relationship between these factors, and need to take into consideration stress reactions and the use of coping mechanisms when devising treatment plans for their patients to optimize recovery status. </p>

<p>Depression is a serious disability around the world that can cause harm to a person's physical and mental well-being. Little research has been done on the effects of social cohesion on depression. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive survey design to analyze a sample from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to determine whether or not there was a relationship between how often a person feels depressed and social cohesion factors: (1) willingness of people in the neighborhood to help each other, (2) trust in people in the neighborhood and (3) doing volunteer work or community service in the past year. </p><p> Using, Chi-square analysis, it was determined that these three social cohesion variables showed a significant relationship with how often a person feels depressed. Having substantial social networks may act as protective barriers to stress, fear, and lack of control. These protections have positive impacts on depression and depressive symptoms. </p>

<p> The present study examined the possible relationship between sexual orientation, stigma consciousness, and intimate partner violence reporting (IPV). The study focused on the influence of sexual orientation on decision to report, reasons for reporting, and history of IPV. The study explored the relationship between stigma consciousness and decision to report, reasons for reporting, history of intimate partner violence, and ability to identify discriminatory reasons in reporting decisions and who IPV was reported to regarding same-sex IPV. Twenty-two participants filled out a demographic questionnaire and a self-made qualitative survey regarding IPV experiences/reporting. Those who experienced same-sex IPV filled out a modified stigma consciousness questionnaire. Results showed sexual orientation and stigma consciousness were not significant factors regarding decision to report, reasons for reporting, and history of IPV among opposite-sex and same-sex IPV. Exploratory and overall results suggest a possible correlation between stigma consciousness and same-sex IPV reporting.</p>

<p> Indirect exposure to a traumatic event is associated with the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Indeed, emerging research demonstrates that exposure to media coverage of violent acts has the potential to cause PTSD symptoms. Theoretical conceptualizations for the development and maintenance of trauma- and anxiety-related disorders suggest that avoidance behaviors of trauma-related stimuli may ultimately lead to the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms through negative reinforcement processes. Assessing learned associations between environmental stimuli and anxiety may help identify those at risk for the development of PTSD such that those individuals with more learned associations between environmental stimuli and anxiety may engage in greater avoidance behaviors. A highly publicized traumatic event occurred in Lafayette, Louisiana in the summer of 2015. Following the trauma, the community held several vigils and slogans, and banners were displayed throughout the city to show support for the victims. For some individuals, these community support stimuli may have been associated with comfort; however, some may have developed associations between these community support stimuli and the traumatic event and anxiety. As such, the current study sought to examine the learned associations between community support stimuli and comfort and anxiety. Additionally, this study sought to explore the relation between these learned associations and avoidance behaviors, as well as PTSD symptoms. Overall, participants exhibited greater implicit associations between community support stimuli and anxiety stimuli than with community support stimuli and calm stimuli (<i>M</i> = 0.10, <i>SD</i> = 0.31, 95% CI [0.05, 0.16]). These associations did not predict PTSD symptoms or avoidance behaviors. Findings indicate that although community support stimuli were associated with anxiety, these associations may not contribute to the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Rather, community support stimuli may serve to facilitate effective coping strategies through exposure to anxiety- and fear-eliciting stimuli.</p><p>

<p> On any given day, one in 28 children loses a parent to incarceration, creating a higher risk for mental health concerns and antisocial and criminal behavior. This study examined negative outcomes, such as antisocial behavior and criminal behavior, of children who have experienced a parent&rsquo;s incarceration. A closer look was taken at the effects of mix timing incarceration, in and out of prison, on children. There was also an analysis on the influence of intergenerational criminal behavior on a child&rsquo;s wellbeing and long-term outcome. The results of this study indicated that a parent incarcerated with mix timing during their children&rsquo;s childhood and adolescence leads to a higher risk of mental health concerns in the minors. Depression was significantly higher in children with a history of parent imprisonment (<i>M</i> 54.6, <i>SD</i> 14.8) in comparison to children with a stable household (<i>M</i> 46.3, <i>SD</i> 9.6). All effect sizes showed that parental imprisonment with mix timing was associated with higher rates of child mental health concerns. Furthermore, findings showed that parental imprisonment was associated with higher rates of antisocial or criminal behavior among children. Children with imprisoned mothers reported being convicted for criminal activity at more than double the rate of the control group. Meanwhile, a significantly higher proportion of inmates had a history of paternal imprisonment (39%) than the control group (7%). As for aggressive and antisocial behavior, the odds ratio for children with parental imprisonment was 2.2 (<i> CI</i>= 1.6-3.0) for boys and 1.7 (<i>CI</i>= 1.3-2.4) for girls. The results of the study provide insight and awareness of the increasing numbers of children falling into a pattern of intergenerational incarceration, as well as mental health concerns and antisocial or criminal behavior. This dissertation provides evidence of the need for resources, awareness, and further prevention.</p><p>

<p> The researcher used phenomenological psychological analysis to explore the experiences of recovery from childhood psychosocial trauma of seven adult participants through the use of Experiential Reframing (ER). ER is a psychotherapeutic modality of clinical significance because it may allow patients to overcome the amygdaloidal <i>hijacking</i> and distorted meanings incident to traumagenic triggers in a relatively short-term intervention. The recollected experiences of participants&rsquo; before, during and after interventions were collected through semi-structured interviews. Study results were then tied to neurobiological research that might correspond with the phenomenological experiences of participants. Before treatment experiences of participants were marked by phobic relationships to anxiety and other emotions. The protocol served to reveal to patients the relationship between past experiences and current dysfunction. Post treatment, participants had new experiences of trigger events, specifically an ability to stay present to current experience, theorized to be the result of successful enough reconfiguring of autonomic system responses to certain somatosensory-based cues. The phenomenology of recovery was that there was a sudden shift that opened up the ability to deploy an observing ego perspective in the aftermath of (previously) trauma triggering events, but that the process was quite effortful for the first few times. While the experience of effortful mediation of experience in the aftermath of a trauma trigger never went away entirely for participants the process did become easier. Phobic positions with respect to emotions and anxiety dissolved, latent anxiety lowered, and lives opened up.</p>

<p> This study examined peer victimization, specifically indirect peer victimization and cyber victimization, in a sample of 311 college fraternity and sorority students at a large, public university in the southwestern United States. Of specific focus was the relationship between peer victimization&mdash;both within fraternity and sorority groups and between fraternity and sorority groups and outside members&mdash;and co-occurring psychological stress (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress). The potential mediating roles of group identity and campus connectedness were also examined. This study utilized the social psychological theory of Social Identity Theory to predict the relationships between the aforementioned variables. Results indicated that a majority of college fraternity and sorority students (58%) have experienced at least one instance of indirect peer victimization since being initiated into their respective organization. Collectively, the majority of respondents reported low levels of peer victimization and high levels of group identity and campus connectedness. As hypothesized, peer victimization was significantly and positively correlated with stress. In addition, higher ratings of within-group peer victimization were related to lower ratings of group identity. However, ratings of between-group peer victimization were not significantly related to ratings of group identity, which did not support the hypothesis that there would be a significant and positive correlation between the two. </p><p> It was also found that campus connectedness mediated the relationship between peer victimization and Stress. Specifically, campus connectedness served as a protective factor from stress. Alternately, group identity did not protect against stress. Lastly, a specific subgroup of participants was identified as experiencing significantly high levels of peer victimization. Participants designated as "Victims" were significantly more likely to report ethnic minority status, be male, and be a fifth-year college student. Moreover, these students reported significantly higher levels of stress, and lower levels of group identity and campus connectedness. The implications of these findings for university and educational settings are discussed.</p>

<p> The prevalence of sexual harassment among college women has been reported to range from 33% to 97% (Klein, Apple, &amp; Khan, 2011; Yoon, Funk, &amp; Kropf, 2010) across the lifespan. In any one year of college, the prevalence of sexual harassment reported by women ranges from 33% to 57% (Crown &amp; Roberts, 2007; Huerta, Cortina, Pang, Torges, &amp; Magley, 2006). The severity and frequency of sexual harassment has been found to be related to reports of psychological distress (Nielsen &amp; Einarsen, 2012), feelings of shame (Yoon et al., 2010), anxiety and depression symptoms (Murdoch, Pryor, Polusny, &amp; Gackstetter, 2007), and social isolation (Pershing, 2003). These consequences of sexual harassment are concerning given the association between depression, isolation, and suicidality (Boardman, Grimbaldeston, Handley, Jones, &amp; Willmott, 1999; DeWall, Gilman, Sharif, Carboni, &amp; Rice, 2012). While there are numerous studies documenting the negative consequences experienced by women who are sexually harassed, little is known about the relationship of sexual harassment to the more severe negative outcomes of suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors and what variables might facilitate this hypothesized relationship. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore whether the experience of sexual harassment is related to increased suicidality and if this hypothesized relationship is mediated or moderated by other factors such as an individual&rsquo;s response style and/or degree of connection to or isolation from others.</p>