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- Title
- PREDICTORS OF FUNCTIONAL SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR ADULTS WITH BRAIN INJURY
- Creator
- Batchos, Elisabeth
- Date
- 2017, 2017-07
- Description
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Extensive research has demonstrated social support is a protective factor in the recovery process for people with disabilities. Following...
Show moreExtensive research has demonstrated social support is a protective factor in the recovery process for people with disabilities. Following acquired brain injury (ABI), individuals’ social networks dwindle, support declines, and isolation increases; thus, social support is a critical variable in combating these issues during the rehabilitation process. This study draws on the tri-dimensional model of social support to examine predictors of functional support for adults with ABI. Specifically, this study examines the impact of problem solving characteristics and structural (e.g., network composition) and appraisal (e.g., network helpfulness) support variables on two types of perceived functional support outcomes: emotional and instrumental support. Participants included 170 adults with ABI from across the United States who completed an online survey about their social and community experiences. Separate hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine predictors of two dependent variables: perceived emotional and instrumental support. Four variable sets were entered: (1) demographic and injury characteristics; (2) problem solving variables (approach-avoidance style, problem solving confidence); (3) structural support variables (number of roles in informal and formal networks, Internet use); and (4) appraisal support variables (perceived helpfulness of informal and formal networks). Together these variables accounted for 44% of the variance in emotional support outcomes (R² = .44, p < .001) and 34% of the variance in instrumental support outcomes (R² = .34, p < .001). Both analyses showed a similar pattern of predictors—namely, problem solving confidence and quality and quantity of informal network ties. However, Internet use was a significant predictor only of instrumental support while helpfulness of one’s formal network only predicted emotional support. Findings from this study highlight the common and unique variables that promote different types of functional support. Psychosocial functioning is often a meaningful goal for long-term recovery from ABI, and these findings can be used to target the development of psychosocial interventions designed to increase emotional and instrumental support. Such interventions would address a gap in many current rehabilitation programs by focusing on strategies designed to increase specific types of social support. Further, interventions to enhance social support promote a valuable rehabilitation construct, as social support has repeatedly been associated with improved outcomes in other aspects of health and wellness for people with ABI.
Ph.D. in Psychology, July 2017
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- Title
- RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS: PSYCHOLOGICAL SEQUELAE AND COPING
- Creator
- Grathouse, Heidi Richelle
- Date
- 2016, 2016-05
- Description
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Recurrent pregnancy loss has received little attention in the research literature despite being recognized as a source of distress. This study...
Show moreRecurrent pregnancy loss has received little attention in the research literature despite being recognized as a source of distress. This study examined 126 participants who were either in a recurrent pregnancy loss group (as defined by the ASRM guidelines of 2 or more miscarriages occurring within the first trimester of pregnancy) or a nonpregnancy loss community group. This study tested the hypothesis that depression and anxiety symptoms, as measured by the IDAS would be different for the group of persons that had experienced RPL as compared to the community sample. It was expected that individuals who had experienced RPL would have significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety than the community group. This hypothesis was based upon the finding that elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms are common, and major depressive disorder has been reported at a rate of 10-50% following a miscarriage (Conway & Russell, 2000; LaRoche, et al. 1984). The findings failed to support this hypothesis. The second hypothesis stated that coping styles, as measured by the COPE, would be related to levels of distress as measured by the IDAS. Specifically, active-emotion-focused coping and avoidant coping would be related strongly to negative affect, consistent with research by Folkman and Lazarus (1986), in which it was shown that depressed individuals used relatively less problem-focused coping than non-depressed individuals. Results from this study partially supported this hypothesis and the previous findings.
Ph.D. in Psychology, May 2016
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- Title
- THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL REPUTATION AND COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS ON APPLICANT POOL COMPOSITION AND ETHNIC GROUP TEST SCORE DIFFERENCES IN PUBLIC SAFETY SELECTION
- Creator
- Anderson, Rebecca C.
- Date
- 2017, 2017-05
- Description
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Efforts to increase minority hiring rely on having a large pool of qualified minority candidates. The current study examined the effects of...
Show moreEfforts to increase minority hiring rely on having a large pool of qualified minority candidates. The current study examined the effects of police department reputation (as reflected in news stories), workforce demographics, and community demographics (i.e., the proportion and segregation of minorities in the community) on minority representation among applicants to police jobs, as well as adverse impact on a police selection test. Only negative department reputation predicted test score, although it was not related to adverse impact. However, the size of group differences did vary significantly across police departments. Implications for future research and for practice are discussed.
Ph.D. in Psychology, May 2017
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- Title
- CUSTODIAL GRANDPARENTING IN YOUNG GRANDMOTHERS: EXPLORING THE STRESS PROCESS MODEL AND FORMS OF ADAPTIVE COPING
- Creator
- Coleman, Michelle Leoma
- Date
- 2012-10-17, 2012-12
- Description
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Custodial grandparents, adults who are caring for their grandchildren on a full-time basis, are becoming more prevalent in the United States....
Show moreCustodial grandparents, adults who are caring for their grandchildren on a full-time basis, are becoming more prevalent in the United States. Although literature examining the occurrence and impact of these families is common in the gerontology field, only recently has this issue been called to attention in young to middle-aged caregivers (early custodial grandparents). Early grandparents, aged 30-45 years, constitute only a small portion of the custodial grandparents; however, they have been suggested to be at the greatest risk for the negative outcomes associated with providing custodial care. Research has indicated, however, that coping strategies may effectively buffer against potential negative outcomes. Little research has been conducted to examine the utilization and benefit of employing specific coping strategies in young custodial grandparents. The current study explored the stress process model and forms of adaptive coping in community sample of 95 young custodial grandmothers (<45 years) raising their grandchildren. The utilization and effectiveness of various forms of coping on caregiving grandparent depression, well-being, and health status were examined. Coping was explored as a potential moderator in a modified stress process model. In addition, the role of subjective social support as a mediator of grandparent stress and subsequent ratings of depression, well-being, and health were evaluated. Results demonstrated that young custodial grandmothers experienced parenting stress levels equivalent to their older counterparts, however, neither stress nor negative appraisals of caregiving led to negative outcomes. Subjective Social Support did not mediate the relationship between stress and caregiver outcomes. Additionally, study results indicated that caregiver appraisals were x not significant mediators of stress and outcomes. Findings provided evidence for the buffering effect of both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping.
PH.D in Psychology, December 2012
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