Counseling, Higher Education & Special Education Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2757

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Reciprocal Relations Between Perceived Stress and Literacy Achievement in School-Age Children Over Time
    (2021) Babaturk, Leyla; O'Neal, Colleen R; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Stress has a negative impact on academic achievement, but it is unclear whether achievement impacts stress. Most stress research utilizes a unidirectional design (e.g., stress affects achievement). Recent research has begun to examine cross-lagged models in which social-emotional variables and achievement affect one another; however, associations have typically been found at the between-person level of analysis. In contrast, within-person effects may provide information about the state- or trait-like nature of an individual’s, versus a group’s (between-person effects), growth over time. This short-term longitudinal study examined the direction of relations between the social-emotional variable of perceived stress and literacy among diverse elementary students. In addition, this study was the first to examine stress-literacy achievement relations at both the between-person and within-person levels. Participants included upper elementary students (N = 397; Mage = 9.61; 56% female; 57% Dual Language Learners; 12% Black, 6% Asian, 30% Latinx, 7% Multiracial; 43% White) from three schools. Measures were collected at three timepoints over four months, including student-reported perceived stress (two factors: stress-coping and stress-distress) and a literacy achievement performance task (Test of Silent Reading Efficiency and Comprehension, TOSREC). Latent variable path analyses revealed that stress-coping was a significant predictor of later literacy achievement. Reverse relations also held true with literacy achievement as a negative predictor of later Time 2 stress-distress, and a positive predictor of later Time 2 coping, when previous stress was not a control. In contrast, no significant stress-literacy achievement relations (i.e., direct, reverse, or cross-lagged) were found when a latent curve model was used at the residual level, which suggests that the relations between stress and literacy achievement were more trait-based than state-based for students across a short period of time. Results are discussed in the context of reciprocal and between-person versus within-person mechanisms of change between stress and literacy achievement.
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    Identity Conflict Among Religious Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: The Role of Coping Strategies on Psychological Distress
    (2021) Yeung, Jeffrey Garrick; Lent, Robert W; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Sexual minority people experience more negative physical and mental health compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people who also identify as religious and spiritual may experience additional negative health outcomes especially in the case that their religious and spiritual values, beliefs, and practices come into conflict with their sexual minority identity. Applying minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) and the integrative psychological mediation model (Hatzenbuehler, 2009), the present study takes an intersectionality approach (Crenshaw,1989) that examines the relationship between LGB and religious identity conflict and psychological distress and whether religious coping and discrimination-based (i.e., internalization and detachment) coping strategies meditate this link. Participants consisted of 469 religious LGB Christian adults in the United States who took an online survey. Results from a parallel multiple mediator analysis (Hayes, 2018) revealed that religious LGB identity conflict was indirectly related to more psychological distress via internalization coping, detachment coping, and negative religious coping. Unexpectedly, positive religious coping was not significantly related to the study variables, nor did it mediate the identity conflict and psychological distress link. Findings provide evidence for integration and application of intersectionality, minority stress, and psychological mediation theories to examine intersectional identity conflict between one’s LGB and religious identity, identity-specific coping meditators, and psychological distress. A discussion of the study results, limitations, and implications for future research and practice follows.
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    A Feminist Perspective on Coping with Interpersonal Stress in Chronic Disease
    (2016) Reeves, Elizabeth; Hoffman, Mary Ann; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The present study used a feminist framework to better understand how women with chronic disease cope with interpersonal, disease-related stressors. Specifically, it examined how gender-related stress, including traits (e.g., unmitigated communion) and relationship schemas (e.g., self-silencing) impact adjustment among women with Celiac Disease, and whether gendered coping processes, such as emotional approach coping, play a mediating or moderating role. Data was collected from 344 women with Celiac Disease through an online survey. Results demonstrate the importance of gender-related stress for psychological adjustment to CD among women. Findings suggest that although emotional approach coping may be a beneficial strategy when managing disease-related interpersonal stress, other forms of coping requiring interpersonal agency may be more important. Future research should investigate relationships between gender-related stress and problem-focused coping while considering the influence of disease-related factors such as time since diagnosis, symptom severity and symptom frequency.
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    A Social Cognitive Approach to Coping with Acculturative Stress in International Students
    (2015) Ezeofor, Ijeoma; Lent, Robert W; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The present study employed a cross-sectional design to test a model of coping with acculturative stress in an international student sample. Drawing from Lent’s (2004) social cognitive model of restorative well-being, several direct and mediated paths were hypothesized to predict (negatively) acculturative stress and (positively) life satisfaction. Behavioral acculturation and behavioral enculturation (Kim & Omizo, 2006) were also examined as predictors of coping with acculturative stress among international students. Using a self-report survey, participants’ ratings of acculturative stress, life satisfaction, social support, behavioral acculturation, behavioral enculturation, and coping self-efficacy were assessed. The results revealed that the variables of the model explained 16% of the variance in acculturative stress and 27% of the variance in life satisfaction. A final model, including the use of modification indices, provided good fit to the data. Findings also suggested that coping self-efficacy was a direct predictor of acculturative stress, and that behavioral acculturation and coping self-efficacy were direct predictors of students’ life satisfaction. Limitations, future research, and practical implications are discussed.
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    COPING WITH MULTIPLE STRESSORS: A CLOSER LOOK AT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG RACIAL MINORITIES
    (2015) Yang, Minji; Miller, Matthew J; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This study examined a comprehensive stress and coping model in a sample of 414 racial minority participants in the U.S. Specifically, this study looked at main effects: a) racism-related stress, b) financial stress, c) problem-solving coping, d) avoidance coping and interaction effects: e) racism-related stress and financial stress, f) racism-related stress and problem-solving, g) racism-related stress and avoidance coping, h) financial stress and problem-solving coping, and i) financial stress and avoidance coping in relation to psychological distress in a comprehensive model. A latent variable path analysis of the comprehensive model and post-hoc latent variable path analyses were conducted after diving the larger model into three smaller models. The results showed that racism-related stress, financial stress, and avoidance coping were significant predictors of psychological distress. Moreover, problem-solving coping worked as a significant moderator and stress-buffer between racism-related stress and psychological distress. An extensive literature review of conceptual and methodological elements of the study constructs are presented. Limitations of this study as well as future directions in research and clinical practice are also included.
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    Coping, social support, biculturalism, and religious coping as moderators of the relationship between occupational stress and depressive affect among Hispanic psychologists
    (2005-08-03) Maldonado, Leslie E.; Lent, Robert W; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This study investigated the degree to which coping behaviors, social support, biculturalism, and positive religious coping moderate the relationship between occupational stress and depressive affect. Research survey packets were sent to doctoral level Latino/a counseling and clinical psychologists with residence in the U.S., members of national or state psychological associations. Usable surveys were received from 580 participants for an overall return rate of 50%. Participants responded to the following instruments: Mental Health Professionals Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale short form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Job Content Questionnaire, Brief COPE, Brief RCOPE (religious coping), and the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale for Latinos short form. Analyses indicated that 13% of the variance in depressive affect is predicted by occupational stress. Coping strategies, positive religious coping, social support, and biculturalism collectively explained 13% of the variance in depressive affect. Specifically, coworker support (B = -.21, p < .001), total non-work support (B = -.20, p < .001), biculturalism (B = -.12, p < .01), and positive religious coping (B = .10, p < .05) made a statistically significant contribution to the variance in depressive affect scores. Analyses showed that interactions terms between occupational stress and coping strategies, work and non-work social support, biculturalism, and positive religious coping did not moderate the relationship between occupational stress and depressive affect. No increments in variance attributed to the product terms above and beyond main effects were found. Results revealed significant main effects for the predictor variables, except for positive religious coping, beyond occupational stress. Coping behaviors, work and non-work social support, and biculturalism were negatively associated with depressive affect regardless of the level of occupational stress. Results of the present study suggested that on average participants employed more problem-focused coping strategies than emotional-focused coping strategies. Analysis of participants' self-reported coping strategies indicated a wide variety of coping responses. The most frequently mentioned coping strategies were; social support, planning and active problem solving, work support, recreational or disengagement activities, and sports and exercise. Among the least endorsed or mentioned coping strategies were; acceptance, humor, and personal psychotherapy or counseling.
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    Romantic Attachment Styles and Coping Behaviors in Long-Distance Romantic Relationships
    (2004-04-30) Freitas, Gary Joseph; Hoffman, Mary Ann; Counseling and Personnel Services
    The purpose of the current study was to examine romantic attachment styles and approaches to coping among individuals presently involved in long-distance romantic relationships (LDRs). Those in proximal relationships (PRs) were also recruited for comparison purposes. Results revealed that those in LDRs were significantly younger, lived further apart from their partners, used less confrontation coping, and had lower levels of avoidance of intimacy than their PR counterparts. There were no differences in the proportions of the four romantic attachment styles represented in the LDR and PR sub-samples. For those in LDRs, secure individuals were more satisfied than participants in any other attachment category. Among those in LDRs who were insecurely attached, preoccupied individuals reported greater relationship satisfaction than fearful participants. For those in PRs, secure individuals were more satisfied than those in any other attachment category. Secure and preoccupied individuals in LDRs relied on their partners and others for social support to a greater degree than did fearful participants. Among PR participants, secure individuals reported the highest use of both types of social support. For the most part, fearful (and to a lesser extent preoccupied) individuals in LDRs tended to cope poorly. Different relationships were found among attachment styles and coping for those in PRs. The single best positive predictor of satisfaction for either type of relationship was level of partner-specific social support. This was followed by avoidance of intimacy (a negative predictor) for both LDRs and PRs, and confrontational and distancing coping for LDRs only. Distancing coping was actually associated with higher rates of satisfaction for those in LDRs, whereas confrontational coping tended to predict lower satisfaction. Finally, cluster analysis revealed six distinct clusters in both the LDR and PR sub-samples. Three of the LDR clusters had analogous PR counterparts. These included one cluster of individuals who rely almost entirely on their partners for support, one cluster of insecure and deeply unsatisfied individuals, and one cluster of anxious, confrontational but content participants. The other three sets of clusters were quite different for those in LDRs and PRs. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.