UMD Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3
New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.
More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.
Browse
114 results
Search Results
Item Effectiveness of a Brief Behavioral Smoking Cessation Intervention In A Residential Substance Use Treatment Center(2009) White, Thomas James; Smith, Barry D; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States (American Cancer Society, 2008). Despite decades of awareness on the dangers of cigarette smoking, many smokers have been unable to successfully quit. One population with little access to smoking cessation treatments is inner city drug abusers in residential treatment centers. Smoking rates among polydrug users in treatment approach 100% (Burling & Ziff, 1988), and half of those treated for alcohol or substance abuse will die of smoking-related illnesses (Hurt, et al., 1996). Nonetheless, a recent survey of residential substance abuse treatment centers found that only 31% of centers provided smoking cessation programs (Fuller, et al., 2007). The relative scarcity of smoking cessation programs offered at such centers is alarming. A residential substance-abuse center setting is, theoretically, an ideal location for the implementation of a smoking cessation program, due to the available resources (Bernstein & Stoduto, 1999). Successful completion of a smoking cessation intervention during drug treatment increases illicit drug abstinence rates by 25% at one year (Prochaska, Delucchi, & Hall, 2004). Nonetheless, studies of smoking cessation programs in residential treatment centers have typically showed low rates of success (Friend & Pagano, 2005), although these programs have typically utilized the group modality and not individualized, one-on-one treatment (Currie, Nesbitt, Wood & Lawson, 2003). It is important to measure the effectiveness of smoking cessation programs delivered in a one-on-one modality in residential treatment centers. The smoking cessation intervention employed in the present study was based on prior behavioral interventions. The effectiveness of this intervention on smoking cessation and short-term (one-month) relapse were assessed. Goodness-of-fit analysis revealed significantly greater rates of point-prevalence smoking reduction or cessation in the active treatment condition compared with the placebo condition; however, when smoking cessation rates were examined alone, there was no significant difference in cessation rates across the two conditions. No sex differences were found in smoking cessation or reduction rates across conditions. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that sex (being male) and nicotine dependence contributed most significantly to CPD following quit day.Item The Role of Provider-Role Ideology and Consistency in Couple Communication(2010) Brenneman, Jessica Lynn; Leslie, Leigh A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study investigated how problem solving and conflict in couples' communication is affected by their beliefs about provider role ideology, and the consistency between their beliefs and their actions. It was predicted that couples who have the same provider-role ideology and couples who are consistent in their behavior and beliefs will use more problem solving and less hostile conflict behaviors than couples who are unmatched in their beliefs or inconsistent in beliefs and behavior. Contrary to predictions, no relationship between ideology, consistency, and communication was found. However, the results did show a significant relationship between women earning a large portion of the household income and greater amounts of hostile conflict in the couple communication. The implications for future research and clinical applications are discussed.Item Associations Between Paternal Psychopathology and Conduct Problems in Children with ADHD(2009) Mintz, Abigail D.; Chronis-Tuscano, Andrea; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Parental psychopathology has consistently emerged as an important risk factor for negative developmental outcomes in children with ADHD; yet, this literature has focused almost exclusively on mothers. The few studies that do focus on fathers have identified significant associations between paternal psychopathology and child conduct problems (CP). This study sought to replicate these findings among families of children with ADHD and to extend prior research by considering paternal involvement as a potential moderator. Direct relationships between paternal psychopathology and child CP were not found. However, paternal involvement moderated the relationship between paternal ADHD and child CP. For involved fathers, these two variables were positively correlated, which suggests that children whose fathers are both involved and display psychopathology may be at higher risk for concurrent CP.Item Reducing Repetitive Thought in Generalized Anxiety Disorder(2010) Ericson, Sara Kate; Hoffman, Mary Ann; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study evaluated two computerized interventions intended to reduce the frequency of negatively-valenced repetitive thought and negative emotions that accompany these thoughts in college students prescreened for elevated levels of anxiety. The current study also tested the moderating effects of participants' tendency toward different types of repetitive thought, specifically rumination and worry, on outcomes including the amount of time spent discussing the thought, positive affectivity and negative affectivity. The rumination intervention was created for this study and based on goal progress theory, whereas the worry intervention was adapted from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Findings revealed no moderating effect of the tendency to engage in a specific type of repetitive thought. Instead, participants who received the worry intervention spent less time focusing on their thought and used less negative emotion words during a post-intervention verbalization period than those who received the rumination intervention regardless of the general tendency toward rumination or worry.Item The Influence of Inhibited Expression of Anger, Perceived Control by Partner, and Withdrawal Cognitions on the Association between Conflict and Relationship Dissolution(2010) Jimerson, Kirsten Elizabeth; Epstein, Dr. Norman; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Although there has been a large amount of attention on partners' behavior during conflict and its connection with relationship dissolution, little is known about the individuals' internal experiences during conflict that are associated with relationship instability. The current study investigated whether three internal experiences, the suppression of anger, perceived control by partner, and thoughts about withdrawal, play roles in the relation between conflict and dissolution of couple relationships. The study used assessment data from 69 couples who sought therapy at an outpatient therapy clinic, serving an ethnically and socio-economically diverse population. Analyses tested the main effects of the internal experience variables and their interactions with level of relationship conflict as predictors of steps taken toward relationship dissolution. Findings indicated that the internal experience variables did not play the anticipated moderating role, but they were found to be partial mediators in the relation between conflict and relationship dissolution.Item Depression in One or Both Partners and the Efficacy of Couple Therapy(2010) Juzaitis, Leanne Marie; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Although considerable research has been conducted on common factors affecting individual therapy, little research has investigated common factors in couple therapy. The present study examines depression in one or both partners as one of the potential common client factors affecting couple therapy. The study uses data from 55 couples who sought therapy for relationship issues at a large university-based family therapy clinic that serves an ethnically diverse population. The results suggest that, at least within the range of depression represented in this couple and family therapy clinic sample, there is no difference in therapy outcome between couples experiencing mild depression and those with minimal to no depression. However, there was some evidence that therapy was less effective when the male partner suffered from depression. This study is important in redirecting the attention of couple therapists to males' depression as opposed to the traditional focus on females' depression.Item An Initial Assessment of the Convergent Validity of the Negative Symptom Rating Scale: The Relationship Between Behavioral Codings of Expressed Facial Affect and Clinical Ratings of Blunted Affect(2009) Baker, Bryann Renee; Blanchard, Jack J.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that represents a significant public health burden. No treatments are FDA approved for negative symptoms of schizophrenia, primarily because there is no valid, reliable measure for negative symptoms. A new negative symptom measure, the Negative Symptom Rating Scale (NSRS), is in the initial phases of validation. The current study assesses the convergent validity of the scale by examining the relationship between the NSRS and expressed facial affect. The study also sought to clarify the relationship between expressed facial affect and functioning. The results revealed a significant relationship between expressed facial affect and the NSRS subscale of blunted affect, as predicted. However, there was not a significant relationship between expressed facial affect and functioning. These results provide initial evidence for the convergent validity of the scale. Currently, there is an ongoing research study to further assess the reliability and validity of the NSRS.Item Examining the Effect of the LET'S ACT Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression on Substance Abuse Treatment Dropout(2009) Magidson, Jessica F; Lejuez, Carl W.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Despite the prevalence of depression among substance users and the negative impact of depressive symptoms on substance abuse treatment outcomes, few interventions targeting depression have been developed to meet the needs of depressed substance users, particularly in low-income urban areas. The current study aimed to replicate and expand upon promising preliminary findings for the use of a brief behavioral activation approach [Life Enhancement Treatment for Substance Use (LET'S ACT; Daughters et al., 2008)] to treat depression in the context of inner-city residential substance abuse treatment. Main extensions to the previous study include a comparison of LET'S ACT to a contact-time matched control treatment, Supportive Counseling (SC), and a more definitive evaluation of the effect of LET'S ACT on substance abuse treatment dropout. Results indicated that compared to SC, participants receiving LET'S ACT evidenced significantly lower rates of substance abuse treatment dropout and depressive symptoms, as evidenced by a significant treatment x time interaction with the change in self-reported and clinician-rated depressive symptoms from baseline to the 2-week follow up, as well as significantly higher rates of behavioral activation, as evidenced by a significant treatment x time interaction with scores on the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) from pre- to post-treatment. This study builds on preliminary evidence for LET'S ACT as a short-term behavioral treatment for depression in residential substance abuse treatment and offers initial support for the effect of LET'S ACT on substance use outcomes.Item Latino parents' perceptions of, and response to, child Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder: An ecological perspective(2009) Diaz, Yamalis; Chronis-Tuscano, Andrea; Zambrana, Ruth E.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Attention and behavior problems occur at high rates among Latino children in the United States; however, Latino children are less likely than children from other racial/ethnic groups to receive treatment for these problems. Efforts to understand and address these disparities should include research to understand how Latino parents perceive and respond to child behaviors within an ecological framework, as broad contextual factors are known to influence parenting and help-seeking. To this end, the present study utilized grounded theory methodology to analyze in-depth interviews conducted with a community sample of 25 ethnically-diverse Latino mothers of varying levels of socioeconomic status (SES). The primary aims for the study were: (1) To examine parental understanding and perceptions of DSM-IV ADHD and ODD symptoms; (2) To explore and describe self-reported parenting and help-seeking responses to clinical levels of child ADHD and ODD behaviors, as depicted in hypothetical behavioral vignettes; and (3) To explore general childrearing values and socialization goals among Latino mothers. Each of these aims were examined from an ecological perspective by considering demographic and psychosocial factors, including SES, level of acculturation, and maternal levels of depression and social support. Four major findings emerged. First, Latino mothers did not experience significant difficulty understanding DSM-IV symptoms of ADHD or ODD and the way they perceive these behaviors is largely consistent with the respective clinical disorders. Second, parental responses to clinical levels of ADHD and ODD behaviors were linked to external versus internal causal attributions across both disorders. Third, parental socialization goals, which reflected strong values on educational/professional goal attainment and positive interpersonal skills, were associated with reported parental responses to ADHD and ODD, respectively. Finally, there were trend differences in results by level of SES. The theoretical model that emerged from this study extends existing models related to parental beliefs, parenting, and help-seeking behavior. Findings suggest important clinical implications with respect to assessing ADHD and ODD among Latino children and engaging Latino parents into parenting and school-based interventions. Results of this study will inform future research and intervention-development efforts ultimately aimed at increasing mental health service use and improving outcomes among Latino children.Item FILM-INDUCED EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPRESSION IN SOCIAL ANHEDONIA(2009) Carreno, Jaime T.; Blanchard, Jack J; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Social anhedonia is an important feature of schizophrenia and it is a promising indicator of latent liability for the disorder. Although social anhedonia is defined as an affective construct, only a limited number of studies have investigated the affective and behavioral correlates of the construct. Studies that have looked at these variables have been limited by a lack of appropriate measures of affiliation, control for contributions of current depressive symptoms and inclusion of both male and female participants. The current study sought to extend past research by addressing the limitations listed above. A cohort of psychometrically identified social anhedonics and normally hedonic controls were identified from a large college sample. The participants completed a clinical interview and a series of questionnaires. The clinical interviews focused on current and past mood disorders, schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum personality disorders. The questionnaires focused on self-reports of current depressive symptoms and general tendencies to express emotion. The participants were then presented with a series of affect eliciting films clip during which their emotional expressions were recorded. After each film, they were asked to self report their affective state. Contrary to past studies and current hypothesizes social anhedonics did not differ from controls in terms of emotional experience or emotional expression. The lack of findings could be as a result of small sample sizes, lack of validated self-report measures of emotional experience, or the nature of the limited sample of behavior collected among other study limitations.