http://hdl.handle.net/1803/211 2013-05-25T13:56:59Z 2013-05-25T13:56:59Z McMillan, Jessica http://hdl.handle.net/1803/5266 2013-05-20T00:14:58Z 2013-04-19T05:00:00Z

Title: Peer Victimization and Its Adverse Effects on Self-Schema in Children and Adolescents Authors: McMillan, Jessica Abstract: Our current study builds on Beck’s cognitive model of depression by testing whether peer victimization gives rise to depressive schemas in children and adolescents. Specifically, we created a model stating that chronic peer victimization affects the construction of self-cognitions and adds negative information to the content of self-schema, in turn predisposing for depression. Stemming from a larger 2-year, 3-wave longitudinal study, our experimental study yielded a sample of elementary and middle children who were either chronically peer victimized (n = 110) or those who were not (n = 105). Using self-reports and a self-referent encoding task, this study yielded four major findings: (1) all forms of chronic peer victimization were positively associated with students’ self-reported negative self-cognitions, (2) all forms of peer victimization were negatively related to students’ self-reported positive self-cognitions, (3) relational and verbal peer victimization were related to a decrease in or eradication of the positive memorial bias, and (4) the association between peer victimization and some indicators of depressive self-schemas was stronger for relational and verbal peer victimization than for physical peer victimization. Clinical implications and future research are also elaborated upon in this study.

2013-04-19T05:00:00Z Clinton, Sarah http://hdl.handle.net/1803/5082 2012-04-27T19:57:06Z 2012-04-10T05:00:00Z

Title: The Role of Childhood Trauma in Bipolar Disorder Authors: Clinton, Sarah Abstract: The relationship between childhood trauma and Bipolar Disorder was investigated by analyzing Childhood Trauma Questionnaires of participants with Type I or Type II BD. Due to the small sample size, data were not found to support hypotheses that higher levels of childhood trauma are correlated with a higher incidence of BD Type I or psychotic features, or that there were sex differences within childhood trauma exposure that correlated with sex differences in the presentation of BD Type I versus Type II. Results show a strong statistically significant relationship between minimalization/denial subscores and total CTQ scores, which indicates the possibility that some BD patients who denied experiencing childhood trauma may minimalize the effect possible trauma played in their development of BD. Description: This project was designed with the intention of exploring the relationship between childhood trauma and bipolar disorder. It was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for PSY296B, Honors Thesis, under the direction of Professor Meg Saylor.

2012-04-10T05:00:00Z Borgschulte, Claire E http://hdl.handle.net/1803/4816 2011-06-19T00:04:07Z 2010-04-06T05:00:00Z

Title: Relation between parent and child depression: Sex, age, pubertal status, and parent-child conflict as moderators Authors: Borgschulte, Claire E Abstract: Children of depressed parents are at increased risk for developing depression themselves. Children’s sex, age, pubertal development, and parent-child conflict all have been shown to be related to depressive symptoms in children. The current study examined the relation between parental depression and children’s depressive symptoms, and explored possible moderators including children’s sex, age, pubertal development, and parent-child conflict. Participants were 227 parent-child dyads; of these, 129 parents were in treatment for depression (high risk); the remaining 98 parents were lifetime free of depression (low risk). Linear regression analyses revealed that high-risk children reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than low-risk children. Sex significantly moderated the relation between risk and children’s depressive symptoms, such that high-risk girls reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than low-risk girls. Pubertal development also was a significant moderator, whereas age was not. More advanced pubertal development was associated with higher depressive symptoms in the high-risk group, but not in the low risk group. Finally, the relation between risk and children’s depressive symptoms also was moderated by parent-child conflict; the relation between parent and child depression was stronger in high as compared to low conflict dyads. Thus, children of depressed parents who were female, more advanced pubertally, or had greater parent-child conflict may be at increased risk for depression and therefore should be targeted for intervention Description: PSY 2990: Honors Research, Dr. Craig Smith. This honors thesis focuses on the relation between parental depression and children's depressive symptoms. It investigates whether this relation is strengthened by sex, age, pubertal status, or parent-child conflict.

2010-04-06T05:00:00Z Hudson, Kelsey http://hdl.handle.net/1803/4805 2011-05-03T00:03:03Z 2011-05-02T05:00:00Z

Title: Caretaking Behaviors and Stress Reactivity in Adolescents of Depressed Parents Authors: Hudson, Kelsey Abstract: The mechanisms of stress responses “fight or flight” and “tend and befriend” were used to define the stress response to parental depression. In a sample of 180 families of parents with a history of major depressive disorder, observed and reported caretaking behaviors and levels of stress-reactivity were examined. The association of children’s emotional and instrumental caretaking behaviors with levels of physiological and emotional stress response will be identified. Description: This study was designed to explore the correlates of stress reactivity and caretaking behaviors in an at-risk sample of children living with a parent who has experienced at least one episode of major depressive disorder during the lifetime of his or her child. This thesis was written to satisfy the requirements of PSY 2990: Honors Psychology Research under Craig Smith.

2011-05-02T05:00:00Z