Psychology Department Theses and Dissertations

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The Impact of the Working Alliance on Vocational Outcomes for People with Severe Mental Illness Enrolled in Employment Programs
(2007-07) Kukla, Marina Elizabeth; Bond, Gary R., 1944-
This study was a subset of a large two-year randomized controlled trial of two employment programs providing services to people with severe mental illness (SMI). Because prior research has found that the strength of the relationship, or working alliance, between service providers and people with SMI is related to a variety of beneficial outcomes, the purpose of the current study was to address the working alliance between participants and their vocational workers and its association with employment outcomes, including the total duration of paid employment over two years and mean paid job tenure after two years. Another primary purpose of the current study was to determine whether working alliance differences exist between a team vocational approach (Diversified Placement Approach) and an individual vocational approach (Individual Placement and Support Model). The final aim of the current study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the ad hoc scale utilized to measure the working alliance. Contrary to expectations, no relationship was found between the working alliance and employment outcomes after two years. As expected, it was found that participants in the individual vocational approach (IPS) had higher working alliance scores across the study than participants in the team vocational program (DPA). Finally, the working alliance measure used in this study was found to have promising psychometric properties, including adequate criterion-related validity and test-retest reliability, although the internal consistency was a bit low. The scale items are a loose fit with existing theory, however, necessitating the addition of items and revision of the current scale and underlying theory to enhance its utility in clinical and research settings.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYMENT STATUS AND NONVOCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR PERSONS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS ENROLLED IN VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY
(2010-04-01T15:07:58Z) Kukla, Marina Elizabeth; Bond, Gary R.
The primary purpose of the current study was to determine the relationship between employment and the nonvocational functioning of people with severe mental illness in a prospective 24 month study, as a partial replication of another study. An employment typology was utilized that was comprised of participants at four employment levels: no work (those who did not work the entire study period), minimal work (those who worked 24 weeks or less in competitive and/or noncompetitive, paid employment), paid work (those who worked 24 or more weeks, the majority of which was spent in noncompetitive, paid employment), and competitive work (those who worked 24 or more weeks, the majority of which was spent in competitive employment). Both objective and subjective outcomes were addressed, including quality of life, symptoms, psychiatric hospitalizations, social networks, and residential status. Participants consisted of persons with severe mental illness (most with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder) who were receiving employment services at a large, urban psychiatric rehabilitation center. Mixed effects regression modeling and logistic regression were used to analyze the date. Results indicate that the competitive work group experienced an accelerated improvement in negative symptoms across time and was less likely to have psychiatric hospitalization days as compared with the no work group. The paid work group showed an accelerated improvement in social network scores across time as compared with the no work, minimal work, and competitive work groups. The full sample demonstrated improvements across the study period regardless of employment typology status in the areas of overall quality of life, financial quality of life, cognitive symptoms, and social networks. In conclusion, this study adds to the growing body of evidence indicating that work, particularly periods of extended competitive work may lead to important benefits in clinical and social domains, although threats to internal validity that could not be ruled out preclude a causal link from being established. Future research is needed to further investigate this relationship, particularly in regards to those outcomes that are not well understood, such as residential status.
Development and Testing of an Intervention to Improve Group Decision-Making Effectiveness in a Hidden Profile Scenario
(2010-04-12T17:47:41Z) Donovan, Angela S.; Devine, Dennis J. (Dennis John); Williams, Jane; Bond, Gary R.
Research has repeatedly shown that when groups whose members have varying expertise are combined to make a decision, they tend to discuss common information at a higher rate than unique information, hindering their ability to make the best decision. In response to these findings and the fact that organizations are increasingly using groups rather than individuals to make important decisions, a new intervention was developed based on past research to help groups make better decisions and discuss more unique information. The intervention was developed through three phases to determine which techniques were most powerful. The formal evaluation of the intervention was tested on a total of 228 undergraduate students (44 groups of four and 52 individuals). Groups were randomized into an experimental condition, receiving the intervention, or a control condition. Groups participated in a hidden profile business simulation acting as the top management team of a fictional Hollywood movie studio. Information was distributed so that there was common and unique information for each group. Groups given the intervention made significantly better decisions, shared more unique information, and performed significantly better than individuals. Unique information sharing was positively related to performance and the unique information given to one group member mediated the relationship between the condition and performance. In addition, this study revealed that within the inventory of unique information, different types of information may be more critical in reaching the best possible decision than others. Future research aims and implications are discussed.
Employment specialists' competencies as predictors of employment outcomes.
(2010-05-25T20:16:20Z) Taylor, Amanda Christine; Bond, Gary R.; McGrew, John H., 1953-; Rand, Kevin; Devine, Dennis J. (Dennis John)
Employment specialist competencies were examined as predictors of employment outcomes for consumers with severe mental illness participating in supported employment. Using a cross-sectional correlational design a variety of self-report and supervisor-rated performance measures were examined for their association with three consumer employment outcomes (e.g., the percentage of consumers on an employment specialist's caseload that were competitively employed, the percentage of consumers on an employment specialist's caseload that were employed 90 consecutive days, and the rate in which consumers dropped out of employment services). Six mental health agencies with a total of 57 employment specialists and 14 supervisors from across the nation participated in the study. Competitive employment rates ranged among employment specialists from 0% to 80%. Higher supervisor-rated job performance, supervisor-rated employment specialist efficacy, percentage of work time spent in the community during the past month, and number of contacts with consumers during the past month were related to improved consumer employment outcomes. However, employment specialist attitudes, knowledge of supported employment, conscientiousness, and self-efficacy were unrelated to employment outcomes. This study is one of the first of its kind to examine employment specialist competencies as they relate to supported employment for consumers with severe mental illness. While supported employment is a great improvement over traditional vocational programs, further examination of employment specialist competencies could hold the key to unlocking employment success for many more consumers.
Illness Representations of Breast Cancer among Hispanics
(2011-03-09) Hernandez, Ann Marie; Bigatti, Silvia M.; Johnson, Kathy E.; Bond, Gary R.; Wagner, Christina
Hispanics are more likely to die from breast cancer compared to non - Hispanic whites matched on stage and age at diagnosis. Higher mortality rates among Hispanics are attributed to cancer - related disparities across the cancer continuum including later - stage detection. While research has shown that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in the development and maintenance of cancer - related disparities, differences persist when these factors are controlled. Thus far, research on cultural factors and cognitions surrounding cancer is limited. The current study investigated illness representations of cancer and their determinants among Hispanic men and women (N = 120) using a cross - sectional survey approach. The study sample was comprised of predominantly first generation, employed Hispanic women in their early - thirties from Mexico. Most had not resided in the U.S. for more than 5 - 9 years. Half of the sample reported an annual income of $20,001 - $30,000 and completing at least a middle school education. While the majority indicated that they did not have health insurance, most indicated that they did have a regular source of health care. Additionally, while most had not been diagnosed with cancer, nearly half of the sample knew of someone diagnosed with cancer. Descriptive data regarding illness identity, illness coherence, timeline, causes, consequences, and controllability are provided. Results suggest that demographic factors (i.e. acculturation, education, and income), cultural constructs (i.e. fatalism and familism), intrapersonal factors (state and trait anxiety), and previous experience with cancer were associated with illness representations of breast cancer. The study adds to theliterature by systematically investigate illness representations of breast cancer and their determinants among a diverse sample of Hispanic men and women. This is a significant first step that can be used to guide and develop effective and culturally appropriate interventions that ultimately reduce disparities across the cancer continuum.
The Utility of the Implicit Association Test in the Measurement of Pain and Self-schema Enmeshment in Fibromyalgia Patients
(2011-03-09) Steiner, Jennifer Leah; Bigatti, Silvia M.; Stewart, Jesse C.; Ashburn-Nardo, Leslie
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic, painful rheumatic condition characterized by recurrent musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and nonrestorative sleep, for which there is currently no biological marker. People who suffer from fibromyalgia are extremely susceptible to the effects of psychological stressors which may in turn exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. As unrelenting pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia, it follows that patients would experience personal losses and changes in their self-schemas or the way in which they view themselves as a result. This study was particularly focused on identifying the enmeshment of self-schemas and pain-schemas, and the extent to which women with fibromyalgia experience pain and self-schema enmeshment (PSSE). Additionally, this study sought to determine the utility of using the Implicit Association Test as a measure of PSSE. The present study compared FMS patients to a group of diabetes patients on several measures of schema enmeshment, including the IAT. It was hypothesized that the two disease groups would differ significantly on the level of PSSE indicated by the IAT, and the two disease groups would not differ on enmeshment with illness indicated by the IAT. Additionally it was hypothesized that the IAT would be correlated with explicit measures of PSSE. Results did not support either of these hypotheses; however the sample size and statistical power necessary to test these hypotheses was severely lacking and thus they could not be evaluated in an appropriate manner. Results did not support the hypothesis that the IAT would be highly correlated with the explicit measures of PSSE. Based on these results and the existing literature, it is still somewhat unclear as to whether or not the IAT would be an acceptable/feasible tool in assessing PSSE in fibromyalgia patients.
The impact of personality, informal roles, and team informal role configuration on team effectiveness
(2011-03-09) Caughlin, David E.; Devine, Dennis John; Hazer, John; Ashburn-Nardo, Leslie
As organizations use more and more work teams, selecting and assembling effective teams is becoming increasingly important. Past research and theory has demonstrated that informal roles serve as a critical linking mechanism between individual-level characteristics such as personality and team-level effectiveness. The present study builds upon this area of research and theory by testing the individual-level link between personality and informal roles and the team-level link between team informal role configuration and team effectiveness. These links were tested using a sample of 152 undergraduate students participating in 38 teams of four. The teams engaged in an information-sharing business simulation where the goal was to generate the highest possible profits across two simulated business years. At the individual level, the Big Five personality dimension Agreeableness positively and significantly correlated with the adoption of the Communicator role, while the relationship between Conscientiousness and the Contractor role approached significance. With regard to the team level, a positive relationship was found between the number of Completer roles performed within a team and the level of team effectiveness for the first simulated business year, and the relationship between the total number of informal roles performed within a team and team effectiveness in the first simulated year was found to be marginally significant. Using a criterion profile analysis approach, two criterion patterns were identified in which optimal informal role configuration patterns yielded high levels of team effectiveness. Overall, results from this study lend some support to the demonstrated links between personality and informal roles and informal role configuration and team effectiveness, which have important implications for organizational selection and employee development.
Examining the Influence of Affect on Workplace Motivation
(2011-03-09) Watson, Brooke N.; Devine, Dennis J. (Dennis John); Williams, Jane R.; Ashburn-Nardo, Leslie
Research has repeatedly shown that when individuals anticipate they are capable of achieving positive outcomes, see outcomes as important, and feel they are on-track toward achieving desired outcomes they are more likely to have higher motivation and approach those tasks. Pleasant mood states have also been shown to influence behavioral motivation outcomes. Organizations have recognized the importance of managing and motivating employees in the workplace. In the current study, mood states were either manipulated in one of two experimental conditions or remained baseline in a control condition for 253 participants. Participants were randomly assigned into one of the three conditions, but all participated in a business game simulation whereby they assumed the role of the President of a Hollywood movie studio. Individuals that reported more pleasant mood states were more likely to approach tasks with the perception that they could achieve positive outcomes. They were also more likely to devote more effort and sustain effort devoted to tasks longer than participants that reported more negative affective states. Several mediating implications for the influence of mood states on behavioral outcomes were noted. Overall, the results did not suggest significant support that mood or affect influenced performance above and beyond motivation. Future research aims and implications are discussed.
The Relationship between Perceptions of Due Process and Satisfaction with a Merit Pay System
(2011-03-09) Grayson, Allison L.; Williams, Jane R.; Hazer, John; Devine, Dennis J. (Dennis John)
Organizations continuously look to improve the implementation and ultimate success of organizational change. One way to facilitate organizational change is to effectively manage employee reactions to that change. Previous research has examined the use of a due process approach, specifically in relation to the performance appraisal systems. Past results have indicated that meeting the due process criteria for adequate notice, fair hearing and judgment based on evidence positively influences employee perceptions of the performance appraisal system, organizational justice, and other key variables. The current study expands on these findings by applying the due process approach to the implementation of a merit pay system. With the main goals of a merit pay system being to retain and motivate employees, successful implementation is key. The current study measured perceptions of due process over three measurement periods during the implementation of a new merit pay system. Results demonstrated that the due process components are meaningful in the implementation of a merit pay system. Perceptions of due process predicted system satisfaction and organizational justice perceptions both within and across measurement time periods.
Intravenous Self-Administration of Alcohol in Selectively Bred High- and Low- Alcohol Preferring Mice
(2011-08-02) Green, Alexis Suzanne; Grahame, Nicholas J.; Goodlett, Charles R.; Murphy, James M.; Chester, Julia A.
Genetic vulnerability to alcoholism is theorized to be caused by multiple interacting genetic loci, each with a small to modest effect combining under certain environmental influences to contribute to vulnerability to ethanol dependence. Animal models such as selectively bred rodent lines can be used to address this hypothesis of genetic vulnerability. High-drinking lines are implicitly assumed by many to be evidence of high ethanol reinforcement without consideration for variables such as differential pre- and post ingestive effects, low response to alcohol or novelty-seeking. Therefore, it is an open question as to whether animal studies support the idea that genetic differences in free-choice drinking are correlated with genetic differences in other assessments of ethanol-reinforced behavior, including those utilizing operant and classical conditioning. Thus, the present study utilizes selectively bred High- and Low- Alcohol Preferring mice tested for operant intravenous alcohol administration to address the hypothesis that High Alcohol Preferring mice would show evidence of greater alcohol reinforcement than their selectively bred opposite, Low Alcohol Preferring mice. Evidence for greater reinforcement was supported by High Alcohol Preferring mice voluntarily pressing a lever to administer an intravenous dose of alcohol in a two lever choice paradigm, administering higher doses of intravenous alcohol, and tracking the location of the active alcohol lever during a lever reversal procedure in comparison to Low Alcohol Preferring mice. This study supports the High- and Low- Alcohol Preferring mice as a useful genetic model of alcohol-related vulnerability even when utilizing a route of administration that bypasses the digestive system.

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