Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Community-based exercise and self-efficacy in older adults : implications for physical activity engagement(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Weitzel, Kelsey Jo; Easter, Matthew[EMBARGOED UNTIL 12/01/2026] Physical activity (PA) is essential for promoting health and well-being among older adults, yet participation levels are low. Community-based exercise programs (CBEPs) have been developed to increase access and engagement; however, the factors that support PA engagement in this context are not well understood. This study used a longitudinal correlational survey design to examine the relationship between exercise self-efficacy, sources of self-efficacy, instructors, and PA behavior among older adults participating in CBEPs. Multilevel modeling was used to examine participant- and instructor-level factors. Post-program exercise self-efficacy significantly predicted post-program PA, b = 10.31, p = .008, where each unit increase in self-efficacy corresponded to approximately 10.31 additional minutes of PA per week. Of the six sources of self-efficacy, performance accomplishments were the only significant predictor (b = 139.43, p = .001). At the instructor level, the exercise self-efficacy model, instructor age was negatively associated with participants' PA frequency (b = -4.57, p = .022), whereas years of experience as a trained instructor positively predicted PA (b = 20.13, p = .020). And for the sources of self-efficacy model instructor variables, again, instructor age (p = .021) and years trained (p = .020) were statistically significant predictors of PA. Frequency of instructor feedback and cross-level interactions were not statistically significant (ps > .05). These findings highlight the importance of exercise self-efficacy, performance accomplishments, and instructor experience in enhancing PA participation among older adults. Understanding these relationships can help with designing effective CBEPs and training for instructors, which can more effectively promote these motivators for PA.Item The impact of parental involvement on students' engagement in the learning process in Nigerian secondary schools.(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Etoh, Maureen Chinyere; Easter, MathewEducation aims to cultivate positive behaviors, attitudes, and learning outcomes, with schools, teachers, and families each playing vital roles. Among these influences, parental involvement reflected through parents' interest in school activities and support for their child's academic growth remains one of the strongest predictors of student success. Although research highlights its importance for academic achievement and social development, limited studies, particularly in Nigeria, have examined how parental involvement shapes students' engagement in learning. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of parental involvement on students' affective, cognitive, and behavioral engagement across three major Nigerian cities: Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. These cities were selected for their political, economic, and sociocultural diversity, offering a balanced representation of the Nigerian context. Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from 225 public and private secondary school students and analyzed through multiple regression to assess the influence of home–school communication and home-based involvement on engagement. Findings reveal that consistent parental monitoring and effective communication with teachers significantly enhance students' motivation, attentiveness, and classroom participation. The study underscores that student engagement is a shared responsibility between schools and families and emphasizes the need to strengthen structured parent–school partnerships while addressing socioeconomic disparities. The results provide valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders seeking to improve student engagement and overall learning outcomes in Nigerian secondary education.Item Navigating the pandemic landscape : Asian and Asian American young adults' perspectives on COVID-19 racism and university responses(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Yang, Wenxi; Herman, Keith C.[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2026] During the pandemic, anti-Asian discrimination and xenophobia surged, with repeated exposure to such distress negatively impacting physical and mental health. This study explored the experiences and needs of Asian and Asian American (AAA) young adults, focusing on their views of institutional responses to anti-Asian sentiment. Ten undergraduate and graduate students from a Midwestern university were interviewed. The sample included four international students (from China, Korea, and Brazil), five second-generation Asian immigrants (with backgrounds in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Korea), and one international transracial adoptee. Utilizing Thematic Analysis (TA) procedures, results indicated that participants relied on social support networks to navigate COVID-19 discrimination and racial trauma. They advocated for more racerelated education in schools and families, noting that cultural silence around mental health and racism limited opportunities for collective healing. Generational differences in discussing race also created barriers within families. Second, the university environment and the onset of COVID-19-related anti-Asian sentiment served as a turning point in AAA students' racial identity development. During this time, students became more aware of their racial identities, engaged in deeper self-reflection, and sought healing from racial trauma through social support and advocacy. Lastly, participants often encounter marginalization in educational institutions and have advocated for their needs from these institutions. Findings will inform strategies for educational institutions and Asian parents to foster trust, safety, and well-being during stressful times, while guiding interventions and policies to reduce discrimination, bullying, and racism.Item "Plastic off the sofa" : an exploration of graduate student clinicians' perceptions of clinical training experiences and their preparation to work with Black clients(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Watson, Tiara Latrease; Lewis, Kaleea; Parmenter, JoshuaConsidering systemic racism and reverberating impacts of racial trauma Black Americans experience, mental healthcare underutilization in Black communities is a pervasive public health concern. Using the psychology of radical healing and intersectionality frameworks, the present study utilizes a qualitative approach to explore impacts of graduate student clinicians' programmatic and clinical training experiences on their preparation to provide effective, collaborative therapy services to help Black clients heal from racial trauma. In-depth, individual interviews and follow-up member-checking focus groups were conducted with a total sample of 17 participants from various counseling psychology doctoral programs across the United States. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, identify patterns, and generate themes and subthemes. Results of the qualitative data analysis revealed specific structural deficits in counseling psychology training programs and practicum sites with implications for participants feeling unprepared to effectively work with Black clients experiencing racial trauma. Additionally, a few participants discussed strengths of their programs engaging in training and practice regarding social justice. Participants discussed engaging in compensatory self-education and acts of resistance in addition to highlighting ways in which they engage in decolonial, collective radical healing practices with clients, colleagues, and community. Centering the perspectives and experiences of current graduate student clinicians highlights current impacts and suggestions for restructuring counseling psychology training programs, which may amplify existing strengths and more intentionally integrate anti-racist, decolonial, critically conscious training. The considerations may also promote cultural humility and graduate student clinicians' perceptions of efficacy regarding helping Black clients engage in radical healing.Item Direction dependence analysis in latent variable contexts : comparison of normal and non-normal item response theory models(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Chen, Xiuhan; Wiedermann, WolfgangOne common goal of science is to uncover causal relationships. When randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not feasible, researchers often rely on survey-based observational data to explore causal relationships. In observational research, most used statistical methods are based on covariances and correlations and assume that the collected data are normally distributed. However, correlation does not imply causation, and research has repeatedly shown that data in social sciences often deviate from normality. This study focuses on a method called Direction Dependence Analysis (DDA), which is a confirmatory approach designed to determine the causal relationship between two variables that make use of non-normality. This study aims to explore the effect of psychometric properties of survey data on DDA through two Monte-Carlo simulation studies, each involving different psychometric models and scoring approaches with and without the presence of hidden confounders. A real-world example highlights how DDA can be applied to survey-based data using different psychometric models and scoring methods. The results showed that the number of response categories, instrument length, and sample size have positive effects on correctly identifying the true causal model. Additionally, Davian-Curve Item Response Theory scores outperformed other scoring methods. Recommendations for applied research are given, and limitations and future directions are discussed.