Counseling and Educational Psychology Theses and Dissertations (UMKC)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Division of Counseling and Educational Psychology. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Kansas City. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Detransition emergence(2024) Maragos, Amy Caponetto; Brown, Chrisanthia, 1957-Much research has been conducted on the experiences of transgender and gender expansive people who transition; however, minimal research has examined the experiences of people who stop gender affirming medicine and then detransition. Utilizing consensual qualitative research, the aim of this study was to better understand the unique experiences of people who have detransitioned. Using Meyer’s minority stress theory as a framework, semi-structured interviews with 13 participants who had detransitioned were examined to identify both external and internal stressors that contributed to their decision to detransition. The results of the study indicate that the factors contributing to a person’s decision to transition and detransition are multifaceted and unique. Participants reported that their decision to transition was influenced by others who suggested or encouraged them to transition, gender dysphoria, body image concerns, and poor mental health. Participants reported external stressors with being transgender, which included negative experiences with health service providers, lack of support from family, and negative experiences with the trans community. Internal factors that were identified by participants included dissatisfaction with the effects of gender affirming medicine and gender confirmation surgery, realization that they were not transgender, and regret regarding insufficient exploration. Outcomes of detransitioning were explored and included relational change, increased self-acceptance, improved well-being, and loss of trans community. Study limitations, implications for counseling, and future research are discussed.Item Who gets cancelled for sexual assault? Perceptions of accountability for likeable perpetrators who use coercion(2024) Graf, Tessa R.; Watson, Laurel B.The #MeToo movement and social media have increased public awareness of sexual violence, particularly when committed by high-profile celebrities. We are presently within a unique sociocultural space, often referred to as “cancel culture,” in which perpetrators of sexual violence may face increased accountability. However, the effects of cancel culture do not appear to be applied equally to perpetrators. The purpose of this study was to explore the roles of perpetrator likeability and tactic (i.e., force and coercion) on the degree to which perpetrators are “canceled” (i.e., held accountable through personal, professional, and legal consequences). Among a sample of 238 participants, results of this experimental study revealed that perpetrators viewed as likeable or neutral received less blame and accountability compared to those who were unlikeable, with the survivors in the likeable and neutral scenarios receiving greater blame. Moreover, perpetrators who used coercion were less likely than those who used force to receive blame and accountability, with the survivors in the coercive scenarios receiving greater blame. No interaction effects emerged between likeability and tactic, suggesting that the main effects operate independently of one another. Though the #MeToo movement and cancel culture have created cultural change in the United States, the findings from this study imply that perpetrators continue to be held less accountable, so long as they are not unlikeable and do not use force.Item Relations Between Binegativity, Proximal Stressors, and Mental Health Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Authenticity(2022) VanMattson, Sarah Beth; Berkel, LaVerne A.The relationships between distal stressors and mental health are well established within sexual minority populations (e.g., Brewster et al., 2016; Lehavot & Simoni, 2011; Mereish & Poteat, 2015). However, research specifically focused on the unique stressors of bisexual+ people, or nonmonosexual individuals, is still emerging. Individuals’ experiences with monogamy and mixed-orientation relationships represent another aspect of bisexuality that has rarely been explored. The current study used the framework of minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) to examine the relationships between distal and proximal stressors with psychological outcomes among a sample of bisexual women in monogamous relationships. To this end, binegativity was examined in relation to well-being and psychological distress through the mediating roles of anticipated binegativity, internalized binegativity, and identity uncertainty. In addition, the limited findings that exist on the role of authenticity for bisexual+ individuals suggest that authenticity is of great importance to the wellness of bisexual individuals (Hartman-Linck, 2014; Riggle at al., 2008; Riggle et al., 2017). In response, this study examined authenticity as a possible moderator to the relationships between distal and proximal stressors with mental health outcomes. Results from this study provide greater insight into how bisexual individuals in monogamous relationships experience stress, and its relationship with well-being.Item The Impact of Islamic Religiosity on Perceived Discrimination, Coping, and Psychological Outcomes(2022) Bassioni, Ramy; Brown, Chrisanthia, 1957-The present study examined the moderating effects of Islamic religiosity on the relationship between racial-ethnic discrimination, religious prejudice, environmental prejudice, religious coping, perceived stress, and Islam’s effect on well-being. Through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, 875 participants met screening requirements and completed the online survey. Participants completed measures of discrimination (i.e., racial-ethnic, religious prejudice, and environmental prejudice), religious coping (i.e., positive religious coping and negative religious coping), religiosity, well-being, and perceived stress. Analysis revealed that positive and negative religious coping mediated the relationship between the three forms of discrimination and perceived stress. However, positive religious coping mediated the relationship between the three forms of discrimination and Islam’s effect on well-being, and negative religious coping only mediated the relationship between religious prejudice and Islam’s effect on well-being. Religiosity was found to significantly moderate the relationship between positive religious coping and perceived stress and Islam’s effect on well-being. Keywords: Islamic religiosity, religious discrimination, religious coping, well-being, perceived stressItem Multiracial Microaggressions and Latinx/a/o/White Individual’s Psychological Distress: The Role of Resilience Factors(2022) Craney, Raquel Sandate; Watson, Laurel B.The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into the lived experiences of Latinx/a/o/White multiracial individuals. This rapidly expanding population is often grouped with multiracial, Latinx/a/o, and White samples in the literature, leaving the unique experiences of this community largely underexplored. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between multiracial microaggressions and psychological distress among individuals with one biological Latinx/a/o parent and one biological White parent. Utilizing a resilience lens, potential protective factors (i.e., self-esteem, multiracial pride) were explored as moderators. A total of 304 Latinx/a/o/White multiracial individuals, primarily of Mexican descent, participated in the present study. The findings indicated that multiracial microaggressions and multiracial pride significantly and positively predicted psychological distress, whereas self-esteem significantly and negatively predicted psychological distress. Regarding moderation effects, self-esteem weakened the relationship between multiracial microaggressions and psychological distress, while multiracial pride exacerbated the significant relationship. The findings of this study provide important clinical implications for providers working with Latinx/a/o/White multiracial individuals, as well as highlight some of the unique strengths and challenges faced by this community.