Clinical Psychology

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/17375

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 5 of 13
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLAY THERAPY IN DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLS AMONG HIGH FUNCTIONAL AUTISTIC CHILDREN
    (2022-09-15) Sally Abdalhai
    ABSTRACT Background: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Disorder (DSM-5), the essential features of the autism spectrum disorder are impairment in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts at the present time or in the child's history, and the inability to develop, acquire, understand and maintain social relationships. This is in addition to restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interest or activities. Previous studies have showed that play therapy has positive effects on autistic children’s social skills. Accordingly, this study sought to examine the role of play therapy in developing the social skills of high functioning autistic children. Method: The study participants were seven autistic children aged 6-10 years old. All of them were Palestinian Arabs living in Occupied Palestine and from Palestinian Institute for Childhood. The institute chose the autistic children according to the severity of their autism, and it also chose the high functioning autistic children. In this study, the researcher used the Autism Social Skills Profile was used to measure if there was an improvement in the autistic children’s social skills. The parents and the teacher answered the paper based-scale in 30-45 minutes. Results: The overall social functioning of children with autism improved after applying the play-based program in comparison with the period before the intervention. The differences were statistically significant. In contrast, the participants significantly improved their social skills in both subscales- social reciprocity and participation\avoidance. It can be concluded that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD showed significant improvements after the intervention on the total measure of social functioning. Conclusion: This quasi-experimental study can be used on autistic children by training teachers and guiding parents to set up a play therapy intervention plan to develop the high functioning autistic children’s social skills. Key words: Autism Spectrum Disorder, autistic children, social communication, social interaction, play therapy, social skills.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    PARENTING STYLES AND ITS CORRELATION WITH THE ABILITY TO DELAY GRATIFICATION USING MARSHMALLOW TEST, AMONG CHILDREN OF 5 YEARS OLD, IN BETHLEHEM GOVERNORATE
    (2023-09-21) Leena Agbariea
    This study aims to identify parenting styles and their correlation with the ability to delay gratification using the Marshmallow test, among children of 5 years old, in Bethlehem Governorate. The study sample included 80 children with one of their parents (80 fathers/ mothers). The research sample was selected using a simple cluster random sampling method. Multiple Linear Regression test and T-test were used to study the correlations and comparison between the study variables. The results indicated that the authoritative parenting style was the most parenting style affecting the delay of gratification using the Marshmallow test in comparison with authoritarian and permissive parenting styles. Negative relationship was found between the authoritarian parenting style and the ability to delay gratification using the Marshmallow test. The results also showed a significant relationship between the authoritative and permissive parenting style with the ability to delay gratification. Results, recommendations, and future studies are discussed. Keywords: Parenting Style, Delay Gratification, Marshmallow Test
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    SELF-REPORTED CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PATHWAYS TO HEALTHCARE AMONG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN PALESTINE
    (2023-03-27) By Zaynab Hinnawi
    Background: Mental illness affects every segment of population, in every country including Palestine. The beliefs held by patients regarding the causes of mental illness impact their treatment-seeking behavior. No doubt that understanding the context of the beliefs held by the patients and their family members with respect to the causation and treatment of various psychiatric disorders may help seeking behavior of mentally ill subjects and their adherence to treatment. Previous studies revealed many different attributions stated by mentally-ill people. Those attributions were relevant to the culture they belong to. The aim of this study was to find out the attributions of the Palestinian patients, and the pathways followed by them to seek healthcare. Methodology: The sample of this study consisted of thirty-one stable patients who attend private clinics. The participants were with different diagnoses, and from different cities of the West Bank in addition to Jerusalem. Semi-structured interviews using an adapted version of the McGill illness Narrative interview were conducted in order to illicit illness narratives. Results: The findings of this study showed three main attributions: supranatural, psychosocial, and biomedical causes. Participants sought help through two main pathways; psychiatrists and sheikhs. Other pathways were followed but with less countable frequency. Conclusion: An important number of patients attribute their psychiatric symptoms to supranatural causes. In regard to help-seeking behaviors, many patients seek help from nonmedical pathways. Keywords: Mental health; Attribution theory; Supranatural causes; Psychosocial causes; Biomedical causes; Treatment pathways; Psychiatrists, Sheikhs.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    THE ROLE OF ABILITY AND TRAIT EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON MENTAL HEALTH AMONG PALESTINIAN BATTERED AND NON-BATTERED WOMEN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
    (2023-04-14) Carolina Hodali
    Emotional Intelligence (EI) can be understood from two perspectives; EI as a mental capacity to process emotions and EI as a cognitive, personality, and an affective attribute. Studies on EI showed the importance of studying EI and its relationship to mental health outcomes (Stress, Anxiety and Depression). Worldwide and Palestinian studies showed high prevelance and strong relationship of Gender based Violence, specifically domestic violence with mental health outcomes. The study aimed to investigate the role of Ability Emotional Intelligence (AEI) and Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) in mental health outcomes among Palestinian battered and non-battered women. Moreover, the study looked for differences in mean scores of AEI and TEI and Mental Health Outcomes between battered and non-battered women. The contribution of AEI, TEI and Battering in the predicition of Mental Health Outcomes, and the main effects and interaction of AEI and TEI among battered and non –battered women were measured. The target population of the study were 102 women from 14 institutions in the West Bank (61 battered, 41 non-battered), and their ages ranged between 20 until 59 years old (M = 36.90, SD = 9.68). Results showed significant differences in all Mental Health Ouctomes between battered and non-battered women while no significant differences in their Emotional Intelligence was found. The researcher also measured the relationaship between the variables by using Multiple Linear Regression Test to learn about the relationship between women’s trait EI, Ability EI, and their Mental Health Outcomes, with women’s mental health outcomes as the dependent variable. The findings showed significant partial correlation between Battering and TEI and Mental Health Outcomes. However, we found significant partial correlation only between AEI and Anxiety. Moreover, for analyzing the main effects and interaction of EI and Battering on Mental Health Outcomes (Anxiety, Stress and Depression separately), the researher used the Two Way ANCOVA test analysis. The main results showed an effect of TEI on Anxiety and Depression, while AEI affects only Anxiety. Moreover, Battering affected more Stress and Depression than Anxiety. The predictive characteristics of AEI, TEI, and Battering on Mental Health Outcomes, as well as the implication of the results, were discussed. Keywords: Battered Women; Emotional Intelligence; Gender Based Violence; Mental Health Outcomes; Palestinian Context.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    THE EFFICACY OF A COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY PROGRAM IN REDUCING DEPRESSION AND IMPROVING SELF-EFFICACY AMONG STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
    (2023-08-23) Mayar Esam Adnan Athamleh
    Background: Learning disabilities are a type of neurodevelopmental condition. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the underlying aspects include deficits in learning skills, leading to decreased self-efficacy and future despair. Previous research has shown that cognitive-behavioral treatment improves self-efficacy and decreases depression in students with learning disabilities. As a result, this study aimed to investigate the impact of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on reducing depression and increasing self-efficacy among students with learning difficulties. Methodology: The quasi-experimental method with a pre-test-post-test control group design was used in the current study to test the effect of the independent variable (a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) group program) on the two dependent variables (reducing depression and improving self-efficacy) among students with learning disabilities. The design of two equivalent groups was used; control and experimental groups, the sample comprised 12 children who exhibited learning disabilities, with an age range of 12 to 13 years because their brain is still developing and deserves to be studied. Whereas the CBT program was applied to the experimental group. Meanwhile, the control group did not receive any intervention. Pre-test and post-test were conducted for the two groups to assess depression and self-efficacy before and after applying for the therapeutic program, and scores were compared and analyzed. Results: The results showed that CBT is effective in developing self-efficacy and reducing depression. This study examines the correlation between the level of depression and learning disabilities in children, upon the results of utilizing the level measure of depression as the primary metric and self-efficacy in children with learning disabilities, which was used as a pre-measure before applying the program for children with learning disabilities and as a measure after therapeutic intervention. Conclusions: The findings of the study lead us to consider the efficiency of cognitive-behavioral therapy and the significance of its continuity in lowering depression and increasing self-efficacy among students with learning disabilities, and can be used to train teachers and educational counsellors in schools and guide parents in developing a CBT intervention plan for children with learning disabilities. Keywords: Self-efficacy; Learning Disability; Depression; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)