Title:
The psychological functioning of psychology trainees: how are they feeling and what are they doing about it?
Author:
Katie J. Loomis
Thesis Advisor:
Jen Lowry
Committee Member:
David Powers
Committee Member:
Matthew Kirkhart
Committee Member:
James Buckley
Committee Member:
Bridget Rivera
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2009
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
In response to a need for research on the unique stressors faced by graduate students in the field of psychology, this study examined the psychological functioning, attitudes toward seeking psychotherapy, rates of therapy utilization, and alternative coping strategies of 1,464 psychology graduate student trainees. Findings indicated that overall, this group of trainees demonstrated healthy levels of psychological functioning but still endorsed a number of stressors including: financial and time constraints, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. While most of the trainees were not involved in personal therapy at the time of the study, the group as a whole reported holding a positive attitude toward the utilization of personal therapy services. Notably, 83% of the trainees in the study indicated that they would likely utilize personal therapy if financial constraints were not a factor. The trainees endorsed social support and exercise as their most regularly utilized stress management methods. While not utilized as frequently as other methods, some problematic stress management strategies were also endorsed by the group, including substance use, sleeping, and eating. Recommendations were provided for training programs in the hopes of responding to the needs of the trainees in the study. Suggestions included increasing the availability of resources such as peer support groups, low-cost psychotherapy, access to exercise, and psychoeducation in the areas of financial and time management to promote healthy coping behaviors among future mental health providers.
Degree:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online to Loyola Notre Dame Library basic constituency.
Use and Reproduction:
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Identifier:
LoomisKJ-09
