Title:
An efficacy study of group psychological first aid
Author:
Katie E. Despeaux
Thesis Advisor:
Jeffrey M. Lating
Committee Member:
Carolyn M. Barry
Committee Member:
Matthew W. Kirkhart
Committee Member:
Stephen E. Fowl
Committee Member:
George S. Everly
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2018
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
Given the increased exposure to critical incidents that people experience, there have been many interventions in the past decades that have attempted to mitigate the distress and possible dysfunction that often occur from experiencing these events. One such intervention is psychological first aid (PFA), a crisis intervention designed to foster resilience and assist those experiencing crisis in returning to normal functioning or to be referred to the next level of care. This study assessed the potential efficacy of the Johns Hopkins RAPID – PFA model in a group setting by comparing state anxiety scores and affect scores at various points in time (i.e., baseline, at the end of watching a distressing video, after receiving the intervention, and after a 30-minute delay) in those who received the model with those who were instructed to talk amongst themselves. The results revealed that both groups reported similar baseline state anxiety and affect scores and similar significant increases in these distress scores after watching the video. However, compared to the group conversation condition, the RAPID – PFA condition reported significantly lower state anxiety scores after receiving the intervention and significantly lower scores after the 30-minute delay. Although these significant differences did not occur for the affect measures, the results were in the expected direction. These state anxiety results offer the first empirical support of the efficacy of RAPID-PFA in a group setting. The implications of these findings are discussed and future directions are offered.
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Degree:
Master of Science
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Clinical Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
Use and Reproduction:
The authors of theses and dissertations are the copyright owners. Loyola Notre Dame Library has their permission to store and provide access to these works. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Permission is required to use materials for which Loyola Notre Dame Library, Loyola University Maryland, or Notre Dame of Maryland University hold copyright. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift of purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Identifier:
DespeauxKE-18
