This mixed-methods research study investigates Pakistani Muslim American immigrant two mother-daughter dyads' styles of social interactions (inclusive of the content of social interactions) during three virtual museum visits designed to contribute to their ethnic identities. Data were collected from (1) qualitative significant anecdotes; (2)…

The present meta-analytic study examined the overall effectiveness of child-centered play therapy (CCPT) and child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT) for children experiencing internalizing problems. After conducting a comprehensive literature search and review, 25 studies published between 2000 and 2023 met the following inclusion criteria: (a)…

This study aims to identify the barriers parents face in communicating with their pre-adolescent children about sexual topics and consent using the Theory of Planned Behavior and Feminist Theory to inform this research project. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample of parents with pre-adolescent children (ages 9-13) via…

Developmental research confirms the importance of early parental language input for building children's vocabulary and language skills (Hart & Risley, 1995). While reading with a caregiver is a common way for language input to occur, the approaches parents utilize often fail to capitalize on techniques for improving language and pre-literacy…

Parental tolerance has previously been defined as the function of how annoyed a parent becomes by their child's defiant or disruptive behavior. However, there has been little research on parental tolerance as a construct and its relationships with other potentially theoretically related constructs, such as parenting style and parent report of…

Risky sexual behaviors in adolescence continue to be a social problem that impacts individuals, families, and communities across the United States. Previous research showed that parents who actively talk with their adolescents about sex and intimacy topics reduce their likelihood of engaging in these behaviors. Still, less is known about what…

Feeding difficulties occur at a high rate in children with normal development and at a disproportionally high rate in children with developmental disabilities. Prolonged problematic eating, categorized as Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD), can result in poor physical growth and jeopardize overall health. Extant research on applied behavior analysis…

The South Carolina laws that mandate regular school attendance place the responsibility on parents to ensure compliance. South Carolina still uses punitive measures to address chronic absenteeism, meaning schools can refer students to law enforcement to face criminal truancy charges and jail time. Their parent(s) can also face criminal…

Children learn words in a social environment. In my dissertation, I examine how caregivers' social cues facilitate young children's word learning in settings that mirror their typical, dynamic learning environments. In Chapter 1, I overview prior work examining how social cues may support word learning, focusing on possible mechanisms underlying…

Learner variability presents an enormous challenge for teachers and schools. Even as early as kindergarten, incredible learner diversity exists in terms of children's early learning experiences, especially in mathematics. Research has shown that this variability begins in the home environment, where parents and caregivers have the biggest impact…

This study focused on middle school and high school teachers in an independent school to explore their experiences and perceptions of overparenting in the classroom. The problem addressed by this study was the lack of understanding concerning middle and high school teachers' experiences and perceptions of overparenting in an independent school.…

In a large rural region in a southeastern state in the United States, many children are not proficient in one to three areas of school readiness, including self-regulation, social skills, and mathematics. Although evidence exists that parents' perspectives about school readiness influence kindergarten preparedness, the problem that was the focus…

There is an increasing number of people with autism. Autistic women have a different presentation of autism than autistic men and may have different needs. As more autistic men and women go to college, they bring challenges and strengths. They have difficulties with persistence and completion of a degree. To improve the success of autistic…

This study uses a qualitative research design, a phenomenological approach, and a narrative inquiry component to delve into the past and present experiences of six Black women who engaged in the talk, a colloquial expression for conversations that Black parents have with their children about the dangers they face due to racism or unjust treatment.…

"Family and Adolescent Balanced Education and Leisure Occupations" (FABELO) is a training program designed for OTPs who work with learning-disabled adolescents in school and community settings. Background: Adolescents with a learning disability are often missing opportunities to engage in play and leisure as essential occupations. The…