Behavioral activation in homeless shelters: extension of the program and preliminary analysis of qualitative data

Date of Award

2017

Degree Name

M.A. in Clinical Psychology

Department

Department of Psychology

Advisor/Chair

Advisor: Roger N. Reeb

Abstract

This study is part of the ongoing Behavioral Activation Project in Homeless Shelters, which represents collaboration between Roger Reeb, Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology and Roesch Endowed Chair in the Social Sciences) and Mr. David Bohardt (Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul, Dayton, Ohio). This research was necessary in order to (a) examine new quantitative data regarding the efficacy of the Behavioral Activation Project at the Men's Shelter, (b) fully examine the extension of the Behavioral Activation Project to the Women's Shelter, and (c) enrich our understanding of the Behavioral Activation Program's efficacy by supplementing quantitative findings with a preliminary examination of qualitative findings. Quantitative results of the study indicated that the Behavioral Activation Project has continued efficacy at the Men's Shelter, with strong generalization to the Women's Shelter. Qualitative findings were consistent with and supportive of the quantitative findings. Additionally, qualitative data suggested that possible efficacy of the project may be rooted in Rogerian concepts and/or attachment principles. Finally, qualitative data suggested that the additional psychosocial construct of gratitude (which was not assessed by quantitative research) may be increased through participation in the Behavioral Activation Project activities. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

Homeless persons Services for Evaluation, Homeless persons Services for Ohio Dayton Evaluation, Client-centered psychotherapy Evaluation, Behavior therapy Evaluation, Psychology, Homelessness, Behavioral Activation, service learning, Rogerian, attachment, gratitude, mixed methods, Activity Evaluation Process Measure, AEPM, Behavioral Activation Treatment Efficacy Measure, BATEM

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2017, author

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