College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Spring 6-13-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Antonio Polo, PhD

Second Advisor

Jocelyn Carter, PhD

Third Advisor

Susan Tran, PhD

Abstract

To date, cognitive behavioral intervention studies for youth focus on symptom reduction to evaluate treatment efficacy without studying changes in youth coping. The present study, backed by Motivational Theory of Coping and Self-Determination Theory, used a randomized control trial design to examine the effects of a brief (5-session), group-based, cognitive-behavioral intervention called Act and Adapt – SP on adaptive coping, maladaptive coping, competence, and relatedness in a sample of academically underperforming 3rd and 4th graders (N = 56; Mage = 8.8 years; 62.5% female; 78.6% Latinx). Act and Adapt – SP was designed for Saturday Place, a non-profit academic enhancement program for underrepresented students. Students in the intervention condition demonstrated more problem-solving (t = -2.05, p = 0.05, d = -0.38) and distraction (t = -2.86, p = 0.01, d = -0.53) coping and less trivializing coping at follow-up. Relative to those in the control group, students who received Act and Adapt – SP reported higher distraction (β = 0.36, p = 0.01, d = 0.76) and social support (β = 0.28, p = 0.04, d = 0.57) coping, but no differences were found across conditions in competence and relatedness. Clinical implications for coping skill programming for ethnic-racial minoritized youth are discussed.

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