Date of Award

9-2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Camilo Ortiz, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Hilary Vidair, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Jill Rathus, Ph.D.

Abstract

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure therapy, is the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (Kendall et al., 2005). Little research has been done to explore parent acceptability of treatment for anxiety in children and adolescents, and no research has explored the acceptability of exposure for this population. The purpose of the present study was to examine parent acceptability of exposure for child and adolescent anxiety as well as variables associated with acceptability. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale (Zimmerman et al., 2010), and the Family Accommodation Scale – Anxiety (Lebowitz et al., 2013). They then watched a brief video of a clinician explaining exposure to the parent of a child client. Lastly, they completed an assessment of their beliefs about exposure and rated the acceptability of exposure utilizing the Treatment Evaluation Inventory (Kazdin, 1980). Parental anxiety, accommodation, and endorsement of negative beliefs about exposure were hypothesized to negatively correlate with the acceptability of exposure. No significant associations were found between the variables. Exposure therapy was found to be acceptable by parents, as evidenced by a mean TEI-SF score that was above the cutoff for moderate acceptability. Theoretical implications relating to our understanding of parental factors influencing acceptability of exposure, as well as other factors that may be associated with acceptability of exposure, are discussed.

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