The Association Between Juvenile Female Firesetting, Attachment Style, and Trauma-related Beliefs
Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Lavita Nadkarni
Second Advisor
Kimberly A. Gorgens
Third Advisor
Brad Jackson
Keywords
Firesetting, Adolescent firesetting, Female adolescents, Trauma related beliefs, Attachment styles
Abstract
The present study investigated the association between juvenile female firesetting behaviors, trauma-related beliefs and attachment style. One of the aims of this study was to investigate whether traumatic experiences, and trauma-related beliefs about self and other, increase the risk for engagement in firesetting behaviors. Given the link between parenting and family factors and juvenile maladaptive behaviors (Ryder, 2007; Lambie & Randell, 2011), this study also aimed to investigate the relationship between disruptions in attachment and relationship difficulties and female firesetting behaviors. The 97 participants included females aged six to 18 years who underwent a psychological assessment for firesetting at a specialized private psychological practice. Correlational analyses indicated no significant relationship between trauma-related beliefs scores and attachment styles scores, regardless of the amount of fires set. Interestingly, analysis of descriptive statistics indicated almost half to more than half of the participants obtained t-scores in the clinically significant range on rule-breaking, aggressive behavior, internalizing, and externalizing behaviors. It may be the combination of internalizing distress paired with the tendency to engage in externalizing behaviors, which contribute to juvenile female firesetting. Additionally, a quarter to a third of participants were found to have disruptions in all areas pertaining to relationships with others and a high portion of participants perceived themselves as having difficulties developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. The findings of this study showed the complex psychological and psychosocial needs of juvenile female firesetters. Further research is needed to continue expanding our knowledge of specific risk and protective factors related to juvenile female firesetting.
Publication Statement
Copyright held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Extent
32 pgs
Recommended Citation
Leland, Carolina, "The Association Between Juvenile Female Firesetting, Attachment Style, and Trauma-related Beliefs" (2019). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 344.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/344