Publication Date
2020
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Orcutt, Holly K.
Degree Name
M.A. (Master of Arts)
Legacy Department
Department of Psychology
Abstract
Background: An unacceptably large proportion of individuals remain symptomatic after receiving first-line interventions. The attention training technique (ATT) is a potentially effective treatment augmentation and standalone treatment that may help improve the treatment of psychological disorders. The machanisms of therapuetic change of ATT remain understudied. This study is a randomized controlled trial of ATT compared to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) that examined mindfulness and attentional control as potential mechisms of therapeutic change.
Method: A convenience sample of 64 participants (Mage = 20.13, SD = 3.65; 42.2% Male; 64.1% non-Hispanic White; 23.4% Black; 9.4% Hispanic/Latino; 3.1% Other) were randomly assigned to receive daily ATT or PMR sessions for one week via a smartphone application. Participants reported their attentional control and mindfulness after each session. Attentional control, metacognitions, and psychological symptoms were assessed via self-report immediately before the intervention and after one week.
Results: Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) assessed changes over time. The impact of experimental group assignment on the effect of time on attentional control was not significant, = -0.174, t(309) = -0.903, p = 0.370. Additional analyses related to symptom reduction, attentional control, metacognitions, validity of self-report attentional control, and study design feasibility are reported.
Discussion: The study results indicated that ATT and PMR are similar interventions. The study design was unable to identify a mechanism of therapeutic change that was unique to either intervention. The implications for self-report attentional control and study design feasibility are also discussed along with study limitations and future directions.
Recommended Citation
Laman-Maharg, Benjamin J., "The Process of Therapeutic Change in The attention Training Technique" (2020). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 7282.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/7282
Extent
118 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
