The College of Education

Announces the Final Examination of

Laura Ann Bailey Smith

for the degree of

Doctor of Education

April 5, 2016 at 11:00 am

103 Ball Hall, University of Memphis

Memphis, TN

Biographical Sketch

B.A., Psychology, Christian Brothers University

M.S., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, The University of Memphis

Advisory Committee

Douglas Strohmer, Ph.D., Professor, CEPR, Committee chair

Pam Cogdal, Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor, CEPR

Melissa Fickling, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, CEPR

Stephen Lenz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Major Field of Study

Counseling

Period of Preparation: 2013-2016

Comprehensive Examination Passed: April 16-17, 2015, Written; March 1, 2016, Oral

Differential Prediction of Resilience among Individuals with and without a History of Abuse

Abstract

This study evaluated the differential relationship between spirituality, hope, and mutuality for predicting resilience among 253 young adult participants (47 men, 206 women; Mean age = 22 years; SD = 5.66 years) with history of abuse (n = 64) or no history of abuse (n = 189). Backwards-stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed statistically significant, yet different models between participants with and without history of abuse wherein subscales of spirituality (existential well-being with abuse, β = .40, p = .03; without abuse, β = .27, p < .01) and hope (time/future without abuse, β = .32, p < .01) were substantial predictors of resilience. Implications for counseling practice and public policy are provided.