Papers by Rondalyn Whitney
Routledge eBooks, Sep 9, 2021
Routledge eBooks, Sep 9, 2021
Routledge eBooks, Sep 9, 2021
Journal of Palliative Medicine, Jul 1, 2019
The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, Jan 15, 2020
The author reports that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Dec 13, 2014
This study examines emotional disclosure through the activity of journaling as a means of coping ... more This study examines emotional disclosure through the activity of journaling as a means of coping with maternal stress associated with parenting a child with disruptive behaviors. Through a randomized control and pretest post-test study design of an online journal writing intervention, change to maternal stress and quality of mother-child relationship for children with ASD, ADHD and SPD was addressed. Behavioral symptoms were found to be the primary source of parenting stress for mothers and a significant relationship between child characteristics and maternal stress was identified. Emotional disclosure through the online journal writing program (especially in the presence of high disclosure of negative emotions) was shown to reduce maternal stress and improve the quality of mother-child relationship. These findings suggest costeffective telehealth interventions may support maternal health. Important clinical implications are discussed.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Aug 1, 2020
Date Presented 03/28/20 Early ACEs have implications relating to mental, behavioral, and developm... more Date Presented 03/28/20 Early ACEs have implications relating to mental, behavioral, and developmental disabilities and lifelong health. This secondary data analysis of the NSCH demonstrates the relationship between ACEs and symptom severity for children with pediatric disability in the United States. Our results show that as adverse childhood experiences increase, symptom severity increases, emphasizing the importance of understanding underlying contextual factors in early intervention. Primary Author and Speaker: Rondalyn Whitney Contributing Authors: Elliott Theeke
Annals of international occupational therapy, Jul 1, 2021
The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, Jul 15, 2020
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Jun 8, 2022
The occupational role of a mother parenting a child with developmental and socially disruptive co... more The occupational role of a mother parenting a child with developmental and socially disruptive conduct is unique. How mothers express their experiences is poorly explored in the literature. This study aims to better understand mothers' description of their unique experiences in order to better inform interventions. Using a narrative inquiry approach, mothers convey unique stressors related to two central themes (role fulfillment and role support) during a journal writing intervention. Studying mothers' own words as they attempted to make sense of their experiences aligns with the foundational principles of narrative medicine: People make sense of their experiences through storytelling. Knowledge gained from this research underscores the importance of centering a mother's voice in order to create effective interventions.
Annals of international occupational therapy, Oct 1, 2019
The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, Jul 15, 2020
I would like to acknowledge Paula Kramer for her persevering mentorship and her generous, indefat... more I would like to acknowledge Paula Kramer for her persevering mentorship and her generous, indefatigable contribution to the scholarship of the profession. And to Guy McCormack, my first and most enduring teacher in the profession of occupational therapy.
Routledge eBooks, Sep 9, 2021
Routledge eBooks, Sep 9, 2021
The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, Nov 21, 2012
Changes in the soon to be released Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (American Psychiatric As... more Changes in the soon to be released Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2012) bring new opportunities for occupational therapy, but the profession must prepare for the impact these changes forecast. While well positioned to capitalize on newly defined specifications of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the elevation of sensory processing difficulties to a core feature of the disorder, the profession must be alert to the potential downside of the pending changes. The more stringent diagnostic rubric will likely exclude a significant number of individuals currently eligible for therapeutic and academic services. Autism will be defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder that must be identifiable before early childhood (age 5), even if it is not detected until later as a result of environmental factors (minimal social demands, support from caretakers, etc.). The new diagnostic criteria will add the explicit recognition of sensory behaviors within a subdomain of stereotyped motor, verbal, and sensory-based behaviors and researchers suggest only 60% of those who currently meet the threshold for an autism spectrum diagnosis will continue to meet criteria under the new categorization. The proposed changes will likely encourage researchers to use greater specificity when recruiting sample populations and, as a result, help to determine interventions that are most advantageous for specific subtypes. Addressing sensory processing in the diagnostic criteria may authorize interventions aimed specifically towards reduction of sensory-related disabilities through remediation, environmental support, or parent education while simultaneously calling upon us to deliver evidence for Ayres' sensory integration ® (ASI) approaches. The change also presents an urgent call to our profession to promote the unique scientific contributions occupational therapy makes for individuals with ASD, their families, and their educational contexts both including and in addition to the use of ASI approaches. These changes to the manual used by the psychological community for diagnosis offer occupational therapists an opportunity to emerge as the recognized leaders in the diagnosis and intervention of sensory processing disorders/dyspraxia. The issue is, then, how can the profession of occupational therapy clearly articulate our role and our knowledge to stakeholders and team members so occupational therapists are recognized as scientists and clinical experts, both key players in the diagnosis of sensory processing difficulties and the treatment of ASD?
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Papers by Rondalyn Whitney