Browsing by Author "Johnson, Donald Arthur"
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    Existential therapy in intercultural Western-Thai therapeutic relationships
    (Assumption University Press, 2020) Conrad, Chase Victor ; Johnson, Donald Arthur
    The purpose of this study was to identify specific challenges that Thai clients may experience in the psychotherapeutic process, and identify ways to overcome those barriers using existentialist therapy. Research questions were: 1. Is existential psychotherapy effective with Thai clients to assist them with mental health issues? 2. What challenges arise in the psychotherapeutic process when a Western therapist works with a Thai client, and what strategies can overcome those challenges? 3. How can the therapist help develop the Thai client’s sense of self-awareness, so the client continues to examine their life on their own, ultimately leading to no longer needing professional therapy? The study was a qualitative, multiple-case, narrative inquiry conducted in Thailand with Thai participants and a U.S. researcher. Participants were three Thai female university students at a liberal arts university. Data collection consisted of recording individual participant psychotherapeutic sessions supplemented with therapist notes of those sessions. Analysis involved a search for categorical themes that united the therapeutic experiences of these individuals. The results of the case studies showed significant themes from the existential therapy in terms of the need to establish trust, work with the initial lack of knowledge about therapy, identify and deal with specific challenges facing Western therapists working with Thai clients, and reveal the depth of existential understanding. It was concluded that existential therapy is useful in assisting Thai clients gain greater holistic healing from traumatic experiences.
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    A path model of the effects of attitudes to the internet, depression, anxiety, stress, gender, and study time on internet addiction and academic performance of undergraduate students in Kachin Region of Myanmar
    (Assumption University Press, 2020) San, Htang ; Johnson, Donald Arthur
    Internet addiction has become an increasing problem with young people these days. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between attitudes toward the internet, depression, anxiety, stress, gender, and study time on internet addiction and academic performance in the second year students of Institute of Education and Maija Yang College in Maija Yang of Kachin Region in Myanmar. In August 2018 113 students completed a self-report survey questionnaire which included the Internet Addiction Test, DASS-21, and the Internet Attitude Scale. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict internet addiction, study time, and academic performance. Results showed that anxiety, gender, and internet attitude were significant predictors of internet addiction. The research did not find any significant predictors of study time. Gender (female) and study time were significant positive predictors of academic performance, while internet addiction was a negative predictor of academic performance (GPA). Although females reported having higher levels of internet addiction, they also had higher GPA. The findings, limitations, recommendations, and conclusion of the study were discussed accordingly.
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    A qualitative look into the lives and aspirations of street children in Ho Chi Minh City
    (Bangkok : Assumption University, 2019) Jeffrey, Azrael Josiah ; Johnson, Donald Arthur
    The following paper presents a phenomenological view of Street children’s future aspirations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (HCMC) in 2018. Information was collected addressing general background data, their experiences of living on the street, and the reasons for and how they came to be living on the streets. The subjects studied comprised 3 male and 3 female street children living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Phenomenological interviews were generated using a variety of quantifiable data techniques. They included: in-depth interviews of participants (street children), in-depth interviews of adult individuals in the children’s lives, questionnaires, and observation. The results of the study show a correlation between poverty, broken homes, abuse, limited schooling, and at times, human trafficking. Participants often displayed avoidance or aggression when confronted with uncomfortable or taboo topics. Possible symptoms relating to mental disorders displayed were: depression, generalized anxiety, attachment disorders, aggression, criminality, frustration and hopelessness. The children were drawn to foreigners as a means to earn money, either through sales of trinkets or through scams or begging. As such, the participants generally displayed exaggerated friendliness, superficial connections, and forward mannerisms with adult speaking patterns. All the children had aspirations and perhaps unrealistic goals for the future.
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    Social support avail ability, psychological distress symptoms and level of motivation affecting Thai addicts' self-esteem as moderated by their hierarchical position in an institutional therapeutic community rehab model
    (Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2022) Gramling, John Ralph Cotton ; Johnson, Donald Arthur
    A prominent drug and alcohol rehabilitation method worldwide is the Therapeutic Community (TC), which employs a hierarchal system to promote member addicts to leadership positions. All addicts begin the TC program at the bottom of this hierarchy and move up the ladder throughout their stay. Some eventually become work leaders and mentors for the newer members of the addict community. However, with shorter rehabilitation durations, member addicts often finish the program without having experienced the top tiers of the hierarchy.Although research is abundant regarding relapse of TC community members, there is little on the self-esteem of these patients resulting from poor social support, the presence of psychological distress symptoms, poor motivation, and poor hierarchy positions. The current study attempted to examine why some addicts were leaving the program with low self-esteem, hypothesizing that perceived social support, achievement motivation, and psychological distress symptoms all play a role. This relationship is moderated by the patients’ position in the social hierarchy.Findings suggest that perceived social support and psychological distress symptoms (specifically depression and hostility) significantly affected patient self-esteem upon exiting the community. Still, social hierarchy did not play a role in moderating this relationship, nor was it a significant predictor of self-esteem. Further research could benefit from a longitudinal study that monitors self-esteem at multiple patient rehabilitation intervals.
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