Digital Commons Network^™

Predictors Of International Students' Acculturation Processes In The United States, Somaya Eissa

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

International students have unique acculturation experiences. There are several factors that can play a role in their acculturation process. This topic has not been widely investigated in midwestern middle sized universities in the United States. This study had four specific hypotheses. The first was that the assimilation model is going to be correlated to a stricter upbringing of the individual. The second was that the separation model is going to be correlated with higher religiosity. The third was that the integration model will be correlated with higher

levels of outgoingness. Lastly, that marginalization will be correlated with lower levels of …

The Role Of Bicultural Identity Integration In The Relationship Between Discrimination And Well-Being, Jasmine Chananna

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Previous research indicates that experiencing discrimination from dominant group members and having a less integrated bicultural identity are associated with negative psychological outcomes for bicultural individuals. Further, bicultural identity integration (BII) has also been found to mediate the relationship between discrimination from dominant group members and well-being. However, there is insufficient research exploring the impact of discrimination from one’s heritage group members. Thus, this study aimed to explore the impact of in-group discrimination on psychological adjustment and self-concept clarity. This study also aimed to explore BII as a mediator between in-group or out-group discrimination and psychological outcomes. Correlational analyses supported …

Survivor Guilt And Posttraumatic Stress Among Young Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer, Alexandra Neenan

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for a variety of adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in a small, but notable, minority of childhood cancer survivors. Little is known about modifiable factors that may increase the risk of developing PTSD as a young adult survivor. One of the difficulties that has been minimally explored in this group is exposure to the deaths of other children with cancer, despite a 25% 15- year mortality rate among children who are diagnosed with cancer. The current study was among the first to explore potential impacts of this high …

The Role Of Caregiver Anxiety, Sleep, Distress, And Emotion Socialization Behaviors On Child Behaviors, Amanda Hicks

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In early childhood, caregivers are the primary agents of emotion socialization, helping their child identify, label, and healthily express their emotions. How a caregiver aids in emotion development and understanding has important implications for their child’s behavior regulation. Distressed caregivers may have difficulty helping their child cope with negative emotions leading to an increased likelihood of problem behaviors over time. While some literature has highlighted an association between caregiver anxiety and child behavior problems, little is known about the mechanisms by which anxiety negatively impacts child behaviors. Caregiver risk factors such as poor sleep, distress related to their child’s negative …

Assessing College Students' Knowledge Of Applied Behavior Analysis And Evaluating The Effects Of A Fact Sheet To Address Misconceptions, Hannah Goike

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Previous research has indicated that college students consistently endorse misconceptions about behavior analysis (e.g., use of physical punishment, Applied Behavior Analysis [ABA] is only intended for people with autism). This study aims to assess college students’ knowledge of behavior analysis and identify the extent to which participants are likely to endorse common misconceptions. This study replicated Artzen et al. (2010) and extended it by adding questions related to the recent trends and reported misunderstandings in the field of ABA that stem from public misconceptions. The current study also evaluated the effects of a brief intervention for improving participant knowledge of …

Financial Autonomy And Happiness In College Students: Can They Coexist?, Jordyn Gerwig

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Prior research and theory suggests that happiness is often associated with charitable expenses and associated with feelings of autonomy. The present research examined how autonomy influences the happiness experiences participants have when spending money either charitably or on themselves. Participants completed the research online in an hour setting. Participants were asked to imagine situations where they have the ability to spend money freely, or where they first must seek advice or consult before making spending decisions. For half of each of these participants, they were directed to consider spending money on themselves, whereas the other participants were directed to consider …

Expressions And Attributions Of Ableism For Disabilities That Were Caused Or Congenital, Hadlie R. Daigle

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Ableism is a form of systemic oppression that prejudices disabled people. Ableist views perpetuate the idea that being non-disabled as the ideal and disability is a flaw or weakness to avoid. This research compared how different reasons for disabilities might lead to ableism toward auditory and cognitive disabilities. Some participants read about an individual who had cognitive disabilities (TBI) from congenital reasons, others due to illness, and then others due to a lack of caution leading to an injury resulting in TBI. Similarly, participants also read about individuals who had experienced an auditory deficit (deafness) due to these varying reasons …

Development Of An Executive Functioning Intervention To Improve Asthma Self-Management In Black Adolescents And Young Adults: Preliminary Feedback And Future Considerations, Kelsey L. Jong

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

n the United States, asthma is the most common chronic medical condition in youth, and it disproportionately affects Black adolescents. Numerous studies document poor asthma self-management for adolescents and young adults (AYAs), which compromises treatment effectiveness and drives up healthcare costs. However, it remains unclear how to increase health-promoting behaviors and reduce health disparities between Black AYAs and other races who experience better asthma-related outcomes. Interventions have been developed to improve adolescent self-management, yet few comprehensively address the psychological, cognitive, and contextual components that may interfere with an AYA's engagement in health behaviors, and few have developed interventions utilizing AYA …

“We Gon’ Be Alright”: How Resiliency & Africultural Coping Behaviors Factor Into African American College Students’ Intentions To Seek Mental Health Services, Taylor Garland

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: African Americans, apprehension toward utilizing mental health services (MHS) has a long history in the United States. The low rates of utilizing MHS can result in detrimental health consequences, both mental and physical, despite there being a developing literature base on how evidence-based treatments are effective in therapy with African Americans.

Objective: There is expansive literature on several factors (e.g., stigma, cultural mistrust) that contribute to African Americans’ hesitancy concerning seeking MHS. The current study aimed to add to this literature base. Specifically, this study sought to acknowledge both African American college students’ choices to use alternative coping strategies …

Evaluation Of Resurgence Following Differential Reinforcement Of Alternative Behavior With And Without Extinction In A Human-Operant Model, Skylar Dewitt

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) plus extinction for problem behavior is an evidence-based intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism. However, researchers have recently begun investigating DRA without extinction, given this treatment component may be unsafe or impractical to implement in practice. Although preliminary research has indicated DRA without extinction as an effective intervention alternative, little is known about the long-term implications of this intervention, especially as it relates to resurgence. This study investigated resurgence following DRA with and without extinction using a three-phase resurgence assessment in a human-operant arrangement across 60 college-aged participants. Several study iterations were required to …

Adherence To Covid-19 Safety Guidelines As A Function Of Depression And Anxiety, Derek Berger

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The entire world has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in a multitude of ways. This project aimed to identify if those experiencing depression and anxiety are more likely or less likely to follow mandated guidelines and safety procedures for COVID-19 than those who are undiagnosed. For the purposes of this project, guidelines and safety procedures were defined as receiving the COVID-19 vaccines, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and avoiding social gatherings. Data were gathered through the construction and administration of a nationwide survey, and then depression and anxiety were correlated with each safety procedure separately. It was found …

Psychology And Criminology Students' Attribution Of Factors Contributing To Criminal Behaviors, Ava Marie Leahy

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the attribution of contributing factors to criminal behaviors between psychology and criminology majors. To gauge participant perception, a carefully crafted vignette was presented to participants accompanied by questions asking participants to what extent eight variables (conformation to labels, hostile attribution bias, rational choice based on circumstances, poor attachments, mental illness, upbringing, insufficient deterrence, and learned behavior through observation) contributed to the perpetrator’s criminal behavior and for participants to rank-order these same variables from the largest contributors to the least. Participants were also asked to provide a sentencing recommendation for …

Examining Stereotypes Of Fatherhood According To The Stereotype Content Model, Basra Keynan

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This study examined participants' stereotypic views of fathers. The analysis used the Stereotype Content Model as a focus. Participants (Ps) first rated men in general and then different types of fathers (3 types) on 62 traits (e.g., open, caring) on a 6-point scales (0 = not all like to 6 = most like). The father types measured included: married father, divorced non-resident, divorced resident, stepfather, never married, adoptive, and gay fathers. These ratings were compared to what participants believe is typical of men and will assess the extent that each type of father is in the domains of warmth and …

The Impact Of Belief In A Just World And Social Dominance Orientation On Reactions To Pay Inequities, Sydney Rae Dhue

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Prior work has examined how racial prejudice can lead to the acceptance of unjust pay toward women and minorities. Other work has found that people who are high in the belief in a just world (BJW) often accept the outcome of events and situations despite differences in outcomes for certain individuals or groups. This research examined if BJW and social dominance orientation (SDO) contributes to the acceptance of pay discrimination toward African Americans. In the research participants read a description of a job applicant and an offer of employment toward that applicant. For the description, participants received explicit information that …

Initial Evaluation Of The Reliability And Validity Of An Assessment-Based Approach To Identifying And Addressing Barriers To Caregiver Treatment Adherence, Elah Sunde

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Caregiver-mediated behavioral interventions are a critical and evidence-based treatment of childhood behavioral concerns. However, caregivers face many barriers to adherence that can reduce the effectiveness of these interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a training protocol delivered over telehealth within an integrated behavioral health setting, evaluate the reliability and validity of an assessment tool (i.e., the Performance Diagnostic Checklist - Parent), and examine patterns of engagement (e.g., missed sessions, dropout rates) that caregivers experienced. Eight caregivers enrolled in the study and received a child-directed interaction protocol, which included instruction, a video model and skill …

Social Media Use In Adolescence: Longitudinal Relationships With Social Functioning And Psychopathology, Aidan P. Schmitt

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Social media use and psychopathology are both prevalent during adolescence; however, the relationship between these two variables is not yet fully understood. Research on these topics is generally myopic in that it focuses on a brief window of time (e.g., cross-sectional studies), a small number of variables (e.g., hours spent per day; depressive symptoms), and uses single reporters and measures (e.g., adolescent report using a questionnaire). Extant literature shows moderate relationships between frequency of social media use and depressive symptoms; however, most studies do not use statistical methods that investigate bidirectionality or parse apart between-person and within-person effects, so effects …

The Impact Of Early Social Factors On Trajectories Of Internalizing Behavior Problems Within Maltreated Foster Care Youth, Ethan Michael Paschall

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Children who experience maltreatment are at an increased risk for developing internalizing problems. Little is known about long-term symptom trajectories of children placed in foster care following maltreatment. This study used contemporary growth mixture modeling to assess symptom trajectories of 322 youth from the Consortium for Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect Southwest site placed in foster care due to maltreatment. Internalizing symptom trajectories were assessed using Child Behavior Checklist caregiver reports. This study examined the relationship between early social factors (i.e., social support, unpopularity, aggression, cognitive ability, trauma exposure) and trajectories of future internalizing symptoms. Results indicate a …

Ptsd Endorsement Among Diverse Populations During Covid-19 Pandemic, Noor Jassim

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health diagnosis that is a reaction to very stressful experiences. PTSD may hamper the quality of life for individuals suffering from it. It has been shown that being part of disadvantaged groups racially and socioeconomically may pose a higher risk of experiencing PTSD. The stress component of PTSD is the imbalance between the demands of an environment and an individual's ability to cope. A mismatch between degree of demands and coping ability influences psychological and physiological well-being. The impact on well-being varies by stress being acute, chronic, or a combined state of acute …

Attachment Security Moderating The Effects Of Social Media Use On Body Dissatisfaction In Adolescent Girls, Jenna Walters

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Social relationships are important for the vast majority of people, especially adolescents. Social media has become increasingly common in people under the age of 30 and has been associated with body dissatisfaction and stress; furthermore, insecure attachment styles have also been associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescents. Using the survey results from 104 adolescent girls from a Midwestern metropolitan area, this study examined how attachment style potentially moderates the relationship between three social media variables (frequency of use, emotional investment in social media, and pressure felt from media) and body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls. Controlling for age and body mass …

Stereotype Threat Within The Lgbtq+ Community, Chloe Laporte

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This study examined stereotype threat for students from the LGBTQ+ community. Stereotype threat can cause negative effects regarding performance and can influence the expression of social behaviors. This project observed differences between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ identifying groups who believe the study tests performance stereotypes for LGBTQ+ students (or not), on a quantitative test, as well as for responses about social behaviors. I postulated that LGBTQ+ individuals under threat will perform more poorly on the test, and exhibit more problematic social behaviors. In the current study, some participants were assigned to a control condition and were given a diagnostic test, while …

Pursuit Of Happiness: How Perceived Financial Autonomy Affects Happiness In College Students, Maxwell Andrews

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Does having control over how you spend your money influence happiness? Prior research has asked to what extent money positively influences happiness and about the factors/contexts that make it so. This study examines one of those factors on how individual reports of happiness and positive affect are influenced by the realization of financial independence (having the ability to make fully independent decisions on how one spends their finances). It was hypothesized that people who have financial independence (or imagine having that independence) will be more likely to report greater amounts of happiness and positive affect after thinking about finances, as …

Coping Styles As A Moderator Between Body Dissatisfaction And Maladaptive Eating Behaviors, Maisy Seale

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are prevalent and concerning issues for adolescent girls. Coping styles have been linked to disordered eating behaviors. Little research has tied coping with body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. When this has been done, there have not been significant results. This study was designed to see if there could be significant results for negative coping as a moderator between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior. Adolescent girls aged 11 to 18 years old participated by completing online questionnaires. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis of negative coping as a moderator between body dissatisfaction …

Examining The Strong Black Woman Schema, Kaiya Keiko Haywood

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Research about the Strong Black Women (SBW) schema shows that it can have harmful outcomes when individuals are given a specific SBW stereotype to consider (Donovan & West, 2015). I examined the benefits of the SBW schema when participants were given a schema description absent of a specific exemplar or stereotype, a description of a person characterized by mostly positive traits related to the schema (as found in pilot data). Participants then attempted to match the description with a Black woman (or not) and reported how inspiring and reassuring the protagonist made them feel. It was hypothesized that the description …

Dyadic Analysis Of Positive And Negative Social Support Behaviors And Psychological Outcomes In Romantic Couples, Lucas H. Parnell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The current study examined the effect of social support behaviors on psychological adjustment in couples. Couples (N = 123) completed surveys assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms. Observational support interactions were conducted to measure partners’ positive and negative affective support behaviors. Structural equation modeling and actor-partner interdependence models (APIM) were used to estimate effects. Results highlight the unfavorable effects of negative social support behaviors on one’s own depression symptoms. Additionally, men’s, but not women’s, negative support behaviors were found to be associated with elevated partner depression symptoms. No significant predictors were found in models predicting anxiety. The combination of partners’ …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Pediatric Primary Care Physician Training For Anxiety Screening And Psychoeducation, Julie A. Wojtaszek

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent psychological conditions in the pediatric population with significant impacts that often extend into adulthood. Pediatricians are in a unique position to screen and briefly intervene to facilitate early treatment and prevent long-term sequelae, but they often do not have adequate training. The current study addressed this gap with a brief online educational workshop that had two aims: to promote (a) screening for anxiety and (b) appropriate evidence-based interventions. Fifty-three providers participated, and 38 completed surveys preand post-training. Findings support the acceptability of the training, improved knowledge related to anxiety, and an increased readiness …

A Comparison Of Forensic Populations Using The Validity Scales On The Mmpi-3, Steven W. Steinert

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Examining the impact of different factors influencing the validity of an individual’s self-report during a psychological assessment is important in ensuring valid clinical findings and useful recommendations. These factors are often referred to as response biases. There are multiple types of response bias that can negatively influence the validity of self-reports in clinical assessment contexts. Specifically, individuals undergoing an assessment can be impacted by non-contentbased response bias, overreporting, and underreporting of psychological impairment and/or distress. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) instruments are amongst the leading tools within professional psychology used to identify response bias. The most recent iteration, the MMPI-3, …

Screening For Energy Restriction In Middle And Late Life, Kate Happel Krautbauer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The most commonly used screening tools for disordered eating, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Eating Disorders Examination–Questionnaire (EDE-Q), rely on the detection of shape and weight concerns to identify potentially dangerous caloric restriction among adolescent girls and young adult women. It is unclear how accurate these measures are at detecting restriction among adults 40 years and older. These adults may be vulnerable to developing or maintaining restrictive eating patterns when healthcare providers recommend weight loss as a preventative health measure or when acute or chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes or cancers) impact eating. The present online study (a) evaluated the …

The Role Of Caregiver-Reported Emerging Social Attention In Predicting Duration Of Orienting And Social Communication, Casey E. Swick

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Early identification of atypical development could lead to opportunities for earlier intervention, ultimately improving developmental outcomes. Early signs of atypical attention, social attention, and social communication development emerge in infancy, yet age at diagnosis of neurodevelopmental difficulties does not typically occur until well after the first year of life. In order to achieve this goal of early identification, sensitive and accessible tools are needed to identify infants at risk for atypical development. This study examined whether caregivers could report on emerging social attention behaviors in the first days to weeks of life with a novel, experimental scale (PediaTrac SSIP). This …

Avatars And Empathy: The Use Of Video Games To Affect Prejudicial Evaluations Of African Americans, Christopher J. Corr

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research sought to test the relation between video game avatars (online representations of the self), empathy, social dominance orientation, and prejudice. By having participants imagine playing in a game as an avatar I sought to test three hypotheses. Th first hypothesis proposed that that participants would be more inclined to support policies regarding a specific racial group when imagining play as an avatar representing that group. The second hypothesis proposed that empathy would influence the connection between the avatar and participant race variables. The third, which was split into three parts, tested for a negative correlation between prejudice and …

Assessing The Relationship Between Audience And Sport Performance In Competition During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Noah Perrin

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment in sports in which players are performing in the absence of crowds. This study analyzed the performance of 12 teams and 11 players in games played with and without an audience over a period of three years in collegiate basketball. It was expected that in games with crowds, simple tasks (free throws) would be more successful and complex tasks (field goals) would be less successful compared to games without crowds. The second hypothesis predicted that home performances would be better than away performances in seasons with crowds, but there would be no difference …