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Stress Exposure, Secure Base Scriptedness, Psychosocial Needs Satisfaction And Behavioral Problems Among At-Risk Urban Adolescents, Kelsey Sala-Hamrick

Wayne State University Theses

The adolescent period of development is associated with increases in internalizing, externalizing, and other problem behaviors which are thought to be exacerbated by cumulative risk factors associated with environmental disadvantage. Previous research has demonstrated the associations between both secure attachment and psychosocial needs satisfaction with decreases in behavior problems; however, few studies have examined the relative effects of environmental stress exposure, attachment security and psychosocial needs satisfaction on adolescent behavioral problems. Therefore, this study recruited 106 environmentally at-risk, socioeconomically disadvantaged sample of urban adolescents and their caregivers from Detroit, MI in order to: (1) describe the levels of environmental disadvantage …

Acoustic Cues Of Physical Formidability In Cage Fighters, Stefan Mattias-Maria Goetz

Wayne State University Theses

Across the animal kingdom, the sex that experiences the most reproductive variance tends to evolve sexually dimorphic traits—both behavioral and morphological—which aid in reproduction. Human evolution has been marked by greater male intrasexual selection and as a result, men display a variety of secondary sexual characteristics, putatively serving to enhance biological fitness. Among these, fundamental frequency, closely related to perception of pitch, among men is half that of women. Likewise, monotonicity, that is, variance in pitch across an utterance, is higher in men (i.e., women show greater variance in pitch) while formant dispersion, which gives the voice its timbre, is …

Neural Correlates Of Episodic Memory Formation In Children And Adults, Lingfei Tang

Wayne State University Theses

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are two key brain regions that support episodic memory formation in both children and adults, but the functional developmental of these regions remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the development of neural correlates of episodic memory formation using functional MRI with a subsequent memory paradigm, administered to a cross-sectional sample of 83 children and adults. We found that MTL subregions showed an age-related increase in activation supporting memory formation of complex scenes. In addition, a functionally defined scene-sensitive region in the posterior MTL also showed similar increase and predicted better …

Resilience As A Predictor Of Postpartum Quality Of Life In A Sample Of Women With A History Of Trauma, Jessica Lee Irwin

Wayne State University Theses

Changes in economic, social, and living situations make the postpartum period especially challenging. Despite the growing need to study postpartum mothers' quality of life to determine how to buffer against risk, a vast majority of studies in this area have focused on what negatively impacts quality of life. The current study sought to determine whether factors such as positive parenting, family functioning and resilience positively predict quality of life when controlling for annual household income, depressive symptomatology and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Using hierarchical regression, it was confirmed that positive parenting and family functioning significantly contribute to quality of life, but …

Everyday Memory: An Expanded View Of Autobiographical Memory Functions, Jana Ranson

Wayne State University Theses

The current study investigated an expanded set of everyday autobiographical memory (AM) functions as proposed by developers of the 7-function Child-Caregiver Reminiscence Scale (CRS) (Kulkofsky & Koh, 2009). The current study adapted the theoretical CRS for use with diverse, adult samples. Participants (N = 1841) from a large, urban university completed the CRS-A online over the course or two academic semesters. Validation analyses included EFA using principal axis factoring, CFA, MGCFA invariance testing, and MTMM tests of construct validity (convergent and discriminant) and method effects. Results yielded evidence for a 6- function (Conversation, Perspective-Taking, Relationship Maintenance, Behavioral Control/Teaching/Problem-Solving, Emotion Regulation, …

Working Through School And Living With Conflict: The Role Of Selective Optimization With Compensation, Lydia Elizabeth Hamblin

Wayne State University Theses

Work-School Conflict (WSC) is defined as the extent to which work interferes with the ability to meet school demands (Markel & Frone, 1998). The aim of the present study was to examine perceptions of WSC among employed college students, as well as a positive antecedent, Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC; Baltes & Baltes, 1990), a group of behavior-based coping strategies. WSC was predicted to be a partial mediator between context-specific SOC strategies and the four outcomes: intent to persist with college, GPA, as well as two components of burnout, disengagement and exhaustion (Demerouti & Bakker, 2008). Structural equation modeling was …

Contextualized Extraversion And Its Change In Cross-Cultural Adjustment, Mengqiao Liu

Wayne State University Theses

Bridging recent developments in personality changes and contextualized personality, the current research focuses on changes in contextualized personality and their impact on cross-cultural adjustment. Findings revealed that contextualized Extraversion provided incremental validity in predicting context-related outcomes (i.e., cross-cultural adjustment) above and beyond global Extraversion. Although no significant changes were revealed regarding contextualized Extraversion, individual characteristics (i.e., cultural flexibility and cross-cultural motivation) negatively predicted individual differences in the rate of contextualized Extraversion changes. Implications and limitations were discussed.

Great Expectations: How Are Couples Influenced By Threatening Information Prior To A Pain Task?, Angelia Marie Corley

Wayne State University Theses

The present study examines the effects of a threat manipulation on romantic partners, in which one partner is about to undergo a painful task. Couples were randomly assigned to high and low threat manipulation groups, designed to alter one's anxiety or fear about the task. The study broadened the theoretical model, the Fear Avoidance Model, to the incorporate the social context and derived hypotheses regarding the role of one's romantic partner in the present paradigm. Results demonstrated preliminary evidence that a romantic partner may reduce one's anxiety about a painful task. Additionally, satisfaction with a conversation with a intimate partner …

Predictors Of Positive And Negative Affect Following Casual Sex, Jacqueline Woerner

Wayne State University Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of positive and negative affect following a recent casual sex experience in a sample of 585 men and women using a cross-sectional design. Structural Equation Modeling analyses identified sexual satisfaction, sexual assertiveness, belief in traditional gender roles, impulsivity, alcohol use, sex-related alcohol expectancies, and peer approval of casual sex as significant predictors of positive and negative affect. Support for hypotheses regarding gender differences were found: men reported greater positive affect and sexual satisfaction, and some predictors were significant for one gender but not the other. Practical implications for emotional and sexual …

Work-Health Conflict: Scale Development For Workers Managing A Chronic Illness, Sarah Renee Stoddart

Wayne State University Theses

ABSTRACT

WORK-HEALTH CONFLICT: SCALE DEVELOPMENT FOR WORKERS MANAGING A CHRONIC ILLNESS

by

SARAH STODDART

Advisor: Dr. Alyssa K. McGonagle

Major: Psychology (Industrial and Organizational)

Degree: Master of Arts

The current study developed a Work Health Conflict (WHC) scale to measure conflict experienced by workers who are managing a chronic health condition and continuing to work. It is estimated that 72 million working age adults are also managing a chronic illness. In order to develop the scale 4 studies were conducted using two samples of workers that are currently working with an illness. The first study employed an open-ended survey in …

Inattention And Hyperactivity Among Preschool Age Children Born Prematurely, Andrew Heitzer

Wayne State University Theses

A large body of literature shows that compared to children born at term, preterm- children are at increased risk for difficulties with inattention and hyperactivity. Less consistency exists, however, in the limited body of research exploring the contribution of early biological risk to behavioral disinhibition within the population of children born prematurely. Therefore, our goal was to examine perinatal variables that may influence activity level and hyperactivity among preterm preschoolers. Ninety-eight preterm (23.4 - 33.9 weeks gestation) preschoolers (3-4 years) participated in the study. Direct measures of inattention and hyperactivity as well as parental ratings were used to evaluate behavior. …

The Effect Of Organizational Violence Prevention Climate And Workplace Aggression Within Schools: An Investigation Of Burnout Syndrome In Teachers And The Moderating Effect Of Locus Of Control, Communal Orientation, And Violence Prevention Climate, Niambi Maia Childress

Wayne State University Theses

In accordance with the Job Demands-Resources model (Demerouti et al., 2001) and other related research (e.g. Bakker et al., 2006), the effect of overwhelming job demands to contribute to burnout can be mitigated by the presence of organizational resources and personal resources. This study examined the direct effects of three types (different perpetrators) of psychological and physical workplace aggression on burnout in teachers; as well as the moderating effects of teacher perceptions of violence prevention climate dimensions, LOC, and communal orientation in these relationships. Findings indicated that ambient physical aggression and Type III psychological aggression were significant predictors of overall …

Predictive Utility And Stability Of The Home Environment In An African American Sample From Diverse Socioeconomic Backgrounds, Mahya Rahimian Mashhadi

Wayne State University Theses

The quality of the home environment has a significant influence on various child outcomes. The current study investigated the predictive utility and stability of the home environment in a sample of 114 African American children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Analyses were conducted using archival data from the Early Development project, a study of the normative development of African American children. This project is consistent with a call by the Society for Research in Child Development (Cabrera, 2013) for research on the positive development of children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The purpose of the present study was to compare …

Animal-Assisted Therapy For Incarcerated Youth: A Randomized-Controlled Trial, Nicholas P. Seivert

Wayne State University Theses

This study is a randomized-controlled trial of a specific animal-assisted therapy (AAT) called Teacher's Pet (TP) with incarcerated youth. The intervention was expected to result in increased empathy and reduced internalizing and externalizing behavior problems as compared to the control. Dog attachment was theorized to be the mechanism for the increased empathy and reduced behavior problems. In addition, due to the attachment-based nature of the intervention, it was hypothesized that those with a history maltreatment/foster care would benefit the most. Participants were138 youth at two Midwestern juvenile detention facilities. The TP intervention trained dogs for one hour, twice weekly for …

The Effect Of Gaba A Antagonism On Locomotor Activity And Dopamine Release In The Mouse Caudate Putamen Following Acute Toluene Inhalation: An In-Vivo Microdialysis Study, Sean Callan

Wayne State University Theses

Toluene is ubiquitous solvent commonly inhaled recreationally. Despite its frequency of misuse, there is little understanding of how toluene acts within the brain. To examine this, this master's thesis examined the impact of acutely inhaled toluene on dopamine (DA) release in the mouse CPu in vivo using microdialysis techniques. Toluene inhalation produced dose-dependent increases in DA levels as well as changes in locomotor activity. These effects were potentiated by pre-treatment with the GABAA antagonist bicuculline via reverse microdialysis delivery. These results suggest that the DA dynamics of toluene abuse are related to toluene's previously explored effects on the GABA system. …

The Role Of World View Changes In The Longitudinal Associations Between Depression And Ptsd Symptoms And Later Sexual Problems, Erin Paige Mason

Wayne State University Theses

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a risk factor for the development of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as sexual problems. Additionally, previous research supports a relationship between symptoms of depression and PTSD and sexual problems in both sexually abused and non-abused samples. There has been little attempt, however, to explain the mechanisms responsible for this relationship. The current study proposed that abuse-related changes in world views might be one such mechanism and examined whether world view changes mediate longitudinal associations between depression and PTSD symptoms and sexual problems (sexual concerns, dysfunctional sexual behavior, and risky sexual …

Temporal Relationships Between Psychological Distress And Risky Behaviors In A Sample Of Homeless And At-Risk Youth, Tegan Lesperance

Wayne State University Theses

The present study examined temporal relationships between psychological distress and two types of risk behavior; risky sexual behavior and substance abuse/dependence, in a sample of 253 at-risk youth. Using structural equation modeling, the self-medication and risk-first hypotheses were tested using longitudinal data spanning 7 years. Each model lent support to both hypotheses, further supporting the relationship between risk-taking behaviors and psychological distress among youth. Early psychological distress predicted later involvement in risky sexual behaviors, while later distress predicted substance abuse/dependence. Earlier risky sexual behaviors and substance abuse/dependence predicted psychological distress at later time points. These findings suggest the need to …

Antidepressant Medications And Cognitive Functioning In Major Depressive Disorder, Rachel Kay

Wayne State University Theses

Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) frequently experience cognitive decrements in addition to mood impairments. Ironically, antidepressant medications used to treat depression may have adverse effects on cognitive functioning. It is imperative to understand the relative cognitive costs of antidepressants when considering the treatment of MDD patients. Furthermore, observational studies of depression are challenged by problems of systematically confounded variables. Researchers are often faced with difficulties in managing this issue and opt to either ignore the problem, alter their sample, or use inappropriate statistical methods (e.g., Analysis of Covariance) due to a limited understanding of acceptable solutions. It is important …

Neurobiological Correlates Of Personality And Emotional Expression In Traumatic Brain Injury, Christina G. Wong

Wayne State University Theses

Many individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience cognitive, emotional, and functional deficits, all of which can contribute to chronic stress. Unfortunately, individuals with TBI often engage in less effective coping than non-brain-injured individuals, which has negative implications for rehabilitation. Differences in personality traits have been linked to individual differences in coping styles, physiological stress reactivity, and emotional disclosure. Research on personality and coping after TBI has been sparse. Thus, the present study examined the influence of TBI on the pattern of the relationships between personality, emotional expression, and stress reactivity. Eighty-one adults who sustained moderate to severe TBI and …

Using Objective Measures To Capture Work-Family Conflict, Rebecca Jean Early

Wayne State University Theses

Research conducted on WFC (WFC) is primarily measured using self-reported subjective scales that fail to encapsulate the entirety of the WFC construct. Many authors have acknowledged the importance of generating a complementary objective WFC scale, in an effort to enhance one's ability to predict work-related outcomes within and between individuals. The purpose of the current study was to identify objective items measuring work-interfering-with-family (and vice versa) that can more accurately predict relevant outcomes (i.e., life, family, and job satisfaction; psychological strain; turnover; burnout; health; organizational commitment; depression) when used in conjunction with currently existing subjective work-interfering-with-family (WIF) and family-interfering-with-work (FIW) …

Cumulative Risk, The Home Environment, And Interactive Book Reading Between Mother And Child As Predictors Of School Readiness, Laura Mary Northerner

Wayne State University Theses

There is evidence in the literature that early school readiness predicts later school performance (Duncan et al., 2007; La Paro and Pianta, 2000). There is less research, however, on the impact of risk factors on a child's school readiness, and protective factors that may lessen the negative effects of various risk factors. This study explored predictors of school readiness, including cumulative socio-demographic risk, the home environment, and interactive book reading behaviors. Participants included 104 young mothers and their children. The mother and child dyads were assessed at three time points. Cumulative socio-demographic risk was measured in the lab when the …

Ethnicity, Culture, And Mental Health Among College Students Of Middle Eastern Heritage, Hasti Ashtiani Raveau

Wayne State University Theses

Depression is a significant mental health issue in American college students. However, as is the case for other minority students, this topic has been little studied in students of Middle Eastern background. Stigma and negative attitudes toward seeking mental health services are a big part of Middle Eastern culture, which reduces the chances that this population will seek treatment when they need it. In addition, it is important to study the relationship between ethnic identity and psychological functioning, because ethnic identity could serve as a protective factor against depression in persons of Middle Eastern descent. A strong cultural identity is …

Protective Effects Of The Alcohol Dehydrogenase-Adh1b Allele, Neil Dodge

Wayne State University Theses

Alcohol dehydrogenase is a critical enzyme in the metabolism of alcohol. Expression of three alleles at the ADH1B locus results in enzymes that differ in turnover rate and affinity for alcohol. The ADH1B*3 allele, which appears to be unique to African Americans, is associated with more rapid alcohol metabolism than the more prevalent ADH1B*1 allele. It has been previously demonstrated that the presence of at least one maternal ADH1B*3 allele confers a protective effect against alcohol teratogenicity in African American infants and children. This study was conducted to determine whether the presence of the ADH1B*3 allele in the mother or …

Psychometric Properties Of The Coping Inventory For Stressful Situations In Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury, Hillary A. Greene

Wayne State University Theses

Although research suggests that coping style affects recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI), research on assessment of coping style after TBI is sparse. Prevalent theories in the general coping literature suggest a three-factor structure of coping style: task-, emotion-, and avoidance-oriented. However, this factor structure might not well characterize coping after TBI given the cognitive and emotional deficits associated with this population. Therefore, this study examined the psychometric properties of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) among persons with moderate to severe TBI using approaches from Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT; Rasch analysis). This study …

Cumulative Risk, Parental Emotional Expressivity, And Parental Secure Base As Predictors Of Children's Social Competence, Caitlin Marie Mclear

Wayne State University Theses

There is substantial evidence in the literature focusing on the effects a child's social competence can have on future school success (Bulotsky-Shearer, Dominguez, Bell, Rouse, & Fantuzzo, 2010; Krishnakumar & Black, 2002; Foster, Lambert, Abbott-Shim, McCarty, & Franze, 2005). However, less research has been conducted specifically on the effects of exposure to risk on a child's social competence, and which factors may protect them from the negative effects of the presence of various risk factors. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the extent to which the accumulation of contextual risk factors influences social competence, and role that …

The Effect Of Sensory Impairment On Cognitive Functioning And Functional Status In Octogenarians And Centenarians, Annalise Marie Rahman

Wayne State University Theses

Two theories predominate to explain the covariation of cognitive and sensory functions across the lifespan: The Common Cause hypothesis and the Sensory Deprivation hypothesis. It was hypothesized that the Common Cause hypothesis better accounted for the these relationships. This hypothesis was assessed by examining the associations between sensory functioning, cognitive functioning, functional status, and motor functioning in samples of octogenarians (n = 80) and centenarians (n = 244) drawn from the Georgia Centenarian Study, Phase 3, Project 3. Special attention was given to cross-sensory-modality associations. Hierarchical regressions were also utilized to determine whether inclusion of either measured or self-reported sensory …

Community Violence, Ethnicity, Psychological Distress, And Externalizing Behaviors In Emerging Adulthood: The Moderating Effects Of Social Support, Holly Hannah Reid

Wayne State University Theses

Using hierarchical multiple regression, overall social support was found to moderate the relationship between exposure to community violence and psychological distress for European American and African-American at-risk emerging adults. For both ethnic groups, neither ISEL total nor SNI helping social support moderated the relation between community violence and the outcomes of substance abuse and conduct disorder/deviant behaviors. Ethnicity moderated the relationship between exposure to community violence and substance abuse behaviors within an SNI helping support regression, such that European Americans who reported greater violence exposure reported more substance abuse symptoms. SNI helping support moderated the relationship between exposure to community …

The Influence Of Parent-Child Conflict And Stressful Experiences On The Health Of Youth With Asthma, Erin T. Tobin

Wayne State University Theses

Attaining a clear picture of everyday family interactions is essential for understanding how family stress and conflict adversely affects children's health, especially in the context of chronic illness. Using a naturalistic observation sampling method called the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), we sought to investigate the effects of daily interpersonal conflicts and parental stress on pediatric asthma outcomes. We collected data from 81 children, aged 10 to 17 (M age = 12.88), and their primary caregiver as part of a larger study. Each child completed a pulmonary function test and self-report questionnaires of asthma symptoms. Asthma-related medical information was abstracted from …

Impulsivity As A Correlate Of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking, Dinah Ayna

Wayne State University Theses

Waterpipe tobacco smoking has become increasingly popular in the past decade, yet no studies examined personality predictors of its use. This study is the first to assess impulsivity as a potential correlate for waterpipe tobacco smoking use and frequency. 43.2% reported ever using the waterpipe, with 64% of those reporting use less than once a month. Arab students were 3-5 times more likely to have used a waterpipe. Arab ethnicity moderated the relationship between waterpipe smoking and impulsivity such that self-reported (but not laboratory) impulsivity predicted lifetime waterpipe smoking for non-Arabs, but not for Arabs. Waterpipe users were also more …

Language Development Among Preschool Age Children Born Prematurely, Brittany Nicole Peters

Wayne State University Theses

Premature birth has been shown to be associated with various deficits in neuropsychological functioning during early childhood; however, few studies have attempted to understand the variables that contribute to variability in performance among children born prematurely. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationships between specific perinatal factors and language and cognitive outcome measures in a group of preschool-aged children born prematurely (N=47). As predicted, there were significant relationships between sex and specific outcome measures, with boys performing more poorly than girls; however, contrary to hypotheses, significant relationships failed to be found between outcome measures and both …