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Moderate Likability And Popularity: Understand Peer Status Through Casual Relationships, Ziyue Cui

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Peer status has been extensively studied in the past few decades. Popularity and likability are recognized as two distinct dimensions of peer status. However, the operationalization of likability has overlooked moderate liking resulting from casual and friendly relationships. The present study assessed moderate liking through peer ratings and examined its relation with popularity. In Study 1, the correlation between popularity and moderate liking and the correlation between popularity and likability derived from the traditional sociometric method were compared. Two Greek chapters were recruited. Thirty one participants nominated chapter members whom they liked the most and least and whom they thought …

Exploration Of The Interaction Of Maternal Experience Of Trauma And Infant Temperament On Maternal Parenting, Julie Christine Van Weelden

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Among women over age 18, 1 in 3 have experienced intimate partner violence, including physical aggression and stalking, and nearly 1 in 5 have experienced some type of sexual violence during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood (Black et al., 2011). Given the high rates of trauma experiences in women of childbearing age, especially in low-income populations (Gillepsie et al, 2009), it is critical to examine the effect these experiences have on women´s parenting, especially during infancy, a sensitive period for many important domains of child development (Bornstein, 2002). Previous research has demonstrated experiencing victimization can affect maternal caregiving (Trickett, Noll, Putnam, …

Trait Contempt Predicts Tendencies To Dehumanize Others, Russell Steiger

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Prior research pertaining to the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) has found that groups stereotyped as “cold and incompetent” (e.g., refugees, homeless people, drug addicts) are most likely to elicit both emotional state contempt and dehumanization. However, no prior studies have examined trait (dispositional) contempt’s relationship with dehumanization towards different SCM-relevant groups. Across two studies, I examined trait contempt as a predictor of dehumanization within the context of the SCM. Trait contempt is characterized by frequent cold feelings towards others and frequently viewing others as incompetent. I therefore proposed that since contemptuous people view their social world through a “cold and …

Hope And Focus On Future As Protective Health Factors? A Moderation Analysis With Race And Income, Rebecca Mcgarity-Palmer

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Health promotion and prevention are important goals in public health (Dubois, 2017). Hope and consideration of future consequences are two suggested protective factors that promote healthy behaviors, such as healthy eating and physical activity (Joireman et al., 2012; Joireman & King, 2016; Kwon et al., 2015; Scioli et al., 2011; Valle et al., 2006). These behaviors are important preventive measures and promote optimum physical and mental health (Aboderin et al., 2001; Elisaf, 2001; Hu et al., 2001; Key, Allen, Spencer, & Travis, 2002; WHO, 2018). However, physical and mental health disorders disproportionally impact oppressed and marginalized communities (Adler & Rehkopf, …

Social Networks As Mediators Of Proximal Recovery Outcomes For Veterans Living In Recovery Homes, Mayra Guerrero

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Although the prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse among veterans has been long documented (Kulka et al., 1988; Tanielian et al., 2008), insufficient work has been done on veterans living within recovery homes such as Oxford House (OH). Approximately 18% of OH residents in the United States are veterans (Oxford House, 2015); however, only one study has looked at veteran status within OH (Majer, Jason, Ferrari, Venable, & Olson, 2002). In addition, no study has examined the social networks of veterans within recovery homes. Furthermore, although the relationship between length of stay (LOS) in an OH and various positive outcomes …

The Cost Of Being A “Strong Black Woman”, Alescia Maraboushontrell Hollowell

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current study explored how internalization of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) race-gender ideology contributes to poor health behaviors and outcomes in Black women. The SBW ideology is associated with maladaptive eating patterns and psychological distress, but less is known about the other physical health implications of this endorsement. The current study sought to better understand the mechanisms that contribute to this relationship and examine the association between endorsement of the SBW ideology and outcomes of physical activity and eating behaviors, weight satisfaction, chronic stress, and depression. Participants were 91 African American women aged 18-65 years recruited from the south …

How Women Navigate Safety In The Dominican Bateyes, Mary Margaret Tull

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Research has demonstrated that individuals of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic are at high risk of violence and experience multiple levels of structural oppression. However, less research exists specifically for women of Haitian descent, who are at unique risk of violence due to the complex political history between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as structural and gendered violence. I use frameworks of socio-ecological systems, intersectionality, structured violence, and gendered violence to consider how women of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic construct safety and prioritize different needs for their survival. I used thematic analysis to analyze life …

Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Neighborhoods, Stroke Risk, And Cognition In Older Adults: A Focus On Violent Crime, Linda D. Ruiz

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, i.e., neighborhoods with lower incomes, lower education/occupational levels, and/or higher crime, increases one’s risk of developing chronic health problems, including cardiovascular disease risk factors and stroke. These health problems are associated with reduced cognition and dementia and may help to explain disparities in brain aging. We investigated the association of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics on stroke risk and cognitive outcomes hypothesizing that stroke risk mediates the association between the socioeconomic environment and cognitive functioning. Participants were non-demented community-dwelling older adults (N=121), ~67 years of age (50% male, 44% non-Latino Black) who underwent cognitive and medical assessments. …

Human Resource Initiatives Addressing Factors Impacting Organizational Gender Stratification And Performance: A Computational Study, Ashlyn Paige Lowe

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Women remain underrepresented in the upper echelons of organizational management, which is known as organizational gender stratification (OGS). Individual processes, such as differential career choices between men and women, contribute to OGS, along with organizational processes, such as bias in performance appraisal evaluations. Furthermore, these factors hold implications for organizational workforce potential if promotion decisions depend on biased performance evaluations. The literature lacks an integration of these factors in examining their combinatorial dynamic effects, as well as an assessment of practical steps organizations can take to combat the cultivation of OGS. This study has two primary purposes. First, it examines …

The Influence Of Team Cohesion And Contextual Performance On Project Team Performance Over Time, Melissa Vazquez

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Theory and empirical research suggest that team cohesion and contextual performance relate to team performance. However, while general support exists for a team cohesion and contextual performance relationship, less is known about the how the relationship evolves over time. This study aimed to examine the extent to which team cohesion and contextual performance reciprocally relate over time. Data were collected from 245 individuals comprising 40 student project teams engaged in the Capsim business simulation over a 10-week quarter. Results supported hypothesis 1; based on a cross-lagged path model, a stronger relationship exists between contextual performance at time point 1 and …

A Computational Cognitive Architecture For Exploring Team Mental Models, Neil Benoit Outland

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Team Mental Models (TMM) are one of the strongest predictors of team behavior and performance. TMM direct team behaviors through the series of tasks they perform over time. Research in the area, although crucial in demonstrating the effect of TMM, has been largely static, failing to articulate specifically how TMM emerge or function in teams over time. This dissertation develops a computational model to explicate the process of TMM emergence and demonstrate necessary factors. First, I explain the core concepts of TMM emergence, including team composition, dyadic interactions, and contextual variables. Second, I develop a process-oriented theory of TMM development …

What Boundaries? Work-Family Boundary Management Style And The Impact On Black Entrepreneurs’ Satisfaction And Well-Being, Amber S.C. Rouse

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The appeal and interest in entrepreneurship as a viable career alternative has grown significantly in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total number of U.S. firms has increased by 2%, from 27.1 million in 2007 to 27.6 million in 2012 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). Further, the number of minority-owned firms in the U.S. has risen from 5.8 million in 2007 to 8.0 million in 2012. One perspective for the recent rise in entrepreneurship is that individuals may turn to self-employment to gain greater autonomy in how they manage the boundaries between their work and family lives. Boundary …

Effects Of Personality Retesting On Validity Coefficients As Moderated By Situational Strength, Daniel R. Abben

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The use of valid selection tests enables organizations to better select employees who have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that are necessary for success. While cognitive ability tests are one of the best predictors of performance, they have well-known limitations. Specifically, they can result in adverse impact, and there is clear evidence of retest effects. The use of personality tests, when included in a selection battery, can ameliorate adverse impact and can provide incremental validity. Personality tests, however, also have limitations. Namely, they can be faked, the construct can be measured in various ways (i.e., there are myriad …

Stereotype Threat And Stem Self-Perceptions Of Saudi College Women, Ali Hadi Omair

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that women’s educational progress in scientific (STEM) fields is limited by negative stereotypes about their abilities in such fields. These negative stereotypes may be internalized by women and adversely affect their academic self-concept and progress in STEM fields. In the case of women in higher education who study in STEM fields, their knowledge that they are stereotyped as having less ability than men in those fields may result in a stereotype threat that reduces their performance in cognitive tests and reduces their academic self-perception in regard to STEM domains.

Most research on the negative female stereotype and stereotype …

Defining The American System, Andrea Bellovary

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

American systems are commonly discussed in system justification literature; however, little is known about what subsystems are important to Americans’ understanding of the overall American system and what impact status has on forming these perceptions. This study attempts to answer these questions by asking Americans about their perceptions of the overall American system and seven underlying subsystems (political, economic, employment, education, criminal justice, social services, and health care). Three hundred and forty three community members from the Chicagoland area and Mechanical Turk were recruited to participate in the survey. It was hypothesized that high-status participants would prioritize the subsystems that …

Office Clutter And Its Influence: Assessing Engagement, Satisfaction, Tension, Stress, And Emotional Exhaustion, Trina N. Dao

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Psychological home is a relatively new topic within the field of psychology, defined as a person’s need to self-identify with a physical environment. Clutter, defined as the over-accumulation of material items, is even less studied. Previous research has shown that clutter in the home may negatively influence a person’s well-being, but this tendency has not been investigated in workplace settings (Crum & Ferrari, 2019a; Crum & Ferrari, 2019b; Roster, Ferrari & Jurkat, 2016). Within workplace research, there is a construct called work-related well-being (Narainsamy & Van Der Westhuizen, 2013; Rothman, 2008), consisting of job satisfaction, employee engagement, burnout, and occupational …

Natural Mentoring Relationships Among Latinx Youth: The Role Of Trust And Stressors, Lidia Yanelli Monjaras-Gaytan

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Mentoring is one avenue to support Latinx adolescents in their positive development. The current study aimed to (a) identify profiles of Latinx adolescents based on their interpersonal trust of adults, and (b) examine the roles of adult trust and stressors in the development and quality of natural mentoring relationships (NMRs). Participants were 347 Latinx adolescents who were surveyed in their 9th and 10th grades. Using cluster analysis, two adult trust profiles were identified: (a) Higher Trusting and (b) Less Trusting. Analyses demonstrated that there was a significant association between Higher Trust profiles in 9th grade and developing a new NMR …

Small-World Network Analysis Of Cortical Connectivity In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Eeg, Mark Alan Zinn

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The primary aim of this thesis was to explore the relationship between electroencephalography (qEEG) and brain system dysregulation in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). EEG recordings were taken from an archival dataset of 30 subjects, 15 people with CFS and 15 healthy controls (HCs), evaluated during an eye-closed resting state condition. Exact low resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) was applied to the qEEG data to estimate cortical sources and perform functional connectivity analysis assessing the strength of time-varying signals between all pairwise cortical regions of interest. To obtain a comprehensive view of local and global processing, eLORETA lagged coherence was …

Understanding The Impact Of Social Location And English As A Second Language On Service Needs And Outcomes Of Intimate Partner Violence Victims, Christina Vosky Soibatian

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Victims of intimate partner violence have various needs due to abuse (e.g. safety, housing, gaining employment). Domestic violence programs play a crucial role in helping victims address their complex needs through services such as advocacy, legal support, counseling, and immediate housing. In an effort to better understand diverse victims’ needs and help-attained in domestic violence program settings, a study was conducted of 464 female victims across 15 domestic violence services agencies throughout a major Midwestern metropolitan area. Victims completed surveys six months after beginning services. The current study examined victims’ profiles across various needs upon their entry to services to …

Key Expressions Of Posttraumatic Distress In Cambodian Children: A Step Toward Culturally-Sensitive Trauma Assessment And Intervention, Caleb J. Figge

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

More than half of all children in Cambodia experience direct abuse and over 70% other traumatic events, which significantly increase risk for a range of physical and mental health problems. Additionally, Cambodian children face longstanding sociopolitical, intergenerational, and cultural factors that compound the impact of direct victimization. As a result, rates of posttraumatic stress symptoms among Cambodian youth are high. However, care providers often rely on Western-based nosology that does not account for culturally specific expressions of trauma. Lack of knowledge surrounding the expressions of distress that best represent the experience of traumatized Cambodian children hinders diagnostic accuracy and treatment …

Chasing The White Whale: Capturing The Relation Between Parent Educational Involvement And Student Socioemotional Difficulties Over Time, Samantha Irene Reaves

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Early childhood socioemotional difficulties are of increasing concern due to their impact on later functioning, particularly in the academic environment. A large body of research highlights the relation between parent educational involvement and student academic success, such that more involvement is associated with better grades, retention, and graduation. It is praised as a protective factor for those students at risk for poor outcomes. An under-researched area of the parent educational involvement literature is the construct’s relation to student socioemotional functioning, which also affects success in the academic environment and predicts long term functioning. This study seeks to longitudinally investigate these …

Long-Term Outcomes In Juvenile Fibromyalgia (Jfm) Patients With Early Reports Of Potentially Traumatic Events (Ptes), Anjana Jagpal

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Juvenile Fibromyalgia (JFM) is a pediatric chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and multiple tender points. JFM impacts individuals both physically and mentally with symptoms including frequent headaches, chronic fatigue, decreased physical activity, anxiety, and depression. The impact of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) on the JFM population is poorly understood in the literature. However, it is well understood that exposure to PTEs are commonly associated with increased psychopathology and somatic symptoms. It is important to understand whether individuals with a combination of PTEs and JFM are placed at greater risk for negative long-term outcomes. This study sets out …

Team Characteristics As Predictors Of Collaboration On Sexual Assault Response Teams (Sarts), Anna Wegrzyn

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) are collaborative multidisciplinary groups designed to coordinate the response to sexual assault. SARTs were created through efforts to address issues related to sexual assault response, such as negative treatment of survivors by responders, low prosecution rates, and disorganized relationships among responders. The goal of SARTs is to improve cross-system collaboration in the response to sexual assault in communities. Although SARTs tend to have similar goals and foci, teams vary in the formal structures and the collaborative activities they adopt. Therefore, it is important to examine the characteristics of SARTs and how they relate to collaboration …

How Similar Are Braille Letters? Towards The Understanding Of Reading Through The Sense Of Touch., Ana Baciero De Lama

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Research on reading through the sense of touch is needed to understand the difficulties that surround the learning of braille and to improve our understanding of the brain mechanisms behind reading in general. The cognitive processes of braille reading have been little explored in comparison to visual reading mainly because the tools used in visual modality are not adapted to the tactile modality. A crucial aspect in the comprehension of reading processes is to determine how the elements of any written script are recognized for which it is needed to know what its salient characteristics are. The present MA Thesis …

Clutter And Self-Extension Tendencies: Predictors Of Life Satisfaction Among Emerging Adults, Juline A. Girts

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current study explored factors that may contribute to emerging adult’s satisfaction in life, in terms of clutter (an overabundance of possessions), and extent of self-identity developed within personal possessions. The current study investigated participant’s tendencies and attitude towards cluttering behavior’s impact on their overall life satisfaction (H1). Also investigated was overall life satisfaction contingent on participant’s reported extent of their self-identity manifested within their personal possessions, or how much they incorporated their self-identity within object belongings (H2). Cluttering behavior is similar to a key criteria of hoarding disorder (inability to part with personal possession, regardless of value). Previous research …