Anticipated Intergroup Anxiety & Misattribution Of Arousal, Nazia Khan

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current research attempted to link misattribution of arousal with intergroup anxiety. Specifically, we linked the presence of (i.e., or lack thereof) of sound– a clear misattribute participants can blame their intergroup anxiety on– to anticipating intergroup contact by manipulating the randomly assigned interaction partner and misattribution of arousal sound condition participants were in. Participants viewed a confederate’s name and picture on a screen and anticipated an interaction. Participants’ intercultural interaction comfort was measured as well as their anxiety levels and Stroop task performance. A two-way ANOVA revealed that there was not a statistically significant interaction between the effects of …

Family Obligation, School Climate, And The Academic Achievement Of Latinx Youth Living In One- And Two-Parent Households, Elizabeth Martinez Charleston

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Latinx youth are achieving lower levels of educational attainment when compared to their ethnic or racial peers from other backgrounds. Addressing these academic disparities is imperative, with the Latinx population in the U.S. experiencing substantial growth. Guided by the Positive Youth Development Model and the Integrative Model of Child Development, this study explored family obligation and school climate as factors associated with academic achievement. Participants included 268 Latinx youth, including 101 (37.7%) in one-parent households. Participants were 5th through 7th-grade students (56.7% female; M_age = 11.4), mainly 2nd generation (US-born with foreign-born parents; 77.2%), and primarily identified as Mexican …

Friendship, Fne, And Confronting A Racist Remark, Kaelan J. Vazquez

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current research attempted to link misattribution of arousal with intergroup anxiety. Specifically, we linked the presence of (i.e., or lack thereof) of sound– a clear misattribute participants can blame their intergroup anxiety on– to anticipating intergroup contact by manipulating the randomly assigned interaction partner and misattribution of arousal sound condition participants were in. Participants viewed a confederate’s name and picture on a screen and anticipated an interaction. Participants’ intercultural interaction comfort was measured as well as their anxiety levels and Stroop task performance. A two-way ANOVA revealed that there was not a statistically significant interaction between the effects of …

Adult Age Differences In Response To Sociomoral Violations, Alyssa R. Minton

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Moral judgments and emotional reactions to sociomoral violations are heavily impacted by a perpetrator’s intentions, as malicious intent poses a threat to social harmony. Given that older adults are more motivated to maintain interpersonal harmony relative to younger adults, older adults may be more reactive to malicious intentions. In five studies, I investigated adult age differences in moral judgments and emotional reactions to sociomoral violations. In Studies 1-3, participants read scenarios in which a perpetrator either (a) desired to harm another but nothing happened, or (b) harmed another accidentally without malicious intent. Study 2 incorporated additional scenarios designed to evoke …

Mitigating Sunk Cost Bias For Consumers: Considering Alternatives Within High And Low Construal Levels When Costs Are Sunk, Jasmine N. Ahmad

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This paper explores how sunk costs increase consumers’ vulnerability to fraud and explores possible intervention strategies. Sunk cost bias occurs when individuals persist in an activity due to past investments (Arkes & Blumer, 1985). Outcome salience, framing, and alternatives can help alleviate loss aversion and persistence when costs are sunk (Stewart, Chater, Stott, & Reimers, 2003; Van Schie & Van Der Pligt, 1995). Option evaluation is influenced by an individual’s construal level (Ding & Keh, 2017; Henderson, 2013; Sun, Keh, & Lee, 2019). Construal level theory (CL) describes the impact of psychological distance on thinking– with greater distance thinking …

The Dangerous Effect Of Entitlement On White Nationalist Ideology, Kara Elizabeth Harris

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Within the past few years, White nationalism has been on the rise due to societal changes and feelings of uncertainty for White Americans' perceptions of their racial group’s future. As a result, many have speculated what may be a factor in this rise. Previously it has been found that having a high White identity is associated with White nationalist ideologies. However, White identity may not be enough to drive White nationalist ideologies and the violence that can follow. Feelings of entitlement towards status, preferential treatment, and resources may contribute to White nationalist ideologies based on beliefs of superiority and deservedness …

Navigating Sense Of Home: Migration Experiences Of Home And Community, Andrew Peter Camilleri

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Migrants experience significant stresses when transitioning to find a sense of belonging from one country to another (Kirmaryer et. al 2011), particularly when the nature of migration is forced. Language barriers, currency differences, different foods, written and unwritten rules of conduct as well as different climates all contribute to make the acculturative process difficult and stressful (Jackson & Bauder, 2014). Understanding how migrants navigate this process and the resources required to successfully integrate within a new host community is an important area of research both for migrants and the host communities.

Using an archival dataset collected by researchers from the …

Ageism By A Community Sample Of Young Adults: Expanding The Contact Hypothesis To Explore Ageism, Helena Lucia Swanson

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Aging demographics globally are changing rapidly, resulting in the category of “older adults” (65 years and older) growing to eventually become the largest age demographic (United Nations, 2022). As our world gets older, ageism is a growing concern given its health, societal, cultural, and political consequences (Chrisler et al., 2016; Bugental & Hehman, 2007; Levy et al., 2020). Following Allport’s Contact Hypothesis (1954), this dissertation empirically analyzed predictors of ageism, including contact with older adults, for younger adults (18-26 years old) residing in U.S. communities. Participants were recruited using Prolific Academic, an online crowdsourcing platform and responded to five scales …

Impact Of Retinoic Acid Receptor Alpha Conditional Knockout On Ovarian Follicle Development In The Mouse, Zlata Bogin

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

When there is abnormal endocrine signaling in the follicles, infertility, and ovarian diseases such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF), and different types of ovarian cancers may occur. Retinoic acid (RA), a biologically active derivative of vitamin A, is a critical signaling molecule that plays a vital role in various physiological processes, including embryonic development, tissue differentiation, and reproductive function. RA has been observed to influence granulosa cell proliferation through a cell signaling cascade involving Retinoic Acid Receptors (RARs), which have three isoforms alpha, beta, and gamma. We characterized a new retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) conditional …

Nourishing Family Connections: Exploring The Impact Of Mealtime Dynamics On Child Depressive Symptoms, Kyra (Dee) Bekelja

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Literature reviews show that the frequency of family meals is associated with increased positive health outcomes in children. Our study looked to find the essential characteristics that family mealtimes should have in order to produce the most beneficial outcomes for children regarding depressive symptomology. One hundred twenty-four children and their parents participated in answering surveys about individual and family health behaviors. We hypothesized that a greater frequency of family meals lowers levels of depression in children, especially if the child enjoys family meals. A moderation analysis was used to assess the moderation effects and relationship with the frequency of family …

Relationship Between Objective Measures Of Stress And Child Health Behaviors: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Margaret Harrigan Clark

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is a risk factor for long term heath consequences such as diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, and heart disease. However, causes for pediatric obesity are complex and include many variables such as calorie-dense diets, sedentary behavior, and short sleep duration. In addition to these variables, variances in homeostasis, can also impact obesity risk in pediatric populations. One of these variances of interest in the obesity and health literature is stress response. Relationships among these variables are not fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature exploring predictive relationships between objective measures of …

Accessibility Of Civil Legal Service Provision For Survivors Of Sexual Assault In Illinois, Kayleigh Zinter

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Informed by Kennedy and colleagues (2012) help-seeking framework, this two-part study assessed sexual assault survivors’ experiences seeking services in the Illinois civil legal system. Extant research on survivors’ experiences with formal helping systems has largely focused on help-seeking from medical or criminal legal systems. To-date, no studies have done an in-depth examination of civil legal system and civil legal service provider accessibility for survivors of sexual assault. To examine civil legal accessibility for sexual assault survivors in Illinois, data from focus groups conducted with legal advocates, and archival spatial data were analyzed. This community-based research study was conceptualized and informed …

The Cellie Coping Kit For Kids With Craniofacial Conditions: Developing A Culturally Sensitive Psychosocial Support Tool And Coping Resource For Families With School Age Children With Craniofacial Conditions From Diverse Backgrounds, Marissa Lee Koven

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current project aimed to develop and pilot test a psychosocial support tool and coping resource: the Cellie Coping Kit for Craniofacial Conditions (Cellie Kit). We adapted a cognitive behavioral theory-based tool that promotes resilience and coping, the Cellie Coping Kit, to be appropriate for families of children with craniofacial conditions. Adaptation was guided by an integration of the Cellie Kit adaptation process with heuristic and ecological validity frameworks to increase cultural sensitivity for Hispanic/Latinx families. Kit adaptation and current pilot testing are part of a larger project that includes kit translation, production, and pilot testing of a bilingual Spanish-English …

Residential Vacancy And Crime In The Wake Of Housing Crisis In Chicago, Shaun Bhatia

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Trends of subprime and predatory mortgage lending were largely responsible for the housing crisis in the late 2000s. These circumstances resulted in a high concentration of home foreclosures, and subsequent vacant and abandoned housing, particularly affecting disadvantaged neighborhoods. There is evidence to suggest that neighborhood spaces characterized by blighted properties and other signs of physical disorder reduce collective efficacy and informal social control, leading to increases in crime. Despite US government efforts to support economic recovery following the housing crisis, interventions were largely not concentrated enough to match spatial patterns of foreclosure and vacancy, and as such, reductions of crime …

The Moderating Effects Of Acculturative Stress And Ethnic Identity On The Relation Between Peer Victimization And Depressive Symptoms Among Latinx Youth, Mariana J. Bednarek

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Depressive symptoms disproportionately affect the burgeoning U.S. population of Latinx youth and adolescents. Peer victimization in school settings is a particularly pervasive stressor among youth, and it can have detrimental effects on mental health. Literature highlights multiple cultural factors unique to Latinx youth that could impact their experiences with peer victimization. The current study analyzed data from 297 Latinx youth (M_age = 11.4; 55.6% female) to examine three domains of acculturative stress (language conflicts, cultural conflicts, and discrimination) and ethnic identity as moderators of the relation between peer victimization and depressive symptoms. A series of two- and three-way …

Investigating The Salinity Tolerance Of The Swordtail (Xiphophorus Hellerii), Alexandra Megan Krak

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The swordtail, Xiphophorus hellerii, is a freshwater fish species native to Mexico and Central America and is commonly used in the tropical aquarium trade. Swordtails have been shown to have limited survival in 6 ‰ salinity (Nanda et al., 2016), suggesting they may have a greater salinity tolerance than previously expected. Using a gradual acclimation method, we examined the salinity tolerance and swim performance of this species. Freshwater-reared female swordtails were housed in 29-gallon aquaria. A control group was held in freshwater throughout the experiment. For the experimental group, the salinity was increased by 2 ‰ every week until 30 …

Profiles Of Violence Victimization And Mental Health Outcomes Among Lgbtq Survivors In Illinois: A Cluster Analysis, Mary Margaret Tull

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Despite legal and social progress, the LGBTQ+ community faces persistent vulnerability to different forms of violence and negative life experiences, including adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and bigotry motivated violence, as well as gender-based violence (GBV). Consistent with the Minority Stress Model, exposure to these experiences are associated with negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. Traditionally, research has focused on subpopulations when examining these relationships, and has often failed to account for the ways individuals experience multiple types of violence across the lifespan, and how this may influence development of mental health problems. This study (n=204) uses the …

Peer Victimization And Post-Traumatic Stress Problems Among Latinx Youth: The Role Of Emotional Reactivity And Gender, Ashley N. Harris

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Peer victimization is widespread and well-established as a risk factor for youth; however, few studies have examined the relation between peer victimization and post-traumatic stress symptoms among ethnic minority children and adolescents. Additionally, existing studies rarely investigate potential moderators of the relation and often utilize retrospective reports of peer victimization from adults. This study expands on the Regulatory Theory of Temperament (Strelau, 2008) by examining the role of emotional reactivity on the association between peer victimization and post-traumatic stress problems. The sample includes 275 predominantly low-income, Latinx (86.5%), and Mixed-Latinx (13.4%) Chicago Public School students ages 10-14 (M = …

Invisible Disability: A Review Of Hearing And Vision Impairment Challenges In The Workplace, Melissa Ann Aguinaldo

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the factors related to individuals with vision and hearing impairments in organizational contexts within the United States. It overviews the definitions, current state, and U.S. legislation pertaining to individuals with disabilities in the workplace. The thesis reviews disclosure practices, psychological theories, and recommendations for supporting and accommodating individuals with hearing and vision disabilities. In reviewing these factors, this research aims to enhance understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with hearing and vision impairments in organizations and contribute to fostering inclusive and supportive work environments. The thesis also identifies areas for further research in order to advance …

Characterization Of The Immune Deficiency Pathway During Female Meiosis In Drosophila Melanogaster, Sarah Mashburn

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Organisms can defend against pathogens by significantly increasing the diversity of their progeny, so that some progeny are more likely to survive infection. This led to the prediction that infection should cause an increase in recombination rates which was seen in a previous study. However, the mechanism that regulates recombination rates in response to infection is not understood and in that study they did not provide a mechanism for how that can occur. In an RNAi screen, our lab found the gene mustard (mtd) is required for normal recombination rates. This gene was previously shown to be part of the …

Observations Of 25 Ghz Methanol Masers In W51a, Peter Wagstaff

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

High mass stars are important because they alone are responsible for creating the heavy elements in the Universe. The observation of high mass star formation remains a challenging problem in astronomy because high mass stars form in densely clustered environments at large distances from us. Therefore, high angular resolution observations are required to unravel the action taking place in these dense environments. Masers can be used to observe distant regions with high angular resolution because masers are compact and bright sources. Class I methanol masers are believed to form in outflows from protostars where the shock generated by the outflowing …

Cultural Values And Internalizing Symptoms Among Latinx Youth: The Role Of Gender, Paulina Paredes Cienega

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Latinx youth are at a disproportionate risk for developing internalizing symptoms. The Integrative Model for the Study of Developmental Competencies suggests that cultural values can serve as protective factors against the development of mental health problems. Much less is known about the impact of multiple cultural values and their combined effects on internalizing symptoms in Latinx youth. Moreover, since gender influences socialization and cultural value endorsement, additional research is needed to examine how cultural values may differentially protect boys’ and girls’ mental health. This study addresses these gaps by examining a) supportive familism’s moderational role in the relation between affiliative …

Implementation And Assessment Of A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure) In General Chemistry, Alissa Potts

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are growing in popularity in the chemistry community to replace traditional laboratory courses. This approach creates a research experience for a larger number of students than traditional research mentorship experiences offered at universities. CUREs can help students take ownership of projects, learn to design and troubleshoot experimental setups, problem-solve experiments that don’t have a “known answer”, and gain confidence in the laboratory. To assess the effectiveness of a general chemistry laboratory-based CURE course with DePaul students, the Experimental Design Ability Test (EDAT) and the Meaningful Learning in the Laboratory Instrument (MLLI) survey were given to …

Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Ticks And Tick-Borne Disease At Neon Sites Across A Sub-Continental Scale, Ana Sofia Rivera

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Tick-borne diseases in humans such as Lyme disease cases in the United States have doubled between 2004 and 2016. Understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases has long been of interest for ecologists. Tick and tick-borne diseases are influenced by temperature and precipitation at local scales, indirectly through mast seeding in forest trees which increases the abundance of tick hosts (e.g., small mammals), as well as direct effects on survival. Most tick studies occur at local scales that comprise only a small part of their range. The aim of my thesis is to characterize spatiotemporal dynamics of ticks and tick-borne diseases …

Optical Variability Of Green Pea Galaxies, Julissa Marie Sarmiento

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I am investigating the optical variability of Green Pea galaxies (GPs). GPs are good analogs to high-redshift galaxies, enabling us to learn more about the first galaxies in the universe. One of their key properties is their strong emission lines, some of which indicate the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). An effective way to identify AGN is to look for stochastic variability in the optical light from the galaxy. Finding AGN in these galaxies would help us learn more about the formation and evolution of the supermassive black holes that power AGN. In this thesis, …

The Prairie State: Using Ecological Niche Modeling To Predict Distributions Of Early Land Plants, Zoe Ryan

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Bryophytes are environmentally and ecologically significant biological indicators, as their distribution is largely determined by the climate and the land features that shape these factors. Yet it is a challenge to track the ranges of these plants and even more so to predict their future distribution patterns due to their small size and sensitivity to environmental change. This study aims to model the potential distribution of selected bryophyte species in Illinois to investigate the potential impact of global warming and determine what environmental factors affect distribution patterns. Bryophyte occurrences post 1970 of some of the most common epiphytic species and …

The Positive Impact Of Exposure To Nature Versus Urban-Environment Images On Cognitive Processing: Working Memory And Problem Solving, Caitlin Julia Ailsworth

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The benefit of natural environments, compared to urban environments, to cognitive resources such as working memory have been documented and replicated (e.g., Berman et al., 2012; Berman et al., 2008; Berto, 2005). However, existing data do not extend beyond lower-order cognitive resources to higher-order cognitive processes such as problem solving. The goal of this thesis was to address this gap. The experiment tested both the beneficial effect of nature on executive function and problem solving. Using a backward digit-span task to measure working memory, I hypothesized that participants would repeat a higher number of sequences correctly after versus before viewing …

Social Zapping: Examining Predictors Of Last-Minute Cancelations Among Community Members, Alyssa T. Altieri

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Social zapping refers to the tendency to cancel plans or appointments shortly before they are supposed to take place in order to attend plans deemed “better” than the original (Müller et al., 2020). With the recent global pandemic occurring and forced isolation presenting as a consequence, the population more than ever has turned to technology to keep up with their relationships (Pennington, 2021). Because of this, social zapping has become increasingly prevalent. Although there is clear need to assess social zapping, few empirical studies have been conducted regarding the predictors and implications of social zapping (Müller et al., 2020; 2021). …

The Interplay Between Parental Psychological Control And Parental Emotional Overinvolvement On Depressive Symptoms Among Early Adolescents, Taylor Breanna Ullrich

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Parenting and parental behaviors are critical to the emotional well-being of youth. Emotional overinvolvement is one part of a broader construct known as Expressed Emotion. Emotional overinvolvement is known as intrusive, overprotective, excessively self-sacrificing, or devoted behavior or exaggerated emotional response to the child (Leff & Vaughn, 1985). It is not known how Emotional Overinvolvement relates to other dimensions of parenting. Psychological control parenting behavior that involves the use of tactics such as love withdrawal, guilt induction, invalidation, and conditional approval (Barber, 1996). The current study is the first study to investigate the association between psychological control, emotional overinvolvement and …

The Role Of Anhedonia In The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Alcohol Use And Food Addiction In A Sample Of Emerging Adults, Mary Takgbajouah

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before an individual reaches age 18, and previous research has shown that they are associated with numerous negative physical and mental health outcomes, including increased rates of depression, alcohol and substance use, disordered patterns of overeating, food addiction (FA), and obesity. Moreover, anhedonia, or an inability to feel pleasure, has been also shown to increase risk for alcohol and substance use, as well as FA and obesity. There is a lack of research on the specific role of anhedonia in the relationship between ACEs and FA/substance use. It is possible …