Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Parenting And Self-Efficacy On Diet, Family Mealtime And Weight-Related Outcomes In African American Adolescents, Haylee Michele Loncar

Theses and Dissertations

Despite substantial research and concern, adolescent overweight and obesity continues to be a significant public health problem. Theory based on developmental literature emphasizes the role of adolescent self-regulatory factors, like self-efficacy, in health behavior engagement and weight-related outcomes. There is also extensive literature that highlights parents’ role in promoting self-regulatory development through warm and responsive behaviors and practices. However, few studies have considered longitudinal associations and changes in weight-related outcomes over time, as well as moderated effects by parenting. This study assessed longitudinal associations between adolescent self-efficacy parenting factors and adolescent BMI, diet, and family mealtime to fill gaps in …

Neural Mechanisms Of Lexical Semantics: Investigating The Roles Of Hubs And Distributed Action-Perception Systems, Nicholas Andrew Riccardi

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the meaning of words and concepts is vital for communication, forming relationships, and navigating everyday life. Loss of this knowledge through brain damage can have drastic consequences for one’s health and well-being. It is therefore important to learn how this information is organized anatomically in the brain. In this dissertation, I report a series of structural and functional neuroimaging studies in healthy adults and survivors of stroke seeking to understand how lexical semantics are represented. Specifically, I used a variety of tasks to examine the contributions of putative ‘hubs’ and distributed action-perception systems. Results indicated that damage or disruption …

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: The Role Of Organization Segmentation Norms On Work-Family Enrichment, Engagement & Burnout, Sarah Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Increased frequency of virtual work environments has changed the dynamics of boundary management decisions for employees and underscored the importance of organizations being aware and purposeful of how their norms will impact their employees. The goal of this study was to a) understand how organizations norms towards segmentation impact employee burnout, engagement, and enrichment, and b) how segmentation preferences, job demands, and job crafting strengthen these relationships. Two samples of participants were recruited from a mental health organization (N = 73) and mTurk (N = 80) to complete surveys on the variables for the study. Organizations with a norm for …

Effect Of Variable Delays To Reinforcement On Skill Acquisition Of Tacts In Children With Autism, Ya-Chien Yang

Theses and Dissertations

Basic research has established that immediate reinforcement produces the best outcome when learning a skill. More recent research has followed, showing that even 8-10 seconds of brief delays may impair learning. In one of the few applied studies on this topic, Majdalany et al. (2016) showed that participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) acquired tacts more quickly with immediate reinforcement, compared to delays of 6s and 12s. However, no research has examined variable delays to reinforcement, which may be more common in classrooms and clinics. Thus, the purpose of the proposed study was to expand previous research by examining variable …

Comparing Video Modeling To Tactile Feedback To Train Medical Skills, Kelcie Erin Mccafferty

Theses and Dissertations

Medical skills and practices have been continuously advancing, with many recent advancements in clinical practice. However, medical training has yet to develop in tandem with medical advancement. Behavior analysis has a large body of research and practice in the area of skill acquisition to offer the medical field. TAGteach® is one example of a behavior analytic method that could be beneficial to the medical field. Although traditional applications of TAGteach® have been proven to be effective, they may not be socially valid or accepted by the larger population or medical professionals. The purpose of the present study was to compare …

Do Women See Leadership As Risky? The Potential Role Of Stereotypes And The Perception Of Risk In Claiming A Leader Identity, Julia Macgregor-Peralta

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine if women perceive leadership as riskier than men do, and whether that could be holding women back. Specifically, this study investigated the influence of gender and leadership views on the development of leader identity and the role that perception of risk of leadership plays. Role Congruity Theory of Leadership, Lack of Fit, and Adaptive Leadership Theory were used as theoretical frameworks in this cross-sectional study using 2022 archival data. Participants were undergraduate and graduate students from five different universities in the United States. Leader role alignment (LRA), which is the congruence between …

Increasing Cheerleader Safety Through The Observer Effect, Madison Elizabeth Duke

Theses and Dissertations

Cheerleading has a high rate of serious injuries, but the safety of cheerleaders has seldom been researched. Behavior analytic research has never investigated cheerleading and has rarely focused on improving the safety of athletes. The present study examined scored observations, a common intervention in the behavior-based safety literature, as a method to increase the safety of cheerleaders completing basic movements. This has previously been shown to produce the observer effect, wherein an observer’s safe behavior is increased after observing and scoring the behavior of another performer. Scored observations alone increased basic cheerleading movements to a mastery criteria for one of …

Am I Committed Or Conflicted? Examining Implications Of Self-Concept Structure For Self-Regulation, Well-Being, And Performance, Nicholas Aaron Moon

Theses and Dissertations

Although research on self-concept is extensive, few studies have examined the relationship between specific aspects of self-concept structure (e.g., self-concept clarity) and self-regulation constructs (e.g., goal commitment). In addition, research has linked aspects of self-concept structure with well-being outcomes, but less is known about the mechanisms involved in these relationships. This research addresses these two issues by examining self-concept structure (self-concept clarity and self-concept differentiation) as antecedents of key self-regulatory mechanisms (goal commitment and goal conflict) and how these linkages may help explain connections between self-concept structure and well-being and performance. More specifically, two studies examined these relationships, with Study …

Relations Between Heart Rate And Precursors To Aggression With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emily Wynn Dowling

Theses and Dissertations

Aggression is a commonly reported problem behavior for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. When assessing and treating aggression, there are risks of injury to the client and staff when the problem behavior is aggression. Investigating physiological arousal states of clients may be fruitful if this physiological measure can be used to predict occurrences of problem behavior, such as aggression. Previous research has shown varied results when investigating the relations between heart rate and problem behaviors. For some individuals, heart rate increased preceding problem behavior and for others heart rate decreased (Barrera et al., 2007). The temporal relation between heart …

Further Evaluation Of The Effects Of Music And Rird On Vocal Stereotypy, Keith Happel

Theses and Dissertations

Vocal stereotypy (VS), or vocalizations that are noncontexual or nonfunctional, is commonly exhibited in individuals on the autism spectrum. The nature of vocal stereotypy may pose an issue for some individuals, ranging from social ostracization to the inability to perform daily tasks. Previous research has shown that access to matched stimulation (e.g., music) and response interruption and redirection (RIRD), a form of punishment, are effective at decreasing vocal stereotypy (Gibbs et al., 2018). However, in the aforementioned study, researchers did not evaluate a less intrusive treatment in isolation prior to implementing punishment. The purpose of the current investigation is to …

An Examination Of Sustained Attention During Complex Multitasking Scenarios, Jonathan Cheshire Rann

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation project examined the time-course of vigilance decrements that occur when operators perform demanding multitasking activities. For this aim, we conducted three experiments which implemented a novel paradigm we developed that measured performance during two sessions: a Single-Task session in which participants performed a go-no-go target detection task in the absence of any other task for approximately 12 minutes; and a Multi-Task session in which participants performed the detection task simultaneously with a driving-based tracking task for the same duration. A total of 183 participants from the University of South Carolina Department of Psychology took part in this study. …

Feasibility Of A Parent-Focused, Stress Management Intervention To Decrease Adolescent Bmi, Reduce Stress, And Increase Well-Being Among African American Families, Colby J. Kipp

Theses and Dissertations

African American adolescents in the United States experience a higher prevalence of obesity as compared to their White counterparts. This health inequity presents a public health concern as consequences of weight-related chronic diseases often persist into adulthood and are increasingly problematic. As chronic stress has been found to be higher among African American youth compared to White adolescents, it presents as a potential barrier to participation for African American families in health promotion interventions. Additionally, it may be beneficial to target stress in health promotion programs as a modifiable factor in conjunction with health behaviors that may improve outcomes related …

Parent Facilitation Of Child Emotion Regulation In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aimee K. Rovane

Theses and Dissertations

Parents play a substantial role in their children's emotional regulation (ER) abilities, promoting both adaptive and maladaptive development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties regulating their emotions, manifesting in externalizing behavioral issues (Mazefsky & White 2014). Though there are many similarities to parents of typically developing (TD) children, parents of children with ASD facilitate their children's ER development (i.e., emotion socialization) in response to unique challenges, often developing resiliency but other times contributing to their children’s dysregulation and behavioral challenges. Using Morris et al.'s (2007) Tripartite Model of Family Impact of Children's Emotion Regulation and Adjustment as …

Narrating & Living With Loss: Towards An Ethnography Of Grief, Fayrouz Ibrahim

Theses and Dissertations

Through this paper, I seek to approach grief through how it is lived, the nexus between loss, and the sought-for physical abstractions through memory, objects, and materials to live with/despite such a loss. This paper is a phenomenological and ethnographic research project on the curatory rituals and practices that individuals employ in keeping lost loved ones alive in their everyday. I explore grief through a multidisciplinary and multimodal conceptualization rather than simply through cultural and social practices such as burial and mortuary rituals. The research follows the grief narratives of different individuals in Egypt in inquiring about the objects, memories, …

A Person-Centered Approach To Identifying Predictors Of Sexual Violence Risk Recognition Among Women During Alcohol Intoxication Using A Laboratory Paradigm, Ebru Yucel

Theses and Dissertations

This study employs a person-centered approach to identifying predictors of sexual violence risk recognition among women during alcohol intoxication, utilizing a laboratory paradigm. Sexual violence remains a pervasive social issue with significant implications for individuals and society at large. Alcohol intoxication has been consistently associated with increased vulnerability to sexual violence; however, little is known about the factors that contribute to women's ability to recognize and assess risk in such situations. This study aims to fill this gap by employing a person-centered approach to understand the impact of individual and situational factors on women's risk recognition. In summary, the findings …

Choosing To Come Back: Second-Generation Egyptians Returning As Social Change Agents, Hajar Khalil

Theses and Dissertations

Research has found that upon visiting their parents’ homeland, second-generation immigrants were able to gain a better understanding of where they came from, allowing them to reflect upon their own lives in respect to their family history (Marschall, 2017). Some researchers call this journey the ‘self-awakening’ or ‘searching-self’ journey (Christou, 2003). The aim of this research is to understand the process of second-generation Egyptians return journey to their parent(s)’ homeland in order to create social change. The two main questions posed are: 1) How do second-generation Egyptians construct their narrative identity, and 2) How do they conceptualize themselves as social …

Mother’S Coping While Caring For A Child With Cancer And Its Relationship With Mother-Child Relationship, Alaa Nasr

Theses and Dissertations

Having a child with cancer is one of the most stressful situations families can experience. This study sheds light on mothers’ stress and coping with pediatric cancer in the Arab world, with a specific focus on Kuwait. The first aim of this study was to examine mothers’ stress and how it related to the quality of mother-child relationship, and subsequently the child’s behavioral problems. The second aim was to explore mothers’ main stressors, resources and services that help or could help with alleviating the stress experienced from having a child with cancer. A total of 102 mothers living in Kuwait …

Parental Psychological Maltreatment In Egypt: Exploring Intergenerational Parenting Behavior And Identifying Protective Factors, Sylvia Said

Theses and Dissertations

Psychological maltreatment is an under-recognized problem, even though it is a widespread form of child maltreatment and has detrimental consequences, whether in the short or long term. This study aims to explore the intergenerational patterns of parenting behaviors, measure the difference in emotionally abusive behaviors between mothers and fathers, investigate the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and adopting different parenting styles, and identify the protective factors against parental psychological maltreatment. A mixed-methods approach was used to answer these research questions thoroughly. Online versions of the survey, in English and Arabic, were shared on social media platforms, and online interviews were …

Assessing The Correlation Between The Socioeconomic Level And Cognitive Function Among Older Adults In Egypt, Macy Abougabal

Theses and Dissertations

The number of older adults is increasing worldwide at an unprecedented rate. Some countries began to understand the challenges of aging, while others are still at the stage of comprehending the true dimensions of the situation. There is a global focus on aging research to appropriately mitigate the negative impact of aging and cognitive decline. Not only that dementia add economic pressure on governments, it also increase the psychological and physical burden of the caregivers. Scholars have previously studied socioeconomic level in three variables, namely work, education, and income, and their relationship with cognitive function. It was concluded that the …

Historical Trauma: Literary And Testimonial Responses To Hiroshima, Mariam Ghonim

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of trauma is controversial in literature. While one may be able to come up with ways to describe trauma in fiction, representing historical trauma is a hard task for writers. Some argue that trauma can not be described through those who did not experience it, while others claim that, provided some elements are added, one can represent trauma to the reader. This thesis focuses on twentieth-century historical traumas related to a nuclear catastrophe and explores the different literary and testimonial responses to the catastrophic man-made event of Hiroshima (1945). In this thesis, Kathleen Burkinshaw’s historical fiction The Last …

Neurodivergent College Students And Therapy Dogs In Higher Education, Georgia Jean Majka

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine neurodivergent students in higher education and their experience with The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University to investigate whether therapy dogs reduce anxiety levels and provide relaxation. In addition, this study provides recommendations for The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy program at Rowan University to promote the program and its purpose on campus. These resources are important when discussing the neurodivergent student population in higher education, which this research study discusses, based on previous research and the results found from this quantitative approach. This study also makes recommendations for Rowan University …

The Intolerance Of Uncertainty: Transdiagnostic Connections Across Schizophrenia And Mood Spectrums, Obsessive Beliefs, And Physical Health, Sharanjit D. Pujji

Theses and Dissertations

The ways in which we classify mental health symptoms are closely tied to etiological understandings and interventions. While prominent diagnostic systems are categorical in nature, dimensional and transdiagnostic conceptualizations may provide increased precision and specificity that are more representative of “real-world” symptom presentations. The intolerance of uncertainty (IOU), an aversive state formed in reaction to the fear of the unknown, may have transdiagnostic value across mental and physical health. The current study sought to examine dimensionality across traditionally distinct symptoms and the transdiagnostic role of IOU across physical and mental health through the lens of the schizophrenia spectrum with an …

A Generalizable Method And Case Application For Development And Use Of The Aviation Systems – Trust Survey (As-Ts)., Jamison Hicks

Theses and Dissertations

Automated systems are integral in the development of modern aircraft, especially for complex military aircraft. Pilot Trust in Automation (TIA) in these systems is vital for optimizing the pilot-vehicle interface and ensuring pilots use the systems appropriately to complete required tasks.

The objective of this research was to develop and validate a TIA scale and survey methodology to identify and mitigate trust deficiencies with automated systems for use in Army Aviation testing. There is currently no standard TIA assessment methodology for U.S. Army aviation pilots that identifies trust deficiencies and potential mitigations.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify …

​​Evaluating The Utility Of Trial-Based Functional Analyses Of Inappropriate Mealtime Behavior: A Comparison Of Identified Functions Across Functional Analysis Methods, Meredith Huff Staggers

Theses and Dissertations

A critical first step in addressing problem behavior is to identify the function of the problem, or reason for engaging in the problem behavior, using systematic assessment procedures known as a functional analysis (FA). The literature consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of FAs, and variations of FAs (e.g., trial-based functional analysis [TBFA]) for assessing a variety of topographies of problem behaviors across populations, age groups, and settings; however, the use of TBFAs for assessing the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) has been documented in the literature only once. The purpose of the current study was to contribute to the research …

Anxiety, Depression, And Fear Of Dependency In Middle And Older Adults, Darby D. Mackenstadt

Theses and Dissertations

Negative stereotypes of aging, such as dependency, tend to paint a picture of older adults as frail or a burden on society. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the Fear of Dependency Scale and anxiety and depression, evaluating gender, age, and physical health as moderators. Findings suggest that age moderated the relationship between fear of dependency and depression and anxiety in women, with middle-aged women reporting the highest levels of depression and anxiety. Similarly, poor physical health in women with high fear of dependency being related to higher levels of depression and anxiety. Fear of dependency was related …

The Role Of Developmental Stage, Compensatory Support, And Coping In The Relationship Among Adverse Childhood Experiences, Mental Health, And Resilience In Emerging Adults, Melanie Abbondola

Theses and Dissertations

Children and adolescents who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) often must deal with mental and physical effects lasting well into adulthood. However, much research shows ACEs are related to poorer mental and physical health in adulthood. Much less work has focused on the psychological and social resources that can create resilience. This study examined how compensatory social support and coping strategies potentially moderate the relationship between ACEs and mental health outcomes, and if the age/developmental stage at which the ACEs occurred, and the frequency and intensity of the ACEs affected mental health. Self-report data were obtained from 241 emerging adults, …

The Effect Of Word Predictability On Proofreading Accuracy And Reading Time, Sam Prasad

Theses and Dissertations

Proofreading, or reading with the purpose of finding and correcting errors, has been used in psycholinguistic research to study the relationship between bottom-up and top-down cognitive processes. The current study examined the effects of word predictability on reading time using a word-by-word self-paced reading (SPR) task. A sample of 102 native English speakers read sentences containing letter transposition errors in predictable and unpredictable contexts. Half of the sentences were followed by a question asking if there was an error in the sentence they had just read. Participants’ accuracy in detecting the errors and the time they spent reading the error-bearing …

Maladaptive Inconsistent Parenting Behavior And Borderline Personality Disorder: The Mediating Effect Of Disturbed Sense Of Self, Mst S. Islam

Theses and Dissertations

We investigated the child’s disturbed sense of self in relation to maladaptive inconsistent parenting behavior and BPD features. 158 participants completed measures assessing emotions and parenting. The mediating effect of disturbance of self was significant as a single mediator, but not when emotional dysregulation and impulsivity were included as mediators.

Tied Together, Eiko Nishida

Theses and Dissertations

The paper is about a site-specific installation that questions a viewer’s norms and perspectives, through the use of multilingual newspapers as a sculptural material.

Real-Time Assessment Of The Efficacy Of An Aerobic Exercise And Sleep Education Intervention For Migraine, Depression, And Anxiety: A Feasibility Assessment, Kayla Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Migraine is the second most disabling illness in the world, characterized by pulsing or throbbing pain in the head, usually on one side, and often associated with nausea, vomiting, and/or sensitivity to light and/or sound. Biological, as well as psychological, social, and lifestyle factors, including exercise and critical sleep practices, are all part of the biopsychosocial model underpinning the complex nature of migraines, yet prior research has largely focused on the biomedical model. Few studies have evaluated lifestyle interventions to improve migraine, and even fewer have included migraine comorbidities. For this study, we implemented a phone-delivered educational intervention aimed to …