Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Development Of A Trauma-Informed Care Measure: Can Universal Precautions Address The Complexity Of Trauma?, Jennifer A. Castaneda

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

A system that is trauma-informed, recognizes how interpersonal, community, and organizational systems contribute to health outcomes. Currently, research on TIC has been unable to translate basic scientific findings of trauma to research studies that evaluate the implementation of TIC. As such, the field is unable to offer valuable recommendations to implement TIC in different settings. The present study aimed to develop a measure of TIC to be used in medical settings. The resulting measure was revised through qualitative feedback from individuals who have experienced trauma and tested with an online convenient sample. The measure was re-evaluated with a second sample …

The Real Face Of Borderline Personality Organization Within Intimate Partner Violence, Adriana Isabel Patino

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study tests the relationship between IPV perpetration and victimization with BPO. Results indicate that, as predicted, BPO is positively associated with both IPV perpetration and victimization and is more prevalent in female perpetrators and victims than in male perpetrators and victims. However, contrary to what previous literature says, self-control does not show enough significance to state that it is one of the leading causes of IPV perpetrated by those who present traits of BPO. In addition, results also indicate that having suffered from physical abuse during childhood diminishes the probability of perpetrating IPV. To fully understand these results, future …

The Effect Of Brief Exposures To Fitspiration Images On Motivation To Exercise And Body Image Concerns In Latinx College Students, Roberto Sagaribay

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Social media is used by three quarters of the population; however, the literature has suggested its potential adverse impact on mental health. Social media behaviors are associated with body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors. Fitspiration is an extension of social media that consists of photos and messaging aimed toward motivating users to exercise. Studies have demonstrated how these posts impact body image concerns and unhealthy weight management behaviors to achieve the thin and toned body ideal. Thus, the aim of this study was to experimentally assess motivations to exercise, body image concerns, and negative mood after brief exposures to …

The Protective Influence Of Mindfulness Facets On The Relationship Between Negative Core Beliefs And Social Media Addiction Among Latinx College Students, Mariany Gainza Perez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Social media use has continued to rise over the last decade. This behavioral addiction shares essential components with substance addictions (e.g., mood modification, withdrawal). Dysfunctional core beliefs have recently been investigated in relation to Internet addiction and problematic Facebook use, but not with social media addiction specifically. Similarly, mindfulness-based interventions have been developed for various types of technology-related behavioral addictions, yet the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and social media addiction remains unexplored. This study investigated the relationships between these constructs among Latinx undergraduates within the context of social cognitive theory. Participants (n=386; 80.3% female) completed an online survey that assessed …

The Influence Of Emotion Regulation, Maladaptive Coping, And Criminal Thinking On Maladaptive Behavior, Alondra Avila

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Emotion regulation is a cognitive process that occurs due to emotional stimuli in the environment that promotes cognitive or behavioral action to soothe negative emotions. Emotion regulation can affect decision making that promotes maladaptive behavior, similar to criminal thinking. Criminal thinking patterns can be categorized as a form of maladaptive cognitive coping that promotes maladaptive behavior. The association between emotion regulation, criminal thinking, and maladaptive behavior is further explored. A total of (N = 227) MTurk workers participated in a cross-sectional study. Maladaptive emotion regulation and coping predicted willingness to engage in maladaptive behavior. Deficits in emotion regulation were further …

The Association Of Allostasis With Alcohol Use Disorders: A Case-Control Study, Carlos Portillo, Jr.

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background. Allostatic load (AL) is defined as the wear and tear on the body and the brain that can predispose one to disease due to the effects of the prolonged and/or constant activation of biological systems over time. The primary aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between an index of AL with having been diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder.Methods. The current study is a secondary data analysis of case control data obtained from a sample of men with alcohol use disorder (AUD; n = 48) who were abstinent for a period of two to four …

Cultural And Psychosocial Moderators Of The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Alcohol And Marijuana Use Among Latinx College Students On The U.S./Mexico Border, Claudia J. Woloshchuk

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been historically associated with negative life outcomes among the general population. There has been no research, to the author's knowledge, on psychosocial and/or cultural moderators of the associations between ACEs and substance use among Latinx college students living on the U.S./Mexico border. This study assessed how specific constructs within the socioecological framework moderate the association between ACEs and alcohol and marijuana use. Participants (Females: N = 283, Mage = 20.86, SD = 3.71, Males: N = 111, Mage = 20.65, SD = 3.13) completed an online survey which included: demographics, the Center for Youth Wellness …

Predicting Competency In Motivational Interviewing Through An Objective Empathy Task, Kylah Moneek Clark

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the process of disseminating motivational interviewing (MI) it is important to identify who benefits from initial workshops and which trainees would benefit from an extended training model that involves coaching and performance feedback, which has recently been advocated. Prior research attempting to determine who benefits from training has failed to show associations between baseline self-reported empathy and training outcomes. However, the use of an objective empathy task may address the shortcoming of prior research. The purpose of the present study was to predict competency in motivational interviewing skills following training using an objective empathy task. In addition, we investigated …

An Evaluation Of A Tobacco Control Network Along The Us/Mexico Border, Dessaray Gorbett

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States (U.S.), killing more than 480,000 people per year. Public health networks and coalitions have shown to be able to promote health behavior change. More specifically, coalitions and networks emphasizing tobacco control issues have proven to be effective in recent years. The Paso del Norte Tobacco Control Network (Network) grew out of a coalition in El Paso, TX and currently includes representatives from west Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico. The current project evaluated the Network's collaborations amongst organizations, internal organizational structure, and knowledge on tobacco …

Acculturation, Biculturalism, And Familistic Cultural Values' Relationship With Latino Mental Health, Nathalie Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As the Latino population increases in the United States, mental health professionals encounter mixed research findings on immigrant mental health. There seems to be an epidemiological paradox in relation to Latino mental health and the effect that acculturation has on anxiety and depression symptoms among this minority population. One discernible research limitation in the existing literature is that researchers measure acculturation as a unidimensional, rather than multidimensional, construct. The present study examined not only acculturation, but also biculturalism, as correlates of depression and anxiety symptoms in a Latino population. Additionally, the present study identified potential Latino cultural buffers against depressive …

An Investigation Of In-Session Client Change Language And Stage Of Change, Reyna Patricia Puentes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the practice of Motivational Interviewing, recognizing language is important for understanding where a persona stands in terms of readiness to change when considering a behavior change, such as risky alcohol use. Few studies have examined relationships between language expressed in a BMI and survey measures of stage of readiness to change. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the types of client language in a single BMI session and associations with stage of change among a sample of emergency room/trauma department patients screened for positive BAC and/or risky alcohol use (n = 196). Using structural equation modeling, …

The Efficacy Of Brief Individual And Group Interventions Among Light And Intermittent Smokers, Beatriz Suro Maldonado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite the decline in daily smoking between 2005 to 2013, light and intermittent smoking rates have increased. Few studies assessing smoking cessation in light (â?¤10 cigarettes per day) and intermittent smokers (nondaily smoking; LITS) exist. The current study assessed the efficacy of a brief smoking intervention for light smokers in a predominantly Hispanic young adult sample. Several smoking cessation predictors were identified. Two hundred fifty two light and intermittent smokers were recruited primarily from community health clinics and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Participants completed baseline measures assessing socio demographics, tobacco use and history, stage of change, …

Examining The Spanish Maysi-2 Translation Among Mexican Americans, Yolanda Denise Ochoa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Due to the increasing Latino population in the U.S., Spanish translations of mental health screening tools are needed to better serve Latinos, particularly those in juvenile justice settings. Screening tools are measures that flag mental health symptoms and indicate if further evaluation is needed. The most widely screening tool used in juvenile justice settings that has been translated into Spanish is the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2 (MAYSI-2). To date, research has focused only on the English version of the MAYSI-2. The present study examined the equivalence of the Spanish translation of the MAYSI-2 to its English version in 18- …

The Rock And The Hard Place: How The Prison Psychotherapist Balances Treatment Needs With Security Needs, Elijah Paige Ricks

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Research on traditional psychotherapy suggests that the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client is the most important element of effective mental health work. In contrast, prison policies often require that staff maintain an emotional distance from offenders, and many elements of the prison environment and characteristics of the offenders may be counterproductive to the therapeutic relationship. Due to the competing demands of psychotherapy and prisons, it is important to understand how prison psychotherapists reconcile the aims of both in their work. This Dissertation examined the psychometric properties of a new measure of how prison therapists balance the …

Effects Of Positive Distortion Instructions On The Factor Structure Of Socially Desirable Responding Scales, Corina Mendoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Socially desirable responding (SDR) is the manifestation of an individual's desire to represent him or herself in a positive light on a self-report questionnaire. Two distinct types of questionnaire scales are commonly used to identify individuals who have engaged in SDR: Impression Management (IM) and Self-Deceptive Enhancement (SDE) scales. In the present study, 653 undergraduate students completed four IM scales, three SDE scales, and two brief questionnaires measuring the Big Five personality factors. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Control condition, in which they were instructed to complete the questionnaires according to standard instructions, or a Positive Distortion (PD) …

Cultural Correlates Of Condom Use, Cecilia Brooke Cholka

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hispanics are disproportionately contracting sexually transmitted infections relative to other ethnic groups. This study assessed the relationships between condom usage, acculturation, and cultural values (i.e., familismo, religiosity, machismo, and marianismo) in a Hispanic college student sample. Participants (N = 456) were recruited through Sona Systems, flyers, and in highly frequented areas on campus. After informed consent was obtained, participants completed measures of Hispanic cultural values, past condom use, and future intentions to use condoms. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed; dependent variables included condom use (lifetime) and future intentions to use condoms, while independent variables include sex/gender and relationship status (step …

The Multidimensional Measure Of Internalized Hiv Stigma In English And Spanish: Measurement Invariance And Other Psychometric Properties, Elsa Martin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Efforts to increase the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) as well as prevention efforts have recently focused on HIV-related stigma. Sayles et al. (2008) developed the Multidimensional Measure or Internalized HIV Stigma (MMIHS), a measure of HIV-related stigma that is sensitive to minorities, women, and people with limited income. This study evaluated the four-factor structure presented by Sayles et al. (2008) on data collected from 269 HIV–positive individuals, and also validated a Spanish translation of the measure using a measurement invariance method. In addition to stigma, this study also collected information regarding depressive symptoms, HIV …

Craving Effect Of Unintentional Smoking Cues In Antismoking Images In Light Smokers, Francisco Isaac Salgado-Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tobacco use is considered the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the nation. According to cue-reactivity models, environmental stimuli associated with smoking may elicit cravings in smokers. Antismoking advertisements, may also elicit cravings in smokers because of unintentional use of smoking cues, which may promote smoking maintenance and hinder quitting attempts. The purpose of this study is to assess if cue-reactivity elicits cravings in light and intermittent smokers and if impulsivity serves as a moderator. Data from 155 participants who reported smoking at least once in the past week to 10 cigarettes per day were collected. …

Correlates Of Weight Concern And Control In A Hispanic College Student Sample., J. Blow, T. Taylor, Theodore V. Cooper, C. K. Redfearn

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

Differences Between Intermittent And Light Daily Smokers In A Population Of U.S Military Recruits, Theodore Cooper, Thom Taylor, Ashley Murray, Margaret Debon, Mark Vander Weg, Robert Klesges, G. Wayne Talcott

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

Potential Demographic And Cultural Predictors Of Heavy Episodic Drinking In Hispanic College Students., Theodore V. Cooper, Jennifer Venegas, Natahsa Naylor, Brenda S. Hanson

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

Assessing A Smoking Cessation Program For Veterans In Substance Use Disorder Treatment., Theodore V. Cooper, Y. M. Hunt, R. S. Burke, C. J. Stoever

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Study Of A Brief Smoking Cessation Intervention At The Student Health Center., Theodore V. Cooper, Jennifer Venegas, Denise Rodriguez De Ybarra, Thom Taylor, Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

Obesity-Relevant Behaviors: Patterns And Correlates In A Hispanic College Sample., D. Hu, T. J. Taylor, Theodore V. Cooper

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Amount Smoked Per Day In Light Smoking College Students: A 7 Day Diary Assessment., Thom Taylor, Theodore V. Cooper

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

Characteristics Associated With Smoking In A Hispanic Sample., D. Rodriguez Esquivel, Theodore V. Cooper, J. A. Blow, M. R. Resor

Theodore V. Cooper

No abstract provided.

Is Alexithymia A Predictor Of College Student Alcohol Abuse?, Diane Arms

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Alexithymia, as defined by Sifneos (1973), literally means "no words for emotions." It is characterized by the following three domains: 1) the incapacity to identify feelings, 2) inability to describe feelings and 3) the tendency to think in externally oriented ways (Salminen, Saarijarvi, & Aarela, 1995; Sifneos, 2000). Although alexithymia is not a diagnosable disorder, it has been shown to be related to a wide variety of other constructs (e.g. alcohol use, depression and parenting styles). This study examined the interrelationships between alexithymia and student alcohol use, while controlling for sex, perceived parental alcohol use, perceived parenting styles and student …

The Effects Of Psychopathy And Machiavellianism On Cognitive Dissonance, Ashley Anne Murray

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Psychopathic traits include a lack of guilt, a lack of remorse, callousness and antisocial behaviors such as impulsivity and aggression. The current study examined the effects of psychopathic traits as measured by the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised: Short Form (PPI-R: SF; Lilienfeld & Widows, 2005) and the Levenson Primary and Secondary Psychopathy Scales (LPSP; Levenson, Kiehl, & Fitzpatrick, 1995), and of Machiavellianism (MACH), as measured by the MACH-IV (Christie & Geis, 1970), on cognitive dissonance in a sample of 164 participants. The induced compliance paradigm of cognitive dissonance was implemented by instructing each participant to complete a boring task …

Intermittent And Light Smoking Cessation In A Predominantly Hispanic College Sample, Natasha Kathleen Naylor

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Smoking is deleterious to one's health and is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States; no level of smoking has been found to be safe. Hispanic and college populations smoke at lower levels but for longer periods of time than non-Hispanic whites and are at risk of escalating their smoking. In this study the effect of a brief tailored intervention on quit status, smoking reduction, Transtheoretical measure change, as well as potential correlates of smoking cessation and reduction, were examined. Two hundred fifty participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 1-, and 3- month follow-ups. Questionnaires assessed: demographic information, …

A Tobacco Consumption Diary To Assess The Factors Associated With Smoking In A Light Smoking College Population, Thom J. Taylor

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Limited information exists about the proximal predictors of light smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day (cpd). Furthermore, light smokers are not highly motivated to quit smoking. This study examined predictors of light smoking and motivational change toward quitting smoking in 118 light smoking college students. Participants completed a 7 day Tobacco Consumption Diary (TCD) by recording for each cigarette: time and day, location, number of people present, number of smokers present, mood, and whether alcohol was consumed. Carbon Monoxide (CO) feedback was also provided to a random half of the participants at the outset of the study. CO feedback …