Psychology Commons^™

The Impact Of Sleep On Academic Burnout With The Effects Of Perceived Stress And General Well-Being, Julia D. Davidson

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study investigated the correlation between sleep deprivation, sleep quality, perceived stress, and general well-being and whether they were risk or protective factors for academic burnout. The sample consisted of 61 female undergraduate students at Brescia University College and participants completed an online questionnaire. A correlational analysis and multiple regression model revealed a significant positive correlation with the three studied factors namely sleep deprivation, sleep quality, and perceived stress with academic burnout. However, general well-being was not significantly correlated. The model that best predicted burnout scores included the variables of sleep deprivation, sleep quality, and perceived stress. Together, these findings …

Time Of Day Preferences And Daily Temporal Consistency For Predicting The Sustained Use Of A Commercial Meditation App: Longitudinal Observational Study, Vincent Berardi, Ryan Fowers, Gavriella Rubin, Chad Stecher

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background: The intensive data typically collected by mobile health (mHealth) apps allows factors associated with persistent use to be investigated, which is an important objective given users’ well-known struggles with sustaining healthy behavior.

Objective: Data from a commercial meditation app (n=14,879; 899,071 total app uses) were analyzed to assess the validity of commonly given habit formation advice to meditate at the same time every day, preferably in the morning.

Methods: First, the change in probability of meditating in 4 nonoverlapping time windows (morning, midday, evening, and late night) on a given day over the first 180 days …

The Effect Of A Gratitude Intervention On Acute Pain Toleration, Cynthia Ware

Honors College Theses

Gratitude interventions are emerging as a method to improve physical health outcomes; however, gratitude’s effect on pain perception and the autonomic response is understudied. Recent research suggests the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex is activated in gratitude interventions and is also involved in the perception of pain and the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. In this study, we investigated the effect of state gratitude induction on pain through the use of the cold pressor method. We found that although there were no significant differences in self-reported unpleasantness, participants in the gratitude condition reported a higher intensity of pain. Nevertheless, participants …

Validation Of The Occupational Depression Inventory In Brazil: A Study Of 1,612 Civil Servants, Renzo Bianchi, Danísio Calixto Cavalcante, Cristina Queirós, Blezi Daiana Menezes Santos, Jay Verkuilen, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Objective: The Occupational Depression Inventory (ODI) assesses work-attributed depressive symptoms. The ODI has demonstrated robust psychometric and structural properties. To date, the instrument has been validated in English, French, and Spanish. This study examined the psychometric and structural properties of the ODI's Brazilian-Portuguese version.

Methods: The study involved 1612 civil servants employed in Brazil (MAGE = 44, SDAGE = 9; 60% female). The study was conducted online across all Brazilian states.

Results: Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) bifactor analysis indicated that the ODI meets the requirements for essential unidimensionality. The general factor accounted for 91% of the common variance extracted. …

Well-Being And Relaxation, Michelle Johnson, Lindsey Edwards, Ashley Brook, Toni Akande, Monica Bennett, Camille Castillo, Christina Duncan, Davis Eddleman, Carolyn Johnson, Lindsey Mathews, Tiara Mccauley, Ephreme Megenta, Ashley Richmond, Mena Azer, Anna Hedger, Ivy Huesmann, Isha Kapoor, Alec Khatter, Caroline Coey, Kimt Nguyen, Olivia Yake

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Achieving balance in one's lifestyle and health is essential to maximizing human potential and flourishing. This sort of ‘equilibrium’ is the focus of ongoing debates regarding general health and wellbeing. However, it is generally understood that this balance is a state of complete physical, psychological, and social well-being (Straub, 2022). The research on intuitive health developed throughout the years indicates that one of the key components affecting well-being is relaxation (Keiber, 2000). There are many theorized methods to promote relaxation; among them, meditation is a common technique that has shown to decrease stress and physiological arousal (Rausch, 2006). Unfortunately, despite …

The Influence Of Digital Media Consumption On Disordered Eating And Body Image, Tasha Casey

Senior Theses and Projects

Previous research states that disordered eating is a growing and concerning issue. With the rise in disordered eating, there has been a consistent rise of the media, especially in reports of time spent online. The key to understanding, and hopefully ending, the development of disordered eating may lie in understanding the media, and how it influences a need for perfection and the necessity of a thin-body ideal. To examine this, 83 students at Trinity College completed a questionnaire consisting of questions from the Eating Disorder Inventory -3 (EDI-3) and modified questions from the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Scale - 3 …

Testing The Feasibility Of A Positive Psychology Mobile Health App For College Electronic Cigarette Users, Allison Futter

Senior Theses and Projects

Electronic cigarette (EC) use is common among college students, with over 50% endorsing lifetime use. Recent research shows Mobile Health (mHealth) technology is a promising tool to help address EC use in young adults. Yet only 3% of cessation apps were designed to facilitate quitting ECs and the majority lack empirical support of their effectiveness. The Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) app is a positive psychology-based smartphone app for nondaily smokers. Due to previous success with brief, self-administered positive psychology exercises for cigarette cessation, this study examined the SiS App’s feasibility and effectiveness for EC cessation. Sixteen undergraduates used the …

Pne - Lots Of Talk, Superficial Results, Aidan Keller, Michael Ray, Taylor Baugher

ASPIRE 2023

A narrative review (NR) of meta-analyses (MA) and systematic reviews (SR) that assess the effectiveness or efficacy of pain neuroscience education (PNE) on various outcome measures in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. Systematic searches were conducted on 4 databases. Study selection included MAs and SRs that assessed the effectiveness or efficacy of PNE on CP populations. Quantitative eligibility criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), adults (18+ years of age), English or Spanish speaking individuals, and reporting of chronic pain (persistent or recurrent pain lasting ≥ 3 months). Qualitative eligibility criteria included individuals reporting chronic pain and experienced a PNE …

Examining The Use Of Video Modeling With Verbal Feedback To Enhance Performance In Springboard Divers, Erin M. J. Isola

Masters Theses

There is a growing body of literature examining the use of behavior analytic coaching techniques to enhance athlete performance across many different sports. To date, no studies have focused on performance improvement in springboard diving. Springboard diving skills are complex behavior chains and require the accurate performance of multiple smaller, component skills. Several studies have examined different types of feedback to teach and improve complex motor skills in sports other than springboard diving (BenitezSantiago & Miltenberger, 2016; Kelley and Miltenberger, 2016; Quinn et al., 2019; Walker et al., 2020). In one such study, Walker et al. (2020) combined video and …

Exploring Interfaith Sex Education, Bailey Lewis

Honors College

Sacred Sexuality explores the intersections of religion and sexuality. I worked with Dr. Birthisel, Director of the Wilson Center, and Kate Dawson, co-facilitator of the sex education class, to survey the sex education class participants on how the experience has been for them. I surveyed the sex education class participants after the class to analyze their opinions of the sex education class, interfaith dialogue, and how their spirituality or religious perspectives inform their beliefs around sexuality. Overall, the sex education class was highly recommended and gave an interesting look into how faith and sexuality interact. While the sex education class …

Understanding Disordered Eating Attitudes And Patterns In University Students And The Relationship To Campus Dining Services, Benjamin A. Bartling

Honors Thesis

University students are particularly vulnerable to disordered eating behaviors and attitudes. This study seeks to expand upon the knowledge base of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in university students by employing a netnography as a precursor to the main study to establish the following research questions: What is the relationship between the perceived quality of campus dining services and disordered eating attitudes in university students? What is the relationship between the perceived availability of campus dining services and disordered eating attitudes in university students? And, lastly, how does prior experience with campus dining services affect university students eating patterns and …

Comparison Of General Population Vs. U.S. Military Veterans Eating Disorder Prevalence, Micah Callahan

University Honors Theses

Eating disorders disrupt the psychological wellbeing, work ability and daily functioning of many individuals. There is currently no data to compare the prevalence of eating disorders in the general public compared to the military population. The hypothesis was that the military population would be significantly higher in prevalence compared to the general population within the general eating disorder, subcategories of eating disorders and between sex. To analyze the data collected from two studies, sixteen two-proportion Z tests were conducted to determine if the proportions of DSM-V eating disorders differed within and between sex for total incidence and sub-category incidence for …

Childhood-Onset Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Exacerbates Opioid Use Disorder Consequences: Mediation By Impulsive Phenotypes, Liam R. Browning, Ciara Cannoy, Tabitha E. H. Moses, Leslie H. Lundahl Phd, David M. Ledgerwood Phd, Mark K. Greenwald Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly prevalent and associated with opioid use disorder (OUD). Yet, little is known about the mechanisms by which ADHD (which is a heterogeneous construct/diagnosis) might alter the trajectory of OUD outcomes.

Aim: This cross-sectional study examines relationships between childhood ADHD (inferred as predating substance use) and the extent to which the effects of ADHD on lifetime heroin-use consequences are mediated by foreshortened time perspective and drug-use impulsivity.

Methods: Individuals who report heroin use (N=214) were screened using the Assessment of Hyperactivity and Attention (AHA), Impulsive Relapse Questionnaire (IRQ), Stanford Time Perception Inventory (STPI), …

Sources Of Stress, Burnout, And Career Decisions Of Male Health And Nursing Professionals: A Qualitative Inquiry Of The Challenges During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Luis Miguel Dos Santos

The Qualitative Report

The human resources and workforce shortage of registered health and nursing professionals has been a long-term problem in health systems internationally, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many health and nursing professionals face stress and burnout, which may influence their career decisions and long-term human resources development. The purpose of this study is to investigate and understand the relationship(s) between sources of stress and the reasons why male health and nursing professionals decide to leave the profession within the next six months. With the employment of the social cognitive career and motivation theory and general inductive approach with 40 male health …

Meditations On Loss And Grief: Loss Is A Universal Human Experience - How Can We Cope With It?, Jasmin Tahmaseb-Mcconatha

Psychology Faculty Publications

• The painful experience of loss is universal; many people will face multiple losses throughout their lives.
• Cultural messages of later life are filled with expectations and anticipation of loss that shape how people mourn.
• Immersion in the natural world can help people cope with loss and heal.

An Exploration In Social And Emotional Health Of Vietnamese High School Students, Thien-Vu Giang, Van Son Huynh Prof., My-Hanh Mai

The Qualitative Report

Social and emotional health (SEH) aims to promote academic success and create school well-being. SEH has not been studied in Vietnam. This article focused on exploring the SEH of Vietnamese high school students because of the high-risk level in mental health that appeared in this group. The study was carried out using a qualitative case study approach to interviewing 74 students, 12 teachers, 7 school administrators, and 4 school counselors. We interpreted four features of SEH's expression of Vietnamese students: (1) Confident but lack of individual perspectives, (2) Respectful but lack of listening and empathy in school relationships, (3) Balanced …

Interventions To Modify Psychological Well-Being: Progress, Promises, And An Agenda For Future Research, Laura D. Kubzansky, Eric S. Kim, Julia K. Boehm, Richard J. Davidson, Jeffrey C. Huffman, Eric B. Loucks, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Rosalind W. Picard, Stephen M. Schueller, Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald, Tyler J. Vanderweele, Katey Warran, David S. Yeager, Charlotte S. Yeh, Judith T. Moskowitz

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Psychological well-being, characterized by feelings, cognitions, and strategies that are associated with positive functioning (including hedonic and eudaimonic well-being), has been linked with better physical health and greater longevity. Importantly, psychological well-being can be strengthened with interventions, providing a strategy for improving population health. But are the effects of well-being interventions meaningful, durable, and scalable enough to improve health at a population-level? To assess this possibility, a cross-disciplinary group of scholars convened to review current knowledge and develop a research agenda. Here we summarize and build on the key insights from this convening, which were: (1) existing interventions should continue …

Life Satisfaction And Psychological And Physical Well-Being, V. Krishna Kumar, Jasmin Tahmaseb-Mcconatha

College of the Sciences & Mathematics Faculty Books

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being". It showcases a review and empirical studies on life satisfaction and its related aspects. The studies are from several countries on a wide range of samples including university students, faculty, nurses, entrepreneurs, adolescents, national databases, refugees, and community samples

Prof. Dr. V. K. Kumar
Prof. Dr. Jasmin Tahmaseb-McConatha
Guest Editors

The Pandemic Anxiety Inventory: A Validation Study, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Tasmyn Prytherch, Mark Cropley, Renzo Bianchi

Publications and Research

The Pandemic Anxiety Inventory (PAI) assesses anxiety symptoms individuals attribute to the presence of a pandemic. We conducted this study of 379 British adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that the PAI exhibited excellent reliability and solid criterion validity. Pandemic anxiety was associated with reduced social support, anticipated life changes, financial strain, job loss, economic insecurity, and the hospitalization or death of a close friend or relative. Using correlational and bifactor analyses, we found that the PAI demonstrated solid convergent and discriminant validity. The findings suggest that the PAI can be used in research and clinical practice.

The Pandemic Anxiety Inventory: A Validation Study, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Tasmyn Prytherch, Mark Cropley, Renzo Bianchi

Publications and Research

The Pandemic Anxiety Inventory (PAI) assesses anxiety symptoms individuals attribute to the presence of a pandemic. We conducted this study of 379 British adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that the PAI exhibited excellent reliability and solid criterion validity. Pandemic anxiety was associated with reduced social support, anticipated life changes, financial strain, job loss, economic insecurity, and the hospitalization or death of a close friend or relative. Using correlational and bifactor analyses, we found that the PAI demonstrated solid convergent and discriminant validity. The findings suggest that the PAI can be used in research and clinical practice.

Examining The Effect Of Physician Language On Physician Impressions, Kathleen L. Hopps, Anna H. Rini, Maggie E. Williams, Gina A. Paganini, E. Paige Lloyd

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Previous research provides evidence that stigma can be perpetuated through language with consequences for well-being and quality of care. For example, providers who use stigmatizing language transmit bias toward patients with implications for care provided by other healthcare professionals. The current work extends upon this research by investigating perceptions of physicians who use stigmatizing or humanizing language. The current work sought to document the negative consequences of providers’ indelicate language on impressions of the provider, thereby motivating thoughtful language choices. To this end, the current work experimentally manipulated the language (stigmatizing, identity-first and destigmatizing, person-first) that hypothetical providers used to …

Gottman Processes And Couple Outcomes While Navigating Infertility, Clayton Brigance

Dissertations

Infertility remains one of the most difficult relational contexts for couples. However, some research suggests that some couples actually increase their overall satisfaction in their relationship through infertility due to a deeply shared emotional experience. To the knowledge of the author of this dissertation, no studies exist which explain how couples arrive at their relational outcomes through the experience of infertility. These studies within this dissertation add to the present literature by explaining how couples may arrive at their relational outcome through the lens of Gottman Method Couple Therapy (GMCT). For both studies presented here, 902 participants were recruited through …

Experiences Of Covid-19-Related Racism And Impact On Depression Trajectories Among Racially/Ethnically Minoritized Adolescents, Sabrina R. Liu, Elysia Poggi Davis, Anton M. Palma, Hal S. Stern, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

In 2020, racially/ethnically minoritized (REMD) youth faced the “dual pandemics” of COVID-19 and racism, both significant stressors with potential for adverse mental health effects. The current study tested whether short- and long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic differed between REMD adolescents who did and did not endorse exposure to COVID-19-era-related racism (i.e., racism stemming from conditions created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic).

Methods

A community sample of 100 REMD adolescents enrolled in an ongoing longitudinal study of mental health was assessed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 51% girls, mean …

Measurement And Scale Development Skills For Public Health Doctoral Scholars, Manoj Sharma

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Web-based synchronous teaching is gaining popularity all over the world. In web-based synchronous teaching, both pedagogical robustness and the building of content expertise are mandatory. I taught a new doctoral course, HED 763 Measurement and Scale Development in Social and Behavioral Health in the Spring of 2022. The specific teaching techniques that I used were (a) enhanced pedagogical features that included delivery as web-based synchronous, organizing the course in Canvas and making it available from day 1, recording all lectures beforehand in Panopto, utilizing case studies, employing WebEx and its breakout sessions feature, guest lectures, and having weekly skill-building activities …

Examining Factors Related To Tobacco Treatment Engagement Among Tobacco Dependent Black/African American; Hispanic/Latino Cancer Patients: An Analysis Of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’S Tobacco Treatment Program, Gleneara E. Bates-Pappas

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Among patients diagnosed with cancer, persistent tobacco use is associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as worse treatment side effects, decreased effectiveness of cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery), all increasing risk of recurrence, second primary cancers, and poor survival. Despite the clinical importance of tobacco cessation in the context of high quality cancer care, engaging Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino cancer patients in tobacco treatment programs can be challenging. Prior studies with the general adult population demonstrate that Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino smokers are referred to and accept tobacco cessation treatment at lower rates compared to non-Hispanic White smokers. This …

A Novel Measure Of Narrative Self-Functioning And Its Role In The Transformative Potential Of Psychedelic Experience Across Clinical And Non-Clinical Participants, Nicole M. Amada

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The eudaimonic field of well-being is founded on the idea that self-knowledge and the realization of one’s potential is at the heart of what it means to strive for well-being. While the “self” is at the core of this perspective, theories derived from this field have yet to incorporate neurocognitive conceptualizations of the self, and account for the collection of self-referential cognitions that influence striving for well-being. Such a theory and measure could fill this theoretical gap and be applied in person centered interventions to capture change in these processes over time. One such intervention utilizes psychedelic experience as a …

Enhancing The Quality Of Life For Senior Citizens: A Facilitator’S Guidebook For Mindful Music And Movement, Shannon Sexton

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Music appreciation and enjoyment enhance well-being throughout the lifespan. The challenges and constraints that people experience as they age can lead to lack of access to music, decreased physical activity, and fewer avenues for creative expression. Group music and movement interventions created for older populations offer opportunities for social connection and improved quality of life. Mindful practices add further benefit when combined with these interventions. Current available programs are scarce and most often do not encompass mixed modalities. In addition, the benefits of these programs do not show long-term sustainability. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the effects …

Adolescent Psychological Assets And Cardiometabolic Health Maintenance In Adulthood: Implications For Health Equity, Farah Qureshi, Anne‐Josee Guimond, Elaine Tsao, Scott Delaney, Julia K. Boehm, Laura D. Kubzansky

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Positive cardiometabolic health (CMH) is defined as meeting recommended levels of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors in the absence of manifest disease. Prior work finds that few individuals—particularly members of minoritized racial and ethnic groups—meet these criteria. This study investigated whether psychological assets help adolescents sustain CMH in adulthood and explored interactions by race and ethnicity.

Methods and Results

Participants were 3478 individuals in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (49% female; 67% White, 15% Black, 11% Latinx, 6% other [Native American, Asian, or not specified]). In Wave 1 (1994–1995; mean age=16 years), data on 5 psychological assets (optimism, …

The Psychosocial, Economic And Physical Impacts Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Institutionalized Older People In Jordan, Manal Anabatwi, Shawqi Abdalrahman Alhajhassan, Tamara Adel Al Wreidat, Reham Ibrahim Abu Ghaboush, Asma Ibrahim Abdallah, Hmoud Salem Olimat, Talal Abd Alkareem Alqudah

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي

This Qualitative study aims to discover and analyze the psychological, economic, social and physical effects of the Corona pandemic on older people, specifically those who reside in nursing homes. The qualitative approach was used, and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with older women and men in August 2021 using the convenience sample. The study concluded that the corona pandemic has caused the elderly residents of the guest house to experience a variety of problems, including their increased fear of death as a result of the virus spread, as well as their feelings of loneliness, anxiety and mental disorders. The study …

Faking And Conspiring About Covid-19: A Discursive Approach, Rosa Scardigno, Alessia Paparella, Francesca D'Errico

The Qualitative Report

In the more general climate of post-truth - a social trend reflecting a disregard for reliable ways of knowing what is true, mostly acted through massive use of misinformation and rhetoric calling for emotions - an alarming “infodemic” accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting healthy attitudes and behaviors and further lessening trust in science, institutions, and traditional media. Its two main representative items, fake and conspiracy news, have been widely analyzed in psycho-social research, even if scholars mostly acknowledged the cognitive and social dimensions of those items and devoted less attention to their discursive construction. In addition, these works did not …