Psychology Commons^™

Nature’S Pill: A Spotlight On Lifestyle And Adolescent Anxiety, Daniel Heckathorn

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Non-Pharmacological Behavioral Interventions For Adhd In The Elementary School Classroom, Kylie M. Burdge

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Mediation Between Parental Coercion And Adolescent Depression, Jacob D. Brown

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Forever In Debt: The Effects Of Debt-Funded Education On Racial Disparities, Talon J. Barlow

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Life After Pediatric Critical Illness: Risk Factors For Reduced Health-Related Quality Of Life And Functional Decline, Ramona O. Hopkins

Faculty Publications

Survivors of a critical illness are at risk to develop physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments that can persist for months to years after they leave the hospital. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) and functional abilities are important measures of outcomes after a critical illness, as they reflect not only the effects of the critical illness, its treatment, and comorbid illness but also physical disability, cognitive impairment, and psychological disorders (depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder) after a critical illness in adults (1). A review of HRQL in 557 adult survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome found a substantially lower HRQL …

Enablers And Barriers To Implementing Icu Followup Clinics And Peer Support Groups Following Critical Illness: The Thrive Collaboratives, Kimberely J. Haines Phd, Bhsc (Physiotherapy), Joanne Mcpeake Phd, Msc, Bn (Hons), Rgn, Elizabeth Hibbert B.Physiotherapy, Leanne M. Boehm Phd, Rn, Acns-Bc, Krishna Aparanji Md, Cpe, Rita N. Bakhru Md, Ms, Anthony J. Bastin Mbbs Phd, Sarah J. Beesley Md, Msc, Lynne Beveridge Rgn, Brad W. Butcher Md, Kelly Drumright Msn, Rn, Cnl, Tammy L. Eaton Msn, Rn, Fnp-Bc, Achpn, Thomas Farley Ms, Acnp, Penelope Firshman Bsc, Andrew Fritschle Pharmd, Clare Holdsworth Bphys (Hons), Aluko A. Hope Md, Msce, Annie Johnson Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Michael T. Kenes Pharmd, Bcps, Bcccp, Babar A. Khan Md, Ms, Janet A. Kloos Rn, Phd, Aprn-Ccns, Ccrn, Erin K. Kross Md, Pamela Mactavish Bsc Pharm (Hons) Msc.,, Joel Meyer Bm Bch Dm, Ashley Montgomery-Yates Md, Tara Quasim Mbchb, Md, Howard L. Saft Md, Ms, Andrew Slack Mbbs, Mrcp, Edic, Md (Res), Joanna Stollings Pharmd, Fccm, Fccp, Gerald Weinhouse Md, Jessica Whitten Pharmd, Giora Netzer Md, Msce, Ramona O. Hopkins Phd, Mark E. Mikkelsen Md, Msce, Theodore J. Iwashyna Md, Phd, Carla M. Sevin Md

Faculty Publications

Objective: Data are lacking regarding implementation of novel strategies such as follow-up clinics and peer support groups, to reduce the burden of post-intensive care syndrome. We sought to discover enablers that helped hospital-based clinicians establish post-ICU clinics and peer support programs, and identify barriers that challenged them.

Design: Qualitative inquiry. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to organize and analyze data.

Setting: Two learning collaboratives (ICU follow-up clinics and peer support groups), representing 23 sites, across three continents.

Subjects: Clinicians from 23 sites. Measurement and Main Results: Ten enablers and nine barriers to implementation of ICU follow-up clinics …

Oxytocin Receptor Genotype And Serotonin Transporter Genotype As Mediators Of Social Behavior: A Rhesus Macaque Model, Ryno Kruger

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Studies suggest that sociality plays a major role in physical and mental health, with loneliness, hostility, and aggression contributing to ill health. Genetic variation functions as a foundational basis for positive sociality, as well as antisocial behaviors such as social alienation and aggression. It is widely believed that the central serotonin and oxytocin systems are two neurotransmitter systems that play important roles in sociality and antisocial behavior. In this study, we investigate the genetic impact of the serotonin transporter gene (SERT) and a recently discovered oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene on social isolation and antisocial behavior using a rhesus monkey model …

"Camouflaging" In Women With Autistic Traits: Measures, Mechanisms, And Mental Health Implications, Jonathan S. Beck

Theses and Dissertations

Autistic traits are associated with frequent psychological distress and everyday functional challenges. Some individuals with autistic traits “camouflage” these traits during social interactions by effortfully engaging in “typical” social behaviors. Camouflaging seems to be especially common in autistic girls and women. Emerging evidence proposes a role for camouflaging behaviors in poorer mental health and daily functioning. Furthermore, camouflaging efforts may delay receipt of a proper diagnosis and access to appropriate mental health care. Despite their clinical significance, camouflaging efforts remain difficult to quantify, and the mechanisms and impacts of camouflaging are poorly understood. This study aimed to compare multiple methods …

Evaluating Muscle Mass In Survivors Of Ards: A 1-Year Multicenter Longitudinal Study, Kitty S. Chan Phd, Marina Mourtzakis Phd, Lisa Aronson Friedman Scm, Victor D. Dinglas Mph, Catherine L. Hough Md, Msc, E. Wesley Ely Md, Mph, Peter E. Morris Md, Ramona O. Hopkins Phd, Dale M. Needham Fcpa, Md, Phd, National Institutes Of Health Nhlbi Ards Network

Faculty Publications

Objective—Rapid muscle wasting occurs during acute respiratory failure, resulting in muscle weakness and functional impairments. This study examines survivors’ body composition in the year after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and tests associations of patient characteristics, hospital exposures, and survivors’ strength and physical functioning with whole body percent lean mass.

Design—Prospective cohort study with 6- and 12-month follow-up

Setting—National study enrolling patients from 5 study centers

Patients—ARDS survivors (N=120)

Interventions—None Measurements and

Main Results—Lean and fat mass from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). On average, survivors gained whole body total mass (+1.4kg, 0.1, 2.7) and fat mass (+1.2 kg, 0.2, …

Foreign Domestic Workers In Hong Kong: Identifying Risk Factors, Resilience, And Psychological Well-Being, Ka Yan Mok

Theses and Dissertations

Domestic workers, also known as house maids or handmaids, are a predominately female workforce that traditionally provides labor in upper-class households. With the increase of dual income families and the global expansion of the middle class, the demand for domestic workers increased, which facilitated the practice of importing lower-cost foreign domestic workers (FDWs) from developing areas. Hong Kong has the highest concentration of FDWs when compared to other metropolitan areas, such as Taiwan, Singapore, or New York. Since the trade began in the 1970s, qualitative research and journalistic investigations have reported that FDWs frequently encounter exploitation, including emotional, physical, and …

Describing Therapeutic Relationship Change And Failure In Group Psychotherapy, Harold Thomas Svien

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives. This study reanalyzed data from Burlingame and colleagues’ (2018) randomized controlled trial on the effect of adding Group Questionnaire (GQ) to Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45) feedback. These data were assessed for the feedback effect using the amount of GQ alerts in one session reported by the group member to track change in GQ subscales as a measure of reversing therapeutic relationship failure.Methods. 374 participants engaged in 58 psychotherapy groups. Every participant provided GQ measurements after every group session. These GQ measurements formed ‘person-session units’ representing whether or not each type of alert was present following each group meeting. Person-session units …

Measurement Implementation In Youth Psychotherapy: An Examination Of Barriers And Facilitators Of Y-Oq And Tsm Implementation, Tess Janeen Collett

Theses and Dissertations

Studies have shown a concerning and disproportionate amount of treatment failure and premature termination in youth populations. Routine measurement feedback has been proposed as a means to prevent treatment failure and premature termination for adults and may also improve youth mental health services. However, studies examining helpfulness of measurement feedback systems in youth populations have demonstrated a lack of effects more likely due to poor measurement implementation than to the measurement feedback system itself. Because contexts within the service settings are such crucial factors in whether an innovation is successfully implemented, examining barriers and facilitators in said contexts is a …

An Exploration Of Mechanisms Of Change In Compassion Focused Therapy Groups: A Pilot Study In A College Counseling Center Population, Jennifer Lynn Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives. This study explored mechanisms of change for Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) groups. The feasibility and acceptability of a new group therapy protocol were assessed in a college counseling center population.Method. Seventy-five participants engaged in eight transdiagnostic CFT groups. Group CFT consisted of 12 weekly sessions. Participants completed measures of fears of compassion, flows of compassion, self-reassurance, self-criticism, shame, and psychiatric distress at pre, mid, and post time points. Significant and reliable change was assessed. Potential mechanisms of change were examined using correlations. Self-report feasibility and acceptability data were collected from therapists and participants respectively.Results. Significant and reliable change was …

Personality Inventory Dsm-5: A Spanish Translation For Hispanics In The United States, Jessica Abigail Carmona

Theses and Dissertations

The Personality Inventory DSM-5 (PID-5) was created to measure personality pathology and help in the development of a dimensional conceptualization of personality disorders (Krueger, Derringer, Markon, Watson, & Skodol, 2012). It measures five maladaptive personality traits: Negative Affect, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition and Psychoticism. The PID-5 has also garnered significant support for its hierarchical structure, five-factor structure across samples and translations, and its ability to predict variance in internalizing and externalizing disorders (Krueger & Markon, 2014). The current study builds on this literature by translating the PID-5 into Spanish spoken in Latin America and testing the replicability of the five-factor structure, …

Factors Associated With Parent Reactions To The Diagnosis Of An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emily Irene Anderberg

Theses and Dissertations

Receiving a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is often a pivotal moment for parents. The diagnostic feedback session can provide helpful information for moving forward with their child’s care but can also be filled with conflicting emotions. A few studies have looked at common parent experiences and have suggested actions for providers, but there is little information about how providers can predict parent reactions to the diagnosis and adjust their feedback accordingly. This study investigated factors related to parent reactions to the diagnostic disclosure session using a) interviews with providers that commonly diagnose autism; b) a focus group with parents …

Visual Artifacts As A Mediating Factor In Collaborative Museum Design, Jacquelyn Claire Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The process of museum exhibit design includes a variety of activities, including collaboration on teams, consulting learning theories, following process models, brainstorming, performing evaluations, and using visuals. Although some articles mention these topics, very few provide specific details about these practices. This dissertation, which includes three articles, explores how design and visual communication occur in exhibit design. The first article examines how exhibit design teams function. The second article describes how they use visual representations to engage team members in ideation and concept development as they planned for new exhibits. This is based on the assumption that designers need to …

A Nonhuman Primate Model Of Anxiety-Induced Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism, J. Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This is the final report for the MEG Grant titled: A nonhuman primate model of anxiety-induced alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The formal phase of the project ran from June 1 through August 23, 2016, with the students learning how to safely work with their research subjects, joining a research team, and collecting their data. Following the formal phase, the students returned to BYU where they used the data they and the other students collected to write scientific manuscripts and posters to present their data. Eight students took part: Elizabeth Wood, Alexander Baxter, Natalie Lange, Travis Norseth, Esther Page, Spencer …

Multimodal Neuroimaging Of Insomnia During Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (Mni_Nrem), Daniel Kay

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The impact of insomnia on brain regions/networks during sleep may represent mechanisms through which insomnia contributes to the risk for mood disorders. As a first step toward understanding the risk relationship linking insomnia to mood disorders, this study will utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with multimodal techniques to investigate alterations in brain regions and networks during wake and NREM sleep in patients with insomnia relative to good sleeper controls. We also intend to investigate the pathophysiology of insomnia across 8 units of analysis by combining these data with Dr. Kay’s larger study, the MNI_RDoC (IRB #16377). The units of …

Do Support Groups For Medical Patients Reduce Risk For Mortality? A Meta-Analytic Review, Connor Workman, Dakota Jake, Daniel Rallison, Timothy Smith, Phd, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent scientific findings show that loneliness is found among the highest predictors of mortality. This information could prove to be a major influence on future interventions for medical patients. However, the literature is inconclusive on how best to implement these findings in the real world. Given that research is limited, a meta-analysis of all appropriate scientific articles was performed to find how social support affected mortality in a medical setting.

Evaluation Of An Eeg Task For Detecting Latent Infections, Ryan Weels, Savanah Bishun, Bruce Brown

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Ultimately our goal is to develop methods for diagnosing neuropsychiatric illnesses through measurement and analysis of the electrophysiological stream of consciousness. In this project we test how well EEG adaptations of the Sternberg (1966) memory search task and the n-back cognitive task can discriminate between individuals who are positive for Herpes-simplex-1 and healthy controls.

The Effects Of Caffeine On Visual Attention In Caffeine-Naïve Participants, Eva Tveten, Steven Luke

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Controversy exists concerning the effects of caffeine on cognitive function. One of the greatest challenges in resolving this controversy stems from the fact that caffeine is the most widely used drug in the United States, consumed daily by a majority of the population. The frequent and widespread use of caffeine means that most research participants are already using it regularly. When this is the case, effects attributed to caffeine in studies can just as easily be explained by relief from withdrawals. What seems to be an improvement in cognitive function in participants who are given caffeine may simply be a …

Role Of Electrical Synapses In Dopamine Transmission In The Brain, Josh Nelson, Seth Stapley, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Drug addiction has long been a major detriment to society. Its pervasive effects can tear apart the lives of addicted individuals. Many of these individuals go without seeking professional help. In 2015, 22.7 million Americans (8.6 percent) needed treatment for a problem related to drugs or alcohol, but only about 2.5 million people (0.9 percent) received treatment at a specialty facility. This may be due to inadequate treatment methods and therapies in use by professionals. The goal of this project is to better understand the mechanism of dopamine (DA) transmission in the brain in order to develop more effective treatment …

Sex Differences In Ethanol Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Mesolimbic Reward System, Mandy Parsons, Justin Bowman, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alcohol abuse disorder is a ubiquitous problem affecting 15.1 million people in the United States, almost 10 million men and more than 15 million women (SAMHSA, 2015). The prevailing view of addiction, including alcohol addiction, is that an increase of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens within the brain has powerful rewarding effects. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effects of alcohol on dopamine release in female rats during the three phases of the estrus cycle in order to determine if alcohol is more rewarding at different points in the female hormone cycle.

Acute Ethanol Decreases Infiltration Of Macrophages Across The Blood-Brain Barrier, James Brundage, Jake Lattin, Dr. Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alcohol addiction affects the lives of millions of people worldwide. In the US alone, an estimated 28 million are currently undergoing treatment to recover from the effects of alcohol abuse at the cost of over 249 billion dollars. The disease has dire consequences for those affected, as well as their families and communities. Despite this, the mechanism of alcohol addiction formation remains a question. One prominent theory relies on the mesolimbic circuitry of the brain, commonly referred to as the reward circuit. This region is made up of two key brain regions, the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) and the Ventral Tegmental …

Oxytocin And Social Affiliation: A Study Of The Genetic Underpinnings Behind Social Behavior In Rhesus Macaques, Ryno Kruger, J. Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Studies suggest that social relationships play a critical role in physical and mental health1, with effect sizes similar to that seen for smoking and alcohol abuse. Those experiencing real or perceived social isolation show higher rates of mortality3, while those with stronger social relationships show decreased rates of mortality4. Also, genetic variation has been associated with the degree of individual sociability2. The serotonin (5-HT) and oxytocin (OT) systems are believed to influence social behavior6,2. The serotonin transporter (SERT) gene codes for efficiency of the serotonin system, with the long (L) allele associated with greater efficiency, when compared to the short …

The Impact Of Perceived Support On Multi-Cultural And International College Students In Utah, Erin Kaseda, Wendy Birmingham

Journal of Undergraduate Research

College is a time in which young adults face a large number of stressors, including academic adjustment, education and career planning, evolving family relationships, struggles with financial independence, dating and marriage, and exposure to new cultures and ideas.1 Previous studies have suggested that college students face high levels of stress, with 75% of college students reporting themselves as moderately stressed and 12% as highly stressed.2 Prolonged stress can have serious effects on both mental and physical health, including an increased likelihood of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety, decreased immune function, sleep disruption, poor cardiovascular health, increased body mass, and …

The Effects Of Helicobacter Pylori On Cognition: A Report, Kenric Gordon, Thomas Petersen, Dawson Hedges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Last year we applied for an ORCA grant for our study of the effects of Helicobacter Pylori on Cognition. Helicobacter Pylori is a bacterium that causes ulcers in the stomach. It has also been implied to cause decreased cognitive functioning. (Berrett, Erickson, Brown, Hedges, 2016) Due to this, it is necessary to discover how Helicobacter Pylori effects cognition and how we can tell through EEG whether someone has Helicobacter Pylori.

A Comparison Of Gender Ratio, Military Culture, And Organizational Climate As Determinants Of The Sexual Harassment Of Women And Of Men In Eight Government Organizations, Alex Calder, Bruce Brown, Robert Ridge

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The United States government spends millions of dollars each year in relation to incidences of sexual harassment. Far more important, however, is the psychological toll on individuals who experiences sexual harassment. Organizations function most effectively when people of all levels of the organization feel physically and emotionally safe. Unfortunately, sexual harassment occurs more frequently in the military as compared to other government agencies. Previous research has left clues about why this may be. Some have suggested that the military necessarily breeds an aggressive culture, which in turn could lead to more aggressive misdeeds. Elsewhere, researchers have demonstrated that organizational climate …

Testing The Psychometric Properties Of Positive Psychology Measures, Olivia Hansen, Jared Warren

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Positive psychology is the rigorous and empirical study of well-being, human strengths, and human flourishing, and the experiences, traits, and institutions that lead to those aims. It began as a rigorous subdomain of psychology in the late 1990’s. Up until this point, the field of psychology had focused largely on pathology and on the weaknesses of the psyche, and positive psychology has shifted to emphasize that psychology has much more it can offer if it looks past just the very worst of human experiences. Positive psychology is rapidly expanding and gaining popularity, and a huge volume of research is being …

Psychosocial Empowerment Group Creation And Implementation Among Malawi Women, Libby Evans, Benjamin Ogles

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Research has shown that most women in Malawi will experience some form of trauma or adversity in their lifetime, and that such adversity can increase rates of mental illness and instability by as much as 15-20% (Saxena, 2017). Simple psychosocial groups and trainings have been shown to increase psychological resilience and prevent and/or heal mental instability. The term psychological resilience is defined as the way a person adapts well in the face of hard times, adversity, trauma, tragedy, or stress. Resilience can be taught through a few simple skills. The goal of this project was to get a better understanding …