Psychology Commons^™

Psychological Effects Of Immigration: A Comprehensive Review Exploring Social Identity, Acculturation And The Effects Of Cultural Attitudes And Systemic Factors On The Well-Being Of Immigrants, Huda Abu Nasab

Honors Theses

Immigration is a life-altering experience that can greatly affect an individual's identity, sense of belongingness, and well-being. The United States is known as a nation of immigrants; however, many immigrants have faced challenges related to assimilation and the development of their social identities in a new society. For example, immigration challenges often include adapting to a new culture, learning a different language, and navigating unfamiliar healthcare and educational systems. There are many factors that influence how immigrants adjust in their host country, such as acculturation challenges, cultural attitudes towards immigrants, and the availability of essential resources. This literature review aims …

Early Childhood Language Gains, Kindergarten Readiness, And Grade 3 Reading Achievement, Jessica A.R. Logan, Shayne B. Piasta, Kelly M. Purtell, Robert Nichols, Rachel E. Schachter

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

In this preregistered study, we used latent change score models to address two research aims: (1) whether preschool-aged children's language gains, over a year of early childhood education, were associated with later performance on state-mandated, literacy-focused kindergarten readiness and Grade 3 reading achievement assessments, and (2) whether gains in language, a more complex skill, predicted these outcomes after controlling for more basic emergent literacy skills. There were 724 participating children (mean = 57 months; 51% male; 76% White, 12% Black, 6% multiple races, and 5% Hispanic or Latino). We found that language gains significantly predicted kindergarten readiness when estimated in …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Well-Being Of People Incarcerated In United States Prisons, Kimberly Rivera

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the population as a whole. However, the incarcerated population (which also experiences a variety of health disparities) has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Due to overcrowding, poor ventilation, and lack of resources, the incarcerated population already is at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes, made worse by the recent pandemic. To adapt to the rapidly changing conditions during the pandemic in 2020 and into 2022, new safety measures were implemented, but the unintended consequences associated with the implementation of these procedures have yet to be examined empirically. I conducted a qualitative content …

Organizational Commitment, Sarah Stepanek, Megan Paul

Umbrella Summaries

What is organizational commitment?

Organizational commitment, along with job satisfaction, is one of the most commonly studied job attitudes within the psychological sciences and is often used to gauge how employees feel about their job. Research on organizational commitment has largely been a fragmented endeavor, with no clear consensus on what organizational commitment actually is or how it should be conceptualized. To date, there is not one definition that is regarded as the best, but there are some common themes that can be seen throughout the many definitions in existence. For example, most definitions refer to organizational commitment in terms …

Job Satisfaction, Sarah Stepanek, Megan Paul

Umbrella Summaries

What is job satisfaction?

Job satisfaction is generally thought of as the degree to which an individual likes or dislikes their job (Spector, 1997). Along with organizational commitment, it is one of the most commonly studied job attitudes and is used as a way to gauge how employees feel about their jobs and as a reflection of how well the organization is functioning. Job satisfaction is commonly considered as either “a global feeling about the job or as a related constellation of attitudes about various aspects or facets of the job” (Spector, 1997, p. 2). Thus, job satisfaction is …

Housing Discrimination And Negative Attitudes Towards Ex-Offender Parents, Julie C. Wertheimer-Meier

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

While the Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination because of race, gender, religion, sex, disability, family status, and national origin, it allows housing providers to discriminate on the basis of criminal history. Prior research shows that housing providers disproportionately deny housing to ex-offender applicants and single parent applicants with young children. An ex-offender parent’s inability to acquire safe and affordable housing decreases the potential for reunification with their children and increases the risk of lost custody or parental rights termination. This dissertation consisted of two experiments that examined the effects of negative attitudes towards ex-offender parents on those parents’ ability …

Current Use Of Cigarettes In The United States: The Joint Role Of Race/Ethnicity And Health Insurance Coverage, Julia N. Soulakova, Lisa J. Crockett

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The goal of this study was to assess the joint role of race/ethnicity and a health insurance coverage type (private, Medicare, Medicaid) in current cigarette use among adults in the U.S. Data from the 2019 Tobacco Use Supplement and the 2019 Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey were merged (n = 39,882). Bivariate associations between each coverage type and smoking prevalence were examined within each of six racial/ethnic groups. A multiple logistic regression model (for the odds of current cigarette use) was estimated to explore the interactions between race/ethnicity and an indicator of each type of …

Rates Of Recent Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Indigenous Children, Emily A. Waterman, Katie Edwards, Natira Mullet, Ramona Herrington, Skyler Hopfauf, Preciouse Trujillo, Naomi Even-Aberle, Lorey Wheeler

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

The current paper describes rates of recent (past six months) adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and examines the association of ACEs with cultural connection and depressive symptoms among Indigenous children aged 10 to 14 (N = 177; mean age = 11.8; 48.3% boys; 44.3% girls; 7.4% another gender identity). Children completed baseline surveys as part of a larger evaluation of a culturally grounded, strengths-focused, family-based program to prevent ACEs. Surveys included an inclusive measure of ACEs developed for the current study, an adapted measure of connection to culture, and the Children’s Depression Screener. Results for ACEs indicated that 18.6% of …

Onboarding Program Eastern Band Of Cherokee Indians - Final Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is a federally-recognized tribe. The Family Safety Program (FSP) is the child welfare program that serves the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, under the tribal Division of Public Health and Human Services. FSP was established in 2015 with around 10 staff members and has grown to about 60 staff, all located in one office in Cherokee, North Carolina. Since FSP was a relatively new agency when they began working with the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD), turnover had not been a signficant problem, however, vacancies were a challenge. In October 2017, …

Frontline Job Redesign Louisiana - Final Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Welfare Division (CWD) is a state-operated child welfare system. Louisiana has 64 parishes statewide organized into nine regions. The local parish offices provide child protective service (CPS), family services (FS), foster care (FC), and adoption services. CWD has approximately 1,500 employees including about 640 frontline caseworkers. In 2017, when Louisiana applied to become a QIC-WD site, CWD estimated its turnover rate across the state to be 24%, with one region having a turnover rate of 51%, while another had a turnover rate of only 8%.

This video discusses the challenges …

Frontline Job Redesign Louisiana - Prevention Worker Role Cards, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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Lists the different tasks given to types of prevention workers. View the download file.

Frontline Job Redesign Louisiana - Permanency Worker Role Cards, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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View the download file.

Organizational Change Process Milwaukee - Final Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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Organizational Change in Action

The Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services (DMCPS) is a state-operated child welfare system and is the only county system in Wisconsin run by the state. The Division is housed under the Department of Children and Families and has just under 200 staff, including: administrative/managerial staff, initial assessment and access (hotline) frontline workers, and fiscal and operations support. In 2016, DMCPS had an external turnover rate of 37% and they applied to be a Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) site, with the goal of strengthening their child welfare workforce.

When DMCPS started working with …

Organizational Change Process Milwaukee - Site Intervention Logic Model, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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Each QIC-WD site developed a logic model to serve as a visual representation of their selected intervention. All logic models included four main components: inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. Collectively, these demonstrate the resource and actions required to implement the program, as well as the associated result of changes anticipated through implementation of the program. The hypothesized relationships are represented by the pathways connecting the listed activities and anticipated outcomes.

Organizational Change Process Milwaukee - Arc Principles Poster, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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1. All staff and administrative actions and decisions should be guided by a clear focus on the wellbeing of the children and families served.
2. Measure success by how much child and family wellbeing improves and use this data to drive decision-making and improvement.
3. Continually seek to be more effective, to eliminate barriers, and to foster change to improve the wellbeing of children and families.
4. Focus on relationships/networks in your organization, stakeholders, and family networks to affect child and family outcomes.
5. Get those with a stake (front-line staff) involved in key program decisions, solutions, and improvement efforts.

Addressing Work-Related Traumatic Stress Nebraska - Final Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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Building a Resilient Workforce

Nebraska Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is a state-operated child welfare system. The Division is housed in the Department of Health and Human services and is divided into five service areas. DCFS has about 400 frontline child welfare workers (Child and Family Services Specialists or CFSS), 70 supervisors, and 15 field administrators. In 2017, DCFS had an annual turnover rate of about 30%. They applied to be a QIC-WD site with the goal of strengthening their child welfare workforce.

When DCFS started working with the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD), an Implementation …

Supportive Supervision And Resiliency Ohio - Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is a state-led, county-administered child welfare system. Ohio’s 83 single-county agencies and two multi-county agencies are responsible for the delivery of child protective services and ongoing case management in Ohio’s 88 counties. In 2017, ODJFS had an annual turnover rate of about 27%. They applied to be a Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) site with the goal of strengthening their child welfare workforce. When ODJFS started working with the QICWD, a Workforce Implementation Team (WIT) was established to participate in a needs assessment process, determine an intervention, and support implementation. …

Supportive Supervision And Resiliency Ohio - Coaching To Support Resilience Chart, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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➢ What makes you hopeful about participating in Resilience Alliance? ➢ What worries you? ➢ What is one thing you’d like to achieve as a result of attending Resilience Alliance? ➢ How will you manage competing demands to be able to fully participate? ➢ When you think about how the agency responds to stress now, what is one area you’d most like to see change? ➢ What opportunities do you see to participate in the change? ➢ What is one thing you that might prepare you for Resilience Alliance? ➢ How do you recognize emotional, physical, personal indicators? What triggers …

Competency-Based Personnel Selection Oklahoma - Final Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

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Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) is a state-operated child welfare system, but hiring has always been done locally. The agency is divided into five field regions serving 27 districts and 77 counties. In 2017, OKDHS employed 1,780 Child Welfare Specialists (caseworkers) and 388 supervisors. That same year, the annual turnover rate was 25%. They applied to be a QIC-WD site with the goal of strengthening their child welfare workforce.

When OKDHS started working with the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD), a steering committee was established to participate in a needs assessment process, determine an intervention, and support …

Various Enablers As Predictors Of Bachelor Of Library And Information Science Students’ Thriving At School, Jolo Van Clyde Simbajon Abatayo, Contisza Calinawan Abadiez

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

A thriving student is completely physically, socially, and emotionally active and has a social connection and psychological well-being that can lead to college success. This study was conducted to determine the various enablers that predict the thriving of (BLIS) Bachelor of Library and Information Science students in the Caraga Region which can lead to their academic success through the presence and manifestation of academic, psychological, and social enablers. This study utilized descriptive correlational research design to gather quantifiable information on the relationships that exist between the variables. The respondents of this study were eighty-two (82) BLIS students from 4 schools …

Housing Discrimination And Negative Attitudes Towards Ex-Offender Parents, Julie Wertheimer-Meier

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

While the Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination because of race, gender, religion, sex, disability, family status, and national origin, it allows housing providers to discriminate on the basis of criminal history. Prior research shows that housing providers disproportionately deny housing to ex-offender applicants and single parent applicants with young children. An ex-offender parent’s inability to acquire safe and affordable housing decreases the potential for reunification with their children and increases the risk of lost custody or parental rights termination. This dissertation consisted of two experiments that examined the effects of negative attitudes towards ex-offender parents on those parents’ ability …

Students' Attitudes Towards Animals Influences Youth Development Constructs Based On Interactions With Different Animal Species Prior To College, Allison K. Pachunka

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Human-animal interactions (HAI) are commonplace in society and play a consequential role in a variety of situations such as companion animal ownership, agriculture, or youth programs such as 4-H or FFA. Interacting with animals has been shown to provide developmental benefits to children. Positive youth development (PYD), measured by the Five Cs Model, is a framework that focuses on fostering youth’s potential through positive activities which has been studied specifically in 4-H. However, this framework has not been applied to other organizations such as the National FFA Organization (FFA) or to other young adults with less formal interactions with animals. …

Less Computer Access: Is It A Risk Or A Protective Factor For Cyberbullying And Face-To-Face Bullying Victimization Among Adolescents In The United States?, Jun Sung Hong, Miao Wang, Rekha Negi, Dexter R. Voisin, Lois M. Takahashi, Andre Iadipaolo

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

The present study investigates whether less computer access is associated with an increase or decrease in cyberbullying and face-to-face bullying victimization. Data were derived from the 2009–2010 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children U.S. Study, consisting of 12,642 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 years (Mage = 12.95). We found that less computer usage was negatively associated with cyberbullying victimization and face-to-face bullying victimization. The findings from the study have implications for research and practice.

Assembly Of An Inexpensive Rat Jugular Catheter Button Based On A Split-Septum Needleless Intravenous System, Mauricio Suarez, Elizabeth J. Cantrell, Ken T. Wakabayashi, Caroline E. Bass

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Rat intravenous self-administration is a widely-used animal model in the study of substance use disorders. Rats are tethered to a drug delivery system usually through a port or button that inter- faces the drug delivery system with a chronic indwelling jugular vein catheter. These buttons can be purchased commercially but are costly, presenting a significant economic barrier for many researchers. Many researchers manufacture buttons in-house from a combination of individual custom made and commercially available components, resulting in large variation in terms of how the animals are handled and the longevity of catheter patency. We have developed a jugular catheter …

How Teachers Use Data: Description And Differences Across Prek Through Third Grade, Amanda Witte, Lisa Knoche, Susan Sheridan, Natalie A. Koziol

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

The use of data to inform instruction has been linked to improved student outcomes, early identification of intervention needs, and teacher decision-making and efficacy. Additionally, data are used as a means of accountability within educational settings. However, little is known about data use practices among early grades teachers. The purpose of the current study is to describe the data use of PreK to third grade teachers and to investigate differences in data use and support across grade levels. Participants were 307 early childhood teachers in PreK and early elementary school. Analysis of survey data revealed, overall, most teachers across grade …

Beneath The Surface: An Investigation Into The Relation Between Power, Dehumanization, And Objectification In And Initial Social Interaction, Lillian Hefner

Honors Theses

Objectification theory suggests that women are disproportionately affected by objectification leading them to experience more negative health outcomes such as depression and eating disorders. Further research on objectification and synthesis of leading theories in the area suggest that power may be one factor likely to predict the objectification and dehumanization of women. One important dimension of this objectification and dehumanization is the environment in which it occurs. Few studies examine a social/dating context as the current study does. We expected the men in the study who felt a stronger sense of power during the interaction would exhibit more objectification of …

Turnover, Megan Paul, Sarah Stepanek

Umbrella Summaries

What is turnover?

The definition of turnover tends to somewhat vary in practice and research. The most common element is an employee leaving their job. Beyond that, turnover can be further defined as internal vs. external, voluntary vs. involuntary, functional vs. dysfunctional, and avoidable vs. unavoidable.

• Internal vs. external: Internal turnover means that the employee moves to a different job within the organization, whereas external means that the employee leaves the organization altogether. In child welfare, however, the “organization” may be defined as all of state or county government, which means that a lot of movement is considered internal.
• Voluntary …

Key Findings From The Qic-Wd At Various Stages Of The Employee Lifecycle, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development (Qic-Wd)

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Employee_Lifecycle_Additional_Resources.pdf

The Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development: Bridging The Research–Practice Gap In Child Welfare, Sarah Layman, Jen Harvel, Apryl Brodersen, Michelle Graef, Megan Paul, Robert Blagg

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The QIC-WD used research and best practices from Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I-O) to improve workforce outcomes across our partner child welfare agencies. This article shares our insights on how we were able to bridge the research-practice gap through the team’s work to develop and test workforce interventions, use organizational data to improve workforce outcomes, and share knowledge and resources from I-O to advance practice in child welfare organizations.

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Secondary Traumatic Stress: Definitions, Measures, Predictors, And Interventions, Anita Barbee, Lisa Purdy, Michael Cunningham

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Child welfare professionals are exposed to a lot of traumatic events. They may experience trauma first-hand witnessing the negative experiences of children and families on their caseload or it may be experienced second-hand through the stories shared by clients or co-workers, or information being read in a file. The research has a variety of terms for this phenomenon (as described in this brief) but the evidence is clear: child welfare workers experience trauma as an occupational hazard and that exposure can manifest itself in ways similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (e.g., disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating). In fact, a survey of …