Psychology Commons^™

The Effect Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On The Self-Esteem Of College Students, Maggie Van Heemst

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to predict negative health and mental health effects later in life. One in two Americans has experienced at least one ACE. This issue is prevalent across class, race, and ethnicity. However, little is known about ACEs and the young adult population.

Methods: A survey was conducted to measure ACEs and self-esteem in fifty college students. The hypothesis was a negative correlation between ACE and self-esteem scores.

Results: A small negative correlation was found between ACEs and self-esteem in college students. The average ACE score was 3.9 and the average self-esteem …

Strategies For Supporting College Students Experiencing Grief, Rachel A. Guimond

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Grief and loss are a shared human experience. However, lacking cultural awareness of the impact of grief and insufficient social support can make managing the loss of a loved one very challenging for students. One strategy to support students who experience loss during college is the development of a course that addresses content related to the experience within supportive academic relationships. This presentation will explore research findings about student experiences of grief on college campuses and evidence-based practices for the development and implementation of an academic course on grief.

The Influence Of Sustainability Efforts On Sustainable Consumption Habits Amongst College Students, Rebecca Bell

Scholar Week 2016 - present

ABSTRACT:The Influence of Sustainability Efforts on Sustainable Consumption Habits Amongst College Students.

AUTHORS: R. Bell and C. Anstrom

LEARNING OUTCOME: Identify the implications of sustainability efforts implemented within a college campus food service on student perception of university sustainability practices and student behavior.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Sustainability of food systems is a growing concern for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), food service operation employees, policymakers, and activists. Limited research studying student awareness of sustainability efforts and the implication towards developing sustainable behaviors is available. This study explores the relationship between student awareness of sustainability efforts implemented within a college campus food service …

Time To Stop Worrying: A Correlational Study On Individualist Versus Collectivist Time Perspectives And Anxiety, Anna Waldron

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Weber Center, Room 101

Abstract

Purpose

Research has indicated a significant relationship between anxiety and time perspective (TP), which is the way one views life in terms of the past, present or future. TP is broken down into five facets based on the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), including past negative (PN), past positive (PP), present fatalistic (PF), present hedonistic (PH), and future (F) time perspectives (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999). Time perspective is thought to be impacted by one’s culture, although there is a lack of representation in studies on TP cross-culturally which makes it difficult to generalize. …

The Reliability And Validity Of The Open Enneagram Of Personality Scales, Kayleigh Kastelein

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Weber Center, Room 101

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability and validity of the 36-item Open Enneagram of Personality Scales (OEPS). Our general hypothesis was that the OEPS would show adequate reliability evidence but not validity evidence. Participants were acquired through a small denominationally affiliated Midwest university, Amazon Mechanical Turk, and social media. Test-retest reliability was done with 249 participants while internal consistency reliability, factor analysis, and correlations with the Big Five Inventory (BFI; John, Donahue, & Kentle) were done using 1039 participants. An average Pearson’s correlation of .68 (range: 0.54 - …

Attitudes Toward Persons With Intellectual Disabilities In The Public Workplace., Brooklyn Shaw

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Weber Center, Room 101

Abstract

Disability advocacy agencies have been pushing for more community integrated employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study’s aim was to investigate attitudes toward individuals with ID working in the public workplace. A sample of 131 undergraduate students at Olivet Nazarene University were randomly assigned to read one of two different scenarios. One scenario depicted an individual as the co-worker of someone with ID. The other scenario depicted an individual as a customer being helped by someone with ID. Participants then completed the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities …

An Exploratory Study Of Emotional Intelligence Characteristics Between Disciplines In Higher Education And Suggested Curriculum Adjustments, Brad Thomas

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Emotional Intelligence (EI) may be more important to the success of college students than cognitive intelligence and technical skills combined. Recent research has primarily focused on EI in the workplace. However, implications for improving EI skills of college undergraduate students before they enter the workforce appears to be lacking. This quantitative research examined the Emotional Intelligence levels of five different majors to identify differences based on area of study, gender, or other demographic factors. Subsequently, the study aimed to provide suggestions for curriculum development with a goal to better expose students to EI themes. An online survey was offered to …

Investigating Relationships Between Perceived Social Support, Neuroticism, Flexibility, And Covid-19 Related Stress., Patricia Purnell

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University

Abstract

Research suggests that the COVID-19 outbreak has significantly strained mental health and intensified preexisting mental health struggles. Amid the pandemic and the mental strain associated with it, many are concerned with which individuals seem to be struggling with stress related to COVID-19 the most. Specifically, there has been a call for research to incorporate several risk factors and contemplate the significance of flexibility. Therefore, this project will examine if the personality and environmental variables of psychological flexibility, neuroticism, and perceived social support are related to COVID-19 related stress. Olivet Nazarene University …

Situational Versus Characterological Factors In Relation To Loneliness, Lukas Dale

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University

Abstract

Loneliness levels were evaluated based on various characterological and situational factors in 146 college-aged students, the majority of which (75.5%) were Caucasian. Using a quasi-experimental/correlational design, participants completed measures assessing personality (neuroticism and extroversion), perceived social support (PSS), fatherlessness, and resident assistant (RA) status. Multiple regression analyses indicated that each of the characterological factors and PSS were significantly correlated with loneliness (all p’s < .005), while fatherlessness and RA status were not significantly correlated with loneliness. Characterological factors accounted for more variance (R² = .56) than did situational factors (R² = .25).

Impact Of Mindfulness Training On Test Anxiety In College Students, Lindsay Alcock

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University

Abstract

A considerable number of studies have investigated the relationship between mindfulness techniques and the reduction of anxiety; a smaller number of these studies have looked at test anxiety. Previous studies have used multiple mindfulness techniques to measure the impacts on test anxiety, but few have isolated mindfulness trainings to compare the relative impact of each type on anxiety. The present study isolated two different types of mindfulness trainings to analyze their impact on test anxiety compared to each other and a control group. Three sections of biblical scripture classes were used. …

The Impact Of Wellness Training On Resilience, Depression, And Anxiety In College Age Students, Jamie S. Myrtle

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Data suggests that mental health disorders in college students are increasing. University personnel seek to help students better manage their mental health through access to campus counseling centers. Slow enrollment growth has placed pressure on university budgets making it difficult to fully fund counseling centers. Therefore, university personnel seek cost-effective interventions to meet the need. Increasing resilience has shown promise in reducing the overall impact of depression and anxiety. The purpose of the current study was to explore the impact of wellness training on resilience, depression, and anxiety to determine the effectiveness of the intervention in improving resilience and reducing …

Quantitative Research Projects In Psychology, Tabitha Joyner, Keely Dugan, Sarah Johnson

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Students will present their quantitative research from the 2018-2019 academic year.

The Relationship Between Faith Maturity And Life Satisfaction, Amanda Roche

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study attempted to assess the correlation between faith maturity and life satisfaction, as well as to compare that correlation coefficient to other indicators of life satisfaction, namely self-esteem and life orientation. Previous studies have shown that there are many components to life satisfaction, however faith maturity is not a factor that has been previously studied. This study attempts to determine the correlation between these two variables, as well as compare that correlation coefficient to other indicators of life satisfaction, namely self-esteem and life orientation. Participants at a small, private, religiously-affiliated liberal arts university were emailed a survey that included …

The Relationship Between The Accessibility Of Political Attitudes And Voting Behavior, Alison I. Young

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Eighty-five Olivet students (57 women) participated for extra credit in a study focused on the relationship between the accessibility of one's attitudes toward political parties (Democrats vs. Republicans) and political decisions (e.g., likelihood to vote for a given candidate). Participants viewed a series of Democrat-related (e.g., left-leaning, liberal) and Republican-related (e.g., right-leaning, conservative) terms piloted for political orientation. For each, they were asked to indicate as quickly and accurately as possible whether they liked or disliked it. The speed of their response served as a measure of attitude accessibility. Participants then completed a series of questions regarding their political orientation, …

Mental Health First Aid Training For College Students: Evaluation Of Effects On Students’ Knowledge And Responses To Mental Health Issues In Their Peers, Erica Sandtorv

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

Mental health literacy, or the public’s knowledge and beliefs about mental health, has been shown to be lacking; therefore, the proper first aid actions are not always taken to recognize and encourage treatment for psychological disorders. This issue is particularly relevant in a university setting where mental health issues are common and students often rely on their peers for support. Studies have shown mental health first aid (MFHA) training to be successful in equipping people with the skills they need to help others in acute mental health crises.

Methods

To assess the efficacy of a brief mental MHFA training …

Levinas Across The Lifespan: Human Development And The Face Of The Other, Elizabeth Gassin, Chad Maxson

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In this Scholar Week presentation, we will review the fundamentals of Emmanuel Levinas’ philosophy and integrate them with research from the field of developmental psychology. Levinas argued that ethics is the starting point of philosophy. The face of the other human functioned for him to communicate the primal social attachments between the Self and the Other. For Levinas, this primary sociability contains an infinite ethical obligation that shapes philosophy. Various lines of research in developmental psychology have demonstrated a chain of events that dovetails with Levinas’ claims. This chain of events links infant preference for human faces, the crucial role …

Generation Z And Faith: The Cognitive, Experiential, And Praxis, Houston Thompson, Nikki Dention, Julia Mcqueen, Abby Groters

Scholar Week 2016 - present

With every generation there is a sociological shift in the way faith is understood and expressed. Generation Z, those born after 1995, have been influenced by post-modernity and a changing worldview. Like generations before them, Generation Z is forming their own interpretations and experiences to define and express faith. This research discovers the attitudes and behaviors of Generation Z about their faith by looking at three aspects: 1) cognitive development; 2) personal experience; 3) expression or practice.

Emotional Intelligence: The Effect On Social Media Use, Interpersonal Violence, And Gender, Gail Grabczynski

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study investigated the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI), social media use, interpersonal violence and gender. EI is a relatively new topic of research that has been of interest to many organizations due to the proposition that EI assists in the development of individuals. With the proliferation of social media, interpersonal violence and women in the workforce, a determination of a relationship between EI and those variables was warranted. The study was conducted at a small private Christian university. An online survey was administered to 123 sophomores. This study was a cross-sectional quantitative design, that utilized three established instruments to …

Grief Off-The-Clock: Supporting Hospice Professionals Through Personal Loss, Rachel A. Guimond

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Working with clients who die can have a major impact on the way professionals address their own grief. Daily exposure to the possibility of death alters the process of mourning and can leave professionals feeling disconnected from family and friends during times of grief. This presentation will look at the challenges that hospice workers, clergy members, social workers and other professionals face when they experience grief in their own lives. Evidence-based strategies for supporting professionals in their grief will also be explored.

The Hot-Cold Empathy Gap And Persuasion: Does Fatigue Boost Or Reduce The Argument Quality Effect?, Alison I. Young

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Research on the hot-cold empathy gap (Nordgren et al., 2007) suggests that participants currently experiencing some visceral state (e.g., fatigue) empathize more with others in that same state and evaluate them more positively when their behavior is impacted by it (e.g., a tired mother yelling at a cashier). Research on persuasion suggests that the quality of a persuasive message (strong vs. weak) has more of an impact among people for whom that message is more relevant (Ajzen, Brown & Rosenthal, 1996), but less of an impact among those who are distracted (Petty, Wells & Brock, 1976). In this study, I …

Stigma As A Predictor Of Parental Willingness To Seek Mental Health Services For Their Children In Rural America, Reed M. Smith

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

Stigma exists in some capacity towards mental illness. This stigma is a barrier to mental health services for some people. Rural populations are known to have more stigma than their urban counterparts. This can be partly attributed to the rural value system and the lack anonymity in the tight-knit communities. This is on top of already lacking access to mental health services. This especially affects children. A 2015 study on low-income, urban, African-Americans found self-stigma as a predictor of help seeking. The first study focusing on parental stigma of seeking mental health services for their children in rural America …

The Relationship Between Musicianship, Academic Motivation, Academic Achievement, And Self-Esteem, Ellie Krumsieg

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

Past research indicates that music education has a positive influence on academic achievement and self-esteem. Intrinsic motivation is an accepted predictor of high academic achievement, and research suggests that students involved in music are intrinsically motivated. One study showed that undergraduate musicians possessed high levels of academic intrinsic motivation. This study attempts to explore the motivation, academic achievement, and self-esteem of collegiate musicians as compared to collegiate non-musicians.

Methods and Procedures

A survey link was emailed to all undergraduate students at a small, Christian university in the Midwest. Participants answered questions pertaining to their music involvement prompting for music …

The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Volunteer Intention To Staymark, Mark E. Smith

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Cohort XI

Predictable Politics: Whether Undergraduate Students’ College Majors Relate To Their Sociopolitical Views At Olivet Nazarene University, Joshua Dille

Scholar Week 2016 - present

By means of a campus-wide survey of current undergraduate ONU students, this correlational study (N = 1,277) determines the relationship between students’ chosen college major and their sociopolitical orientation. An online survey distributed in September 2016 collected information about students’ attitudes on various key issues, and the resulting data was analyzed in order to uncover patterns of sociopolitical orientation within specific groups of college majors. The results supported a statistically significant correlation between participants’ academic disciplines and sociopolitical views, even if the correlation was not very strong. These findings were assessed through the self-selection and socialization hypotheses as models for …

What's More Important: Design Or Content? An Analysis Of The Impact Of Website Design, Argument Quality, And Need For Cognition On Information Assessment, Luke David Salomone

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Author Abstract:

When evaluating information online or offline, two important aspects are considered by readers: the credibility of the source and the quality of the argument. It is well known that strong arguments are more persuasive than weak arguments of the same length (Petty and Cacioppo, 1984), and recent research has shown that in an online environment source credibility is determined by the reader in part by the design aspects of website (Lowry et al., 2013). Using a 2 (website quality: good vs bad) x 2 (argument quality: strong vs weak) ANCOVA with need for cognition (NFC) and disposition to …