Psychology Commons^™

Condom Use As It Relates To Perception And Self-Efficacy, Taryn Larribas

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

There is little research that has examined barriers on the part of an individual’s condom use self-efficacy. Furthermore, there is a lack of investigation into whether an individual’s perceptions of their partner’s attitudes have an impact on condom use and whether factors such as an individual’s level of condom use self-efficacy influences a person’s condom acquisition techniques. It is hypothesized that condom use will be positively correlated with higher levels of condom use self-efficacy (CUSE) and positive perceptions of others’ attitudes.

Participants were 104 undergraduates at USF. Hypotheses were tested using the responses to the 28- item Condom Use Self-Efficacy …

Conflict Resolution And Attachment Security: Long Distance Versus Geographically Close Romantic Relationships, Meenakshi Palaniappan

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

The adult attachment theory states that physical proximity is vital for romantic relationship stability. Attachment styles are linked to relational conflict resolution, with secure individuals likely to use mutually-focused, and insecure individuals likely to use avoiding strategies. Communication research has shown that long distance couples accentuate positive affect and minimize differences. Therefore, it was hypothesized that long distance couples will engage in greater avoidant conflict resolution than geographically close couples. The participants included 94 college students. A MANOVA revealed a trend opposing the hypothesis. Long distance couples used less avoidant conflict resolution than geographically close couples, irrespective of attachment style.

Termination Of Long-Term Mental Health Treatment With Foster Youth, Kimberlin Borca, Keala Pacheco

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Our previous work has demonstrated the effectiveness of long-term relationship-basedpsychotherapy for children in foster care. The current study examines circumstances inthe last year and at termination of treatment. Patients were seen on a weekly (65.5%) orbiweekly (18.2%) basis. Reasons for termination included patient relocation (14.5%),unexpected patient dropout (12.7%), treatment plateau/goals reached (10.9%), patientresistance to treatment (10.9%), lack of support from family or social services (9.1%),caretaker termination of treatment (7.3%), and transportation issues/scheduling problems(3.6%). Limitations of the study include a small sample size, potential bias from therapistinformants, and lack of a comparison group.

Loneliness In Middle Childhood: Social Connectedness And Genetic Relatedness, Taryn Larribas, Margaret Gross, Meenakshi Palaniappan, Helena Karnilowics, Shannon Mccarthy

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

The evolutionary approach argues that genetic similarity contributes to greater social similarity due to their desire to protect their genes. The social perspective model argues that loneliness is impacted by social relationships. It is hypothesized that MZ twins will show support for the evolutionary perspective, having the closest levels of loneliness, and will have levels comparable to FFs (Segal, 2000). It is hypothesized that loneliness means will show the following pattern: MZ < DZ = FS < VT with MZ = FF. Additionally, it is hypothesized that there will be a gender difference in loneliness in that M > F (Junttila & Vauras, 2009).

Participants were 300 pairs of children (8-12 years), who took part in the TAPS Study. The hypothesis was examined using 54 pairs of …

Parental Differential Treatment: A Twin-Sibling-Adoptee Study, Meenakshi Palaniappan, Helena Karnilowicz, Shannon Mccarthy, Taryn Larribas, Margaret Gross, Shirley Mcguire, Nancy Segal

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

From a behavioral genetic perspective, similar experiences between siblings will vary by genetic relatedness. The purpose of the present study was to examine parental differential treatment across twins, siblings, and adoptees using a genetic model. Mothers of 54 monozygotic (MZ) twins, 86 dizygotic (DZ) twins, 68 full siblings (FS), and 43 same-aged adoptees (VT) reported their differential treatment of both siblings in three dimensions: school, play, and discipline. The results supported our genetic hypothesis, with a significant effect for dyad type, F (9, 581) = 2.47, p<0.01.

Case Study Of An Art Intervention For Older Foster Youth, Ashley Plushnik, Sarah Morris

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Fostering Art is a photography intervention for adolescent foster youth. Participants in the evaluation study completed a pretest at the start and a posttest upon completion of the one-year program. Seven participants completed both the pre and posttest in their first year of the program. Data about demographics, general feelings, and expression of feelings, as well as standardized measures of self-esteem and stress were collected.,. Results suggest that alternatives to traditional mental health treatment for older foster youth, such as a photography class, may be an effective method of providing stability and continuity for these vulnerable youth.

Attachment Intervention With Parents And Infants In Early Substance Abuse Recovery, Rosana Aguilar

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

The current study evaluates the impact of a 10-week infant massage intervention program designed to increase attachment between parents in a drug rehabilitation facility and their infants. Parents were interviewed before and after the intervention. Analyses revealed a non-significant decrease in parental stress. Depression scores were essentially the same before and after the intervention. Knowledge of infant development scores revealed non-significant trends demonstrated higher levels of knowledge after the completion of the intervention. Parents who completed the intervention indicated that they learned about infant development, how to understand and soothe their baby, and how to communicate with their baby.

Termination Of Long-Term Mental Health Treatment With Foster Youth, Kimberlin Borca, Keala Pacheco

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Our previous work has demonstrated the effectiveness of long-term relationship-basedpsychotherapy for children in foster care. The current study examines circumstances inthe last year and at termination of treatment. Patients were seen on a weekly (65.5%) orbiweekly (18.2%) basis. Reasons for termination included patient relocation (14.5%),unexpected patient dropout (12.7%), treatment plateau/goals reached (10.9%), patientresistance to treatment (10.9%), lack of support from family or social services (9.1%),caretaker termination of treatment (7.3%), and transportation issues/scheduling problems(3.6%). Limitations of the study include a small sample size, potential bias from therapistinformants, and lack of a comparison group.

How Base Rate Statistics And Counterfactuals Influence Causal Models And Recommendations For Traffic Safety, Jennifer Milazzo, Edward Munnich, Jade Stannard, Katheryn Conde

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

How does considering alternative possibilities affect models of what causes changes in statistics? We manipulated two independent variables—prior estimation (whether participants estimated the most recent statistic prior to receiving the correct statistic), and counterfactual thinking (whether participants provided explanations for changes in the statistic in the opposite direction). We measured the following effects: 1) surprise about the correct statistic, 2) changes in participants’ causal models, 3) actions participants recommended to improve the statistic in coming years, and 4) estimates of how much the statistic could improve if proposed actions were implemented.