Health Psychology Commons^™

Expressions Of Optimism Bias And "Self" Versus "Other" Perceived Controllability In The Context Of Military-Related Risks, Lauren Lachica-Muschett

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

This study aimed to examine expressions of optimism bias and perceived controllability specifically regarding risks often associated with military service. Optimism bias refers to people’s tendency to believe they are less susceptible to experiencing negative life events compared to others. Previous studies show high levels of optimism bias are associated with strong perceptions of personal controllability. Optimism bias is a significant aspect of health promotion research particularly in the field of general occupational health and safety (OHS). However, optimism bias has never been investigated in the military OHS domain. Given the number of risks associated with military occupations, examination ...

Development And Validation Of The Bisexual Microaggressions Scale, Emma G. Fredrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual minorities face stigmatizing experiences which can lead to disparities in physical and mental health, as well as social and economic resources. Additionally, research suggests that microaggressions, or small actions and comments that speak to a person’s prejudices, act as stigmatizing experiences and contribute to negative outcomes for the stigmatized. However, most studies of sexual minority health do not explore bisexual experiences uniquely, despite evidence that bisexuals have unique experiences of stigma and microaggressions. Those studies that do explore bisexual experiences find worse outcomes for bisexuals than their lesbian or gay counterparts. Thus, the current study developed a quantitative ...

Emotional Eating Is Associated With Intake Of Energy-Dense Foods In Latinos, Andrea Lopez-Cepero, Christine Frisard, Stephenie C. Lemon, Milagros C. Rosal

Milagros C. Rosal

Background: Latinos experience profound health disparities in diet-related chronic conditions. Emotional eating (EE) has been positively associated with such conditions, however, little is known about the relationship between EE and energy-dense food intake that may influence risk for developing these conditions. Objective: To examine associations between EE and energy-dense food intake in Latino men and women. Methods: Latino individuals were recruited from a community health center in Lawrence, MA. Participants completed standardized assessments. EE was measured with the Three Factor Eating Behavior Questionnaire R18-V2. Dietary intake was measured with a culturally tailored Food Frequency Questionnaire. Energy-dense food groups defined as ...

The Association Between Romantic Relationships, Self-Efficacy And Sports Self-Efficacy In Female Athletes As Measured By Salivary Cortisol, Merideth Byl, Ivelina Naydenova

Journal of Counseling and Psychology

This study examined the difference between relationship self-efficacy and sport self-efficacy in female athletes (n=13) through surveys and salivary cortisol. The female athletes provided saliva samples for cortisol measurements through a baseline sample, a behavioral relationship efficacy test sample, and an athletic event sample. Results were gathered through self-reported answers to multiple surveys taken before or after playing Jenga®. The pattern of results supported the hypothesis that there is significant positive correlation between sport self-efficacy and relationship self-efficacy. We also found a significant positive correlation between relationship self-efficacy and relationship satisfaction, but only for male participants. The study’s ...

Pilot And Feasibility Test Of An Implementation Intention Intervention To Improve Fruit And Vegetable Intake Among Women With Low Socioeconomic Status, Michele A. Debiasse Phd, Rdn, Deborah J. Bowen Phd, Sherry L. Pagoto Phd, Joseph M. Massaro Phd, Nawfal Istfan Md, Phd, Lisa M. Quintiliani Phd, Rd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Fruit and vegetable intake (FVI), a modifiable risk factor for chronic diseases, is lower in low socioeconomic status (SES) populations. Implementation intentions (a specific type of planning that extends the Theory of Planned Behavior) has been studied to improve FVI, but not exclusively with low SES groups. Using mixed methods, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an implementation intention intervention (versus a general plan) to increase FVI in women with low SES. For the pilot randomized controlled trial, demographics, body mass index, attitude, perceived behavioral control, goal intention strength, and FVI were measured at baseline and FVI ...

Recommendations For Developing Video Games To Address Depression Among College Students, John Bodycombe

Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Depression is a significant problem on college campuses, and the data shows that prevalence is on the rise (The National Survey on Drug Use and Health [NSDUH], 2014; Stewart, Ricci, Chee, Hahn, & Morgenstein, 2003). Depression impacts the well-being of students and puts them at risk for a variety of issues (Leach, 2009; Adams, Wharton, Quilter, & Hirsch, 2008; Serras, Saules, Cranford, & Eisenberg, 2010; Cranford, Eisenberg, & Serras, 2009; Weitzman, 2004). Many students with depression do not receive care (Blanco, Okuda, Wright, Hasin, Grant, Liu, & Olfson, 20008; Eisenburg and Chung, 2012), or receive care that is not minimally adequate (Eisenburg and Chung, 2012). The first aim of this paper is to review current literature from three pertinent areas of research: (a) depression in the university student population; (b) community psychology; and ...

Disordered Or [Ab]Normal Eating In Pregnancy, Amy Bannatyne, Peta Stapleton, Roger Hughes, Bruce Watt

Peta B. Stapleton

Introduction:

Pregnancy is a powerful biopsychosocial event that involves a multitude of rapid changes to a woman’s body, eating patterns, social functioning, and self identity – most of which are largely outside her control. Although it is well known that eating disorders and disordered eating disproportionally affect young women often during childbearing years, historically, scientific understanding of the intersection between pregnancy and eating disorders has been poor. Overall, it is known that pregnancy can impact an eating disorder in three main ways:

1) Pregnancy may function as a catalyst for remission

2) Pregnancy may exacerbate existing ED symptoms

3) Pregnancy ...

The Public Health Harms Of Pornography: The Brain, Erectile Dysfunction, And Sexual Violence, John D. Foubert

Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Growing Up With Porn: The Developmental And Societal Impact Of Pornography On Children, Gail Dines

Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Twisting Masculinity: Harms Of Pornography To Young Boys And Men, Gabe Deem

Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Characteristics Among Korean American Male Smokers Between Survey And Cessation Studies, Sun S. Kim, Seongho Kim, Colleen E. Mckay, Douglas M. Ziedonis

Douglas M. Ziedonis

This study compared characteristics of Korean American men in two studies: a telephone survey with a random sample of Korean American men who reported daily smoking versus a smoking cessation clinical trial with a convenience sample of Korean American men who reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), both studies attempted to explain how much its theoretical variables (attitudes, perceived social norms, and self-efficacy) would explain quit intentions in Korean American men. Participants in the cessation study were less likely to have health insurance coverage (χ2 [2, 271] = 138.31, p ...

Comparison Of Characteristics Among Korean American Male Smokers Between Survey And Cessation Studies, Sun S. Kim, Seongho Kim, Colleen E. Mckay, Douglas M. Ziedonis

Colleen E. McKay

This study compared characteristics of Korean American men in two studies: a telephone survey with a random sample of Korean American men who reported daily smoking versus a smoking cessation clinical trial with a convenience sample of Korean American men who reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), both studies attempted to explain how much its theoretical variables (attitudes, perceived social norms, and self-efficacy) would explain quit intentions in Korean American men. Participants in the cessation study were less likely to have health insurance coverage (χ2 [2, 271] = 138.31, p ...

The Relationship Of The Serotonin Transporter (Slc6a4) Extra Long Variant To Gene Expression In An African American Sample, Meeshanthini Vijayendran, Carolyn Cutrona, Steven R.H. Beach, Gene H. Brody, Daniel W. Rusell, Robert A. Philibert

Daniel W. Russell

The serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) is a key regulator of serotonergic neurotransmission. Like most genes, SLC6A4 expression is partially regulated by genetic variation. The most heavily studied variant affecting this expression is the polymorphism known as the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR). In those of northern European ancestry, this variation exclusively consists of two alleles; a long (l) variant that consists of 16 repeats and a short (s) variant that consists of 14 repeats of ~22 bp element. In a large number of studies, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that the short variant is associated with 60% of the transcriptional ...

Evaluation Of A Multiple Ecological Level Child Obesity Prevention Program: Switch®What You Do, View, And Chew, Douglas A. Gentile, Gregory Welk, Joey C. Eisenmann, Rachel A. Reimer, David A. Walsh, Daniel W. Rusell, Randi Callahan, Monica Walsh, Sarah Strickland, Katie Fritz

Daniel W. Russell

Background: Schools are the most frequent target for intervention programs aimed at preventing child obesity; however, the overall effectiveness of these programs has been limited. It has therefore been recommended that interventions target multiple ecological levels (community, family, school and individual) to have greater success in changing risk behaviors for obesity. This study examined the immediate and short-term, sustained effects of the Switch program, which targeted three behaviors (decreasing children's screen time, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and increasing physical activity) at three ecological levels (the family, school, and community). Methods: Participants were 1,323 children and their parents ...

Does Male Circumcision Adversely Affect Sexual Sensation, Function, Or Satisfaction? Critical Comment On Morris And Krieger (2013), Gregory J. Boyle

Gregory J. Boyle

Morris and Krieger (2013) have argued that male circumcision does not impact adversely on sexual sensation, satisfaction, and/or function. In the present paper, it is argued that such a view is untenable. By selectively citing Morris’ own non-peer-reviewed letters and opinion pieces purporting to show flaws in studies reporting evidence of negative effects of circumcision, and by failing adequately to account for replies to these letters by the authors of the original research (and others), Morris and Krieger give an incomplete and misleading account of the available literature. Consequently, Morris and Krieger reach an implausible conclusion that is inconsistent ...

Circumcision Of Infants And Children: Short-Term Trauma And Long-Term Psychosexual Harm, Gregory J. Boyle

Gregory J. Boyle

Non-therapeutic infant male circumcision is a permanent surgical alteration to the penis that may cause significant physical, sexual and psychological harm. Physical harms include unintended adverse effects of the surgery itself (e.g., complications such as bleeding, infection, excessive removal of foreskin leaving insufficient shaft skin to accommodate erections, etc.), as well as the inherent loss of healthy, functional tissue. Sexual harms that necessarily follow from circumcision include the loss of all sensation in the foreskin itself, and the loss of all sexual functions that involve the physical manipulation of the foreskin. Additional sexual harms that may follow circumcision include ...

Spatial-Relational Learning And Memory Deficits Associated With Nmdar Autoantibodies In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Brittany L. Bascetta

All Graduate Works by Year: Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Individuals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) experience inflammation that may target any organ within the body, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. Additionally, these individuals often demonstrate psychological dysfunctions including emotional and cognitive deficits; however, research is inconsistent as to the nature and cause of these dysfunctions. While there are multiple factors that may increase risk for variability in cognitive function, such as population differences, socioeconomic status (SES), mood disorders (depression and anxiety), medication effects, and disease activity, these factors do not reliably predict the severity and extent of cognitive deficits. A growing body of animal research associates autoantibodies ...

Is The Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness And Psychological Distress Indirect?, Sailesh Maharjan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mindfulness, purposeful attention without judgment or acceptance, and related practices are increasingly popular with a large number of people and have been incorporated into many western psychotherapies (e.g., Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy). There is considerable debate over whether mindfulness is best studied as a state, trait or procedure. Although many studies have found that trait mindfulness is related to physical and mental health outcomes, less is known about the mechanism(s) through which mindfulness enhances clinical outcomes. The current study explored the role of potential mediators of the ...

Marital Rape Perception And Impact Of Force, Janelle N. Robinson

Student Theses

The majority of sexual abuse is committed by someone known to the victim. In fact, almost 75%-90% of rape victims know their perpetrator. While there has been a strong movement to identify and prosecute rape, one area that has still received relatively little attention in research and the media is marital rape. Research has found that marital rape is classified as less severe, less violating of women’s rights, and less psychologically damaging than rape taking place outside the marriage. To date, research has suggested that the perception of rape is influenced by a myriad of factors including the ...

Do Making Habits Or Breaking Habits Influence Weight Loss And Weight Loss Maintenence? A Randomised Controlled Trial, Gina Cleo, Rae Thomas, Liz Isenring, Paul P. Glasziou

Liz Isenring

- After losing it, keeping weight off is difficult.

- Around 40% of weight loss is regained over the first year following treatment, and much of the rest over the next three years

- Habitual behaviour and automaticity have been suggested as the most plausible explanation for this overwhelming lack of long-term weight loss success

‘Most of the time what we do is what we do most of the time, sometimes we do something different’