Digital Commons Network^™

Parents’ Perception Of Family Dynamics When Their Children Use Video Games Excessively, Joseph Benjamin Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Excessive video game use among youth has been linked to communication problems within families and disrupted family dynamics, notably reducing time spent with family members and reinforcing withdrawal from family activities and other recreational pursuits. While quantitative research has addressed the connection between children’s excessive video gaming and its negative impact on family dynamics, a deeper understanding of parents' perceptions remained needed. This study aimed to explore how parents described family dynamics when their children engaged in excessive gaming, using attachment theory as the theoretical framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 parents, and thematic analysis was used …

Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Trinidad: An Analysis Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among Essential Workers, Bernadette Marson, Gerard A. Hutchinson

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Research shows that some essential workers, such as healthcare workers, social workers, and first responders (including police officers, paramedics, and firefighters), are at greater risk for developing both short- and long-term mental health problems (Berger et al., 2012; Canady, 2022; Grey et al., 2020; Haugen et al., 2012; Mohamed et al., 2022; Petrie et al., 2018). The most prevalent of these include anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as other social and cognitive problems—with stress causing harmful effects on mental health and potentially resulting in anxiety and depression, which may then disrupt an individual’s social relationships, family life, and work. …

The Presence Of A Pet Dog Is Associated With A More Balanced Response To A Social Stressor, Jaci Gandenberger, Aurélie Ledreux, Ashley Taeckens, Kerry Murphy, Jenni Forkin, Anah Gilmore, Kevin N. Morris

Institute for Human-Animal Connection: Faculty Scholarship

Acute and chronic stress each have physical manifestations in the human body that can lead to many negative health impacts. Today, reported stress levels worldwide are at an all-time high, spurring the search for non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain healthy stress levels. In this study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influences healthy adults’ acute stress responses as assessed through self-reports, heart rate, plasma cortisol, and salivary alpha-amylase. Participating pet dog owners were randomly assigned to undergo the Trier Social Stress Test either with their pet dog or alone. While there was no group difference in perceived anxiety levels, participants …

An Exploration Of Turnover Intentions Of Substance Abuse Treatment Rns During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, Ciara Patrice Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nurses working in many different settings. As they were frequently the last personnel left at the frontline during COVID-19, nurses’ experiences provide distinctive narratives in the alcohol and other drug treatment workforce. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses working in a substance abuse treatment setting have experienced significantly increased stressors, including fear and anxiety, the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), and a lack of workforce sustainability. Therefore, this generic qualitative study explored the perceptions and experiences of nurses working in a substance abuse treatment program on the barriers in their workforce that influence their turnover …

Gsep Research Symposium Proceedings - 2024

GSEP Research Symposium

The 8th Annual GSEP Research Symposium, was themed "Dismantling Barriers between Research and Practice: Shining a Light on Global Interdisciplinary Solutions," took place on July 18-19, 2024, at the picturesque Château d'Hauteville in Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Switzerland.

The annual symposium is hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). The symposium served as a dynamic platform for students, faculty, alums, and staff to come together and explore innovative ideas across multiple disciplines. Featuring 69 selected presentations under five distinct tracks, the proceedings showcase groundbreaking research, foster meaningful discussions, and promote professional development.

The symposium aimed to bridge …

Exposure And Connectedness To Natural Environments: An Examination Of The Measurement Invariance Of The Nature Exposure Scale (Nes) And Connectedness To Nature Scale (Cns) Across 65 Nations, 40 Languages, Gender Identities, And Age Groups, Viren Swami, Mathew P. White, Martin Voracek, Ulrich S. Tran, Toivo Aavik, Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar, Sulaiman Olanrewaju Adebayo, Reza Afhami, Oli Ahmed, David A. Frederick

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Detachment from nature is contributing to the environmental crisis and reversing this trend requires detailed monitoring and targeted interventions to reconnect people to nature. Most tools measuring nature exposure and attachment were developed in high-income countries and little is known about their robustness across national and linguistic groups. Therefore, we used data from the Body Image in Nature Survey to assess measurement invariance of the Nature Exposure Scale (NES) and the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). While multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) of the NES supported …

The Bonding Experiences Of Mothers Of Children With Sensory Processing Disorder, Natalie Marie Maddison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal bonding is known to involve tactile and proximal components that support the bonding process. In addition, mothers report that feelings of maternal competence and role identity develop by being able to predict and meet their child’s needs. However, research in this area does not consider how sensory processing disorder (SPD) in children affects maternal bonding experiences. This research aimed to address a gap in the literature about mothers’ experiences bonding with a child with SPD, including the impact of SPD on a mother’s felt experience. Mercer’s maternal role attainment was used as the theoretical framework for exploring this topic. …

Individuals With Multiple Tattoos Exhibit Major Depressive Disorder, Dr. Tracy Alan Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a global health concern and is the second global leading cause of mental illness that produces disability and disease. Individuals with multiple tattoos who exhibit MDD have not been adequately studied. Individuals with multiple tattoos who exhibit MDD may struggle because of psychosocial associations of the diagnosis. Seven women and three men, ages 18 to 65, participated in this qualitative, phenomenological study. Data obtained from the semistructured; audio-recorded confidential video call interviews were analyzed with Moustakas’ bracketing method. Bracketing as a phenomenological method was instrumental in searching for associations in meanings and understandings with individuals. …

Peer Group Influence On The Antecedents Of Academic Coping Over The First Year Of Middle School, Daniel Lee Grimes

Dissertations and Theses

The motivational model of academic coping provides a framework for investigating the motivational antecedents and social contextual influences on ways of coping with academic adversity during the transition to middle school. Two studies were conducted to investigate the roles of three motivational antecedent variables of academic coping: perceived control, autonomous motivation, and catastrophizing. Study 1 investigated relationships between the motivational variables and academic coping across the first year of middle school. Study 2 investigated peer group influences on the motivational variables and on academic coping. Data from an entire cohort of 366 sixth students in the only middle school in …

The Relationship Of Sleep Disturbance And Disease-Related Factors On Neural And Neurocognitive Function In Youth Living With Sickle Cell Disease, Tiffany Devaughn Tucker

All ETDs from UAB

Youth living with sickle cell disease (SCD) often face neurocognitive challenges, regardless of accompanying neurological issues. SCD involves red blood cell deformation, leading to complications including chronic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and acute crises such as pain and overt stroke. While screening and intervention advancements have improved survival, enhancing functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) remains a targeted area of intervention. Disease-related factors, sleep disturbances, and social determinants significantly impact neurocognitive health in youth living with SCD. Deficits across all cognitive domains, including attention, working memory, and executive function (EF), are common, affecting academic achievement and QoL. Brain-related issues, such as …

Experiences Of Discrimination And Stress In People With And Without Hiv: Associations With Experimental Pain Sensitivity And Substance Use, Joanna Hobson

All ETDs from UAB

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at an increased risk for experiencing not only discrimination, but the adverse health outcomes that are related to discrimination. Specifically, studies have identified direct relationships between HIV, discrimination and substance use, pain, poor sleep (e.g. insomnia symptoms) and depression. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the relationships between discrimination, stress, experimental pain sensitivity, mood and substance abuse. We used various questionnaires to measure mood and health behavior. Lastly, participants underwent a series of pain experiments to measure group differences in experimental pain sensitivity. We found group differences in cortisol levels (p = .031) and …

Measuring Resilience In Black Families, Destiny Shanell Kelly

All ETDs from UAB

Black families play a unique role in navigating risk and adversity, operating as a source of various protective factors to combat challenges faced. Given the historical and current role that racism plays in the everyday lives of Black individuals, culturally specific protective mechanisms have manifested as a defense for these encounters. Many of these protective factors are instilled at the family level, helping all family members maintain healthy functioning or be resilient, such as social support, ethnic-racial socialization, and racial identity. However, current measures of family resilience do not incorporate these culturally relevant protective mechanisms into the measures, preventing Black …

Everyday Functioning In Middle Aged And Older Adults With Hiv: Factors That Influence Everyday Functioning And Awareness Of Functioning, Alexandra Elaine Jacob

All ETDs from UAB

With combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the population of older people living with HIV (PLWH) is growing. There is a need to better understand everyday functioning, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), to improve real-world outcomes for this clinical population. This dissertation attempts to (1) characterize factors related to self-report and performance of IADLs in PLWH, (2) examine correlates of self-awareness for functional abilities, and (3) apply a theoretical model to examine complex relationships between factors that impact self-awareness for functional abilities. Participants in these retrospective analyses included 260 PLWH who completed a comprehensive neurobehavioral evaluation including neuropsychological tests, measures …

Impact Of A Narrative Language Intervention On Language, Behavior, And Self-Concept Among Bilingual Children With Developmental Language Disorder, Nancy Tarshis Ma, Ms, Ccc-Slp, Kathleen Mcgrath Mss, Lsw, Ida Barresi Ma, Ccc-Slp, Risa Battino Ms, Ccc-Slp, Bcs-F, Sarah Henderson Msed, Ms, Ccc-Slp, Shankar Viswanathan Drph, Jee-Young Moon Phd, Karen Bonuck Phd

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The growing research on narrative interventions is promising but has gaps regarding cultural/linguistic diversity and outcomes beyond language. We evaluated whether a structured, oral narrative intervention affects narrative language, problem behaviors, and self-concept in a diverse group of children with developmental language disorder. A 10-session intervention was implemented within routine care. Baseline and follow-up data included: (a) Narrative recordings—coded by therapists using the CUBED Narrative Language Measure, (b) Child Behavior Checklist—a parent-reported behavioral assessment, and (c) the Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale. Among the sample’s n = 33 children, aged 6-16, 55.6% were bilingual. Post intervention, participants’ narrative language scores improved …

Associations Between Neighborhood Factors And Adherence In Youth With Spina Bifida: The Mediating Role Of Parental Stress And Youth Internalizing Symptoms, Breana Lyn Bryant

Master's Theses

Spina bifida (SB) is a birth defect that impacts physical, medical, and neuropsychological functioning. Physical complications like hydrocephalus and bladder dysfunction require daily adherence to complex medical regimens. Additionally, youth with SB are more likely to have symptoms of anxiety and depression which can impact their ability to master their regimens. Evidence in other pediatric populations have examined the impact of family factors, like parental stress, and individual-level predictors of self-management outcomes, yet few have examined how the broader context, like neighborhoods, impact outcomes. Therefore, the current study examined (1) the level of the neighborhood vulnerability and acute healthcare services …

Bipoc Counseling And Health Service Psychology Graduate Students’ Experience Of Racism And Sense Of Belonging: A Conditional Mediation Analysis Of Coping And Social Support, Erica Pinney

Dissertations

This study sought to understand the relationship between experiences of racism within academic settings and sense of belonging to the field of Counseling/Health Service Psychology (C/HSP) for BIPOC graduate students. Further, this study sought to understand the potential mediating role of engagement coping in this relationship, as well as the conditional effect of high, neutral, or low perception of race-related social support from faculty/peers. Two-hundred forty-nine BIPOC C/HSP students responded to survey questions measuring frequency of racial/ethnic microaggressions, sense of belonging to C/HSP, engagement styles of coping with racism (Education/Advocacy and Resistance), and perception of availability of racism-related social support …

Resiliency And Positive Childhood Experiences: Implications For Black Youths' Mental And Behavioral Health And School Engagement, Sharnequa Nashay Hunter

Dissertations

Two independent studies were conducted to examine the buffering impact of positive childhood experiences on Black youths’ mental and behavioral health and school engagement outcomes. The purpose of Study 1 was to investigate the potential moderating effects of positive childhood experiences on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and the occurrence of mental or behavioral health conditions (anxiety, depression, ADHD/ADD, and/or a behavioral/conduct problem) and school engagement, using secondary data from the 2020 National Survey of Children’s Health, a survey completed by primary caregivers. The study sample included 2,201 Black youth ages 6-17 across the United States. Logistic regression and …

Asian Americans’ Experiences Of Covid-Related Discrimination: Collective Identity, Critical Consciousness, And Intergroup Solidarity, Han Na Lee

Dissertations

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has stirred fear and panic with a surge of anti-Asian hate in the United States. Racial discrimination was exacerbated by labeling COVID19 as “the Chinese virus” and blaming Asians and Asian Americans as the source of the virus. Within the exacerbated xenophobic and racist rhetoric since the COVID outbreak in 2019, racial discrimination was amplified towards anyone who phenotypically presented as “Asian.” It is unclear how various Asian ethnic individuals identify with their Asian American identity while experiencing the intensified discrimination. Specifically, experiencing COVID-related racism and group-based rejection may increase or decrease Asian …

Cognition And Inflammation In Youth With Perinatal Hiv, Megan Niehaus, Julie Mannarino, Jacob Bolzenius, Tori Frerichs, Robert Paul

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Background: Perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) remains a major global health challenge. Approximately 90% of the global population of PHIV reside in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains incomplete, particularly for PHIV. With PHIV, the brain is exposed to the virus during critical periods of brain development without the immunological benefits from ART. Unlike adults with horizontally acquired HIV whose nadir CD4+ Tcell count is a strong correlate of cognitive difficulties that persist after sustained use of ART, cognitive symptoms among PHIV youth are independent of traditional HIV disease metrics. Prior studies indicate that PHIV …

Relations Among Degree Of Bilingualism And Bilateral Information Processing In Children And Adults, Francisco J. Sierra, Amy A. Weimer, Yu-Cheng Lin, Jerwen Jou, Nayda Castillo, Cedar Garcia, Michelle Suarez, Flor I. Garcia, Gabriela Aleman, Edson Ortiz, Francheli Romero

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Aims and objectives:

The primary goal of this study was to examine whether degree of bilingualism related to dichotic listening accuracy, a measure of bilateral processing, after controlling for age and income.

Methodology:

Participants included 59 children ages 6–11 years (M = 7.86, SD = 1.81) and 61 adults (18–83 years) (M = 34.02, SD = 15.70). Participants completed demographic surveys, vocabulary assessments in English and Spanish, and a dichotic listening test.

Data and analysis:

Multiple linear regressions examined whether the degree of bilingualism predicted bilateral processing.

Findings:

Degree of bilingualism predicted bilateral processing in the whole sample …

Association Between Unmet Needs And Happiness In Women Living With Breast Cancer In A Multiethnic, Middle-Income Setting, Nithiya Sinarajoo

Student Works (2020-2029)

While improved breast cancer survival rates are commendable, healthcare professionals and stakeholders must acknowledge potential strains on the healthcare system and society if optimal support and survivorship programs are not established. A global shift towards personalized, holistic patient care is crucial. However, implementing such care in a low- and middle-income country like Malaysia faces significant barriers. Positive psychology, which focuses on fostering positive emotions, has shown promise in promoting better health and longevity in healthy populations. However, research on the concept of happiness, both as a predictor of health outcomes and as a patient-reported outcome in cancer settings, remains limited. …

Effective Methods In Communicating Assessment Results To Individuals With Limited English Proficiency: A Survey Of Current Psychologists’ Practices., Dee Vang

Theses and Graduate Projects

The use of language interpreters is a primary solution for providing inclusive language services when conducting psychological assessments for people with limited English proficiency. However, this approach has limitations that have negatively affected the ability of clients with limited English proficiency to comprehend assessment results and adhere to recommendations. The purpose of this study was to improve the current understanding of effective methods for communicating assessment results to persons with limited English proficiency (PLEP) and working with language interpreters. Eight participants were interviewed about their current methods of communicating results and working with language interpreters during a feedback session. Consensual …

Expanding On The Factor Structure And Construct Validity Of The Short-Term Assessment Of Risk And Treatability (Start), Haomin Chen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research finds better reentry/recidivism program outcome when individuals receive service that matches their risks and needs. It is thus essential to measure recidivism risks and needs appropriately. The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) is a clinically-oriented instrument that assesses risks of future violence/offending and identifies areas for treatment. We see its potential use as an assessment tool for reentry/recidivism programming. More empirical evidence is needed to identify the psychometric properties of the instrument in this setting before it may be used in practice. The current thesis explored the factor structure of the START strengths and vulnerabilities scales using …

Burnout: Half A Century Of Controversy, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Burnout has become a focal point of concern in the contemporary workplace. The syndrome has elicited undiminished interest among occupational health specialists. The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome "resulting from chronic workplace stress." Burnout is said to comprise three components: (i) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; (ii) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism toward one’s job; and (iii) a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. This definition mirrors the conceptualization of burnout embodied in the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the ‘gold standard’ for the assessment of burnout. However, controversies …

Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes: Using Gamification Of Cognitive Overload To Teach Leadership And Psychology Concepts, Brett Whitaker, Whitney Whitaker

Leadership Faculty Publications

Purpose

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a puzzle-based video game that allows Leadership educators to facilitate a highly interactive and behaviorally intense experience within a traditional classroom environment. In this manuscript, we discuss appropriate use cases, curricular alignments and provide a sample lesson plan outlining one way of using the game.

Design/methodology/approach

The cooperative and team-based nature of this game provides opportunities to create interactive lessons on a variety of topics, such as communication, group dynamics, leadership, conflict strategies and cognitive load.

Findings

Our primary reflection is that this game provides a good balance between fun engagement and rigorous …

Experiences With Coming Out: A Study Of Lgbtq+ Music Students’ Perceptions Of Music Education Pedagogy, Sid Adams

Educational Studies Dissertations

Because LGBTQ+ people are disclosing their non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender identities at younger ages, music educators should consider how their pedagogical decisions impact an LGBTQ+ person’s decision to disclose their identity (come out). Previous research has explored how to create affirming and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students to learn within music education spaces. However, past research has been limited on how those decisions impact the LGBTQ+ student’s decision to disclose their identity. I used data from five participants to discover how they perceived music education pedagogical practices and how those practices facilitated or hindered their decision to disclose their LGBTQ+ identity. …

Associations Of Household And Neighborhood Contexts And Hair Cortisol Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents From Low-Income Immigrant Families, Ka I. Ip, Wen Wen, Wei Xiang Sim, Shanting Chen, Su Yeong Kim

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Although neighborhood contexts serve as upstream determinants of health, it remains unclear how these contexts “get under the skin” of Mexican-origin youth, who are disproportionately concentrated in highly disadvantaged yet co-ethnic neighborhoods. The current study examines the associations between household and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood racial–ethnic and immigrant composition, and hair cortisol concentration (HCC)—a physiological index of chronic stress response—among Mexican-origin adolescents from low-income immigrant families in the United States. A total of 297 (54.20% female; mage = 17.61, SD = 0.93) Mexican-origin adolescents had their hair cortisol collected, and their residential addresses were geocoded and merged with the …

A Multifactorial Study Of Factors Influencing Self-Health Behaviors In Dementia, Elizabeth Malkin

Dissertations

The global increase in dementia cases presents a significant public health challenge, particularly given the absence of a cure and the rising healthcare burden on individuals and society. This study aims to examine the influence of knowledge, beliefs, and motivation on self-health behaviors to mitigate the risk of dementia among individuals residing in the United States. With the use of an online survey, the study utilized the U.S. normed MCLHB-DRR scale and supplemental questions about knowledge of risk factors and degree of closeness to family members with dementia to determine whether (1) more closely related relatives (first-degree relatives) and those …

Admixture Mapping Of Cognitive Function In Diverse Hispanic And Latino Adults: Results From The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Rui Xia, Xueqiu Jian, Amanda L Rodrigue, Jan Bressler, Eric Boerwinkle, Biqi Cui, Martha L Daviglus, Charles Decarli, Linda C Gallo, David C Glahn, Emma E M Knowles, Jee-Young Moon, Thomas H Mosley, Claudia L Satizabal, Tamar Sofer, Wassim Tarraf, Fernando Testai, John Blangero, Sudha Seshadri, Hector M González, Myriam Fornage

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: We conducted admixture mapping and fine-mapping analyses to identify ancestry-of-origin loci influencing cognitive abilities.

METHODS: We estimated the association of local ancestry intervals across the genome with five neurocognitive measures in 7140 diverse Hispanic and Latino adults (mean age 55 years). We prioritized genetic variants in associated loci and tested them for replication in four independent cohorts.

RESULTS: We identified nine local ancestry-associated regions for the five neurocognitive measures. There was strong biological support for the observed associations to cognitive function at all loci and there was statistical evidence of independent replication at 4q12, 9p22.1, and 13q12.13.

DISCUSSION: Our …

The Social Evaluation Of Accents And Perceived Social Influence In Singapore: A Comparison Of American And Singaporean English Accents, Matthew H. S. Ng, Chi-Ying Cheng

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Accents are an important differentiator between groups which influence social perception and interaction, especially in a diverse country like Singapore. Social identity theory suggests that individuals would exhibit favoritism towards their own accents. However, the accent prestige theory demonstrates instances whereby foreign accents are perceived as more prestigious than one's own accent and are associated with more positive characteristics. This paper sought to explore which of these two theories is more prevalent in Singapore by comparing the perceptions of American English accents and local Singaporean English accents along the competence-warmth paradigm of the Stereotype Content Model. Further, the current research …