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Interpersonal Connection: Examining Synchrony In Emotions And Physiology In Friends During Interactions, Joia Lynette Wesley

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Interpersonal synchrony is the alignment of emotions, behaviors, and physiology and is associated with prosocial behaviors and subjective connectedness. Few studies have examined synchrony in friend dyads. The present study compared emotional and physiological synchrony during emotional and neutral interactions, explored how social role may influence empathy, and tested if friendship characteristics predicted synchrony. Participants were 56 friend dyads recruited from a predominantly White, Midwestern university. The study included two sessions. In the first session, participants completed prequestionnaires and each participant identified three emotionally salient situations that they had not shared with their friend. The second session was an interaction …

The Impact Of Digital And Traditional Coloring On Death Anxiety In Older Adults, Heejoo Roh, Elizabeth Krumrei-Mancuso, Cindy Miller-Perrin

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The purpose of this study was to examine if coloring mandalas digitally or traditionally has a different impact in reducing death anxiety among older adults. Using random assignment, we compared digital (n = 22) and traditional (n = 26) coloring to a non-art distraction activity (completing a word puzzle; n = 21) for levels of death anxiety following a death anxiety induction. We hypothesized that both digital and traditional coloring conditions would result in lower levels of death anxiety compared to the non-art activity, but that traditional coloring would result in the lowest levels of death anxiety. In addition, we …

Relative Impact Of Human & Natural Trauma On Psychological Functioning, Javeen Lynette Beard

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Trauma, both natural and human induced, affects numerous people daily, often significantly impairing their quality of life. Human trauma and the subsequent quality of life has been extensively examined, but natural trauma remains largely overlooked. This study compares the quality of life following human and natural trauma. Because no suitable measure could be located, a 12-item Natural Disaster Assessment (NDA) was developed. Reponses were rated on a 7-point continuum from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Participants were recruited using Mechanical Turk. Among 136 participants, 56 were male (41.2%), 79 were female (58.1%), and one identified as other (0.7%). Participants completed …

Virtuous Dialogues: A Study On Wisdom And Quiet Ego In Church Settings, Jeffrey A. Dunkerley Ii

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

An individual’s ability to balance the identity of self with the identity of the other, Quiet Ego, consider situations from various perspectives (Reflective Wisdom) and reflect on emotional reactivity (Affective Wisdom) are influential components to engaging in dialogue. The context for dialogue within the United States is increasingly impacted by the backdrop of polarization and defensiveness, impacting one’s ability to develop and maintain the characteristics above. The Christian Church in the United States is not immune to the shifts in dialogue and are experiencing similar difficulties with dialogue seen in the broader society. Virtuous Dialogues is a training curriculum that …

Covid-19 And Fall Rates In Older Adults: Longitudinal Study On The Impact Of Covid-19 On Geriatric Fall Rates In A Care Facility, Britton Holman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Falls in the geriatric population are continuing to increase around the world. Along with this, COVID-19 caused significant distress and changes in many older adult populations living in care facilities. Our study used archival data to determine if an association existed between fall rates at a specific care facility before COVID-19, during COVID-19, and during an outbreak of COVID-19 at the facility. An analysis of variance and Bonferroni’s post-hoc analysis was conducted, which found falls tended to be lower during outbreaks at the facility compared to pre-COVID-19 times. Reasons for this finding may be due to restrictions on activities and …

Smartphone Use And Daily Cognitive Failures: A Critical Examination Using A Daily Diary Approach With Objective Smartphone Measures, Andree Hartanto, Kristine Y. X. Lee, Yi Jing Chua, Frosch Y. X. Quek, Nadyannam M. Majeed

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

While smartphones have brought many benefits and conveniences to users, there is continuing debate regarding their potential negative consequences on everyday cognition such as daily cognitive failures. A few cross-sectional studies have found positive associations between smartphone use and cognitive failures. However, several research gaps remain, such as the use of cross-sectional designs, confounds related to stable individual differences, the lack of validity in self-report measures of smartphone use, memory biases in retrospective self-reports, and the lack of differentiation between smartphone checking and smartphone screen time. To simultaneously address the aforementioned shortcomings, the current study examined the within-person associations between …

The Gendered Face Of Ageism In The Workplace, Jasmin Tahmaseb-Mcconatha, V. Krishna Kumar, Jaqueline Magnarelli, Georgina Hanna

Psychology Faculty Publications

This qualitative study explores perceived age discrimination in the workplace. Increasing age diversity in the workplace has led to an associated increase in ageism. While a large percentage of older workers report being subjected to discriminatory treatment in the workplace, ageism also appears to be gendered. Older female workers are being victimized at a greater rate than their male counterparts. The intersection of age, gender, and other forms of discrimination results in increased stress, threatens the well-being of workers of all ages, and creates a toxic workplace climate. Analysis of 244 participants’ responses to openended items indicated that ageism is …

Enhancing The Quality Of Life For Senior Citizens: A Facilitator’S Guidebook For Mindful Music And Movement, Shannon Sexton

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Music appreciation and enjoyment enhance well-being throughout the lifespan. The challenges and constraints that people experience as they age can lead to lack of access to music, decreased physical activity, and fewer avenues for creative expression. Group music and movement interventions created for older populations offer opportunities for social connection and improved quality of life. Mindful practices add further benefit when combined with these interventions. Current available programs are scarce and most often do not encompass mixed modalities. In addition, the benefits of these programs do not show long-term sustainability. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the effects …

The Psychosocial, Economic And Physical Impacts Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Institutionalized Older People In Jordan, Manal Anabatwi, Shawqi Abdalrahman Alhajhassan, Tamara Adel Al Wreidat, Reham Ibrahim Abu Ghaboush, Asma Ibrahim Abdallah, Hmoud Salem Olimat, Talal Abd Alkareem Alqudah

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

This Qualitative study aims to discover and analyze the psychological, economic, social and physical effects of the Corona pandemic on older people, specifically those who reside in nursing homes. The qualitative approach was used, and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with older women and men in August 2021 using the convenience sample. The study concluded that the corona pandemic has caused the elderly residents of the guest house to experience a variety of problems, including their increased fear of death as a result of the virus spread, as well as their feelings of loneliness, anxiety and mental disorders. The study …

The Relationship Of Developmental Stages In Adults In Psychotherapy To Different Types Of Mental Health Symptoms, Shannon E. Gasparro

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, we examine the pattern of mental health symptoms across adult development using data from a community-based clinic in Queens, NY. Age was represented by three qualitative stages, “early adulthood,” “middle adulthood,” and “late adulthood.” Early adulthood has been characterized as a period of heightened emotional instability, with less clear long-term commitments to romantic relationships, career paths, work, and living arrangements. Middle adulthood has been characterized as a more emotionally stable period in terms of relations with friends and family and social roles. Finally, late adults, although also viewed as more emotionally regulated, may again experience greater interpersonal …

The Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment And A Woman’S Desire To Have Children, Tayah Simpson

Psychology | Senior Theses

This study evaluated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and feelings about parenting among adult females. It was hypothesized that women with a history of maltreatment during their developmental years would have less desire to have children than females of similar age who were not maltreated. The Childhood Maltreatment History and Desire to Have Children Questionnaires were completed by 51 females aged 20 years and older. Results indicated a statistically significant lower desire to parent among females with histories of Low and Severe childhood maltreatment than for females without such history. Further comparisons revealed the same pattern of findings when women …

A Brief Mindfulness Intervention And Its Effect On Stress Response And Recovery: Rumination As A Moderator., Kacie Peters

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

It is inevitable that every human will encounter many stressors in their life, so research on this topic is generalizable to many and carries a heavy weight. While facing one small stressor may not be enough to have a significant impact, it is the degree of the stressors and the response to them that can dictate whether or not it leads to serious consequences (WHO). Stress can be characterized as a stressor or combined stressors that lead to physical, emotional, and mental strain (WHO). It is important that we know the ways in which to best recover from stress, otherwise …

An Exploration Of Differences In Perceptions Of Gerotranscendent Behaviors Between Younger And Older Adults, Gabrielle E. Anderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The theory of gerotranscendence was developed as a means of addressing limitations in current developmental theories. It is defined as the natural developmental process in which people gradually change their fundamental views of themselves, the world, their relationships, and reality in general. Research has shown that gerotranscendent behaviors are viewed as pathological by younger adults. The purpose of this study was to further explore differences in perception of gerotranscendent behaviors between college students and older adults. An additional goal was to better understand how and why these behaviors are interpreted differently by younger and older adults. Perceptions of gerotranscendent behaviors …

Correlates Of Mental Health Clinician Self-Awareness And Insight Of Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Susan L. Mcinvale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOlder adults (ages 65 and older) are expected to increase in the United States by over 70 million by the year 2030. The older adult population requires specialized medical and mental health services to address the needs related to aging. Mental health clinicians trained to address these needs may help older adults to utilize mental health counseling. Self-awareness of attitudes, insight, and knowledge may be skills that affect the attitudes of mental health clinicians toward older adults. Previous research has found that mental health clinicians who engage in self-awareness during a counseling session may improve counseling competency; however, little research …

Development Of A Reinforcer Assessment: A Measure Of Potential Reinforcers In The Lives Of Older Adults, Nicole A. Praska

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The aim of this study was to create a new measure that assesses potential reinforcers in the lives of older adults residing in assisted living facilities. It is important to assess what an individual finds rewarding since individuals have a greater quality of life if they are doing activities that they enjoy. The study involved a two-step process. First, a list of potential reinforcers was created and evaluated by professionals in the field. Then this list was formatted into a survey and presented to 612 older adults. Participants rated these potential reinforcers on a Likert scale. Results were then evaluated …

Age-Related Microaggressions: A Follow-Up Descriptive Study, Hannah M. Lewis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Age-related microaggressions are forms of ageist discrimination that occur during day-to-day interactions. The aim of this study was to identify common types of age-related microaggressions as well as to determine how negative affect influences emotional reactions to microaggressions. Using an online survey, participants (n = 200) were asked if they had experienced any of the 20 most common examples of age-related microaggressions reported in previous research (Gietzen et al, 2022). Follow up questions inquired about the frequency, emotional reactions, and behavioral responses to these microaggressions. Participants also rated their physical health and completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS; …

Does Need For Social Support Moderate The Relationship Between Perceived Availability Of Social Support And Depression, Anxiety, And Stress?, Katherine E. Whisenhunt

Masters Theses

This study was designed to determine whether the need for social support moderates the relationship between social support (both perceived and enacted) and depression, anxiety, and stress. The study tested the role of Need for Support in the context of both buffering and direct effect models of the effect of social support on mental health and well-being. If perceived availability of social support (i.e., PASS) had a direct effect on well-being, then a simple moderation was predicted. If a buffering effect was present, then a moderated moderation was predicted. This study also predicted a positive relationship between need for social …

Gender And Race Influence Young Adults' Impressions Of People With Dementia, Angel Collie

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are becoming more common among older adults around the United States, including African Americans, who are twice as likely to be clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Though it is counter-intuitive, young adults are important when examining the future projections of ADRD because they will be the future caretakers of older adults. The current study investigated whether impressions of people with dementia are influenced by the interaction of gender and race among young adults. In Phase 1, young adults (N = 157, ages 18-25, median age = 20) completed a reverse correlation task where they …

Interactive Association Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Apolipoprotein Ε4 Genotype, And Age On Cognitive Functioning, Karen A. Lawrence, Colton Rippey, Bianca Welikson, Robert H. Pietrzak, Thomas G. Adams Jr.

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein (APOE) gene and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with cognitive deficits. Both associations may vary depending on age. No previous study has examined a possible three‐way interaction between APOE ε4, PTSD, and age on cognitive functioning.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 1244 European‐American U.S. military veterans who participated in the 2011 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Analyses of covariance were used to examine the main effects and in- teractions of APOE ε4, PTSD, and age on learning/working memory (LWM) and attention/psychomotor (APM) performance.

Results: A significant three‐way interaction between …

Integrating Feminist Approaches In Counseling Work With Adult Women, Kristen M. Toole

Adultspan Journal

The scope of ‘women’s issues’ in counseling is an ever-evolving landscape. Recent events such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women serve as powerful reminders of the necessity of this focus while underscoring a deep-rooted history of oppressive patriarchal structures. Therefore, counselors must remain informed of the unique considerations surrounding adult women in counseling and acquire proficiency in versatile techniques to meet this population’s nuanced needs. This article examines the complexity of contemporary womanhood and explores the fundamentals of Feminist Counseling Theory (FCT), a holistic, multiculturally conscious, social justice theory in counseling. …

Utilization Of The Social Determinants Of Mental Health Framework With Older Adults For Assessment, Case Conceptualization, And Treatment Planning, Janelle L. Jones, Julia Lancaster, Lauren Robins, Wendy K. Killam, Matthew L. Nice, Bisola Duyile

Adultspan Journal

This conceptual paper will aid counselors and mental health professionals in obtaining insight to utilizing a Social Determinants of Mental Health Framework with older adult clients. Further, the article incorporates the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies to further contextualize the therapeutic alliance. The authors utilize the Social Determinants of Mental Health Framework to frame counseling assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning to improve the mental health outcomes of older adults. The article utilizes a specific case example to assess, conceptualize, and plan treatment for an older adult client contextualized in their environment.

Bouncing Back: Resilience And Its Limits In Late-Age Composing, Louise Wetherbee Phelps

English Faculty Publications

This essay is one of a series on my mother’s late-age composing, studying a writing project she started at age 70 and worked on for more than 25 years. Her intention was to integrate extensive reading, personal experience, and cultural observations to explain changes in parenting (and, by extension, education and enculturation of the next generation) from her childhood in the 1920s through the 2000s. When she died at 97, she left behind a 75-page draft, but was unable to complete her plans for revisions and an ending. I focus here on identifying the multiple factors in the ecology of …

The Impact Of Social Connection And Psychological Resilience On Covid-19 Pandemic- Related Mental Health Outcomes, Shelby Lee Powers

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide reaching, well-documented impacts on mental health across demographics. Among these impacts are higher rates of depression and anxiety in adults. Several factors have been shown to mitigate the experience of depression and anxiety, including social connection and psychological resilience. The present study examined social connection and psychological resilience as predictors of depression and anxiety on a U.S. adult sample (n = 535) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited using Qualtrics. Results of this study described that over 30% of the variance in anxiety and depression was predicted by a person’s levels of social …

Occupational Stress Of Adult Protective Service Workers, Tiffany Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has revealed that adult protective service workers experience high levels of occupational stress that often result in health complications such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. Although several qualitative studies have been conducted over the past decade, there was limited information on the phenomenon of how stress is experienced by adult protective service workers investigating cases of alleged elder abuse. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of a sample of adult protective service caseworkers from the southwestern United States that have experienced occupational stress while investigating cases of elder abuse. This study …

Ptsd Endorsement Among Diverse Populations During Covid-19 Pandemic, Noor Jassim

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health diagnosis that is a reaction to very stressful experiences. PTSD may hamper the quality of life for individuals suffering from it. It has been shown that being part of disadvantaged groups racially and socioeconomically may pose a higher risk of experiencing PTSD. The stress component of PTSD is the imbalance between the demands of an environment and an individual's ability to cope. A mismatch between degree of demands and coping ability influences psychological and physiological well-being. The impact on well-being varies by stress being acute, chronic, or a combined state of acute …

Correlates Of Mental Health Clinician Self-Awareness And Insight Of Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Susan L. Mcinvale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOlder adults (ages 65 and older) are expected to increase in the United States by over 70 million by the year 2030. The older adult population requires specialized medical and mental health services to address the needs related to aging. Mental health clinicians trained to address these needs may help older adults to utilize mental health counseling. Self-awareness of attitudes, insight, and knowledge may be skills that affect the attitudes of mental health clinicians toward older adults. Previous research has found that mental health clinicians who engage in self-awareness during a counseling session may improve counseling competency; however, little research …

Social Determinants Of Health And Functional Disability At Mid- And Late-Life, Carly Pullen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The number and proportion of older adults living in the U.S. and globally are increasing. Not only are more adults living longer (Rania et al., 2021), there is evidence that people are

entering late life with more functional disability than in previous generations (He & Larsen,

2014). Social determinants of health include demographic and environmental influences than can impact a range of health outcomes beyond more direct risk factors (Duran and Perez-Stable, 2019). Using data from 243,693 community-dwelling adults who completed the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, we tested the associations among social determinants of health (i.e., age, …

Executive Functions Predict The Trajectories Of Rumination In Middle-Aged And Older Adults: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis, Gilaine Rui Ng, Wee Qin Ng, Hwajin Yang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Previous studies suggest that executive functions (EF)—a set of domain-general cognitive control processes that contribute to the regulation of emotion—are generally associated with ruminative tendencies. However, there is a dearth of research that examines how EF influences changes in rumination over time, especially in middle-aged and older adults who typically experience a decline in EF. To fill this gap in the literature, we analyzed a large-scale combined dataset from the MIDUS Refresher, Daily Diary, and Cognitive Projects. We examined the impact of EF on the trajectory of rumination across 8 days using latent growth curve analysis. We also examined age …

Occupational Stress Of Adult Protective Service Workers, Tiffany Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has revealed that adult protective service workers experience high levels of occupational stress that often result in health complications such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. Although several qualitative studies have been conducted over the past decade, there was limited information on the phenomenon of how stress is experienced by adult protective service workers investigating cases of alleged elder abuse. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of a sample of adult protective service caseworkers from the southwestern United States that have experienced occupational stress while investigating cases of elder abuse. This study …

ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างความผูกพันกับดนตรี ความหมายในชีวิต และความสุขเชิงอัตวิสัยของผู้สูงอายุที่มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรี: การวิจัยแบบผสานวิธี, ปณิชา พรประสิทธิ์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยแบบผสานวิธีแบบข้อมูลบรรจบกันนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาความผูกพันกับดนตรี ความหมายในชีวิต และความสุขเชิงอัตวิสัยของผู้สูงอายุที่มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรี กลุ่มตัวอย่างในการวิจัยเชิงปริมาณเป็นผู้สูงอายุ 557 คน (มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรีแบบผู้บริโภค 304 คน และแบบลงมือทำ 253 คน) การวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพเป็นผู้สูงอายุ 16 คน (มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรีแบบผู้บริโภคและลงมือทำกลุ่มละ 8 คน) ผลการวิจัยพบว่า โมเดลความสัมพันธ์เชิงสาเหตุระหว่างความผูกพันกับดนตรี ความหมายในชีวิต และความสุขเชิงอัตวิสัยของผู้สูงอายุที่มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรี มีความสอดคล้องกับข้อมูลเชิงประจักษ์ โดยมีค่า Chi-square = 23.27, df = 17, p = .14, CFI = 0.999, GFI = 0.992, และ RMSEA = 0.026 ตัวแปรอิสระทั้ง 2 ตัวแปร สามารถอธิบายความแปรปรวนของตัวแปรตามความสุขเชิงอัตวิสัยได้ คิดเป็นร้อยละ 54.4 ปัจจัยที่มีอิทธิพลสูงสุด ได้แก่ ความหมายในชีวิต ตามมาด้วย ความผูกพันกับดนตรี ส่วนผลการตรวจสอบโมเดลความสัมพันธ์เชิงสาเหตุระหว่างตัวแปรทั้งสามที่ศึกษา 2 โมเดล (โมเดลที่ 1 ในผู้สูงอายุที่มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรีแบบเป็นผู้บริโภค และ โมเดลที่ 2 ผู้สูงอายุที่มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรีแบบลงมือทำ) พบว่าทั้ง 2 โมเดลมีความสอดคล้องกับข้อมูลเชิงประจักษ์ โดยมีแบบแผนความสัมพันธ์ไม่แตกต่างกัน งานเชิงคุณภาพพบว่า แก่นสาระประสบการณ์ผู้สูงอายุที่มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรีแบบเป็นผู้บริโภคและแบบลงมือทำ ครอบคลุม 4 ประเด็น ได้แก่ (1) การมีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมดนตรีของผู้สูงอายุในฐานะส่วนหนึ่งในการใช้ชีวิตประจำวันหรือเป็นส่วนหนึ่งในชีวิตของตน (2) กิจกรรมทางดนตรีเอื้อต่อความสัมพันธ์ทางสังคม โดยกิจกรรมดนตรีเป็นสื่อกลางในการสร้างความสัมพันธ์หรือเป็นปัจจัยที่เอื้อต่อการมีความสัมพันธ์ที่ดีกับคนรอบข้าง (3) กิจกรรมทางดนตรีเอื้อต่อการมีสุขภาวะกายใจ ด้วยการปรับอารมณ์และการฟื้นฟูกายและใจ และ (4) ดนตรีมีส่วนในการพัฒนาตนเชิงบวก และการใช้ชีวิตอย่างมีคุณค่าความหมายของผู้สูงอายุ