Digital Commons Network^™

Associations Between Big Five Personality Traits, Facets, And Sexual Fantasies, Emily Cannoot, Amy C. Moors, Wiliam J. Chopik

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The present study investigated associations between Big Five personality traits, their facets, and the frequency and variety of sexual fantasies in a sample of 5,225 adults (M = 58.30 years old; 56.5% men). People high in conscientiousness and agreeableness report fewer sexual fantasies across exploratory, intimate, impersonal, and sadomasochistic domains; these effects were primarily driven by respectfulness and responsibility facets. Negative emotionality, particularly the depression facet, was associated with more frequent sexual fantasizing. Extraversion and open-mindedness showed minimal relationships with sexual fantasy frequency. These results underscore the importance of personality dimensions in understanding sexual thoughts, emphasizing the heterogeneity of …

Role Of Depression And Anxiety On Brain Care Scores In A Primary Care Setting: A Preliminary Analysis Of The Bham Registry, Terina Lane Myers

ETDs from 2020-2029

While the field of brain aging research continues to grow at a rapid pace, there is still much to learn about how certain factors influence brain aging as well as when and how these factors can be intervened upon. Cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases continue to pose a major obstacle to healthy brain aging and the better we understand the risk factors of these diseases, the greater chance we have at mitigation strategies and prevention. Previous research has identified key factors, consisting of physical, lifestyle, and socio-emotional aspects of life, which have the greatest impact on brain aging. These factors overlap …

Experiences Of Stigma And Barriers To Care Among Transgender And Gender Expansive Populations Seeking Mental Healthcare, Amanda Veldorale-Griffin, Elizabeth Banks, Elizabeth Patrick, Judith Cannon, Caidan Thomas Smith

Marriage and Family Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Transgender and gender expansive (TGGE) people experience increased risk for mental health issues and suicidality, as well as significant barriers to mental healthcare, due to stigma and discrimination, including from mental healthcare providers. A sample of 945 TGGE participants completed self-report surveys, measuring experiences of stigma and barriers to care, and counselor competence. Data were divided into two groups by age and analyzed through linear regressions and one-way ANOVAs. Across groups, participants (approximately 58% of younger participants and 49% of older participants) reported experiencing stigma from a healthcare provider, and all reported some barriers to care, with more than half …

Daily Coping Strategies, Unmet Needs And Daily Health Outcomes Among Family Caregivers Of Persons Living With Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias, Henrietta Armah Bennett

ETDs from 2020-2029

Providing care for an individual with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) is considered the most stressful type of family caregiving that impacts caregivers’ health. More than one in five ADRD family caregivers report their overall health as poor to fair. These adverse health outcomes are often exacerbated when caregivers’ emotional, informational, and practical needs remain unmet throughout the caregiving trajectory. Numerous studies have shown that the ways in which caregivers cope to caregiving-related stressors significantly shape their health outcomes. Despite this evidence, a clear and consistent understanding of caregivers’ own appraisals of their unmet needs, coping strategies and mental …

Mom Is Developing Too: Preliminary Evidence For The Reciprocal Effects Of Infant Sensory Reactivity And Maternal Behavior, Emily C. Sweiss, Vincent Berardi, Elysia Poggi Davis, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Caregiver sensitivity to infant cues is well-established as a predictor of child development. Infants also actively influence their social environment, especially their caregivers, even from their earliest days. Sensory reactivity, characterized as hypo- (under) and hyper- (over) responding to environmental stimuli, is one domain of development that is likely to influence caregiver-infant interaction, due to its role in regulating emotions and responses to both physical and social stimuli. Although sensory reactivity could be an important target for improving caregiver-child interaction, the longitudinal, reciprocal relations between infant sensory reactivity and caregiver behaviors are currently unknown. In the present proof-of-concept study, we …

Gardening As A Psychosocial Well-Being Activity For Adults: Integrating Eco-Wellness And Developmental Theory, Christopher T. Belser, Helene Tavormina, Ann O'Hanlon

Adultspan Journal

Prior research has demonstrated the myriad of benefits that gardening can offer individuals, ranging from physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits. Though the counseling literature has begun to address the nature-wellness connection via EcoWellness theory (Reese & Myers, 2012), little attention has been paid to the benefits of gardening as a psychosocial well-being activity for adult populations. In this manuscript, authors offer a conceptual framework built on EcoWellness theory, psychosocial development theory, life-span, life-space career theory, and selection, optimization, and compensation theory that contextualizes gardening as a beneficial activity for young adults, middle adults, and older adults. Authors present specific …

Supporting Latine Older Adults’ Nutrition And Physical Health Goals In Counseling, Zachary Mcniece, Jacqueline Bergman

Adultspan Journal

Latine older adults face disproportionate risk of chronic nutrition-related conditions and food insecurity, which can exacerbate or contribute to mental health-related concerns. Cultural stigma toward mental illness can result in Latine clients, especially older adults, somatizing symptoms and focusing on physical health goals in counseling. Despite these intersecting needs, counselors often overlook their clients' physical health goals due to limited training and the assumption that medical providers alone should address these needs. This article advocates for the integration of basic, culturally responsive nutrition information into counseling practice to support client well-being while remaining within the scope of practice. We offer …

The Naturalness Bias, Brian P. Meier, Amanda Dillard, Courtney Lappas

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research shows that people have a natural-is-better belief whereby things described as “natural” are perceived as better than artificial, synthetic, or human-made items. For example, people report they would prefer a host of items when they are described as natural versus synthetic including drugs, vaccines, food, cigarettes, human talent, and lighting. Some people report preferring a natural item like a drug even when it is objectively less safe or effective than a synthetic counterpart. This naturalness bias is may become more widespread given the political climate in the U.S. and elsewhere in 2025 and beyond. However, there are many instances …

Reimagining Safety And Justice: Experiences Of And Resistance To Police Sexual Violence In New York City, Priscilla Bustamante

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the era following both Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, police sexual violence (PSV) currently constitutes the second most commonly reported police complaint after excessive force. Police across the U.S. are caught for some form of sexual misconduct once every five days, with on-duty officers found to commit sexual assaults at more than double the rate of the general population. The gendered and racialized perpetration of sexual violence extends far beyond policing; however, it has been intensified within the masculine, militarized carceral structures designed to legally control and punish.

Accordingly, this dissertation utilizes an interdisciplinary, multi-method approach to offer what …

A Critical Lens On Emotions And Learning: Shame, Loneliness, And Alienation In Community College, Mike Rifino

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores how community college students make sense of and navigate their emotions related to learning. Community colleges are two-year public higher education institutions that primarily serve working-class and students of color, enrolling almost half of all current undergraduates in the United States, yet their experiences are rarely addressed by researchers. Drawing on critical theories (e.g., feminist politics of emotions, Black feminist/queer women of color theorizing), emotions in this study are conceptualized as socio-politically situated, shaped by institutions and ideologies distributed through power across intersecting social identities. Although emotion research in higher education has grown substantially in the past …

Derivation Of An Updated Brief Multivariable Prediction Model To Detect Panic-Related Anxiety In Emergency Department Patients With Cardiopulmonary Complaints, Sharon C. Sung, Felicia J. L. Ang, Arul Earnest, Leslie E. C. Lim, Shreshtha Jolly, Gilaine Rui Ng, A. John Rush, Marcus E. H. Ong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Background Patients with panic related-anxiety (i.e., panic attacks or panic disorder) frequently present to emergency departments (EDs) with cardiopulmonary complaints but are often undiagnosed, which can lead to recurrent visits and prolonged distress. This study aimed to derive a new symptom-based multivariable diagnostic prediction model to detect panic-related anxiety in ED patients with cardiopulmonary symptoms.Methods We conducted a single-blind prospective derivation study over 15 months in the ED of a major tertiary hospital in Singapore. Patients presenting with symptoms of palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, or difficulty breathing were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID) to diagnose …

How Consistent Friendlike Conversation With Ai Companions Influences Our Attitudes And Perceptions Toward Ai: An Exploratory Experiment, Qi Hui Jerlyn Ho, Meilan Hu, Adalia Yin Hui Goh, Emma Jane Pragasam, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Despite skepticism and distrust in artificial intelligence (AI), it is increasingly integrated into daily life, with its potential benefits drawing interest. Yet little is known about the attitudinal and psychological effects of human–AI interactions, and whether consistent interactions with AI chatbots can change users’ attitudes and perceptions. Our within-subjects experiment (N = 52) investigated how five days of socially oriented, friendlike interactions with an AI chatbot, versus a journaling control, influenced changes in attitudes and perceptions of AI. Participants’ attitudes towards AI, trust, perceived empathy, anthropomorphism, animacy, likeability, perceived intelligence and safety, dependency, and exploratory well-being indicators were recorded. Results …

Examining The Effects Of Viewing Nature And Animal Smartphone Wallpapers On Affect, Behaviour, And Cognition: A Randomised Cross-Over Trial, Nadyanna M. Majeed, Nicole R. Y. Chen, Adalia Y. H. Goh, Meilan Hu, Kenneth J. J. Koh, Yuolmae H. G. Ang, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This study aims to investigate the effects of different smartphone lock screen wallpapers on weekly perceived well-being, procrastination, and productivity in young adults. Through a pre-registered within-subject experiment, 60 participants were exposed to three smartphone wallpaper conditions: nature, animal, and neutral (control). Each participant experienced each condition over three weeks, with the order of conditions counterbalanced. Using Frequentist and Bayesian analyses, we did not find any differences between conditions across the pre-registered confirmatory outcomes (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, stress, productivity, and procrastination). Exploratory outcomes related to lock screen engagement, however, revealed some meaningful effects. Animal-themed smartphone wallpapers …

Humanity Is Evolving Its Consciousness: The Role Of Archetypal Energies As Guides During An Unfolding Weeding Out And Alignment Process, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Humanity is evolving its consciousness at individual and collective levels.  Given these seemingly tumultuous times, as of this writing (January 2026), to make such a statement may sound like a strange thing to say.  However, I suggest that if you are alive today and if you are reading these words, these are the very times for which you were born—to assist Humanity as it evolves its consciousness with your unique gifts, whatever they may be.  That is, this period of our individual and collective human being-ness may be characterized as an unfolding period of weeding out and alignment with the …

The Association Between Acceptance Of Illness And Quality Of Life Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients In Egypt, Terivina Ayad Naguib Ayad

Theses and Dissertations

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common connective tissue autoimmune disease that has multidimensional impact on the patients’ daily functioning and quality of life. Due to the long- lasting incurable nature of RA, psychosocial adaptation to living with it becomes inevitable. Literature indicates that acceptance of illness as an appraisal of the disease and personal attitude towards it is related to better quality of life. The present study aims at investigating the relationship between disease acceptance and quality of life among rheumatoid arthritis patients in Egypt. This study also investigates the association of selected socio-demographic and disease related variables with quality of …

Family Caregivers And Suicide Prevention: A Needs And Assets Assessment In Egypt, Lina Osama Allam

Theses and Dissertations

In the Arab world, suicide prevention is shaped by cultural stigma and religious beliefs, shaping both help-seeking behaviors and the design of support systems. Family caregivers play a vital role in suicide prevention but often face significant emotional and logistical burdens. This study is the first known scholarly effort in Egypt to examine the intervention needs of these caregivers. It explored three key questions: the roles and challenges of caregivers supporting individuals with suicidal thoughts or behaviors; the availability of clinical and community-based resources; and the characteristics of future interventions to support them. A total of 92 mental health professionals …

Keeping It Together: Assessing The Wellbeing Of Project-Based Development Practitioners In Egypt, Amira Ahmed Abdallah Fekry Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the wellbeing of project-based development practitioners in Egypt, revealing how systemic pressures—bureaucracy, job insecurity, and fragmented workloads—undermine both wellbeing and productivity. The study employed a mixed-approach, combining 10 in-depth interviews with subject matter experts and practitioners and 75 surveys with development practitioners in Egypt. Data revealed that while many practitioners are driven by purpose, structural challenges erode resilience and motivation over time. Social support networks and personal coping strategies help but cannot replace institutional protections. The study argues that wellbeing must shift from being treated as an individual concern to a structural responsibility. Reframing organizational models around …

A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach To Evaluating Perceptions Of Bilingualism Among Latino Parents Of Autistic Children, Ana C. Ramirez, Philip Gerard Gasquoine, Amy A. Weimer, Gabriel González Núñez, Juan R. Maldonado-Coronado, Sarah Surrain, Ana M. Gonzalez-Barrero, Cecilia Montiel-Nava

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Bilingualism has multiple benefits, however, non-native English speakers in the United States often lose their minority language. Nevertheless, language attrition is preventable, as parental perceptions of bilingualism (PoB) contribute to a child’s active use of each language and influence proficiency. At present, there is a significant gap in understanding how different cultures and belief systems might influence the language development of autistic children from bilingual Latino families. Furthermore, research on PoB among parents of autistic children has mainly been qualitative in nature. The purpose of this study was to (a) employ a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop a …

Assessing School Readiness For Social And Emotional Learning: A Study Of School Leadership Perceptions And Attitudes, Nahla Elharati

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the integration of social and emotional learning (SEL) in a number of British schools across Egypt, focusing on how school leaders defined and perceived its importance in student development. Through in-depth interviews with twelve school leaders, this study found that school leaders’ definitions of SEL emphasized self- awareness, self-regulation, and relationship-building, alongside a strong focus on the real-life applicability of SEL both within school settings and in students’ future lives. School leaders also expressed positive attitudes toward the benefits of SEL, particularly its role in enhancing academic performance, promoting student well-being, improving peer relationships, and reducing bullying, …

Discouragement Of Men's Display Of Emotions In Western Culture, Kevin C. Modeszto

The Kean Review: Journal in Student Research

In Western culture, there are different expectations for handling emotions based on gender. Women are encouraged to show their emotions, while men are heavily discouraged from showing them. There is no difference between genders as babies in terms of showing emotion, but the difference is significant by as early as middle childhood. However, as demonstrated in a study with 68 responses dominated by people between the ages of 18-21, this trend is slowly dissipating.

Happiest People On Earth? A Look Into The Personality Traits Of Disney Adults, Brittannee Mahoney

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The present study examined the personality traits of individuals who identify themselves as “Disney adults” and explored patterns of Disney-related engagement through a newly developed Disney Engagement Scale (DES). Personality traits have a history of being used in many capacities to identify themes within a population. As the Disney adult population grows larger, the opportunity for research increases. In popular media, Disney adults have frequently been shamed for their engagement with the company. The premise of the Disney experience is based on nostalgia, play and cheer. Further, holistic health benefits of nostalgia, playfulness and cheerfulness in adults can be found …

Pilot Study: Role Of Social Support And Stress On Anxiety In First-Year College Students, Erin N. Smith, Deven L. Dancy, Lauren E. Nee, Kali Rebuck, Stephanie J. Shirk

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Research indicates worsening mental health, especially anxiety, in college populations; yet few studies have investigated anxiety and related factors in this population. This study examined the impacts and interrelations among anxiety, stress, and social support in first year, first semester college students. In a sample of 119 students, the following models of the impact of social support in the stress-anxiety relation were tested: 1) a direct impact of social support, 2) a moderating effect of social support, and 3) an indirect impact of social support. Results indicated that the indirect model of the influence of social support best fit the …

Investigating Sex Offenders’ Experience Of Being Registered As A Sex Offender, Stacey Mitchell-Swingle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In society, sex offenders are subject to unforeseen consequences of the sex offender registry. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how the sex offender registry contributes to the mental distress of registered sex offenders and their concerns about recidivism. This study addressed a gap in understanding the sex offender registry experiences from the offender’s perspective. The research question addressed how adult male registrants describe their experiences of mental distress associated with registration and how they perceive registration as shaping their risk of reoffending. The theoretical framework was John Braithwaite’s reintegrative shaming theory, with a specific focus on …

Impact Of Burnout And Empathy On Correctional Officers’ Aggression, Sagan Ladd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional officers experience persistent occupational stress that places them at elevated risk for burnout, which may negatively affect emotional functioning and increase aggression. Guided by general strain theory, this quantitative nonexperimental correlational study examined the relationships between burnout, empathy, and aggression among uniformed correctional officers working in U.S. jails and prisons. Participants (N = 58) completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire–Short Form through an anonymous online survey. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to answer three research questions. Results indicated that burnout significantly predicted aggression, F(1, 56) = 12.38, p < .001, R² = .18, such that higher burnout was associated with higher aggression scores. Empathy did not significantly predict aggression, F(1, 56) = 2.32, p = .133, R² = .04, though the relationship trended negatively. A multiple regression analysis revealed that burnout and empathy together significantly predicted aggression, F(2, 55) = 7.74, p = .001, R² = .19; however, burnout remained the only significant predictor when controlling for empathy. Additional analyses indicated that burnout significantly predicted all four facets of aggression: verbal aggression, physical aggression, anger, and hostility. These findings suggest that burnout plays a central role in aggression among correctional officers and highlight the importance of organizational and mental health interventions aimed at reducing burnout to promote staff well-being and institutional safety.

Psychologists’ Attitudes On Capital Punishment And Interpretation Of The American Psychological Association’S Ethics Code, Darya Baugh-Ruschman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When defendants are sentenced to death due to the nature of the crime, psychologists may be asked to participate in these cases, performing tasks such as conducting competency evaluations. Because the American Psychological Association (APA) Ethics Code states that psychologists cannot participate in activities that violate human rights, an ethical debate has emerged regarding whether they should participate in capital cases. The present study examined psychologists’ opinions on capital punishment and their interpretation of the APA Ethics Code, which does not specifically define what constitutes a violation of human rights. The theoretical framework for the study is the ethical decision-making …

The Environmental Mental Health Services Needed For Youth Ages 18-25 Aging Out Of The Foster Care System, Keelin Leger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth transitioning out of foster care experience increased mental health challenges that affect their ability to age out successfully to independence. In this qualitative modified action study, the environmental mental health services needed for adolescents, aged 18 to 25, aging out of the foster care system in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana were explored. This study was guided by the Families Rising framework. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 20 participants who provided insights to this study. Participants were reached by posting flyers on social media and the online platform forums, and they signed the consent form to participate. The data were …

Optimizing Patient Intake Efficiency: Integrating Data Accuracy And Workflow Improvement Strategies, Breanna Virginia Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For a professional therapist, social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist, improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care is a central responsibility. This qualitative single-case study examined how WGGX, a nonprofit behavioral health organization in South Philadelphia, addressed challenges within its patient intake process to improve workflow efficiency, data accuracy, and the client onboarding experience. Guided by the Baldrige Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence, the study explored how leadership practices, workforce engagement, and process management influenced organizational effectiveness related to intake operations. Data were collected through semistructured, in-person interviews with six organizational stakeholders and a review of organizational documents and …

The Perception Of Fentanyl’S Harm, Rachel Antenucci

ETDs from 2020-2029

While drug overdose deaths have generally decreased in the past year, close to 60,000 overdoses involving opioids occurred in 2024. The opioid crisis has lasted over two decades and is now in the fourth wave. The fourth wave has been characterized by overdoses resulting from fentanyl adulteration in the drug supply and polysubstance overdoses involving fentanyl. The purpose of the current study is to compare the perceived harm of fentanyl to other drugs of abuse and identify differences in the perceived harm of fentanyl between groups of people who use substances. An online survey was conducted across 15 states in …

Comparative Analysis Of Mmpi-2-Rf Scale Differences Based On History Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Arielle Mousseau, Linda Baum, Nikolaus Greven, Anna S. Ord

Archives of Assessment Psychology

The present study investigated differences in MMPI-2-RF scale scores between individuals with and without a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The goal was to identify distinct psychosocial functioning patterns in individuals with mTBI. Archival outpatient sample of 147 adults aged 18 to 70 (M = 43.28, SD = 11.13) was utilized, comprising 65 participants with mTBI and 82 without TBI. Significant differences were observed across multiple MMPI-2-RF scales. The group with mTBI history exhibited higher levels of symptom overreporting, symptom validity concerns, emotional and internalizing dysfunction, somatic and cognitive complaints, and negative emotionality, as compared to the …

Exploring Teacher Perspectives On The Self-Esteem Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders: A Qualitative Study, Bahaa Al Ghraibeh

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Self-esteem affects many other abilities of students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). Teachers can play a crucial role in influencing the self-esteem of these students. This interpretive qualitative study aims to investigate teachers' perceptions of the self-esteem of students with EBD, identify the factors they believe affect these students’ self-esteem, and explore the strategies they employ to enhance the self-esteem of these students. The results reveal three key themes: first, teachers perceive that students with EBD frequently face challenges related to self-esteem; second, they recognize that a variety of factors influence the self-esteem of these students; and third, teachers …