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Associations Between Parental Audism/Linguisticism And Deaf Individuals' Well-Being: Mediation By Interpersonal Needs And Relationship Quality, Dilan H. Arreguin, Crystal D. Oberle

JADARA

This study investigated whether audism and linguisticism from the parents of physically deaf or culturally Deaf individuals—that is, parents’ expectation of their child to communicate within audio-normative standards rather than use sign language—is related to poor mental health of the child. It also investigated whether these relationships are accounted for by interpersonal needs or child-parent relationship quality. For this study, 104 D/deaf adults completed a survey with measures of parental audism and linguisticism, depression, anxiety, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, parental closeness, and parental conflict. Parental audism and linguisticism positively correlated with depression and anxiety, and these relationships were mediated by …

Endocannabinoids Mediate Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Prediction Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Moderated By Resting-State Functional Connectivity In Black And African American Individuals, Emily A. Albertina, Lucas Torres, Garrett Sauber, Cecilia J. Hillard, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald, Terri A. Deroon-Cassini, Christine L. Larson

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Individuals from marginalized ethnoracial groups face higher risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, exacerbated by experiencing racial/ethnic discrimination. Previous work separately explored the endocannabinoid (eCB) system and functional connectivity response to stress/trauma and suggested that experiences of chronic minority stress, such as racial discrimination, contribute to eCB tone and resting-state functional connectivity. We explored how circulating eCB tone, in conjunction with resting-state connectivity, contributes to increased risk for PTSD symptoms following trauma among individuals experiencing discrimination.

Methods

Black/African Americans (n = 74; mean age = 33.81 years) were recruited from a level 1 trauma center. Correlational and …

Accordance And Conflict Between Religious And Scientific Precautions Against Covid-19 In 27 Societies, T. Samore, D.M.T. Fessler, A.M. Sparks, C. Holbrook, L. Aarøe, C.G. Baeza, M.T. Barbato, P. Barclay, R. Berniūnas, J. Contreras-Garduño, B. Costa-Neves, M.P. Grazioso, P. Elmas, P. Fedor, Li, Norman P., R. Fernández-Morales, L. Garcia-Marques, P. Giraldo-Perez, P. Gul, F. Habacht

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Meaning-making systems underlie perceptions of the efficacy of threat-mitigating behaviors. Religion and science both offer threat mitigation, yet these meaning-making systems are often considered incompatible. Do such epistemological conflicts swamp the desire to employ diverse precautions against threats? Or do individuals—particularly individuals who are highly reactive to threats—hedge their bets by using multiple threat-mitigating practices despite their potential epistemological incompatibility? Complicating this question, perceptions of conflict between religion and science likely vary across cultures; likewise, pragmatic features of precautions prescribed by some religions make them incompatible with some scientifically-based precautions. The COVID-19 pandemic elicited diverse precautions thus providing an opportunity …

A Multifaceted Nudge-Based Intervention To Reduce Smartphone Use: Findings From A Randomized Cross-Over Trial, K. T. A. Sandeeshwara Kasturiratna, Yi Jing Chua, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The widespread use of smartphones has raised concerns about problematic usage behaviors, including excessive screentime and frequent phone checking, which can disrupt daily functioning. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted nudge-based intervention in reducing smartphone use through subtle changes to smartphone settings. The intervention incorporated adjustments such as disabling face/touch ID, setting longer passwords, switching to grayscale mode, and removing social media apps from the home screen. A randomized within-subject cross-over trial with counterbalancing was conducted over a two-week period using a daily diary approach paired with objective smartphone usage data to track the impact of …

Prevalence Of Depression, Anxiety, Burden, Burnout, And Stress In Informal Caregivers: An Umbrella Review Of Meta-Analyses, Xun Ci Soh, Andree Hartanto, Naoki Ling, Mayr Reyes, Lester Sim, Nadyanna M. Majeed

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Informal caregiving is a physically and emotionally taxing role that has a profound impact on caregivers’ emotional and mental well-being. Previous research has examined the mental health of caregivers and found elevated levels of depression, anxiety, burden, burnout, or stress. However, the global rates of the five mental health factors and/or outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, burden, burnout, and stress) among caregivers remain largely unclear. Therefore, this umbrella review examines the prevalence of these factors and/or outcomes, including various subgroup factors, such as gender, medical and/or psychological condition of the care recipient, region, and assessment tools. A systematic search was conducted …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Former Lagos State Male Public High School Teachers About Their Onboarding Process., Agboola Clement Ikuyinminu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lagos State, Nigeria, faces male teacher retention challenges in public high schools, including destabilizing the educational environment, reducing the availability of experienced mentors, and negatively impacting student performance and outcomes. School leaders need to understand the challenges leading to male teacher turnover. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Lagos State male public high school teachers who left the profession, focusing particularly on their perceptions of onboarding and reasons for leaving the profession. This study was grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, Bauer and Erdogan’s onboarding theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Bandura’s social …

Stay Woke: Understanding Critical Consciousness Development In Adults And Its Relationship To Psychological Constructs, Christin Alexandra Mujica

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Racism confers numerous measurable health risks for people of color. Interventions to mitigate the impact of racism on health are necessary and important to reduce disease burden and improve health outcomes for people of color. While communities of color have developed resiliency tactics that have allowed them to survive, even thrive, in the face of racial oppression, the evaluation and promotion of promising tools that counteract racism’s negative impacts are essential (Phillips et al., 2015). Critical consciousness is just such a tool. Research with children suggests it holds promise (Diemer et al., 2016; Heberle et al., 2020; Maker-Castro et al., …

Rumination And Inhibitory Control In Suicidal Ideation: The Role Of Explicit And Implicit Emotional Processing, Arooj Abid

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and suicidal ideations (SI; thinking, considering, or planning suicide) are a strong predictor of suicide attempts. Prior literature describes inhibitory control as an important facet of regulating negative thoughts, and studies suggest that inhibitory control deficits and engagement in brooding rumination are risk factors of SI. Recent studies have found implicit cognitive markers of suicidality suggesting that level of processing may variably be linked to SI. This study examined the relation between aspects of inhibitory control across explicit and implicit emotional contexts and levels of brooding rumination among …

Closing The Youth Activity Gap Through School District–Community Partnerships, Joseph Anthes

Journal of Youth Development

A growing divide in physical activity amongst youth, fueled by the privatization of youth athletic programs, most negatively impacts underrepresented students. Intramural-sports programs hold the potential to engage more of our youth in physical activity, including those from marginalized populations. Utilizing a collective impact approach, school-community partnerships can create opportunities for access and strive toward equity in youth health. This study evaluates a partnership between a school district and a regional health care provider that resulted in the creation of a youth intramural-sports program by describing the partnership’s implementation strategies and by comparing first year enrollment data. Implementation strategies include: …

Full Issue, Volume 20, Issue 3

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Contributions Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Racism, Therapy And Health Habits To Cardiovascular Health In African American Adults, Tahra Chaunice Nobles

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), racism, health habits, and therapy engagement on cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Black adults. This study builds on the Biopsychosocial Model and Allostatic Load Theory to examine how trauma, racism, and health habits influence cardiovascular health outcomes in the African American population. Through a quantitative analysis, this study investigates whether ACEs, experiences of racism, engagement in health habits, and participation in therapy contribute to the development or mitigation of CVD in Black adults. A total of 83 participants were included in the study, with data collected on ACEs, the frequency of …

The Role Of Intolerance Of Uncertainty In Prenatal Anxiety: Exploring Meta-Cognitive And Psychosocial Moderators, Jenna A. Macri

Graduate Masters Theses

Prenatal anxiety is common and has been linked to myriad adverse psychological and physical health outcomes for both the pregnant individual and the child. While research on factors contributing to the etiology and maintenance of prenatal anxiety is limited, intolerance of uncertainty has been identified as a key factor related to anxiety during pregnancy. The current study aimed to substantiate the role of intolerance of uncertainty in prenatal anxiety and explore meta-cognitive and psychosocial constructs as potential moderators of the relation between intolerance of uncertainty and prenatal anxiety. Additionally, due to inconsistencies in the operationalization of prenatal anxiety in the …

Effects Of Emotion Regulation On Reactions To Racism In Process Of Antiracism Among White Individuals, Stephanie Marando-Blanck

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The current study used multiple mediation models to explore the pathways and relationships among white privilege awareness, white emotional empathy, white cognitive empathy, white guilt, and different types of emotion regulation as predictors of individual and institutional antiracist engagement. Gaining an understanding of how white individuals experience and regulate certain racial emotions in the process of learning about their white privilege may inform antiracist trainings, diversity, equity and inclusion workshops, multicultural courses in schools, as well as counseling trainings in cultural humility. White adults (N = 170) were recruited through an online crowdsourcing platform (Prolific) and completed a brief (~20 …

An Examination Of How The Ethno-Racial Socialization Process Influences Women Of Color’S Engagement With Mental Health Treatment, Kairys M. Grasty

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Women of Color (WOC) are uniquely deterred from engaging with traditional mental healthcare services due to the generational harm that has been wrought to Communities of Color when accessing support in generations’ past and present (Godoy-Ruiz et al., 2015). Thus, to protect WOC from further marginalization, parents and caregivers disseminate messages to WOC about their gender and racial identity during the ethno-racial socialization (ERS) process. While this process is intended to be protective, an unintended consequence is that it can socialize WOC to be distrustful of others and reluctant to engage with mental health services to support their mental health. …

Development And Validation Of The Attitudes Toward Algorithms Scale: A Universal Scale To Measure Individuals Attitudes Toward Algorithmic Decision-Making, Nikolai Bock, Astrid M. Rosenthal-Von Der Pütten

Human-Machine Communication

Algorithmic decision-making (ADM) has become increasingly important across various fields, ranging from personal entertainment to criminal justice. While existing research has predominantly explored evaluative outcomes like individuals’ perceptions and interactions with these systems, there remains a significant gap in understanding the underlying mechanisms that lead to these outcomes. Building on traditional behavioral intention theories, we identified attitudes toward algorithms and ADM as crucial determinants. In response to the lack of an appropriate measure for this construct, we developed and validated the Attitudes Toward Algorithmic Decision-Making Scale (ATAS), a novel instrument designed to assess core beliefs that drive attitude formation toward …

Socio-Technical Exchange With Machines: Worker Experiences With Complex Work Technologies, Cameron W. Piercy, Reaia Turner-Leatherman

Human-Machine Communication

Machines are now commonplace work partners and Human-Machine Communication (HMC) is part of modern work. Guided by the machine heuristic and Social Exchange Theory (SET) this paper uses interviews with 22 workers to explore the socio-technical relationships between humans and machines at work. Participants worked with complex machines across a wide variety of industries and roles and findings reveal participants see machines as part of the work ecosystem, develop everyday machine heuristics to guide repeated interactions with machines, and that elements of human uniqueness persist in evaluations of humans and machines. Discussion points emphasize situated and developing human-machine interaction scripts, …

Development Of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia In Young Infants With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Preterm Birth, And Typical Development, Jessica Bradshaw, John E. Richards, Julia Yurkovic-Harding, Eilis Mclaughlin

Faculty Publications

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a key index of parasympathetic function and environmental adaptability. Lower resting RSA has been linked to preterm (PT) birth in infancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in childhood, yet RSA across the first 2 years in young infants born PT or later diagnosed with ASD remains unknown. This study examined resting RSA and mean interbeat interval (IBI) development from 1 to 24 months in infants at varying ASD likelihoods, including infant siblings of children with ASD and those born PT. A longitudinal design tracked resting RSA and mean IBI in 137 infants from 1 to …

The After Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Mental Health Of International V/S Domestic Students - A Qualitative Study, Keerat Sidhu Bhatti

Doctoral Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of both international and domestic graduate students, exacerbating social isolation, financial strain, and psychological distress. This qualitative study examines the long-term effects of the pandemic on these student populations, exploring shared and divergent experiences, coping strategies, and evolving priorities. While both groups faced heightened anxiety and academic disruptions, international students encountered additional stressors, including cultural displacement, visa uncertainties, and limited support networks. Domestic students, in contrast, struggled with routine disruptions but had greater access to familial and social support. Across both groups, the pandemic prompted a reassessment of personal and professional priorities, …

A Phenomenological Qualitative Study: The Lived Experiences Of Women Diagnosed With Substance Use Disorders And The Stigma Associated With Their Disorder, Emily E. Fitzgerald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of women with the stigma of being diagnosed with substance use disorders within the Northeastern United States. Women diagnosed with substance use disorders who experience significant barriers to recovery were defined as a vulnerable population that experiences significant adversities and hardships navigating stigma and the wellness process. Substance use disorders have been a rising public health issue that affect millions of Americans across the United States, and societal and self-perceived stigma have continued to mitigate recovery efforts and individuals’ access to treatment and healthcare. This study focused …

Divine Grace In Human Flourishing Amid Suffering, Sutjipto Utomo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Human flourishing is as potent as it is intricate. There is a need in the Christian context for a model of human flourishing among other available models. This current qualitative study seeks to gather insights into human flourishing amid suffering among Methodist clergy in Indonesia. The phenomenological approach delved into the essence of encountering the grace of the Lord and flourishing amid the adversities in their ministry. The purposeful sampling was carried out, and fifteen clergy participated in the semi-structured interviews. Their responses helped with gaining insights into the themes of God’s grace, suffering, and human flourishing amid suffering. The …

Investigating The Practice Of A Somatic, Mindful Christian Prayer And Breathing Practice On Public Speaking Anxiety, Robyn L. Middleton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of a mindful Christian prayer practice (The Jesus Prayer) combined with slow diaphragmatic breathing on communication anxiety. Participants (N = 80) included university students and members of the general public aged 18-60 who experience public speaking anxiety. Measurements included self-reported speech anxiety and heart rate variability (assessed via the WellHero app). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that the mindful prayer practice had no significant effect on participants' self-reported speech anxiety or RMSSD heart rate variability. A statistical trend of lower Baevsky’s Stress Index (another variable WellHero provided) was observed in the intervention group. This …

Missionary Kids And Ptsd And Spirituality, Sabreena S. Massey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In recent years, studies have documented the importance of spirituality in assuaging psychological distress. Numerous studies have investigated the connection between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and spirituality and its positive outcomes among diverse populations. A diverse population that is insufficiently addressed in the literature is missionary kids (MKs). Further, studies investigating the relationship between spiritual struggles and PTSD among MKs remain under-researched. Moreover, while studies document the existence of mental health disorders among MKs, a formal investigation examining PTSD symptomology among MKs had yet to be conducted. For this study, participants were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling, and 81 …

The Impact Of Adhd On Social Media Use: Navigating The Internet While Struggling With Environmental And Psychological Factors, Marcelle E. James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of 18 to 35-year-old adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their perceptions of the psychological and environmental challenges they face while navigating the internet, specifically social media. The theoretical foundation of the study was Barkley’s Executive Functional Theory. The four research questions examined the experiences of the participants and their unique challenges in life from a psychological and environmental perspective. Purposive sampling was utilized, and semi-structed interviews were conducted. The qualitative phenomenology perspective allowed participants to express their opinions without restrictions. The data was collected and analyzed using …

Fire Officer Leadership: Understanding The Lived Experience Of New Firefighters, Tyler Ames

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study looked into how newer firefighters experienced working under fire officer leaders who utilized laissez-faire leadership tendencies. The goal of the study was to better understand what this kind of leadership looks like in the fire service and how it affects newer members in their day-to-day lives as well as emergency scenarios. Twelve firefighters from different departments across Utah were interviewed, and all participants had less than three years of experience. The interviews focused on the participants’ experiences, challenges, and feelings when working under this particular leadership style. Each transcript was reviewed and coded using an inductive …

The Relationship Between Morality, Perceptions Of Self And Others, And Purpose In Life: A Moderation Analysis, Ashley Burgess Leininger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Morality is an understudied construct in psychological research, despite its fundamental role in shaping human behavior and self-perception. This quantitative study examined whether purpose in life moderated the relationship between morality and perceptions of the self and others. Two hypotheses were tested, H1: There will be a relationship between morality and perception of self and others; H2: Purpose in life will moderate the relationship between morality and perception of self and others. Ninety-one individuals recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk completed the Purpose in Life scale (PIL), Moral Foundation Questionnaire (MFQ30), Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Collective Self-Esteem Scale …

Onboarding And Sense Of Belonging: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Natalia Volkonsky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Extensive research has examined the link between onboarding and employees’ sense of belonging, yet no known studies have explored whether the type of onboarding—delivered in-person, remotely, or through virtual platforms—affects this relationship. This quantitative, correlational study investigated how onboarding quality relates to employees’ sense of belonging, whether purpose in life mediates this relationship, and whether onboarding type moderates it. A sample of full-time employees (N = 112), onboarded within the past 12 months, completed validated measures assessing onboarding quality, purpose in life, and sense of belonging. Results showed a significant positive correlation between onboarding quality and sense of belonging. Purpose …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Adults With Personality Disorders Arising From Childhood Trauma: Understanding The Connection Between Childhood Trauma And The Development Of Personality Disorders In Adulthood, Patricia Osei Sarpong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma is one of the key factors that influences the development of personality disorders in adults. Even though there is a wealth of quantitative evidence linking early trauma to later mental health issues, there is still a great deal of uncertainty about the lived experiences of persons who had experienced such trauma and gone on to develop personality disorders. By examining these individual accounts, this study aimed to contribute to a more thorough understanding of the ways in which childhood trauma impacted personality development and contributed to the onset of personality disorders. In this study, 20 individuals, aged 20 …

Does Spirituality Mediate Or Moderate The Adverse Effects Of Occupational Stressors On Mental Health In Law Enforcement Officers?, Erika D. Keplinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement officers are often exposed to occupational stressors that can negatively affect their mental health and job performance. Spirituality has been thoroughly researched as a restorative method to improve physical and psychological health concerns. There has also been an increase in studies on workplace spirituality. The existing research on workplace spirituality suggests that incorporating spirituality into the workplace increases employee well-being and decreases stress and burnout. Unfortunately, research on police culture often neglects spirituality. There is little research to show how spirituality could mediate or moderate the adverse effects of mental health on law enforcement officers. This quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, …

Is The Misdiagnosis Of Adhd And The Use Of Ritalin Related To Delinquent Behaviors And Problems With Social Anxiety Disorder In Young Boys?, Michael A. Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses are increasing at a rapid rate. Young boys are known to be very energetic, inattentive, and lack the attention needed to function well in school or other venues, and based on these attributes, they often have a higher rate of diagnosis of ADHD than girls. The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, comparative study was to assess the validity of retrospectively examining ADHD misdiagnosis and associated Ritalin use. Specifically, how proposed childhood misdiagnosis of ADHD was related to delinquent behaviors and social anxiety in adolescence and adulthood was examined. Results showed over half of the participants (n …

Parental Internet Mediation: A Phenomenological Study, Jossie Marino-Vega

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental Internet mediation, which is the strategies parents use to control and supervise online content for children, has been transformed into a critical role due to the mixed outcomes of digital use. Baumrind's parental styles and Bandura's Social frameworks guide this study for its connection with parental mediation and children's learning. This qualitative research aimed to explore and describe how parents mediate and use the Internet concerning kids' development. Eleven mothers were interviewed with at least one student enrolled in kindergarten through 5th grade at an elementary school in Killeen, Texas. The data was analyzed using Moustakas's (1994) modification of …