Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparative Analysis Of Perineuronal Nets In Trout And Zebrafish Models, Adnan Alyan

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized extracellular matrix structures that surround certain types of neurons in the central nervous system. Research from the past few decades has cemented PNNs as an integral player in the closure and onset of critical periods, memory modulation, and neural plasticity. These effects are thought to occur when PNNs form around a neuron and structurally stabilize its synaptic connections. PNNs have been directly linked to behavioral changes, making them of interest to psychologists as well as neuroscientists. Several PNN components, such as Hapln1 and aggrecan such as have been found in zebrafish, a teleost fish (Kang …

The Power Of Absence: Using Group Contingent Negative Reinforcement To Boost Attendance, Kinlee Hobbs

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the use of group contingent negative reinforcement on attendance in a college freshman orientation course at Murray State University. Using behavior modification principles, the Fall 2024 course implemented a reinforcement procedure that allowed students to leave class early if the majority had attended four previous classes. Attendance, Canvas engagement (page views and minutes spent on Canvas), and academic outcomes (pass or fail) were compared between the Fall 2023 orientation course where no reinforcement was used and the Fall 2024 class where reinforcement was used. Independent samples t-tests revealed that Fall 2023 students exhibited higher Canvas engagement (page …

Too Much Information: The Role Everyday Information Plays In The Understanding Of Mental Health, Jeremy M. Morgan

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Information overload has become increasingly problematic within the world of mental health, as people are able to go online and access overwhelming amounts of mental health-related information within seconds. The aim of the current study was to examine the interaction between excess mental health information and individuals’ understanding of mental health, specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as self-diagnosis. Data from 128 participants was examined. The data collected related to participants’ online search and use patterns of ASD information, their understanding of ASD symptoms, as well as their experiences with those symptoms. Results indicated a significant positive correlation between …

The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Aggression And Substance Use In Young Adulthood, Sadie Goralski

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are widespread within the United States. More than half of the population has experienced at least one adverse event during their youth. Such experiences range from parental divorce to sexual assault. Past research has shown that adverse experiences during the formative years play a major role in the development of multiple physical and mental health issues. The current study aimed to explore the interplay among ACEs and two of these covariates: aggression and substance use. Moreover, the proposed study further investigated the development of substance use in emotionally dysregulated individuals with past adverse experiences. In doing …

The Development Of A Children’S Book Designed To Use Bibliotherapy And Mindfulness Skills To Promote Interoception In Young Children With Insecure Attachment As A Result Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Zenaida Agramonte

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

One third of children in the United States have experienced trauma known in the literature as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The long-term outcomes of ACEs have a higher likelihood of reducing interoceptive awareness—the ability to sense internal body signals like heart rate, hunger, pain, and emotions. Research suggests that interventions, such as mindfulness and attachment therapies are useful for increasing interoceptive awareness, regulating emotions, and fostering secure attachment in adults. However, apart from attachment, interventions are lacking for young children. Bibliotherapy is one such intervention designed for young children which potentially fosters secure attachment between child and adult storytellers and …

Differences In Prescription Drug Misuse Among U.S. Adults With And Without Disabilities, Jeanette M. Garcia, Samantha M. Ross-Cypcar, Justin A. Haegele

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Introduction

Increasing evidence suggests that adults with disabilities have higher rates of drug misuse compared to adults without disabilities, however; there is limited information on rates of commonly misused prescription drugs (e.g., stimulants, opioids, tranquilizers) to quantify the magnitude of this disparity. Thus, the purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine and compare prevalence rates of prescription drug misuse by disability status and age group in a national sample of U.S. adults.

Methods

Data (n=47,100 adults) from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was stratified by age group: 1) 18-29 years; 2) 30-49 years; 3) 50 …

Young Adults’ Views On Personal Death, Victor N. Soto

Anthós

Within academic discussions of death and dying, there is a deficit of qualitative studies on how young adults view personal death. This article explores young adults’ (18-24) views on personal death using inductive coding of the transcriptions of three 1:1 interviews and one focus group. Soto’s findings show that young adults view their personal death in three ways: 1) they reflect on family death experiences as frames of reference for personal death, 2) they rely on a life well- lived to ease anxiety around personal death, and 3) they use humor as a coping mechanism in thinking about and discussing …

Reply [To Burnout Reflections: Musings On Bianchi And Schonfeld’S Five Focal Areas], Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Contrary to what one might assume, the burnout construct did not emerge from systematic research. The definition of burnout was formulated in the 1970s based on prenotions and anecdotal evidence. No sound empirical studies, no in-depth theoretical reflections, not even a review of the stress literature underpinned the introduction of the construct. It is thus unsurprising that some observers regard the edifice of burnout research with scepticism. The pioneers of burnout research neglected basic scientific standards and, by overlooking the abundant work of contemporary stress researchers, deprived themselves of important safeguards against illusions of novelty making big claims based on …

Who Belongs And Why It Matters: Belonging At An Oregon Elementary School, Kelly Smith

Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations

Student sense of belonging is at the foundation of student outcomes with impacts reaching far beyond the walls of the elementary school classroom. This study investigates factors that shape students’ sense of belonging at an Oregon elementary school where Youth Truth survey data over the past three years have revealed a lack of sense of belonging amongst students. Correlates to the low sense of student belonging were identified via a root cause analysis process with students, staff and families. As a result of the root cause analysis, a theory of improvement was developed with input from students, staff and families. …

The Effects Of Mindfulness On Chronic Pain In Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Sophie Parks

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions have become increasingly popular in recent years. Typically, mindfulness-based interventions and their effects on mental health and/or adult populations have been explored in the literature. Limited research has been completed looking at mindfulness’ impacts on other facets, including chronic pain symptoms. Additionally, some research has been conducted to analyze mindfulness and its effects on school aged children and their day-to-day functioning with promising results. In this systematic literature review, mindfulness interventions and their effects on children and adolescents who experience chronic pain were explored. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was …

Development And Validation Of The Mealtime Behaviors Self-Report Questionnaire, Taylor Rae Perry

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Disturbances in eating are a hallmark feature of eating disorders (EDs). However, these disturbances extend beyond dietary patterns, as clinicians have long observed aberrant mealtime behaviors in individuals with EDs. Despite these observations, research on aberrant mealtime behaviors has been limited to a small case study of individuals with anorexia nervosa. Clinically, however, individuals across all ED diagnoses appear to exhibit these behaviors. Notably, there is currently no existing measure designed to assess aberrant mealtime behaviors. Developing such an assessment could provide clinicians with valuable information to inform mealtime interventions. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the prevalence of …

Integration Of Theoretical Frameworks For Problematic Exercise: Toward A Comprehensive Model Of Maladaptive And Adaptive Exercise, Christina M. Sanzari

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Exercise can promote health and well-being, and yet a proportion of individuals who exercise develop a maladaptive relationship with physical activity. Problematic exercise is often associated with significant impairment and psychological distress, yet a consensus has not been reached regarding how problematic exercise should be conceptualized. The literature distinguishes between primary exercise dependence, or excessive exercise driven by its intrinsic reinforcement, and secondary exercise dependence, or excessive exercise driven by compensatory motivations related to weight and shape concerns. However, to date, little is known about the prevalence and nature of exercise dependence in the absence of eating pathology. This incongruity …

Risk Factors For Executive Functioning Development In Preschool Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Victoria L. Ledsham

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Links between Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and decreased cognitive functioning in children are well documented, but research on executive functioning (EF) in this population is more limited. Multiple T1D-related risk factors (e.g., hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, glycemic variability, diabetic ketoacidosis) for EF have been established throughout the literature, but their individual effects have been difficult to determine given their interrelated nature. In result, cumulative risk has been proposed as a more robust predictor of EF differences in children with T1D. Moreover, despite the importance of early T1D onset as a risk factor for EF impairment, no studies have previously investigated EF in …

Nothing I Said Was Enough: Writing As Self-Validation, Michama M. Dorvile

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This thesis explores the process of using writing as a coping mechanism to heal from trauma by portraying how personal narratives confront pain and reclaim agency. This thesis also explores how writing serves as a means of survival and sharing testimony. The thesis starts with a critical analysis essay, drawing on literary criticism and trauma theory. I explore how Roxane Gay, Kathryn Harrison, Bessel Van der Kolk, and Maya Angelou have used writing to challenge societal perceptions of trauma, and how through writing, they have resisted erasure.

The heart of this thesis is an original creative work, which involves an …

Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Of Single-Case Experimental Design Data: A Comparison Of Bayesian And Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimation, Yukang Xue

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Two-stage individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis can be used to synthesize intervention effects from single-case experimental design (SCED) studies with multilevel modeling. However, various challenges exist at both stages, including standardizing the intervention effect size, accounting for autocorrelation, and estimating the between-study and between-case variances. While both restricted maximum likelihood estimation (REML) and Bayesian estimation can be used to estimate model parameters, REML has been more commonly applied despite the potential advantages offered by Bayesian methods. Moreover, no methodological studies have focused on Bayesian estimation in the context of meta-analysis of SCED studies, let alone when IPD meta-analysis (often recommended …

The Psychological Impacts Of Homeland Havoc Among First-Generation Raised Americans: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Raneem Kurzum

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The current study explored the psychological experiences of first-generation raised U.S. citizens whose ancestral homelands are affected by ongoing or recent havoc. First-generation raised Americans are defined as the first-generation to be born in the U.S. or those who immigrated to the U.S. during infancy (less than two years of age). While research on trauma, resilience, and identity has previously addressed collective and intergenerational responses within culturally homogenous groups, few studies have examined the cross-cultural psychological impact of homeland turmoil among diverse diasporic populations living in the U.S.

Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this qualitative study employed semi-structured individual interviews …

A Social Exchange Perspective On Attentiveness As A Resource In Newcomer Relationship Development And Assimilation, Huy Q. Le

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

My dissertation investigates the role of social relationships in newcomer socialization within organizations, emphasizing the importance of extra-role conversations in building affective trust and facilitating integration. I hypothesize that while attention to work-related tasks is crucial, engaging in extra-role conversations with supervisors and co-workers fosters affective trust, a key factor in socialization. I integrate social exchange theory, proposing that attention acts as a socioemotional resource exchanged in social interactions, leading to stronger affective trust and ultimately socialization outcomes. These informal interactions help newcomers adopt organizational values and integrate into social groups. I test my hypotheses using longitudinal archival data collected …

Performance Is In The Eye Of The Beholder: Exploring The Moderating Role Of Psychological Perspective Distancing Within Thought Self-Leadership In An Organizational Context, Christopher Bryton Neck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Self-leadership, or the process through which individuals perform various cognitive and behavioral strategies to attain the self-direction and self-motivation necessary to perform in desired ways, has consistently been evidenced to enhance individuals’ performance through promoting a variety of positive individual cognitions, such as self-efficacy, positive affect, and engagement and through diminishing key threatening mental states such as stress, negative affect, and dysfunctional thinking (Harari et al., 2021; Knotts et al., 2022). The cognitive component of self-leadership, thought self-leadership (TSL) has been found to be particularly impactful, aiding the individual to modify and adapt their dysfunctional thinking to be more constructive …

A Sense Of Purpose In Life And Efforts To Increase It In Higher Education, Jacob Edwin Alderson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A sense of purpose in life, defined as a dispositional tendency to pursue goals and activities in line with one’s overarching life direction (Hill, 2016), has been discussed as a key individual difference factor to foster in today’s college students (Colby, 2020; Pfund, Bono, & Hill, 2020). As such, the present dissertation sought to understand the psychosocial and academic benefits associated with having a sense of purpose in life in college via two studies: 1. Assessing changes in a sense of purpose in life across the first year of college and how these changes were associated with academic performance and …

Effects Of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation On Impulse Control Disorders In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease On Dopamine Replacement Therapy, Katherine Muksuris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor deficits, cognitive impairment, and depression. The mainstay treatment for motor symptoms is dopamine replacement therapy (DRT). DRT takes the form of levodopa or dopamine receptor agonists (DAs) and can be associated with impulse control disorders (ICDs). Currently, the approach to mitigating these side effects is to decrease or stop DRT, which may cause motor symptoms to return, making the management of the disorder more difficult. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation treatment for multiple disorders, including its approved use for smoking cessation. It has also shown …

Social Support And Negative Affective Outcomes Among Older Adults: Does Valuing Autonomy Matter?, Erika Anne Fenstermacher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While not a normal part of aging, depression is a concerning psychiatric condition in late life. Depression is a significant predictor of suicide and the highest rates of suicide occur in middle aged and older adult men. One factor that may protect against depression and suicidal behavior among older adults is social support. Social support has been demonstrated as a significant factor in health and well-being. Perceived social support has consistently been linked to beneficial outcomes, however, received support has mixed results with some studies even finding received support to be harmful. For individuals who highly value autonomy, it may …

Leveraging Physiological Signal Activity And Self-Report Data To Assess Students’ Trust In “My Friendly Mind” App And Its Impact On Their Mental Health Knowledge: A Mixed-Method Phase 1 Clinical Trial Focusing On Depression And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder From Human Factors Standpoint., Yeganeh Shahsavar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mental health issues have become a significant global public health concern, especially among younger generations. The growing number of mental health challenges, combined with limited access to quality care, makes the problem even worse. Studies reveal that over 70% of individuals worldwide in need of mental health services do not receive appropriate care. Digital health technologies have the potential to enhance mental health services by making them more accessible and affordable. Despite the increasing popularity of mental health mobile applications (mHealth), there remains a lack of robust evidence of their effectiveness and the level of user trust, particularly in areas …

Behavioral Effects Of Prenatal Ecig Aerosol Exposure On Sprague-Dawley Rats, Erin Elizabeth Wylie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Maternal electronic cigarette (ECIG) use during pregnancy raises concerns about potential risks to offspring, yet its behavioral effects remain unclear. The present studies were designed to investigate how prenatal exposure to ECIG aerosols, with and without nicotine, influences the behavior of Sprague-Dawley rat offspring. Dams were exposed to aerosols containing base liquid alone, aerosols containing base liquid with 18 mg/ml nicotine, or filtered air (control) throughout gestation. Following postnatal day 65, male offspring from 17 litters completed lever-press acquisition (Experiment 1), sustained-attending (Experiment 2), and nicotine self-administration (Experiment 3) tasks. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to compare task …

Trauma-Informed Yoga As An Adjunct To Treatment As Usual Within Inpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Feasibility Trial., Suzanne Vogler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Yoga interventions have been used more frequently in recent years within health and wellness settings to address both clinical and non-clinical issues. More specifically, yoga interventions and trauma-informed yoga (TIY) interventions are being explored within the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). Initial research suggests that yoga interventions could be beneficial to the treatment of SUDs as an adjunct to treatment or a stand-alone intervention as part of continued recovery (post-clinical treatment) (Fitzgerald et al., 2021; Mallik et al., 2019). Although initial research is promising, the current quantity and quality of studies specifically exploring the feasibility and potential benefit of …

Back To The Future Self: Parsing Age Effects In Future Self-Continuity Through Goal Orientation And Life Satisfaction, Laken A. Mooney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Future self-continuity, the psychological feeling of connectedness between the current and the future self, is a relatively novel concept that is associated with and has been used to predict a variety of outcomes. Though work investigating individual differences is comparatively rare, a robust demographic difference found in previous literature is the presence of an age effect, where older adults are more likely to feel a greater connection to their future self than younger adults. This finding has been replicated a number of times, but potential mechanisms behind this observed age-related increase have yet to be fully uncovered. Limited previous work …

From Trans Health To Vaccines: A Theoretically Driven Model Exploring Factors Related To Susceptibility To Medical Misinformation, Catherine Wall

Theses and Dissertations

Medical misinformation represents a significant threat to both individual and public health. While some consequences of this form of misinformation are relatively benign, there can be serious consequences ranging from a decreased trust in healthcare systems to an increased likelihood of epidemic outbreak and death. One such consequence can be seen in the recent legislative actions taken regarding access to transgender healthcare in the United States. Gender affirming care has been shown to benefit the mental well-being of transgender youth and adults; however, the demonstrably false information that underlies these legislative efforts can and has yielded significant harm. But what …

Radical Hope Amid Generational Oppression And Puerto Rican Well-Being, Natalia Gomez Giuliani

Theses and Dissertations

Oppressive systems (e.g., colonialism, racism, capitalism) create a disparate distribution of power that, through various mechanisms, negatively impacts the health and well-being of members of the oppressed group. Boricuas have experienced over 500 years of oppression, with the island currently maintaining a colonial relationship with the United States. As these adverse effects of oppression are identified, the need for protective factors (e.g., hope) has emerged. This study explored how islander Boricuas practice radical hope, understand their history of oppression and resistance, and how they perceived it to impact their overall well-being. Utilizing a phenomenological qualitative approach, I conducted 15 semi-structured …

Civic Participation And Meaning In Life: Similarities And Differences Across Diverse Youth, Yue Ni, G. John Geldhof, Richard A. Settersten, Shauna L. Tominey

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Civic engagement is an important component of youth thriving, but prior research—focused primarily on political engagement—has found a “civic engagement gap” between youth with marginalized identities and those with privileged social identities. Research is needed to understand youth involvement in other civic activities, patterns of disparities, and any implications of these differences for youth well-being. In this study, we examined differences in community service activities, political activities, and expressive activities and their relationships with meaning in life 2 years later across 11 groups of 1,088 adolescents defined by intersections of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and nativity. Findings reveal great diversity in …

Exploring Automatic And Reflective Nudges For Smishing, Morgan E. Edwards

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Phishing has been a common problem in the world of cybersecurity for over a decade, leading to significant monetary and privacy losses. Phishing attacks commonly occur via email, but there has been a rise in a new form of phishing known as SMiShing. This attack vector occurs similarly to email phishing, except the malicious message is received via SMS text. While ways to mitigate phishing via email have been widely studied, there is a lack of research on SMiShing and ways to mitigate this problem from a human-centered approach. Interventions such as digital nudges have been successfully applied to …

Evaluating The Brief Symptom Inventory (Bsi) And Bsi-18 Psychometrics, Samantha Freville

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (Derogatis, 1975, 1993) is often utilized as an intake screener for psychiatric symptoms with a variety of populations. The present study evaluated the internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the BSI-18 when compared to similar subscales, including Somatization (SOM), Anxiety (ANX), and Depression (DEP), and dissimilar subscales, including Nonsupport (NON), Drug Problems (DRG), and Alcohol Problems (ALC), on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) to determine its clinical utility in communicating clients’ level of distress in an outpatient clinical sample. The results indicated that Global Severity Index (GSI) scores of the BSI and BSI-18 …