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B.B. Behavioral Neuroscience 2018, Nova Southeastern University

CPS Undergraduate Course Catalogs

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Insulin Modulates The Strong Reinforcing Effects Of Nicotine And Changes In Insulin Biomarkers In A Rodent Model Of Diabetes, Bryan Cruz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examined whether the strong reinforcing effects of nicotine and changes in insulin biomarkers observed in diabetic rats are modulated via insulin. A model of diabetes was employed involving administration of streptozotocin (STZ), which produces hypoinsulinemia in rats. The present study included vehicle- or STZ-treated rats that received sham surgery or an insulin pellet. Two-weeks later, the rats were given extended access to intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of saline or nicotine. Concomitant changes in food intake, water responses, and body weight were assessed during 12 days of IVSA. After the last session, plasma levels of insulin, leptin, amylin, and glucagon-like …

Seeking Health Information In The Diabetes Online Community (Doc); The Role Of Health Literacy, Social Support And Community Interaction On Treatment Adherence, Allyson Hughes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Social support, being valued and cared for by others (Wills, 1991), is a critical construct for disease management and often includes providing advice and information to peers online. Approximately 83% of individuals with chronic disease search for health information online and there are more than 500,000 active social media users in the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) who have varying levels of disease management expertise. Due to the strenuous nature of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), members of the DOC are continuously asking for and receiving anecdotal health information, yet very few studies have evaluated the impact of the DOC on treatment …

Sex Differences In Predicting Nicotine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization From Habituation To Novelty And Initial Drug Response, Jessica Illenberger

Theses and Dissertations

Administration of nicotine evokes an immense mesolimbic dopamine response that progressively increases, or sensitizes, with repeated drug exposure and can be monitored indirectly through rodent’s motor activity. Sex differences in observed rates of behavioral sensitization in rodents appear to be consistent with epidemiological reports of smoking in humans, which indicate that females are more sensitive to the repeated effects of nicotine. Sex differences in sensitization to nicotine may explain why females progress towards addiction faster than males and so in order to effectively treat and prevent nicotine use in vulnerable populations, it is necessary to identify other factors that can …

Assessment Of Peripheral Bdnf Levels Over 30 Days, Sally Hang

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Brain health, and the benefits of exercise have been linked to the biological signaling molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Animal and human studies have provided some support for physical exercise as a mechanism for increasing BDNF levels. However, results have been inconsistent, which may be attributed in part to incomplete information about normal variation in circulating peripheral BDNF levels. This investigation examined capillary-drawn whole blood samples from nine healthy adult participants over 30 days with the goal of documenting variability in resting BDNF levels and changes that may be attributed to physical exercise. It was hypothesized that BDNF concentrations …

Alcoholic And Nonalcoholic Parents’ Orientations Toward Conformity And Conversation As Predictors Of Attachment And Psychological Well-Being For Adult Children Of Alcoholics, Marie Haverfield, Jennifer Theiss

Faculty Publications

Alcoholism is a family illness that has implications for the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of the spouse and children of individuals with alcoholism (Johnson & Stone, 2009). One in four families in the United States is affected by alcoholism (Grant, 2000), with approximately 26.8 million children growing up with a parent with alcoholism (Alcohol and Drug Programs [ADP], 2007). Children of parents with alcoholism tend to experience more frequent depression and struggle to develop healthy intimate relationships when compared to children of parents without alcoholism (Drejer, Theikjaard, Teasedale, Schulsinger, & Goodwin, 1985). Adult children of alcoholics (ACoA) who had …

Early Adversity And Executive Dysfunction In Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Jennifer Amato

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

This dissertation was designed to inform the existing literature gap regarding variability in Executive Dysfunction on neuropsychological assessment tasks in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The two primary objectives of the study included: (a) evaluation of the relationship between number of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and performance on neuropsychological tasks of executive functions (EF; as measured by neuropsychological test results on Color–Word Interference, Verbal Fluency, Trail Making Test, and Semantic Clustering) for children with ADHD; and (b) evaluation of the relationship between number of ACEs and behavioral impairment on parent ratings of EFs (as measured by the Inhibit, Task …

Transactions Between Thinness Expectancies And Depression In The Prediction Of Adolescent Weight Restricting Behaviors, Anna Marie L. Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Both the transdiagnostic risk associated with depression and the eating disorder-specific risk associated with expectancies for reinforcement from thinness have been identified as risk factors for the development of weight restricting behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine if these risk factors transact to further predict risk in youth. Depression, thinness expectancies, and weight restriction were assessed in 1,907 adolescents three times during the transitional period between middle school and high school. We compared three different possible transactional processes. Mediation tests demonstrated that depression in 8th grade predicted an increase in the number of weight restricting behaviors endorsed …

Evaluation Of The Relationally Based “Calm-Driven” Service Training For The Automotive Industry, Based On The New World Kirkpatrick Model, Katia Tikhonravova

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the relationally based “Calm-Driven” Service (CDS) training program from the New World Kirkpatrick model perspective. The CDS training program is designed to help automotive professionals in sales and service to relate to their customers by (a) thinking in a different way about human relationships, and (b) realizing their own role in relationships and behavior. The CDS training program is based on the relational systems theory concepts of relational triangles, chronic anxiety, and differentiation of self from the Bowen Family Systems Theory.

The results suggest that the participants had a positive reaction to the training …

Impact Of Individual Differences On Faking Behavior, Norah Beverly Kerubo Orina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the widespread use of personality tests over the past decades for personnel selection, personality tests are known to be fakable by applicants. Professionals often design interventions during the selection process to reduce applicant faking. The current research examined the impact of individual differences faking behavior that are known to be associated with faking behavior in applicants. They included integrity, selfcontrol, self-monitoring, narcissism, impulsivity and external locus of control. This research tested hypotheses that applicants would fake differently on the various individual difference variables and whether the relationship between faking behavior and individual differences would be consistent across sex and …

Marital Factors Associated With Weight-Related Behavior In Bariatric Surgery Patients, Jenna Ellison

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a major health concern in the United States. Whereas bariatric surgery is effective, 10-40% of post-operative patients struggle to reach or maintain their goal weight (Elder & Wolfe, 2007). The current study investigated the within-person relations between marital quality and weight-related behaviors using a daily diary design. Length of relationship, time since surgery, and participant sex were explored as moderators. Participants were 94 post-operative bariatric surgery patients. Eligible participants completed an online baseline questionnaire, followed by a one-week online daily diary in which they responded to questions about the quality of their marriage, whether they engaged in physical …

Art Majors' Perceptions Of Their Self-Concept, Academic Self-Efficacy, And Social Identity, Sara E. Triplett

Masters Theses

This study utilized a qualitative approach was used to provide insight into students' perspectives on their self-concept, academic self-efficacy, and social identity in relation to their majors at a mid-size Midwestern university. Two undergraduate students majoring in 2D Studio Art and three undergraduate students majoring in Theater Performance were interviewed. Through individual interviews several themes emerged such as: 1) using art to have a meaningful impact on the audience, communicating a message, and clarifying their understanding of the world was important; 2) clear professional support strengthened art majors' self-efficacy; and 3) peer groups play a large part in art majors' …

The Development Of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study, Meher Sharma

Masters Theses

The worldview that portrays a serial killer as being a white male, an evil monster with unusual appearance, having dysfunctional relationships (Yaksic, 2015), engaging in animal torture or being sexually or physical abused in childhood, and therefore, sadistically killing for sexual gratification should be challenged (Beasley, 2004). Leyton (1996) and Skrapec (2001) suggested researchers should approach with open minds while searching for knowledge relating to this phenomenon without preconceived assumptions or hypotheses. Furthermore, every serial killers' drive to kill multiple victims may be unique, dependent on his/her history and experiences, and is therefore difficult to quantify (Yaksic, 2015). The current …

Factors Influencing Teacher And Adminstrators' Knowledge And Attitudes About Adolescent Depression, Suicide, And Prevention, Kayla N. Quick

Masters Theses

To date, research has yet to be conducted that examines U.S. secondary school teachers' and administrators' attitudes toward intervening with potentially depressed and/or suicidal students. Additionally, research is needed to identify the demographic characteristics of educators that are associated with general knowledge of adolescent suicide and the risk factors and warning signs that often accompany it. The purpose of the present study was to examine the following hypotheses: 1) certain characteristics (e.g. gender, years of experience with educating children, the amount of training received on adolescent depression/suicide, and knowledge of adolescent suicide and depression) are better predictors of attitudes toward …

Predictors Of Bulimia Nervosa Symptoms, Paulina A. Zdanowicz

Masters Theses

Bulimia nervosa (BN) symptoms involve binge eating, compensatory behaviors, and preoccupation with food and body image. A wealth of research has linked factors such as impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive behaviors to BN. In contrast, social appearance anxiety has not been frequently studied, as it is a new concept, especially as it relates to BN symptoms. This study will examine the links of BN symptoms to social appearance anxiety, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Specifically, it was predicted that social appearance anxiety, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors will positively predict symptoms of BN. The main model in this study found that social appearance anxiety …

Well-Being Correlates Of Perceived Positivity Resonance: Evidence From Trait And Episode-Level Assessments, Brett C. Major, Khoa D. Le Nguyen, Kristjen B. Lundberg, Barbara L. Fredrickson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Positivity resonance is a type of interpersonal connection characterized by shared positivity, mutual care and concern, and behavioral and biological synchrony. Perceived positivity resonance is hypothesized to be associated with well-being. In three studies (N = 175; N = 120; N = 173), perceived positivity resonance was assessed at the trait level (Study 1) or the episode level, using the Day Reconstruction Method (Studies 2 and 3). Primary analyses reveal that perceived positivity resonance is associated with flourishing mental health, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and illness symptoms. These associations largely remain statistically significant when controlling for daily pleasant emotions or social …

The Role Of "Because" In Mechanistic And Teleological Explanations In Science, Lillian K.E. Asiala

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In science, mechanistic and teleological explanations differ in their account for why a phenomenon occurs. A mechanistic explanation presents events within the phenomenon’s causal history, while a teleological explanation presents the function or benefit of the phenomenon. These explanation types present two different types of causal coherence relations; a cause- consequence relation for mechanistic explanations, and an enabling relationship for teleological explanations. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the causal connective “because” in inference generation for the relations present in each explanation type. Two first experiments show that readers accept “because” as an appropriate causal …

Eating Disorder Quality Of Life Scale (Edqls) In Ethnically Diverse College Women: An Exploratory Factor Analysis, Liya M. Akoury, Vincent Rozalski, Kimberly A. Barchard, Cortney S. Warren

Psychology Faculty Research

Background: Extant research suggests that disordered eating is common in college women and is associated with decreased quality of life. The Eating Disorder Quality of Life Scale (EDQLS) examines impairment to disordered eating-related quality of life, but has not been validated in college women. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to examine the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the EDQLS in a diverse sample of 971 college women. Method: Students from a large United States university completed questionnaires examining disordered eating and the EDQLS online. Results: The EDQLS demonstrated excellent internal consistency and good convergent validity with the …

Examination Of The Relationship Between Classism And Career Agency, Lucy Charlene Parker

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Classism is a recently studied, but historically existent form of oppression. Classism may involve students feeling that they cannot pursue a degree or career due to discrimination related to their social class status. This study explored the relationship between classism, gender, age, race, socioeconomic status, and career agency through survey design research. Career agency is the primary dependent variable in this study. Career agency includes career choice, career forethought, and career related actions related. Psychometrically established instruments including The Experiences With Perceived Classism Scale-Short Form and The Career Futures Inventory-Revised were used to assess classism and career agency. Using this …

Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Cognitive Function In The Elderly With Type 2 Diabetes, Elizabeth Guerrero-Berroa, Ramit Ravona-Springer, James Schmeidler, Anthony Heymann, Laili Soleimani, Mary Sano, Derek Leroith, Rachel Preiss, Ruth Zukran, Jeremy M. Silverman, Michal Schnaider Beeri

Publications and Research

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic condition associated with poor clinical and cognitive outcomes including vascular disease, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and dementia. In the general elderly population, depression has been consistently identified as a risk factor for cognitive impairment/decline. However, the association between depression and cognitive function in T2D has been understudied.

Objective: We investigated the association between depression and cognitive function in a large sample of cognitively normal elderly with T2D.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we examined 738 participants, aged 65–88 years old, enrolled in the Israel Diabetes and Cognitive Decline study. For each …

What A Difference A Course Makes: Early College Experience Fosters Flexible And Transcendent Self-Identities, Hannah Faccio

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The college experience is often referenced as a period of ‘finding yourself.’ The concept of self-identity is considered malleable and often formed during time spent at a university or college. One way universities provide opportunity for changes in identity is by offering liberal arts core curriculum courses that allow for the broader thinking of the self, the world, and of one’s experiences. Examples of these courses include Honors and First-Year Seminar (FYS) courses. These courses offer exposure to new topics, ideas, and cultures, which can help students better understand themselves and their place in the world. I hypothesized these courses …

The Social Relationships Of Captive African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) Juveniles, Julia Machado

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

In situ female African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana) live in a fission- fusion society comprised of “core groups” in which adult females associate with their dependent offspring (Archie, Moss, & Alberts, 2006). Most of the animals in a core group are related (Archie et al., 2006), but kinship is not the only contributor to elephant sociality.Pre-reproductive females (allomothers) often assist in the care of calves and juveniles (Lee, 1987). The concept of inclusive fitness (Riedman, 1982) is the favored hypothesis for the evolution of allomothering. Zoological settings, with varied social groupings, provide the perfect opportunity to test this hypothesis (Schulte, …

Acculturation And Post-Migration Psychological Symptoms Among Iraqi Refugees: A Path Analysis, Joseph W. Lemaster, Carissa L. Broadbridge, Mark A. Lumley, Judith E. Arnetz, Cynthia Arfken, Michael D. Fetters, Hikmet Jamil, Nnamdi Pole, Bengt B. Arnetz

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Refugees frequently experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression, which impede their acculturation in the new host country where they are resettling. There are few longitudinal studies investigating predictors of mental health and acculturation during the early postmigration period. We conducted a longitudinal study of 298 Iraqi refugees, assessing them upon arrival to the U.S. and 1 year after migration. Premigration trauma was associated with increased PTSD and depressive symptoms at baseline, and with decreased acculturation 1 year later. Resilience was associated with depressive symptoms at 1-year follow-up, but not with other resettlement outcomes (PTSD symptoms, English-language skills, or acculturation). …

Effects Of Yoga On The Motor Skills Of A Ten-Year-Old Male With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amber Schmitt

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD} is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is typically diagnosed in childhood due to the presence of atypical development, social interactions, and repetitive stereotypical patterns of behavior. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a yoga intervention on a ten-year-old male diagnosed with ASD. It was hypothesized that the yoga intervention on select instructed poses would increase both pose duration and pose performance and that the results would generalize to longer pose duration and better pose performance on non-instructed poses. Pre-intervention assessments of motor functioning were administered, including the Movement ABC, BOT-2, TGMD, …

Sexual Orientation Development, Acceptance, And Risk Behavior In Young Adult Gay Men, Erin Paige Smith

Wayne State University Dissertations

Research on sexual orientation development points to individual differences in developmental milestones (i.e., realization, identification, disclosure to friend, disclosure to parent, same-sex sexual behavior) that could be differentially related to adjustment. Additionally, differences in perceptions of acceptance from the self and important others, such as parents and friends, during adolescence and early adulthood may be related to both sexual orientation development and health risk behaviors (i.e., substance use, sexual risk). The goal of the current study was to advance our understanding of developmental processes among gay men by examining perceived acceptance of sexual orientation and its associations with individual differences …

A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Gender Differences In Symptom Progression And Trauma Narratives During Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Sarah A. Ascienzo

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

An alarming portion of youth experience traumatic events during childhood, and there is a robust body of literature documenting the adverse consequences of trauma exposure on the developing child. Fortunately, numerous empirically-supported phase-based interventions have been developed for youth that target the deleterious effects of trauma. While several of these interventions have demonstrated symptom reduction from the baseline to completion of treatment, much less is known regarding the trajectory of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) during the course of treatment. Information in this regard may have important implications for service delivery and help to illuminate the mechanisms of change responsible for …

Alabama Cacrep And Non-Cacrep Graduate Students' Perceptions Of Readiness To Counsel Clients With Substance Use Disorders, Keli M. Brothers

Counselor Education

A quantitative survey study was conducted to assess counselor perceptions of competence to counsel clients with substance use disorders based on educational experiences. The 31 participants included counseling graduates from two North Alabama universities, one with Council for Accrediting of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) certification and one without, and Alabama members of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. There were no significant differences found in perceptions of competence to counsel between CACREP and non-CACREP certified graduates. However, a positive correlation was found between participants’ understanding of addiction and perceptions of readiness to counsel clients with substance use disorders.

A Theoretical Framework Of Sports Team’S Well-Being: An Integrative Perspective Of Emotional Intelligence And Equivocality On Trust And Happiness, Drew Sannes, Wooyang Kim

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Abstract – The purpose of this study is to develop and provide an integrative conceptual model of sports teams’ well-being to achieve a win-win situation of happiness for all stakeholders of sports teams, grounded in role theory and commitment-trust theory. We first conceptualized the well-being as an ultimate consequence by exploring sub-dimensions of happiness and provide relevant propositions linking with the respective antecedents. Second, we explored the effect of antecedents of sports team’s well-being in the spectrum of the anchor between positive and negative sides on the resultant outcomes – i.e., trust and happiness. Third, we examined the role of …

Parental Ptsd, Emotion Regulation, And Behavior Problems In Toddlerhood: Unique Associations Among Families In Urban Poverty, Hasti Ashtiani Raveau

Wayne State University Dissertations

Parental posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to negatively impact children’s socioemotional development (Schwerdtfeger et al., 2014) and increase children’s risk for later psychopathology (Scheeringa & Zeanah, 2008; Yehuda, Halligan, & Bierer, 2001). Less is known about this topic among minority and poor mothers and fathers of toddlers, and the critical role parents’ emotion regulation may play in mediating the associations between PTSD and toddlers’ socioemotional problems (Beck et al., 2009). Parental emotion dysregulation has been linked with children’s socioemotional problems (Coyne & Thompson, 2011), especially during toddlerhood when children are beginning to learn how to regulate their own …

Matter, Memory, Multiverse : The Prism Of Reality, Sean William Johnson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

When Isaac Newton conducted his prism experiment, and discovered a “new theory of light and colours,” the experiment had far more social and scientific import than he could have anticipated. In his paper, Newton broke “whiteness” down into its true, conglomerate, multi-layered essence. “For the first time,” a phrase that was used quite a bit during the Enlightenment and Restoration of the 17th-18th centuries, whiteness was understood as a composite that contained every other colour. What happens to the paradox of the Enlightenment-- predicated upon “individuality” that was strangely restricted to white males-- when the very basis of “whiteness” has …