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The Effects Of Starting Hormonal Contraceptive Use On Rumination, Abigail Brien

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Rumination, a cycle of repetitive dwelling on negative feelings and distress, is associated with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Although there is a substantial body of research on rumination and its association with depression and anxiety in women, there is a lack of studies specifically examining the role of hormonal fluctuation in this process. Changes in the menstrual cycle linked to estrogen and progesterone have been associated with mood regulation and susceptibility to depression, yet the impact of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) on rumination remains unexplored. The current study examined the role of HCs on rumination by comparing …

Poor Sleep Quality Is Associated With Decreased Structural Coherence Of Mesolimbic Dopamine Projections In Children, William A. Walker

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Insomnia is the second most common mental disorder that affects approximately 10% of the population. An additional one-third of the population experiences occasional symptoms of insomnia like difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Sleep quality is also a key indicator of overall mental and physical health; however, researchers have only begun to study the effects of the structure of the mesolimbic pathway on sleep cycle regulation and quality. Emerging research suggests that mesolimbic dopamine projections from the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) to the Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc) play a role in sleep-wake regulation. In this study, I analyzed data from the …

Perpetrator Nationality And Prescribed Punitiveness: The Effect Of Moral Disgust, Phoebe Fanning, Scott Eidelman, Emily Vance

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Does perpetrator nationality impact prescribed punitiveness, and is this relationship explained by moral disgust? White American participants (N = 243) read a fake news article about a physical assault. Perpetrator nationality was manipulated by indicating that the offender was an American citizen or in the U.S. illegally. Then, participants completed measures on prescribed punitiveness (e.g., minimum sentence for the offender), their emotional reactions toward the offender (e.g., disgusted), as well as exploratory items on patriotism, nationalism, identification with the U.S., and belief in a dangerous world. I predicted that participants in the illegal immigrant perpetrator condition would exhibit more …

Involvement Of The Mpfc In Narcissism And Celebrity: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study, Sydney Ash

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Narcissism is typically characterized by extreme self-focus, lack of empathy for others, and emotional regulation deficits. Grandiose narcissism has been linked to an increased desire for fame, while vulnerable narcissism has been linked to an increase in celebrity worship. While there is a lack of research concerning the neural correlates of desire for fame and celebrity worship, narcissism has been correlated with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in various studies. The current study aimed to identify relationships between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, fame appeal, celebrity attitudes, need to belong, and self-esteem using six scales. We also targeted the mPFC with …

Who Falls For Online Misinformation: Examining The Cognitive Correlates Of Vulnerability To Misinformation, Sanjay Kumar Chhetri

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

As misinformation sweeps across the digital world, there is a need to better understand the psychological processes that underlie belief and susceptibility to online misinformation. The present study measured vulnerability to misinformation through a proxy construct of verifying online information. Using path modeling, we investigated how cognitive styles, as assessed by the Cognitive Reflection Test, predicted the extent individuals verify online information and content. The path model also investigated the mediating role of conspiracy mentality and pseudo-profound bullshit receptivity. Based on a U.S. sample of 194 adults, we found that the cognitive reflection test was positively related to verifying online …

Minority Stress And Working Memory, Ahmed Salem

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Minority Stress Theory posits that sexual minority status leads to unique stressors related to stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that create worse mental health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals (Meyer, 2003). The present study investigated working memory in LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ samples after a minority stress induction, as stress has been linked to cognitive difficulties in the context of memory retrieval in both short- and long-term memory (Klier & Burrata, 2020). The present study incorporated a recently validated film-based minority stress induction created by Seager van Dyk et al. (2023). 184 participants (66 LGBTQ+) viewed this …

The Role Of Endogenous Estrogen In Effects Of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation On Cognitive Performance, Samantha Walsh

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) directly modulates brain activity, allowing the study of brain-behavior relationships in cognitive processes. However, cognitive effects of tDCS vary widely, partly due to individual differences in baseline brain activity. Estrogen levels, which fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, are known to affect cortical excitability and impact neural response to tDCS, but no research to date has examined the potential moderating role of endogenous estrogen in tDCS effects on cognition. In this study, N = 16 healthy female adults completed four sessions of a working memory (WM) task while receiving tDCS (two active sessions, two sham) …

The Teaam: The Development Of A Trauma Assessment Measure For Late Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Jessica Wimmer

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Exposure to potentially traumatic events is common among adolescents and emerging adults. While outcomes to trauma exposure may vary, development of maladaptive symptoms and disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is of great concern to clinicians, researchers, and advocates for youth. However, recent research has identified that existing trauma measures and the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition Text Revision criterion for event exposure for PTSD, Criterion A, fail to address specific types of events and experiences that may elicit post-traumatic stress responses. Subsequently, this dissertation aimed to review the existing literature regarding trauma and how it is measured in adolescents …

Are We Safe?: An Explanatory Dissertation Of African American Females' Psychological Safety At Work, Loren Ashley Shelley

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation aimed to explore the relationship between demographic diversity and psychological safety within workplace teams, with an additional focus on African American females. Despite extensive research on psychological safety, there is limited understanding of how demographic diversity influences perception of psychological safety within teams and an even more limited understanding of African American females’ perception of psychological safety within teams. The study sought to address this gap by investigating if team similarities and dissimilarities with regards to demographic differences, marginalized identities (moderation), with an emphasis on African American female identity, and microaggressions (mediation) affected individuals’ perceptions of psychological safety …

Perceptions Of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Haley Bowman

Psychology

This research project tests how educational materials influence individuals’ perceptions of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). Previous literature indicates that educational materials shape perceptions of credibility. The hypothesis predicts that education will enhance positive perceptions.

This study recruited participants from Sona Systems and Prolific, with 924 individuals completing the study. The questionnaire gathered demographic information, assessed drug use history, and measured participants’ beliefs about the causes of depression. Participants then evaluated treatment credibility by responding to open-ended questions, the Treatment Adherence/Acceptability Scale (TAAS), the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), and the KAP credibility questionnaire.

The results indicate that education does not consistently improve perceptions …

Emotional Intelligence And College-Aged Couples’ Relationship Satisfaction, Leeza Milman

Psychology

This study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and romantic relationship satisfaction (RAS) among college-aged individuals. Drawing on established models of EI and prior research linking EI to interpersonal functioning, the study tested three hypotheses: (1) higher EI would be positively associated with greater relationship satisfaction, (2) individuals in female same-sex relationships would report higher satisfaction than those in heterosexual relationships, and (3) EI would mediate the relationship between relationship length and satisfaction. A sample of 72 undergraduate students in romantic relationships completed validated measures of emotional understanding, emotion management, regulation difficulties, and relationship satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, no …

Trapped In The Screen: How Digital Dependency Shapes Our Bodies And Minds, Jessica A. Supreme

Psychology

With each successive generation, time spent on cell phones continues to increase, raising concerns about the long-term effects of digital dependency on both physical and cognitive health. Prior research has linked excessive cellphone use to a range of issues including poor posture, eye strain, disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, reduced attention span, and addiction-like behaviors. These concerns are compounded by sedentary lifestyles, which reduce physical activity and contribute to risks such as cardiovascular disease and obesity. This study surveyed individuals aged 18–30 through an online questionnaire assessing daily cellphone usage, physical activity, and sleep habits. Results revealed that both men and …

The Effect Of Mandatory Enrollment In A Gender Studies Course On Awareness Of Sexism, Gender Attitudes, And Views On Feminism, Sarah Pille

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

The patriarchy is a social construct that allows for the domination, oppression, and exploitation of women. An intervention that can be employed to counteract the outcomes of patriarchal beliefs in college students is gender studies courses. These courses aim to promote awareness of sexism, egalitarian gender attitudes, and positive views of feminism. When enrollment to these courses is made mandatory, it can create resistance to their educational goals. This survey study examined differences in gender and course type on resistance and the educational outcomes of gender studies courses (N = 104). The results of this study indicated that gender studies …

The Relationship Between Sense Of Agency And Perceived Stigma In Those With Cognitive Disabilities, Scarlet S. Pardue

Honors Theses

The focus population of this study is those with cognitive disabilities, which limit in some way a person’s ability to complete mental tasks, such as communication, planning, or remembering. The primary purpose is to focus on the participants' sense of agency and perceived stigma. The Sense of Agency Scale (SoA) measures a participant’s consciously perceived control over their mind, body, and the immediate environment. The Perceived Disability Social Stigma Scale (PDSS) measures to what degree participants believe that people with disabilities are stigmatized in their respective communities. Confirmatory research into these two variables offers an interesting insight into how the …

Firefighters' Perceived Effectiveness Of Peer Support For Job-Related Stressors, Camryn M. Travis

Senior Honors Projects

Firefighters experience immense job-related stress. Firefighters can respond to hundreds of traumatic calls or critical incidents throughout their careers. Witnessing a critical incident can be highly stressful and mentally taxing. Therefore, some fire departments offer mental health resources such as Critical Incident Stress Management/Debriefing (CISM/D) and Peer-group support to help firefighters cope with stressful incidents. Additionally, firefighters may seek professional mental health treatment. To investigate firefighters’ perceptions regarding the effectiveness of these resources, an anonymous survey of Rhode Island firefighters was conducted. The sample included 51 firefighters (n = 51), was mostly male (90.2%), and self-identified as predominantly white (94.1%) …

The Relationship Between Dyslexia And Resilience, Hannah R. Linder, Martina Villa, Daniel Kleinman, Nicole Landi

Honors Scholar Theses

Studies of students with dyslexia have focused on reading and cognitive skills development and their relationship to academic outcomes. Yet, non-cognitive skills, such as resilience or grit, have been shown to positively contribute to life satisfaction, mental health, and academic success (e.g., Aro et al., 2023; Casali et al., 2023; Hossain et al., 2021; Kortteinen et al., 2020). However, this literature is small and inconclusive, with inconsistent definitions and measures of grit and resilience. Furthermore, prior studies have led to mixed results when investigating levels of resilience amongst people with and without dyslexia (Armfield et al., 2021; Kalka & Lockiewicz, …

Redefining Children’S Experience In Social Services Offices, Julia K. Bryant

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The effects of childhood trauma are far-reaching and diverse, influencing physical, emotional, and mental health across a child’s entire lifetime. Research indicates that children who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as abuse or neglect are at an increased risk for various consequences and that the environments they encounter post-trauma play a significant role in shaping their experiences. Social services offices, where many traumatized children are taken for interviews or assessments after being removed from their homes, can often become places of additional distress. This project seeks to address this issue by proposing redesigns for social services offices to create …

Strengthening The Bonds Between Us: An Empirical Investigation Of Morale In Human-Ai Teams And The Socially Supportive Ai Teammates Who Empower It, Rohit Mallick

All Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) can be designed to improve the collective emotion within a team. A team's collective emotion, or morale, describes how motivated, optimistic, and enthusiastic the group is in accomplishing its goals. We conducted four studies that compared different social support strategies that AI teammates can provide to the team. Study 1A found that AI teammates who communicate with emotions can better motivate human team members and promote awareness of team dynamics and environmental changes. Study 1B found that human teammates become more motivated and happier when their AI teammates express joy and are close …

The Associations Of Mental Health With Academic And Exercise Procrastination, Casey L. Dang

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines the relationship between exercise procrastination and academic procrastination with symptoms of depression and anxiety among college students. Procrastination is commonly studied in academic settings, but limited research has looked at how various types of procrastination can impact mental health. In this study we specifically look at exercise and academic procrastination. A total of 109 undergraduate students participated by completing surveys measuring their levels of academic and exercise procrastination, as well as their symptoms of depression and anxiety. The results showed that higher levels of both academic and exercise procrastination were significantly associated with higher levels of depression …

Cognitive Advantages Of Dual Language: Bilingualism And Its Relationship With Working Memory And Controlled Attention, Ellison Alexander

Honors College Theses

This study investigates language familiarity and executive function within individuals who are fluent in or actively learning a second language, demonstrating whether bilingualism influences working memory performance and controlled attention. The study population consisted of undergraduate students attending Murray State University. Three groups were evaluated: students with a low-experience level in a second language (100 level classes), a high-experience group (200 level classes and beyond), and a separate control group of monolingual students without college-level language experience. All groups completed assessments of working memory performance and controlled attention by engaging in the Symmetry Span task and the Simon task. In …

The Relationship Between Oxidative Stress And Partner Opposition In Conflict Resolution, Jenna Thomas

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Given the inevitability of conflict in romantic relationships, understanding its biological impact is crucial for developing conflict resolution strategies that promote physical health. While many studies highlight relationship conflict’s negative effects on bodily systems, few examine how specific facets of conflict, such as opposition, impact the body. Partner opposition may contribute to oxidative stress, a biological marker associated with poor physical health, by activating the amygdala. This study investigated the association between partner opposition and oxidative stress in 126 couples expecting their first child. Participants attended a lab session where problem-solving discussions were recorded to assess oppositional behavior and urine …

Influence Of Smartphone Notifications On Behavior And Eye Movement Parameters Of Emotional Attention, Joshua Daniel Upshaw

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how smartphone notifications interact with emotional facial expressions to influence behavioral and physiological eye movement parameters of attentional orientation. Using a dot-probe paradigm, participants viewed mixed emotional face pairs (angry, happy, or neutral) following an auditory stimulus (smartphone notifications, control tones, or silence). Angry faces elicited greater behavioral accuracy and delayed initial fixations, consistent with heightened threat-related attentional engagement. Notifications disrupted attentional stability, reflected in increased fixations and pupil size variability. The combined effect of smartphone notifications preceding angry faces intensified attentional modulation—evidenced by slower responses, increased blinking, greater pupil constriction, less pupil variability, and faster initial …

Atypical Morphometry And Connectivity Of The Cortico-Striatal-Thalamo-Cortical Circuit In Children And Adolescents With Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Population At Ultra-High Risk For Developing Obsessive-Compulsive And Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Amanda I. Rowan

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder associated with serious medical, cognitive, and psychiatric conditions, including significantly elevated risk for obsessive-compulsive (OCD) and/or schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ). The cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) neural circuit is critical for cognitive and emotional processing. Dysfunction of the CSTC circuit is implicated in the etiopathology of both OCD and SCZ but has not been specifically examined in individuals with 22q11.2DS. This study used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), along with standardized psychological and cognitive measures, to investigate atypical morphometry and white matter connectivity within CSTC-related brain regions in …

Investigating The Effects Of Sod1 Knockout On Oxidative Stress And Stress Coping Styles In Zebrafish Using Crispr Technology, Tai Prauner, Ryan Wong

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Reactive oxygen species are byproducts of cellular metabolism that, when not efficiently neutralized, can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide radicals into less harmful molecules. While its molecular function is well documented, the role of SOD1 in shaping stress-related behavior remains underexplored. This project aimed to establish foundational tools for studying the behavioral impact of SOD1 knockout across proactive and reactive stress-coping styles in zebrafish.

To support future gene-editing experiments, microinjection and breeding protocols were refined across wildtype AB, proactive, and reactive zebrafish lines. No embryos were injected with CRISPR-Cas9 …

Does Resilience Moderate The Relation Between Caregiver Behaviors And Post-Traumatic Symptoms In Young Adults?, Akila Uma Gopalkrishnan

Master's Theses

Exposure to a potentially traumatic event (PTE) is not an uncommon experience for children and adolescents. After exposure to adverse events, youth may experience significant maladjustment and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). As such, researchers continue investigating potential risk and protective factors contributing to youth post-trauma adjustment. Considering their critical role in children’s development, caregivers likely play a key role in youth post-trauma adjustment. However, the field lacks studies on caregiver behaviors following youth PTE exposure and on factors, such as resilience, that could influence how children respond to stress and caregiver environments. I aimed to evaluate: (a) how perceived caregiver …

The Psychological Impact Of Poverty, Alyssa Lyons

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This paper describes the negative effects associated with poverty and explains psychology's future role in solving this issue

Divine Condemnation And Psychological Flexibility: Viewing Psychological Distress Through A Religious Lens, Abby Chittenden

Honors Theses

Recent research has shown the widespread prevalence of psychological distress. Religion can operate both as a resource as well as a problem or barrier to good mental health. Given that some individuals attribute mental distress to religious or spiritual causes, such as punishment from God or demonic involvement, this research examines how these beliefs influence emotional regulation and mental health outcomes. The study surveyed 1,304 participants, including 686 undergraduate students and 618 online participants, to assess their religious attributions, psychological flexibility, and level of distress. The results indicated that those in the general sample who viewed their mental health struggles …

Relationships Between The Social Deprivation Index And Mental Health Outcomes In Sexual And Gender Minority Adults, Bea Twilbeck

Honors Theses

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations include individuals who identify as non-heterosexual and/or whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth. SGM populations experience higher rates of social deprivation—disadvantages including socioeconomic factors and living conditions—compared to non-SGM groups. While the current body of research highlights the negative health impacts of social deprivation, no work has yet assessed the extent to which SGM status moderates associations between social deprivation and mental health symptoms. This study aimed to fill that gap by examining associations between social deprivation and mental health symptoms, as well as whether this relationship varies …

The Psychology Of Morbid Fascination: The Role Of Spectatorship In Executions, Rubbernecking, Dark Tourism, And True Crime Consumption, Sydnee L. Hope

Honors Theses

This literature review examines the general idea of morbid fascination through the lens of spectatorship. The questions that this paper will attempt to answer and contribute knowledge towards are, “What is the psychology behind morbid fascination?” and “Why are humans drawn to the macabre?”. This paper will use a myriad of different sources such as books, peer-reviewed articles, personal accounts, documentaries, podcasts, and different studies from the psychological, criminal justice, and philosophical fields of study to very carefully review, report, compile, and add new theories onto the information provided. The sections discussed throughout will fall under four categories: Public Executions, …

The Ripple Effects Of Belonging: How Faculty–Student Connections May Drive Mutual Success, Marissa Burton

Honors Theses

Experiencing a sense of belonging on a college campus is predicted to increase academic success, classroom engagement, and greater well-being for students. Less central to the belonging conversation is faculty belonging; since faculty play an instrumental role in the development of student belonging, we hypothesize that faculty belonging may increase positive student outcomes inside and outside the classroom. Study 1 examines faculty experiences of and beliefs about belonging at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), with the aim of identifying patterns and indicators of heterogeneity. Results revealed that significant burnout is central to a lack of faculty belonging and stronger desires …