Digital Commons Network^™

The Presence Of A Pet Dog Is Associated With A More Balanced Response To A Social Stressor, Jaci Gandenberger, Aurélie Ledreux, Ashley Taeckens, Kerry Murphy, Jenni Forkin, Anah Gilmore, Kevin N. Morris

Institute for Human-Animal Connection: Faculty Scholarship

Acute and chronic stress each have physical manifestations in the human body that can lead to many negative health impacts. Today, reported stress levels worldwide are at an all-time high, spurring the search for non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain healthy stress levels. In this study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influences healthy adults’ acute stress responses as assessed through self-reports, heart rate, plasma cortisol, and salivary alpha-amylase. Participating pet dog owners were randomly assigned to undergo the Trier Social Stress Test either with their pet dog or alone. While there was no group difference in perceived anxiety levels, participants …

Enduring Heroism In The Face Of Inequality And Injustice: Who Steps Up And Why?, Carol D. Ryff

Heroism Science

Enduring heroism defined as persistent efforts to confront inequality and injustice is the focus of this article. Six exemplars are considered: Harriet Tubman, Crazy Horse, Jane Addams, Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X. Similarities and differences in their pursuits are considered and linked to the larger literature on heroism. They are also contrasted with enduring anti-heroes to elevate roles of virtue and benevolence in long-term efforts to correct societal ills. What motivates enduring heroism is a central question. A hypothesis put forth is that distinct dimensions of eudaimonic well-being – especially, purpose in life, autonomy, environmental mastery, and personal growth …

Using The Gerontological Imagination To Explore Suicide Among Older Adults: An Interdisciplinary Perspective For Professional Counselors, Mary Chase Mize, Afroze Shaikh

Adultspan Journal

Gerontology, the study of aging and older adulthood, is a vast field consisting of many intersecting disciplines, such as medicine, nutrition, public policy, psychology, social work, and professional counseling. As the older adult population rapidly increases, so too will the prevalence of mental health concerns among this population, including risk for suicide. Older adults presently comprise 16.5% of the U.S. population, yet account for 19.3% of all deaths by suicide (Drapeau & McIntosh, 2020). Professional counselors are newly eligible Medicare providers and can close gaps in healthcare access for older adults who rely on Medicare to receive mental health services, …

The Interaction Between Frequency Of Cannabis Use And Method Of Delivery In Predicting Lack Of Interest In Eating, Joanne Lynn Pomeroy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cannabis use, its benefits, and adverse effects are being increasingly studied due to the abundance of existing dispensaries created under recreational and legalization policies. While research is inconclusive, an established association exists between increased cannabis concentration and anorexigenic properties. This study examines the interaction between the frequency of cannabis use and the method of delivery in predicting the lack of interest subtype of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in emerging adults. Cannabis use was measured by the Cannabis Engagement Assessment (CES). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) was used to measure anxiety, and the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Questionnaire …

Can An Equine-Assisted Learning Course Improve Emotional Intelligence In Undergraduate Students?, Danielle Y. Clark, Julia M. Mack, Kenneth G. Mccurdy

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: Emotional intelligence, a construct that many experts consider an essential component of life success, is moving in a concerning direction among American college students. Equine-assisted interventions may be an innovative modality for influencing these skills. Purpose: This study explores the effectiveness of a 15-week equine-assisted experiential learning course on emotional intelligence among undergraduate college students. Methodology/Approach: The intervention group consisted of 18 students who participated in a three-credit psychology course entitled Horses for Interpersonal Skills, which involved classroom instruction and an equine-assisted learning (EAL) component. This group was compared to a no intervention sample of 26 students enrolled in …

Gsep Research Symposium Proceedings - 2024

GSEP Research Symposium

The 8th Annual GSEP Research Symposium, was themed "Dismantling Barriers between Research and Practice: Shining a Light on Global Interdisciplinary Solutions," took place on July 18-19, 2024, at the picturesque Château d'Hauteville in Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Switzerland.

The annual symposium is hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). The symposium served as a dynamic platform for students, faculty, alums, and staff to come together and explore innovative ideas across multiple disciplines. Featuring 69 selected presentations under five distinct tracks, the proceedings showcase groundbreaking research, foster meaningful discussions, and promote professional development.

The symposium aimed to bridge …

Quality Of Life Changes In Middle-Aged Men After An Acute Stroke Or Traumatic Brain Injury, Angela J. Garner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Surviving a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) can bring about life changes and negatively impact future quality of life. Studies that focus specifically on men who suffer these injuries is limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore quality of life of middle-aged men who suffered an acute stroke or TBI. The transactional model of stress and coping and the social identity theory were theoretical frameworks. Common themes were established during data analysis. Three research questions explored the narratives of masculine identity and quality of life in middle-aged men who experience a stroke or TBI. How having …

The Lived Experiences Of Developing A Strong Black Woman Schema For Resilient Black Women With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Lindsey Erin Dickson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) encompass a spectrum of adversities that can impact mental and physical health in adulthood, particularly in Black women. Although there was a substantial body of research on the consequences of ACEs and the coping strategies employed by Black women, there remained a gap in understanding the nuanced experiences of those who develop a Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of developing an SBW schema among resilient Black women who had faced ACEs. The research was grounded in resilience theory and SBW schema and provided …

Psychophysical And Pharmacological Models Of Visual Hallucination, Nathan H. Heller

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Visual hallucinations are visual experiences that are spontaneously generated by the brain, in the absence of appropriate external stimuli. Understanding the neural processes that give rise to these experiences is a complex challenge that spans the domains of psychology, neuroscience, and clinical practice. Model hallucinations can serve as a valuable tool in this context. They allow researchers to study hallucinatory experiences under controlled conditions, thus providing insights into their behavioral and neural underpinnings, which can facilitate the development of effective treatments. By creating models that emulate different aspects of hallucinatory experience, whether through pharmacological means, sensory manipulation, or cognitive tasks, …

Perceived Naturalness Biases Objective Behavior In Both Trivial And Meaningful Contexts, Brian P. Meier, Eric Noreen, Michael Fellman, Courtney Lappas, Li-Jun Ji

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research shows that perceived naturalness can bias beliefs about the positivity of items such as food, human talent, and vaccines. Yet, this research focuses on self-reports, which leaves open the implications it has for behavior. In four studies (N = 492), this research team tested if perceived naturalness impacts trivial and meaningful behaviors. Participants were asked to consume a purported natural/synthetic performance drink (Study 1), test a purported natural/synthetic drug that would be injected (Study 2), eat chocolate containing a purported natural/synthetic cocoa described as causing stomach discomfort (Study 3), or choose a sticker purportedly made with natural/synthetic ink …

An Integral Approach To Philosophy Of Nature, Carol Richardson

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Abstract

Quantum physicists and quantum biologists enjoy a mathematically-inspired romance with the wonders of nature at the quantum level. Recognizing the romance of mathematics and the quantum-to-cosmic level relational energetics of Nature can lead to a more integral, romantic, and even embodied phenomenology of the intelligence inherent within Nature’s relational and embodied energies. Approaching this quantum nature of Nature from the more romantic, wholistic views of the right hemisphere of the brain, rather than from the fragmenting views of the left hemisphere of the brain, one can begin to discover the self-organizing abilities of the energies of Nature at all …

Neighborhood Disadvantage, Parenting, And Dna Methylation During Childhood, Malcolm Barker-Kamps

All ETDs from UAB

Being raised in a disadvantaged neighborhood increases the risk of adult obesity, chronic inflammation, and epigenetic aging even when adjusting for family socioeconomic status (SES). Because little is understood regarding the timing of these outcomes through development and possible moderating effects of the family environment, this project investigated the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and DNA methylation in children and whether this association varies across child age, parenting behaviors, or neighborhood cohesion. The study included 112 parents (Mage=27.5; SD=1.06) and 160 children, ages 0-14 (Mage =3.89, SD=3.29; 54% female; 90% African American; 10% White), from the Birmingham Youth Violence Study. Neighborhood …

Experiences Of Discrimination And Stress In People With And Without Hiv: Associations With Experimental Pain Sensitivity And Substance Use, Joanna Hobson

All ETDs from UAB

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at an increased risk for experiencing not only discrimination, but the adverse health outcomes that are related to discrimination. Specifically, studies have identified direct relationships between HIV, discrimination and substance use, pain, poor sleep (e.g. insomnia symptoms) and depression. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the relationships between discrimination, stress, experimental pain sensitivity, mood and substance abuse. We used various questionnaires to measure mood and health behavior. Lastly, participants underwent a series of pain experiments to measure group differences in experimental pain sensitivity. We found group differences in cortisol levels (p = .031) and …

Sleep And Stigma: Novel Factors In The Relationship Between Weight Status And Cognitive Function?, Lindsay M. Stager

All ETDs from UAB

U.S. obesity rates are rising. Impaired cognitive function (CF) negatively correlates with obesity and may impact food consumption. However, the mechanisms of action demand assessment. This study aimed to identify adiposity-based differences in adolescent CF and food consumption and determine the roles of sleep and stigma within these relationships. Adolescents completed questionnaires including the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and Brief Version of the Stigmatizing Situations Inventory assessing weight stigma. Actigraphy and food diaries assessed typical sleep duration and food consumption. Participants then completed two sleep conditions in a randomized order: adequate (AS; >8 hours asleep) and restricted (RS; <5 hours asleep) sleep. Each condition was preceded by a 2-night washout period (9 hours in bed per night) and followed by a morning lab visit involving a cognitive battery and self-serve breakfast. Adolescents with healthy weight (HW) demonstrated greater performance-based episodic memory compared to adolescents with overweight/obesity (OWOB), but self-reported poorer inhibition, self-monitoring, and planning/organizing. Findings were similar in models using total body fat percent (TBF%) as a predictor, and stigma did not mediate these relationships. Adiposity did not relate to typical self-reported food consumption. RS predicted poorer performance-based global cognition, fluid cognition, and cognitive flexibility for adolescents with OWOB and improved cognitive flexibility among adolescents with HW. Adolescents with OWOB also had poorer attention compared to adolescents with HW following RS, while there were no group differences following AS. Findings were similar in models using TBF% as a predictor. However, adolescents with TBF% elevated above 42, also had poorer processing speed following RS, and the relationship between sleep and attention did not vary based on TBF%. RS also predicted decreased consumption of total calories, calories from processed foods, and fat for both BMI groups. This study increases understanding of the relationships among weight, CF, and food consumption, and the roles of sleep and stigma within these relationships. Adolescents with OWOB were more vulnerable to the negative cognitive effects of RS and RS predicted decreased consumption of calories and fat. Promotion of improved sleep hygiene and duration may be critical for the cognitive health of adolescents with OWOB.

Pubertal Timing In Relation To Epigenetic Aging And Mortality Risk In Young Adulthood, Marlon Goering

All ETDs from UAB

Early pubertal timing is associated with adverse health outcomes in adulthood, which may be mediated by DNA methylation-based epigenetic changes associated with accelerated aging and mortality risk. However, only few studies examined links between pubertal timing and epigenetic aging and these focused mainly on females, relied on retrospective reports of single pubertal events, and did not examine protective factors and underlying mechanisms. Thus, this dissertation examined two distinct dimensions of pubertal timing (i.e., phenotypical pubertal timing relative to age and self-perceived pubertal timing relative to peers) in relation to subsequent epigenetic aging and mortality risk in adulthood together with sex …

Everyday Functioning In Middle Aged And Older Adults With Hiv: Factors That Influence Everyday Functioning And Awareness Of Functioning, Alexandra Elaine Jacob

All ETDs from UAB

With combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the population of older people living with HIV (PLWH) is growing. There is a need to better understand everyday functioning, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), to improve real-world outcomes for this clinical population. This dissertation attempts to (1) characterize factors related to self-report and performance of IADLs in PLWH, (2) examine correlates of self-awareness for functional abilities, and (3) apply a theoretical model to examine complex relationships between factors that impact self-awareness for functional abilities. Participants in these retrospective analyses included 260 PLWH who completed a comprehensive neurobehavioral evaluation including neuropsychological tests, measures …

The Relationship Of Sleep Disturbance And Disease-Related Factors On Neural And Neurocognitive Function In Youth Living With Sickle Cell Disease, Tiffany Devaughn Tucker

All ETDs from UAB

Youth living with sickle cell disease (SCD) often face neurocognitive challenges, regardless of accompanying neurological issues. SCD involves red blood cell deformation, leading to complications including chronic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and acute crises such as pain and overt stroke. While screening and intervention advancements have improved survival, enhancing functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) remains a targeted area of intervention. Disease-related factors, sleep disturbances, and social determinants significantly impact neurocognitive health in youth living with SCD. Deficits across all cognitive domains, including attention, working memory, and executive function (EF), are common, affecting academic achievement and QoL. Brain-related issues, such as …

Approach-Avoidance Action Patterns As Indicators Of Empathic ‘Care Drive’ Strength, Stephanie R. Hruza

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Empathy, care, and prosocial behavior are essential to social group cohesion, and antisocial and violent criminal behavior, on the other pole, can cause serious disruptions in group cohesion and negatively impact society as a whole. Different psychopathological conditions tend to present with impairments in affective empathy/caring and prosocial behavior, as is observed in psychopathic traits, which are tied to antisocial behavior and outcomes. It is essential to understand how empathy and care function, both in psychopathology and normal prosocial functioning, in order to inform interventions for empathy/care deficits and avoid the potential harm that such deficits can cause for others …

Peer Group Influence On The Antecedents Of Academic Coping Over The First Year Of Middle School, Daniel Lee Grimes

Dissertations and Theses

The motivational model of academic coping provides a framework for investigating the motivational antecedents and social contextual influences on ways of coping with academic adversity during the transition to middle school. Two studies were conducted to investigate the roles of three motivational antecedent variables of academic coping: perceived control, autonomous motivation, and catastrophizing. Study 1 investigated relationships between the motivational variables and academic coping across the first year of middle school. Study 2 investigated peer group influences on the motivational variables and on academic coping. Data from an entire cohort of 366 sixth students in the only middle school in …

Identifying And Characterizing Cognitive Profiles In Midlife Females: A Latent Profile Analysis, Hannah Hagy

Dissertations

Females are at two-thirds greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than males. Due to this notable sex difference in cognitive aging and disease burden, there has been an increased focus on understanding the critical role of the menopausal transition (decline in fertility during midlife) as it relates to cognitive functioning across midlife. Thus, the present cross-sectional study used a sample of midlife females at different stages in the menopausal transition (N=202; Age 40-60 years) as part of a larger, multimodal design study, to elucidate distinct cognitive profiles while accounting for education, which were then characterized by other demographic factors, …

Napping, Sleep, And Affect In Adolescents: A Daily Diary And Actigraphy Study, Elizabeth Rea

Dissertations

Adolescents in the United States do not typically attain enough quality sleep at night due to a combination of biological maturation and academic and social commitments, leading to poor cognitive, mental, and physical health outcomes. Naps may compensate for inadequate sleep; however, little is known about how napping affects nocturnal sleep and mood over time among adolescents who are poor sleepers. The present study used daily diary and actigraphy data collected over 15 days in a sample of evening-chronotype, poor sleeping adolescents (n=99; Mage=15.85 (SD=0.99); 44% Male, 55% Female; 46% White, 30% Black, 12% More than one race, 8% Other, …

Resiliency And Positive Childhood Experiences: Implications For Black Youths' Mental And Behavioral Health And School Engagement, Sharnequa Nashay Hunter

Dissertations

Two independent studies were conducted to examine the buffering impact of positive childhood experiences on Black youths’ mental and behavioral health and school engagement outcomes. The purpose of Study 1 was to investigate the potential moderating effects of positive childhood experiences on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and the occurrence of mental or behavioral health conditions (anxiety, depression, ADHD/ADD, and/or a behavioral/conduct problem) and school engagement, using secondary data from the 2020 National Survey of Children’s Health, a survey completed by primary caregivers. The study sample included 2,201 Black youth ages 6-17 across the United States. Logistic regression and …

Comparing Caregiver-Teacher-Adolescent Mental Health Reporting: Examining Changes Over Time And Related Outcomes Among Youth Involved In The Child Welfare System, Jennifer Osborne

Dissertations

The benefits of psychological assessment are particularly salient for children and youth in the child welfare system, as youth in contact with the system are more likely to experience mental health symptoms, disorders, and comorbidities as compared to youth in the general population. These assessments often utilize multiple reporters, as emerging evidence indicates that utilizing multiple more effectively captures the mental health experiences of children and youth. However, the extant literature has consistently observed only low-to-moderate (i.e., .2-to-.3) agreement across informants, including among dyads in contact with the child welfare system. Several factors are associated with level of agreement across …

Relations Among Degree Of Bilingualism And Bilateral Information Processing In Children And Adults, Francisco J. Sierra, Amy A. Weimer, Yu-Cheng Lin, Jerwen Jou, Nayda Castillo, Cedar Garcia, Michelle Suarez, Flor I. Garcia, Gabriela Aleman, Edson Ortiz, Francheli Romero

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Aims and objectives:

The primary goal of this study was to examine whether degree of bilingualism related to dichotic listening accuracy, a measure of bilateral processing, after controlling for age and income.

Methodology:

Participants included 59 children ages 6–11 years (M = 7.86, SD = 1.81) and 61 adults (18–83 years) (M = 34.02, SD = 15.70). Participants completed demographic surveys, vocabulary assessments in English and Spanish, and a dichotic listening test.

Data and analysis:

Multiple linear regressions examined whether the degree of bilingualism predicted bilateral processing.

Findings:

Degree of bilingualism predicted bilateral processing in the whole sample …

Interoception In Pregnancy: Implications For Peripartum Depression, Paul W. Savoca, Laura M. Glynn, Molly M. Fox, Misty C. Richards, Bridget L. Callaghan

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

"In this perspective piece, we propose a novel mechanistic framework for peripartum depression in which improved interoceptive functioning in pregnancy and postpartum typically protects against depressive symptoms, but when there is a failure to improve interoception, the result is an inability to maintain metabolic efficiency, which ultimately poses risk for depression. First, we will review an emerging theory that links the modeling and predictive regulation of metabolic resources as central to the expression of many depressive symptoms. Then, focusing on the period of pregnancy to articulate the framework, we will discuss the physiological changes induced by pregnancy that place an …

Homeless Individuals’ Experiences Of Access To Personal Hygiene And Sanitary Products And Processes During Menstruation, Chele Taylor-Jennifer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness and period (menstruation) poverty are recurring global phenomena. In the United States, approximately 220,000 women experience homelessness annually. Studies have shown that approximately 35% of individuals who menstruate experience period poverty while living in Baltimore, Maryland. The theoretical foundation was Wollstonecraft‘s theory of feminism. To better understand this phenomenon, a general qualitative study was conducted using semistructured interviews with 18 people who were once homeless while menstruating. Through data collection and analysis, five themes emerged: (a) women have had to find creative ways of addressing menstruation; (b) women have had to find creative ways of addressing the personal hygiene …

Burnout: Half A Century Of Controversy, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Burnout has become a focal point of concern in the contemporary workplace. The syndrome has elicited undiminished interest among occupational health specialists. The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome "resulting from chronic workplace stress." Burnout is said to comprise three components: (i) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; (ii) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism toward one’s job; and (iii) a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. This definition mirrors the conceptualization of burnout embodied in the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the ‘gold standard’ for the assessment of burnout. However, controversies …

Experiences With Coming Out: A Study Of Lgbtq+ Music Students’ Perceptions Of Music Education Pedagogy, Sid Adams

Educational Studies Dissertations

Because LGBTQ+ people are disclosing their non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender identities at younger ages, music educators should consider how their pedagogical decisions impact an LGBTQ+ person’s decision to disclose their identity (come out). Previous research has explored how to create affirming and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students to learn within music education spaces. However, past research has been limited on how those decisions impact the LGBTQ+ student’s decision to disclose their identity. I used data from five participants to discover how they perceived music education pedagogical practices and how those practices facilitated or hindered their decision to disclose their LGBTQ+ identity. …

A Multifactorial Study Of Factors Influencing Self-Health Behaviors In Dementia, Elizabeth Malkin

Dissertations

The global increase in dementia cases presents a significant public health challenge, particularly given the absence of a cure and the rising healthcare burden on individuals and society. This study aims to examine the influence of knowledge, beliefs, and motivation on self-health behaviors to mitigate the risk of dementia among individuals residing in the United States. With the use of an online survey, the study utilized the U.S. normed MCLHB-DRR scale and supplemental questions about knowledge of risk factors and degree of closeness to family members with dementia to determine whether (1) more closely related relatives (first-degree relatives) and those …

Infertility’S Impact On Couples’ Functioning, Elizabeth Sanders

Dissertations

Historically, infertility has been a taboo topic of discussion and is often avoided in conversation because of the stigmatization of the diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (2022), infertility affects 186 million individuals globally. However, there seems to be a gap in the research as it pertains to the psychological well-being and treatment of men and women diagnosed with this condition. While it has become less of a feared topic, it still is not discussed or researched enough, thus further exacerbating the gap in research on mental health and treatment options. The following dissertation completed a critical review of …