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Development And Preliminary Validation Of The Internalized Heterosexist Racism Measure For Sexual Minorities Of Color, Juan Pantoja-Patino

Dissertations

Research on intersectional internalized oppression among sexual minorities of color is scant. One of the reasons as to why such oppression is understudied amongst such population is the lack of psychological measures. At the same time, sexual minorities of color are faced with the negative impact of living in a racist and heterosexist society. Therefore, this study is one of first to develop and preliminarily validate the Internalized Heterosexist Racism Measure (IHRM) that evaluates internalized heterosexist racism in sexual minorities of color. By applying an intersectionality framework, the IHRM was generated from an extensive literature review and then reviewed by …

The Role Of Social Norms, Intergroup Contact, And Ingroup Favoritism In Weight Stigma, E. C. Standen, Andrew Ward, T. Mann

Psychology Faculty Works

Although average body size in the U.S. has increased in recent decades, stigma directed at individuals with higher weight has not diminished. In this study, we explored this phenomenon by investigating the relationship between people’s perceived social norms regarding higher weight and their reported levels of weight bias (i.e., anti-fat attitudes). Our predictions for perceived social norms drew on the concepts of intergroup contact and ingroup favoritism, which were also probed in this study. We hypothesized that both greater descriptive norms and more favorable injunctive norms regarding higher weight would be associated with lower reported weight bias. Individuals’ quantity and …

Cues And Identity: Assessing Substance Use Cues, Life Experience, And Context, Katelynn Carlsen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project employs Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) methods alongside semi-structured interviews to examine substance use cues, or “triggers”, in the everyday context. This includes repeated assessment of participants’ behaviors and thoughts over time. EMA allows researchers to sample phenomena the moment they occur within the context. These methods are most used in psychology and clinical science. Current research on substance use relies on lab-based assessments to understand cues and their relationship to consumption (Carter and Tiffany 1999, Conklin and Tiffany 2003, Witteman et al. 2015). This analysis uses data collected by the Cues in the Everyday (CITED) Team. The CITED …

The Impact Of Risk And Trust On Confrontations Of Sexism: The Role Of Goals, Emily H. Budde

Dissertations

Sexism is still persistent in the United States (Swim et al., 2001), especially in the workplace (Fitzgerald, 1993; Loy & Stewart, 1984), leading to many negative outcomes for women. Unfortunately, there is an assumption in America that targets of bias will confront the perpetrator in the moment. However, this is often not the case leading to a disconnect in society at the cost of the target (Gutek & O’Connor, 1995). Looking at targets’ decision-making process and the factors that influence it can provide more context for why targets respond the way they do. I tested whether behaviors following bias (i.e., …

The Influence Of Working Memory And Anxiety In Adolescents, Donna M. Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Literature supports a reliable link between lower working memory (WM) performance and higher anxiety, and both anxiety and WM are reported as comorbid with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). This study sought to understand to what extent WM deficits and anxiety exists in adolescent NDD and non-NDD groups. Participants (N = 11,400; ages 9-10) were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study archived dataset, with the approval of the NIMH approval. Participants in the dataset were recruited from 21 sites across the U.S. A Mann-Whitney U test, comparing the NDD (N=2756) and non-NDD (N=8644) groups was statistically significant, noting a …

A Missed Opportunity: The Relationship Between Language, Cognition, And Poverty In Early Childhood Among Bilingual Children, Saskia Barboza

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Human development is a continuous process with critical periods, and early childhood is part of that process, with internal changes prompted by external factors. An essential part of human development is language acquisition and cognitive skills which are shaped by heredity, brain structure, personal differences, social interaction, and socioeconomic background. In recent decades the exposure to multiple languages at home has been growing, causing differences between the language status (bilingual or monolingual) and the executive functions of developing children. Some previous studies have pointed out cognitive differences in bilingual children, while others have not. The present study observed three variables …

Intersection Between Psychopathy And Aggression In Correctional Officers, Lindsay Bergeson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Excessive use of force incidents within the last decade has resulted in high media coverage. One consequence of this high media coverage is the community more frequently questioning the personality characteristics of police and correctional officers. While the literature has begun to dive into the maladaptive traits of police officers and its relationship to excessive use of force, research on this topic in correctional institutions is scarce. The present study examined the relationship between psychopathy, aggression, and use of force in 27 correctional officers (COs) in Minnesota. The study collected self-report data from COs enrolled in Crisis Intervention Training. Using …

The Relationship Between Rejection Sensitivity And Higher Order Cognitive Functions, Rachel Gaynor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rejection sensitivity indexes individual differences in the expectation of, reaction to, and interpretation of possible rejection. Research on mechanisms underlying these individual differences have identified a reduction in top-down emotion regulatory processes in those exhibiting heightened rejection sensitivity. Most of these studies utilize rejection-specific affective stimuli. This study examined the relationship between rejection sensitivity score, calculated from the 18-question RSQ, and the recruitment of higher level inhibition resources, as indexed by the conflict N2, on three novel Flanker tasks. In order to further examine previously identified patterns in affective inhibition across differing levels of rejection sensitivity, and to determine whether …

The Intersection Of Disability, Gender, And Sexual Violence Perceptions In Juror Decision-Making, Melissa West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual violence is a societal epidemic and disproportionally affects disabled women. Disabled women belong to an intersectional identity that also experiences more negative attitudes, stigma, stereotypes, and discrimination than nondisabled individuals. In sexual assault cases, juror biases may translate into more detrimental attitudes toward disabled victims. The purpose of this study was to examine how these attitudes may impact outcomes in sexual assault trials when comparing disabled and nondisabled female victims. This study was conducted through the lens of just-world theory and feminist disability theory using a quantitative, experimental jury simulation design. The 304 participants in an online survey designed …

Childhood Trauma, Attachment, And Adult Leadership Styles, Joshua S. Duncan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Past researchers have shown relationships between leadership styles and attachment and that secure attachment is positively related to transformational leadership. However, there is a gap in the research on how childhood trauma and attachment security relate to leadership styles in adults. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how childhood trauma and attachment security relate to transactional, transformational, and laissez-faire leadership styles. Social cognitive theory and attachment theory grounded this study. In this quantitative study, the specific research design was comparative. SurveyMonkey was used to gather data from supervisor/manager leaders who were recruited on social media (N = …

The Intersection Of Disability, Gender, And Sexual Violence Perceptions In Juror Decision-Making, Melissa West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual violence is a societal epidemic and disproportionally affects disabled women. Disabled women belong to an intersectional identity that also experiences more negative attitudes, stigma, stereotypes, and discrimination than nondisabled individuals. In sexual assault cases, juror biases may translate into more detrimental attitudes toward disabled victims. The purpose of this study was to examine how these attitudes may impact outcomes in sexual assault trials when comparing disabled and nondisabled female victims. This study was conducted through the lens of just-world theory and feminist disability theory using a quantitative, experimental jury simulation design. The 304 participants in an online survey designed …

Childhood Trauma, Attachment, And Adult Leadership Styles, Joshua S. Duncan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Past researchers have shown relationships between leadership styles and attachment and that secure attachment is positively related to transformational leadership. However, there is a gap in the research on how childhood trauma and attachment security relate to leadership styles in adults. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how childhood trauma and attachment security relate to transactional, transformational, and laissez-faire leadership styles. Social cognitive theory and attachment theory grounded this study. In this quantitative study, the specific research design was comparative. SurveyMonkey was used to gather data from supervisor/manager leaders who were recruited on social media (N = …

The Relationship Between Communicative And Social Deficits And Challenging Behavior In Angelman Syndrome, Cassie Chanel Feck

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a low-incidence neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in speech, motor, and social development as well as related differences in challenging behavior, seizures, and sleep issues. AS has a known genetic etiology and research conducted with this population has overwhelmingly focused on exploring the genetic and biological underpinnings of the disorder (e.g., applied gene therapies). At present, far less research on supporting the social, communicative, and behavioral needs of this population and how these specific deficits contribute to the individual’s overall functioning. The goals of this study were to characterize the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication …

What Factors Affect Empathy In People With Narcissism?, Ya Yang, Liza Oh

Pacific Journal of Health

This literature review analyzes factors that may affect how people with narcissism experience empathy. The articles that were analyzed in the literature review included those that discussed the relationship between narcissism and empathy. Using a systematic review, a total of 11 articles were chosen from PsycINFO through a three-stage screening process. The studies mainly revolved around perspective-taking, traits associated with narcissism, motivation, and gender. The participants included in the studies were mainly adults in the United States that had no, low, or high narcissism. The main finding was that factors that caused people with narcissism to view others as if …

Coercion, Conversion, Control: Techniques Utilized To Recruit And Indoctrinate New Members Into Cult Organizations, Hailey Savanna Robertson

University Honors Theses

Religious belief of some form has long been a regular part of many people's lives, but when a person’s devotion to doctrine becomes so all-encompassing that they structure their entire life around it, they may be in a cult. While the dogma may vary across groups, a cult is characterized as having extremely devoted disciples who often follow a charismatic leader and espouse extreme beliefs or practices not widely accepted by society. Members of cults commit themselves wholly to their leaders. Proving their commitment by turning over financial assets, obeying commands without question, and even severing all social ties outside …

Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence And Machismo On Pregnant Women In Mexico: A Systematic Review, Amber Casarrubias-Enriquez

University Honors Theses

This thesis aims to understand the effects of machismo and its link to intimate partner violence against pregnant women in Mexico. Machismo is a common underlying social norm in Latin America with Mexico being my target of interest. The term is defined as extreme masculinity that often contributes to gender inequalities and can have violent characteristics. Intimate partner violence is categorized as violent threats or acts against a partner and affects nearly 44% of women in Mexico (Carney et al., 2022). Barriers to help stem from shame, family expectations, and the overall violence against women in Mexico. Sadly, abuse persists …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Asian American Perception Of Mental Health, Emily Tseung

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study describes a qualitative study using a grounded theory, constructivist approach, which sampled (N = 6) Asian American college students who lived in the United States during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research shows that COVID significantly impacted the Asian American perception of mental health, including mental health help- seeking behaviors and discrimination experienced. The long-term effects of this are still largely unknown. In depth, semi-structured interviews were used to explore the lived experiences of these Asian Americans. Qualitative analysis revealed thematic differences for the following themes: (a) experience with mental illness, (b) mental health help- seeking …

Length Of Stay, Social Support, And Sex Differences In Recovery, Elizabeth K. Garrity

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The Oxford House model is an expanding network of sober-living houses that aid individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Research exploring sober-living environments can be essential in understanding the factors that relate to sustained addiction recovery. This study examined whether sex differences were present within the relationship between perceived social support and recovery outcomes, to which no significant results were found. These findings contributed to existing research that seeks to understand whether gendered differences exist in recovery outcomes. This study also investigated whether length of stay within a recovery home mediated the relationship between perceived social support and one’s recovery …

Social Support As A Moderator Of Life Stress And Alcohol Consumption, Paige Patano

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Heavy alcohol use in emerging adults has several consequences, including increased risk-taking behaviors, cognitive deficits, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Thus, it is important to understand risk factors and protective factors to heavy drinking. Experiencing life stressors may be associated with higher alcohol use in emerging adults, especially for historically marginalized populations. General social support, which may mitigate the impact of life stressors, tends to be a protective factor against drinking, although the literature is mixed on which types of relationships are considered protective. Between the support of family, friends, and significant others, it is unclear which relationships are associated …

Attachment And Resilience: The Mediating Effect Of Coping, Michelle Soans

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the relationship between attachment security, coping strategies, and resilience among university students, focusing on the mediating role of problem-focused coping. We hypothesized that higher attachment security would be associated with greater resilience, that problem-focused coping would positively predict resilience, and that problem-focused coping would mediate the relationship between attachment security and resilience. A sample of 177 students completed measures of attachment security, coping strategies, and resilience. Mediation analysis revealed that higher attachment security significantly predicted resilience and problem-focused coping, while problem-focused coping also significantly predicted resilience. The indirect effect of attachment security on resilience through problem-focused coping …

Parent-Child Cultural Values (Mis)Matches And Youth Mental Health Among Latinx Families, Jesus Eduardo Solano-Martinez

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

When compared to youth from other ethnic backgrounds, Latinx youth present with higher levels of mental health problems (e.g., internalizing). Various heritage cultural values, such as affiliative obedience, have been found as protective against mental health problems in Latinx youth. These findings, however, have not been ubiquitous, have not often included parent or combined parent and child perspectives, and have been limited by design and methodological shortcomings (e.g., single reporters, difference scores). The Acculturation Gap Distress – Expanded (AGD-E) model was used as the guiding theoretical framework to examine parent-child heritage cultural value endorsement patterns and their association to youth …

The Effects Of Chronic Stress On Predictors Of Academic Learning, Gabriel Mcnair

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Executive functioning, goal orientations, and intrinsic motivation in education have shown to predict outcomes in academic learning. Research has shown that for students in chronically stressed environments, the development of all three may be influenced by their ecological contexts. The current study examines how chronic stress at the systems level impacts the development of adaptive learning approaches, specifically mastery goal orientation and intrinsic motivation, among diverse youth. Further, this study seeks to examine the role of executive functioning in the relationship between systemic stress—a conceptualization of chronic stress at the systems level—and mastery goal orientation and intrinsic motivation.

The study …

The Institutional Challenges Of A Quantified Self Study: An Attempt To Ascertain How Data Collected From A Mobile Device Can Be An Indicator Of Personal Mental Health Over Time, Julian Lazaras

University Honors Theses

The adoption of an application of new technology always comes with a bias, this is never more true for the case of human behavioral analytics within higher education. While movements such as the quantified self movement make strides to reinterpret the realm of data analytics, psychology, and computer science, there are inevitably limitations to the adoption and application of such approaches within the standard realm of research. Herein is presented a case where an effort to evaluate the prospect of use of mobile phone data as secondary indicators of personal mental health through the lens of data analysis was put …

Exploring Cultural, Health, And Technology Intersections: A Focus On Migrant Experiences, Merna Mina, Sahij Gill

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

Despite the plethora of theories and frameworks addressing culture, health, and technology adoption, there remains a notable absence of a unifying theory that comprehensively encompasses all three aspects, particularly concerning newcomers. The Health Belief Model, for example, underscores individual perceptions and attitudes toward health yet fails to consider the intricate interplay between cultural factors and technology adoption among immigrant populations. The Healthy Immigrant Effect, which posits that immigrants often exhibit better health outcomes than native-born individuals, does not mention the role of technology on health outcomes. Acculturation theories, while shedding light on the adaptation process, often fall short of explaining …

The Rainbow Wave: Rethinking Lgbtq Representation In Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Research, Tyler King

University Honors Theses

This thesis critically evaluates the representation and inclusivity of LGBTQ+ populations in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAT) research from 2000 onwards, amidst the resurgence of interest in psychedelics for mental health treatment. Through a quantitative analysis of published studies, it investigates the prevalence and depth of gender identity and sexual orientation data collection, revealing a significant gap in demographic data pertinent to these populations. This research aims to highlight the ethical and scientific necessity for more inclusive study designs that incorporate the unique psychological experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. Recommendations are proposed for enhancing inclusivity in research methodologies, including organizational buy-in, …

Understanding The Relationship Between Perceived Childhood Experiences And Relationship With God, Remaz Bahaa

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explores the relationship between perceived childhood experiences and one’s current relationship with God in an Egyptian Muslim sample. While such relationship has been researched in Western contexts, there is a notable gap in understanding these dynamics within Muslim Middle Eastern cultures. In this study, 180 participants, brought up in Muslim households, were given the following questionnaires: both versions of the Parental Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) referring to the father and mother, Attachment to God Inventory (AGI), and Images of God (LAMBI Scale). The results presented the internal consistency of both the AGI and LAMBI scales with the …

Under Pressure: The Interplay Of Hypertension And White Matter Hyperintensities With Cognition In Chronic Stroke Aphasia, Jade Hannan, Natalie Busby, Rebecca Roth, Janina Wilmskoetter, Roger Newman-Norlund Ph.D., Chris Rorden, Leonardo Bonilha, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

While converging research suggests that increased white matter hyperintensity load is associated with poorer cognition, and the presence of hypertension is associated with increased white matter hyperintensity load, the relationship among hypertension, cognition and white matter hyperintensities is not well understood. We sought to determine the effect of white matter hyperintensity burden on the relationship between hypertension and cognition in individuals with post-stroke aphasia, with the hypothesis that white matter hyperintensity load moderates the relationship between history of hypertension and cognitive function. Health history, Fazekas scores for white matter hyperintensities and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Matrix Reasoning subtest scores for …

A Cognitive Approach To Supervisor Training Intervention Evaluation: Analyzing Change With Response Shift Theory And Models Of Measurement Invariance, Luke Daniel Mahoney

Dissertations and Theses

Field-based experimental training intervention research continues to grow in importance as a method of simultaneously testing and advancing the theoretical and empirical basis for designing and deploying interventions to improve people's lived experiences. Training interventions are often designed to create positive change in the workplace context, for example, by providing behavioral tools to supervisors to help them become more supportive of their employees. Such a training intervention was the focus of this intervention evaluation -- one focused on interpersonal dynamics between supervisors and employees. However, change is often complex and may manifest in ways not accounted for by conventional ways …

Building Climate Resilience: How Climate Groups Can Channel Anxiety And Grief Into Action, Martin J. Lemke

University Honors Theses

As the impacts of climate change increasingly stress the ecological and social systems of the planet there is also a greater incidence of psychological struggles related to climate instability. Climate change is a significant source of psychological distress for many individuals, often manifesting as climate anxiety and grief. This thesis explores research and therapeutic experience that has been generated as the discipline of psychology seeks to meet this rising challenge. In particular, the fields of ecopsychology, psychodynamic therapy, existential psychology and Indigenous knowledge contributed the majority of the insight to the conclusions drawn along with contributions from potentially applicable emotions …

Tsunami Exposure And Mental Health Consequences: Protective Role Of Cultural Coping Strategies, Thulitha Wickrama, Michael J. Merten, K. A.S. Wickrama, Amanda Terrell

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

There is a knowledge gap regarding the link between disaster exposure and adolescent mental health problems in developing countries. This study examines the case of Sri Lanka to investigate (a) the immediate and long-term mental health impact of the 2004 tsunami disaster on adolescents and (b) the potential moderating effects of unique cultural and family practices that prevail in Sri Lanka. This study used a random sample of 160 adolescents (ages 12–19) and their mothers who were exposed to the tsunami disaster while living in a southern Sri Lankan village and provided prospective data immediately after the disaster (2005) and …