Digital Commons Network^™

Endometriosis And Its Effect On Women's Lives, Haley Duncan

Psychology Student Publications

My paper is about women with endometriosis, and its effects on women's lives. I discussed the disease itself, as well as its psychological and physical impacts it has on not just affected women, but their partners as well.

What Even Is Occupational Therapy, Malia Mckenzie

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Lie Detection And You; Some Pointers And Facts About How Lie Detection Works, Alden Brookens

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Predictive Looking And Predictive Looking Errors In Everyday Activities, Sophie Su

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

People spontaneously segment continuous streams of experiences into distinct episodes. Prediction errors are theorized to drive segmentation. However, existing studies exploring the relationship between prediction error and event segmentation lack a continuous measure of prediction error during naturalistic perception and often fail to distinguish between prediction error and prediction uncertainty. Do moment-by-moment fluctuation of prediction errors, not prediction uncertainty during naturalistic event perception correlate positively with segmentation probabilities? To tackle this question, we harnessed the predictive nature of eye movements and introduced a predictive looking model. In this model, individuals’ prior gaze patterns act as predictors for critical features in …

The Influence Of Stress On Human Behavior, Ethan Johnson

Psychology Student Publications

This paper evaluates what stress is, and the effect of stress on decision-making and relationships. This study evaluates how stress is relevant in college students.

Exploring Lgbt Experiences With Family Planning And Reproductive Health, Isabella Lafratta

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The purpose of this research is to investigate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) healthcare experiences, specifically in relation to family planning and fertility counseling. Sixteen qualitative, individual interviews were completed with participants recruited from LGBT communities on campus, as well as personal contacts and the snowball effect. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021), and major themes and subthemes were identified. The first overall theme was Uneasiness and Fear which captures the subtheme: Dysphoria Inducement. The second overarching theme, Lack of Focus on Individualized Needs, had the subthemes of Reproductive Care and Transgender Reproductive Care. This describes …

Occupational And Environmental Factors Influencing Morale Of United States Federal Wildland Firefighters, Rachel M. Granberg, Ting Shen, Seth W. Pearson, Robin M. Verble

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background. Wildland firefighters have physically and psychologically demanding jobs that can result in social, economic and health-related stress. Previous studies have examined the physiological and physical effects of a career in wildland fire, but fewer studies have addressed psychological effects, and to date, none have directly analyzed the hiring and work experiences of wildland firefighters. Aims. We surveyed work experiences, health and well-being, and morale of wildland firefighters, explored factors that can improve recruitment and retention, and summarized broad patterns. Methods. We conducted a voluntary anonymous survey of 708 federal wildland firefighters via an online platform over 2 months in …

Evaluating Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Social Validity Of Psychological Report Writing Styles, Adam Weseloh

Theses and Dissertations

Psychologists spend a significant portion of their time writing psychological reports. Oftentimes these reports are highly technical and written at a level which the literature has suggested is often difficult for teachers to utilize in their classrooms. Several previous research studies have examined psychological report writing practices and offered suggestions for improvement. One of these suggestions (theme or referral-based report writing) has not been as thoroughly examined in the literature. The purpose of this study was to examine this report writing style compared to more traditional report writing practices. This study utilized a novel approach to assessing teachers’ perceptions of …

Youth Identity And Postsecondary Decision Making In A Rural State: Evidence Of A College For All Master Narrative, Jayson Seaman, Cindy L. Hartman, Andrew D. Coppens, Erin H. Sharp, Sarah Jusseaume, Molly Donovan

Faculty Publications

This study examined the normative messages that inform youth postsecondary decision making in a predominantly rural state in the northeastern U.S., focusing on the institutionalization and circulation of identity master narratives. Using a multilevel, ecological approach to sampling, the study interviewed 33 key informants in positions of influence in educational, workforce, and quality of life domains. Narrative analysis yielded evidence of a predominant master narrative – College for All – that participants described as a prescriptive expectation that youth and families orient their postsecondary planning toward four-year, residential baccalaureate degree programs. Both general and domain-specific aspects of this master narrative …

Childhood Trauma And Undergraduate College Success Rates: Examining The Mediating Roles Of Anxiety, Substance Use, And Self-Esteem, Keirsten Lipowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals who experience childhood trauma have profound, lasting repercussions on their psychological and physical well-being. This non-experimental correlational study’s purpose is to evaluate if childhood trauma exposure predicts undergraduate college success rates for early adults. This study is designed to examine how the mediating factors of anxiety, substance use, and self-esteem are altered after childhood trauma exposure, ultimately influencing the ability to succeed in a college setting. Four research questions drove this study: (a) What is the relationship between the frequency of complex childhood trauma and college success rates?, (b) How does anxiety mediate the relationship between the frequency of …

The Relationship Between Multicultural Counseling Competency And Spiritual Competency, Jeffery Edmiston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Moral Injury, Identity Dissonance, And Reintegration: A Compendium Of Reintegration And Survey Of United States Military Veterans, Thomas Hodges

Doctor of International Conflict Management Dissertations

How do military moral injuries affect reintegration? All service members leave the military eventually, but reintegration can be challenging, bringing changes in career, family life, and friendships, potentially prompting a loss of purpose, drive, and connection. Service members may also struggle with a crisis of identity upon separating from the military, feeling their military identity is incompatible with civilian life. While these difficulties are common for service members in reintegration, they may be worsened by moral injury, the adverse biological, social, psychological, and spiritual effects of experiencing an event that deeply offends a person’s sense of right and wrong. People …

Skills To Support Mental Health In Uncertain Times, Part 2: Cultivating Awareness, Heather H. Kelley, Rachel Byers, Ty Aller, Timothy Keady

All Current Publications

Uncertainty and worry can be a common struggle for many people, whether they are uncertain about their jobs, health, or relationships. Events such as COVID-19 and the recent wars in Israel and Ukraine increase the stress and uncertainty many people face. This fact sheet discusses awareness, a fundamental part of psychological flexibility, which can help individuals maintain a high quality of life—even when experiencing uncertainty and mental health concerns.

Neurobiological Foundations Of Radicalization And Countermeasures: A Biopsychosocial Perspective, Beshoy Benjamin Suleiman

Future Journal of Social Science

This study presents an interdisciplinary exploration of the radicalization process through the Biopsychosocial Model, integrating biological, psychological, and social determinants. Addressing the gap left by traditional approaches that focus on sociopolitical, psychological, and demographic factors, the research investigates the neural mechanisms underpinning social identity and group dynamics that intensify radical beliefs. Utilizing social neuroscience, the research identifies neural correlates of radicalization, contributing to a multi-level understanding that spans cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and political science. The findings indicate that specific brain functions related to social processing play a significant role in the adoption and reinforcement of extremist ideologies. This paper discusses …

The Effects Of Emotional Intelligence On Students’ Foreign Language Speaking: A Narrative Exploration In China’S Universities, Chenyang Zhang

The Qualitative Report

In countries where people see English as a foreign language (EFL), English is merely used in public communication and EFL learners usually experience emotional issues like speaking anxiety and reflect a lower level of emotional intelligence (EI). Although previous studies have found a positive correlation between EI and EFL speaking, few studies explain how EI affects learners’ EFL speaking in terms of their contextual influence. This study aims to explore the effects of EI on English speaking in the context of China’s universities. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with two participants and was analysed through thematic narrative analysis. Findings …

Sex Trafficking: Saudi Arabian Women's Perspectives, Jennifer O. Rowland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Why Are We Creatives? Understanding The Psychology Of Creativity Between Children And Adults With References To Leonardo Da Vinci And Michelangelo Buonarroti, Jordyn R. Garca

2023 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

This paper examines the differences in creativity between children and adults, including certain components that can influence creativity, or in certain instances, can also diminish it. With the support of biographers, clinical psychologists, and scholars, this paper also includes information regarding the lives of two of the world’s most well-known artists, and in certain instances the challenges they faced regarding childhood and mental health. Growing up, it is often encouraged that children should develop their creativity and learn to make their own decisions without fear of failure. However, it is not commonly accepted in society for an individual to want …

The Pathway From Sensory Processing Sensitivity To Physical Health: Stress As A Mediator, Jordan Kenemore, Juliana Chavez, Grant Benham

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) has been proposed as an innate trait associated with differences in the processing and reactivity to internal and external stimuli. To date, there has been limited research on the association between SPS and physical health and only one study examining mediators of this relationship. The aim of this study was to examine psychological stress as a mediator of the SPS-health relationship in a predominately Hispanic sample of 923 adult undergraduates attending university between 2018 and 2020. We identified three SPS factors, each of which were associated with poorer physical health as assessed through two psychometrically validated …

Gaze And Avoidant Patterns Of Visual Attention To Aversive Stimuli During Fear Habituation Trial: A Pilot Eye Tracking Study, Minoru Takahashi, Manabu Kikuchi, Jun-Ichi Yamamoto, Michiyo Hirai

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Previous studies have revealed that attentional bias toward aversive stimuli may play a causal role in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. This pilot study designed an experiment, using eye tracking, to capture gaze patterns individuals may display during a fear habituation trial. Three trials were conducted with twenty-eight subjects who reported aversion to insects. Pictures of cockroaches were used as aversive stimuli. The time proportion of the total visit duration and average visit duration toward aversive stimuli were analyzed using a mixed ANOVA, with three habituation trials and four self-report on fear level scores as within-participants factors. …

Self-Reflections Through A Screen: Self-Identity, Social Media, And Psychological Well-Being, Jeremy J. Serio

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Social media use among emerging adults is assumed to be related to a variety of negative psychological outcomes and has, in recent years, become a widely studied phenomenon (Kim, 2017, Pew Research Center, 2018). Despite the widespread assumption, the results from empirical studies of the effects of social media use on mental health in this population have been inconsistent and inconclusive (Keles et al., 2020, Yang et al., 2021). Several meta-analyses (e.g., Keles et al., 2020) demonstrate these inconsistent results across studies and point to the need to consider individual difference factors when researching this issue. Different self-identity styles have …

The Effect Of Autonomic Nervous System Functioning And Childhood Maltreatment On Empathy In Early Adulthood, Edward Charles Merritt

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Childhood maltreatment has a well-established link to both physical and psychological detriments later in life. Specifically, maltreatment has been found to be associated with changes in physiological functioning and increased aggressive behavior. Despite the well understood link with aggressive behavior, few studies have focused on the effects childhood maltreatment has on empathetic and prosocial behavior. Experienced adversity is theorized to increase one’s tendencies to adopt perspective and to feel a sense of responsibility for another’s welfare (Lim & DeSento, 2016). This study aims to examine how baseline autonomic functioning of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system moderate the relationship between …

Camouflaging And Identity Development Among Autistic Female And Gender Diverse Youth: A Qualitative Exploration, Krista Nicole Drapalik

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental period for autistic female and gender diverse youth. Many autistic youths use camouflaging to combat social challenges, perceived differences, and stigmatization. Although adolescence is an integral time for identity development, integration of these topics remains understudied among autistic female and gender diverse youth. The present study seeks to qualitatively explore first-person, youth-perspectives on the topics of camouflaging and identity formation. Ten autistic female and gender diverse youth aged 11 to 16 years (M = 13.1, SD = 1.52) and their caregivers were enrolled in the present study. Youths completed semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. …

Adverse Family Experiences And Ethnicity As Risk And Resiliency Factors In The Link Between Psychological Distress And Perception Of Academic Stress In Undergraduate Students, Teresa Mejia

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Mental health problems have been associated with lower academic performance amongundergraduate students. In addition to individual well-being, environmental and cultural factors may contribute to greater academic stress. Specifically, early adverse family experiences (e.g., abuse, neglect, and family conflict) can have deleterious impacts on an individual’s emotional adjustment and perception of academic stress. However, the influence of ethnicity on the link between early family adversity and later academic stress has been largely understudied. Objective: This study examined whether adverse family experiences and ethnicity moderate the link between psychological distress and academic stress. Methods: Participants (N = 284, 38.4% male, 59.5% female, …

Behavioral Economic Factors In Collective Bargaining, Cristal Cardoso Sao Mateus Cardoso Sao Mateus

Masters Theses

The present study evaluated the effects of delay, stake, and hypothetical group size on labor valuation in the context of increasing and decreasing labor demand. Challenges in collective bargaining are associated with work stoppages, which can cause economic losses, lack of service, and worker stress. Participants were asked to value their labor given a set of conditions in two experiments. Participants in experiment 1 (n = 49) valued their labor in both increasing and decreasing demand context. Conversely, participants in experiment 2 (n = 139) valued their labor in only one of the contexts. Delay to changes, stake size, and …

Under Pressure: A Daily Diary Study Of Online Social Influence And Youth Substance Use, Anna Dmitriyevna Ziencina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol and marijuana are widely used by youths across the U.S. [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2023], and youthsâ?? use of such substances comes with a myriad of consequences (e.g., increased risk for long-term substance abuse; Griffin et al., 2019). Social influence is one process through which youths may develop positive attitudes towards substance use (Steinberg & Monahan, 2007), but there is a dearth of research on how such influence operates within the online environment. The present study sought to examine associations between daily social media use and youthsâ?? daily attitudes towards alcohol and marijuana useâ??as well …

Identifying Trauma Related Predictors Of Dissociation In Maltreated Youth, Amanda L. Mraz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Maltreated youth who experience traumatic dissociation are at an increased risk for various psychopathological difficulties. Much is still unknown about the machinations behind experiences of dissociation post-trauma. This study aimed to identify variables that place maltreated youth at risk for experiencing traumatic dissociation (e.g., dissociative amnesia, absorption and imaginative involvement, passive influence, depersonalization and derealization, and total adolescent dissociative experiences symptoms (A-DES)). Investigatory variables included demographic (e.g., age, gender, and racial identity), cognitive (e.g., resiliency and posttraumatic cognitions), and psychological (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) and anxiety) factors. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was utilized to observe the …

Examining Emotion Regulation Strategies As Predictors Of Posttraumatic And Depressive Symptomatology In Maltreated Youth, Kinsey Ellis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Youth with a history of maltreatment victimization are at heightened risk for developing symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression. Recent work has identified emotion dysregulation as a potential transdiagnostic mechanism linking maltreatment victimization to youth psychopathology, but few studies have examined the influence of specific emotion regulation strategies. Habitual utilization of expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal have each demonstrated associations with trauma-related psychopathology in adults. The present study examined both strategies as predictors of posttraumatic and depressive symptomatology in youth with a history of maltreatment, as well as mediators in the relationship between the two conditions.

The sample included 133 …

Using Pavlovian Sign-Tracking To Increase Self-Control In Rats, Saba Mahmoudi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Impulsivity is correlated with various maladaptive behaviors (e.g., gambling and substance-used disorders), therefore many studies have been designed to find methods to reduce impulsive choice. Although these procedures (e.g., delay fading and delay-exposure training) are effective, they involve extended training durations. One method that has not yet been explored in promoting self-control is Pavlovian conditioning. During Pavlovian conditioning, a localized conditioned stimulus (CS) that signals an imminent food delivery can (a) evoke sign-tracking behavior (i.e., attraction to, and physically interacting with the CS) and (b) function as a conditioned reinforcer (i.e., the subject will work to access the CS). This …

The Intersectional Experiences Of Young And Educated Latine Men's Masculinity: An Exploration Of Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Skin Tone, Sexual Orientation, And Region Of Origin, Juan Estrada

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Latine masculinity is often looked at through simplistic concepts like machismo or caballerismo, which fail to fully consider the different aspects of Latine men’s identities. For example, how might a cisgender, gay, dark skinned, Latine man understand his masculinity as he moves between Latine and United Statesian cultures. In this study, we wanted to do two things: first, we wanted to understand how the cultural and intersectional aspects of their lives shape how Latine men see their masculinity. Second, we wanted to celebrate the diverse ways in which they express their masculinity, considering things like their skin color, region …

Traumatic Consequences In Native Hawaiians After Colonization, Andrea Morland-Tellez, Elizabeth Drummond

Honors Thesis

The Native Hawaiian population is a marginalized group that has endured cultural trauma due, in part, to their history of colonization by Europe in 1778. This colonization has contributed to the Native Hawaiian’s loss of cultural identity, land, native language, and their way of life. As a result, many Native Hawaiians are left questioning their cultural identity. This project sought to better understand the impact of colonization on the Native Hawaiian people, specifically on their experience of homelessness, substance use, and overall disempowerment over time. A systematic review of multiple literary and anecdotal sources was conducted including peer- reviewed articles …