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Forest Bathing Increases Adolescent Mental Well-Being And Connection To Nature: A Transformative Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Keller

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Previous research has demonstrated that practicing forest bathing has significant positive effects on well-being. However, few studies have investigated whether forest bathing increases adolescent well-being despite the growing adolescent mental health crisis in the United States. Similarly, few studies have explored forest bathing’s impacts on connectedness to nature. Considering the ongoing environmental crisis, determining if forest bathing increases connectedness to nature is a critical expansion of forest bathing research, as connectedness to nature is linked to environmental care and concern. This study investigated the possibility that forest bathing, a nature-based mindfulness practice, could increase adolescent mental well-being and connectedness to …

Understanding How Secular Spirituality Transforms Intergenerational Parenting Styles, Barrie Birge

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

A family is a relational system that shapes a child’s development, and it is well-established that parenting directly exasperates or reduces a child’s internal and external behaviors (Foran et al., 2020; Rikuya & Toshiki, 2018). Parents are influential figures during childhood and adolescence and play a key role in their children’s development (Baumrind, 1978; Maccoby & Martin, 1983). Therefore, it is of great concern that developmental challenges in children and adolescents in the U.S. continue to increase. The Centers for Disease Control (2019) confirms adolescent mental health and suicide variable trends in the U.S. continued to increase significantly between 2009 …

Black Marriage, Attachment And Connecting In Relationships: An Observational Multi-Method Study Investigating The Effects Of The Getting The Love You Want Workshop On Black Couples’ In-Session Attachment, Interactions, Marital Satisfaction And Communication, Paula Smith

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The focus of this dissertation is examining the impact of Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), more specifically the “Getting the Love You Want” workshop (GTLYW), on five Black/African American couples’ attachment, interactions, marital satisfaction and communication. This study examines Black couples’ lived experiences through a modified version of a quantitative measure, called the Patient Attachment Client System (PACS), the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire-Revised (MSQ-R), semi-structured questionnaires to measure qualitative data as well as direct observation of participants’ interactions. PACS analyzes how patients’ in-session discourse enables them to share present experiences and link these processes with their attachment structure. In this view, attachment …

Growing Therapeutic Horticulture In The Field Of Clinical Psychology, Kelli Woodson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The connection between nature and well-being has been recognized across cultures for centuries. One way in which people have facilitated this connection over the years has been through their interactions with plants and the practice of horticulture. Research over the years has further substantiated a connection between horticultural practices and overall well-being. However, a significantly disproportionate amount of this research has been conducted within the field of clinical psychology, despite the notable clinical implications. The current dissertation aims to address this gap in the current literature by exploring this connection from the lens of clinical psychology. More specifically, the current …

Exploring The Definition Of Resilience: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Study In Adults Over The Age Of 65, Sara J. Blessington

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The definition of a word helps us understand its context and how it is meant to be used in daily life or research. When a word lacks a universal definition, it is hard to know how to use it. “Resilience” is that type of word. The resilience community in psychological research does not have a concrete, universal definition for this word. It takes on whatever characteristics are useful to the investigator. This study began with seeking a universal definition for the domain known as resilience. This study used a convergent parallel design with adults aged 60 and older living independently …

The Impacts Of Siblings On Development Across The Lifespan, Jeanie K. Cox

Modern Psychological Studies

Most individuals grow up with siblings, and sibling relationships are some of the longest lasting relationships experienced. Studies that have investigated sibling effects on developmental domains and stages throughout an individual’s life indicate that older siblings have some of the greatest impacts on younger siblings’ social, psychological, and cognitive development. During childhood, sibling relationships revolve around older and younger siblings’ prosocial behaviors. During adolescence, sibling power dynamics shift as older siblings relinquish power to younger siblings. In adulthood, siblings tend to experience increased closeness and decreased conflict as they mature and move away from one another. Information on siblings’ impacts …

Effects Of Light/Dark Cycle Shifts On Delay Discounting, Katya A. Nolder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Shift-work conditions are a necessity for the constant provision of certain medical, industrial, and commercial services in modern society. Shift work is associated with the increased risk of many negative health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, reproductive issues, and cancer. Shift workers experience multiple levels of circadian-rhythm disruption, which may increase maladaptive decision making, and this may mediate the relation between shift work and negative health outcomes. Circadian-rhythm disruptions can be systematically investigated in the basic laboratory, and one type of procedure involves changing the light/dark cycle in the animal vivarium. The current study investigated effects of light/dark …

Prevalence Of Nicotine Delivery Systems By Biological Sex In The Spit For Science Study, Ayrton Quiroz, Amy Adkins, S4s Working Group, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley, Elizabeth K. Do, Megan Cooke, James Clifford, Hermine H. Maes

UROP Posters

Nicotine intake usage trends have changed over recent decades given the wide variety of nicotine delivery systems including cigarettes, vaping, hookah, and snubs/chewables. These trends also vary by demographic factors, such as race/ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES). For example, studies in rat populations, as well as humans, have found that females tend to be more dependent on nicotine products and have a more difficult time quitting than male rats and humans (Pogun et al., 2017). Also, race/ethnicity may impact the frequency of nicotine usage in different populations; in that non-white Hispanics were more susceptible to smoking through adolescence with …

The Relationship Between Isolation And Social Emotional Experiences In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jana Arslan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Children with ASD often face socioemotional challenges compared to their typical developing classmates (Chamberlain et al., 2006; Deckers et al., 2017; Liu et al., 2021; Locke et al, 2010; Zeedyk et al., 2015). The objective of the current study was to assess the relationship between classroom isolation and social emotional experiences (i.e., social isolation, loneliness, self-efficacy with peers, and friendship quality) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through self-report surveys in order to foster the best possible academic environment for children with ASD to succeed and create outlets for further research to be developed in regards to this subject. …

Family Structure And Child Behavior Problems In Australia, The United Kingdom, And The United States, Nina A. Stoddard-Bennett, Jordan Coburn, Mikaela J. Dufur, Jonathan A. Jarvis, Shana L. Pribesh

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

A large body of literature suggests that children living with two married, biological parents on average have fewer behavior problems than those who do not. What is less clear is why this occurs. Competing theories suggest that resource deficiencies and parental selectivity play a part. We suggest that examining different contexts can help adjudicate among different theoretical explanations as to how family structure relates to child behavior problems. In this paper, we use data from the Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), and the US Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS-K) …

"I Am Not Sexist:" Application Of The Dunning-Kruger Effect To Perceptions Of One's Own Sexism, Marysa K. Rogozynski

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

In America, a large population of people believe that sexism does not exist, while sexism researchers would disagree with this sentiment. One possible explanation for this discrepancy is the Dunning-Kruger effect. The Dunning-Kruger effect states that individuals may experience insufficient knowledge about a subject to recognize and acknowledge their own deficits in that domain. Thus, individuals who lack an understanding of sexism may be unable to recognize it in themselves and others. The current study extended prior research (West & Eaton, 2019) to examine whether the Dunning-Kruger effect applies to sexism in this manner. In doing so, this study examined …

Autism Paradigms And Mental Well-Being Among Autistic Adults: A Quantitative Exploration, Libbey Walker

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Autistic populations experience significant mental health challenges. A growing body of research supports addressing autistic mental health problems using the framework of minority stress theory, the social model of disability, and the neurodiversity paradigm (e.g., Botha & Frost, 2018; Cage et al., 2018). This quantitative study explored how identification with the neurodiversity paradigm versus the pathology paradigm related to mental well-being in autistic adults. Participants (N = 135) completed an online survey in which they rated their identification with autism descriptions representing both paradigms. Participants also completed measures of psychological distress, self-esteem, personal autism acceptance, and internalized autism stigma. Most …

Psychologist Perspectives On The Treatment And Assessment Of Problematic Sexual Behavior In Neurodivergent Youth, Emily R. Marhan

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The following dissertation explored the subjective experience of mental health clinicians regarding their perceptions of providing treatment and assessment to neurodivergent youth (ND) who exhibited problematic sexual behavior (PSB). Prior to this study, scant research has been conducted pertaining to the treatment and assessment of youth who exhibit PSB, and less still on those with comorbid neurodivergence (Jones & Chaplin, 2017; Malovic et al., 2016; Pratt, 2013). This study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to inform interpretations of participant responses collected through semi-structured interviews. Participants consisted of five licensed psychologists with experience providing assessment and/or treatment to both neurotypical and ND …

How Cultural Believes Support And Perpetuate Relational Violence: A Delphi Study For Violence Prevention, Alisha D. Guthery

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study solicited experts in relational violence across the United States using the Delphi methodology and grounded theory. This research was conducted in two phases and designed to answer two primary questions: (1) What cultural beliefs are involved in relational violence in the United States? And (2) How are the beliefs about relational violence maintained? The findings showed agreement from the experts on the societal beliefs that hold relational violence, the specific beliefs held by the abuser, and the impacts of these beliefs on the survivor. The experts offered ideas for intervention and prevention, which are important contributions to professional …

Deconstructing Orthorexia In An Age Of Healthism And Social Media, Maddison Paul

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Orthorexia, a pathological fixation with healthy eating, has recently emerged as a construct of interest in the field of clinical psychology. Despite its growing recognition, the origin of this construct remains unclear. This dissertation aims to contribute to the understanding of orthorexia by examining its emergence and contextual factors through a constructivist lens. The study found that the cultural, economic, and moralistic landscape of healthism and social medially have played a role in the development of orthorexia. The dominant clinical perspective of orthorexia was also deconstructed, revealing potential biases that may lead to pathologizing the experiences of those who demonstrate …

Diabetes Distress In U.S. Adults During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review, Joanna Leah Sullivan

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disease that continues to grow in prevalence, affecting around 11% of the U.S. population in 2019. Although DM has a clear medical cause, a growing body of research points to social determinants of health (SDOH) and psychosocial factors as important mediators of prevalence and severity of DM. Diabetes distress, a mental health phenomenon arising out of the challenges of living with a stigmatized and demanding chronic disease, is one such factor. Given the heightened effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial stressors and vulnerability to mental health disorders, it is important to understand …

Does Anyone Else? The Lived Experience Of Writing About Depersonalization On Reddit, Kristina S. Fury

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

As both The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 11th Revision (ICD-11) and The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5-Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) describe, depersonalization (DP) involves unpleasant episodes of detachment from one’s sense of self or of unreality in the environment. Symptoms include people feeling as though they are an outside observer of their thoughts, feelings, sensations, body, or actions. DP can take the form of emotional numbing, in which people may feel they are watching themselves from a distance or as though they are characters in a play. People can also feel physically numb, disconnected …

Exploring The Lives Of Animal Activists: A Qualitative Study, Erin K. Mckenney

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The animal rights movement, despite its historical roots, has only recently garnered attention in the realm of social sciences, increasingly being recognized as a facet of social justice. This dissertation delves into the intersection of animal rights activism and gender, primarily focusing on the parallels drawn between the oppression of women and animals/nature. The noticeable dominance of women in the animal rights movement, as suggested by previous studies, formed the basis for adopting an eco-feminist approach to explore this issue, highlighting the shared oppression and exploitation faced by women and animals. In-depth, in-person interviews were used to collect data on …

Diving To New Depths: An Exploration Of Aquarium Visitors' Reflection At A Shark Exhibit, Nicole Leigh Conklin

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Zoos and aquariums (Z/As) are conservation-oriented free-choice learning institutions. In order to support their mission of advancing wildlife conservation, Z/As deliberately design opportunities and experiences to meaningfully engage visitors in understanding, caring for, and acting on behalf of exhibited species. Conservation psychologists and practitioners have applied values-based and models of human behavior to design and evaluate experiences aimed to influence myriad cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes. However, there is little research exploring the role of and opportunity for reflection within these institutions. Models of reflection and reflective practice, which are rooted in both theory and empirical data, stress the importance …

Neurocognitive Correlates Of Cerebellar Volumetric Alterations In Youth With Pediatric Bipolar Spectrum Disorders And Bipolar Offspring, Kirti Saxena, Alessio Simonetti, Christopher D Verrico, Delfina Janiri, Marco Di Nicola, Antonello Catinari, Sherin Kurian, Johanna Saxena, Benson Mwangi, Jair C Soares

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence points towards the involvement of the cerebellum in the processing of emotions and pathophysiology of mood disorders. However, cerebellar and related cognitive alterations in youth with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) and those at high risk to develop the disorder, such as bipolar offspring (BD-OFF) are not clearly defined.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cerebellar gray and white matter volumes, cognition, and their relationship in youth with PBD and BD-OFF.

METHODS: Thirty youth (7 to 17 years, inclusive) with PBD, 30 BD-OFF and 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Study participants underwent a computer-based cognitive battery assessing affective processing, executive …

A Systematic Review Of Treatments For Misophonia, Seth A Mattson, Johann D'Souza, Katharine D Wojcik, Andrew G Guzick, Wayne K Goodman, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Research into misophonia treatments has been limited and it is unclear what treatment approaches may be effective. This systematic review extracted and synthesized relevant treatment research on misophonia to examine the efficacy of various intervention modalities and identify current trends in order to guide future treatment research. PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central were searched 4using the keywords "misophonia," "decreased sound tolerance," "selective sound sensitivity," or "decreased sound sensitivity." Of the 169 records available for initial screening, 33 studied misophonia treatment specifically. Data were available for one randomized controlled trial, one open label trial, and 31 case studies. Treatments …

Participant Perceptions Of Changes In Psychosocial Domains Following Participation In An Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Trial, Amanda R Merner, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Tiffany A Campbell, Michelle T Pham, Clarissa E Sanchez, Laura Torgerson, Jill Robinson, Stacey Pereira, Simon Outram, Barbara A Koenig, Philip A Starr, Aysegul Gunduz, Kelly D Foote, Michael S Okun, Wayne Goodman, Amy L Mcguire, Peter Zuk, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: There has been substantial controversy in the neuroethics literature regarding the extent to which deep brain stimulation (DBS) impacts dimensions of personality, mood, and behavior.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Despite extensive debate in the theoretical literature, there remains a paucity of empirical data available to support or refute claims related to the psychosocial changes following DBS.

METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was used to examine the perspectives of patients who underwent DBS regarding changes to their personality, authenticity, autonomy, risk-taking, and overall quality of life.

RESULTS: Patients (n = 21) who were enrolled in adaptive DBS trials for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, obsessive-compulsive …

A Multicenter Study To Evaluate Pain Characteristics In Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Mercedes Rodriguez Celin, Karen M Kruger, Angela Caudill, Chaya N Murali, Sandesh C S Nagamani, Peter A Smith, Gerald F Harris

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The objective was to describe pain characteristics and treatments used in individuals with varying severity of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and investigate pain-associated variables. This work was derived from a multicenter, longitudinal, observational, natural history study of OI conducted at 12 clinical sites of the NIH Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network's Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium. Children and adults with a clinical, biochemical, or molecular diagnosis of OI were enrolled in the study. We did a cross-sectional analysis of chronic pain prevalence, characteristics, and treatments used for pain relief and longitudinal analysis to find the predictors of chronic pain. We included 861 …

Modeling Suicidality With Multimodal Impulsivity Characterization In Participants With Mental Health Disorder, Nidal Moukaddam, Bishal Lamichhane, Ramiro Salas, Wayne Goodman, Ashutosh Sabharwal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death across different age groups. The persistence of suicidal ideation and the progression of suicidal ideations to action could be related to impulsivity, the tendency to act on urges with low temporal latency, and little forethought. Quantifying impulsivity could thus help suicidality estimation and risk assessments in ideation-to-action suicidality frameworks.

METHODS: To model suicidality with impulsivity quantification, we obtained questionnaires, behavioral tests, heart rate variability (HRV), and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging measurements from 34 participants with mood disorders. The participants were categorized into three suicidality groups based on their …

You've Got A Friend: Social Factors And Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults, Erika A. Fenstermacher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Depression in late life has been associated with disability, lower quality of life, increased mortality, and increased risk of suicide (Fiske et al., 2009; Rodda et al., 2011). Research suggests that functional disability, which is often brought about by a medical condition, may precede depressive symptoms and may be a major factor for older adults developing depression (Ormel et al., 2002). Social support can be beneficial for both emotional and physical health (Fiori & Jager, 2021). Numerous studies found evidence that social networks, perceived and subjective social support, and satisfaction with support received moderated the relation between health problems and …

The Effect Of Face Interpretation Training On Social Anxiety Symptoms, Grace L. Wheeler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

According to cognitive models of social anxiety disorder (SAD), individuals place excessive importance on gauging others’ reactions (e.g., facial expressions) to their social performance. Facial interpretation bias modification (FIBM) was developed to shift interpretations of ambiguous faces. The current study uses FIBM to test whether face interpretation is causally related to SAD symptoms in an unselected adult sample. Participants (N=139) were randomized to 1 of 3 conditions (positive, negative, accurate) in a single-session, online study. Pre- and post- intervention measures of face interpretation and SAD were completed. In line with hypotheses, individuals in the positive condition interpreted faces more positively …

Effects Of Development On Hpa Function Following Pubertal Stress, Brittany D. Elliott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For women, two of the greatest risk factors for affective disorders are adversity experienced during puberty and later becoming pregnant. We have created a translationally relevant mouse model where we address these complex risk factors. Previously, we discovered that pregnant mice (dams) that experienced chronic variable stress (CVS) during puberty display a blunted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response when exposed to an acute stressor. Interestingly, this alteration only first becomes apparent during pregnancy, which is a sensitive period for these effects due to normative neuroendocrine changes. Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying this dysfunction revealed altered gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus …

Editorial: Insights In Neurocognitive Aging And Behavior: 2021, Kristy A. Nielson, Ian M. Mcdonough, Anja Soldan

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

In recent years, exceptional scientific achievements have led to major advancements in the fast-growing field of neurocognitive aging and behavior. In this inaugural collection, Insights in Neurocognitive Aging and Behavior: 2021, we sought to highlight the latest advancements and challenges for the current state of knowledge and future directions in aging neuroscience in the neurocognitive arena. Here we outline the contributions and implications for future research of the 15 papers in this topic collection across four important research areas: (1) novel approaches to identifying and tracking brain aging and impending cognitive decline; (2) neurocognitive markers of risks for Alzheimer’s disease …

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia And Depressive Symptoms: Considering The Role Of Cultural Orientation And Fit, Akriti Poudel

CMC Senior Theses

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between cultural orientation, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and depression. Horizontal collectivism (HC) has been shown to be predictive of positive psychological adjustment (Oh, 2022; Schermer et al., 2023), but the extent to which the individual’s level of HC matches with the group is not well understood. RSA has traditionally been conceptualized as a measure of adaptive functioning; (Graziano & Derefinko, 2013; Qu & Leerkes, 2018, Hinnant et al., 2011) however, more recent research has proposed that RSA is better conceptualized as a marker of susceptibility to environmental influences (Sturge-Apple et …

The Effect Of Visual Alcohol Cues On Risk Taking Behavior Based On Memory Primes And Individual Drinking Habits, Madison Mccue

CMC Senior Theses

Given the strong presence of alcohol cues in the media, this study aimed to investigate whether exposure to a visual alcohol cue versus a neutral cue would elicit memories about alcohol and increase the likelihood to engage in risk taking behavior, particularly for individuals who consume higher levels of alcohol or who report positive memories associated with alcohol. Through an online Qualtrics survey, 110 college student participants watched either two video advertisements for alcohol brands (alcohol cue), or two advertisements for soda brands (neutral cue), and then completed a memory cue task to assess if positive, neutral or negative memories …