Digital Commons Network^™

Origins Of High Latitude Introductions Of Aedes Aegypti To Nebraska And Utah During 2019, Andrea Gloria-Soria, Ary Faraji, Jeff Hamik, Gregory White, Shanon Amsberry, Matthew Donahue, Bryan Buss, Evlyn Pless, Luciano Veiga Cosme, Jeffrey R. Powell

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Aedes aegypti (L.), the yellow fever mosquito, is also an important vector of dengue and Zika viruses, and an invasive species in North America. Aedes aegypti inhabits tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world and in North America is primarily distributed throughout the southern United States states and Mexico. The northern range of Ae. aegypti is limited by cold winter months and establishment in these areas has been mostly unsuccessful. However, frequent introductions of Ae. aegypti to temperate, non-endemic areas during the warmer months can lead to seasonal activity and disease outbreaks. Two Ae. aegypti incursions were …

Understanding Unwanted Sexual Experiences Of Transgender And Gender Diverse Individuals: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study, Melissa Larosa

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people represent a small percent of the population and yet, they experience sexual violence at disproportionately high rates compared to their cisgender counterparts (Grant et al, 2011; James et al., 2016). The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological study is to gain a more nuanced understanding of the role that unwanted sexual experiences play in the lives of transgender and gender diverse people, particularly in relation to how they conceptualize their gender identity and the construct of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight TGD participants who met the inclusion criteria. Two superordinate (i.e., …

The Sex Difference In Depressive Symptoms Among College Students, Penelope E. Seminario

Research Psychology Theses

The sex difference in depression is a well-established and replicated clinical finding, with previous literature indicating that females report more depression than males. However, recent theory and research suggests the sex gap in depressive symptoms may have declined or been eliminated in recent years. The current study examined depressive symptoms among a current (2017-2021) cohort of 1377 undergraduates (18-29 years; M=19.80, 79% female) using the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). I hypothesized that the current sex difference in depressive symptoms would be small or nonsignificant. Results indicated that although males reported more anhedonia (t = 2.65, …

Simulated Owl Predation During Foraging Differentially Alters Choice And Fear Behavior Between Sex In Rats, Meghan M. Olsen

Research Psychology Theses

Existing research on the predator cue circuit has indicated there are observed differences between sexes of animals either directly or indirectly exposed to a predator stimulus. Exposure increases predator directed attention, and overrides other motivational systems (hunger, pain, reproductive behavior). Little research has explored whether exposure to predation is associated with differential responses to non-predator related decision-making across a variety of tasks. Therefore, understanding the prioritization of motivational states when a predator stressor is present can aid in understanding sex differences in these processes in both adaptative and maladaptive conditions. To determine how repeated exposure to a predator stressor differentially …

The Role Of Traumatic Experiences In Developing Nocturnal Panic Attacks, Nicole S. Smith

Dissertations

Nocturnal panic attacks refer to panic attacks that occur out of a sleeping state with no obvious cause, resulting in awakening at the peak of a panic attack. Nocturnal panic affects roughly half of patients with panic disorder as well as individuals with other psychological disorders such as PTSD. Prior research has suggested that experiencing a traumatic event may lead to the development of nocturnal panic attacks. The current study sought to expand upon the extant literature related to the role of trauma in nocturnal panic by collecting a comprehensive trauma and panic history in order to establish a timeline …

Associative Learning In The Monodelphis Domestica Utilizing The Cpa Paradigm, Joseph Caleb Cantu

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to investigate associative learning in the Monodelphis domestica by utilizing the conditioned place aversion paradigm (CPA). The Monodelphis domestica has been used as an animal model for research in multiple fields; however, there is still little information regarding associative learning or utilizing a CPA paradigm. Expanding the literature of the Monodelphis domestica would be adding to the limited research concerning associative learning utilizing the CPA paradigm.

An Analysis Of Mental Health, Psychosocial Stressors, And Social Support Among Latinx Students Who Relocate For College, Lisa A. Lozano

Theses and Dissertations

Relocating for college is one facet of the college adjustment process that has been scarcely explored. Research suggests that relocated students report more severe depression symptoms (Reyes-Rodriguez et al., 2012), poorer social adjustment (Brooks & Dubois, 1995), and worse mental health overall (King et al., 2011) compared to nonrelocated students. This study hypothesized that relocated Latinx college students would experience more severe mental health concerns (depression, anxiety, and stress), psychosocial stress (acculturative stress, loneliness, and sense of belonging), and perceived social support than their nonrelocated counterparts. 159 underclassmen with permanent residence in a South Texas community were surveyed in a …

It's Not You, It's Me: Shame And Misrepresentation In Online Dating, Diedrah Todd

Research Psychology Theses

In the U.S. public opinion about online dating is overall positive with 54% of Americans reporting that relationships that start online through an app or dating site are just as successful as relationships that begin in-person. In dating, success is linked to desirable characteristics such as resources or physical appearance. However, feelings of external shame, which is when a person perceives themselves as existing negatively in the mind of another person is a powerful motivator for avoiding being seen as socially unacceptable. Being seen as socially undesirable as a result of feeling as though oneself is lacking in desirable characteristics …

Examining The Generalizability Of Research Findings From Archival Data, Andrew Delios, Et. Al., Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability—for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time …

A Pilot Study Of A Cohort-Based Solution-Focused Wellness Group For Graduate Students Using Solution-Focused Coaching, James Beauchemin, Danya Krueger, Jennifer Newman, Paul Beitelspacher

Journal of Solution Focused Practices

Graduate students experience heightened levels of stress, compromising their well-being and predisposing them to mental health disorders. Graduate students are over six times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population. Despite the presence of counseling services on college and university campuses, graduate students are less likely to access these services and more prone to utilize alternative institutional supports (i.e., faculty advisors or peer counselors). This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of a six-week solution focused wellness (SFW) group intervention with a graduate program cohort using a pre-post, mixed-methods design. A total of twenty-seven (N = 27) …

Approach And Avoidance Food Craving: A Dual Cue Reactivity Investigation, Christina Lee Verzijl

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent research suggests that food craving is a motivational process underlying the full spectrum of disordered eating behaviors. The ambivalence model of craving, originally applied to substance use craving, provides a framework through which the push-pull motivational process of food craving and its relation to the range of disordered eating behaviors can be understood. In this perspective, food craving is a multi-dimensional motivational process that involves an individual’s competing desires to both consume (i.e., approach) and not consume (i.e., avoid) certain food. Building on previous literature, the current study tested whether behavioral measures of approach and avoidance food craving (i.e., …

Sensory Processing In Male Children With Fragile X Syndrome And Idiopathic Autism: Implications For Maladaptive Behavior And Within-Syndrome Heterogeneity, Chandler Knott

Theses and Dissertations

Proficient sensory processing affords adaptive responses that are necessary for daily functioning. Atypical sensory processing patterns are common across neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS), two disorders with a high degree of phenotypic overlap. However, little is known about whether types of atypical sensory processing in FXS vary as a function of genetic etiology or the presence of ASD. Atypical sensory processing has been also associated with maladaptive outcomes in certain clinical populations; however, the impact of these impairments on internalizing and externalizing behavior remains unknown in FXS. Study participants included 37 male children …

Integrated Behavioral Health And Primary Care: Refining A Determinant Framework, Ariel Michelle Domlyn

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of behavioral health and primary care is a best practice to improve patient outcomes and achieve health equity. However, the process of integrating is opaque, requiring organizational change and sometimes a complete system overhaul. Implementation science offers useful ideas for helping healthcare organizations to implement care. This field has identified potential environmental conditions and determinants of successful implementation; however, much is still unknown about how these factors may be relevant for organizations seeking to integrate care. To address the limited existing knowledge in this area, this dissertation gathers practice-based evidence using exploratory methods. Results are translated into an …

The Moderating Impact Of Gender And Friendship Quality On The Effects Of Interparental Conflict On Adolescent Internalizing Problems, Jessica Dandan

Theses and Dissertations

In response to escalating concerns about the increasing incidence of adolescent internalizing disorders, several mechanisms have been investigated to understand their etiology. Though genetic predisposition contributes to the risk for psychopathology, its interaction with environmental stressors such as interparental conflict appears to further increase this risk. Girls are more susceptible to stressors and twice as likely as boys to develop internalizing problems. However, friendship quality may buffer some of the adverse effects incurred from exposure to interparental conflict. A recent review of proposed mechanisms through which conflict is associated with youth psychopathology pinpointed the need for further adolescent-focused research including …

Cognitive Consequences Of Covid-19 Infection And Quarantine-Induced Social Isolation: Hope For The Young And Mildly Infected, Kristin Nickole Kirchner

Theses and Dissertations

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected over 539 million individuals worldwide, and initial research supports the possibility that COVID-19 may damage the central nervous system either directly or indirectly. Neurological signs and noted cognitive deficits observed in even mildly infected patients are a cause for concern for those infected by COVID-19; the effect of social isolation on the central nervous system is also of interest. The present study sought to determine the extent of these potential cognitive deficits in a young and mildly infected sample of college students. Participants completed an extensive survey assessing their experience with COVID-19 and any …

The Utility Of Clinical And Blood-Based Biomarkers To Discriminate Between Typical And Prolonged Pediatric Mtbi Symptom Recovery, Morgan E. Nitta

Dissertations (1934 -)

Prolonged recovery following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is poorly understood, particularly in pediatric samples, despite significant work to understand prolonged postconcussive symptoms (PPS). Emerging evidence in adult mTBI literature suggests blood-based biomarkers have diagnostic and prognostic value, but there is limited research examining this in pediatric mTBI. Further, while adult research documents that combining physiological biomarkers, emotional distress and symptom reports more optimally differentiates between mTBI and healthy controls, it is unknown if this finding will replicate in pediatric samples. This project examined foundational relationships between clinical, cognitive, inflammatory markers, and kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites following mTBI in adolescents …

United States Healthcare Burden Of Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Pain Disorder Hospitalizations From 2002 To 2018, John M Hollier, Jason L Salemi, Robert J Shulman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The healthcare burden of pediatric functional gastrointestinal pain disorders (FGIDs) is unclear. Our study aimed to characterize the burden of these hospitalizations in the United States (US).

METHODS: We utilized the US National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2018 to capture pediatric hospitalizations (ages 4 to 18 years old) with a primary discharge diagnosis of abdominal pain, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, abdominal migraine, cyclic vomiting syndrome, or fecal incontinence. We calculated the FGID hospitalization prevalence rate, length of stay (LOS), and inflation-adjusted costs annually and assessed for statistically significant trend changes using joinpoint analyses.

KEY RESULTS: 22.3 million …

Influences On The Attachment Style Of Deaf Adults With Hearing Parents, Ellen Schaefer-Salins

JADARA

The current study explored variables that could contribute to the development of a secure or insecure attachment style of 15 deaf adults between the ages of 30 and 50 with hearing parents. There is a paucity of information on the relationship of deaf adults to their hearing parent and how that relationship may influence attachment. For the current study, quantitative methods were used to explore both childhood and adulthood variables, such as type of communication used with parents, type and level of schooling, and current attachment style. Variables also studied include age, gender, race, birth order, marital status, the hearing …

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage And The Neurobiology Of Uncertainty In Traumatically Injured Adults, Carissa W. Tomas, E. Kate Webb, Kenneth P. Bennett, Ashley A. Huggins, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald, Tara A. Miskovich, Jessica L. Krukowski, Terri A. Deroon-Cassini, Christine L. Larson

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Individuals residing in more socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods experience greater uncertainty through insecurity of basic needs such as food, employment, and housing, compared with more advantaged neighborhoods. Although the neurobiology of uncertainty has been less frequently examined in relation to neighborhood disadvantage, there is evidence that neighborhood disadvantage is associated with widespread neural alterations.

Methods

Recently traumatically injured participants (n = 90) completed a picture anticipation task in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner, in which they viewed images presented in a temporally predictable or unpredictable manner. We investigated how neighborhood disadvantage (via area deprivation index [ADI]) was related to …

Psychological Well-Being In Childhood And Cardiometabolic Risk In Middle Adulthood: Findings From The 1958 British Birth Cohort, Julia K. Boehm, Farah Qureshi, Laura D. Kubzansky

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Childhood adversity is linked to poor cardiometabolic outcomes, but less is known about positive childhood factors. Using data from 4,007 members of the 1958 British Birth Cohort, we investigated whether children with greater psychological well-being had lower adulthood cardiometabolic risk. At age 11, participants wrote essays about their future. Two judges rated each essay for nine psychological well-being items (Finn’s r = .82–.91), which were combined into a standardized overall score (Cronbach’s α = .91). When participants reached age 45, nurses assessed their blood pressure, heart rate, lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein, which were standardized and summed for …

Hope 4 Boys: The Impact Of A Youth Diversion Program, Justine C. Connolly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is developing programs targeting first-time nonviolent offenders who might benefit from community-based treatment and positive youth development to prevent these individuals from becoming adult criminals. Thus, the DJJ seeks new and innovative ways to prevent juvenile delinquency and reduce recidivism among first-time nonviolent offenders. The present study aimed to evaluate the Hope 4 Boys program, a juvenile diversion program that addresses the academic and social-emotional needs of juvenile delinquents. The study examined how participation in the program is associated with changes in participants’ levels of hope for the future, life satisfaction, and resiliency …

Reverse-Coded Items Do Not Work In Spanish: Data From Four Samples Using Established Measures, Amanda Venta, Cassandra A. Bailey, Jesse Walker, Alfonso Mercado, Cecilia Colunga-Rodríguez, Mario Ángel-González, Gabriel Davalos-Picazo

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The potential for suboptimal psychometric performance of reverse-coded items may be particularly pronounced when scales are translated and administered in Spanish with these problems exacerbated in youth respondents. This is a significant concern, given the rapid rise in Hispanic-American and Spanish-speaking individuals in the US and their rightful, growing representation in psychological research and clinical care. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric performance of reverse-coded items across four Spanish-speaking samples spanning developmental stages including youth, college students, and parents (N = 1,084; Adolescents n = 107; M = 19.79; SD = 2.09; 41.1% female; Caregivers …

School Related Criminal Acts, Interpersonal Problems, And Classroom Behaviors As A Function Of The Proportion Of Black Students And Black Teachers, Leanne Zaire

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

This study’s purpose was to investigate school-level behavioral outcomes in relation to the proportion of Black teachers and students in U.S. schools. Negative school outcome and academic achievement gaps are well-documented. However, many of these studies utilized small, localized populations; my research used national data and focused on the problem behaviors in school. Drawing from Critical Race Theory, I hypothesized that a greater proportion of Black teachers would reduce school student problems and negative behaviors (e.g., student verbal abuse of teachers, widespread disorder in classrooms). After receiving a restricted-use license, I utilized data from 25,818 schools from the National Teacher …

Work-Related Ipv Among Latinos: Exploring The Roles Of Fatherhood Status, Gendered Expectations, And Support For Intimate Partner's Employment, Adrian Luis Manriquez

Dissertations and Theses

IPV can spill over from individuals' personal lives into their work lives. Men's work-related IPV perpetration has been found to negatively impact their work performance and employment outcomes. Additionally, acculturation, lack of support for an intimate partner's maintenance employment, and traditional gender role expectations may have an impact on Latinos' work-related IPV perpetration. However, it is plausible that fatherhood can serve as a point of intervention for ending men's IPV perpetration. The current study aimed to examine the moderating effect of fatherhood status on the relationship between various risk factors for IPV perpetration and work-related IPV behaviors among Latinos. Additionally, …

Mindfulness To Promote Healthy Aging In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment And Their Caregivers: A Mixed Methods Feasibility And Acceptability Study, Emma Mcbride

Theses and Dissertations

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), thought be a precursor to dementia, is characterized by cognitive decline without functional impairment. As the population ages and the prevalence of MCI increases, non-pharmacologic interventions are needed to address well-being and disease progression in this population of older adults and their caregivers. In response to growing interest in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as an adjunct to integrated care for this population, this single arm, mixed methods pilot study trialed a lightly adapted, 6-week MBI for both MCI patients and their caregivers (n=24). The intervention was feasible and acceptable in both groups. There was a trend toward …

Outcomes Of A Telehealth Adaptation Of A Trauma-Based Parent Training Program, Holland Hayford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 25% of children will experience a traumatic event by the age of four. If trauma symptoms remain untreated, these traumatic experiences during early childhood can negatively impact a child’s executive functioning skills, mental health, social interactions, and relational attachments to other individuals. Due to the harmful impact of untreated trauma symptoms on children’s wellbeing and development, several evidence-based interventions have been developed. One such intervention is Smart Start: Parenting Tools for Children with Developmental Delay, Social-Emotional Concerns, and Trauma (version 5), which targets children’s disruptive behaviors and trauma symptoms, caregivers’ parenting stress, and the caregiver-child relationship. This study utilized …

Neuroscience-Informed Self-Advocacy For Individuals With Psychiatric Disorders, Britta Harbury

University Honors Theses

Self-advocacy is an effective way to foster improved quality of care for people with psychiatric illnesses. By understanding their conditions and needs they are better able to collaborate with their clinicians and form effective treatment plans. Introducing basic neuroscience to individuals with mental illnesses equips them to navigate the American mental healthcare system, which relies on neuroscience to create diagnoses and medications. This thesis aims to create neuroscience-informed mental health resources so that individuals with psychiatric disorders can access information that may help them better advocate for themselves in the future.

Promoting Secure Attachment In Children Without Parental Care In Egypt, Manar Nada

Theses and Dissertations

In Egypt, if not living with extended family members, the majority of children without parental care are placed in care homes. Research shows that children without parental care, particularly those raised in care homes, generally receive low-quality care. This can lead to adverse effects on their mental health, physical health, developmental growth, sense of belonging, intimacy, social and behavioral competence, and academic performance. Studies also relate institutionalization to problems in attachment and caregiver-infant relationships. The Secure Base Model is a therapeutic caregiving framework that target children who were abused and neglected or experienced loss and separation. The model has five …

The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Associated Features On Criminality In Emerging Adults, Jessica L. Harangozo

ETD Archive

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with a variety of negative outcomes, including criminal and violent behaviors (Milaniak & Widom, 2015). Prior research indicates that antisocial personality traits such as callousness may play a mediating effect on the relationship between ACEs and criminality (Baglivio et al., 2020). Further, the developmental period in which childhood maltreatment occurs may be related to greater criminality (Thornberry et al., 2010). This research project aims to examine how ACEs relate to criminality in emerging adults, with consideration of antisocial personality traits and the developmental period of experiencing childhood abuse. This study hypothesizes: (A) Both higher …

Rumination And The Gut Microbiome:Effects Of A Brief Mindfulness Intervention, Moeka Kamiya

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Recent work has found relationships between the gut microbiota—the community of organisms that inhabit an animal’s digestive tract—and psychological health. In particular, the gut microbiota of individuals with depression shows a different genetic composition to those without depression. Thus, this study explored how rumination, a predictor of depression, and gut microbiota composition are correlated to detect possible gut microbiota alterations present before depression develops. This study also examined whether a brief mindfulness mobile application intervention, which has been shown to reduce rumination, can increase beneficial bacteria abundance and decrease pathogenic bacteria abundance. Participants were 16 first-year students. They engaged in …