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Evaluating The Impact Of An Experimental Intervention On Reducing Social Anxiety Through Impression Efficacy Changes, Alexandria Dismuke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social anxiety is a prevalent and harmful experience, predicting negative outcomes even for those not reaching clinical levels. While evidence-based treatments are well-documented for Social Anxiety Disorder, simple and accessible interventions for subclinical samples are a valuable endeavor for research. The current study aimed to test an experimental task for reducing social anxiety through increasing participants’ impression self-efficacy. A secondary goal was to explore the impacts of and responses to positive and neutral feedback. The primary hypothesis was that condition would predict changes in social anxiety indirectly through changes in impression self-efficacy. Participants (n=127) completed a structured interaction with a …

Promoting Preschool Teachers’ Maintenance And Generalization Of Behavior-Specific Praise Through Multitiered Consultation, Claudia Abril Ochoa

Master's Theses

Teachers struggle to provide behavior-specific praise (BSP), which is associated with appropriate classroom management and decreases in student’s problem behavior. The current study used a multiple-baseline design across three Head Start teachers to test the effectiveness of the multitiered consultation model in increasing teachers’ BSP. The Head Start center provided a universal training in classroom management strategies, including BSP. Three teachers who were not implementing this strategy consistently (i.e., less than five instances in a 10-min observation) received Tier 2 supports including goal setting paired with a simple prompt. Data about teachers’ use of BSP was collected class-wide at a …

The Relationship Between Overparenting, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, And Alcohol Use On Risky Sexual Behavior, Melanie Prater

Master's Theses

Studies have shown college students to be vulnerable to negative outcomes, including engaging in risky alcohol use (Lewis et al., 2014; Kilwein & Looby, 2018; Cui et al., 2019) and risky sexual behavior (Dir et al, 2014; Trub & Stark, 2017; Kilwien & Looby, 2018). Understanding predictors and mediating variables associated with risky sexual behavior is one important means of improving prevention strategies. Parenting may be one variable associated with risky sex. Overparenting, a parenting style characterized by parental overinvolvement, has received recent attention due to its association with poor outcomes for adolescents and emerging adults, including an increased risk …

Wired For Success: A Neurobiological Approach To Improving The Academic Outcomes Of Middle School Boys, Allison Emery

University Honors Theses

Male accomplishment in scholastic settings has been declining globally for the last decade, leading to long-term consequences for boys and men. Possible neurobiological underpinnings of the gender gap in education are discussed in this literature review. While male and female differences have, in the past, largely been considered socialized, recent science also confirms neurobiological variances between male and female development. These distinctions are assessed for their potential ties to the decline in male academic success, and are correlated to classroom practices, strategies and interventions meant to increase boys' engagement and performance.

Professional Development Experiences Aligned To The Ideal Self: A Positive Psychology Perspective On Individual Development, Udayan Dhar

Faculty Journal Articles

The purpose of this study is to use a positive psychology lens to broaden and refine our understanding of professional development experiences, and to construct a practical, but evidence-based framework for a developmental human resource management (HRM) system. Study 1 uses focus group interviews with 18 full-time professionals enrolled in a management education program to explore experiences that are likely to strengthen and clarify one's aspirational future professional identity, or the ideal self. In study 2, two separate professional samples (N = 204, 271) are used for measurement development and hypotheses testing. Overall, the two studies show that 15 …

Psychological Science And Immigration Today: Apa Task Force Report On Immigration And Health, American Psychological Association, Alfonso Mercado, Amanda Venta, Dina Birman, German Cadenas, Gail Ferguson, Luz M. Garcini, Giselle A. Hass, Maryam Kia-Keating, William Martinez

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The report emphasizes the importance of culturally competent mental health services and explores the impact of anti-immigration policies on mental wellbeing. In today’s climate in which immigration is often met with hostility, it is crucial that we, as researchers and mental health professionals, understand the unique challenges faced by immigrants and use this understanding to foster positive change. Together, we can better support the wellbeing and resilience of our immigrant communities by using psychological research to inform and advance practice and policy.

White Counseling Psychology Doctoral Trainees’ Experiences Broaching Whiteness With White Clients: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study, Zari Koelbel Carpenter

Dissertations

This research builds upon scholarship of critical theorists and critical whiteness studies. The “invisibility” of whiteness has been increasingly acknowledged and attended to in counseling psychology. Further, prominent scholars have continuously urged the field of counseling psychology to acknowledge race as a psychological characteristic of white people (Helms, 2017; Helms & Carter, 1990a). Attention to whiteness is needed, as the majority of the counseling workforce, including doctoral students (55%), identifies as white (American Psychological Association, 2020). As racial identity development can advance the personal and professional development of white counseling psychologists and benefit clients, increased attention is merited for the …

Firm-Level Ai Ethical Awareness: Measurement And Effects, Yan Ma, Nan Hu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

With rapid integration of AI technologies into business operation, ethical issues associated with AI development, implementation, and deployment, has become increasingly conspicuous. An effective measure of firm-level AI Ethical Awareness (FAIEA) is crucial for both academics and practitioners to assess FAIEA efficiently. In this study, based on qualitative information in earning conference call, we construct and validate a firm specific measure of FAIEA. Upon establishing a reliable measure, we explore the determinants and consequence of FAIEA. We find Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement and the presence of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) as key determinants of higher FAIEA, suggesting the …

Mental Health Of Healthcare Workers In Kosovo During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Latif Hoxha

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This study explored the mental health of healthcare practitioners in Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the prevalence of stress, depression, and anxiety, and the associated individual, family, and work-related factors. The research employed a cross-sectional design with a sample of 449 healthcare workers from two hospitals in Kosovo. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess mental health symptoms, while socio-demographic and work-related information was collected through a questionnaire.

Based on the descriptive statistics of DASS-21 scores, the prevalence of mental health issues among the participants included high levels of depression (18%), anxiety (25%), …

Cyber Threats, Cyber Risks, And Cybersecurity Responses: Modeling Whole-Of-Nation Strategy Implementation For American Organizations And Citizens, Vincent Leon Guerrero

All Dissertations

Amid a landscape of cyber attacks on America occurring below the threshold of armed conflict, strategic national policy efforts recommend a whole-of-nation approach where individuals and public and private organizations increase their defensive posture in cyberspace. Motivation to address the risk of a cyber event includes a continuum of cyber threats that can range from low-level disruptive events to cybercrime and cyber espionage to the possibility of a potentially catastrophic attack on critical infrastructure. In this dissertation, I conduct a survey experiment of various cyber threat conditions and cyber policies to model cybersecurity responses, risk perceptions to a possible cyber …

Disrupting The Cascade: Using Improvement Science To Mitigate Negative Outcomes Associated With Exclusionary Discipline Practices In Schools, Katelyn Singleton

All Dissertations

The use of exclusionary discipline practices in schools has continued to increase since the advent of Zero Tolerance discipline policies in the 1990s. Research indicates that these practices are largely ineffective in addressing behavior, and result in detrimental outcomes for students and communities. This study focused on the use of Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEPs) as a form of exclusionary discipline. Using an improvement science design, the purpose of this study was to identify how DAEPs can be leveraged to mitigate negative outcomes associated with exclusionary discipline. Specifically, this study sought to understand how implementing explicit skill instruction and adult …

Facilitating Parental Scaffolding Of Joint Book Reading With Toddlers, Tiffany Pempek Rahl

Dissertations, 2020-current

Developmental research confirms the importance of early parental language input for building children’s vocabulary and language skills (Hart & Risley, 1995). While reading with a caregiver is a common way for language input to occur, the approaches parents utilize often fail to capitalize on techniques for improving language and pre-literacy skills (Huebner & Meltzoff, 2005). The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of embedding tips for scaffolding parent reading strategies into a children’s book. Thirty-eight parent-child dyads participated in a 2-week intervention. Families were randomly assigned to receive either a book with embedded tips (experimental condition) or …

Antiracism In Higher Education: An Integrated Psychological Perspective, Rhea E. Nesbitt

Dissertations, 2020-current

Antiracism is a complicated and important term with prominent, influential voices claiming that systemic equity and the reconfiguration of white identity are the central solutions to eradicating American racism. Within the profound sociocultural effects of the existing antiracist rhetoric, there is vagueness, conflict, and incoherence. Language serves as a fundamental aspect of human experience, facilitating individual meaning-making and comprehension. Effective communication hinges on the ability to articulate subjective experiences and justifications clearly, a challenge evident in discussions surrounding antiracism. Despite advocating for antiracism as crucial and unending work, scholars recognize significant hurdles, including unclear responsibilities for implementation and entrenched structures …

Factors That Help And Hinder Experience Of Reflective Functioning In An Attachment-Based Intervention: An Enhanced Critical Incident Technique Analysis Of Parents’ Experiences, Shelly-Ann Peart James

Dissertations, 2020-current

This study explored parents’ experiences as it relates to their capacity to think about their child’s thinking and feeling, Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF), an attachment theory construct. PRF was explored in the context of an attachment-based intervention, the Secure Child Program (SCP), that focuses on children and their families. Parents’ voices were centered in this study through the employment of narrative research methodology, specifically, the Enhanced Critical Incident Technique. Participants consisted of seven parents within the SCP. A semi-structured interview developed for the study was informed by extant measures of PRF. Findings indicate helping and hindering categories with the vast …

Informed Consent Document Delivery: Effects On Appalachian Caregivers' Comprehension, Trust In Researchers, And Willingness To Participate, Tess A. Simpson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether altering an informed consent document (ICD), in ways that either promote or inhibit accessibility, would affect potential participants’ willingness to participate in a child development laboratory-based study. Specifically, I was interested in assessing the willingness to participate of historically underrepresented groups, especially Appalachian caregiver-child dyads. I altered three parameters of a previously approved and employed ICD to explore whether these parameters impacted Appalachian caregivers’ comprehension of the study, willingness to participate, and trust in the researchers. The manipulated parameters included reading level, utilization of illustrative pictures, and inclusion of text-to-speech …

The Lived Experiences Of African Canadian Custodial Caregivers Of Minors With A Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Alberta, Canada, Angelina Abong Atsimbom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a broad range of symptoms, skills, impairments, or disability. It is characterized by a persistent deficit in group communication and social interaction, limited behaviors such as walking, and less interest in interacting with others and participating in social events. Existing studies suggest that there are many unique challenges associated with caring for a child with ASD. Despite growing evidence of an increase in diagnosis and greater awareness of the challenges associated with caring for children on the autism spectrum, there remains a gap in the research about the unique experiences of custodial caregivers of minors …

Is There A Relationship Between Media Sources And Public’S Perception On Police?, Rio Mancilla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The focus of this research was to understand what type of influence media sources have on the public’s perception of police. To conduct this quantitative research, a survey was distributed to approximately 200 participants who were 21 years of age or older, U.S. citizens, and watched the news regularly or had some interaction with law enforcement. The survey distributed on Survey Monkey included questions pertaining to media consumption and perception of police. The theoretical foundations applied within this research were Gerbner’s cultivation theory, social cognitive theory of mass communication, social procedural justice theory, and social exchange theory. Results reflected that …

Experiences And Perspectives Of Healthcare Professionals With Hypnotherapy For Adult Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors, Ja'quavia Lynn Demus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been defined as one of the most prevalent forms of childhood trauma. Current treatment approaches for adult survivors of CSA often fail to provide timely or sufficient relief, indicating a pressing need for more diverse and innovative therapeutic approaches to achieve optimal recovery. Hypnosis is one treatment method available and has been proven to provide reliable and timely recovery for other complex traumas. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge on healthcare professionals expressed experiences and treatment of adult CSA survivors, while also exploring their efficacy and usage of clinical hypnotherapy as a …

The Cultural Mismatch Between Latinas' Interdependent Self-Concept And The Independent Culture Of Stem, Maria Guadalupe Velasco

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

I assessed the role of self-concept fit, as outlined in the SAFE model (Schmader & Sedikides, 2018), in Latina college students’ feelings toward pursuing a STEM course. Research on the underrepresentation of certain social groups in STEM has mainly focused on the role of goal fit. More specifically, researchers have found that portraying STEM environments as affording communal goals promotes goal fit, which is related to positive outcomes like interest, belonging, and favorable ratings for STEM courses, careers, and lab positions (Belanger et al., 2017; Belanger et al., 2020; Diekman et al., 2011). Because Latinas are socialized within an interdependent …

Disparities Surrounding The Availability Of Feminine Hygiene Products In The Workplace, Marlene Ventura

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Menstrual inequality in the workplace continues to exist, affecting financial welfare, mental health, physical health, and access to care. Women have been enduring disparities related to menstruation, including stigma, shame, and period poverty, which are often exacerbated in the workplace. This study aims to explore the experiences of women who do not have access to free feminine hygiene products in the workplace.

The researcher conducted one-to-one interviews in person with employed women (n=9). The questions were semi-structured and based on a survey with nineteen questions addressing areas of menstrual inequality in the workplace. Seven themes were identified: 1) work performance, …

Serotonin 1a Receptor Modulation On Behavioral Flexibility In Btbr And C57bl/6j Mice, Cassandra Cavazos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by a subset of symptoms known as restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs). RRBs are categorized into both lower order and higher order RRBs, where the latter can be described as behavioral inflexibility. The BTBR T+ tf/J (BTBR) mouse strain has been an extensively used animal model that demonstrate the behavioral symptoms of these individuals, including inflexible behavior. Currently, there are few effective treatments for individuals with ASD that express RRBs. Past research has investigated treatments that target serotonin due its historic involvement in ASD. 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamine) tetralin) is a research …

Examining Construal Level Priming As A Potentional Intervention For Misinformation Sharing, Xiangyu Cui

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Misinformation has become increasingly difficult to combat in the digital age. The current study tested a model exploring the relationships between self-regulation, habitual social media use, construal level, and propagation of misinformation. Drawing from previous research, I hypothesized that individuals with higher self-regulation would exhibit lower susceptibility to misinformation sharing. I also hypothesized that habitual social media use mediates the relationship between self-regulation and misinformation sharing. In addition, I introduced construal level priming as an experimental intervention, where individuals primed with abstract construal levels may demonstrate more discerning information processing, thereby reducing the likelihood of misinformation sharing. Results from data …

Emotional Eating In Adolescents With Obesity: Case Series, Paula Dayan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Childhood obesity remains a significant public health concern, with substantial implications for physical and mental well-being. This thesis aims to explore the intricate relationship between emotional eating and obesity among adolescents, with a focus on identifying emotional triggers and assessing their psychological impact. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design at a university in southern California, data were collected from two adolescents aged 13-18 years. Through surveys and body composition measurements, participants' emotional barriers to weight loss and readiness for change were assessed. The findings underscore the presence of varying degrees of emotional hurdles among adolescents with obesity, including depression, frustration, and …

Beyond Initial Engagement: Investigating Factors That Contribute To Continued Participation In Social Movements, Alejandro Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Historically, social movements have been important in addressing social issues and driving social change, particularly in challenging both systemic racism and structural inequalities faced by minority groups. However, these movements require sustained participation to be effective. While it is important to understand the psychological factors as to how and why one engages in social movements, few empirical studies have evaluated the psychological factors that influence ongoing participation in social movements. This study examines predictors of continued engagement in social movements among individuals who have participated in two or more in-person demonstrations. A sample of 305 participants involved in four different …

A Multiagency Approach To Animal Hoarding In Central Iowa, Gary W. Rasmussen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research explored animal hoarding in Iowa using the qualitative method with the resource dependency theory and a case study approach. These cases were studied using multiple sources of information, from media reports in initial locating cases to court documents, to examine the results of each case. It examined how different sized law enforcement agencies’ investigations into these cases impacted the outcomes of the cases in sentencing and the use of mental health evaluations and treatments. It also explored the efficacy of how different sized law enforcement agencies investigated animal hoarding cases. The law enforcement agencies were divided into two …

Cyclical Patterns Of Self-Regulated Learning In College Students, David N. Longhurst

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Zimmerman’s self-regulated learning (SRL) model is a cyclical approach to learning where learners use several processes to facilitate learning or to perform a skill within many domains. Zimmerman’s model describes three phases including forethought, performance, and self-reflection, which occur respectively before, during, and after a task. Theoretically, these phases interact in a cyclical feedback loop in which a person cognitively interacts with a task before, during, and after the activity and continuously do so independently. This model has been the basis for several school-based intervention programs. Those programs have been studied regarding academic outcomes and efficacy; however, less research has …

Don't Get Too Close, It Hurts: Inclusion-Of-Other-In-The-Self And Biased Evaluations Of Romantic Partners And Their Behaviors, Jacqueline Lechuga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This investigation tested how inclusion-of-other-in-the-self (IOS) – the experience of closeness as overlapping selves – increases maladaptive biases toward romantic partners and their behaviors. Study 1 tested how the level of IOS is associated with disregarding signs that indicate that a romantic partner might be unhealthy for one’s emotional and physical well-being. Participants who were single (N = 77) reviewed four online dating profiles. Each profile was created to elicit high or low IOS and reveal a transgression committed by the potential romantic partner. Then, participants evaluated the potential romantic partner in suitability and the transgression on negativity. Study 2 …

Thieves Like Us: The Effectiveness Of A Positive Psychology Intervention On Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, And The Loss Of Compassion Satisfaction Among Peer Support Specialists, Eugene Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Two common phenomena of helping professions are compassion fatigue (CF), and decreased compassion satisfaction (CS). Literature on CF and decreased CS focuses on professionals with extensive education, training, and higher compensation. Peer Support Specialists (PSS) are helping professionals providing comparable support to clients while in recovery, and may be more susceptible to CF, decreased CS, and a return to substance use. Methods to impact these outcomes, including positive psychology interventions (PPIs), are worth investigating as they are generally inexpensive, can be tailored, and may reduce turnover and absences. The current study used the PPI, Using Signature Strengths in a New …

College Students' Perceptions Of The Student-Teacher Relationship, Lauren E. Biggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Humans, as social creatures, pursue relationships with others to fulfill various needs. As such, when we enter school, we naturally seek to establish relationships with teachers, who act as significant individuals in our lives. In general, research has shown that students with close, warm relationships with their teachers tend to experience more favorable outcomes related to academic achievement, behavior, and social-emotional factors. Students with more negative relationships with their teachers conversely tend to experience poorer outcomes. Though decades of research have consistently shown this correlation, few studies have examined the relationships between college students and their professors. The current study …

How Others Affect Identity: The Roles Of Mere Presence, Self-Disclosure Extent, And Partner Responsiveness, Josephine Collins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has indicated that identity is social in nature and that close relationships strengthen sense of identity, but details of this relationship are not well understood. Self-disclosure is a vital part of close relationships; thus, the present research sought to understand how talking about oneself is at play in the relation between relationship closeness and identity. In this study, 314 emerging adults (157 dyads; Mage = 19.2) engaged in an in-person interaction with either a close other or a stranger and, within this interaction, were assigned to engage in self-disclosure or a control task. Even though the closer participants …