Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Association Between Daily Fluctuations In Sleep And Blood Pressure, Mara Egeler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a major contributing factor for heart disease, with nearly half of US adults meeting criteria. While studies have begun to examine the relationship between insomnia and blood pressure (BP), little is still known regarding the relationship between daily fluctuations in sleep and BP. This study aimed to provide further clarification on the role insomnia plays in the development of hypertension, including the impact that daily fluctuations in sleep have on fluctuations in BP. Participants included 61 adults from the greater Northwest Arkansas area (63.9% White, 67.2% Female, 30-79 y) who completed 10 consecutive days of sleep and blood …

The Implications, Magnitude, And Development Of Traumatic Brain Injury For Individuals Undergoing Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Hannah G. Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is an established bidirectional relation between substance use and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Despite the high rate of prescribing opioids for pain management following a TBI and the epidemic of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States, scarce research has specifically analyzed the association between TBI and OUD. In a series of three interrelated manuscripts, the present study will first examine the prevalence and features of TBIs among persons seeking treatment for OUD. Next, the present study will evaluate the association between TBI and indicators of risky health behaviors and OUD severity, including the risk of overdose and …

“It's More Than A Book Club”: Counterspaces And Bibliotherapic Wellness Among Black Undergraduate Women, Khrystal Johnson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Black students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) face heightened vulnerability to general and race-related stressors, necessitating the identification of culturally responsive and alternative care approaches to complement traditional talk therapy and clinical assessment, given the associated adverse academic and psychological outcomes. The current study explores the utility of a Black women-focused book club as an inclusive and identity-affirming space for Black women attending an elite and private PWI. Additionally, we consider how this bibliotherapic and group-based approach offered a critical counterspace for participants. Over the course of a four-month semester, two Black women co-facilitators held a monthly book club series …

Cardiovascular Risk As A Mediator Of Associations Between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor With Longitudinal Brain And Cognitive Trajectories In Older Adults, Jennifer Shearon

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Prior work has shown that higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are associated with better brain health and cognitive function. There is also evidence that BDNF is present in cardiovascular tissue and that it may be beneficial for cardiovascular function. This is evidenced by higher BDNF being associated with lower incidence of coronary heart disease and mortality, and with lower incidence of cardiovascular risk factors. The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationship between BDNF and cardiovascular function, and to assess whether there is a mediating or moderating role of cardiovascular health in the relationship between …

The Domain Specificity And Conscious Awareness Of Learned Memory Biases, Gizem Filiz

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The False Positive Feedback (FPF) manipulation encourages certain recognition errors by inducing either liberal (lax) or conservative (strict) recognition memory decision biases. FPF manipulation involves trial-by-trial probabilistic positive feedback for commission or omission errors while the other stimulus class always received fully correct feedback during testing. We investigated whether these learned biases are restricted to the stimulus class triggering FPF, or whether they instead spread to an intermixed class receiving valid feedback, by selectively delivering FPF to words or pictures. A spreading bias would suggest that subjects learn to be liberal or conservative in interpreting recognition evidence in general during …

Detection And Assessment Of Targets In Mock Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Images Using Computer-Aided Detection Systems, Katharine Sabo

All Theses

Radiologists use computer-aided detection (CAD) systems to assist with detecting and assessing breast cancers in mammograms, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and other types of breast imaging; however, the usefulness of such automation aids has been debated since their implementation. Initial studies on CAD systems had mixed results, while more recent studies have shown that they can improve diagnostic outcomes (i.e., greater sensitivity and fewer false alarms) and decrease the reading time required for images. Three CAD types are currently in use: binary, analog, and interactive CAD. However, studies rarely explore the differences between the CAD methods. Additionally, recent work has …

Service Use Among Maltreated Children With Behavior Problems And Emotional Disturbance Before And During Covid-19, Darja Beinenson

All Theses

This study utilizes two datasets obtained from the National Child Abuse and Neglect

Data System, a federally-sponsored initiative to monitor annual rates and characteristics of child maltreatment in the United States. Using a set of multinomial and negative binomial regressions, the paper seeks to examine service use among maltreated children with and without behavioral problems and emotional disturbance. The study also explores whether the service utilization gap widened among children with those conditions in 2021, during the pandemic, compared to 2018, pre-pandemic. Results demonstrated significant differences in the utilization of services among children with behavioral problems and emotional disturbance compared …

Paranormal Beliefs And The Big Five: Extrinsic Optimism, Trust In People, And Fantasy Proneness, Caitlyn Ariel Irene Harvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are many inconsistent findings on the relationship between paranormal beliefs and The Big Five. This study aims to clarify the correlations by assessing extrinsic optimism, trust in people, and fantasy proneness. Extrinsic optimism is associated with neuroticism and extraversion. Trust is associated with agreeableness. Lastly, fantasy proneness is associated with openness to experience. It was predicted that paranormal beliefs would be positively correlated with extrinsic optimism, trust in people, and fantasy proneness. It was also predicted that paranormal beliefs would be positively correlated with extraversion, agreeableness, and openness. Correlational and regression analyses were run to test these predictions. Results …

The Icarus Paradox: Examining The Gender Bias In Leader Transgression, Pratibha Deepak

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the growing interest in leader transgressions due to their profound impact on organizations and their members, the boundary conditions influencing them remain unexplored. Consequently, this dissertation investigates the differential evaluation of leader transgressions based on such boundary conditions, focusing on the interaction between transgression type (integrity vs. competence), leader gender (female vs. male), and hierarchical status (supervisor vs. senior leader). Utilizing theoretical foundations from causal attribution theory, shifting standards, expectancy violation theory, and social identity theory, it is hypothesized that the impact of transgressions on organizational outcomes at multiple levels—including individual (perceived leader effectiveness), organizational (employee turnover intention), and …

The Dark Side Of Engagement: An Organizational Fairness Perspective, Katherine Naomi Rau

Theses and Dissertations

Employee engagement has long been regarded as a positive phenomenon for organizations and individuals. However, recent investigations into unintended, negative consequences of engagement have illuminated the potential “dark side” of engagement. This research applied an organizational fairness lens by investigating the relationship between engagement and psychological contract fulfillment to explain why engaged employees may experience emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions. Additionally, autotelic personality and job crafting were explored as potential mitigating factors in weakening the relationships between psychological contract breach and emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. While findings across two studies did not support the assertion that engagement was related …

History Of Physical Neglect And Current Food Insecurity: Moderation By Mental Health Symptoms, Brooke Welsh

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food insecurity has been a topic of concern for many years. While many actions have been taken to try to reduce rates of food insecurity, further research should investigate whether certain events may increase likelihood of this experience. Thus far, a large amount of research has been completed on how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact chances of experiencing food insecurity as well as how mental health symptoms can impact these chances. However, there is little research showing that mental health symptoms may moderate the relationship between having ACEs and food insecurity as an adult. A sample of 124 university …

Unveiling Existentialism And Self-Expression: Utilizing The Arts, Raquel Eduardo Nunez

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This analysis is an exploration of identity through the examination of art as a means of self-expression and societal critique. It delves into existentialism to explain the impacts of art on both positive societal experiences and negative interactions unique to the immigrant and Mexican American community. The artist, Raquel Eduardo Nuñez, examines their own art to dissect their position in life as a Mexican-born individual living in a foreign country. This method was chosen to allow a space of self-reflection and awareness to explore the components that shape identity and reveal art as a medium for interpretation of links between …

End-Of-Life Patient Communication: Exploring Comfort, Communication And Education Of Healthcare Professionals For End-Of-Life Care, Madison Gremillion

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Historically, the medical field has viewed death and dying as incurable ‘medical failures,’ and as a result, many healthcare professionals have difficulties when facing a patient who is dying or at the end of their life. These individuals will use avoidant behavior to avoid end-of-life (EOL) patients or can have difficulty providing essential aspects of care including communication, that contribute to building a strong relationship between the healthcare provider and patient. For the healthcare professional (HCP), this can stem from anxiety related to thoughts of death and a lack of educational support or experience. The study of death is where …

Effects Of Emotional Intelligence And Social Support On The Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment And Disordered Eating, Rachel Kilby

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Current research has established a connection between childhood maltreatment and eating disorders, and some studies have looked at emotional intelligence or social support as mediators. However, little research has looked at how emotional intelligence and social support work together in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and eating disorders. This study looked at how emotional intelligence and social support act as mediators in this relationship. Undergraduate students (N=134) were administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-90), Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Correlations between scales were …

Bilingual Comprehension Of Accented Speech And Spoken Code Switches, Liam John Gleason

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Across three experiments, the current study explored how accented speech and coarticulation impact how bilingual listeners comprehend code-switches in speech. Eye-tracking methodology was used to compare responses to single-language and code-switched sentences. Experiment 1 observed how accented speech influenced the costs involved in comprehending code-switches by comparing responses to speakers that had North American English accents to speakers with Juarez/El Paso Spanish accents when speaking English. Experiment 2 compared responses to English speech produced by speakers with North American English, Flemish, and Bulgarian accented speakers. To examine coarticulation as a cue to an upcoming code-switch, Experiment 3 compared naturally produced …

Academic And Ethnic Identity's Moderating Effects On Intergenerational Conflict, Academic Motivation And Alcohol Outcomes Relationship Within First-Year Hispanic College Students, Ashley Marie Lindquist

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

While alcohol use is a public health concern for all college students, first-year college students are at higher risk for drinking and experiencing alcohol consequences. The increased risk may be attributed to the stress of transitioning from high school to college. For many of these students, this is their first-time gaining independence and trying to find out how they fit into society. Family conflict commonly occurs when students start college because they develop their values and beliefs, especially Hispanic college students. Intergenerational conflict (IGC) is a subtype of parent-child conflict that arises when the child deviates from traditional Hispanic values, …

Establishing The Validity Of A Measure Of Implicit Bias Toward People With Alcohol Use Disorder, Erin Marie Portillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol use disorder has been identified as one of the major burdens of disease but also remains one of the disorders with the lowest treatment prevalence. For individuals who seek treatment for their alcohol use disorder, they may experience barriers that impact their treatment for alcohol use disorder. These barriers may extend to a person’s beliefs, attitudes, and stigma. While attitudes and beliefs refer to their perceived need for treatment and beliefs of self-reliance, stigma is multistep process that makes way for stereotypes, prejudice, and acts of discrimination to take place. With labels such as “alcoholic” implying negative connotation and …

Examining The Effects Of Leadership-Fostered Organizational Priorities On Employee Mental Health, Lauren Cornelio

Thinking Matters Symposium

This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge by addressing the gap in the current literature regarding how organizational priorities enacted by a leader foster a work environment that can impact the mental health of employees. Utilizing a qualitative research design grounded in phenomenology, this study explores employees’ subjective experiences within different organizational cultures. By adopting a phenomenological approach, the study uncovers nuanced insights into employees’ lived experiences, shedding light on the intricate interplay between organizational priorities determined by the leader and employee mental health. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, allowing participants to reflect upon their perceptions of …

Exploring Resilience Factors And Positive Development In Single-Parent Households, Valerie Gomez

Undergraduate Papers

Single-parent households are often viewed as a risky family context associated with children’s negative outcomes such as social difficulties, psychopathology, and lower academic performance. While single-parent households are becoming more common, particularly in the United States, not all children who grow up in single-parent households go on to develop negative outcomes. Prior studies have not clearly outlined whether there are child or family-level factors that are associated with positive outcomes in the context of single-parent households. This honors thesis explored whether chores, which may support children’s persistence and autonomy, are more common in single-parent households and whether they predict positive …

Predictors Of Success In Controlled Drinking Outcomes, Felicia Rose Tuchman

Psychology ETDs

In order for clients to make informed decisions about what treatment goal is best for them and for clinicians to help clients bolster their chances of recovery, it is critical that we know for whom non-abstinence-based treatment goals are most effective. We collected data from 143 treatment-seeking adults with AUD. The final sample consisted of participants with baseline goals of controlled drinking and follow-up data (N = 25). Success for individuals with controlled drinking goals was not predicted by any of the variables studied in multiple regression analysis. Results of latent change score analyses indicate that participants of lower …

Suicidal Ideation In Malaysian Young Adults: The Role Of Depressive Symptoms And Perceived Problem-Solving Ability, Shin Ling Wu, Yong Chy Sin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The escalating suicide rates among young adults, including those in Malaysia, necessitate a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to suicidal ideation. This study investigates the relationship between depressive symptoms and perceived problem-solving ability, including problem-solving confidence, approach-avoidance style, personal control of emotion, and suicidal ideation among Malaysian young adults.

Methods: A total of 231 Malaysian young adults aged 18 to 25 years (Mean = 21.1; SD = 1.38) participated in a cross-sectional survey study. The sample was primarily composed of participants of Chinese ethnicity. Using an online survey, participants completed measures including the Depression, Anxiety, and …

Digital Literacy, Attitudes Toward E-Learning, And Task Value Roles In College Students’ Distance Learning Self-Regulation, Husnul Muasyaroh, Lucia R.M. Royanto

Psychological Research on Urban Society

The increased adoption of distance learning in higher education, which was especially evident in urban areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the crucial role of self-regulated learning (SRL) skills. Although previous research demonstrated positive correlations between learner factors and SRL in distance education, a research gap exists in understanding the mediating and moderating roles of specific factors. This study addresses this concern by examining the relationship between digital literacy and SRL as mediated by attitude toward e-learning with task value as a moderator. The study recruited 538 college students (aged 17–25 years) from 10 public universities. Digital literacy was measured …

Predicting Sustainable Consumption Behavior Among Generation Z: Role Of Nature Relatedness And Environmental Concern, Kemas Mohd. Saddam Abd. Somad, Agustin Erna Fatmasari

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Unsustainable consumption is at the root of many current environmental issues, including global warming, waste pollution, and biodiversity loss. It is therefore important to identify the predictors of sustainable consumption, particularly among Generation Z, the largest age cohort in the current population of Indonesia. This research aimed to investigate the association between nature relatedness, environmental concern, and sustainable consumption behavior among Generation Z in Semarang City. A total of 140 participants were involved in this research through convenience sampling. Instruments that were used are the Sustainable Consumption Behaviour scale (19 items; α=0.841), the Nature Relatedness scale (24 items; α=0.904), and …

Factors Influencing The Well-Being Of Primary School Teachers In Indonesia: A Pilot Study, Airin Yustikarini Saleh, Farida Kurniawati, Rose Mini Agoes Salim, Elizabeth Kristi Poerwandari

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Understanding and improving teacher well-being are essential prerequisites for effective teaching. However, studies on teacher well-being in Indonesia are few. This mixed-method study was conducted to identify the factors that influence the well-being of teachers in primary schools in Indonesia. Data were collected through self-rating and open-ended questions from 209 primary school teachers followed by semi-structured interviews with eight teachers. The results of the self- rating survey illustrated that the teachers were very satisfied with their lives as a teacher. Well-being was considered important in their work, because it can exert a positive impact on students. The results of the …

Role Of Self-Efficacy As A Mediator In The Relationship Between Parental Restriction And The Quality Of Cross-Ethnic Friendships, Kelvin Andrea, Darmawan Muttaqin

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Urban environments can help form cross-ethnic friendships among individuals. However, many parents impose restrictions on their children’s ability to develop friendships, particularly between Chinese and Javanese ethnic groups. These parental restrictions directly impact the quality of friendships and are believed to be mediated by self-efficacy. This study examined the role of self- efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between parental restrictions and the quality of cross- ethnic friendships. The study involved 400 emerging adults aged 18–25 years, comprising 200 Chinese and 200 Javanese individuals. Parents’ peer restriction, Cross-Ethnic Friendship Self- Efficacy, and McGill Friendship Questionnaires-Friendship Function were used to …

Exploring The Detrimental Effects Of Sleep Deprivation, Brooklyn Shereck

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Psychology Behind Horror Movie Enjoyment, Courtney Getzlaff

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Can Occupational Therapy Help Patients With Cancer?, Alanna Pritchard

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

The Silent Killer: Anorexia Nervosa, Sierra Malterud

Psychology Student Publications

Notice the warning signs! What do you need to look out for when those around you may be struggling with Anorexia nervosa?

Self Harm And Suicide And How Its Affecting People, Kayla Grabar

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.