Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Loneliness And Parental Relationships Among College Students, Alanna James, Charlie Barna

Symposium of Student Scholars

The transition to adulthood is a unique developmental period that involves rapid changes in youths’ individual development and social contexts, which can involve leaving behind familiar support networks (Eeske et al,. 2015). Common experiences during the transition to adulthood, like leaving home, pursuing college, and entering the workforce can leave individuals feeling marginalized and cutoff (Mathews et al,. 2022). Loneliness is a subjective feeling experienced by individuals in all age demographics (Matthews et al,. 2022). Despite a wide array of research on social connectedness interventions for older adults and people with physical disabilities (Zagic et al,. 2021), there is little …

The Role Of Sense Of Purpose In Health Navigation Among Marginalized Older Adults, Ameesha Narine

Symposium of Student Scholars

A sense of purpose is a central, self-organizing life aim that guides choices and behaviors (Lewis, 2020; Mcknight & Kashdan 2009). In older adulthood, having a sense of purpose is linked with positive health (Musich et al., 2018; Lewis & Hill, 2021). Understanding how older adults who identify as socially marginalized (e.g., racially/ ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+) leverage purpose to navigate their health, for example, when setting health values, making health decisions, or adapting to health challenges may support the development of tailored resources to combat social disparities embedded in healthcare systems. This study used qualitative thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, …

Examining The Utility Of The Military Service Sleep Assessment In U.S. Veterans, Sophie Vincent

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Veterans frequently report sleep disturbances. However, little is known about which military or life events most frequently influence veterans' sleep. The focus of this study is to report the specific military and life events that had the most negative effect on sleep quality in veterans by utilizing the Military Service Sleep Assessment (MSSA).

Method: Post 9/11 veterans (N = 373) completed an assessment battery examining sleep disturbances, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and of dysfunctional and recovery cognitions. Descriptives (i.e., mean and frequency), t-tests, X² tests of independence, residuals, and risk ratios were computed to examine the impact …

Profiles Of Resilience: Examining The Stories Of First Responder And Military Families, Kimberly Gomes

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Social support is a key factor in the development of resilience and is often derived from spouses and other family members. The current literature is limited in that there is no consensus about how resilience is defined and developed among individuals in high-stress occupations. Considering this, we aimed to interview military and first responder couples and examine how couples define resilience and navigate challenging experiences together.

Methods: We collected five distinct family stories wherein a member of the dyad was in a high-stress occupation (i.e., law enforcement and military personnel). All participants completed screeners to determine eligibility …

Exploring The Interactions Between Cognitive Impairment, Depression, And Growth Mindset Among African Americans In The Covid-19 Era, Roger Otway

Symposium of Student Scholars

Depression is a common and complex psychiatric disorder that can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is currently characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest in life (Depressive Disorders, n.d.). Depression can have an impact on an individual's attitude in life such as their growth mindset. A Growth mindset is an individual’s belief that their abilities can be developed and improved through effort and learning (Dweck, 2016). This way of thinking can lead to increased resilience, learning, and achievement. Another area that can impact depression and a growth mindset is cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive …

Promoting Future Orientation Among Youth Exposed To Violence, Amari Cody, Giselle Vazquez, Paige Giddens, Chanler Hilley

Symposium of Student Scholars

Despite declining rates of community violence in the United States, violence remains a pervasive public health problem that disproportionately affects children. Violence exposure has been linked to a multitude of negative consequences on children’s academics, behavior, mental and physical health, some of which have lasting implications. Future orientation is one of several positive “developmental assets” that may help to mitigate the risk of negative consequences associated with violence exposure. Although future orientation has been described in research in several different ways, studies typically find that youth who have higher general future orientation are better able to guide their current actions …

Opioid Use Disorder In The Active Service: Incidence Rates And Behavioral Health Considerations, Brian A. Moore, Sophie Vincent, Michael Schlenk, Anne White

Symposium of Student Scholars

Military service members experience occupational specific injuries that often result in chronic pain, and comorbid behavioral health concerns that may be exacerbated by opioid use. Despite the vast amount of research examining substance use in the military, there is a dearth of literature examining the incidence of opioid use disorder (OUD). The present epidemiological study aims to examine the incident rate trends of OUD diagnoses among active duty service members between 2016 and 2021. The present study utilized data drawn from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED) to conduct a retrospective cohort study and calculate the incidence rate of OUD …

Wavelet Analysis Of Behavior Inhibition, Makayla Mcginnis, Bryant Giles

Symposium of Student Scholars

Poor impulse control is a sign of numerous psychological disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity syndrome (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD). In contrast, high levels of impulse control are correlated with academic achievement and other positive life outcomes. Because of this, it is important to understand how the brain functions when it is attempting to inhibit behaviors. This study examined impulse control using the stop-signal task while measuring brain activity with EEG. The sample consists of Kennesaw State University undergraduate students (n = 25). The stop-signal task requires the participant to respond to a particular stimulus as fast …

Understanding The Contributions Of Hormonal Contraceptives And Cortisol Levels To Fear Learning In Women, Sahil Bardai

Symposium of Student Scholars

Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder than men. Eighty-five percent of women in the US will use hormonal contraceptives at some point in their lifetime. Women who use hormonal contraceptives show heightened startle reactivity to a threatening stimulus. Previous results from our lab showed a significant increase in fear-potentiated startle (FPS) in women who were on hormonal contraceptives compared to women who were naturally cycling. These results stayed consistent throughout three acquisition trials. Others have shown that the use of OCPs (oral contraceptive pills) is related to the dysregulation of the HPA-axis and elevated …

The Mediation Basic Psychological Needs Has On Leaderships Styles And Outcomes, Eric Zhu

Symposium of Student Scholars

There has been a focus on which leadership styles relate to certain outcomes, such as burnout, organizational commitment, and positive/negative affect. It appear that what predicts whether or not a person feels positively or negatively about their organization and how much burnout they experience is not predicted by leadership styles in and of itself, but rather how the leadership style satisfies or frustrates basic psychological needs. Although organizational commitment does not seem to be predicted by basic psychological needs solely and that leadership style does play a significant, if secondary, role in its prediction, I believe that to be due …

Ptsd And Suicidality Among Student Service Members And Veterans (Ssm/Vs), Kimberly Gomes

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a commonly diagnosed condition among student service members and veterans (SSM/Vs). Many SSM/Vs who report PTSD symptoms also report suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts. Consequently, it is important to understand which factors may buffer or contribute to the risk for suicide among SSM/Vs with PTSD to inform appropriate interventions and future research.

Methods: A sample of student service members and veterans (SSM/Vs) from five southern universities (N = 377) completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms (i.e., PCL-5), suicidality (i.e., DSI-SS), dysfunction, and recovery (i.e., DRDI). We conducted two moderation analyses to examine interactions …

Classifying Dogs’ Facial Expressions: Implications For Human Cognitive Social Evolution And Cross-Species Communication, Lauren Mitchell

Symposium of Student Scholars

Facial expressions have been considered outward expressions of internal behavioral states. There is evidence that both dogs and humans subscribe to the social learning theory to acquire contextual information from past experiences in connecting facial expressions to behaviors. Previous research has shown that people are able to read dog facial expressions; however, the research is inconsistent on whether this behavior is innate or learned, as well as if this ability extends to dogs of different facial morphologies. The goal of this study was to understand the extent of humans’ ability to read facial expressions of dog breeds with different facial …

Examining The Experiences Of Black, White, And Other Student Groups On Campus, Christopher Pauyo, Reanna Tran, Kaelyn Ireland

Symposium of Student Scholars

The climate of a university can be critical to the experiences and mental health of students on a university’s campus (Budge et al., 2020), as such it is necessary to examine the experiences that perpetuate a university’s racial climate. Past psychological research has aimed to reduce negative emotional reactions born of race-related experiences in targeted and marginalized groups (Carter & Forsyth, 2020; Kim, 2016). Although the focus of prior research was essential in improving the experiences of people of color, other directions such as, analyzing the similarities and differences between experiences and emotional reactions of different racial groups, exist as …

Exploring Antecedents And Outcomes Of Engineering Students’ Perceived Employability, Nicholas A. Leymeister

Symposium of Student Scholars

The purpose of this research is to investigate the antecedents and outcomes of engineering college students’ perceived employability, which refers to an individual’s perception of their ability to acquire satisfactory employment based on their professional qualifications. We hypothesized that psychological resilience, which describes an individual’s ability to bounce back from adversity, is positively related to perceived employability. Additionally, job seekers with learning goal orientation (LGO), who are motivated to improve their competence by acquiring and mastering new skills, were also hypothesized to have higher perceived employability. We further proposed that perceived employability is positively related to job search intensity and …

How Are You? A Comparison Of Race-Related Emotions On A Predominantly White College Campus, Aisha Duck, Andrew Lord, Avery Britt

Symposium of Student Scholars

How Are You? A Comparison of Race-Related Emotions on a Predominantly White College Campus

Aisha Duck, Andrew Lord, Avery Britt, and Kaelyn Ireland

Racial tension displayed during the events of Summer 2020 demonstrated a need for further discourse on racism and its consequences. Although previous researchers have proposed models that outline discrimination-related stress’s impact on minority groups, these models typically lack details regarding specific emotional reactions to discriminatory incidents (Harrel, 2000; Kim, 2016). Thus, the current study aims to assess KSU’s students’ emotional reactions and coping mechanisms related to racism. For this presentation, there is a particular focus on comparing …

Substance Use Disorders, Cognitive Dysfunction, And Neurodivergence In Emerging Adulthood, David Posada, Jordyn Hebert

Symposium of Student Scholars

Substance Use Disorders, Cognitive Dysfunction, and Neurodivergence in Emerging Adulthood

Posada, D., Herbert, J., Weingast, L., Holliday, E.

Cognitive functioning in college students with substance use disorders (SUD) has been widely researched, however, discussions have largely concentrated on executive functions (EF) such as working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. Literature on the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and SUD has largely underreported the influence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADD/ADHD) and other neurodivergent characteristics. The current review explores the state of the literature on the relationship between neurodivergence, cognitive dysfunction, and SUD in emerging adulthood. More specifically, it speculates whether college students …

The Development Of Purpose Among Marginalized Older Adults: A Resource For Resilient Aging, Ameesha Narine, Semper Habib, Shubam Sharma

Symposium of Student Scholars

Contrary to societal presumptions, older adults can show positive adaptation despite facing declines associated with late life (i.e., resilient aging; Wiles et al.,2019). One understudied resource that older adults may use to support their resilience is having a sense of purpose. Drawing on purpose has been shown to positively relate to mental and physical health (Musich et al., 2018). However, there is limited research that has examined how older adults develop purpose, particularly those who experience challenges due to aspects of their identity (i.e., due to marginalization). The current study explores older adults’ life stories to understand how a sense …

Trajectory Of Substance Use Disorders And Collegiate Recovery In Emerging Adults, Jordyn Hebert, Victoria Chaney, Rebecca Smith Msw, Thomas Bannard, Leah Weingast Ma, Danielle Dick Phd, Erica Holliday Phd

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) provide services to support emerging adults achieve academic success, while maintaining substance use disorder recovery. College and university campuses can often be considered abstinence-hostile environments, giving rise to the need of support services for students in recovery. A nationwide survey to understand the efficacy of services provided by CRPs was conducted to assess the demographics and academic profiles of students involved with CRPs. Co-occurring disorders including mental health issues, criminal histories, utilizations of recovery services and 12-step groups, and work histories of students were also assessed. CRPs can provide services and an environment to students …

Acute Stress Disorder: Incidence Findings And Diagnostic Implications For U.S. Active Duty Service Members, Michael A. Schlenk

Symposium of Student Scholars

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a psychiatric diagnosis that can occur between three days and one month following traumatic events such as injuries, violence, and/or experienced or threatened harm (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). ASD has long been utilized as a predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, literature examining ASD elucidates that predication of subsequent PTSD is not as reliable as once thought (Bonnano et al., 2012; Bryant, 2018). Further, there is a dearth of empirical literature examining ASD among active duty service members (SMs). As such, the present study sought to provide epidemiological data by …

An Examination Of College Experiences And Mental Health Outcomes For Black College Students In Georgia, Summer Burns, Anisah Bagasra

Symposium of Student Scholars

Minority students particularly, Black students face multiple different stressors compared to their peers while attending higher learning institutions. Current research has identified Black students’ experiences to be more cumbersome which places them at more risk for negative mental health outcomes. Black college students experience more systemic barriers with racial trauma, cultural mistrust, microaggressions, and belongingness, which all contribute to the experience of trauma faced by this demographic. These factors increase psychological distress and can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. However, there are limitations in current research identifying the differences of experiences affecting mental health outcomes between Black students who attended …

Striking A Balance: Evidence Synthesis Support For Graduate Students, Kelly Hangauer, Elizabeth Kline

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Evidence synthesis (ES) is the process of systematically collecting studies and synthesizing the findings using strict protocols and criteria. Common examples of ES include systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and scoping reviews. While ES has been commonplace in health sciences for many years, it has recently gained traction in non-health sciences fields such as the social sciences. In response to this growing trend, the IMLS-funded Evidence Synthesis Institute was created to offer librarians in-depth training on how to best provide ES support to disciplines outside the health sciences.

This presentation draws on the insights of two liaison librarians who work at public …

Creating A Support System For Online Graduate Students Learning New Software, Marisha C. Kelly

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

This poster outlines strategies for creating a support system for online graduate students learning new software. The Northcentral University (NCU) Library is a 100 percent online library providing services and delivering resources to students in a remote context. According to university facts and figures, approximately 98 percent of students are enrolled in a graduate program and nearly 69 percent of those students are pursuing a doctoral degree. In May 2019, a reference and instruction librarian developed a program to support graduate students learning how to use ProQuest RefWorks, a web-based research management tool. Elements of the program include synchronous options …

Adapting Applied Behavior Analysis In Autism Intervention To Improve Individualized Education For Children With Autism, Elisabeth Alonso

Symposium of Student Scholars

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) intervention for children diagnosed with autism provides detailed assessments of the clients’ abilities and guides skill acquisition with the goal of transitioning the client, often into a typical school classroom. The lack of accessible autism training and access to knowledgeable ABA professionals in school settings prevents teachers from engaging with their students on the autism spectrum. Furthermore, this gap in training does not equip teachers to follow through with the research-based interventions to improve students’ quality of life. Teachers must have an understanding of ABA in layman’s terms to improve the child’s classroom functioning. This research …

Examining Student Well-Being: The Development And Initial Validation Of The Psychological Vulnerability And Hardiness Scale, Kimberly D. Gomes

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Stress is a significant concern for undergraduate students, with some experiencing clinical levels of distress. Psychological vulnerability and hardiness are constructs that evaluate an individual’s sensitivity to stressors and protective factors related to maladaptive responses to distress. However, no measure has been developed to assess their combined effect.

Method: The present study examined the factor structure and correlates of the Psychological Vulnerability and Hardiness Scale (PVHS) in two samples (i.e., traditional university students and student veterans). Items were created through focus groups with occupational therapists who have experience assessing both constructs in university students. Factor structure and model …

Rural And Urban Influence On Intragroup Microaggressions Of Southeastern Filipino-Americans, Gabey Ramos

Symposium of Student Scholars

After considerable assessment, research has identified the significance of intragroup prejudice through the form of microaggressions. Microaggressions, in terms of intergroup dynamics, are a relatively new phenomenon, but literature on intragroup dynamics is arising alongside with it and provides a different relational perspective. By factoring in a multitude of variables, literature has suggested that the concept of intragroup microaggressions is a multidimensional behavior that varies amongst different Asian groups. By focusing even more so on the micro-level of ethnicity, most literature on the topic is based on model minority Asians in the United States’ West, Midwest, or Northeastern areas. That …

Attitudes Towards Recreational Drug Use: A Study Of Kennesaw State University Students, Matthew Fenner, Jack Arbuckle, Daron Pracharn, Aaron Murray, Katerina Joseph, Arely Cruz, Sierra Wynn, Coby Shepherd

Symposium of Student Scholars

Illicit substance usage has always formed a substantial controversy in society, with various substances being used for such goals as the relief of stress, the enhancement of attention, and the attainment of peer approval (Agarwal, Loukas, & Perry, 2018; Lui, 2019; Maahs, Weidner, & Smith, 2016). The main focus of this study is on collegiate students’ attitudes towards these drugs and the correlation of said attitudes with substance use. It has been found that college students react more positively to substance abuse treatment programs than their non-student counterparts. (Sahker, Acion, & Arndt, 2015) Therefore, it is essential to the success …

Ksu Student Anxiety Around Mass Shootings, Patrick Kielly, Angel Jaimes, Chris Gold, Madison Wilcox, Zach Peagler, Camari Stanley, Bailey St. Germain, Philip Williams-Jones, Nick Cotter

Symposium of Student Scholars

This research will examine the relationships among generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and fear of mass shootings, particularly for members of minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Previous research has examined the various types of mass public shootings and which ones receive more media attention. Previous research has also examined potential causes of mass shootings, ways to prevent them, and areas where mass shootings are common. There is little research on different types of anxiety (generalized and social) and how those correlate to fear of mass shootings, especially for minority groups in college. To examine this relationship, we will administer …

A Pilot Study Investigating Adopted Children’S Cultural Identity From Adopting Parents’ Perspective, Alyssa Mcveigh

Symposium of Student Scholars

Adopted children are faced with challenges of identity and a sense of belonging within their adopted family and environments. Research regarding adopted children suggests that their cultural identity is developed by the experiences they have within their biological culture such as, participating in holidays, meeting individuals who are from the same background or visiting their biological country. The goal of this pilot study was to explore the perspectives of adopting parents on their adopted children's cultural identity development, laying a foundation for the next study that will examine adopted children’s (college students) perspective. Ten adopting parents from The United States …

Impact Of Human Presence And Visual Access On Barking Behavior In Shelter Dogs, Emily W. Dowling, Jessie A. Catchpole, Christina M. Walthers, Madison J. Pattillo

Symposium of Student Scholars

Shelters can be stressful for dogs due to lack of predictability and control, social isolation, and busy environments. Providing dogs with more social opportunities and environmental predictability may improve their welfare. Barking may indicate stress and contribute to noise levels that are harmful to dogs and people. We investigated the impact of human presence and line of sight on barking. We manipulated line of sight by partially removing a crate barrier to allow the dogs visual access to other dogs and a better view of the room. We collected data on barking on 17 focal dogs as well as overall …

Investigating The Effects Of Wording On Perceptions Of Online Dog Adoption Advertisements, Sarah Barker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Investigating the Effects of Wording on Perceptions of Online Dog Adoption Advertisements

Sarah M. Barker1, Allison L. Martin1, Angela S. Kelling2, Megan L. Wilson3 , & Suma Mallavarapu1

1 Department of Psychological Science, Kennesaw State University

2 Department of Psychology, University of Houston Clear-Lake

3 Department Psychology, Georgia State University

Abstract

Dog adoption advertisements provide important behavioral and physical information about each dog to potential adopters. As potential adopters increasingly use the internet to find their next pet (Workman & Hoffman, 2015), online adoption advertisements have become an important part of the pet adoption process. Online adoption advertisements vary considerably …