Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Testing Resilience As A Moderator Of The Torture-Mental Health Relationship In Refugee Survivors Of Torture, Phyu Pannu Khin

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

There may be as many as 1.3 million refugee survivors of torture currently living in the United States (Center for Victims of Torture, 2015). Torture is a unique predictor of various debilitating mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety (Quiroga & Jaranson, 2005). The current study focuses on a clinical sample of refugee survivors of torture to examine resilience-promoting factors including external protective factors, community engagement, employment, and English fluency, and an internal protective factor, psychological flexibility. This study conducted moderation analyses utilizing the PROCESS program in SPSS (Hayes, 2013) to better understand the moderating impacts …

Healthcare Provider Communication In Teens With Type 1 Diabetes: Parental Overprotection And Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills, Tori Humiston

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a complex chronic illness requiring both complex daily treatments and ongoing healthcare provider interactions to support optimal glycemic levels necessary for long-term health and quality of life. Adolescents do not manage their T1D by themselves but rather in collaboration with parents who often help in health tasks and navigating healthcare provider interactions. Although parental support is critical for the adolescent’s development of disease-management skills, it requires parents maintain a delicate balance of allowing adolescent autonomy and providing parent support. When parental support shifts to parental overprotection, i.e., restricting and limiting an adolescent’s activity engagement, it …

Associative Structures Underlying Discriminated Three-Response Behavior Chains, Noelle Loren Michaud

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Instrumental behavior often consists of sequences of responses, or chains, that lead to a primary reinforcing outcome. These responses often differ in terms of both topography and the discriminative stimuli that set the occasion for them. Previous studies have focused on two response chains. They have shown that extinction of R1 weakens the associated R2, and conversely that extinction of R2 also weakens R1. To expand what little we know about discriminated instrumental chains, as well as the associative structure that underlies them, in the present experiments we test the effects of separately extinguishing individual responses on other target responses …

Adhd Behaviors And Social Functioning In Preschool Children: The Moderating Roles Of Inhibitory Control And Emotion Recognition, Allison Krasner

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the moderating roles of inhibitory control and emotion recognition on the association between preschoolers’ ADHD behaviors and social functioning outcomes. Fifty-six preschoolers were recruited from Head Start-affiliated classrooms. Teacher-rated ADHD behaviors and objective measures of children’s inhibitory control and emotion recognition were assessed at the beginning of the school year. Teacher ratings of social functioning outcomes were obtained approximately three months after the start of school. Hierarchical regressions examined the unique and interactive effects of ADHD behaviors and each focal moderator (i.e., inhibitory control or emotion recognition) on preschoolers’ social functioning outcomes (i.e., oppositional behaviors, peer behavior …

The Relationship Between Dominant And Submissive Sexual Fantasies And Behaviors And Sexual Satisfaction, Lilian Rae Dalton

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Sexual fantasies of dominance and submission are commonly reported as preferred fantasies in healthy women, yet little is understood regarding whether these fantasies affect other aspects of sexuality (Leitenberg et al., 1995). Even less research exists regarding associations between dominant and submissive fantasies, dominant and submissive sexual behavior, and resulting sexual satisfaction. It is not well understood how sexual fantasy may translate into sexual behavior in non-clinical populations, and what factors might facilitate or inhibit individuals’ engagement in sexual behavior that matches their sexual fantasies.

The current study measured the relationship between dominant and submissive sexual fantasies, dominant and submissive …

Capturing The Experiences Of Gender Non-Conforming Children Through The Minority Stress Model, Hannah Loso

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Gender non-conforming (GNC) adolescents experience staggering rates of peer and family victimization and discrimination. Recent research suggests children who present as GNC are more likely to experience distress regardless of their gender identity (e.g. Wilson et al., 2017). Increased mental health issues experienced by GNC youth can be conceptualized using Ilan Meyer’s Minority Stress model (Meyer, 1995; Meyer, 2003). This model posits three major processes related to minority stress: (1) distal - external and objective stressful conditions, (2) proximal - the expectation of victimization or discrimination and (3) internalization of negative societal attitudes related to one’s minority status. Although minority …

Children's Conflict Appraisals, Temperamental Negative Affectivity, Affect And Arousal In The Context Of Interparental Conflict., Phuong Nguyen

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Children’s affect and physiological arousal when exposed to interparental conflict have been identified as prominent mechanisms connecting their experience of parental discord and adjustment outcomes (Buehler et al., 2007; Davies et al., 2007). However, how children feel emotionally and physiologically can vary greatly depending on their intrapersonal attributes, such as a temperamental tendency toward negative affect or perceptions of the conflict (Hentges et al., 2015; Weldon et al., 2019). Furthermore, conflict perceptions and temperament can work in conjunction to influence children’s affect and physiology when observing marital conflict (Grych & Fincham, 1990). More specifically, high levels of negative conflict perceptions …

Exploring Weight Control Expectancies As A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Fear Of Fat And Nicotine Dependence In Smokers And Vapers, Emily Pomichter

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Specific drug-use expectancies are shaped by reports from others about the effects of the drug, by an individual’s own experience with the drug, or by both. The present study hypothesized that, among smokers and e-cigarette users (vapers), an individual’s fear of weight gain would be associated with higher endorsement of appetite and weight control expectancies from nicotine use, which in turn would be associated with self-reported levels of nicotine dependence. The participants were smokers (n = 514) and vapers (n = 412) who responded to a Qualtrics survey advertised via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform. As predicted, nicotine’s appetite and weight …

Body Mass Index And Atypical Balance Score As Predictors Of Treatment Outcomes For Seasonal Affective Disorder, Praise Iyiewuare

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Efficacious treatments for winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) include light therapy (LT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-SAD); however, it is unknown whether patient baseline characteristics differentially predict treatment outcomes. The present study investigated body mass index (BMI) and atypical balance as prognostic and prescriptive predictors of SAD treatment outcomes using data from a parent study in which 177 adults diagnosed with Major Depression, Recurrent with Seasonal Pattern were randomized to either CBT-SAD (n = 88) or LT (n = 89). At pre-treatment, BMI was assessed and atypical balance was derived using the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for …

Personality Pathology In Winter Depression: Prevalence And Treatment Trajectories In Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy And Light Therapy, Julia Marie Terman

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Personality disorders are highly comorbid with major depression; however, findings are mixed regarding their impact on depression treatment outcomes and trajectories. Limited research has studied personality pathology in winter depression, specifically. This study (1) explored the prevalence of personality pathology in winter depression and (2) examined its effects on winter depression treatment trajectories. Participants were 174 adults with Major Depression, Recurrent with Seasonal Pattern from a randomized clinical trial comparing group cognitive-behavioral therapy for seasonal affective disorder (CBT-SAD) and light therapy. Participants completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III; Millon et al., 1994) at baseline. The prevalence of MCMI-III-defined pathological …

The Use Of Technology For Mental Wellbeing In The Era Of Covid-19, Adam Fakhri

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Prevalence of mental health issues has increased during the time of COVID-19. There are many contributing factors to consider, the main one reported has been social isolation due to quarantine precautions. Members of the community have spent extended periods of time at home and away from their loved ones during this pandemic. Many patients have reported many life events occurring including deaths in the family without the ability to even mourn with their family members. This has taken a toll on the community, especially in Vergennes where this small tight knit community that has relied on its tight social bonds …

Parent Status And Post-Traumatic Stress Severity Experienced By Refugees, Holly Taylor Weldon

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Rates of post-traumatic stress in adult refugees are exceedingly high, occurring at ten times that of the general United States population. The current study examines an understudied, but common, potential risk factor to the exacerbation and maintenance of severe post-traumatic stress symptoms in refugee populations: parenting. While parent status is an established correlate of PTSD in other populations (i.e., veterans, broadly defined immigrants), no studies have examined how parent status is related to post-traumatic stress symptoms in refugee populations. The current study draws upon a clinic-presenting sample of 150 refugee adults. Linear regressions were employed to determine (1) whether parent …

Perceived Addictiveness Of Marijuana, Tobacco And Alcohol Use In Vermont Youth And Young Adults: Associations Between Addiction Perceptions, Sociodemographics, And Substance Use, Julia C. West

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Dual and poly-tobacco and substance use are increasingly prevalent in youth and young adults. Current substance use prevention media efforts target addiction perceptions in young people; however, little is known about the perceived addictiveness of multiple substances among young people. The goal of the current study is to examine youth and young adults perceive addictiveness across several substances and the associations between addiction perceptions and substance use. Data were collected in Spring and Summer 2019 (Waves 1 and 2) as part of PACE Vermont, an online cohort study of Vermonters aged 12–25. Latent class analyses grouped participants by responses to …

Implications Of Attitudes On Environmental Challenges: Understanding The Human Dimensions Of Invasive Insects In New England Landowners, Ariana Margarita Cano Gomez

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Many scientists argue that the threat of invasive insects is one of the most pressingenvironmental issues of our time. Decades of research quantify the threat and risk invasive species pose to the New England Forest, yet there is little research combining both the ecological impacts of invasive insects and human attitudes of the potential threats they pose. This dissertation aims to understand the current attitude of landowners in the New England region that are experiencing the threat of hemlock woolly adelgid, emerald ash borer, or Asian longhorned beetle. This dissertation includes three different studies focusing on social psychology frameworks and …

Examining Antepartum Quit Attempts Using A Latent Factor Model Of A Hypothetical Cigarette Purchase Task, Carolyn Grace Evemy

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Previous research has validated the use of hypothetical purchase tasks to measure smoking demand among pregnant women. This study extends that research by (1) examining the factor loading pattern of a hypothetical cigarette purchase task (CPT) in a sample of pregnant women who smoke, and (2) comparing the ability of the latent factor solution to predict antepartum quit attempts relative to more conventional predictors. Participants were 665 pregnant women seeking enrollment in a smartphone-based smoking-cessation trial. Data were taken from an intake assessment that included the CPT, the Kirby delayed discounting task, sociodemographic and smoking-history questionnaires, and assessment of antepartum …

The Developmental Course Of Adhd In The Preschool Classroom: Toward A Prevention Treatment Framework, Caroline Martin

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The objective of this study was to examine the developmental trajectories of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom levels during preschool among a majority Head Start sample of 261 three- to five-year-old children (87% Head Start; 59% Caucasian; 53% boys; Mage = 3.97 years). Teacher ratings of ADHD symptom levels across four time points within the academic year demonstrated, on average, a course of increasing inattention that decelerated over time and a course of steadily increasing hyperactivity/impulsivity. When accounting for the clustering of children within classrooms, both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity showed an average increasing trajectory over the year with no deceleration. Group-based …

Predictors Of Suicidal Ideation Among Formerly Incarcerated People During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rachel Matthes Gehman

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Background and purpose: Formerly incarcerated people die by suicide at a rate 6.75 times higher than the general population, but previous research has not identified factors that contribute to this heightened risk. The conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate both suicide risk factors and the stressors of reentry. In the framework of stress proliferation theory, this study uses path analysis to identify paths from incarceration history to environmental factors (i.e., financial stress), interpersonal factors (i.e., social support and conflict), psychological factors (i.e., depression and existential isolation, the feeling of being alone in one’s subjective experience), and their subsequent relationship …

Autonomic Reactivity In Emerging Adulthood : Relationships Between Cyberbullying , The Autonomic Nervous System, And Clinical Outcomes., Aya Cheaito

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, online environments have become critical ways of connecting among college students. With the increase in online interactions, cybervictimization has been identified as a public health issue. This study aims to examine whether cybervictimization among college students is associated with clinical adjustment outcomes such as depression and alcohol consumption. This study also aims to examine whether reactivity in the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) jointly moderate the relationship between cyberbullying and depression/alcohol consumption, indicating sensitivity to the environment. Participants (n =164, 69% female, M age = 19.92, SD = …

The Development And Validation Of The Supportive Other Experiences Questionnaire: Integrating The Perspectives Of The Social Support Provider After Traumatic Injury, Katherine Ann Van Stolk-Cooke

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Social support is considered to be a protective factor against the development of PTSD after trauma. However, examinations of the social support-PTSD relationship have relied primarily on the self-reports of trauma-exposed individuals to the exclusion of their support providers. A new measure, the Supportive Other Experiences Questionnaire (SOEQ) was developed based on social support theory, prior research and psychometrics in order to capture important components of social support from the perspective of the support provider. Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) platform who served as support providers to a traumatically injured romantic partner were recruited to …

Language Problems And Adhd Behaviors: Associations With School Readiness In An At-Risk Preschool Sample, Marissa Dennis

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

This study examines the unique and interactive effects of preschoolers’ receptive language ability and ADHD behavior levels on social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, and mathematics school readiness, over and above the effects of socioeconomic status (SES). At the start of the preschool year, 49 predominantly low-SES preschool children completed a receptive language task and teachers rated their ADHD behavior levels. School readiness data were collected approximately three months after the start of the school year. First, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for covariates and the non-focal predictor (i.e., ADHD behaviors or receptive language ability), higher levels of receptive …