Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Waking The Nightmare: Understanding The Relationship Between Trauma And Sleep In Children, Jacklyn Ewald

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This clinical dissertation expands upon previous research investigating the impact of trauma on children’s sleep quality. Prior research utilized subjective reports of trauma’s impact on sleep in children or objective measures which studied a specific traumatic event. This study used objective measures through cardiopulmonary coupling to study sleep in children with trauma exposure. Participants completed a questionnaire which included the Pediatric Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Related Life Events Screener (PEARLS) or Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire, Pediatric quality of life scale, the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and demographic information. Trauma was defined by endorsement of any items on the …

Reliability Analysis Of The Basc-3 Srp-A Content Scales With American Indian/Alaska Native Adolescents, Ryan Johnson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Historical trauma and context are necessary to comprehend and properly assess present-day issues faced by American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Historically, psychology research has not included minoritized and marginalized populations. A literature review pinpointed early assessment and intervention as critical for adolescents Although psychologists are increasingly aware of the importance of utilizing culturally-informed constructs, there is a lag in the update of assessment instruments. The BASC-3 is complex multidimensional assessment tool with potential to identify early-life issues for targeted intervention. Research on the reliability and validity of the BASC-3 is limited and sparse (Yetter & Foutch, 2017; Higa 2022), noting particular …

Systematic Replication And Further Validation Of The Dimensions Of Grace Scale, Amanda M. Durbin

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Recent research efforts in positive psychology and virtue ethics have inspired psychological research on many topics, including forgiveness, gratitude, optimism, character development, meaning development, and positive coping. A recent addition to this research has included the concept of grace. Emmons et al. (2017) define grace as “a gift given unconditionally and voluntarily to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver, the giver being either human or divine” (p. 279). One significant advancement in the study of grace includes the design of a research instrument to assess the experience of grace called the Dimensions of Grace Scale (Bufford et al., 2017). …

Examining The Associations Between Civic Engagement, Parenting Style, And Identity Development, Manesha Shalom Ram

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study explored important factors that may influence an individual’s level of civic engagement in early adulthood. Associations between parenting style, personal identity dimensions, and ethnic identity were explored, as each can have a significant influence on one’s political identity (Wray-Lake et al., 2020; Yates & Youniss, 1998). Participants were 231 undergraduate students from a small liberal arts university with a mean age of 20.0 years. Measures used include the Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran–Short Form (s-EMBU) (Arrindell et al., 1999), the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) (Luyckx et al., 2008), the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure—Revised (MEIM-R) (Phinney & …

The Effectiveness Of Group Treatments For Veterans: A Meta-Analysis, Janine S. Hazel

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Transitioning into civilian life after serving in the military can be a huge adjustment for many military members. The military lifestyle and culture are unique structures that become a large part of military members’ identity and belief systems. For decades, veterans have struggled with several mental health issues and other poor outcomes at higher rates than non-military individuals (i.e., depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, homelessness, financial distress). Often, these poor outcomes can leave veterans feeling alone and misunderstood by their non-military community—impacting their ability to reintegrate into civilian life successfully. Social isolation and a lack of felt interconnectedness negatively affect veterans’ …

A Mixed-Methods Study Of Religious, Spiritual, And Psychological Change In Ireland, James D. Conway

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Throughout the 20th century, over 90% of all individuals living in Ireland identified as Roman Catholic, but recent shifts have altered the country's religious landscape. According to the most recent national census, 70% of individuals still identify as Catholic (Central Statistics Office, 2023). However, they also reported a 187% increase in those claiming “no religion” over the last eleven years—making it now the second largest group (Central Statistics Office, 2023). This mixed-methods study investigated the factors behind these changes, surveying one hundred nine Irish individuals from sixteen counties using six validated measures, and conducting thirteen qualitative interviews. Quantitative and qualitative …

An Exploration Of Social Connection And Spiritual Well-Being In Young Adults, Rebecca Crowder

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Loneliness is multi-faceted, but few studies have tried to define or explore the experience of spiritual loneliness, and fewer still have explored loneliness’s relation to spiritual well-being (Chornobai, 2020). To date, no known studies have explored in what way a dyadic experience focused on spiritual exercises might impact spiritual loneliness and spiritual well-being in young adults. This study examined in what way spending time with a person in a spiritual context (i.e., practicing Lectio Divina as a dyad), impacts a person’s experience of spiritual loneliness, spiritual well-being, and friendship. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: Lectio …

Traumatic Brain Injury And Public Stigma: The Effect Of Perceived Responsibility, Mackenzie Grenko

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Mental Health On The Go: Navigating Travel And Travel Eligibility, Fangli Hu, Jun Wen, Weng M. Lim, Haifeng Hou, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The 21st century has seen tourists from various source markets significantly impacted by non-communicable diseases, including mental disorders. Yet, research and practice frequently overlook tourists with mental disorders. Building on Buckley’s discussion in the Journal of Travel Research about tourism and mental health, this study examines the travel eligibility of tourists diagnosed with four prevalent mental disorders: major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), schizophrenia, and dementia. We present preliminary recommendations for accommodating these tourists and highlight the urgent need for collaborative efforts between stakeholders in tourism, hospitality, and medicine. © The Author(s) 2023.

Engaging Sexual Minority Adolescents In Nationwide At-Home Hiv Prevention Research In The U.S, Ali J. Talan, Carly Wolfer, Nicola Tavella, Cynthia Cabral, Ricardo Despradel, H. Jonathon Rendina

Publications and Research

Objectives: This study examined research-related privacy and confidentiality concerns among adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM) and provides lessons learned to inform recruitment and enrollment strategies for this population.

Methods: Participants were a 2017-2018 internet-based U.S. national sample of sexual minority adolescents who responded to self-report measures of privacy and confidentiality concerns. Results: Bivariate chi-square tests were used to identify participants’ mean differences in worry and likelihood of privacy breach occurrences. Many participants reported privacy-related concerns within remote HIV prevention research.

Conclusions: Study protocols were designed to ensure participants felt safe participating in online HIV prevention research. However, there are challenges …

A Tai Chi And Qigong Mind-Body Program For Low Back Pain: A Virtually Delivered Randomized Control Trial, Yang Yang, Sydne Mccluskey, Mohamad Bydon, Jaspal Ricky Singh, Robert D. Sheeler, Karim Rizwan Nathani, Ana C. Krieger, Neel D. Mehta, Joshua Weaver, Libin Jia, Sharo Decelle, Robert C. Schlagal, Jay Ayar, Sahar Abduljawad, Steven D. Stovitz, Ravindra Ganesh, Jay Verkuilen, Kenneth A. Knapp, Lin Yang, Roger Härtl

Publications and Research

Background: Mind-body treatments have the potential to manage pain, yet their effectiveness when delivered online for the treatment of low back pain (LBP) is unknown. We sought to evaluate whether a virtually delivered mind-body program integrating tai chi, qigong, and meditation (VDTQM) is effective for treating LBP.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared VDTQM (n=175) to waitlist control (n=175). Eligible participants were at least 18 years old, had LBP for at least 6 weeks, were not pregnant, had not previously taken tai chi classes, and had not undergone spine surgery within 6 months. The treatment group received a 12-week VDTQM …

Living With Depression In The Family: A Narrative Inquiry Methodology For Seeking Meaning Through Stories, Amanda Cole, Vivien Kemp, Julie Ann Pooley, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Depression is a cause of disability globally and affects not only the person living with the condition, but the whole family. How people construct meaning to ‘live well’ and make sense of the reality of living with a person diagnosed with depression were explored through narrative inquiry and stories. The purpose of this article is to justify the use of narrative inquiry methodology to explore how people make meaning and find ways to live well and live with a family member who lives with depression. An interpretivist epistemological perspective, with the ontological principles of critical realism, and a social constructionist …

Changes In Sleep Effort Mediate Insomnia Severity In Older Adults Following Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Yvonne Kutzer, Lisa Whitehead, Eimear Quigley, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background

To examine treatment mechanisms of digitally delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), this study assessed the mediating effects of dysfunctional beliefs, hyperarousal, locus of control, self-efficacy, sleep effort, and safety behaviours on self-reported insomnia severity in older adults before and following the completion of a self-guided, online CBT-I program.

Methods

The baseline and follow-up measurements were completed by 62 older adults (55 female, 89%). This was a two-condition within-participant design. Mediation analysis using a parallel mediation model was conducted using the MEMORE macro for repeated measure designs.

Results

Out of all the included mediator variables, only a reduction …

Further Development Of The Reflective Practice Questionnaire, Shane L. Rogers, Lon Van Winkle, Nicole Michels, Cherie Lucas, Hassan Ziada, Eduardo J. Da Silva, Amit Jotangia, Sebastian Gabrielsson, Silje Gustafsson, Lynn Priddis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This article provides an update of the Reflective Practice Questionnaire (RPQ). The original RPQ consisted of 40-items with 10-sub-scales. In this article, the RPQ is streamlined into a 10-item single reflective practice construct, and a 30-item extended version that includes additional sub-scales of confidence, uncertainty/ stress, and work satisfaction. Methods: A total of 501 university students filled out an online questionnaire that contained the original Reflective Practice Questionnaire, and two general measures of reflection: The Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, and the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire. Results: Based on factor analysis, the RPQ was streamlined into a brief 10-item version, and an …

Physical Health Of People With Mental Illness: A Snapshot Of Consumer Engagement In The Provision Of Care In Primary Care., Irene Ngune, Dianne Wynaden, Karen Heslop

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Primary care is crucial to the health of people with mental illness. However, there is limited information on their reported engagement in this setting. This study surveyed 100 people with mental illness who had a general practitioner or a general practitioner and a case manager from a tertiary mental health service to determine their engagement level with their GP and what interventions they received to manage their health. Forty-four per cent had their psychotropic medications primarily prescribed by their GP, and 58% reported visiting their GP for physical health problems. Ninety-four point nine percent of participants aged 50 years and …

Evidence That Pervasive Body Gaze Behavior In Heterosexual Men Is A Social Marker For Implicit, Physiological, And Explicit Sexual Assault Propensities, Ross C. Hollett, Hannah West, Candice Craig, Lorna Marns, James Mccue

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Deliberate and effortful attempts to gaze at the bodies of women is emerging as a valuable marker of sexual objectification in men. Some preliminary evidence suggests that pervasive body gaze behavior may also accompany insidious attitudes which can facilitate sexual assault. The present study aimed to further explore this potential by examining pervasive body gaze associations with explicit, implicit, and physiological sexual assault propensity measures. We presented 110 heterosexual male participants with images of fully and partially dressed women with and without injuries while measuring their skin conductance responses. We also captured implicit and explicit sexual assault measures in addition …

Conditional Love: Perceived Parental Religiosity And Self-Esteem In Lesbian Women, Sarah Teske

Scripps Senior Theses

There is a variety of research linking religiosity and internalized homonegativity with negative mental health outcomes in queer populations. Minority stress theory can be used to better understand the mechanisms that perpetuate these relationships. However, little research in this area focuses on parental religiosity and lesbian women’s unique experiences. This study seeks to remedy the gap in the literature by investigating the relationship between perceived parental religiosity, internalized homonegativity and self-esteem in lesbian women. To do so, Christian lesbian women will complete an online survey on measures of each of these constructs. It is expected that perceived parental religiosity will …

Ability To Reduce Gram Scams Through Educational Intervention, Ellis Garel

Scripps Senior Theses

Objective: This study aims to understand why people fall for scams and seeks to explore what interventions for scam prevention are the most effective in older adults. Participants: Approximately 686 participants aged 65 and above will be randomly assigned to view one of four intervention types: celebrity endorsement PSA, community-based PSA, personal advice from a family member, or the control group. Method: A path analysis will be conducted to examine how the type of intervention, gender of the participant, and history of financial fraud, mediated through concerns and susceptibility to scams, impact the propensity to fall for a hypothetical scam …

Influence Of Collectivistic And Individualistic Cultures On Adhd Treatment Preferences And Efficacy In Adults, Natasha Sethia

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the influence of collectivistic and individualistic cultural values on the treatment preferences and efficacy for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults. Drawing upon theories like Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and Markus and Kitayama's concept of Independent and Interdependent Selves, it examines how cultural norms shape perceptions and management strategies for ADHD. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, incorporating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with a diverse sample of adults diagnosed with ADHD. We hypothesize that there will be a preference for Western medicine among individualistic cultures and traditional remedies among collectivistic cultures. It also expects to find that individuals …

Communicating Through Dance: Examining Dance & Behavioral Therapy To Treat Selective Mutism, Clara Spitz

Scripps Senior Theses

Very little research has been done to examine the efficacy of treatments for adolescents with selective mutism (SM). Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been distinguished as one of the optimal treatment styles for SM, a significant portion of research in this area has focused on children. Additionally, it often incorporates play therapy, which may not necessarily apply as effectively to older populations. Dance therapy has emerged as a promising and innovative treatment for various anxiety and communication issues. Although specific studies on its application to SM are limited, existing research suggests its potential effectiveness in addressing this condition as …

The Evolution Of Attractiveness: A Comparative Analysis Of Beauty Norms At Scripps College, Molly Craig

Scripps Senior Theses

This undergraduate thesis investigates the beauty norms present at Scripps College, a historically women's college in California. The study extends previous research by introducing the concept of the 'beauty gap' between the Real Beauty Standard (RBS) and the Perceived Beauty Standard (PBS), highlighting the influence of meso-level norms within the college community. Utilizing a newly developed scale, the Attractiveness Standard Norms (ASN), in addition to the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale and the Self-Objectification Questionnaire, the research examines the evolution of beauty norms between Freshmen and Senior year. A sample of 57 respondents from the Freshman and Senior classes participated in …

Synthetic Neuroactive Steroids Targeting Gaba-A Receptors As A Potential Therapy For Contraceptive-Associated Mood Disorders, Alexandria A. Davis

Scripps Senior Theses

4-10% of women who use hormonal oral contraceptives (HOCs) discontinue use after experiencing symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and depression in the first 3 months of administration. Previous studies have acknowledged a relationship between HOCs and emotional dysregulation but have not identified mechanisms by which HOCs have this effect. As a result, effective treatment options for HOC-induced mood disorders are lacking. Current theories implicate combined-HOCs, particularly those containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (EE-LNG), in reducing neuroactive steroid levels. Specifically, HOC users show decreases in allopregnanolone, a positive allosteric modulator associated with neuronal inhibition and emotional regulation. The objective of this study …

Black Maternal Healthcare: The Impact Of Black Doulas On Pregnant Black Women, Andrea M. Siame

Scripps Senior Theses

Pregnancy disproportionately puts the lives of Black women at risk, causing stress, mistrust, and discomfort to be integral aspects of their perinatal experiences. This stress, mistrust, and discomfort is rooted in Black women’s understanding of the structural racism embedded in the healthcare system. In order for Black women’s psyche to be adequately cared for during their pregnancy, they need perinatal support that places Black feminist theories into practice in their support of Black women. This means that it is necessary to provide support that is rooted in reproductive justice, giving autonomy to Black women during their pregnancy. This support can …

A Preliminary Study On Intra-Departmental Abuse In A Central American Police Force, Emily Veroeven

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The aim of this study was to serve as a preliminary analysis to investigate the prevalence of sexual violence in the Belize defense and police force, the impact on victim’s lives, and the culture of military/police force. This mixed-methods study was conducted through a Qualtrics survey, and 34 participants were obtained. This survey contained a variety of dichotomous, multiple-response, and open-ended questions. This study found that 54.5% reported as a victim of sexual violence in the workplace. We also found that most victims did not report the crime, and many victims’ perceptions of their workplace has changed. A thematic content …

Enhancing A School Readiness Skill Through A Mindfulness-Based Intervention: Soles Of The Feet, Caitlin J. Moen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Approximately one million children enroll in kindergarten each year with varying levels of experience and school readiness. Fundamental school readiness skills parallel executive functioning skills, which multiple interventions are able to target. School readiness intervention programs can be costly and require a considerable amount of training. Teachers and other school staff need an affordable, easy-to-implement intervention that targets critical school readiness skills. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been found to improve executive functioning skills like self-regulation, which is skill for school readiness. Soles of the Feet (SOF) is an evidence-based MBI that has been found effective for increasing self-regulation in schoolaged …

Examining Driver Preferences For Intelligent Audiovisual Warnings At Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, Samantha Walker

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Driver noncompliance and poor decision-making are known contributors to highway-rail grade crossing incidents and accidents. Recent advances in intelligent in-vehicle warning systems have provided new opportunities for improved safety at highway-rail grade crossings. Intelligent warning systems that can communicate between connected vehicles and the infrastructure (V2I) have been proposed to improve safety. However, limited human factors research has been conducted regarding how drivers might react to these in-vehicle warnings. This study evaluated driver preferences, use cases, and message design variations for in-vehicle audiovisual warnings for rail crossing warning violations by varying two message factors: message length and whether the message …

Adverse Childhood Experiences Increasing The Likelihood Of Substance Use Disorder, Kelsey L. Cain

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Parental Divorce In Childhood On Depression Among Adults, Amy Stoermer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between parental divorce and depression in emerging young adults who responded to the 2019 BRFSS study. The 2019 BRFSS utilized a Disproportionate Stratified Sample design to gather data across all states in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The final number of participants used in this study was 50,804, ranging in age from 18 through 30. The number of male participants was 27,208 and the number of female participants was 23,596. The race of participants consisted of 31,177 white/non-Hispanic, 4,327 black/non-Hispanic, 3,443 Asian/non-Hispanic, and 2,831 …

Enhancing Students’ User Experience With A Code Critiquer, Laura E. Albrant

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis explores the role of human factors in the realm of code critiquers and students’ experiences with them. Across three studies, the work utilized Design Thinking to improve the user experience of WebTA for introductory engineering students learning MATLAB. The first two studies gathered observational and interview data to empathize, define, and ideate a new user interface (UI). Said UI was prototyped and then tested with the third study. Overall, the surveys’ data suggests that most students found the new design to be more appealing, useful, and purposeful; however, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Additionally, analysis …

A Study Of Inhibition Development In Young Children, Ai Thi Thanh Hoang

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Child inhibition can be learned consciously and unconsciously, and it is highly dependent on the quality of interaction with adults (i.e., parents and teachers). However, little is known about the impact of teachers’ emotional management and sensitivity on the development of inhibition skills among students in early childhood classrooms. This dissertation takes an integrative approach to explore whether teacher-child relationship and teacher self-efficacy have a bidirectional connection and how they work to impact child inhibition, directly and indirectly. The present research utilizes the large nationally represented Early Childhood Longitudinal Study 2010-2011, sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics in …