Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Culturally Considerate Trauma-Focused Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment In Latine/X Populations: A Scoping Review, Alejandra Kukuli Delgado, Ryan Holliday, Shira Maguen, Nicholas Holder

Psychology Student Research

Background/Objectives: While theoretical articles describing cultural considerations for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment in Latine/x populations exist, empirical trials are less common. The present study aimed to review the existing literature for empirically tested, trauma-focused PTSD treatments among Latine/x samples to describe treatment outcomes, cultural considerations, and gaps in the existing literature. Methods: For this scoping review, we identified studies that met inclusion criteria as culturally considerate, trauma-focused PTSD treatments reporting symptom outcomes in Latine/x adults. We searched databases (n = 7) and collected 2176 unique records. Six reports met inclusion criteria. Studies enrolled 176 participants into five …

The Power Of Disconnecting: The Moderating Effect Of Decompression On Safety Culture And Organizational Commitment In Nurses, Mackenzie Zimmerman

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Dissertations

This dissertation examines the role of decompression in moderating and mediating the relationship between safety culture and affective organizational commitment among nurses in a pediatric healthcare organization. Data from 908 nurses were analyzed to test two primary hypotheses. The first hypothesis proposed that safety culture would positively predict organizational commitment, and the results supported this, showing that stronger safety cultures were associated with greater organizational commitment (b = 0.55, p < .001). The second hypothesis suggested that decompression would moderate the relationship between safety culture and organizational commitment. However, decompression did not significantly moderate this relationship across the overall sample (b = 0.03, p = .258). Post hoc mediation analysis, however, revealed that decompression acted as a significant mediator (b = 0.071, p = .05), highlighting that decompression enhances the effect of safety culture on organizational commitment. These findings underscore the importance of fostering a strong safety culture and implementing decompression strategies, such as mindfulness practices and structured breaks, to improve nurse well-being and retention. Implications for healthcare organizations aiming to enhance workforce resilience and commitment are discussed, alongside suggestions for future research exploring departmental variations in decompression's effectiveness.

Twitter Politics: The Effect Of Language Style And Source Type On Credibility Judgments, Grace M. Wasinger, Haley Moon, Brooke Mann

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

Politicians can harness social media to influence public perception and shape narratives about current events. Twitter is a social media site that many users engage with for information-seeking purposes. This study investigates how language style and source type influences media viewers’ perceptions on Twitter. In an experiment, participants were presented with tweets that varied by the formality of language used and the type of account used varied by political or personal accounts. Findings suggest a difference in source credibility judgments on the account type and language style used. Specifically, participants viewed formal language and professional accounts as more competent, while …

Gratitude And Personality: A Meta-Analysis, Nancy E. Frye, Selenay Aytac, Michele M. Dornisch

Post Library Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between gratitude and personality through a comprehensive review of existing research and a meta-analysis of findings on the correlation between gratitude and the Big Five personality dimensions.

Dental Phobia And Oral Health: Assessing Its Impact On Quality Of Life, Mahak Sargodhia, Kamran H. Awan

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Benefits Of Equilibrium Between Microbiota- And Host-Derived Ligands Of The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor After Stroke In Aged Male Mice, Pedram Peesh, Maria P Blasco-Conesa, Ahmad El Hamamy, Romeesa Khan, Gary U Guzman, Parisa Honarpisheh, Eric C Mohan, Grant W Goodman, Justin N Nguyen, Anik Banerjee, Bryce E West, Kyung Ae Ko, Janelle M Korf, Chunfeng Tan, Huihui Fan, Gabriela D Colpo, Hilda Ahnstedt, Lucy Couture, Solji Roh, Julia K Kofler, Jose F Moruno-Manchon, Michael E Maniskas, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Rodney M Ritzel, Juneyoung Lee, Jun Li, Robert M Bryan, Anjali Chauhan, Venugopal Reddy Venna, Louise D Mccullough, Bhanu Priya Ganesh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of microglia (MG) and their interactions with the gut microbiome in post-stroke neuroinflammation. The activation of immunoregulatory pathways, including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway, is influenced by a dynamic balance of ligands derived from both the host and microbiota. This study aimed to investigate the association between stroke-induced dysbiosis and the resultant imbalance in AHR ligand sources (loss of microbiota-derived [indole-based] and increase of host-derived [kynurenine-based]) after stroke. Microbiota-derived AHR ligands decreased in human plasma and remained low for days following an ischemic stroke highlighting the translational significance. Transient-middle-cerebral-artery-occlusion was performed in …

Physical And Mental Health Experiences Of Obese Men Living In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to public health worldwide, significantly impacting vulnerable populations like obese men in the United States. This qualitative descriptive study involved exploring how these men perceived the pandemic’s impact on their physical and mental health, addressing a critical gap in existing literature. The research question that guided this study was: How did obese men living in the United States perceive the stressor that was the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and mental health? Guided by the biopsychosocial model, the study involved using semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who were recruited online through social media. Thematic …

Podcasting Towards Togetherness: Utilizing Podcasts To Improve Departmental Camaraderie And Well-Being, Michael Petrauskis, Colleen Gutman, Rosemarie Fernandez

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Physician burnout is on the rise, and this is of particular concern in emergency medicine. Burnout is associated with medical errors, adverse events, poor professionalism, and litigation. A sense of community can build engagement and mitigate workplace stressors on well-being. Emergency physicians may have trouble connecting due to the nature of shift-work and various practice settings. Communication technology, and particularly podcasting, has the potential to help overcome these barriers and positively impact relatedness and well-being.

Approach: We developed an inward-facing podcast, “The ER Break Room” within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida. Through the …

Therapists’ Experiences In Cases Of High-Conflict Divorce Among Individuals With Personality Issues, Tamara Soal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-conflict divorce (HCD) involves prolonged conflict exceeding 2 years, persistent hostility, and extensive court involvement. Mental health professionals often participate as court-appointed expert witnesses or provide therapy at parental request. Therapists' roles become more complex when parents exhibit challenging personality traits. This descriptive qualitative study explored therapists’ experiences in treating children and families in HCD cases where one or both parents displayed complex personality issues or disorders. Greenberg and Gould’s model on mental health professionals in court cases and Freud’s countertransference theory provided the study’s conceptual framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine therapists, and thematic analysis was …

African American Women’S Experience Of Wearing Natural Textured Hair, Tammy White-Jolivette

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women’s (AAW’s) experiences of wearing natural textured hair are underrepresented in the literature. This issue, and hair discrimination more broadly, is a form of social injustice that underscores the cultural and social significance of natural hair as a symbol of heritage, identity, and resilience in African American communities. Guided by social comparison and self-concept theories, the purpose of this study was to examine how wearing natural hair influences AAW’s self-perception. The research question was: How do AAW describe their experiences of wearing natural textured hair? The qualitative method featured interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data were collected by conducting in-depth …

Health-Seeking Behaviors Of Asian American College Students With First-Generation Immigrant Parents, Andrea Michelle Ortega-Criddle

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Asian Americans continue to underutilize mental health and health care services for various reasons such as cultural values, acculturation/enculturation, and lack of familiarity with the healthcare system (Ruzek et al., 2011). There is little information about how much influence first-generation Asian immigrant parents have on influencing health-seeking behaviors and attitudes of their Asian American children. While second-generation Asian Americans demonstrate adherence to both Asian and Western values, they continue to be less likely to seek health services than any other ethnic group in the United States. In order to provide more culturally aware and culturally sensitive services for Asian Americans, …

The Lived Experiences Of Police Officers’ Responses To Stranger And Familial Child Abductions, Kennedy Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When the media covers stories of child abductions, a common misconception is who the abductor is. Despite what the news broadcasts, a child is more likely to be abducted by a family member or acquaintance than a stranger. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of police officers’ responses to stranger and familial abductions using a phenomenological approach to determine how schemas may shape police officers’ perceptions, specifically concerning responding to child abductions. Schema theory suggests schemas are formed based on an occurrence between an individual and their surrounding environment. Nine interviews were conducted of police officers …

Perspectives Of Residential Treatment Center Staff On Organizational Climate And Rehabilitation, Erika Drayton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential treatment centers (RTCs) within the juvenile justice system (JJS) are commonly used as an out-of-home placement for adjudicated youths who require more individualized care. Several researchers studied the JJS; however, few explored RTCs or the direct care staff. Probation officers and detention facility staff have been the focus of previous studies. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of RTC staff on organizational climate and rehabilitation of adjudicated youths. The participants included 12 direct care RTC staff age 18 and older who had worked with adjudicated youths for one year or more. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological …

Trauma-Informed Bilingual Counselor Education: Factors To Guide Professional Mental Health Training With Spanish-Speaking Students, Fernando Estrada, Miguel A. Arana

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Latine immigrants confront various forms of violence that increases their risk for traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is a need to advance the training of counselors who can work with Spanish-speaking clients exposed to trauma. The goal of this study was to articulate a literature-based conceptualization of trauma-informed bilingual counselor education. The results of a content analysis facilitated a synthesis of the relevant scholarship that highlighted four main facets: (i) integrative translanguage pedagogy, (ii) immigrant trauma exposure and reaction, (iii) culturally responsive socio-emotional interventions, and (iv) bilingual supervisory alliance. These factors can help guide professional graduate training. Implications …

Perceptions Of Clinically Depressed Individuals: Social Media Use, Depressive Symptoms, And Interpersonal Relationships, Rachel N. Fullen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent literature has shown an association between social media usage and depressive symptoms, but there remains a gap regarding the perceptions of individuals with clinical depression on their social media usage and their interpersonal relationships. This qualitative study was conducted to uncover how people view social media and their clinical depression as well as the quality of their interpersonal interactions through social media platforms. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who were diagnosed with clinical depression, used social media for 2 hours daily, and lived with their significant other/partner. The theory applied to this study was Blumler and Katz’s …

Exploring Generative Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Applications In Fashion: Ethical Concerns In Human-Like Technology, Melissa Kathryn Gonzalez

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Self-Silencing And Self-Neglect Behaviors And Disordered Eating And Stigma Toward Seeking Behavioral Health Support Among Black Women Who Adopt The Superwoman Schema, Veanda Hemphill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Self-silencing and self-neglect behaviors, key dimensions of the superwoman schema (SWS), function as protective coping mechanisms in response to psychosocial stressors. However, these behaviors often perpetuate self-sacrifice, leading to an increased risk of physical and mental health decline. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between self-silencing and self-neglect behaviors (independent variables) and disordered eating and stigma toward seeking support from behavioral health services (dependent variables) among Black women who adopt the SWS. The theoretical and conceptual frameworks of silencing the self and intersectionality guided this study. The 78 participants who self-identified as Black and …

The Relationships Between Social Stress, Anxiety, And School Attendance/Absenteeism Among Middle School Students With High-Incidence Disabilities, Rebecca Caroline Canady

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic absenteeism has been on the rise across the United States since schools fully reopened to in-person learning after COVID-19-related closures. Historically, students with disabilities are more likely to experience increased rates of absenteeism. However, there is a lack of research on specific psychosocial factors related to school attendance/absenteeism (SA/A) for students with disabilities. The purpose of this quantitative study of archival data was to examine through analyses of variance what extent the relationship between anxiety and SA/A is moderated by social stress among middle school students with high-incidence disabilities. Additionally, trends in the relationship between variables from before and …

Full Issue

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Unexplored Illness Of Scrupulosity, Nicholas York

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Scrupulosity, a subset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), is a mental health disorder that is fundamentally unique and impacts both religious and non-religious perfectionistic individuals. The aim of this literature review is to highlight the difficulty in diagnosis and lack of specialized treatment for those suffering with the difficulties of scrupulosity. When someone seeks help from mental health professionals, they may remain undiagnosed due to the complexity of scrupulosity. Further, when properly diagnosed, treatment can be complicated due to the difficulty in distinguishing religious standards from obsessive tendencies. Additionally, when a therapist treats scrupulosity, they may struggle to apply general OCD …

Harm Of Screen Time On The Physical And Mental Health Of Young Children, Joseph Shearer

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

More than 10 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement recommending that children under the age of two should not be allowed to view electronic screens. Although screen time is commonplace in a modern climate, the research reported within this review draws attention to the potential detriments of early exposure. These detriments include reduced levels of exercise, sleep, and creativity, as well as increased levels of unhealthy food consumption and an influx of mental health challenges later in life. Some benefits are discussed, such as opportunities for learning and/or stress reduction. Ultimately, the research over the …

Parental Strategies For Modifying Behavior: The Positives Of Positive Reinforcement, Benjamin D. Rasmussen

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

This research investigates the effectiveness of positive reinforcement as a central parenting strategy for modifying children’s behavior, grounded in B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory. Using factor analysis, two key factors emerged: the impact of positive reinforcement on behavior change and its influence on parent-child dynamics. Positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding desirable behaviors with positive stimuli, has been found to promote the repetition of those behaviors and yield beneficial long-term outcomes. The evidence indicates that this approach not only strengthens desirable behaviors but also enhances the quality of relationships between parents and children, and teachers and students. Although some argue that …

It Is Not Just A Phase: Psychosocial Factors As A Window Into Adolescent Alcohol Abuse In Rural Communities, Jamie Pineda

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Adolescent alcohol consumption in rural areas is a serious issue that has been continuously overlooked by researchers in the past. While a few scholars have explored adolescents’ genetics and mental health conditions to illuminate their motivation behind underage drinking, psychosocial factors that expose rural adolescents to alcohol have yet to be adequately explored. Similarly, the question of what can be done to prevent or limit rural adolescent alcohol consumption has also been relatively ignored. As such, this work seeks to identify social influences that may elevate underage drinking in rural communities and to determine effective alcohol abuse prevention programs that …

A Literary Review On The Effects Of Music Therapy On Depressed Adolescents: Brain Function, Individual Therapy, And Group Psychotherapy, Bella Mccain

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

This paper presents a literature review examining the impact of music therapy on adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). Music therapy, officially recognized in 1950, is a clinical intervention that addresses various psychological and cognitive deficiencies. Adolescents show a strong affinity for music, making it a potential treatment for depression, which is prevalent among this age group. This review explores studies focused on music therapy’s effects on brain function, individual psychotherapy, and group therapy for adolescents. Research suggests that music therapy positively influences brain activity by reducing cortisol levels and shifting brainwave patterns towards healthier states. In individual therapy, music …

Finding Meaning In Psychotherapy: A Literature Review Of Logotherapeutic Methodology In Psychotherapeutic Treatment, Jason M. Hoskin

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Frankl’s logotherapy is a meaning-centered therapy, focusing on finding personal life purpose to improve one’s psychological well-being, particularly during personal struggle and suffering (Frankl, 1992). This literature review analyzes the empirical research measuring the efficacy of logotherapy in psychotherapy with a total of 27 articles from 2012–2022 reviewed and analyzed. Results illustrates that published contemporary empirical research on this topic focuses mainly on studying (1) theoretical principles of logotherapy through survey data, (2) the efficacy of logotherapy-based groups psychotherapy for individuals, or (3) psychometrics of frequently used instruments for measuring meaning in life. Overall, these categories corroborate the finding that …

Pediatric Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder: Why Family Intervention Can Help, Marinne Hammond

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) struggle with obsessions, compulsions, and dysfunctional beliefs, and this can impair normal functioning. Due to the possibility of a lifelong diagnosis of OCD after onset in childhood, pediatric OCD is of special concern in clinical psychology. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficacious model for treating pediatric OCD. Nonetheless, what may be overlooked in treatment of a child or adolescent with OCD is the importance of family intervention. Family accommodation (FA), an unhealthy participation of family members in the behaviors of pediatric OCD clients, can be emotionally challenging for the family and detrimental to …

Overcoming Social, Cultural, Physical And Covid-19 Barriers To Treatment For Eating Disorders Through Teletherapy, Wyatt W. Capener

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Eating disorders (EDs) are among the deadliest of mental illnesses and may affect female, male, sexual and gender minorities, young, and old populations. The effects of EDs burden individuals with cultural, social, and physical inhibitors to seeking treatment and therefore may go untreated. Additionally, there is a nationwide lack of access to mental health professionals. EDs may link to a decrease in the quality of life and an increased mortality rate; therefore, it is imperative that individuals afflicted with EDs have access to treatment. The variety of symptoms associated with EDs calls for flexible solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected …

Front Matter

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Assessing Psychologists’ Clinical Knowledge Of Geriatric Depression: A Validation Study Of The Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire, Abigail J. Laine

Dissertations

Because the US population is rapidly aging, generalist clinicians will increasingly be called upon to provide mental health services to older adults. Unfortunately, most generalist clinicians do not possess the specialized knowledge to provide clinical services to this population and will require training. Professional training efforts are currently hindered by the lack of psychometrically supported scales of clinical disorders specific to aging. Without such scales, it is difficult to evaluate the impact of continuing education programs. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties and scale dimensionality of the Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (LLD-KQ), a …

Eternal Music, Dominic Roussos

CAFE Symposium 2025

My project explores how music shapes our perception of life and death by engaging emotions, memory, and cultural understanding. Drawing from Daniel J. Levitin’s This Is Your Brain on Music and Alex Ross’s The Rest Is Noise, it examines music’s neurological and historical impact on human experience. It highlights how songs like Eric Clapton’s "Tears in Heaven," Billy Joel’s "And So It Goes," and John Lennon’s "Imagine" express themes of grief, love, and unity. The author also reflects on personal experiences where music provided solace during loss, emphasizing its power to connect us to both life’s joys and its …