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Master's Theses (2009 -)

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention For Tics Specialty Clinic Outcomes, Brandon Xavier Pitts Apr 2024

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention For Tics Specialty Clinic Outcomes, Brandon Xavier Pitts

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Tics are abrupt, repetitive, and non-rhythmic movements (motor tics) and vocalizations (vocal tics). Persistent (Chronic) Tic Disorders (PTDs), which include conditions such as Tourette Disorder (TD), are characterized by involuntary motor and vocal tics. PTDs are associated with a myriad of adverse social repercussions, reduced quality of life, and concurrent psychiatric diagnoses, and occur in approximately 1.1% to 4.8% of the global population. Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) stands as the primary nonpharmacological therapeutic approach for tics. Although the efficacy of CBIT has been established in multiple large-scale randomized control trials (RCTs), there is a paucity of research scrutinizing …


Explaining Heterogeneity: Identifying Subgroups Of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Laura Mcguigan Apr 2024

Explaining Heterogeneity: Identifying Subgroups Of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Laura Mcguigan

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that often persists into adulthood. Individuals with ADHD present with varied patterns of neurocognitive impairment, psychological comorbidities, and functional challenges. The current characterization of ADHD into three subgroups (primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive/impulsive, combined inattentive-hyperactive/impulsive presentation) does not fully explain the heterogeneity of challenges experienced by this population. In this study, 259 adult patients [Mage= 25.94; SD=7.83; 78% Caucasian; 54% male] referred for an ADHD evaluation were investigated, and latent profile analysis was conducted. Self-reported ADHD symptoms, psychological functioning, and neuropsychological functioning were considered to identify subgroups. Results revealed four distinct classes: …


Bridging The Need-To-Access Gap: Examining Parents Who Perceive A Need For Their Youth To Receive Mental Health Services, Alexandra Bowling Apr 2024

Bridging The Need-To-Access Gap: Examining Parents Who Perceive A Need For Their Youth To Receive Mental Health Services, Alexandra Bowling

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Parents often act as gatekeepers to their children and adolescents receiving mental health services. Youth help-seeking models propose that three parent-focused factors (perceptions of their youth’s illness profile, predisposing characteristics, and enabling resources) impact each stage of the help-seeking process: problem recognition (i.e., perceived needers), decision to seek help (i.e., treatment intenders), and service selection and utilization (i.e., treatment utilizers). Research is needed that examines how the above factors relate to parents getting “stuck” in the help-seeking process (i.e., do not become treatment utilizers). The current study investigated whether predisposing characteristics (i.e., family and demographic characteristics, mental health attitudes and …


Internalizing Symptoms In Autistic Young Adults: Comparing The Cognitive And Physiological Components Of Emotion Regulation, Sarah Lehman Oct 2023

Internalizing Symptoms In Autistic Young Adults: Comparing The Cognitive And Physiological Components Of Emotion Regulation, Sarah Lehman

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Autistic people experience co-occurring mental illness at a substantially greater rate compared to their neurotypical counterparts. Of these comorbid psychopathologies, internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression) are among the most prevalent. Emotion dysregulation has been identified as a contributing factor to this phenomenon and potential treatment target. The current study employed cognitive (e.g., use of suppression and use of cognitive reappraisal) and physiological (e.g., respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart period) measures to more holistically capture the multifaceted construct of emotion regulation compared to prior research. In a sample of autistic young adults (N = 63) ages 17-29 (M = 20.14), …


Police Harassment And Latinx Mental Health: The Moderating Role Of Family Support And Nativity, Veronica Lauren Heredia Apr 2023

Police Harassment And Latinx Mental Health: The Moderating Role Of Family Support And Nativity, Veronica Lauren Heredia

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Relative to their population size, communities of color experience disproportionate occurrences of harassment (Wilson et. al., 2020). Reports on police killings from 2013 to 2018 display that Black individuals constituted 27.5% of those killed, despite making up only 13% of the population (Siegel, 2020). The U.S. Latinx population is similarly impacted, given reports that they also experience police targeting (Edwards et. al., 2019; Gaston et. al., 2021; Harris et. al., 2020; Zimmerman et. al., 2021). Empirical evidence has shown a positive association between police harassment exposure and depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms in Latinx populations (Chin et. al., 2020; Del …


Interpersonal Connection: Examining Synchrony In Emotions And Physiology In Friends During Interactions, Joia Lynette Wesley Apr 2023

Interpersonal Connection: Examining Synchrony In Emotions And Physiology In Friends During Interactions, Joia Lynette Wesley

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Interpersonal synchrony is the alignment of emotions, behaviors, and physiology and is associated with prosocial behaviors and subjective connectedness. Few studies have examined synchrony in friend dyads. The present study compared emotional and physiological synchrony during emotional and neutral interactions, explored how social role may influence empathy, and tested if friendship characteristics predicted synchrony. Participants were 56 friend dyads recruited from a predominantly White, Midwestern university. The study included two sessions. In the first session, participants completed prequestionnaires and each participant identified three emotionally salient situations that they had not shared with their friend. The second session was an interaction …


Cultural Values, Gender Roles, Hispanic, Latine, Latinx, Sexism, Erick Herrera Hernandez Apr 2023

Cultural Values, Gender Roles, Hispanic, Latine, Latinx, Sexism, Erick Herrera Hernandez

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Latine cultural values may present elements of hostile and benevolent sexism that overlap with patriarchal gender expectations that maintain gender norms. Despite extensive research linking hostile and benevolent sexism with negative outcomes, few studies have focused on Latine samples. Understanding how Latines perceive sexist behavior is an important step towards addressing the negative effects of sexism in Latine communities. This study examined the relationship between Latine cultural values and perceptions of hostile and benevolent sexist behavior. Participants were presented with fourteen scenarios reflecting hostile and benevolent sexist behavior and were asked to rate these scenarios on a variety of traits, …


Comparing The Effects Of Immediate Vs. Delayed Differential Reinforcement Of Zero Rate Behavior Schedules On Tic Suppression, Kristine T. Vo Oct 2022

Comparing The Effects Of Immediate Vs. Delayed Differential Reinforcement Of Zero Rate Behavior Schedules On Tic Suppression, Kristine T. Vo

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Persistent Tic Disorder and Tourette Disorder are neuropsychiatric conditions characterized by motor and or/ vocal tics. Treatment surrounding tics involve pharmaceutical or behavior therapy. Individuals seeking behavior therapy receive habit reversal training (HRT) or comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT). Much research demonstrates the efficacy of HRT and CBIT, however, as these treatments often teach effective tic suppression skills, it may be useful to better understand the behavioral contingencies that most effectively lead to suppression. This research aims to compare different schedules of reinforcement on tic suppression. Two individuals diagnosed with Tourette’s Disorder, ages 9-14, participated in this study. A …


Impact Of Childhood Trauma On Skin Conductance Response To Fear, Safety, And Reward, Tristan Alana Gregg Oct 2022

Impact Of Childhood Trauma On Skin Conductance Response To Fear, Safety, And Reward, Tristan Alana Gregg

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Trauma is associated with neurological and physiological differences that can persist years after trauma exposure. Physiologically, trauma has been associated with altered responses to cues in the environment, most commonly threatening stimuli. For instance, in participants who experience trauma during adulthood, such individuals exhibit heightened physiological arousal. Conversely, other studies have found that childhood trauma may be associated with blunted physiological arousal. Most of this research has involved threatening cues, but previous research suggests that trauma is also associated with aberrant physiological arousal responses to positive or rewarding cues. Skin conductance responses (SCRs) are a commonly utilized measure of physiological …


Evaluating Interest In Clinical Trial Participation For The Treatment Of Pediatric Food Allergy, Perry Allen Catlin Oct 2022

Evaluating Interest In Clinical Trial Participation For The Treatment Of Pediatric Food Allergy, Perry Allen Catlin

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Food allergy (FA) is a chronic medical condition that affects one out of every 13 children in the United States. Researchers have recently begun utilizing double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to test novel biological treatments designed to retrain the immune system to be less reactive to food allergens. Although these treatments remain in the clinical trial stage, evidence suggests that individuals differentially engage with these options based on a variety of factors. Using a socioecological framework, this study sought to evaluate the effect of child, parent, and family-level factors on parental interest in clinical trial participation for the treatment of pediatric …


Exploring Political Consumerism: Its Antecedents And Mediating Role Between Family Communication And Political Activity, Hannah Swarm Apr 2022

Exploring Political Consumerism: Its Antecedents And Mediating Role Between Family Communication And Political Activity, Hannah Swarm

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Viewed as an unconventional approach to politics, political consumerism is a rising form of political action that allows citizens to make political statements with their wallets. However, more research is warranted examining its motivating factors, as well as its connection to other forms of political activity. The family unit is the primary antecedent examined in this study, as it is regarded as one of the most important socializing agents for children, especially when it comes to political development. Conducting a national survey of 523 U.S. adults, the present study explored how one’s family communication environment during childhood affects their likelihood …


Heart Rate Variability (Hrv), Cortisol, And Trait Anxiety In Mid-Life Adults, Meghan Bennett Apr 2022

Heart Rate Variability (Hrv), Cortisol, And Trait Anxiety In Mid-Life Adults, Meghan Bennett

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Heart rate variability (HRV) and cortisol are well-established biomarkers of the human stress response system. As such, their respective relationships with trait anxiety have been studied. As high HRV indicates healthy emotion regulation while low HRV signifies poor emotion regulation, a negative relationship between HRV and anxiety is found in the literature. Conversely, cortisol both prepares the body for stress and helps it to recover and current studies yield mixed results on its relationship with anxiety. While the link between vagal activity, which mediates HRV, and the HPA-axis, which outputs cortisol, is generally assumed, few studies have examined these biomarkers …


Mixed Methods Exploration Of Low Points And Wellness In Black Women, Jessica Krukowski Apr 2022

Mixed Methods Exploration Of Low Points And Wellness In Black Women, Jessica Krukowski

Master's Theses (2009 -)

IntroductionTime and again the voices, experiences, and interests of Black women are systematically marginalized, overlooked or dismissed (King, 2019). In addition, and possibly because of this, Black women are consistently underrepresented and historically overlooked in research (Allen, 2008; Corker, 2010). It is imperative to allow the voices of Black women to begin to fill this scientific gap. Mixed-methods narrative research provides a strength-based framework to do so. This study explores how Black women talk about the lowest point in their life and how that relates to various outcomes of wellness. Method The low point response narrative from The Life Story …


The Role Of Hostile And Benevolent Sexism On Women's Career Aspirations And Self-Doubt In Masculine And Feminine Majors, Mary Tait Oct 2021

The Role Of Hostile And Benevolent Sexism On Women's Career Aspirations And Self-Doubt In Masculine And Feminine Majors, Mary Tait

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Women experience hostile sexism and benevolent sexism in various aspects of their lives and the effects of these experiences have been shown to greatly affect their performance in career-related domains. Researchers have posited that this reduction in performance is related to self-doubt (Dardenne et al., 2007; Kuchynka et al., 2018) which can affect women’s careers long-term. However, the effects of self-doubt on women’s careers may vary depending on the stereotyped context of the environment. The current study examined if the relationship between experiences with sexism and career aspirations is mediated by self-doubt. Further, it was examined if the relationships changed …


Community Journalism In Zambia: The Case Of Chikuni Radio, Vincent Tilimboyi Nchimunya Jul 2021

Community Journalism In Zambia: The Case Of Chikuni Radio, Vincent Tilimboyi Nchimunya

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Community journalism is steadily gaining prominence in most African nations. It is a conduit through which different communities develop social interaction. It is also a platform through which the public create connections among themselves to identify and resolve local and national problems that affect citizens. The goal of this study was to examine how community journalists at Chikuni Radio practiced their craft in an effort to build a sense of community in southern Zambia. The study presents a qualitative thematic content analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with three Chikuni Radio editors and six journalists. The journalists’ community journalism experience ranged …


Populism And The Civil Sphere: A Textual Analysis Of The Photographs Of The “War On Drugs” In The Philippines, Nathaniel Lubanga Jul 2021

Populism And The Civil Sphere: A Textual Analysis Of The Photographs Of The “War On Drugs” In The Philippines, Nathaniel Lubanga

Master's Theses (2009 -)

A poignant photograph on the front page of a leading newspaper in the Philippines showing a woman cradling the lifeless body of her dead partner drew both local and international attention and outcry over the new president’s approach to the “war on drugs.” The purpose of this study was to determine the overarching story told by the photographs of the “war on drugs” in the Philippines. A textual analysis drawing upon both narrative and semiotic analysis was used to examine the settings, characters, plots, and symbolism in 143 photographs of “Killings” and “Protests” drawn from various news media agencies. Key …


Understanding The 1918-1920 Cultural Narrative Of The Spanish Flu As Told Through The New York Times And The Wall Street Journal, Gertrude Misornu Ofori-Parku Jul 2021

Understanding The 1918-1920 Cultural Narrative Of The Spanish Flu As Told Through The New York Times And The Wall Street Journal, Gertrude Misornu Ofori-Parku

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Global pandemics have become one of the major health crises that happen to society from time to time. Past occurrences, including disasters and pandemics, are events that we learn from and draw upon to better understand current happenings. One way by which we build and understand historical trends and events, including pandemics, is through press coverage of those events. One significant pandemic in history was the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. This thesis explores the cultural narrative about the Spanish Flu as told through The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal between 1918 and 1920. Through the constant comparison …


Response Inhibition-Related Beta Power: Distinguishing Cognitively Intact Elders By Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Sarah Amelia Evans Apr 2021

Response Inhibition-Related Beta Power: Distinguishing Cognitively Intact Elders By Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Sarah Amelia Evans

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Current neuropsychological research demonstrates an association between the Apolipoprotein-E 4 allele (APOE 4) and poorer cognitive outcomes in older adults. However, there is a general lack of consensus regarding the effect the 4 allele has on executive functioning in cognitively intact older adults, and there is even less study of the effects the 4 allele has on specific executive function processes, such as response inhibition. While behavioral task performance may lack the sensitivity to detect subtle differences in cognitively intact, at-risk individuals, neural activity may better differentiate between individuals who are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Compensatory theories …


The Role Of Community Involvement In Ethnic Discrimination And Depression Symptoms Among Ethnic Minority College Students, Jaclyn Pachicano Apr 2021

The Role Of Community Involvement In Ethnic Discrimination And Depression Symptoms Among Ethnic Minority College Students, Jaclyn Pachicano

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Over the past two decades, there has been an increase in racial and ethnic minorities attending college (Davis & Fry, 2019). Unfortunately, racial and ethnic minority students are at higher risk for depression symptoms and are less likely to seek out services to address these symptoms (Hope et al., 2018). A possible contributing factor to elevated depression symptoms in this population is exposure to racial and ethnic discrimination, which has repeatedly been linked to increased depression symptoms (Araújo & Borrell, 2006; Chou et al., 2012). Previous literature suggests that community involvement may serve as a buffer or a pathway for …


Relationship Between Maternal/Family Functioning And Social Functioning In Youth With Adhd, Ewald Michael Wefelmeyer Oct 2020

Relationship Between Maternal/Family Functioning And Social Functioning In Youth With Adhd, Ewald Michael Wefelmeyer

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Affecting roughly 5% of the population, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health disorder characterized by deficits in attention, activity level, and/or impulse control causing impairments across multiple domains of functioning (APA, 2013). Although ADHD is most commonly associated with impairment in academic and behavioral functioning, there also exists a strong connection between the disorder and significant social impairment. Indeed, youth with ADHD typically have fewer friends and experience significantly higher levels of peer rejection than do typically developing youth (Bagwell, Molina, Pelham, & Hoza, 2001). In addition to social problems, ADHD is often associated with problems in the …


Not Stranger Or Friend: The Role Of Self-Disclosure In Personal-Service Provider Relationships, Sarah Elizabeth Devereux Jul 2020

Not Stranger Or Friend: The Role Of Self-Disclosure In Personal-Service Provider Relationships, Sarah Elizabeth Devereux

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The process of self-disclosure was examined through a type of relationship that has not been studied significantly in previous research, the personal-service provider and client relationship. Most research regarding self-disclosure has looked at either close, intimate relationships or that of strangers. Self-disclosure between people who are not members of the groups mentioned above requires further research to fully understand how often it occurs, why it happens, what type of information is shared and more. Eight semi-structured qualitative interviews with hairstylists who have been working for two years or more and have built relationships with clients were conducted to answer the …


College Supports For Asd: Autistic Perspectives Across Educational Career, Rachel Stanley Jul 2020

College Supports For Asd: Autistic Perspectives Across Educational Career, Rachel Stanley

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Higher education has become a viable pursuit for many autistic individuals, but those who seek a college degree graduate at rates significantly lower than their peers. Social skills, mental health, executive functioning, independent living, and sensory processing are highlighted as areas of difficulty for autistic college students. However, research seeking the perspectives and experiences of autistic individuals has been limited, and proposed solutions are not based on input from the population they seek to serve. Further, research has been largely limited to current college students, and may miss potentially useful perspectives on transition from individuals pre- and post-college. This study …


Impact Of A Social Skills Intervention On The Structural Anatomy Of The Social Brain Of Autistic Adolescents, Alexis Arias Apr 2020

Impact Of A Social Skills Intervention On The Structural Anatomy Of The Social Brain Of Autistic Adolescents, Alexis Arias

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to rise as researchers seek to examine the physiological links to social and communication challenges. The Social Brain, neuroanatomical structures which play a role in social cognition, is proposed to be linked to the social and communication challenges associated with ASD. An area of rapidly growing research is the evaluation of social skills interventions, which target social challenges present in Autistic individuals. Advances in technology, have allowed for these interventions to be examined in regards to physiological changes (e.g., electroencephalogram asymmetry and coherence) as outcome variables. Amongst these interventions, the Program for …


My Natural Hair Is Unprofessional: The Impact Of Black Hairstyles On Perceived Employment-Related Characteristics, Kalen Kennedy Apr 2020

My Natural Hair Is Unprofessional: The Impact Of Black Hairstyles On Perceived Employment-Related Characteristics, Kalen Kennedy

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The media has multiple examples of Black women experiencing negative outcomes at the hands of their potential employers and the employers’ biases against particular hairstyles. Research has demonstrated that several within-race variables such as skin tone and Afrocentric facial features influence how Black individuals are treated across a number of contexts. The present study investigated hairstyle as a potential within-racial variable that effects Black women negatively in the employment context. Utilizing the Princeton trilogy methodology, researchers empirically documented the stereotypes associated with Black hairstyles (i.e., afros, dreadlocs, straightened hair). Participants were instructed to generate traits they were aware of that …


Extending The Theory Of Planned Behavior With Ego-Network Social Capital To Examine Chinese Women's Tampon Use Intentions, Yin Yang Apr 2020

Extending The Theory Of Planned Behavior With Ego-Network Social Capital To Examine Chinese Women's Tampon Use Intentions, Yin Yang

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Building on the theory of planned behavior and ego-network social capital, this study tested how different levels of network closure and brokerage influenced Chinese women’s tampon use intentions. Results from an online survey (N = 766) showed that network density was associated with positive attitudes, and high levels of injunctive norms and descriptive norms of tampon usage. Furthermore, results of a path analysis demonstrated that network density had indirect impacts on tampon use intentions through attitudes, descriptive norms, and perceived behavior control. This study extends the theory of planned behavior by incorporating ego-network social capital. Practically, the findings shed light …


Sexual Minority Behavioral Health Outcomes: The Role Of Social Stressors And Self-Regulation, Zane B. Ballard Apr 2020

Sexual Minority Behavioral Health Outcomes: The Role Of Social Stressors And Self-Regulation, Zane B. Ballard

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer individuals have been shown to experience significantly more negative health outcomes than do heterosexuals. The current study examined the effects of identity authenticity on problematic alcohol and drug use and sexual compulsivity. The current study also tested whether this relationship between identity authenticity and negative behavioral health outcomes is mediated by self-regulation depletion, as well as internalized homonegativity and rejection sensitivity. Identity authenticity was associated with self-regulation depletion, internalized homonegativity, problematic alcohol use, and sexual compulsivity. Identity authenticity did not predict rejection sensitivity or problematic drug use. Evidence supports the role of self-regulation depletion in …


Cultural Differences In Reactions To Tics, Jordan Stiede Apr 2020

Cultural Differences In Reactions To Tics, Jordan Stiede

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The present study used parent-report data of clinical characteristics, tic severity, and reactions to tics to explore cross-cultural similarities and differences in 223 children with Tourette’s disorder (TD) from the United States, United Kingdom, and Netherlands/Norway. First, the clinical characteristics of age at onset, male to female ratio, and comorbidities of individuals from the three groups of countries were explored. Parents from the United Kingdom reported a significantly later age at onset for their children than parents from the United States. There were no differences in the other clinical characteristics among the participants from the different countries. Second, psychometric properties …


Effects Of News Media Consumption On Political Partisanship, Identity And Issue Stances, Dalton Bouzek Oct 2019

Effects Of News Media Consumption On Political Partisanship, Identity And Issue Stances, Dalton Bouzek

Master's Theses (2009 -)

This research sought to identify to what extent news media consumption plays a role in forming an individual’s political identity and their views on individual stances. The subsequent novel quantitative study asked students of various disciplines at Marquette University questions in regards to how much they pay attention to various news sources, to what extent they trust those news sources, and their views on individual issues as they relate to their chosen political identity. Results from the study found basic trends in regards to selected news sources and one’s political disposition. Furthermore, stances on certain issues, like border security, were …


Sensemaking And Identity In Complementary Alternative Medicine: Communication Study On Reiki, Caroline Reese Jul 2019

Sensemaking And Identity In Complementary Alternative Medicine: Communication Study On Reiki, Caroline Reese

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is rising in popularity, in particular, the practice of Reiki. While there is substantial research that focuses on the medical benefits of Reiki, little work has been done that addresses what Reiki means to participants and how it impacts an individual's sense of self. This study seeks to fill that void. To explore this, I argue that Reiki practice should be viewed through a communication lens that draws from theories of identity and sensemaking. Results show that identity is not seen as an individualistic concept but rather as a social process that shifts to a more …


Side Effects Of Self-Referential Discussion: The Impact And Interaction Of Deductive And Inductive Routes Of Identity, Chandler Macswain Jul 2019

Side Effects Of Self-Referential Discussion: The Impact And Interaction Of Deductive And Inductive Routes Of Identity, Chandler Macswain

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Studies of group communication and group identity rest on two competing theoretical concepts of the group, one that prioritizes examining the relationships between members and one that examines the group as a gestalt construct. For live groups, it is not always clear which style, individual or gestalt, is most appropriate or provides more insight into any specific group because groups’ identities and communication behaviors are sometimes explicable by both theoretical concepts. This occurs because in real-world groups the formation process typically involves an amalgamation of both influences. In other words, live groups form identities built around both members’ individual traits …